×

Distance measuring apparatus

  • US 5,721,978 A
  • Filed: 08/22/1996
  • Issued: 02/24/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A distance measuring apparatus using a passive method for receiving light reflected by an object to measure distance to the object comprising:

  • two optical systems for respectively condensing the light reflected by the object;

    two light-receiving means respectively disposed in correspondence with said two optical systems to detect optical images condensed by said corresponding optical systems, each light-receiving means having first and second light-receiving portions;

    two correction filters for correcting respective sensitivities of said second light-receiving portions;

    detecting means for detecting luminance of the object on the basis of the optical images of the object received by said two second light-receiving portions;

    determining means for determining whether the luminance detected by said detecting means is high or low;

    first distance measuring means for measuring the distance to the object on the basis of the optical images received by said two second light-receiving portions when said determining means determines that the luminance is high; and

    second distance measuring means for measuring the distance to the object on the basis of the optical images received by said two first light-receiving portions when said determining means determines that the luminance is low.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×