Including An Alternating Reference Path Patents (Class 356/5.12)
  • Patent number: 9784833
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are described that provide automated parking assistance for a vehicle. In some implementations, a parking assistance apparatus includes a frequency generator configured to generate a first frequency and a second frequency, and generate at least one synthesized frequency that is synthesized from the first frequency and the second frequency. The apparatus also includes a piezoelectric converter configured to, using piezoelectric effects, transmit ultrasonic waves having the at least one synthesized frequency, and receive reflected ultrasonic waves that result from the transmitted ultrasonic waves being reflected by an object. The apparatus also includes a filter unit configured to detect a predetermined frequency from the reflected ultrasonic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungmin Kim, Byeongrim Jo, Juhnho Park
  • Patent number: 8010316
    Abstract: A system and method is described for determining a distance to a desired target via correlating a pulse modulated signal with its corresponding reflected signal, while compensating for noise error in the reflected signal to allow for a more precise distance determination. The system and method determine a phase shift of an echoed signal in response to a transmitted signal incident onto an object to thereby determine a distance, wherein the system analyzes an overlap region between a second signal that is a reflection of a first signal incident on the object. The first signal is modulated by one or more pulses having a defined modulation frequency. Further details and features are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Intermec IP Corp.
    Inventor: Paul A. Maltseff
  • Patent number: 7948612
    Abstract: A measurement system 1 for measuring a distance to an object to be measured, includes: a half mirror 10; a measurement light emitting unit 11; a projection unit 12; a light-receiving unit 13; a distance calculation unit 14; and a diffusion lens 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Alnair Laboratories Corporation
    Inventors: Masakatsu Kaneko, Sze Yun Set, Chee Seong Goh, Morisato Namikawa, Yuichi Nagashima, Tomoharu Kotake, Hiroshi Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 7450220
    Abstract: TOF system shutter time needed to acquire image data in a time-of-flight (TOF) system that acquires consecutive images is reduced, thus decreasing the time in which relative motion can occur. In one embodiment, pixel detectors are clocked with multi-phase signals and integration of the four signals occurs simultaneously to yield four phase measurements from four pixel detectors within a single shutter time unit. In another embodiment, phase measurement time is reduced by a factor (1/k) by providing super pixels whose collection region is increased by a factor “k” relative to a normal pixel detector. Each super pixel is coupled to k storage units and four-phase sequential signals. Alternatively, each pixel detector can have k collector regions, k storage units, and share common clock circuitry that generates four-phase signals. Various embodiments can reduce the mal-effects of clock signal transients upon signals, and can be dynamically reconfigured as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Canesta, Inc
    Inventors: Patrick O'Connor, Ilhami Torunoglu, Rajeev Nagabhirana
  • Patent number: 7336346
    Abstract: A distance measuring device is provided that reduces the time required for a distance measurement without degrading accuracy of the measured value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Sokkia Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Aoki, Yutaka Nakamura, Koji Sasaki, Toshihiro Uchimura, Futoshi Osada, Hayami Kikawa
  • Patent number: 7075626
    Abstract: The invention is based on a laser range finder that has a transmitter unit (10) with at least one laser, a receiver unit (12), and a single sideband modulation unit (14) that can use a first single sideband modulation frequency (ZF1) generated by an oscillator unit (16) and a carrier frequency (T1) to generate a modulation frequency (S1) of the transmitter unit (10). According to the invention, the oscillator unit (16) can generate at least one additional frequency (ZF2) and the single sideband modulation unit (14) can use the additional frequency (ZF2) to generate a demodulation frequency (S2) of the receiver unit (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dierk Schmidt, Joerg Stierle, Peter Wolf
  • Patent number: 6586748
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for measuring water current direction and magnitude. A plurality of beams of radiation are transmitted radially outward from a location above a body of water. Each beam is incident on the water's surface at an angle with respect thereto. Each beam experiences a Doppler shift as a result of being incident on the water's surface such that a plurality of Doppler shifts are generated. Each Doppler shift is measured with the largest one thereof being indicative of water current direction and magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jack Lloyd, Lyles Adair, William Stachnik
  • Patent number: 6369880
    Abstract: A device for distance measurement using a semiconductor laser in the visible wavelength range, which functions according to the echo time method, includes a collimation objective for bundling the transmitted measuring beam bundle, a circuit arrangement for modulating the measuring beam, a receiving objective for receiving and imaging the measuring beam bundle reflected at the distant object onto a receiving device, and an evaluation device for determining and displaying the distance measured to the object. The circuit arrangement for modulating the measuring beam and the evaluation device can be switched between two different operating modes. In the first operating mode, the modulation takes place using a first frequency and in the second operating mode using a second frequency. These frequencies stand in a whole-member ratio to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Siegbert Steinlechner