Optical sensor operating on the transit time principle

摘要

The present invention relates to an optical sensor based on the transit time principle. The sensor includes a light source for the emission of emergent light pulses into an observed region, comprising a rotating device for rotating a beam direction of the emergent light pulses about a rotation axis orientated at right angles to the beam direction, comprising a detector for the detection of light pulses reflected by objects in the observed region, and comprising a control and evaluation unit for controlling the light source, for evaluating the light pulses detected by the detector, and for determining a distance away of an object on the basis of a measured transit time of the light pulses. The optical sensor is characterized in that the rotating device has a rotor and a stator and that the light source, the detector, and an electronic assembly forming part of the control and evaluating unit are disposed for joint rotation on the rotor.