RANGING APPARATUS AND RANGING METHOD
First Claim
1. A ranging apparatus comprising:
- a light-emitting unit for emitting a series of modulated lights which are intensity-modulated and have respective different start phases at which the modulated lights start being emitted;
a light-detecting unit for detecting reflected lights from an object that is irradiated with said modulated lights; and
a calculating unit for calculating a distance up to said object based on a phase difference between said modulated lights and said reflected lights.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A first ranging apparatus includes a light-emitting unit for emitting a series of first through fourth modulated lights which have respective different start phases at which the first through fourth modulated lights start being emitted, a light-detecting unit for detecting reflected lights from an object that is irradiated with the first through fourth modulated lights, and a calculating unit for calculating the distance up to the object based on the phase difference between the first through fourth modulated lights and the reflected lights. The light-emitting unit comprises a start phase controller for controlling the start phases. The light-detecting units samples the amounts of the reflected lights in exposure periods established at a constant cycle length from the time when the modulated lights start being emitted.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A ranging apparatus comprising:
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a light-emitting unit for emitting a series of modulated lights which are intensity-modulated and have respective different start phases at which the modulated lights start being emitted; a light-detecting unit for detecting reflected lights from an object that is irradiated with said modulated lights; and a calculating unit for calculating a distance up to said object based on a phase difference between said modulated lights and said reflected lights. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A ranging method comprising the steps of:
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(a) emitting a series of modulated lights which are intensity-modulated and have respective different start phases at which the modulated lights start being emitted; (b) detecting reflected lights from an object that is irradiated with said modulated lights; and (c) calculating a distance up to said object based on a phase difference between said modulated lights and said reflected lights. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification