Patent ID: 6067147
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: G01C,G01S,G08G

Abstract:
A distance-measuring apparatus comprising:photographic means formed of a pair of image-forming lenses and photosensor arrays for taking images of an object through the image-forming lenses; andcalculating means electrically connected to the photosensor arrays for calculating a distance to an object to be measured by two images of the object taken by the photographic means based on a triangulation principle, said calculating means calculating the distance to the object by an amount of shift determined based on an inter-optical-axis distance of the pair of image-forming lenses and photographed images of a reference object having a pattern of a periodic structure repeated at an interval same as the inter-optical-axis distance; a difference in offsets of image-forming positions on the photosensor arrays caused by a medium located between the apparatus and the object to be measured, said difference being detected based on the amount of the shift; and an amount of shift detected when the distance to the object is measured.