Optical Measurement Device Pulse Timing Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical measurement technologies cannot correctly identify the timing of detected light pulses reflected from multiple positions on an object due to overlapping or changed order of light pulses, leading to inaccurate distance measurement.
Innovation Solution
An optical measurement device and method that uses a pulsed laser light source to emit measurement light pulses with different temporal waveforms and center wavelengths, spatially separates these pulses, synthesizes the reflected pulses, and measures their temporal waveforms to correctly identify the timing of each pulse, even when they overlap or change order.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple light pulses with different wavelengths are emitted toward multiple positions on an object, then distance measurement can be performed for each position, but the light pulses cannot be identified from each other when reflected and detected by one light reception element
Solution Approach 1:
The light pulses are segmented by assigning different temporal waveforms to pulses directed at different positions. The waveform segmentation allows the detection system to identify which reflected pulse corresponds to which emission position, resolving the identification problem while maintaining multi-position measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal waveform dimension to distinguish light pulses. Instead of relying solely on wavelength differentiation, each light pulse is assigned a unique temporal waveform signature, adding a time-domain dimension to the identification process that enables pulse tracking through the reflection and detection path
2Measurement precision
If light pulses are emitted at different timings toward different positions, then distance measurement is possible, but the order of light pulses may change or they may overlap during emission to detection, making timing identification impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the temporal waveform characteristics as a feedback mechanism to verify pulse identity. By comparing the detected waveform against the emitted waveform patterns, the system can reliably identify pulse timing even when pulses overlap or arrive in different orders than emitted
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the concept of waveform differentiation analogous to color coding. Each light pulse is assigned a distinctive temporal waveform 'color' that remains identifiable through the measurement process, allowing the detection system to distinguish pulses regardless of their arrival order or temporal overlap
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate distance measurement by correctly identifying the timing of each reflected light pulse, overcoming the limitations of overlapping and changed order, thus providing precise distance measurement.
Implementation Method 1
a light separator unit that spatially separates the plurality of measurement light pulses for each center wavelength and causes the plurality of measurement light pulses to be incident on a measurement object
Implementation Method 2
a wave synthesizer unit that synthesizes the plurality of measurement light pulses reflected by the measurement object or transmitted through the measurement object and emits the synthesized wavelength components onto one optical path
Implementation Method 3
an optical detection unit that receives the plurality of measurement light pulses emitted from the wave synthesizer unit and outputs a temporal waveform signal of the plurality of measurement light pulses
Data Source
AI summary
An optical measurement device includes a light pulse source, a light separator unit, a wave synthesizer unit, an optical detection unit, and a measurement unit. The light pulse source outputs a plurality of light pulses having different temporal waveforms and different center wavelengths. The light separator unit spatially separates the light pulses and causes the light pulses to be incident on a measurement object. The wave synthesizer unit synthesizes the light pulses reflected by the measurement object or transmitted through the measurement object and emits the synthesized light pulses onto one optical path. The optical detection unit receives the light pulses emitted from the wave synthesizer unit and outputs a temporal waveform signal of the light pulses. The measurement unit measures timings when the light pulses each are received by the optical detection unit or a difference between the timings on a basis of the temporal waveform signal.