Patent ID: 7359041
Filing Date: 2008-04-15
Classification: G01S,G06F

Abstract:
1. A system for determining a position of a target, comprising: a processing unit; the target, the target being reflective and moveable; a first light source, a first light beam splitter, a first light beam steering device and a first light detector, the first light source being configured to emit a first light beam towards the first light beam splitter, the first light beam splitter being configured to reflect the first light beam emitted by the first light source towards the first light beam steering device, the first light beam steering device being configured, under control of the processing unit, to sweep the first light beam over a first full angular range when operating in a first full sweep mode, and over a first limited angular range when operating in a first limited sweep mode, the first full angular range being greater than the first limited angular range, the target being configured to reflect the first light beam reflected from the first light beam steering device back towards the first light beam steering device for reflection therefrom as a first target reflected beam and thence towards and through the first light beam splitter to the first light detector for detection thereby; a second light source, a second light beam splitter, a second light beam steering device and a second light detector, the second light source being configured to emit a second light beam towards the second light beam splitter, the second beam splitter being configured to reflect the second light beam emitted by the second light source towards the second light beam steering device, the second light beam steering device being configured, under control of the processing unit, to sweep the second light beam over a second full angular range when operating in a second full sweep mode, and over a second limited angular range when operating in a second limited sweep mode, the second full angular range being greater than the second limited angular range, the target being configured to reflect the second light beam reflected from the second light beam steering device back towards the second light beam steering device for reflection therefrom as a second target reflected beam and thence towards and through the second light beam splitter to the second light detector for detection thereby; wherein the processing unit is operably connected to the first and second light beam steering devices and configured to cause: (a) the first light beam steering device to operate in the first full sweep mode until the target is detected near a first angle as a result of the first target reflected beam being reflected into the first light detector; (b) the second light beam steering device to operate in the second full sweep mode until the target is detected near a second angle as a result of the second target reflected beam being reflected into the second light detector; (c) the first light beam steering device to operate in the first limited sweep mode near the first angle in response to the first target reflected beam being detected by the first light detector; and (d) the second light beam steering device to operate in the second limited sweep mode near the second angle in response to the second target reflected beam being detected by the second light detector.