Multi-point distance measuring apparatus

• US 5,751,409 A
• Filed: 09/27/1995
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Koyama, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/534,647
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 356/3.14, 356/3.15, 356/3.08, 396/89
• US Class Current: 356/3.14
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/08 Use of electric radiation detectors

Abstract

An optical apparatus for performing multi-point distance measurement by measuring the distance to an object using a triangulation method and light received from the object, includes first and second light-receiving systems each constituted by a multi-eye lens in which a plurality of elementary lenses are disposed adjacent to each other in a base line direction, and a photoelectric conversion element. The first and second light-receiving systems respectively form images of regions of the object, which correspond to the elementary lenses constituting the multi-eye lenses and are separated from each other, on the photoelectric conversion elements.

Claims

1. A multi-point distance measuring apparatus for measuring a distance to an object using a triangulation method and light received from the object, comprising:

first and second light-receiving systems each constituted by a multi-eye lens in which a plurality of elementary lenses are disposed adjacent to each other in a base line direction; and

a photoelectric conversion element,

wherein said first and second light-receiving systems respectively form images of plural regions of the object, which correspond to the elementary lenses constituting the multi-eye lenses and are separated from each other, on the photoelectric conversion elements.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

shutter means having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the elementary lenses of the multi-eye lenses, and

wherein said shutter means switches images to be formed on the photoelectric conversion elements of a portion of the object by time-sharingly controlling an opening/closing operation of the apertures.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first reflection surface for deflecting light beams transmitted through the multi-eye lenses of said first and second light-receiving systems in opposite directions; and

a second reflection surface for deflecting the light beam deflected by said first reflection surface in directions parallel to optical axes of the multi-eye lenses.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light projection system for projecting a light spot onto the object, and

wherein said first and second light-receiving systems form images of light reflected by the object of the light spot projected by said light projection system on said photoelectric conversion elements.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said light projection system time-sharingly switches and projects the light spot to each of the plural regions of the object, which correspond to the elementary lenses constituting the multi-eye lenses and are separated from each other.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first and second light-receiving systems form images of light from the object on said photoelectric conversion elements, except light reflected by the object of the light spot, in a case where images of light reflected by the object of the light spot were not formed on said photoelectric conversion elements.

7. An optical apparatus, comprising:

an imaging optical system for forming an image of an object; and

a multi-point distance measuring apparatus for measuring a distance to the object using a triangulation method and light received from the object, the multi-point distance measuring apparatus, including;

first and second light-receiving systems each constituted by a multi-eye lens in which a plurality of elementary lenses are disposed adjacent to each other in a base line direction; and

a photoelectric conversion element,

wherein said first and second light-receiving systems respectively form images of plural regions of the object, which correspond to the elementary lenses constituting the multi-eye lenses and are separated from each other, on the photoelectric conversion elements, and

wherein said imaging optical system effects focusing based on the distance measured by said multi-point distance measuring apparatus.

8. An optical apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

shutter means having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the elementary lenses of the multi-eye lenses, and

wherein said shutter means switches images to be formed on the photoelectric conversion elements of a portion of the object by time-sharingly controlling an opening/closing operation of the apertures.

9. An optical apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a first reflection surface for deflecting light beams transmitted through the multi-eye lenses of said first and second light-receiving systems in opposite directions; and

a second reflection surface for deflecting the light beam deflected by said first reflection surface in directions parallel to optical axes of the multi-eye lenses.

10. An optical apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a light projection system for projecting a light spot onto the object, and

wherein said first and second light-receiving systems form images of light reflected by the object of the light spot projected by said light projection system on said photoelectric conversion elements.

11. An optical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said light projection system time-sharingly switches and projects the light spot to each of the plural regions of the object, which correspond to the elementary lenses constituting the multi-eye lenses and are separated from each other.

12. An optical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first and second light-receiving systems form images of light from the object on said photoelectric conversion elements, except light reflected by the object of the light spot, in a case where images of light reflected by the object of the light spot are not formed on said photoelectric conversion elements.

13. An optical apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 12, comprising a camera.