Claims
- 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.
- 2. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, said data stored in said memory means comprising a distance D between said lens of said light emitting means and said lens of said light detecting means, and the focal length F of said lens of said light detecting means.
- 3. The distance measuring device according to claim 2, wherein said light detecting means further comprises a light detecting member of predetermined length L, said length being stored as data in said memory means.
- 4. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light emitting devices arranged in an array, and said actuating means sequentially actuates said plurality of light emitting devices.
- 5. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein said optical element is a prism formed of a substantially biangular pyramid shape, and said light emitting means further comprises means for moving said light source in at least one direction.
- 6. The distance measuring device according to claim 3, said control means comprising means for calculating a distance d from said device based on the following equation:
- d=2DF/ (LI.sub.o)
- wherein I.sub.o is a ratio of the dimensions of said digital data signals inputted to said control means.
Priority Claims (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
1-94400 |
Apr 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-105556 |
Apr 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-109898 |
Apr 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-115584 |
May 1989 |
JPX |
|
1-115585 |
May 1989 |
JPX |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application number 07/509,406, filed Apr. 16, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,350.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Foreign Referenced Citations (11)
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59-107332 |
Jun 1984 |
JPX |
59-129809 |
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60-60511 |
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62-150309 |
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Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
509406 |
Apr 1990 |
|