DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICE (VERSIONS) AND DEVICE FOR REALISING SAID METHOD (VERSIONS) Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC G01C3/08 G01S17/48 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: probing radiation generated by a radiation source is directed onto an object. Radiation reflected from the object is picked up by photodetectors and the distance to the object L is calculated using the formula L = b/tgφ, where b is the base of triangulation and φ is the angle of triangulation. Angle φ is determined from the time Δt of propagation of radiation reflected from the object in a light guide. The first and second versions of the device include a source of probing radiation and photodetectors for picking up radiation reflected from the object. The photodetectors are connected to signal processing apparatus. The device has a light guide for delaying radiation reflected from the object. In the first version, signal processing apparatus are fitted with apparatus for measuring time intervals. The second version includes additional photodetectors for picking up reflected radiation which are in form of a first photodetector placed at the exit aperture of the light guide and a second photodetector lying in the plane of the exit aperture of the source of probing radiation and the entrance aperture of the light guide. There is an optical modulator between the source of probing radiation and the photodetectors, on one side, and the object on the other. Signal processing apparatus include an amplifier connected by the first input to the output of the first photodetector, and by the second input to the output of the second photodetector, an inverter, a frequency metre and a signal processing unit connected to the output of the frequency metre. The inverter is connected by the input to the output of the amplifier, by the first output to the input of the control unit of the source of probing radiation and by the second output to the input of the frequency metre.

EFFECT: high accuracy of measuring small distances.

12 cl, 6 dwg