Patent ID: 7554652
Filing Date: 2009-06-30
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
1. A method for optically measuring a range R of an object from a rangefinding device, comprising the steps of: a) emitting a train of light pulses from said rangefinding device toward said object for reflection thereby, each of said light pulses having an emission time and having a pulse duration corresponding to a round-trip time to a maximum range; b) detecting light received by said rangefinding device during three time intervals of a same gate duration, said gate duration corresponding to twice the pulse duration, said time intervals being determined by: c) integrating light detected during each of said time intervals, thereby obtaining an integrated light value for each of said gates; d) normalizing the integrated light value for said ranging gate using the integrated light values for the background and pulse energy gates, thereby obtaining a normalized ranging measurement; and e) determining said range R of the object from said normalized ranging measurement and calibration data.