Object detecting apparatus
First Claim
1. An object detecting apparatus comprising:
- a light projector that includesan array light source in which each of a plurality of light emission areas emits light, anda coupling lens;
a light-projection optical scanner that performs scanning with the light, which is emitted from the light projector, in a first direction;
a light-reception optical scanner that reflects reflected light, which is the light with which the scanning is performed, being reflected by an object to guide the reflected light;
a light receiver that includes a photodetector and an image forming lens and receives the reflected light reflected by the light-reception optical scanner and guided by the light-reception optical scanner to the light receiver; and
a processor to detect a presence/absence of the object based on emission timing at which the light is emitted from the light projector and light receiving timing at which the light receiver receives the reflected light,wherein;
the plurality of light emission areas are disposed one-dimensionally in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the light-projection optical scanner,the light-projection optical scanner and the light-reception optical scanner rotate synchronously, anda distance between the coupling lens and the light source is identical to a focal length of the coupling lens, and the photodetector is at a position farther than a focal length of the imaging forming lens when seen from the imaging forming lens;
or alternatively, a distance between the coupling lens and the light source is longer than the focal length of the coupling lens, and the photodetector is at a position which is away from the imaging forming lens by a distance corresponding to the focal length of the imaging forming lens when seen from the imaging forming lens.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An object detecting apparatus includes: a light projection unit that is an array light source in which each of a plurality of light emission areas emits light, an optical scanning unit that performs scanning with the light, which is emitted from the light projection unit, in a first direction, and a light receiving unit that receives reflected light which is the light, with which the scanning is performed, being reflected by an object, and an object information acquiring unit that detects presence/absence of the object based on emission timing at which the light is emitted from the light projection unit and light receiving timing at which the light receiving unit receives the reflected light.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An object detecting apparatus comprising:
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a light projector that includes an array light source in which each of a plurality of light emission areas emits light, and a coupling lens; a light-projection optical scanner that performs scanning with the light, which is emitted from the light projector, in a first direction; a light-reception optical scanner that reflects reflected light, which is the light with which the scanning is performed, being reflected by an object to guide the reflected light; a light receiver that includes a photodetector and an image forming lens and receives the reflected light reflected by the light-reception optical scanner and guided by the light-reception optical scanner to the light receiver; and a processor to detect a presence/absence of the object based on emission timing at which the light is emitted from the light projector and light receiving timing at which the light receiver receives the reflected light, wherein; the plurality of light emission areas are disposed one-dimensionally in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the light-projection optical scanner, the light-projection optical scanner and the light-reception optical scanner rotate synchronously, and a distance between the coupling lens and the light source is identical to a focal length of the coupling lens, and the photodetector is at a position farther than a focal length of the imaging forming lens when seen from the imaging forming lens;
or alternatively, a distance between the coupling lens and the light source is longer than the focal length of the coupling lens, and the photodetector is at a position which is away from the imaging forming lens by a distance corresponding to the focal length of the imaging forming lens when seen from the imaging forming lens. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12)
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8. A method to detect an object, comprising:
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projecting light through a coupling lens from an array light source in which each of a plurality of light emission areas emits light; light-projection optically scanning with the light emitted from the light source in a first direction; light-reception optical scanning that reflects reflected light, which is the light with which the scanning is performed, being reflected by an object to guide the reflected light through an image forming lens to a light receiver including a photodetector; receiving reflected light reflected by the light-reception optical scanning; and detecting a presence/absence of the object based on emission timing at which the light is emitted and light receiving timing at which the reflected light is received, wherein; the plurality of light emission areas are arranged one-dimensionally in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the light-projection optical scanning, the light-projection optical scanning and the light-reception optical scanning rotate synchronously, and a distance between the coupling lens and the light source is identical to a focal length of the coupling lens, and the photodetector is at a position farther than a focal length of the imaging forming lens when seen from the imaging forming lens;
or alternatively, a distance between the coupling lens and the light source is longer than the focal length of the coupling lens, and the photodetector is at a position which is away from the imaging forming lens by a distance corresponding to the focal length of the imaging forming lens when seen from the imaging forming lens. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification