Seiko Precision Inc.

Seikosha Co., Ltd.

Takuma Takahashi

Hajime Oda

Shinichi Endo

A device for determining the measurement zone of an object which permits the adjustable setting of a plurality of measurement zones bounded by user-defined division points comprises a distance measurement apparatus for measuring a distance to an object, a specific division point setting circuit, such as a digital switch, for adjustably setting a specific distance point within the effective measurement range of the distance measurement apparatus, a circuit for adjustably setting one or more predetermined division points on at least one of the near side and the far side of the specific distance point, such that the specific distance point and the at least one predetermined division point define a plurality of measurement zones within the effective measurement range of the distance measurement apparatus, and a judgment circuit for judging which of the plurality of measurement zones a distance measurement result of the distance measurement apparatus belongs to. A measurement zone having a fixed width can be set by the setting circuit and the distance setting of division points can be performed by merely placing an object at an easily measurable point and pressing a switch. The division points can be set with very few manual operations. Also, a timer may be included to permit setting of the division point on the far side even when only one operator is present.

Device for determining a distance range of an object

A distance measurement device comprises at least one switch for generating a start signal, a distance measurement device for measuring the distance to an object in response to the start signal, a memory device for storing distance data measured by the distance measurement device, the stored data defining a plurality of measurement zones within the full range of distance measurement of the distance measurement device, and a judgement circuit for judging which measurement zone the result of the distance measurement performed by the distance measurement means belongs to from the plurality of measurement zones defined by the distance data stored in the memory device. In accordance with this configuration, division points can be set if an object is placed at an actual division point desired and a switch is pressed. Accordingly, when an operator sets the division point, it is unnecessary to depend on memory, perception, or calculation, and the setting of the division points becomes easier. A timer may be used to facilitate the setting of the long distance side division point even in the case of only one operator. In addition, setting circuitry, such as a digital switch, becomes unnecessary, so the construction of the device may be substantially simplified. Moreover, since the division points can be easily set to any distance within the distance measurable range, they can be set with a high degree of accuracy.

Distance measurement device

A distance measurement device includes a distance measurement device for measuring a distance to an object, a processor for determining which respective measurement zone a measurement result of the distance measurement device is in, from a plurality of measurement zones within a range of distance measurement of the distance measurement device; and a plurality of output terminals for outputting, based on the determination by the processor, a predetermined output signal corresponding to the respective measurement zones. The output terminals output a signal which is not representative of any respective measurement zone for a predetermined period of time at the time of the end of a distance measurement operation.

A distance measurement device comprises distance measurement device for measuring a distance to an object, a processor for judging a result of the distance measurement of the distance measurement device, a first digital switch connected to the processor for setting a first division point where a measurement range of the distance measurement means is divided into a first long distance side and a first short distance side, a second digital switch for setting a second division point where a range between the first division point and the first short distance side is further divided into a second long distance side and a second short distance side. Based on the set states of the first and second digital switches, the processor determines which area the measurement result of the distance measurement device belongs to, from the plurality of distance areas into which the measurement result of the distance measurement device is divided with the first division point and the second division point.

A photographic copier includes a rod lens array held to a carrier and moved parallel to an original picture by a motor. Limit switches sense whether the array is in either stop position at both ends of the range of movement During movement, if the array is found to reach either stop position, then a control circuit stops the operation of the motor. When the rod lens array is started, if the limit switches sense that the rod lens array is not in either stop position, then the control circuit operates the motor to return the array to either stop position.

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Yotsukaido, Japan

Takuma Takahashi