Multiple ranging apparatus

• US 7,417,716 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Narasako, Seiichi, Nagasaka, Kohji
• Primary Examiner(s): ALSOMIRI, ISAM A
• Application Number:
  US11/063,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 356/3.1, 356 401- 515, 356/28, 356/614, 356/623, 382/103, 382/106, 382/107, 257/440, 250/226
• US Class Current: 356/4.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/48 Active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4814 of transmitters alone
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/167 comprising optoelectronic devices, e.g. LED, photodiodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0203 Containers; Encapsulations , e.g. encapsulation of photodiodesfor photovoltaic devices H01L31/048; for organic photosensitive devices H10K30/80
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/173 formed in, or on, a common substrate

Abstract

A multiple ranging apparatus has a light emitting section constituted by a plurality of aligned LEDs which emit light rays of wavelengths different from one another, and a light receiving section constituted by a plurality of aligned PSD parts which have wavelength sensitivities corresponding to the different wavelengths of the light rays emitted from the LEDs. Thus, even when ranging of respective points is simultaneously measured in multiple ranging measurement, it is possible to identify which LED the light is emitted from, and therefore, to simultaneously measure the distances of two or more points.

Claims

1. A multiple ranging apparatus comprising:

a light emitting section;

an optical lens for beam-forming light emitted from the light emitting section;

a condensing section for condensing part of light emitted from the light emitting section and diffusely reflected by an object to form light spots; and

a light receiving section for outputting signals which represent;

a) amounts of received light of the light spots formed by the condensing section, and

b) positions of the light spots;

wherein the light emitting section includes a wavelength multiplying unit for multiplying a wavelength of the emitted light; and

wherein the light receiving section includes a wavelength-by-wavelength light receiving unit for separating and receiving the light rays having a plurality of wavelengths multiplied by the wavelength multiplying unit.

2. The multiple ranging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the wavelength multiplying unit is formed by a plurality of light emitting elements which respectively emit light rays having wavelengths different from one another.

3. The multiple ranging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the light receiving section includes a plurality of PSDs.

4. The multiple ranging apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the plurality of PSDs have wavelength sensitivities different from one another and constitute the wavelength-by-wavelength light receiving unit.

5. The multiple ranging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the condensing section is formed by a convex lens.

6. The multiple ranging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the condensing section is formed by a toroidal lens.

7. The multiple ranging apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wavelength multiplying unit is formed by a plurality of optical filters which permit light rays having wavelengths different from one another to pass through, and

wherein the light receiving section includes a plurality of PSDs.