DISTANCE MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND DISTANCE MEASUREMENT METHOD
First Claim
1. A distance measurement apparatus comprising:
- an imaging element that includes photoelectric conversion elements arranged in rows and columns, and images an object by performing exposure and readout of electric charges sequentially for each of the rows or each of the columns;
an optical system that is for forming an image of the object on the imaging element and has an in-focus position that is controllable;
control circuitry; and
a storage device, the control circuitry being operative to;
(i) control the optical system to cause the in-focus position to move at constant speed and (ii) cause the imaging element to image the object sequentially while the in-focus position is being moved at the constant speed, to obtain a plurality of blurred images;
measure a distance from a reference position in the optical system to the object using the plurality of blurred images and a point spread function dependent on object distance; and
perform, before or after the measurement of the distance, a correction process on the distance for each of the rows or each of the columns according to a movement range of the in-focus position in which the in-focus position is moved during the exposure for the each of the rows or the each of the columns when the plurality of blurred images are obtained.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distance measurement apparatus includes: an imaging element that images an object by performing exposure and readout of electric charges sequentially for each row or column; an optical system that has a controllable in-focus position; an imaging control unit that moves the in-focus position at constant speed, and causes the imaging element to image the object sequentially while the in-focus position is being moved, to obtain blurred images; a distance measurement unit that measures a distance from a reference position in the optical system to the object using the blurred images and a point spread function dependent on object distance; and a correction unit that performs a correction process on the distance for each row or column according to a movement range of the in-focus position in which the in-focus position is moved during the exposure for each row or column when the blurred images are obtained.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A distance measurement apparatus comprising:
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an imaging element that includes photoelectric conversion elements arranged in rows and columns, and images an object by performing exposure and readout of electric charges sequentially for each of the rows or each of the columns; an optical system that is for forming an image of the object on the imaging element and has an in-focus position that is controllable; control circuitry; and a storage device, the control circuitry being operative to; (i) control the optical system to cause the in-focus position to move at constant speed and (ii) cause the imaging element to image the object sequentially while the in-focus position is being moved at the constant speed, to obtain a plurality of blurred images; measure a distance from a reference position in the optical system to the object using the plurality of blurred images and a point spread function dependent on object distance; and perform, before or after the measurement of the distance, a correction process on the distance for each of the rows or each of the columns according to a movement range of the in-focus position in which the in-focus position is moved during the exposure for the each of the rows or the each of the columns when the plurality of blurred images are obtained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A distance measurement method which is used by a distance measurement apparatus including:
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an imaging element that includes photoelectric conversion elements arranged in rows and columns, and images an object by performing exposure and readout of electric charges sequentially for each of the rows or each of the columns; and an optical system that is for forming an image of the object on the imaging element and has an in-focus position that is controllable, the distance measurement method comprising; (i) controlling the optical system to cause the in-focus position to move at constant speed and (ii) causing the imaging element to image the object sequentially while the in-focus position is being moved at the constant speed, to obtain a plurality of blurred images; measuring a distance from a reference position in the optical system to the object using the plurality of blurred images and a point spread function dependent on object distance; and performing, before or after the measurement of the distance in the measuring, a correction process on the distance for each of the rows or each of the columns according to a movement range of the in-focus position in which the in-focus position is moved during the exposure for the each of the rows or the each of the columns when the plurality of blurred images are obtained. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification