Patent ID: 7365832
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: B64G,G01S

Abstract:
1. First and second laser range finders for measuring a range between said first laser range finder and said second laser range finder that moves with respect to the first laser range finder, each of said first and second laser range finders having a same structure and comprising: a laser unit for generating a first short-pulse laser beam to be transmitted to the other of said first and second laser range finder; a photodetector for receiving a second different short-pulse laser beam generated by and transmitted from the other of said first and second laser range finder and detecting the direction of said other of said first and second laser range finder; a pointing unit for adjusting the direction in which the laser beam generated by said laser unit is to be transmitted, into alignment with the direction of the other of said first and second laser range finder which is detected by said photodetector; and a controller for calculating a distance between the first laser range finder and said second laser range finder from a time at which said first short-pulse laser beam is transmitted and a time at which said second short-pulse laser beam is received.