Focus detecting apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements formed on a single planar substrate and divided into two similar coplanar detector arrays lying immediately adjacent each other, all of the elements in each of said arrays being closely spaced along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means defining a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means defining a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and with changes in the relative positions of said auxiliary means and said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, and control means connected to receive and to be responsive to said output signal for effecting relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays, along said line of the said elements thereof, to establish a condition in which the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical and said output signal reaches the minimum value therefor, to provide a measure of the distance between the object and said arrays.

Claim 3

Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said control means is coupled to at least a portion of said auxiliary means to effect said relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays by moving said portion relative to the corresponding one of said arrays to a position at which said output signal reaches said minimum value therefor, said position of said portion providing a measure of the distance between the object and said arrays.

Claim 4

Apparatus as specified in claim 2, wherein each of said auxiliary means includes a lens means for forming the corresponding one of said detection images on the corresponding one of said arrays, and wherein at least one of said lens means is said portion which is moved by said control means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as specified in claim 3, wherein said lines of said elements of said arrays lie in end to end relationship, and wherein said moved lens means is moved along a path parallel to said lines.

Claim 6

Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said control means is coupled to said substrate to effect said relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays by moving said substrate substantially at right angles to the direction of said optical paths to a position at which said output signal reaches said minimum value therefor, said position of said substrate providing a measure of the distance between said object and said arrays, and wherein one of said auxiliary means includes optical means for altering the angle of incidence of the corresponding one of said optical paths with respect to the corresponding one of said arrays.

Claim 7

Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said line of the elements of one of said arrays lies parallel to the line of the elements of the other of said arrays, with the elements of each pair of corresponding elements of the two arrays being adjacent each other and displaced along a line extending at right angles to said parallel lines of elements, and wherein each of said optical paths includes light pipe means for forming the corresponding one of said detection images along the line of elements of the corresponding one of said arrays.

Claim 8

Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said signal processing means includes means for providing a plurality of absolute value signals, each of which represents the absolute value of the difference between the corresponding two compared ones of said signals from said elements, and wherein said output signal is representative of the sum of said absolute value signals.

Claim 9

Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said signal processing means includes means for providing a plurality of square value signals, each of which represents the square of the difference between the corresponding two compared ones of said signals from said elements, and wherein said output signal is representative of the sum of said square value signals.

Claim 10

Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said signal processing means includes first diode means for providing a first plurality of signals, each of which represents the difference between the corresponding two compared ones of said signals from said elements rectified to one polarity, second diode means for providing a second plurality of signals, each of which represents the difference between the corresponding two compared ones of said signals from said elements rectified to the opposite polarity, means for producing a summation of said first plurality of signals, means for providing a summation of said second plurality of signals, means for inverting one of said summations, and means for summing said inverted summation and the other of said summations to form said output signal.

Claim 11

Apparatus as specified in claim 1, wherein said signal processing means includes means for providing a plurality of comparison signals, each of which represents the difference between the corresponding two compared ones of said signals from said elements, means for comparing said comparison signals in sequential pairs to provide a correlated signal representative of each such comparison, and means for summing the absolute values of said correlated signals to form said output signal.

Claim 12

Automatic focussing apparatus, comprising first adjustable means for producing a principal image of an object on a predetermined plane and adjustable to focus said image on said plane, a plurality of radiation responsive elements formed on a single planar substrate and divided into two similar coplanar detector arrays lying immediately adjacent each other, all of the elements in each of said arrays being closely spaced along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means defining a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means defining a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and with changes in the relative positions of said auxiliary means and said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, control means connected to receive and to be responsive to said output signal for effecting relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays, along said line of the said elements thereof, unless and until the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical and said output signal reaches the minimum value therefor, and means coupling said control means to said first adjustable means to cause said control means to adjust said first adjustable means, simultaneously with the effecting of said relative movement, to make said principal image to be in optimum focus on said predetermined plane whenever the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 13

