Distance measuring apparatus
First Claim
1. A distance measuring apparatus comprising:
- scanning and applying means for applying a forward laser beam to a prescribed detection area, and controlling the forward laser beam to scan the detection area along a scanning direction;
reflected light detecting means for receiving an echo laser beam caused by reflection of the forward laser beam at an object, the reflected light detecting means including a photodetector array in which a plurality of photo detecting elements are arranged in at least one of the scanning direction and a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, the photodetector array having a visual field wider than a visual field corresponding to the detection area;
changing and selecting means for selecting at least one among the photo detecting elements as an effective element and changing the effective element from one to another in response to a direction of the application of the forward laser beam;
time difference measuring means for measuring a time difference between a moment of the application of the forward laser beam by the scanning and applying means and a moment of the reception of the echo laser beam by the reflected light receiving means;
distance calculating means for calculating one of (1) a distance to the object and (2) a physical quantity indicative of the distance to the object on the basis of the time difference measured by the time difference measuring means; and
correspondence relation grasping means for identifying at least one among the photo detecting elements which receives an echo laser beam corresponding to the forward laser beam applied in a specified direction, and for grasping an actual correspondence relation between directions of the application of the forward laser beam and the photo detecting elements receiving corresponding echo laser beams on the basis of a relation between the identified photo detecting element and the specified direction;
wherein the changing and selecting means includes means for selecting at least one among the photo detecting elements as an effective element and changing the effective element from one to another in response to the direction of the application of the forward laser beam according to the actual correspondence relation grasped by the correspondence relation grasping means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distance measuring apparatus controls a forward laser beam to scan a detection area. A photodetector array includes a plurality of photo detecting elements. At least one is selected among the photo detecting elements as an effective element, and the effective element is changed from one to another in response to the direction of the forward laser beam. Identification is given of at least one among the photo detecting elements which receives an echo laser beam corresponding to the forward laser beam in a specified direction. An actual correspondence relation between directions of the forward laser beam and the photo detecting elements receiving corresponding echo laser beams is grasped on the basis of a relation between the identified photo detecting element and the specified direction. The selection and change of the effective element are executed according to the grasped actual correspondence relation.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A distance measuring apparatus comprising:
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scanning and applying means for applying a forward laser beam to a prescribed detection area, and controlling the forward laser beam to scan the detection area along a scanning direction;
reflected light detecting means for receiving an echo laser beam caused by reflection of the forward laser beam at an object, the reflected light detecting means including a photodetector array in which a plurality of photo detecting elements are arranged in at least one of the scanning direction and a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, the photodetector array having a visual field wider than a visual field corresponding to the detection area;
changing and selecting means for selecting at least one among the photo detecting elements as an effective element and changing the effective element from one to another in response to a direction of the application of the forward laser beam;
time difference measuring means for measuring a time difference between a moment of the application of the forward laser beam by the scanning and applying means and a moment of the reception of the echo laser beam by the reflected light receiving means;
distance calculating means for calculating one of (1) a distance to the object and (2) a physical quantity indicative of the distance to the object on the basis of the time difference measured by the time difference measuring means; and
correspondence relation grasping means for identifying at least one among the photo detecting elements which receives an echo laser beam corresponding to the forward laser beam applied in a specified direction, and for grasping an actual correspondence relation between directions of the application of the forward laser beam and the photo detecting elements receiving corresponding echo laser beams on the basis of a relation between the identified photo detecting element and the specified direction;
wherein the changing and selecting means includes means for selecting at least one among the photo detecting elements as an effective element and changing the effective element from one to another in response to the direction of the application of the forward laser beam according to the actual correspondence relation grasped by the correspondence relation grasping means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A radar apparatus comprising:
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a photodetector array including a plurality of photo detecting pixels;
first means for emitting a forward laser beam in specified one among prescribed forward beam directions and detecting one among the photo detecting pixels of the photodetector array which receives an echo laser beam caused by reflection of the emitted forward laser beam at an object, the prescribed forward beam directions corresponding to segments of a prescribed detection area respectively;
second means for determining a correspondence relation between the prescribed forward beam directions and the photo detecting pixels of the photodetector array on the basis of a relation between the specified forward beam direction and the photo detecting pixel detected by the first means, the determined correspondence relation indicating which of the photo detecting pixels is expected to receive an echo laser beam when the forward laser beam is emitted in each of the prescribed forward beam directions;
third means for emitting the forward laser beam and sequentially changing a direction of the emitted forward laser beam among the prescribed forward beam directions to sequentially apply the forward laser beam to the segments of the detection area and thereby scan the detection area; and
fourth means for, when the forward laser beam is emitted in each of the prescribed forward beam directions by the third means, selecting one among the photo detecting pixels of the photodetector array as an effective pixel and setting others of the photo detecting pixels as ineffective pixels in accordance with the correspondence relation determined by the second means.
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15. A radar apparatus comprising:
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a photodetector array including a plurality of photo detecting pixels;
first means for applying a forward laser beam to specified one among segments of a prescribed detection area and detecting one among the photo detecting pixels of the photodetector array which receives an echo laser beam caused by reflection of the emitted forward laser beam at an object;
second means for determining a correspondence relation between the segments of the detection area and the photo detecting pixels of the photodetector array on the basis of a relation between the specified segment and the photo detecting pixel detected by the first means, the determined correspondence relation indicating which of the photo detecting pixels is expected to receive an echo laser beam when the forward laser beam is applied to each of the segments of the detection area;
third means for sequentially applying the forward laser beam to the segments of the detection area to scan the detection area; and
fourth means for, when the forward laser beam is applied to each of the segments of the detection area by the third means, selecting one among the photo detecting pixels of the photodetector array as an effective pixel and setting others of the photo detecting pixels as ineffective pixels in accordance with the correspondence relation determined by the second means.
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Specification