Patent ID: 6225617
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A system for generating first and second quasi-sinusoidal signals comprising:a radiation source for transmitting radiation toward a surface of an object that diffusely reflects radiation, said radiation being one of ultraviolet radiation, visible radiation, and infrared radiation;an aperture, having an opening that is disposed to receive said reflected radiation, for enabling some of said reflected radiation to pass through said opening;a lens, disposed to receive said reflected radiation that has passed through said opening, for focusing said reflected radiation to form an image having light and dark portions;a detector array, disposed to receive said image, said detector array having at least four detector elements for receiving said image and filtering said image according to a spatial frequency, said detector array generating four phase signals; anda signal processing unit, disposed to receive said four phase signals, for generating two quasi-sinusoidal signals representing a direction and a distance in a first direction;wherein said aperture and said lens are substantially optically matched with said detector array.