Patent ID: 6339475
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
A distance measurement system comprising:means for emitting a beam of light toward an object at a distance to be measured; light detecting means including a position sensitive detector for detecting light from the beam of light reflected from the object, at a detecting position on said position sensitive detector corresponding to the distance to the object, said light detecting means outputting a signal corresponding to the detecting position; arithmetic means for carrying out a calculation based on the signal output from said light detecting means to output a signal corresponding to the distance to the object; integrating means including an integrating capacitor charged to a reference voltage for integrating the signal output from said arithmetic means over time by charging and discharging said integrating capacitor by an amount corresponding to the signal output from said arithmetic means, said integrating means outputting a signal corresponding to the integration; means for determining the distance to the object based on the signal output from said integrating means; control means for controlling said integrating means for charging and discharging said integrating capacitor; and charging means for detecting whether a supply of power to said distance measurement system has started, and for overcharging said integrating capacitor of said integrating means to a voltage higher than the reference voltage for a fixed period of time, following starting of the supply of power to said distance measurement system, wherein operation of said charging means is independent of and not controlled by said control means.