Automatic focussing apparatus, comprising first adjustable means for producing a principal image of an object on a predetermined plane and adjustable to focus said image on said plane, a plurality of radiation responsive elements formed on a single planar substrate and divided into two similar coplanar detector arrays lying immediately adjacent each other, all of the elements in each of said arrays being closely spaced along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means defining a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means defining a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and with changes in the relative positions of said auxiliary means and said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, control means connected to receive and to be responsive to said output signal for effecting relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays, along said line of the said elements thereof, unless and until the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical and said output signal reaches the minimum value therefor, and means coupling said control means to said first adjustable means to cause said control means to adjust said first adjustable means, simultaneously with the effecting of said relative movement, to make said principal image to be in optimum focus on said predetermined plane whenever the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 14

Apparatus as specified in claim 11, wherein said control means is coupled to at least a portion of said auxiliary means to effect said relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays by moving said portion relative to the corresponding one of said arrays to a position at which said output signal reaches said minimum value therefor, said position of said portion providing a measure of the distance between the object and said arrays.

Claim 15

Apparatus as specified in claim 12, wherein each of said auxiliary means includes a lens means for forming the corresponding one of said detection images on the corresponding one of said arrays, and wherein at least one of said lens means is said portion which is moved by said control means.

Claim 16

Apparatus as specified in claim 13, wherein said lines of said elements of said arrays lie in end to end relationship, and wherein said moved lens means is moved along a path parallel to said lines.

Claim 17

Apparatus as specified in claim 11, wherein said control means is coupled to said substrate to effect said relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays by moving said substrate substantially at right angles to the direction of said optical paths to a position at which said output signal reaches said minimum value therefor, said position of said substrate providing a measure of the distance between said object and said arrays, and wherein one of said auxiliary means includes optical means for altering the angle of incidence of the corresponding one of said optical paths with respect to the corresponding one of said arrays.

Claim 18

Apparatus as specified in claim 11, wherein said line of the elements of one of said arrays lies parallel to the line of the elements of the other of said arrays, with the elements of each pair of corresponding elements of the two arrays being adjacent each other and displaced along a line extending at right angles to said parallel lines of elements, and wherein each of said optical paths includes light pipe means for forming the corresponding one of said detection images along the line of elements of the corresponding one of said arrays.

Claim 19

Apparatus as specified in claim 11, wherein said signal processing means includes means for providing a plurality of absolute value signals, each of which represents the absolute value of the difference between the corresponding two compared ones of said signals from said elements, and wherein said output signal is representative of the sum of said absolute value signals.

Claim 20

Apparatus as specified in claim 11, wherein said signal processing means includes means for providing a plurality of square value signals, each of which represents the square of the difference between the corresponding two compared ones of said signals from said elements, and wherein said output signal is representative of the sum of said square value signals.

Claim 21

Apparatus as specified in claim 11, wherein said signal processing means includes first diode means for providing a first plurality of signals, each of which represents the difference between the corresponding two compared ones of said signals from said elements rectified to one polarity, second diode means for providing a second plurality of signals, each of which represents the difference between the corresponding two compared ones of said signals from said elements rectified to the opposite polarity, means for producing a summation of said first plurality of signals, means for providing a summation of said second plurality of signals, means for inverting one of said summations, and means for summing said inverted summation and the other of said summations to form said output signal.

Claim 22

Apparatus as specified in claim 11, wherein said signal processing means includes means for providing a plurality of comparison signals, each of which represents the difference between the corresponding two compared ones of said signals from said elements, means for comparing said comparison signals in sequential pairs to provide a correlated signal representative of each such comparison, and means for summing the absolute values of said correlated signals to form said output signal.

