Compact and high-precision range finder with wide dynamic range using one sensor head

Abstract

A range finder that uses a self-mixing laser diode is described. The range finder has an accuracy of +or-0.13% and a dynamic range of 0.2 m to 1 m and uses only one sensor head. Unlike ultrasonic range finders, the light beam of this laser range finder can be focused and scanned. The feasibility study shows a possible application of the range finder to the visual sensor of a robot. The finder has been successfully applied as an IR active-type range finder of a single-lens reflex camera.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>