Distance measuring apparatus

Claim 1

A distance measuring apparatus for measuring a distance to an object, comprising: first distance measuring means of an active method for projecting distance measuring light toward said object to measure the distance measuring the distance to the object based on a position where reflected light by the object is condensed; second distance measuring means of a passive method having tow optical systems for receiving natural light reflected by said object to measure the distance to the object based on two optical images obtained by the two optical systems, said second distance measuring means including a plurality of photodetectors arranged in an array for outputting a signal in accordance with an intensity of received light; and distance-measurement value selecting means for selecting one of two distance measurement values obtained by said first and second distance measuring means for output, said distance-measurement value selecting means including 1) a plurality of comparing means, respectively arranged in correspondence with the plurality of photodetectors, for outputting signals when integrated values of outputs from the photodetectors exceed a predetermined reference level, and 2) timing detecting means for detecting output timings of the signals from the plurality of comparing means, and selecting the distance measurement value obtained by said first distance measuring means when, of the signals from the plurality of comparing means, at least one signal is not detected within a predetermined time.