Claim 23

Apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements divided into two similar detector arrays, with the elements of each of said arrays lying along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means defining a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means defining a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and with changes in the relative positions of said auxiliary means and said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, control means for effecting relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays, along said line of the elements thereof, to bring the radiation distributions of said detection images toward a condition of best correspondence on said arrays, thereby to decrease the value of said output signal toward said minimum value, the value of said output signal tending to dip to minor minima as it is reduced toward said minimum value, valley detecting means connected to respond to the value of said output signal and connected to said control means to permit said relative movement while said value of said output signal is decreasing, and to terminate said relative movement when the value of said output signal stops decreasing and starts to increase, and limiting means connected to said signal processing means to prevent the value of said output signal from exceeding an upper limit lying between the lowest of said minor minima and said minimum value, thereby to cause said relative movement to be terminated only when the value of said output signal reaches said minimum value, and to establish a condition in which the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, to provide a measure of the distance between the object and said arrays.

Claim 24

Apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements divided into two similar detector arrays, with the elements of each of said arrays lying along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means defining a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means defining a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and with changes in the relative positions of said auxiliary means and said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, control means for effecting relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays, along said line of the elements thereof, to bring the radiation distributions of said detection images toward a condition of best correspondence on said arrays, thereby to decrease the value of said output signal toward said minimum value, the value of said output signal tending to dip to minor minima as it is reduced toward said minimum value, valley detecting means connected to respond to the value of said output signal and connected to said control means to permit said relative movement while said value of said output signal is decreasing, and to terminate said relative movement when the value of said output signal stops decreasing and starts to increase, and limiting means connected to said signal processing means to prevent the value of said output signal from exceeding an upper limit lying between the lowest of said minor minima and said minimum value, thereby to cause said relative movement to be terminated only when the value of said output signal reaches said minimum value, and to establish a condition in which the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, to provide a measure of the distance between the object and said arrays.

Claim 25

Apparatus as specified in claim 21, wherein said limiting means includes a biased diode connected to clamp the upper limit of the value of said output signal.

Claim 26

Apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements divided into two similar detector arrays, with the elements of each of said arrays lying along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means defining a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means defining a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and with changes in the relative positions of said auxiliary means and said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements and including first means for deriving a log signal for each of said elements which represents the log of the intensity of radiation impinging on that element, second means for receiving and comparing the log signal for each of said elements of one of said arrays with the log signal for the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and third means for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, and control means connected to receive and to be responsive to said output signal for effecting relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays, along said line of the said elements thereof, to establish a condition in which the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical and said output signal reaches the minimum value therefor, to provide a measure of the distance between the object and said arrays.

Claim 27

Apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements divided into two similar detector arrays, with the elements of each of said arrays lying along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means defining a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means defining a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and with changes in the relative positions of said auxiliary means and said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements and including first means for deriving a log signal for each of said elements which represents the log of the intensity of radiation impinging on that element, second means for receiving and comparing the log signal for each of said elements of one of said arrays with the log signal for the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and third means for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, and control means connected to receive and to be responsive to said output signal for effecting relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays, along said line of the said elements thereof, to establish a condition in which the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical and said output signal reaches the minimum value therefor, to provide a measure of the distance between the object and said arrays.

Claim 28

Apparatus as specified in claim 23, wherein said first means includes a separate diode connected to each of said elements, and wherein each of said log signals is the signal produced across the corresponding one of said diodes as a result of the signal provided by the corresponding one of said elements.

Claim 29

Apparatus as specified in claim 23, wherein each of said elements is a photodiode, wherein said first means includes a separate diode connected across each of said photodiodes, and wherein each of said log signals is the signal produced across the corresponding one of said diodes as a result of the signal provided by the corresponding one of said elements.

