US5557323A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Distance measuring apparatus
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1994-12-12
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Granted: 1996-09-17
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Expires: 2014-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A distance measuring apparatus sets a plurality of sub-windows in a picture plane so that the size of each sub-window having a contrast higher than a predetermined value is as small as possible but is greater than a minimum size. Therefore, it is possible to recognize the shape of an object and to measure a distance thereto with high resolution and high precision. For high speed processing, the sub-windows are successively updated in a predetermined cycle in such a manner that only those sub-windows which exist in a region in which a deviation of an image of the object last sensed relative to a previous image thereof is greater than a prescribed value are updated.
Inventors
- 👤 Yasuya Kajiwara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S11/00; G01S11/12; H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/20; H04N13/204; H04N13/239; H04N13/10; H04N2013/0074; H04N2013/0081; H04N2013/0092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: image pick-up means for optically picking up an object at two different points to form a first and a second image; window setting means for forming a window containing said first image and for successively splitting said window into a plurality of sub-windows in a repeated manner so that a contrast of each sub-window last split exceeds a predetermined value but the contrast thereof upon the next splitting becomes less than said predetermined value; and distance calculation means for calculating a distance to said object through the principle of triangulation based on a deviation of said first and second images.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A distance measuring apparatus comprising: image pick-up means for optically picking up an object at two different points to form a first and a second image; window setting means for forming a window containing said first image and for successively splitting said window into a plurality of sub-windows in a repeated manner so that a contrast of each sub-window last split exceeds a predetermined value but the contrast thereof upon the next splitting becomes less than said predetermined value; and distance calculation means for calculating a distance to said object through the principle of triangulation based on a deviation of said first and second images.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said window setting means ceases the splitting of said sub-windows when a size of each sub-window last split becomes less than a prescribed value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said window setting means finds a deviation of an image of said object last pick up by said image pick-up means relative to a previous image thereof, and updates only those sub-windows which exist inside a region in which the deviation is greater than a prescribed value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A distance measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said window setting means finds a deviation of an image of said object last pick up by said image pick-up means relative to a previous image thereof, and updates only those sub-windows which exist inside a region in which the deviation is greater than a prescribed value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-17 | 2000-03-18 | 2000-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-03-18 | 2004-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-17 | 2008-03-18 | 2008-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |