Patent ID: 6208270
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: B82Y,G01S

Abstract:
An optical detection system mounted on a moving vehicle, comprising:(a) a light source operable to produce an optical probe beam;(b) a beam scanning element, disposed relative to the light source to receive the probe beam and configured to rotate about a rotation axis to project the probe beam to trace a scanning pattern for detecting a reflecting object in the path of the probe beam, wherein the beam scanning element receives and directs the reflected probe beam from the object in a direction that correlates to a rotation angle of the scanning element and thereby a distance from the object to the vehicle, and wherein the beam scanning element is operable to adjust the size of a cone angle of the scanning pattern according to a traveling speed of the moving vehicle;(c) a light detector located relative to the beam scanning element to receive at least a portion of the reflected probe beam at a location on the detector and to produce an electrical signal, wherein the location on the detector has information indicating the distance from the object to the vehicle; and(d) an electronic unit connected to receive the electrical signal and configured to determine the distance from the object to the vehicle according to a time duration for the probe beam traveling to and from the object that is inferred from the reflected probe beam location on the detector.