Claim 30

Apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements divided into two similar, closely spaced detector arrays, with the elements of each of said arrays lying along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon. first auxiliary means defining a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means defining a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and with changes in the relative positions of said auxiliary means and said arrays, each of said auxiliary means including along the corresponding optical path a lens for receiving radition from the object, a first prism for directing the last mentioned radiation towards a corresponding one of said arrays, an aperture to pass said last mentioned radiation and to cause said corresponding array to view an exit pupil which is symmetrical with respect to said corresponding optical path, and a second prism to cause said last mentioned radiation to impinge on said corresponding array along a portion of said corresponding optical path which is substantially normal to the surface of said corresponding array, the spacing between said lenses of said first and second auxiliary means being significantly greater than the spacing between said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, and control means connected to receive and to be responsive to said output signal for effecting relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays, along said line of the said elements thereof, to establish a condition in which the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical and said output signal reaches the minimum value therefor, to provide a measure of the distance between the object and said arrays.

Claim 31

Apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements divided into two similar, closely spaced detector arrays, with the elements of each of said arrays lying along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon. first auxiliary means defining a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means defining a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and with changes in the relative positions of said auxiliary means and said arrays, each of said auxiliary means including along the corresponding optical path a lens for receiving radition from the object, a first prism for directing the last mentioned radiation towards a corresponding one of said arrays, an aperture to pass said last mentioned radiation and to cause said corresponding array to view an exit pupil which is symmetrical with respect to said corresponding optical path, and a second prism to cause said last mentioned radiation to impinge on said corresponding array along a portion of said corresponding optical path which is substantially normal to the surface of said corresponding array, the spacing between said lenses of said first and second auxiliary means being significantly greater than the spacing between said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, and control means connected to receive and to be responsive to said output signal for effecting relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays, along said line of the said elements thereof, to establish a condition in which the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical and said output signal reaches the minimum value therefor, to provide a measure of the distance between the object and said arrays.

Claim 32

Apparatus as specified in claim 26, wherein said control means is coupled to move said lens, said first prism, and said aperture of one of said auxiliary means as a unit to effect said relative movement.

Claim 33

An arrangement for use in apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements formed on a single planar substrate and divided into two similar coplanar detector arrays lying immediately adjacent each other, all of the elements in each of said arrays being closely spaced along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means providing a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means providing a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 34

An arrangement for use in apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements formed on a single planar substrate and divided into two similar coplanar detector arrays lying immediately adjacent each other, all of the elements in each of said arrays being closely spaced along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means providing a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means providing a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 35

An arrangement for use in apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements divided into two similar detector arrays, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon. first auxiliary means providing a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means providing a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, and which tends to exhibit minor minima as this condition of substantial identity is approached, valley detecting means connected to respond to the value of said output signal and to produce a change in a control signal when the value of said output signal reaches a minimum, and limiting means connected to said signal processing means to prevent the value of said output signal from exceeding an upper limit lying between the lowest of said minor minima and said minimum value, thereby to prevent the production of said control signal change by said minor minima in the value of said output signal.

Claim 36

An arrangement for use in apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements divided into two similar detector arrays, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon. first auxiliary means providing a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means providing a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, and which tends to exhibit minor minima as this condition of substantial identity is approached, valley detecting means connected to respond to the value of said output signal and to produce a change in a control signal when the value of said output signal reaches a minimum, and limiting means connected to said signal processing means to prevent the value of said output signal from exceeding an upper limit lying between the lowest of said minor minima and said minimum value, thereby to prevent the production of said control signal change by said minor minima in the value of said output signal.

Claim 37

An arrangement as specified in claim 29, wherein said limiting means includes a biased diode connected to clamp the upper limit of the value of said output signal.

Claim 38

An arrangement for use in apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements divided into two similar detector arrays, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means providing a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means providing a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object of said arrays, and signal processing means connected to said elements and including first means for deriving a log signal for each of said elements which represents the log of the intensity of radiation impinging on that element, second means for receiving and comparing the log signal for each of said elements of one of said arrays with the log signal for the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and third means for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 39

An arrangement for use in apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements divided into two similar detector arrays, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means providing a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on solely one of said arrays, second auxiliary means providing a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on solely the other of said arrays, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object of said arrays, and signal processing means connected to said elements and including first means for deriving a log signal for each of said elements which represents the log of the intensity of radiation impinging on that element, second means for receiving and comparing the log signal for each of said elements of one of said arrays with the log signal for the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and third means for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 40

An arrangement as specified in claim 31, wherein said first means includes a separate diode connected to each of said elements, and wherein each of said log signals is the signal produced across the corresponding one of said diodes as a result of the signal provided by the corresponding one of said elements.

