Patent ID: 6812964
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: G01C,G01S,H04N

Abstract:
A three-dimensional image capturing device, comprising:a light source that radiates a distance measuring light beam irradiating a measurement subject, said measurement subject reflecting said distance measuring light beam to generate a reflected light beam; a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that receive said reflected light beam, so that an electric charge corresponding to an amount of said received reflected light beam is accumulated in each of said photoelectric conversion elements; a signal charge holding unit disposed adjacent to each of said photoelectric conversion elements; an electric charge discharging processor that discharges an unwanted charge accumulated in each of said photoelectric conversion elements, so that an accumulating operation of signal charge is started in each of said photoelectric conversion elements; a signal charge transfer processor that transfers said signal charge accumulated in said photoelectric conversion elements to said signal charge holding unit; a distance information sensing processor that controls said light source, said electric charge discharging processor and said signal charge transfer processor in such a manner that said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements receive said reflected light beam after a completion of a first discharging operation of said electric charge discharging processor, and controls a transfer operation of said signal charge transfer processor, so that said signal charge is integrated in said signal charge holding unit to sense first distance information corresponding to a distance to said measurement subject; an error information sensing processor that additionally controls said light source, said electric charge discharging processor and said signal charge transfer processor in such a manner that said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements start to receive said reflected light beam before a completion of a second discharging operation of said electric charge discharging processor, and controls a transfer operation of said signal charge transfer processor, so that said signal charge is integrated in said signal charge holding unit to sense error information generated in said plurality of photoelectric conversion elements during said transfer operation; and a distance information calculation processor that subtracts said error information from said first distance information to obtain second distance information indicating said distance to said measurement subject, wherein said distance information sensing processor controls said light source, said electric charge discharging processor and said signal charge transfer processor in such a manner that said transfer operation is completed by the time said reflected light beam disappears, so that said signal charge is integrated in said signal charge holding unit, and said error information sensing processor controls said light source, said electric charge discharging processor and said signal charge transfer processor in such a manner that said transfer operation is completed by the time said reflected light beam disappears, so that said signal charge is integrated in said signal charge holding unit.