JP2002090617A - Range-finding sensor and range-finding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a passive-type range-finding sensor and a range-finding device which can be used both for a single-lens reflex camera and a compact camera, so as to realize reduction in cost and which can perform range-finding in a range-finding area, whose field is two-dimensionally wide. SOLUTION: This range-finding sensor is equipped with a 1st light-receiving means which includes at least a pair of photodetectors arranged along in a prescribed arraying direction, and receiving a subject image through an optical system different from a photographing optical system and outputting a subject image signal, and a 2nd light-receiving means which includes at least a pair of photodetectors arranged along, in a direction different from the arraying direction of a pair of photodetectors of the 1st light-receiving means at a prescribed interval while putting the 1st light-receiving means in-between, and receiving the subject image via the photographing optical system and outputting the subject image signal. The 1st light-receiving means and the 2nd light- receiving means are formed on the same sensor chip.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a distance measuring sensor and a distance measuring device, and more particularly to a distance measuring sensor and a distance measuring device which can be mounted on both a single-lens reflex camera and a compact camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a distance measuring apparatus of a camera adopting a passive distance measuring method, a TTL passive method is generally employed for a single-lens reflex camera, and an external light passive method is generally employed for a compact camera. Have been.

In a TTL passive distance measuring device,
The luminous flux of the subject incident from the photographing lens is condensed by a condenser lens, split into two by a separator lens, imaged on a pair of different areas on the light receiving element array, and formed in each area based on the integrated output of the light receiving element array The distance between the pair of subject images thus detected is detected, and the defocus amount of the photographing lens is obtained from the distance.

In the distance measuring apparatus using the TTL passive method, the distance between a pair of subject images formed in each area on the light receiving element array is adjusted so that the defocus amount becomes zero. The focus lens group of the photographing lens is moved so as to have a corresponding predetermined value.

In a distance measuring apparatus based on the passive external light method, an image of a subject is formed on a pair of light receiving element rows by a pair of image forming lenses without passing through a photographing lens, and each of the pair of light receiving element rows is formed. Based on the pixel output, the distance between the subject images formed on the pair of light receiving element rows is detected, and the distance to the subject is determined by triangulation from the focal length f of the imaging lens and the base length of the pair of imaging lenses. I'm asking.

In the distance measuring apparatus using the passive external light method, the focus lens group of the photographing lens is moved based on the distance.

As the light receiving element array, a CMOS type line sensor, a CCD line sensor or the like is used.

In particular, since the external light passive distance measuring device of a compact camera determines the distance to a subject by triangulation, the wider the base line length, that is, the distance between a pair of imaging lenses, the higher the distance measuring accuracy. .

Moreover, since the imaging lens is usually a fixed focus, the subject image on the light receiving element array may be blurred depending on the subject distance.

If the subject image is blurred, the position detection error of the subject image becomes large. Therefore, in order to reduce the error and improve the accuracy, the distance between the pair of light receiving element arrays should be wider. Is desirable.

On the other hand, in the TTL passive ranging method of a single-lens reflex camera, in order to reduce the amount of defocus, the distance is measured while performing the integration operation of the line sensor many times, and the position of the focus lens is adjusted. Thus, the distance between a pair of subject images does not have to be as wide as that of a compact camera for higher accuracy.

In the TTL passive distance measuring method of a single-lens reflex camera, the distance measuring units such as the condenser lens, the separator lens, and the line sensor are housed on the lower surface of the mirror box. The pitch and size of each light receiving element of the sensor must also be reduced.

Therefore, the TTL passive ranging method of the conventional single lens reflex camera and the passive light ranging method of the external light of the compact camera have completely different structures from the ranging optical system to the light receiving element array.

Therefore, it is necessary to manufacture a plurality of distance measuring sensors, and there is a problem that the cost is increased.

To solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-3
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9201, three line sensors arranged along a straight line are independently controlled by a single-lens reflex camera, and integrated by a pair of line sensors on both sides in a compact camera. A distance measuring sensor that can be employed in a single-lens reflex camera and a compact camera is disclosed.

