Patent ID: 7092093

Claim:
A polarization direction detection type two-dimensional light reception timing detection device, comprising: a linear polarization rotation means to linearly polarize incident light and to rotate the polarization direction; an analyzing means to divide the incident light which passes through the linear polarization rotation means into at least two different linear polarization components; at least two synchronized charge type imaging devices that receive each divided incident light ray, convert the light intensity into an electric signal, and output the electric signal; and an image analysis device which analyzes a plurality of image signals output from the charge type imaging devices; wherein the light incident on the linear polarization rotation means becomes linearly polarized light having a polarization direction which corresponds to an incident timing, the polarization direction is detected in pixel units by causing the image analysis device to analyze images obtained from the charge type imaging devices, and a light reception timing of the incident light is calculated in pixel units based on the detected polarization direction.