US 12,189,057 B2
Optical distance measuring device
Noriyuki Ozaki, Kariya (JP); Mitsuhiro Kiyono, Kariya (JP); Teiyu Kimura, Kariya (JP); and Shinji Kashiwada, Kariya (JP)
Assigned to DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed by DENSO CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Filed on Sep. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/471,185.
Application 18/471,185 is a division of application No. 17/169,238, filed on Feb. 5, 2021.
Application 17/169,238 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2019/030434, filed on Aug. 2, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-150303 (JP), filed on Aug. 9, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0012111 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01C 3/06 (2006.01); G01J 1/44 (2006.01); G01S 7/48 (2006.01); G01S 7/486 (2020.01); G01S 7/4861 (2020.01); G01S 7/4863 (2020.01); G01S 7/4865 (2020.01); G01S 17/08 (2006.01); G01S 17/89 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/481 (2013.01) [G01C 3/06 (2013.01); G01J 1/44 (2013.01); G01S 7/4808 (2013.01); G01S 7/4817 (2013.01); G01S 7/486 (2013.01); G01S 7/4861 (2013.01); G01S 7/4863 (2013.01); G01S 7/4865 (2013.01); G01S 7/4868 (2013.01); G01S 17/08 (2013.01); G01S 17/89 (2013.01); G01J 2001/4466 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical distance measuring device comprising:
a light source unit that irradiates a measurement region with irradiation light;
a light receiving unit that has a light receiving surface including a plurality of light receiving elements capable of receiving reflected light from a range including the measurement region corresponding to irradiation with the irradiation light and outputs a signal corresponding to a light receiving state of the reflected light for each of the plurality of light receiving elements; and
a measurement unit that measures a distance to an object in the measurement region by using the signal outputted from the light receiving unit, wherein
the light receiving unit has a function of selecting a light receiving element of the plurality of light receiving elements that outputs the signal so that a light receiving position at which the reflected light is received is variable, and the light receiving unit changes the light receiving position to a plurality of positions with respect to a position of the reflected light, wherein
the light source unit irradiates the measurement region with the irradiation light while changing an irradiation azimuth among a plurality of azimuths so that the reflected light is moved toward a predetermined first direction on the light receiving surface, and the irradiation azimuth is an azimuth in which the measurement region is irradiated with the irradiation light; and
the light receiving unit changes the light receiving position to a plurality of positions in the first direction depending on the azimuth in which the measurement region is irradiated with the irradiation light, and the light receiving position is a position of a light receiving element that receives the reflected light,
the light receiving unit changes the light receiving position to a plurality of positions by moving the light receiving position toward the first direction,
the light receiving unit moves the light receiving position at a speed higher than a speed at which the reflected light is moved on the light receiving surface, and
every time a light receiving process for irradiation with the irradiation light in a single azimuth is completed, the light receiving unit moves the light receiving position in a direction opposite to the first direction.