Patent ID: 6336004
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: G01C,G02B

Abstract:
A distance measuring equipment comprising:a light projecting unit for projecting light for a distance measurement; and a photo detector unit, having a light detection window disposed at an interval of a predetermined distance from said light projecting unit in a direction intersecting with a direction of travel of light projected from said light projecting unit, for determining a distance up to a subject in such a manner that light is projected from said light projecting unit, and light reflected on the subject is detected through said light detection window, wherein said photo detector unit comprises: a semiconductor photo detector element comprising a detection surface for generating a photo-current upon receipt of irradiation of light, signal electrodes, connected to associated divided areas of said detection surface, respectively, adapted for outputting the photo-current generated by irradiation of light onto said detection surface, and a first switch, disposed at a boundary between divided areas of said detection surface, for selectively offering a first state which permits the photo-current generated on said detection surface to conduct through the associated boundary, and a second state which inhibits the photo-current generated on said detection surface from conducting through the associated boundary, in accordance with a control signal; a first distance arithmetic unit for determining a distance up to the subject in accordance with a plurality of photo-currents derived through said signal electrodes, in a state that said first switch is changed over to the second state; and a second distance arithmetic unit for determining a distance up to the subject in accordance with the photo-current derived through a first signal electrode which is one of said signal electrodes, in a state that said first switch is changed over to the first state.