US5204714A — Object distance detecting apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

An object distance detecting apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a primary semiconductor position detecting means for receiving the reflected light from the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value in response to the object distance, comprising: an adding means for adding said first current value and second current value; a first integrating means for integrating said adding means output; an operating means for generating an output representing the ratio of said first current value to the sum of the first current value and second current value; a second integrating means for operating an integration with a current value corresponding to said operating means output; and an operation controlling means for calculating the object distance based on the output of said first integrating means, calculating the object distance based on the output of said second integrating means and selectively outputting one of said calculated values as distance measuring data.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 174 words

An object distance detecting apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a primary semiconductor position detecting means for receiving the reflected light from the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value in response to the object distance, comprising: an adding means for adding said first current value and second current value; a first integrating means for integrating said adding means output; an operating means for generating an output representing the ratio of said first current value to the sum of the first current value and second current value; a second integrating means for operating an integration with a current value corresponding to said operating means output; and an operation controlling means for calculating the object distance based on the output of said first integrating means, calculating the object distance based on the output of said second integrating means and selectively outputting one of said calculated values as distance measuring data.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 185 words

An object distance detecting apapratus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a primary semiconductor position detecting means for receiving the reflected light form the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value in response to the object distance, comprising: an adding means for adding said first current value and second current value; a first integrating means for integrating said adding means output; an operating means for generating an output representing the ratio of said first current value to the sum of the first current value and second current value; a second integrating means for integrating said operating means output; a first calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said first integrating means; a second calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating means; and a selecting means for selecting as distance measuring data either one of said first calculating means output and second calculating means output.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 185 words

An object distance detecting apapratus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a primary semiconductor position detecting means for receiving the reflected light form the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value in response to the object distance, comprising: an adding means for adding said first current value and second current value; a first integrating means for integrating said adding means output; an operating means for generating an output representing the ratio of said first current value to the sum of the first current value and second current value; a second integrating means for integrating said operating means output; a first calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said first integrating means; a second calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating means; and a selecting means for selecting as distance measuring data either one of said first calculating means output and second calculating means output.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 175 words

An object distance detecting apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a primary semiconductor position detecting means for receiving the reflected light form the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value in response to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating means for integrating the sum of said first current value and second current value; a second integrating means for generating an output representing an integration with a current value corresponding to the ratio of the operating value of said first and second current values; a first calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the square root of the output of said first integrating means; a second calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating means; and a selecting means for selecting as distance measuring data one of said first calculating means output and second calculating means output.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 175 words

An object distance detecting apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a primary semiconductor position detecting means for receiving the reflected light form the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value in response to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating means for integrating the sum of said first current value and second current value; a second integrating means for generating an output representing an integration with a current value corresponding to the ratio of the operating value of said first and second current values; a first calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the square root of the output of said first integrating means; a second calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating means; and a selecting means for selecting as distance measuring data one of said first calculating means output and second calculating means output.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

An object distance detecting apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that said selecting means has a comparing means for comparing the first calculating means output with a predetermined reference value.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 220 words

An object distance measuring apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times onto an object to be photographed and a light receiving means for receiving the reflected light from the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first output and second output at a ratio corresponding to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating means for integrating a plurality of times the sum of said first output and second output in conformity with the projection of said pulse light; a second integrating means for integrating a plurality of times the ratio operating value of said first and second outputs in conformity with the projection of said pulse light; a first operating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the square root of the output of said first integrating means; a second operating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating means; and a selecting means for comparing the output of said first operating means with a reference value representing a predetermined distance, selecting the output of said second operating means when the output shows a distance nearer than the reference value and selecting the output of said first operating means when it shows a distance farther then the reference value.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 220 words

An object distance measuring apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times onto an object to be photographed and a light receiving means for receiving the reflected light from the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first output and second output at a ratio corresponding to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating means for integrating a plurality of times the sum of said first output and second output in conformity with the projection of said pulse light; a second integrating means for integrating a plurality of times the ratio operating value of said first and second outputs in conformity with the projection of said pulse light; a first operating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the square root of the output of said first integrating means; a second operating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating means; and a selecting means for comparing the output of said first operating means with a reference value representing a predetermined distance, selecting the output of said second operating means when the output shows a distance nearer than the reference value and selecting the output of said first operating means when it shows a distance farther then the reference value.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 160 words