[0016]

However, the distance measuring sensor disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-39201 has a one-dimensional distance measuring field of view. There is a problem in that it is not possible to achieve a wide ranging visual field, and the usability is poor.

Further, in this distance measuring sensor, since the pitch of the line sensor is fixed, even if a different line sensor pitch is required due to a difference in required accuracy between a single-lens reflex camera and a compact camera, it can be used. Therefore, there is a problem that the distance measurement accuracy is reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can be used for a single-lens reflex camera or a compact camera to reduce costs and to provide a two-dimensionally wide field-of-view measuring area. It is an object of the present invention to provide a passive distance measuring sensor and a distance measuring device capable of measuring distance.

[0019]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, there are provided (1) at least a pair of light-receiving elements arranged along a predetermined arrangement direction, the light-receiving element being different from the photographing optical system. A first light receiving unit that receives a subject image via an optical system and outputs a subject image signal, and at a predetermined interval with the first light receiving unit interposed therebetween;
The first light receiving means includes at least a pair of light receiving elements arranged along a direction different from the arrangement direction of the pair of light receiving elements, receives a subject image via the photographing optical system, and outputs a subject image signal. And a second light-receiving means for outputting the first and second light-receiving means, wherein the first light-receiving means and the second light-receiving means are formed on the same sensor chip. .

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, (2) the first light receiving means and the second light receiving means are different in arrangement pitch of light receiving elements from each other. The distance measuring sensor according to (1) is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, (3) at least a pair of light receiving elements arranged along a predetermined arrangement direction, and through an optical system different from the photographing optical system. A first light receiving means for receiving the subject image and outputting a subject image signal, and at a predetermined interval with the first light receiving means interposed therebetween,
Further, the first light receiving means is disposed along a direction different from the arrangement direction of the pair of light receiving elements, and the second light receiving means for receiving the subject image via the photographing optical system is the same as the second light receiving means. A distance measuring sensor formed on a sensor chip; a selecting means for switching and selecting any one of the first light receiving means and the second light receiving means formed on the distance measuring sensor; And a signal processing means for processing a subject image signal from the light receiving means selected by the selection means and outputting data for distance measurement calculation.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a passive distance measuring apparatus (distance measuring sensor 11) to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration when the distance measuring sensor 11 is mounted on a camera.

On the sensor chip of the distance measuring sensor 11, three line sensors 12A, 12B, and 12C extending in the horizontal direction and provided at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction are adjacent to the line sensors 12A, 12B, and 12C. Processing circuit sections 13A, 13B, 13C provided as
Shift register 1 provided adjacent to 13B, 13C
4A, 14B and 14C are a pair of left and right line sensors 1
0 and 20 are formed.

In the center of the distance measuring sensor 11 on the sensor chip, three line sensors 112A, 112B, 112 extending in the vertical direction and provided at predetermined intervals in the horizontal direction.
C, and processing circuit units 113A, 113B, 1 provided adjacent to the respective line sensors 112A, 112B, 112C.
13C and each processing circuit unit 113A, 113B, 113C
Shift registers 114A, 114 provided adjacent to
B, 114C, a pair of upper and lower line sensors 30, 4
0 is formed between the pair of left and right line sensors 10 and 20.

Here, each line sensor 12A, 12B,
12C and each line sensor 112A, 112B, 11
2C is a so-called photodiode array,
As shown in FIG. 3, photodiodes (pixels) that receive a subject light beam and perform photoelectric conversion are provided along a straight line at fixed intervals (arrangement pitch).

Here, each line sensor 12A, 12B,
12C and each line sensor 112A, 112B, 112C
Are different from each other in the arrangement pitch.

Then, each of the line sensors 12A, 12B,
12C and each line sensor 112A, 112B, 11
The electric charges generated in 2C correspond to the processing circuit units 13A, 13B, 13C and 113A,
The signals are stored in the storage units in 13B and 113C and are converted into voltage signals.