Claim 41

An arrangement as specified in claim 31, wherein each of said elements is a photodiode, wherein said first means includes a separate diode connected across each of said photodiodes, and wherein each of said log signals is the signal produced across the corresponding one of said diodes as a result of the signal provided by the corresponding one of said photodiodes.

Claim 42

An arrangement for use in apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements formed on a single planar substrate and divided into two similar coplanar detector arrays lying immediately adjacent each other, all of the elements in each of said arrays being closely spaced along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, signal processing means formed on said substrate and connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal, housing means supporting said substrate, first optical means supported within said housing means to conduct radiation from the object to solely one of said arrays to form on the latter a first detection image of the object, and second optical means supported within said housing means to conduct radiation from the object to solely the other of said arrays to form on the latter a second detection image of the object, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and said output signal having a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 43

An arrangement for use in apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements formed on a single planar substrate and divided into two similar coplanar detector arrays lying immediately adjacent each other, all of the elements in each of said arrays being closely spaced along a line thereof, each of said elements being arranged to provide an electrical signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, signal processing means formed on said substrate and connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from the positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for summing the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal, housing means supporting said substrate, first optical means supported within said housing means to conduct radiation from the object to solely one of said arrays to form on the latter a first detection image of the object, and second optical means supported within said housing means to conduct radiation from the object to solely the other of said arrays to form on the latter a second detection image of the object, the positions and radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and said output signal having a minimum value when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 44

An arrangement as specified in claim 34, wherein said substrate is that of an integrated circuit chip.

Claim 45

Apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements which are portions of an integrated circuit chip and are in two detector arrays, each of said elements providing a signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means defining a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on one of said arrays, second auxiliary means defining a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on the other of said arrays, the radiation distributions of said detection images changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and with changes in the relative positions of either of said first and second auxiliary means and said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from a positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for using the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a predetermined characteristic when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, and control means connected to receive and to be responsive to said output signal for effecting relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays to establish a condition in which the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical and said output signal is proximate said characteristic, to provide a measure of the distance between the object and said apparatus.

Claim 46

Apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements which are portions of an integrated circuit chip and are in two detector arrays, each of said elements providing a signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means defining a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on one of said arrays, second auxiliary means defining a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on the other of said arrays, the radiation distributions of said detection images changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and with changes in the relative positions of either of said first and second auxiliary means and said arrays, signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from a positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for using the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a predetermined characteristic when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical, and control means connected to receive and to be responsive to said output signal for effecting relative movement between at least one of said detection images and the corresponding one of said arrays to establish a condition in which the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical and said output signal is proximate said characteristic, to provide a measure of the distance between the object and said apparatus.

Claim 47

Apparatus as specified in claim 36, wherein at least the portion of said signal processing means which is connected to said elements is formed as a portion of said integrated circuit chip to minimize the introduction of noise signals into said signal processing means.

Claim 48

An arrangement for use in appartus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements which are portions of an integrated circuit chip and are in two detector arrays, each of said elements providing a signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means providing a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on one of said arrays, second auxiliary means providing a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on the other of said arrays, the radiation distributions of said detection images changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from a positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for using the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a predetermined characteristic when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 49

An arrangement for use in appartus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements which are portions of an integrated circuit chip and are in two detector arrays, each of said elements providing a signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, first auxiliary means providing a first optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a first detection image thereof on one of said arrays, second auxiliary means providing a second optical path for radiation from the object and for forming a second detection image thereof on the other of said arrays, the radiation distributions of said detection images changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and signal processing means connected to said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from a positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for using the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal which has a predetermined characteristic when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 50

Apparatus as specified in claim 38, wherein at least the portion of said signal processing means which is connected to said elements is formed as a portion of said integrated circuit chip to minimize the introduction of noise signals into said signal processing means.

