EP0525747A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Distance measuring apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1992-07-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A distance measuring apparatus comprises light projecting means for projecting a light beam toward an object, first light receiving means for receiving the reflected light of the projected light beam from the object, second light receiving means for receiving the reflected light of the projected light beam projected from the light projecting means by glass between the distance measuring apparatus and the object, distance calculator means for evaluating the output from the first light receiving means and calculating the distance of the object, and distance information evaluator means for detecting the presence of glass from the output of the second light receiving means, and setting predetermined distance information irrespective of the result of the calculation by the distance calculator means when glass is detected.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideo c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Taka
- 👤 Kazuyuki c/o Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Maeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:45
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/28; G02B7/30; G02B7/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: light projecting means for projecting a light beam toward an object; first light receiving means for receiving the reflected light of said projected light beam from said object; second light receiving means for receiving the reflected light of said projected light beam projected from said light projecting means by glass between said distance measuring apparatus and said object; distance calculator means for evaluating the output from said first light receiving means and calculating the distance of the object; and distance information evaluator means for detecting the presence of glass from the output of said second light receiving means, and setting predetermined distance information irrespective of the result of the calculation by said distance calculator means when glass is detected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: light projecting means for projecting a light beam toward an object; first light receiving means for receiving the reflected light of said projected light beam from said object; second light receiving means for receiving the reflected light of said projected light beam projected from said light projecting means by glass between said distance measuring apparatus and said object; distance calculator means for evaluating the output from said first light receiving means and calculating the distance of the object; and distance information evaluator means for detecting the presence of glass from the output of said second light receiving means, and setting predetermined distance information irrespective of the result of the calculation by said distance calculator means when glass is detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said predetermined distance information is long distance information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said second light receiving means is independent light receiving means disposed at a location spaced apart from said first light receiving means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein said second light receiving means serves also as light receiving means for detecting an object at an extremely close distance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said distance information evaluator means evaluates the light receiving states of said first and second light receiving means, and when said second light receiving means mainly receives the reflected light, detects that the object is at an extremely close distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said light projecting means comprises a plurality of light projection elements, said first light receiving means comprises a plurality of light receiving elements corresponding to said plurality of light projection elements, said distance calculator means measures the distance of the object on the basis of a predetermined combination of said plurality of light projection and light receiving elements, and said second light receiving means is a light receiving element of said first light receiving means which is combined with said light projection elements in any other combination than said predetermined combination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said predetermined distance information is long distance information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein even when it detects the presence of glass from the output of said second light receiving means, said distance information evaluator means determines distance information on the basis of the result of the calculation by said distance calculator means determined from the output of said first light receiving means if the quantity of light received by said first light receiving means exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: light projecting means for projecting a light beam toward an object; light receiving means for receiving the reflected light of said projected light beam from said object; glass detecting means for receiving the reflected light of said projected light beam projected from said light projecting means by glass between said distance measuring apparatus and said object; distance calculator means for evaluating the output from said light receiving means and calculating the distance of the object; and distance information evaluator means for detecting the presence of glass from the output of said glass detecting means, and setting predetermined distance information irrespective of the result of the calculation by said distance calculator means when glass is detected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: light projecting means for projecting a light beam toward an object; light receiving means for receiving the reflected light of said projected light beam from said object; glass detecting means for receiving the reflected light of said projected light beam projected from said light projecting means by glass between said distance measuring apparatus and said object; distance calculator means for evaluating the output from said light receiving means and calculating the distance of the object; and distance information evaluator means for detecting the presence of glass from the output of said glass detecting means, and setting predetermined distance information irrespective of the result of the calculation by said distance calculator means when glass is detected.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein said predetermined distance information is long distance information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein said glass detecting means is independent light receiving means disposed at a location spaced apart from said light receiving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein said glass detecting means serves also as light receiving means for detecting an object at an extremely close distance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein said distance information evaluator means evaluates said light receiving means and said glass detecting means and detects, when said glass detection means mainly receives the reflected light, that the object is located at extremely close distance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