Each of the processing circuit units 13A, 13B, 1
The pixel signals converted into voltage signals by 3C and 113A, 113B, 113C are supplied to the shift registers 14A,
4B, 14C and 114A, 114B, 114C sequentially read out and output an image signal as an integrated signal for each pixel.

CPU 21 as a camera controller
Performs an operation based on the ROM 25 therein, and controls the operation of the entire camera.

The shift registers 14A, 14B, 1
The image signals sequentially read out by the 4C and 114A, 114B, 114C are output from the output circuit 16 via the integration control circuit 15, are input to the A / D circuit 23 built in the CPU 21, and are converted into pixel data of digital signals. After that, the data is sequentially stored at a predetermined address in the RAM 24 inside the CPU 21.

The CPU 21 reads out pixel data of a necessary area from the RAM 24 and uses it for a distance measurement calculation.

In the case of the external light passive type in the compact camera, the line sensors 112A, 112B, 11
2C is not used, and the line sensors 12A, 12B, 1
2C, the respective line sensors 12A, 12A
B and 12C pixel data groups are used.

That is, a pair of left and right line sensors 10, 2
0 (12A, 12B, 12C), based on the pixel data from the respective line sensors 12A, 12B, 12C.
Then, the position and the image interval of the pair of subject images formed in the above are detected, and the distance to the subject is obtained by triangulation.

On the other hand, T in a single-lens reflex camera
In the case of the TL passive system, each line sensor 12A,
12B and 12C are not used, and each line sensor 112 is not used.
A pair of subject images formed in the reference area and the reference area using the pixel data groups included in each area, with one area of the pixel data groups A, 112B, and 112C as a reference area and the other area as a reference area. An interval is obtained, and a defocus amount is obtained from the image interval.

As described above, each line sensor 12A, 1
2B, 12C and each line sensor 112A, 112B, 1
The light receiving element pitch differs from 12C.

In general, the smaller the light receiving element pitch, the higher the distance measuring accuracy is, but the smaller the light receiving area, the lower the luminance, the more difficult it is to measure.

In consideration of the above, since the distance measuring optical system and the required distance measuring accuracy differ between the single-lens reflex camera and the compact camera, the optimal pitch of the light receiving elements is set. As described above, the light receiving element pitch is different.

In this embodiment, each line sensor 10, 2
Although the pitch of 0 (12A, 12B, 12C) is set smaller than the pitch of each line sensor 20, 40 (112A, 112B, 112C), this may be reversed.

Each of the line sensors 12A, 12B, 1
A monitor circuit (not shown) for controlling the charge accumulation time of each of the processing circuits 13A, 13B, 13C and 113A, 113
B and 113C.

Each monitor circuit is connected to each line sensor 12.
A, 12B, 12C and 112A, 112B, 112
C generates a peak signal among the subject image signals received by the light source C. The output from each monitor circuit is output to the integration control circuit 15.
Is input to

In this case, the output from the CPU 21 and the output from the
The determination voltage Vth converted into an analog signal by the / A conversion circuit 22 is input.

The determination voltage Vth is used to regulate the image signal output level so as to conform to the dynamic range of the A / D circuit 23.

The integration control circuit 15 compares the judgment voltage Vth with the output voltage from each monitor circuit, and when it is detected that the output voltage has reached the judgment voltage Vth, each of the processing circuit sections 13A, 13B, 13C. To terminate the charge accumulation (integration) of the line sensors 12A, 12B, and 12C.

When the output voltage from each monitor circuit does not reach the predetermined voltage within the predetermined time, the corresponding line sensor 12A, 12B, 12C and 112A, 112A
B, forcibly terminating the integration of 112C.

The D / A conversion circuit 22 can generate the determination voltage Vth by changing it in accordance with various conditions.

The CPU 21 transmits a control signal to the distance measuring sensor 11.
To control the operation of the distance measuring sensor 11 via the integration control circuit 15 in the distance measuring sensor 11.

