Patent ID: 6104476
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: G01C,G02B

Abstract:
A distance measuring apparatus which projects spot light on a measurement object, receives reflected light from the object, and performs triangulation as distance measurement, comprising:light projection means for projecting pulse light on said measurement object;a sensor array having an array of a plurality of sensors to receive the reflected light from said measurement object and perform photoelectric conversion on the received reflected light;integration means for integrating charge outputted from the respective sensors of said sensor array;gate means for eliminating the charge from said integration means;reset pulse generation means for supplying a reset pulse to said gate means;charge transfer means, having a ring portion with at least a ring-shaped part to sequentially circulate and store the charge, for transferring the charge integrated by said integration means;skimming means for eliminating a predetermined amount of charge from the charge transferred by said ring portion;control means for operating said skimming means when a potential of the ring portion is equal to or lower than a predetermined judgment potential, and controlling timing of the reset pulse generated by said reset pulse generation means so as to shorten a charge storing period of said integration means when the potential of the ring portion after a plurality of charge storing operations is equal to or lower than said judgment potential; andchange means for changing an ON period of said light projection means in correspondence with said charge storing period controlled by said control means.