150 words
A distance measuring apparatus having a plurality of light projection elements for projecting a light beam toward an object and a plurality of light receiving elements for receiving the reflected light of said projected light beam from said light projection elements by said object, and capable of measuring a plurality of distance measuring fields of view by making said light projection and light receiving elements correspond to one another in a predetermined combination, said distance measuring apparatus comprising: selector means for combining said light projection elements and said light receiving elements in any other combination than said predetermined combination; and distance information evaluator means for evaluating the output information of each of said light receiving elements and detecting glass between said distance measuring apparatus and said object from the quantity of reflected light of the projected light from the light projection elements by any other combination than said predetermined combination.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
150 words
A distance measuring apparatus having a plurality of light projection elements for projecting a light beam toward an object and a plurality of light receiving elements for receiving the reflected light of said projected light beam from said light projection elements by said object, and capable of measuring a plurality of distance measuring fields of view by making said light projection and light receiving elements correspond to one another in a predetermined combination, said distance measuring apparatus comprising: selector means for combining said light projection elements and said light receiving elements in any other combination than said predetermined combination; and distance information evaluator means for evaluating the output information of each of said light receiving elements and detecting glass between said distance measuring apparatus and said object from the quantity of reflected light of the projected light from the light projection elements by any other combination than said predetermined combination.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein long distance information is set as distance information when said distance information evaluator means detects the presence of glass.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein even when said distance information evaluator means detects the presence of glass, if the output from the light projection and light receiving elements by said predetermined combination exceeds a predetermined value, distance information is set by the output by said combination.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein an extremely close distance is set as distance information when the quantity of reflected light from the light projection elements by any other combination than said predetermined combination exceeds a predetermined quantity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
108 words
A distance measuring apparatus including: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto an object; (b) light receiving means for receiving reflected light from the object by said light projection, said light receiving means having first and second ranges as ranges for receiving said reflected light; and (c) a processing circuit for finding the distance of the object by a light reception output based on the reflected light received by the first range of said light receiving means, and judging whether said light projection has been effected through a light-transmitting substance by a light reception output based on the reflected light received by said second range.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
A distance measuring apparatus including: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto an object; (b) light receiving means for receiving reflected light from the object by said light projection, said light receiving means having first and second ranges as ranges for receiving said reflected light; and (c) a processing circuit for finding the distance of the object by a light reception output based on the reflected light received by the first range of said light receiving means, and judging whether said light projection has been effected through a light-transmitting substance by a light reception output based on the reflected light received by said second range.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
99 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto an object; (b) light receiving means for receiving reflected light from the object by said light projection, said light receiving means having first and second ranges as ranges for receiving said reflected light; and (c) a processing circuit for finding the distance of the object by a light reception output based on reflected light received by the first range of said light receiving means, and judging the long distance by a light reception output based on the reflected light received by said second range.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
99 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto an object; (b) light receiving means for receiving reflected light from the object by said light projection, said light receiving means having first and second ranges as ranges for receiving said reflected light; and (c) a processing circuit for finding the distance of the object by a light reception output based on reflected light received by the first range of said light receiving means, and judging the long distance by a light reception output based on the reflected light received by said second range.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 18, wherein said light receiving means has a first light receiving portion having said first light receiving range, and a second light receiving portion provided independently of said first light receiving portion and having said second light receiving range.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said light receiving means has a first light receiving portion having said first light receiving range, and a second light receiving portion provided independently of said first light receiving portion and having said second light receiving range.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
65 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 18, wherein said processing circuit judges that the light projection has been effected through the light-transmitting substance when the light reception output based on the reflected light received by said second range is in a first state, and judges that the distance is shorter than a predetermined distance when said light reception output is in a second state.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
61 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said processing circuit judges that the distance is a long distance when the light reception output based on the reflected light received by said second range is in a first state and judges that the distance is shorter than a predetermined distance when said light reception output is in a second state.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
181 words
