Distance detecting apparatus

Claim 2

A distance detecting apparatus comprising: a light receiving sensor for outputting a first photo-current and a second photo-current corresponding to an incident position of light reflected from an object onto the light receiving sensor; photo-current conversion means including an integrating capacitor, for converting said first and second photo-currents into a time-based signal by charging or discharging said integrating capacitor utilizing a first control-current and a second control-current corresponding to a level of said first and second photo-currents, respectively; current control means connected in parallel with the integrating capacitor for controlling charging or discharging of said integrating capacitor without changing a ratio of the amplitude of the first control-current over the amplitude of the second control-current; and coomparison means for comparing said time-based signal to a reference voltage and outputting comparison data indicative of said comparison.

Claim 3

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said current control means is for controlling the rate at which the integrating capacitor charges and discharges.

Claim 4

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 2 wherein said current control means further includes a charge-current control circuit, connected in parallel with the integrating capacitor means, for selectively outputting a first constant current for charging the integrating capacitor means, and a discharge-current control circuit, connected in parallel with the integrating capacitor means, for selectively outputting a second constant current for discharging the integrating capacitor means.

Claim 5

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 3 wherein said charge-current control means further comprises a first constant current source, and a switch connected in series with the first current source for selectively applying the first constant current source.

Claim 6

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first constant current source is variable, thereby allowing adjustment of the rate at which the integrating capacitor charges.

Claim 7

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 3 wherein said discharge-current control means further comprises a second constant current source, and a switch connected in series with the second current source for selectively applying the first constant current source.

Claim 8

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second constant current source is variable, thereby allowing adjustment of the rate at which the integrating capacitor discharges.

Claim 9

A distance detecting apparatus comprising: a light receiving sensor which outputs a first photo-current and a second photo-current corresponding to an incident position of light reflected from an object onto the light receiving sensor; logarithmic conversion means for forming a first logarithmic output voltage and a second logarithmic output voltage corresponding to said first photo-current and said second photo-current, respectively; current coupling means for coupling a first output current which corresponds to the first logarithmic voltage, and a second output current which corresponds to the second logarithmic voltage, into a third constant current; integrating capacitor means for charging and discharging at a predetermined rate and for a time which corresponds to said first or second output current; current control means, connected in parallel with the integrating capacitor means, for controlling the rate at which the integrating capacitor charges and discharges; and comparison means for sensing when the integrating capacitor has discharged to a voltage level which is equal to a reference voltage level.

Claim 10

A distance detecting apparatus comprising: a light receiving sensor which outputs a first photo-current and a second photo-current corresponding to an incident position of light reflected from an object onto the light receiving sensor; logarithmic conversion means for forming a first logarithmic output voltage and a second logarithmic output voltage corresponding to said first photo-current and said second photo-current, respectively; current coupling means for coupling a first output current which corresponds to the first logarithmic voltage, and a second output current which corresponds to the second logarithmic voltage, into a third constant current; integrating capacitor means for charging and discharging at a predetermined rate and for a time which corresponds to said first or second output current; current control means, connected in parallel with the integrating capacitor means, for controlling the rate at which the integrating capacitor charges and discharges; and comparison means for sensing when the integrating capacitor has discharged to a voltage level which is equal to a reference voltage level.

Claim 11

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 8 wherein said current control means further includes a charge-current control circuit, connected in parallel with the integrating capacitor means, for selectively outputting a first constant current for charging the integrating capacitor means for charging, and a discharge-current control circuit, connected in parallel with the integrating capacitor means, for selectively outputting a second constant current for discharging the integrating capacitor means.

Claim 12

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said charge-current control means further comprises a first constant current source, and a switch connected in series with the first current source for selectively applying the first current source.

Claim 13

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first constant current source is variable, thereby allowing adjustment of the rate at which the integrating capacitor charges.

Claim 14

The distance apparatus of claim 9 wherein said discharge-current control means further comprises a second constant current source, and a switch connected in series with the second current source for selectively applying the first current source.

Claim 15

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 12 wherein said second constant current source is variable thereby allowing adjustment of the rate at which the integrating capacitor discharges.

Claim 16

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 8 wherein said current coupling means further includes a third constant current source, and a switch connected in series between the third constant current source and ground for selectively applying the first current source.

Claim 17

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 14 wherein said current coupling means further includes a first transistor having a base connected to the first logarithmic converter, and a second transistor having a base connected to the second logarithmic converter, said first and second transistors having emitters connected to the third constant current source such that when said third current source is selectively applied the sum of the amount of current flowing through the first and second transistors equals the amount of current supplied by the third constant current source, and the current flowing through the first and second transistors corresponds to the respective first and second logarithmic voltages, respectively.

Claim 18

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 15 wherein said third constant current source is variable, thereby allowing adjustment of the amount of current flowing through the first and second transistors.

Claim 19

A distance detecting apparatus comprising: a light receiving sensor which outputs a first photo-current and a second photo-current corresponding to an incident position of light reflected from an object onto the light receiving sensor; logarithmic conversion means for forming a first logarithmic output voltage and a second logarithmic output voltage corresponding to said first photo-current and said second photo-current, respectively; current coupling means for coupling a first output current which corresponds to the first logarithmic voltage, and a second output current which corresponds to the second logarithmic voltage, into a third constant current; integrating capacitor means for charging and discharging at a predetermined rate and for a time which corresponds to said first or second output current charge-current control means, connected in parallel with the integrating capacitor means, for selectively outputting a first constant current for charging the integrating capacitor means; discharge-current control means, connected in parallel with the integrating capacitor means, for selectively outputting a second constant current for discharging the integrating capacitor means; comparison means for sensing when the integrating capacitor has discharged to a voltage level which is equal to a reference voltage level; and. control circuit means, connected in series between the integrating capacitor and ground, for adjusting the rate at which the integrating capacitor charges and discharges.

Claim 20

A distance detecting apparatus comprising: a light receiving sensor which outputs a first photo-current and a second photo-current corresponding to an incident position of light reflected from an object onto the light receiving sensor; logarithmic conversion means for forming a first logarithmic output voltage and a second logarithmic output voltage corresponding to said first photo-current and said second photo-current, respectively; current coupling means for coupling a first output current which corresponds to the first logarithmic voltage, and a second output current which corresponds to the second logarithmic voltage, into a third constant current; integrating capacitor means for charging and discharging at a predetermined rate and for a time which corresponds to said first or second output current charge-current control means, connected in parallel with the integrating capacitor means, for selectively outputting a first constant current for charging the integrating capacitor means; discharge-current control means, connected in parallel with the integrating capacitor means, for selectively outputting a second constant current for discharging the integrating capacitor means; comparison means for sensing when the integrating capacitor has discharged to a voltage level which is equal to a reference voltage level; and. control circuit means, connected in series between the integrating capacitor and ground, for adjusting the rate at which the integrating capacitor charges and discharges.

Claim 21

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 17 wherein said control circuit further comprises a fourth constant current source, and a switch connected in series with the fourth constant current source for selectively applying the first current source.

Claim 22

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 18 wherein said fourth constant current source is variable, thereby allowing adjustment of the amount of current flowing from the integrating capacitor to ground.

Claim 23

The distance detecting apparatus of claim 18 further including a clamp circuit, connected in series with one of said logarithmic converters, to improve noise immunity.