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:
Jun. 02, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 11, 1996
Jun Sasagawa, Tokyo, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A distance measuring apparatus is provided which is capable of not only reducing the cost of auxiliary separate parts but also making the apparatus small-sized and lightweight and improving the efficiency of operation in spite of the fact that both the measurements of long and short distances can be taken with the single apparatus. The distance measuring apparatus projects a measuring beam of light toward an object (14) to be measured by a light projecting system. Light reflected by the object (14) is imaged on a light receiving and converting device (16) by a light receiving system. A distance from a measuring position to the object (14) is measured based on the light imaged on the light receiving and converting device (16). If an object (17) to be measured is a reflecting sheet or natural substance, part of diffused and reflected light from the object (17) is deflected toward the light receiving and converting device (16) by a deflecting device (15) which is disposed apart from an optical axis (Q2) and close to the light receiving and converting device (16): disposed on an optical path which ranges from the object (17) to the light receiving and converting device (16).