Claim 51

An arrangement for use in apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements which are portions of an integrated circuit chip and are in two detector arrays, each of said elements providing a signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, signal processing means connected to receive signals from said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from a positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for using the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal, at least the portion of said signal processing means which is connected to receive said signals being formed as a portion of said integrated circuit chip to minimize the introduction of noise signals into said signal processing means, housing means supporting said integrated circuit chip, first optical means having at least a portion supported within said housing means to conduct radiation from the object to one of said arrays to form on the latter a first detection image of the object, and second optical means having at least a portion supported within said housing means to conduct radiation from the object to the other of said arrays to form on the latter a second detection image of the object, the radiation distributions of said detection images changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and said output signal having a predetermined characteristic when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 52

An arrangement for use in apparatus for providing a measure of the distance between the apparatus and an object, comprising a plurality of radiation responsive elements which are portions of an integrated circuit chip and are in two detector arrays, each of said elements providing a signal representative of the intensity of radiation impinging thereon, signal processing means connected to receive signals from said elements for comparing the signal from each of said elements of one of said arrays with the signal from a positionally corresponding one of said elements of the other of said arrays, and for using the results of such comparisons to provide an output signal, at least the portion of said signal processing means which is connected to receive said signals being formed as a portion of said integrated circuit chip to minimize the introduction of noise signals into said signal processing means, housing means supporting said integrated circuit chip, first optical means having at least a portion supported within said housing means to conduct radiation from the object to one of said arrays to form on the latter a first detection image of the object, and second optical means having at least a portion supported within said housing means to conduct radiation from the object to the other of said arrays to form on the latter a second detection image of the object, the radiation distributions of said detection images changing with changes in the distance between the object and said arrays, and said output signal having a predetermined characteristic when the radiation distributions of said detection images on the corresponding arrays are substantially identical.

Claim 53

Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination: first and second light sensing means each operable to produce an output signal which varies with the intensity of light impinging upon a light receiving surface thereof, said light receiving surfaces being portions of a monolithic integrated circuit chip; light directing means to direct light from first and second fields of view to the light receiving surfaces of the first and second light sensing means respectively; signal processing means receiving the output signals from the first and second light sensing means and producing a resultant signal which has a characteristic when the light from the first and second fields of view is substantially the same; and

Claim 54

Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination: first and second light sensing means each operable to produce an output signal which varies with the intensity of light impinging upon a light receiving surface thereof, said light receiving surfaces being portions of a monolithic integrated circuit chip; light directing means to direct light from first and second fields of view to the light receiving surfaces of the first and second light sensing means respectively; signal processing means receiving the output signals from the first and second light sensing means and producing a resultant signal which has a characteristic when the light from the first and second fields of view is substantially the same; and

Claim 55

means connected to receive said resultant signal and operable to change at least one of the fields of view until the resultant signal is proximate the characteristic.

Claim 56

means connected to receive said resultant signal and operable to change at least one of the fields of view until the resultant signal is proximate the characteristic.

Claim 57

Apparatus in accordance with claim 41, wherein the characteristic of said resultant signal is a minimum value and wherein said resultant signal has other minor minima therein; and means connected to said signal processing means to provide a further signal from the resultant signal which further signal does not exceed the level which is below the lowest of the minor minima.

Claim 58

Apparatus in accordance with claim 41, wherein the resultant signal varies with the ratio of the output signals from the first and second light sensing means.

Claim 59

Apparatus in accordance with claim 43, in which the ratio is obtained by obtaining the logarithms of the output signals of the first and second light sensing means and subtracting them.