US 11,914,075 B2
Distance measurement apparatus
Yosuke Takagawa, Tokyo (JP); and Masahiro Kawai, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Jun. 19, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/445,358.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-138162 (JP), filed on Jul. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0033452 A1, Jan. 30, 2020
Int. Cl. G02B 26/08 (2006.01); G02B 26/10 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/484 (2006.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 7/4817 (2013.01) [G01S 7/484 (2013.01); G01S 17/10 (2013.01); G02B 26/0816 (2013.01); G02B 26/101 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A distance measurement apparatus for applying laser light to an object to be measured and measuring a distance to the object to be measured, based on light reflected by the object to be measured, the distance measurement apparatus comprising:
a laser light source configured to emit the laser light;
a laser light source control circuit, the laser light source control circuit comprising a processor for executing a program, and a storage device in which the program is stored, the processor executing the program to perform the operation of controlling the laser light source;
scanning means for two-dimensionally scanning the object to be measured with the laser light;
a casing configured to store the scanning means;
an opening formed in the casing, the opening being opened toward the object to be measured, the opening allowing the object to be measured to be exposed to the scanning means;
a reflecting means fixed to the casing for covering a part of a scan region by the laser light or a periphery of the scan region and reflecting the laser light; and
a light receiving means for receiving first light reflected by the object to be measured and second light reflected by the reflecting means, and outputting a received light signal,
wherein the laser light source control circuit is configured to apply a feedback control to the laser light source based on a feedback of the second light reflected from the reflecting means.