An object distance calculating method by using alight projecting device intermittently emitting light and a primary semiconductor position detecting device, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of times the reflected light from the object by the light projecting device and integrating the sum of two current values and integrating the current value corresponding to a predetermined ratio of said current values; (b) calculating first distance data from the result of the integration by the sum of the two current value; (c) judging the sizes of the first distance data and predetermined distance data and outputting the first distance data as a distance value when the first distance data represent a distance farther than the predetermined distance data; and (d) calculating and outputting the second distance data as a distance value from the result of the integration by the current value corresponding to said ratio when the first distance data represent a distance nearer than the predetermined distance data.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 160 words

An object distance calculating method by using alight projecting device intermittently emitting light and a primary semiconductor position detecting device, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of times the reflected light from the object by the light projecting device and integrating the sum of two current values and integrating the current value corresponding to a predetermined ratio of said current values; (b) calculating first distance data from the result of the integration by the sum of the two current value; (c) judging the sizes of the first distance data and predetermined distance data and outputting the first distance data as a distance value when the first distance data represent a distance farther than the predetermined distance data; and (d) calculating and outputting the second distance data as a distance value from the result of the integration by the current value corresponding to said ratio when the first distance data represent a distance nearer than the predetermined distance data.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 190 words

An object distance calculating method by using a light projecting device intermittently emitting light and a primary semiconductor position detecting device, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of times the reflected light from the object by the light projecting device and operating an integration by the sum of two current values and an integration by the current values corresponding to a predetermined ratio based on said first and second current values, said current values being generated by said position detecting device as a function of the distance of said object form the position detection device; (b) calculating first distance data from the result of the integration by the current value corresponding to said ratio; (c) comparing the first distance data and predetermined distance data and outputting the first distance data as a distance value when the first distance data represent a distance farther than the predetermined distance data; and (d) calculating and outputting the second distance data as a distance value from the result of the integration by the sum of said current values when the first distance data represent a distance closer than the predetermined distance data.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 190 words

An object distance calculating method by using a light projecting device intermittently emitting light and a primary semiconductor position detecting device, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a plurality of times the reflected light from the object by the light projecting device and operating an integration by the sum of two current values and an integration by the current values corresponding to a predetermined ratio based on said first and second current values, said current values being generated by said position detecting device as a function of the distance of said object form the position detection device; (b) calculating first distance data from the result of the integration by the current value corresponding to said ratio; (c) comparing the first distance data and predetermined distance data and outputting the first distance data as a distance value when the first distance data represent a distance farther than the predetermined distance data; and (d) calculating and outputting the second distance data as a distance value from the result of the integration by the sum of said current values when the first distance data represent a distance closer than the predetermined distance data.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 165 words

An object distance detecting apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a primary semiconductor position detecting means for receiving the reflected light form the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value in response to the object distance, comprising: an adding means for summing said first current value and second current value; a first integrating means for integrating said adding means output; an operating means for generating an output representing a predetermined ratio of said first and second current value; a first calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said first integrating means; a second calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said operating means; and a judging means for selectively outputting as distance measuring data one of said first calculating means output and second calculating means output.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 165 words

An object distance detecting apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a primary semiconductor position detecting means for receiving the reflected light form the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value in response to the object distance, comprising: an adding means for summing said first current value and second current value; a first integrating means for integrating said adding means output; an operating means for generating an output representing a predetermined ratio of said first and second current value; a first calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said first integrating means; a second calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said operating means; and a judging means for selectively outputting as distance measuring data one of said first calculating means output and second calculating means output.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 198 words

An object distance measuring apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times onto an object to be photographed and a light receiving means for receiving the reflected light form the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first output and second output at a ratio corresponding to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating circuit for integrating a plurality of times the sum of said first output and second output in conformity with the projection of said light pulse; a second integrating circuit for integrating a plurality of times a predetermined ratio operating value of said first and second outputs in conformity with the projection of said pulse light; and an operating means for comparing the output of said first integrating circuit with reference value, for determining the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating circuit when the output of said first integrating circuit is larger than the reference value and determining the object distance on the basis of the square root of the output of said first integrating circuit when the output of said first integrating circuit is smaller than the reference value.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 198 words

