Patent ID: 6974948
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: B65F,G01V

Abstract:
1. A system for detecting objects within one or more defined volumes of space, the system comprising: a housing module including a perimeter around a defined area; a plurality of light-emitting sources arrayed in combination with the housing module along, and in spaced-apart relation to, at least a segment of the perimeter, the plurality of light-emitting sources being operable to emit diverging light; optical means integrated in combination with the housing module in spaced-apart relation with respect to the plurality of light-emitting sources, arrayed such that at least a portion of the diverging light emitted by the plurality of light-emitting sources falls incident upon the optical means and is shaped by the optical means to form a substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated light along the perimeter segment, wherein the substantially continuous zone of substantially collimated light along the perimeter segment defines a detection zone for the defined area, and wherein objects within the detection zone reflect the substantially collimated light; and detection means integrated in combination with the housing module in spaced-apart relation with respect to the plurality of light-emitting sources and the optical means, arrayed such that at least a portion of the reflected substantially collimated light from objects within the detection zone falls incident upon the detection means, the detection means having a field of view that provides substantially continuous detection coverage for the perimeter segment to detect the reflected substantially collimated light falling upon the detection means, and operable to generate a signal in response to detection of the reflected substantially collimated light.