A distance measuring apparatus including: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto different areas of a scene including at least first and second areas; (b) light receiving means for receiving reflected light of the light beam projected onto each of said areas from an object; and (c) a processing circuit having a first processing mode in which the distance in said first area is found on the basis of the light reception output of said light receiving means for the reflected light by the projection of the light beam onto said first area and the distance in said second area is found on the basis of the light reception output of said light receiving means for the reflected light by the projection of the light beam onto said second area, and a second processing mode in which whether the light projection has been effected through a light-transmitting substance is judged on the basis of the light reception output of said light receiving means for the reflected light by the projection of the light beam onto said first area.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
181 words
A distance measuring apparatus including: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto different areas of a scene including at least first and second areas; (b) light receiving means for receiving reflected light of the light beam projected onto each of said areas from an object; and (c) a processing circuit having a first processing mode in which the distance in said first area is found on the basis of the light reception output of said light receiving means for the reflected light by the projection of the light beam onto said first area and the distance in said second area is found on the basis of the light reception output of said light receiving means for the reflected light by the projection of the light beam onto said second area, and a second processing mode in which whether the light projection has been effected through a light-transmitting substance is judged on the basis of the light reception output of said light receiving means for the reflected light by the projection of the light beam onto said first area.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein said processing circuit sets a long distance as the distance when it judges that the light projection has been effected through the light-transmitting substance.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
122 words
A distance measuring apparatus including: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto different areas of a scene; (b) light receiving means having a plurality of light receiving ranges for receiving reflected light from an object by the light beam projected onto each of said areas, the light receiving range for the reflected light from each of said areas being set to a predetermined combination; and (c) a processing circuit for finding the distance in each of said areas on the basis of the light reception output in each of said light receiving ranges, and judging that the light projection has been effected through a light-transmitting substance, on the basis of the light reception output when said combination is changed.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
122 words
A distance measuring apparatus including: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto different areas of a scene; (b) light receiving means having a plurality of light receiving ranges for receiving reflected light from an object by the light beam projected onto each of said areas, the light receiving range for the reflected light from each of said areas being set to a predetermined combination; and (c) a processing circuit for finding the distance in each of said areas on the basis of the light reception output in each of said light receiving ranges, and judging that the light projection has been effected through a light-transmitting substance, on the basis of the light reception output when said combination is changed.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
126 words
A distance measuring apparatus including: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto different areas of a scene; (b) light receiving means having a plurality of light receiving ranges for receiving reflected light from an object by the light beam projected onto each of said areas, the light receiving range for the reflected light from each of said areas being set to a predetermined combination; and (c) a processing circuit having a first mode for finding the distance in each of said areas on the basis of the light reception output in each of said light receiving ranges, and a second mode for judging that the distance is a long distance, on the basis of the light reception output when said combination is changed.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
126 words
A distance measuring apparatus including: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto different areas of a scene; (b) light receiving means having a plurality of light receiving ranges for receiving reflected light from an object by the light beam projected onto each of said areas, the light receiving range for the reflected light from each of said areas being set to a predetermined combination; and (c) a processing circuit having a first mode for finding the distance in each of said areas on the basis of the light reception output in each of said light receiving ranges, and a second mode for judging that the distance is a long distance, on the basis of the light reception output when said combination is changed.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to Claim 26, wherein said processing circuit sets a long distance as the distance when it judges that the light projection has been effected through the light-transmitting substance.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
141 words
A distance measuring apparatus including: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto different areas of a scene; (b) a plurality of light receiving means for receiving reflected light from an object by the light beam projected onto each of said areas; and (c) a processing circuit having a first mode for making the reflected light from the object by the light beam projected onto each of said areas and said light receiving means correspond to each other by a predetermined combination, and finding the distance of the object in each of said areas by the output of each of said light receiving means in said combination, and a second mode for judging whether the light projection has been effected through a light-transmitting substance, by the outputs of said light receiving means in the other combinations than said combination.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
141 words
A distance measuring apparatus including: (a) light projecting means for projecting a light beam onto different areas of a scene; (b) a plurality of light receiving means for receiving reflected light from an object by the light beam projected onto each of said areas; and (c) a processing circuit having a first mode for making the reflected light from the object by the light beam projected onto each of said areas and said light receiving means correspond to each other by a predetermined combination, and finding the distance of the object in each of said areas by the output of each of said light receiving means in said combination, and a second mode for judging whether the light projection has been effected through a light-transmitting substance, by the outputs of said light receiving means in the other combinations than said combination.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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