Simplified calibration for a distance information obtaining device

Abstract

In a distance information obtaining device comprising an image pickup device (10) for picking up an optical image of an object to produce a picture signal, and a signal processing unit (18) for processing the picture signal to produce a processed signal representative of distance information between the image pickup device and each point of the object, the signal processing unit produces a reference signal by using a reference picture signal derived from the image pickup device on a preliminary process. Responsive to the reference signal, a preliminary processing unit (26) preliminarily processes the reference signal to produce a preliminary processed signal as a calibration signal. In a measuring process, the signal processing unit processes the picture signal with reference to the preliminary processed signal. Preferably, the reference picture signal should be given in the form of first and second reference picture signals derived from first and second reference optical images of first and second reference plates (16) and (16') located at first and second distances (Z.sub.a) and (Z.sub.b) from the image pickup device.