Patent ID: 7136153
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: G01C,G01S

Abstract:
1. A scanning range sensor for determining distance to an object by scanning a beam from a light projector onto the object and receiving in a light receiving section connected to a distance computation circuit light reflected from the object, the scanning range sensor comprising: a light projector having a light source; a rotary member separate from said light projector and rotative about a rotational axis, said rotary member having at least a circumferential wall portion and a top wall portion; a light transmitting window formed alongside said circumferential wall portion of said rotary member; a scanning mirror disposed on said top wall portion of said rotary member, for deflecting a beam from said light projector radially outward through said light transmitting window; a reflecting mirror disposed on said top wall portion of said rotary member, for guiding to the light receiving section light reflected from an object; a stator disposed coaxially with, for imparting rotational driving force to, said rotary member; a stationary shaft disposed at the center of said stator along the rotational axis of said rotary member, said stationary shaft having an axially extending through-hole; a rotational position detector for detecting rotational position of said rotary member, said rotational position detector being connected to the distance computation circuit via a wire extending in said stationary shaft through-hole, for transmitting output signals from said rotational position detector to the distance computation circuit interiorly through said stationary shaft; and a photodetector as a component of the light receiving section, disposed on said stationary shaft and connected to the distance computation circuit via a wire extending in said stationary shaft through-hole, for transmitting output signals from said photodetector to the distance computation circuit interiorly through said stationary shaft, wherein said circumferential and top wall portions of said rotary member surround said photodetector.