Range finder, three-dimensional measuring method and light source apparatus

• US 7,237,919 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Azuma, Takeo, Wada, Joji, Uomori, Kenya, Morimura, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi; Jacob Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/617,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 362/11, 362/233, 362/315, 362/276, 362/802, 362/234, 362/249, 362/251, 362/250, 315/151, 315/152, 315/158, 356/3.12, 356/3.1, 356/4.01
• US Class Current: 362/11
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S17/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4815 using multiple transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4911 Transmitters

Abstract

The invention provides a range finder capable of carrying out three-dimensional measurement stably for a long period of time. A light pattern is projected on a subject by using a light source array unit in which a plurality of light sources, such as LEDs, are arranged. Even when each LED has a small light quantity, a sufficiently large quantity of light can be projected on the subject by the entire light source array unit, and hence, the three-dimensional measurement can be stably carried out. Also, a plurality of light patterns can be generated by electrically controlling a light emitting state of each LED of the light source array unit.

Claims

1. A light source apparatus for a range finder comprising a plurality of light sources arranged therein, being operable to project at least two kinds of desired light patterns according to control of a light emitting state of each of said plurality of light sources by a light source controller, wherein said plurality of light sources are arranged in an array on a flat surface with optical axes thereof disposed radially toward an object adapted for measuring a range, having linear groups aligned in parallel, and said optical axes of light sources in each said linear group are radially disposed outward in a common plane, and intensity of the light sources increases or decreases monotonically in a linear group.