Patent ID: 7236256
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. A range finder comprising: a projector unit that projects linearly polarized light onto a subject; one or more polarizing direction selection units, each of which selects light having a polarizing direction from light reflected by the subject; a first image input unit, disposed in a position optically identical to the position of the principal point of the projector unit, where the first image input unit captures a first reflected image based on light reflected by the subject and selected by one of the polarizing direction selection units; a second image input unit disposed in a position optically different from the position of the principal point of the projector unit, where the second image unit captures a second reflected image based on light reflected by the subject and selected by one of the polarizing direction selection units; and a determining unit that determines a distance to the subject based on the first reflected image and the second reflected image.