Patent ID: 8212998

Claim:
Apparatus for measuring distance by means of light pulses, comprising: a light source for the emission of a train of light pulses, a detector for receiving light pulses emitted by the light source and reflected from targets, at least two timers, and a controller in communication with and adapted to control the light source and the detector and the at least two timers, wherein the controller is adapted to generate a start signal for each emitted light pulse received by the detector, each start signal triggering a time measurement by one of the at least two timers during a measurement window temporarily assigned to said one of the at least two timers, the timers being triggered by successive emitted light pulses in a repetitive sequence, and wherein the controller is adapted to generate a stop signal when a reflected light pulse is received by the detector during the measurement window, the stop signal serving to stop a time measurement by said one of the at least two timers to which the measurement window is assigned, whereby the at least two timers are capable of measuring the travel time of respective light pulses which are simultaneously in transit.