Speed detection apparatus for camera
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
- projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam a predetermined number of times toward an object;
light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position;
distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of a output from said light-receiving means;
integration means for integrating the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected; and
speed calculation means for subtracting from an output of said integration means a product of a distance signal output corresponding to a pulse beam in a last stage of the repetitively projected pulse beams and an object distance measurement time, and calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction.
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Abstract
A speed detection apparatus includes a projection unit for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object. A light-receiving unit is arranged to be separated from the projection unit by a base length, receives the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generates an output according to the light-receiving position. A distance calculation unit calculates a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from the light-receiving unit. An integration circuit integrates the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected. A speed calculation unit calculates a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from the integration circuit.
19 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam a predetermined number of times toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of a output from said light-receiving means; integration means for integrating the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected; and speed calculation means for subtracting from an output of said integration means a product of a distance signal output corresponding to a pulse beam in a last stage of the repetitively projected pulse beams and an object distance measurement time, and calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for integrating the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means and an output from said distance calculation means.
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5. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam a predetermined number of times toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; first and second integration means for integrating the distance signal; switching means for selectively supplying an output from said distance calculation means to one of said first and second integration means; timing means for instructing said projection means to project light, and switching said switching means to supply the output from said distance calculation means to said first integration means during light projection operations in a former half of the predetermined number times, and to supply the output from said distance calculation means to said second integration means during light projection operations in a latter half of the predetermined number times; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of a difference between outputs from said first and second integration means.
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6. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; first integration means for integrating the distance signal at a first timing at which the pulse beam is projected; second integration means for integrating the distance signal at a second timing at which the pulse beam is projected; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of a difference between outputs from said first and second integration means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for calculating a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for integrating the distance signal to obtain a moving speed of the object; projection calculation means for calculating a light emission interval or the number of times of light emissions in accordance with the distance signal at an initial projection timing of the repetitively projected pulse beams; projection control means for controlling said projection means on the basis of the light emission interval or the number of times of light emissions calculated by said projection calculation means; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a current signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; inversion means for inverting a flow direction of the current signal output from said distance calculation means; integration means for performing a positive integration based on the current signal or a negative integration based on the current signal output from said inversion means in accordance with the light projection operations; and means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for performing a positive integration a plurality of times or performing a negative integration a same number of times as the positive integrations on the basis of the distance signal; and means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means.
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15. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for positively integrating the distance signal at odd-numbered light projection timings, and negatively integrating the distance signal at even-numbered light projection timings; discrimination means for discriminating on the basis of an output from said integration means whether or not the object is moving at a speed higher than a given limit speed, or whether or not the object is located at a far position, and for, when it is discriminated that the object is moving at a speed higher than the given limit speed or that the object is located at the far position, outputting an alarm signal; reset means for resetting an integration value of said integration means on the basis of the alarm signal; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said distance calculation means; discrimination means for discriminating on the basis of an output from said integration means whether or not detection reliability of the moving speed of the object is high, and for, when it is discriminated that the reliability is low, outputting an alarm signal; reset means for resetting an integration value of said integration means on the basis of the alarm signal; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward an object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said distance calculation means; discrimination means for discriminating on the basis of an output from said distance calculation means whether or not detection reliability of the moving speed of the object is high, and for, when it is discriminated that the reliability is low, outputting an alarm signal; reset means for resetting an integration value of said integration means on the basis of the alarm signal; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object in an optical axis direction on the basis of an output from said integration means. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A speed detection apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward and object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance signal according to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; integration means for integrating the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected; and speed calculation means for calculating a moving speed of the object on the basis of an output from said integration means.
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27. A moving object distance prediction apparatus comprising:
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projection means for repetitively projecting a pulse beam toward and object; light-receiving means, arranged to be separated from said projection means by a base length, for receiving the pulse beam reflected by the object, and generating an output according to a light-receiving position; distance calculation means for outputting a distance equal inversely proportional to a distance to the object upon reception of an output from said light-receiving means; storage means for storing an initial position of the object at an initial projection timing of the pulse beams; displacement rate calculation means for adding the distance signal every time the pulse beam is projected after the initial position is calculated, and outputting a rate of displacement over time of the object; and prediction means for obtaining a correction amount on the basis of the initial position and the rate of displacement over time, and predicting a position of the object after an elapse of a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An auto-focus apparatus comprising:
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projection means for projecting a distance measurement beam toward an object; distance measurement means for receiving the beam projected by said projection means and reflected by the object, and outputting a signal according to a distance to the object; projection control means for causing said projection means to repetitively project the beam a plurality of times; prediction means, including integration means for integrating an output from said distance measurement means every time said projection means projects the beam, for predicting a position of the object upon exposure on the basis of the integration result and an output from said distance measurement means; and drive means for driving a taking lens to the predicted position. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification