US 11,792,383 B2
Method and system for reducing returns from retro-reflections in active illumination system
Bodo Schmidt, Carlsbad, CA (US); and Steve Herman, Carlsbad, CA (US)
Assigned to nLIGHT, Inc., Camas, WA (US)
Filed by nLIGHT, Inc., Camas, WA (US)
Filed on Mar. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/653,870.
Application 17/653,870 is a continuation of application No. 16/242,939, filed on Jan. 8, 2019, granted, now 11,272,162.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/614,982, filed on Jan. 8, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0303522 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 13/254 (2018.01); H04N 13/239 (2018.01); B60Q 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 13/254 (2018.05) [B60Q 1/04 (2013.01); H04N 13/239 (2018.05)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
an illuminator configured to emit an illumination signal for illuminating a scene; and
an optical receiver configured to receive returned portions of the illumination signal scattered or reflected from the scene;
wherein the illuminator and optical receiver are physically separated from each other by a predetermined distance that prevents a retro-reflection of a retroreflector from being received by the optical receiver;
wherein the predetermined distance is based on a retroreflection cone angle of the retro-reflection.