The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 03, 1991
Filed:
Feb. 22, 1990
Tomoya Kitajima, Kawasaki, JP;
Akira Suzuki, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring distances at many points has a section for performing a distance measuring operation. The apparatus comprises a projector for selectively irradiating a projected light beam to a photographed object in a plurality of directions; a light-receiving element for receiving light reflected from the photographed object; a selecting circuit for detecting the direction of at least one projected light beam corresponding to a great change in output caused in the light-receiving element when the light beam projected from the projector is selectively irradiated to the photographed object in the plural directions; and a measured distance detecting section for performing the distance measuring operation in the direction of the projected light beam detected by the selecting circuit and providing measured distance information with respect to at least one point. The apparatus may further comprise a moving member for moving an optical axis for distance measurement of the measured distance detecting section integrally or in association with the received light beam of the light-receiving element, the projected light beam of the projector, or both of these light beams. The apparatus may further comprise other constructional sections for performing the distance measuring operation.