IP Library Granted Patent US 10,663,322
Granted Patent B2
US 10,663,322 · App. 15/038,395 · Granted May 26, 2020

Distance measuring device and method thereof for seeking distance measuring starting point

Inventor: Jinju Tang (Suzhou, CN)
Assignee: ECOVACS ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
G01D5/3473G01C3/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,663,322
App. No.
15/038,395
Granted
May 26, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A distance measuring device comprises a motor ( 120 ), a control box ( 130 ) and a code disc ( 150 ). Relative rotation occurs between the control box ( 130 ) and the code disc ( 150 ) driven by the motor. A point position tooth ( 151 A) is comprised on the code disc ( 150 ). The control box ( 130 ) comprises a distance measuring unit ( 142 ), a detection part ( 144 ) and a control unit ( 140 ). The detection part ( 144 ) comprises a light emitter ( 1440 ) and a light receiver ( 1441 ) which are correspondingly arranged. The control box ( 130 ) is rotated relative to the code disc ( 150 ), so that the point position tooth ( 151 A) passes through a corresponding position between the light emitter ( 1440 ) and the light receiver ( 1441 ); the control unit ( 140 ) receives the signal output of the light receiver ( 1441 ), judges the information on alignment status of the point position tooth ( 151 A) with the corresponding position, and sends a start or stop operation instruction to the distance measuring unit ( 142 ) on the basis of the status information. A method for seeking a distance measuring starting point is also provided, scan data is obtained by using a synchronous scanning mode of the code disc, and the starting point is judged on the basis of the output waveform of the code disc.

Claims (3)

1. A method for seeking a distance measuring starting point with a distance measuring device, wherein the distance measuring device comprises a motor, a control box and a code disc; a point position tooth is provided on the code disc; the control box comprises a distance measuring unit, a detection part and a control unit; the detection part comprises a light emitter and a light receiver which are arranged correspondingly; and a plurality of equidistant teeth are further provided on the circumference of the code disc evenly, and the tooth width of the point position tooth is smaller or larger than that of the equidistant teeth, the method comprising:

along with the rotating of the motor, the control box in the distance measuring device rotates relative to the code disc, so that the point position tooth and the equidistant teeth pass through a corresponding position between the light emitter and the light receiver; when the point position tooth or the equidistant teeth is just located in the corresponding position, the light receiver outputs a high level, otherwise the light receiver outputs a low level; and as the control box rotates a circle relative to the code disc, the light receiver outputs waves with square waveforms, including several equal-pitch square waves and a first square wave and a second square wave narrower than the first square wave, to the control unit; and

the control unit detects and recognizes the waveforms; when the first square wave or the second square wave is detected at a first time, the control unit sends a start operation instruction to the distance measuring unit; and when the first square wave or the second square wave is detected at a second time, the control unit sends a stop operation instruction to the distance measuring unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2016
From: TANG, JINJU
To: ECOVACS ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 039206/0665 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 2013 1 0593673 · Nov 21, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160290834A1 · Oct 6, 2016