Patent ID: 6937321
Filing Date: 2005-08-30
Classification: G01C,G01S,G02B

Abstract:
1. A distance measuring apparatus for measuring a distance from an imaging element to an object by optically forming an image of the object on the imaging element through a lens to image the object electronically, comprising: a plurality of light masking members which each have a light passing opening, the light passing openings being different in position from each other and being capable of being arranged in turn between the object and the lens; means for passing light from an object to be distance-measured through the openings of the plurality of sets of light masking members to project images of the object to be distance-measured onto the imaging element; means for detecting amounts of displacement of the projected images on the imaging element; and means for obtaining a distance of the object to be distance-measured on the basis of the detected amounts of displacement.