An object distance measuring apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times onto an object to be photographed and a light receiving means for receiving the reflected light form the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first output and second output at a ratio corresponding to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating circuit for integrating a plurality of times the sum of said first output and second output in conformity with the projection of said light pulse; a second integrating circuit for integrating a plurality of times a predetermined ratio operating value of said first and second outputs in conformity with the projection of said pulse light; and an operating means for comparing the output of said first integrating circuit with reference value, for determining the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating circuit when the output of said first integrating circuit is larger than the reference value and determining the object distance on the basis of the square root of the output of said first integrating circuit when the output of said first integrating circuit is smaller than the reference value.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 132 words

An object distance detecting apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a position detecting means for receiving the reflected light form the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value at a ratio corresponding to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating means for integrating the sum of said first current value and second current value; a second integrating means for operating an integration at a current value corresponding to a predetermined ratio operating value of said first and second current values; and a selecting means for selecting as distance base data one of the output of said first integrating circuit and the output of said second integrating circuit.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 132 words

An object distance detecting apparatus having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a position detecting means for receiving the reflected light form the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value at a ratio corresponding to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating means for integrating the sum of said first current value and second current value; a second integrating means for operating an integration at a current value corresponding to a predetermined ratio operating value of said first and second current values; and a selecting means for selecting as distance base data one of the output of said first integrating circuit and the output of said second integrating circuit.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 251 words

A device for use in a camera having a light measuring means for measuring the luminance of an object to be photographed, a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward the object and a position detecting means for receiving the reflected light form the object by the light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value at a ratio corresponding to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating means for integrating a plurality of times the sum of said first current value and second current value; an operating means for ratio-operating said first and second current values to generate an output representing a predetermined ratio of said first and second current values; a second integrating means for operating an integration a plurality of times at a current value corresponding to said operating means output; a first distance calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the square root of the output of said first integrating means; a second distance calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating means; comparing means for comparing said first distance calculating means output with a reference value; a judging means for selectively outputting as distance measuring data one of the first distance calculating means output and second distance calculating means output in response to said comparing means output; and a means for altering said reference value in response to said light measuring means output.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 251 words

A device for use in a camera having a light measuring means for measuring the luminance of an object to be photographed, a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward the object and a position detecting means for receiving the reflected light form the object by the light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value at a ratio corresponding to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating means for integrating a plurality of times the sum of said first current value and second current value; an operating means for ratio-operating said first and second current values to generate an output representing a predetermined ratio of said first and second current values; a second integrating means for operating an integration a plurality of times at a current value corresponding to said operating means output; a first distance calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the square root of the output of said first integrating means; a second distance calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating means; comparing means for comparing said first distance calculating means output with a reference value; a judging means for selectively outputting as distance measuring data one of the first distance calculating means output and second distance calculating means output in response to said comparing means output; and a means for altering said reference value in response to said light measuring means output.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 236 words

A device for use in a camera having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a position detecting means for receiving the reflected light from the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value at a ratio corresponding to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating means for integrating a plurality of times the sum of said first current value and second current value; an operating means for ratio-operating said first and second current values to form a predetermined ratio based on said first and second values; a second integrating means for operating a plurality of times and integration at the current value corresponding to said operating means output; a first distance calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the square root of the output of said first integrating means; a second distance calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating means; a comparing means for comparing said first distance calculating means output with a reference value; a judging means for selectively outputting as distance measuring data one of the first distance calculating means output and second distance calculating means output in response to said comparing means output; and a means for altering said reference value in response to the object luminance.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 236 words

