Apparatus for detecting distance to an object
First Claim
1. Apparatus for detecting the distance to an object comprising:
- an imaging lens for focussing light from the object;
first lens means for forming the light from the object and passing through said imaging lens into a plurality of light rays which are parallel when the object is disposed at the focal point of said imaging lens and which converge and diverge an amount depending on the direction and amount of displacement of the object from the focal point of said imaging lens;
separating means for separating said light rays from said first lens means into at least two bundles of light;
second lens means for forming each said bundle of light into a separate image at a respective location depending on the amount of convergence and divergence of said light rays;
light sensing means for sensing said locations of said images; and
detecting means for detecting said locations of said images on said light sensing means and for generating an output varying with the displacement of said images from the locations thereof when the object is at the focal point of said imaging lens.
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Abstract
An apparatus for detecting distance to an object is disclosed, which includes a taking or imaging lens for collecting a light from an object, a first lens device for forming the light from the object and through the taking lens to a parallel light bundle when the object is positioned at the focal point of the taking lens, a second lens device for focussing the light through the first lens device, a light sensing device for receiving the light through the second lens device, a separating device for separating the light from the first lens device into at least two bundles of light which are shifted perpendicularly to the optical axis of the second lens device, and a detecting device for detecting the displacement of the multiple images on the light sensing device caused by the separated bundles of light by the separating device when the object is not at the focal point of the taking lens and for generating an output varying with the distance to the object.
22 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for detecting the distance to an object comprising:
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an imaging lens for focussing light from the object; first lens means for forming the light from the object and passing through said imaging lens into a plurality of light rays which are parallel when the object is disposed at the focal point of said imaging lens and which converge and diverge an amount depending on the direction and amount of displacement of the object from the focal point of said imaging lens; separating means for separating said light rays from said first lens means into at least two bundles of light; second lens means for forming each said bundle of light into a separate image at a respective location depending on the amount of convergence and divergence of said light rays; light sensing means for sensing said locations of said images; and detecting means for detecting said locations of said images on said light sensing means and for generating an output varying with the displacement of said images from the locations thereof when the object is at the focal point of said imaging lens. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An automatic focusing camera comprising:
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an imaging lens for focusing light from an object a predetermined distance from said imaging lens, said imaging lens having an adjustable focal length; first means for forming the light from the object and passing through said imaging lens into a plurality of light rays which are parallel when the object is disposed at the focal point of said imaging lens and which converge and diverge an amount depending on the direction and amount of displacement of the object from the focal point of said imaging lens; separating means for separating said light rays from said first lens means into at least two bundles of light; second lens means for forming said bundles of light into respective, separate images at respective locations depending on the amount of diversions and conversions of said light rays; light sensing means for sensing said location of said images; detecting means for detecting said locations of said images on said light sensing means and for generating an output varying with the displacement of said images from the locations thereof when the object is at the focal point of said imaging lens; and focussing means responsive to said output for adjusting the focal length of said imaging lens to coincide substantially with the distance to said object from said imaging lens. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for detecting the distance to an object, comprising the steps of:
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passing the light from the object through an imaging lens; forming the light from the imaging lens into a plurality of light rays which are parallel when the object is positioned at the focal point of the imaging lens and which converge and converge an amount depending on the direction and amount of displacement of the object from the focal point of the imaging lens; separating said plurality of light rays into a plurality of light bundles; forming said bundles into respective, separate images at respective locations depending on the amount of diversions and conversions of said light rays; and detecting the amount of displacement of said images from the locations thereof when the object is at the focal point of said imaging lens. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification