Patent ID: 9625368
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: G01B,G01N,G01S

Claim:
1. A distance measurement apparatus for measuring distance to an object, comprising: an optical assembly including a fixed reflector and a condenser lens configured to focus a measurement beam onto the object; a light source including an optical fiber supported by a support, the optical fiber being located in an optical path of a measurement beam at a position between the fixed reflector and an outlet of the optical assembly, an end of the optical fiber situated to deliver the measurement beam being located at a position along an optical axis of the condenser lens; a detector configured to detect the measurement beam that is reflected by the object, the measurement beam traveling from the end of the optical fiber toward the fixed reflector, and traveling backward from the fixed reflector to the object via the outlet of the optical assembly; and a controller configured to measure the distance to the object based at least in part on a signal from the detector.