A device for use in a camera having a light projecting means for projecting a light pulse a plurality of times toward an object to be photographed and a position detecting means for receiving the reflected light from the object by said light projecting means and outputting a first current value and second current value at a ratio corresponding to the object distance, comprising: a first integrating means for integrating a plurality of times the sum of said first current value and second current value; an operating means for ratio-operating said first and second current values to form a predetermined ratio based on said first and second values; a second integrating means for operating a plurality of times and integration at the current value corresponding to said operating means output; a first distance calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the square root of the output of said first integrating means; a second distance calculating means for calculating the object distance on the basis of the output of said second integrating means; a comparing means for comparing said first distance calculating means output with a reference value; a judging means for selectively outputting as distance measuring data one of the first distance calculating means output and second distance calculating means output in response to said comparing means output; and a means for altering said reference value in response to the object luminance.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 33 words

The device according to claim 12 further comprising means for correcting the reference value so that the higher the object luminance, the nearer the distance side on which the reference value is corrected.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 226 words

An object distance calculating method using a light measuring device, a light projecting device intermittently emitting light pulses and a primary semiconductor position detecting device receiving light pulses reflected from an object being photographed for generating first and second currents whose ratio represents object distance, comprising the steps of: (a) calculating an object luminance responsive to the output of said light measuring device; (b) calculating switching distance data in response to the object luminance; (c) receiving a plurality of times the reflected light from the object caused by the light projecting device and operating an integration by the sum of two current values from the primary semiconductor position detecting device and an integration by the current value corresponding to a predetermined ratio based upon said two current values; (d) calculating first distance data from the result of the integration of the sum of the two current values; (e) judging the sizes of the first distance measuring data and switching distance data and outputting the first distance data as a distance value when the first distance data represent a distance farther than the switching distance data; and (f) calculating and outputting second distance data as a distance value from the result of the integration by the current value corresponding to said predetermined ratio when the first distance data represent a distance nearer than the switching distance data.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 226 words

An object distance calculating method using a light measuring device, a light projecting device intermittently emitting light pulses and a primary semiconductor position detecting device receiving light pulses reflected from an object being photographed for generating first and second currents whose ratio represents object distance, comprising the steps of: (a) calculating an object luminance responsive to the output of said light measuring device; (b) calculating switching distance data in response to the object luminance; (c) receiving a plurality of times the reflected light from the object caused by the light projecting device and operating an integration by the sum of two current values from the primary semiconductor position detecting device and an integration by the current value corresponding to a predetermined ratio based upon said two current values; (d) calculating first distance data from the result of the integration of the sum of the two current values; (e) judging the sizes of the first distance measuring data and switching distance data and outputting the first distance data as a distance value when the first distance data represent a distance farther than the switching distance data; and (f) calculating and outputting second distance data as a distance value from the result of the integration by the current value corresponding to said predetermined ratio when the first distance data represent a distance nearer than the switching distance data.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 231 words

An object distance calculating method using a light measuring device, a light projecting device intermittently emitting light and primary semiconductor position detecting device, comprising the steps of: (a) calculating the object luminance responsive to the output of said light measuring device; (b) calculating a switching level value in response to the object luminance; (c) receiving a plurality of times the reflected light form the object by said light projecting device and operating an integration by the sum of two current values generated by said primary semiconductor position detecting device and an integration by the current value corresponding to a predetermined ratio based upon the two current values; (d) comparing the result of the integration by the sum of the two current values with the switching level value; (e) calculating object distance data on the basis of the result of the integration by the sum of the two current values when the result of the integration by the sum of the two current values is smaller than the switching level value; (f) calculating object distance data on the basis of the result of the integration by the current value corresponding to said ratio predetermined when the result of the integration by the sum of the two current values is larger than the switching level value; and (g) determining the position of setting a photographing lens by either of said object distance data.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 231 words

An object distance calculating method using a light measuring device, a light projecting device intermittently emitting light and primary semiconductor position detecting device, comprising the steps of: (a) calculating the object luminance responsive to the output of said light measuring device; (b) calculating a switching level value in response to the object luminance; (c) receiving a plurality of times the reflected light form the object by said light projecting device and operating an integration by the sum of two current values generated by said primary semiconductor position detecting device and an integration by the current value corresponding to a predetermined ratio based upon the two current values; (d) comparing the result of the integration by the sum of the two current values with the switching level value; (e) calculating object distance data on the basis of the result of the integration by the sum of the two current values when the result of the integration by the sum of the two current values is smaller than the switching level value; (f) calculating object distance data on the basis of the result of the integration by the current value corresponding to said ratio predetermined when the result of the integration by the sum of the two current values is larger than the switching level value; and (g) determining the position of setting a photographing lens by either of said object distance data.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 174 words

