Distance measuring method and a distance measuring apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of obtaining distance data from an object to a lens based on an image of the object obtained by an image input unit which forms an image of the object through the lens on an image receiving plane, comprising the steps of:
- providing a single image input unit, including a lens and an image receiving plane, obtaining two images Is and Is'"'"' of an object by forming the two images Is and Is'"'"' through the lens on the image receiving plane;
obtaining the two images Is and Is'"'"' having two different first and second blurs, respectively, using said single image input unit, by setting at least one of a position of the lens and a position of the image receiving plane in relation to the object different for each of said two images Is and Is'"'"' by a minute distance Δ
z on an optical axis common to said two images Is and Is'"'"';
performing filtering processes by applying a filter to each of said two images Is and Is'"'"', thereby generating two output images Fs and Fs'"'"'; and
calculating a distance a from the lens to the object based on said generated two output images Fs and Fs'"'"' according to a relation between said generated two output images Fs and Fs'"'"' and a radius s of the first blur and a radius s'"'"' of the second blur on the image receiving plane for the object at the distance a from the lens and a relation between the radius s of the first blur and a radius s'"'"' of the second blur and the distance a from the lens to the object.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for obtaining distance data from an object to a lens by obtaining an image of the object by an image input unit for forming an image of the object through the lens on an image receiving plane. Two observed images Is and Is'"'"' with different blurs from the image input unit are obtained by making a position of the lens and/or a position of the image receiving plane with regard to the object different by a minute distance Δz. A filtering process is then performed by applying a filter to the two input observed images Is and Is'"'"', thereby providing two output images Fs and Fs'"'"'. The distance a up to the object is calculated by using the two output images Fs and Fs'"'"' obtained by the filtering process based on the relation between the two output images Fs and Fs'"'"' and radius s of the blur and the distance a from the lens to the object.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of obtaining distance data from an object to a lens based on an image of the object obtained by an image input unit which forms an image of the object through the lens on an image receiving plane, comprising the steps of:
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providing a single image input unit, including a lens and an image receiving plane, obtaining two images Is and Is'"'"' of an object by forming the two images Is and Is'"'"' through the lens on the image receiving plane; obtaining the two images Is and Is'"'"' having two different first and second blurs, respectively, using said single image input unit, by setting at least one of a position of the lens and a position of the image receiving plane in relation to the object different for each of said two images Is and Is'"'"' by a minute distance Δ
z on an optical axis common to said two images Is and Is'"'"';performing filtering processes by applying a filter to each of said two images Is and Is'"'"', thereby generating two output images Fs and Fs'"'"'; and calculating a distance a from the lens to the object based on said generated two output images Fs and Fs'"'"' according to a relation between said generated two output images Fs and Fs'"'"' and a radius s of the first blur and a radius s'"'"' of the second blur on the image receiving plane for the object at the distance a from the lens and a relation between the radius s of the first blur and a radius s'"'"' of the second blur and the distance a from the lens to the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A distance measuring apparatus comprising:
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a single image input unit including a lens and an image receiving plane, obtaining two observed images of an object on the image receiving plane and outputting the two observed images; first operation means for receiving a first image of said two observed images from said single image input unit and for applying a filtering process to the first image input from said single image input unit by performing a Fourier transformation for a respective predetermined frequency k; second operation means for receiving a second image of said two observed images from said single image input unit and for applying said filtering process of said first operation means to the second image input from the single image input unit if at least one of a lens position, a position of the image receiving plane, and a position of the single image input unit is moved from a position of said first image; and third operation means for obtaining a distance from the lens to the object based on a result of the first operation means for the first image, a result of the second operation means for the second image and a distance in which said at least one of the lens, the image receiving plane and the single image input unit are moved. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification