Patent ID: 6753951
Filing Date: 2004-06-22
Classification: G01C,G02B

Abstract:
A focusing type distance measurement apparatus comprising:a collimating optical system that collimates the light from a target object; a light-transmitting optical system that includes an objective lens, a dichroic prism, a splitting prism and a laser diode, and that transmits a measurement light flux to the target object; a focusing optical system that includes a focusing lens and that condenses the measurement light flux onto the target object; a light-receiving optical system that receives a reflected light flux reflected from the target object via the focusing optical system; a deflecting optical member that changes a state in which the measurement light flux is condensed on the target object; an operating member that outputs an operation signal for performing distance measurement by using a prism as the target object; and a control circuit that implements control on the deflecting optical member to achieve a first state for the deflecting optical member so as to change the state in which the measurement light flux received at the light-receiving optical system is condensed when the following conditions are present: the operation signal has been output through the operating member and a light reception level indicating a quantity of the reflected light flux received at the light-receiving optical system is equal to or lower than a predetermined value or the light reception level manifests a significant change, and that implements control on the deflecting optical member to achieve a second state so as not to change the state in which the measurement light flux received at the light-receiving optical system is condensed when the conditions are not present, wherein: the deflecting optical member includes a plurality of light transmittance adjustment areas provided along a circumference of a rotating plate and a diffusion area where the light flux is diffused provided along a direction in which the plurality of light transmittance adjustment areas are arranged; the control circuit includes a motor in order to rotate the rotating plate; and the diffusion area is inserted at a measurement light path when the deflecting optical member is in the first state and one of the plurality of light transmittance adjustment areas is inserted in the measurement light path when the deflecting optical member is in the second state.