A method for determining the distance of an object employing a primary semiconductor position detecting device capable of generating first and second current signals whose values are a function of object distance responsive to the position along said device at which light reflected from the object impinges, comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially directing a series of light pulses toward said object, said light pulses being reflected from said object and impinging upon said position sensing device; (b) summing the current signals for each light pulse reflected by said object upon said position sensing device; (c) integrating each of said sums; (d) generating a predetermined ratio value which is based upon said first and second current values for each light pulse impinging upon said position sensing device; (e) integrating said ratio values; (f) generating a first distance value which is a function of the integration step (c); (g) generating a second distance value which is a function of the integration step (e); (h) selecting one of said distance values as the preferred distance value.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 174 words

A method for determining the distance of an object employing a primary semiconductor position detecting device capable of generating first and second current signals whose values are a function of object distance responsive to the position along said device at which light reflected from the object impinges, comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially directing a series of light pulses toward said object, said light pulses being reflected from said object and impinging upon said position sensing device; (b) summing the current signals for each light pulse reflected by said object upon said position sensing device; (c) integrating each of said sums; (d) generating a predetermined ratio value which is based upon said first and second current values for each light pulse impinging upon said position sensing device; (e) integrating said ratio values; (f) generating a first distance value which is a function of the integration step (c); (g) generating a second distance value which is a function of the integration step (e); (h) selecting one of said distance values as the preferred distance value.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 16 wherein the ratio value of currents in step (d) is ##EQU16## where I 1 and I 2 are said first and second current values.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 16 wherein step (f) further comprises calculating the square root of the results obtained in step (c).

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 16 wherein step (b) further comprises the step of removing current values from the first and second current values which represent bias currents present prior to a generation of a light pulse.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 16 wherein step (d) further comprises the step of removing current values from the first and second current values which represent bias currents present prior to a generation of a light pulse.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 16 wherein step (h) further includes the steps of: (i) comparing the first distance calculated in step (d) against a reference value representing a predetermined distance; (j) using the first distance value to determined the distance of the object if the first distance is less than said reference value.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 16 wherein step (h) further includes the steps of: (i) comparing the first distance calculated in step (d) against a reference value representing a predetermined distance; (j) using the second distance value to determine the distance of the object if the first distance is greater than said reference value,

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 21 wherein said reference distance is ten (10) meters.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 16 wherein step (h) further comprises the steps of: (i) comparing the second distance against a reference value representing a predetermined distance; (j) using the second distance to determined the distance of the object if the second distance is less than the reference distance.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 16 wherein step (h) further comprises the steps of: (i) comparing the second distance against a reference value representing a predetermined distance; (j) using the first distance to determined the distance of the object if the second distance is greater than the reference distance.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 198 words

A method for determining the distance of an object employing a primary semiconductor position detecting device capable of generating first and second current signals whose values are a function of object distance responsive to the position along said device at which light reflected from the object impinges, comprising the steps of: (a) determining the luminance of the object; (b) determining a switching distance based upon the luminance of the object; (c) sequentially directing a series of light pulses toward said object, said light pulses being reflected from said object and impinging upon said position sensing device; (d) summing the current signals for each light pulse reflected by said object upon said position sensing device; (e) integrating each of said sums; (f) generating a predetermined ratio value which is based upon said first and second current values for each light pulse impinging upon said position sensing device; (g) integrating said ratio values; (h) generating a first distance value which is a function of the integration step (e); (i) generating a second distance value which is a function of the integration step (g); (j) selecting one of said distance values as the preferred distance value based upon said switching distance.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 198 words

