Distance measuring device

Claim 1

A distance measuring device for projecting light beams to a plurality of distance measuring points and for detecting reflected light beams in order to measure the distance from said device to at least one of the distance measuring points, said device comprising: control means for controlling the distance measuring operation of said device; light emitting means for emitting said light beams, said light emitting means comprising means for actuating a light source, in response to a signal from said control means, and an optical element for defining and projecting said light beams towards said plurality of distance measuring points; light detecting means for detecting said reflected beams, said light detecting means comprising means for outputting analog data signals in response to detection of said reflected beams and converting means for converting said analog data signals into digital data signals that are inputted to said control means; memory means for storing distance calculating data, whereby said control means calculates the distance from said device to at least one of the distance measuring points based on said digital data signals and said distance calculating data stored in said memory means; and said light emitting means and said light detecting means further comprising a lens, respectively, for projecting said light beams in cooperation with said optical element and for collecting said reflected beams.