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:
Apr. 25, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 27, 1998
Yukihiro Matsumoto, Kawaguchi, JP;
Osamu Harada, Kawasaki, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A distance measuring apparatus for a camera includes light-projecting means for projecting a light beam onto an object of distance measurement, and a pair of sensor arrays, each including a plurality of pixels located at respective pixel positions for receiving reflected light of the light beam reflected by the object of distance measurement and outputting a signal corresponding to the amount of reflected light received. The apparatus further includes phase difference detection means for detecting a phase difference between signals output from the pair of sensor arrays, distance measuring means for measuring a distance to the object on the basis of the phase difference, and shortest range discrimination means for discriminating whether the object of distance measurement is in a shortest range, on the basis of levels of maximum values of signals output by said pair of sensor arrays, where the shortest range is a distance or range at which photography can not be performed.