A method for determining the distance of an object employing a primary semiconductor position detecting device capable of generating first and second current signals whose values are a function of object distance responsive to the position along said device at which light reflected from the object impinges, comprising the steps of: (a) determining the luminance of the object; (b) determining a switching distance based upon the luminance of the object; (c) sequentially directing a series of light pulses toward said object, said light pulses being reflected from said object and impinging upon said position sensing device; (d) summing the current signals for each light pulse reflected by said object upon said position sensing device; (e) integrating each of said sums; (f) generating a predetermined ratio value which is based upon said first and second current values for each light pulse impinging upon said position sensing device; (g) integrating said ratio values; (h) generating a first distance value which is a function of the integration step (e); (i) generating a second distance value which is a function of the integration step (g); (j) selecting one of said distance values as the preferred distance value based upon said switching distance.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 26 wherein step (j) further includes: (k) comparing the first distance value with the switching distance value; and (l) using the first distance as the object distance if the first distance is greater than the switching distance.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 26 wherein step (j) further includes: (k) comparing the first distance value with the switching distance value; and (l) using the second distance as the object distance if the first distance is less than the switching distance.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 178 words

A method for determining the distance of an object employing a primary semiconductor position detecting device capable of generating first and second current signals whose values are a function of object distance responsive to the position along said device at which light reflected form the object impinges, comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially directing a series of light pulses toward said object, said light pulses being reflected from said object and impinging upon said position sensing device; (b) summing the current signals for each light pulse reflected by said object upon said position sensing device; (c) integrating each of said sums; (d) generating a predetermined ratio value which is based upon said first and second current values for each light pulse impinging upon said position sensing device; (e) integrating said ratio values; (f) comparing the integrated values obtained at step (c) against a reference value representing a predetermined distance; (g) generating a first distance value which is a function of the integration step (c) if the integrated value obtained at step (c) is less than the reference value.

Claim 45

Independent Claim 178 words

A method for determining the distance of an object employing a primary semiconductor position detecting device capable of generating first and second current signals whose values are a function of object distance responsive to the position along said device at which light reflected form the object impinges, comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially directing a series of light pulses toward said object, said light pulses being reflected from said object and impinging upon said position sensing device; (b) summing the current signals for each light pulse reflected by said object upon said position sensing device; (c) integrating each of said sums; (d) generating a predetermined ratio value which is based upon said first and second current values for each light pulse impinging upon said position sensing device; (e) integrating said ratio values; (f) comparing the integrated values obtained at step (c) against a reference value representing a predetermined distance; (g) generating a first distance value which is a function of the integration step (c) if the integrated value obtained at step (c) is less than the reference value.

Claim 46

Independent Claim 178 words

A method for determining the distance of an object employing a primary semiconductor position detecting device capable of generating first and second current signals whose values are a function of object distance responsive to the position along said device at which light reflected form the object impinges, comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially directing a series of light pulses toward said object, said light pulses being reflected from said object and impinging upon said position sensing device; (b) summing the current signals for each light pulse reflected by said object upon said position sensing device; (c) integrating each of said sums; (d) generating a predetermined ratio value which is based upon said first and second current values for each light pulse impinging upon said position sensing device; (e) integrating said ratio values; (f) comparing the integrated values obtained at step (c) against a reference value representing a predetermined distance; (g) generating a second distance value which is a function of the integration step (e) if the integrated value obtained at step (c) is greater than said reference value.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 178 words

A method for determining the distance of an object employing a primary semiconductor position detecting device capable of generating first and second current signals whose values are a function of object distance responsive to the position along said device at which light reflected form the object impinges, comprising the steps of: (a) sequentially directing a series of light pulses toward said object, said light pulses being reflected from said object and impinging upon said position sensing device; (b) summing the current signals for each light pulse reflected by said object upon said position sensing device; (c) integrating each of said sums; (d) generating a predetermined ratio value which is based upon said first and second current values for each light pulse impinging upon said position sensing device; (e) integrating said ratio values; (f) comparing the integrated values obtained at step (c) against a reference value representing a predetermined distance; (g) generating a second distance value which is a function of the integration step (e) if the integrated value obtained at step (c) is greater than said reference value.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-04-19	1996-10-19	1997-04-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-04-19	2000-10-19	2001-04-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-04-19	2004-10-19	2005-04-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Object distance detecting apparatus

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