US 11,899,108 B2
Time-of-flight imaging system for autonomous movable objects
Stephan Gronenborn, Ulm (DE); Jan Jasper Van den Berg, Eindhoven (NL); Matthew John Lawrenson, Eindhoven (NL); and Nicholas Walker, Eindhoven (NL)
Assigned to TRUMPF PHOTONIC COMPONENTS GMBH, Ulm (DE)
Filed by TRUMPF Photonic Components GmbH, Ulm (DE)
Filed on Jul. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/931,518.
Application 16/931,518 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2019/050373, filed on Jan. 9, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 18 152 471 (EP), filed on Jan. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0356092 A1, Nov. 12, 2020
Int. Cl. G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); G01C 21/00 (2006.01); G01S 17/933 (2020.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/02 (2020.01); G05D 1/10 (2006.01); G01S 17/89 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 17/10 (2013.01) [G01C 21/3833 (2020.08); G01S 17/89 (2013.01); G01S 17/894 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); G01S 17/933 (2013.01); G05D 1/0088 (2013.01); G05D 1/0231 (2013.01); G05D 1/0276 (2013.01); G05D 1/101 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A guiding system for guiding an autonomous movable object, the guiding system comprising:
a time-of-flight imaging system comprising:
a first light source, wherein the first light source is arranged to illuminate a first field of detection; and
at least one light sensor, wherein the light sensor is configured to detect reflected light, wherein the detected reflected light comprises first reflected light and second reflected light, wherein the first reflected light comprises light emitted by the first light source reflected at the first field of detection, wherein the second reflected light originates from a second field of detection illuminated by a second light source, wherein the second light source is independent from the first light source, wherein the second light source is a light source coupled to a different movable object, wherein the time-of-flight imaging system is configured to differentiate between the first reflected light and the second reflected light, wherein the time-of-flight imaging system is configured to determine a depth map of the first field of detection based on the detected first reflected light, and wherein the time-of-flight imaging system is configured to generate a feedback signal for triggering a feedback action based on the detected second reflected light; and
a motion controller, wherein the motion controller is configured to receive the feedback signal, and to guide the autonomous movable object so as to change a direction of movement of the autonomous movable object based on the feedback signal.