Laser range finder with target quality display and scan mode
Patent 6023322 Issued on February 8, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date: 
January 5, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
January 5, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 3409368 3464770 3680958 3698811 3738749 3752581 3832056 3852579 Target identification apparatus Viewing systems InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 002938 filed on 01/05/1998US Classes:356/5.01, Of pulse transit time356/5.05Having pulse transmission trigger significanceExaminersPrimary: Buczinski, Stephen C.Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassG01C 003/08AbstractA laser range finder includes a circular in-sight field of view which incorporates within it a magnified "TV view" of the target area with the TV view roughly approximating the rectangular shape of a standard television picture. Also within the circular field, over and under the TV view, are a target quality indicator, a range distance display, and other indicators. Within the TV view is a targeting reticle which indicates roughly the footprint of ranging laser pulses such that a target can be selected. The target quality indicator is a bar graph which displays the number of identifiable received reflected laser pulses from a series of such pulses emitted by the range finder. By aiming the range finder at various targets via the footprint reticle, repeatedly firing the range finder and monitoring the target quality graph for each firing, a user can move the range finder to find a surface proximate the target with a reflective quality sufficient to yield an accurate target range reading. Alternatively, with a range finder equipped with Scan mode capability, the range finder can be slowly panned across multiple targets with the range to each target being displayed, in sequence, on the range display.Field of SearchOf pulse transit timeIncluding optical pick-off of transmission start With specific counter type timing of returns Having one or more return pulse gates or windows Including specific counter type timing of returns Having return coincide with swept display or detector Having pulse transmission trigger significance Including a displayed image Of light interference (e.g., interferometer) | |
