Patent ID: 7403269
Filing Date: 2008-07-22
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
1. A scanning rangefinder comprising: a beam projector that emits a scanning beam as electromagnetic radiation onto a scanning target; a ray receiver that receives the scanning beam reflected from the scanning target; a distance computation circuit connected to the ray receiver that computes a distance between the rangefinder and the scanning target based upon the scanning beam reflected from the scanning target; a rotary unit that can be driven rotationally about a rotational axis; a rotor magnet connected to a lower portion of the rotary unit; a stator opposing the rotor magnet along the stator's circumference and arranged to impart a rotational drive force to the rotary unit; a stationary shaft that is located along the rotational axis in the interior of the rotary unit; a rotational position detector that detects a rotational position of the rotary unit; and a dual-use reflector located in an upper portion of the rotary unit and arranged to reflect the scanning beam emitted from the beam projector to outside of the rotary unit toward the scanning target, to reflect the scanning beam reflected from the scanning target toward the ray receiver, and to rotate with the rotary unit; wherein the ray receiver is located on an upper end portion of the stationary shaft.