The above line sensors 12A, 12A
B, 12C and 112A, 112B and 112C, processing circuit units 13A, 13B, 13C and 113A and 11
3B and 113C, and each shift register 14A, 14B, 14C and 114A, 114B,
114C, the output operation of the output circuit 16 depends on the integration control circuit 1
5 is driven and controlled.

Next, embodiments of the case where the distance measuring sensor 11 is used for a compact camera and the case where it is used for a single-lens reflex camera will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, an embodiment in which the distance measuring sensor 11 is applied to an external light passive distance measuring method of a compact camera will be described with reference to FIG.

A pair of left and right line sensors 10, 20 (12
A, 12B, and 12C), a pair of imaging lenses 61 and 62, which are distance measuring optical systems, are arranged.

The subject light beams incident on the imaging lenses 61 and 62 are imaged on the line sensors 12A, 12B and 12C or before and after each of them by the imaging lenses 61 and 62, respectively.

As described above, in the case of the external light passive distance measuring method, the distance is measured on an optical path different from that of the photographing lens 63.

FIG. 4 shows distance measuring areas 312A, 312B and 312C in the photographing screen 200 of the compact camera.

A timing control circuit (not shown) includes a CPU
When the L level is received as the value of the external light / TTL switching signal by serial communication from 21, the external light passive mode is set, and the integral control is simultaneously performed for each of the line sensors 12A, 12B, and 12C.

That is, each processing circuit unit 13A, 13B,
Outputs from the monitor circuits built in 13C and 113A, 113B, 113C are input to an integration control circuit 15, which controls integration.

In this case, each line sensor 113
A, 113B, and 113C are not operated without integration control.

Then, each line sensor 13A, 13B,
The charge integrated by each photodiode of 13C is output as an image signal to the CPU 21 (control means) of the camera.

The CPU 21 determines a pair of line sensors 10, 20 (12A, 12B, 12C) based on the image signal.
The upper image interval is obtained, and further, the subject distance is obtained based on the principle of the triangulation method based on the base line length and the focal length of the imaging lenses 61 and 62.

The subject distance obtained for each line sensor is processed by a predetermined algorithm, for example,
What is necessary is to select the closest object distance and focus the camera.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing the configuration and a distance measuring optical system of a camera in which the distance measuring sensor 11 is applied to a TTL passive type of a single-lens reflex camera. .

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a light beam from a subject passes through a photographic optical system 71 including a photographic lens and enters a main mirror 72.

The main mirror 72 is a half mirror, and a part of the incident light beam is reflected toward the finder optical system 74.

On the other hand, the remainder of the incident light beam is
And is reflected by the sub-mirror 73 before being guided to the distance measuring unit 78.

In the finder optical system 74, the screen 7
5. Allow the photographer to observe the photographed image through the pentaprism 76 and the eyepiece 77.

During film exposure, the main mirror 72 and the sub-mirror 73 are retracted to the positions indicated by the dotted lines in the figure.

The luminous flux of the subject having passed through the photographing optical system 71 is transferred to the film 7 while the shutter (not shown) is open.
9 or the image sensor.

The distance measuring optical system in the distance measuring unit 78 in the single-lens reflex camera will be described.

The field mask 51 is arranged on a focal plane where a subject image is formed by the photographing lens 71.

The field mask 51 has vertically long rectangular openings 51A, 51B, 51C as openings for regulating the distance measurement area.
Are formed at regular intervals along the horizontal direction.

The predetermined focal plane is a plane equivalent to a film plane in the case of a so-called silver halide film camera, and a plane equivalent to a light receiving plane of an image sensor in the case of an electronic still camera.

Each opening 51A, 51B of the visual field mask 51,
A condenser lens 52 is arranged behind 51C.

Each opening 51A, 51B of the visual field mask 51,
The luminous flux transmitted through the subject lens 51C passes through the condenser lens 52.
After being collected by the pair of separator lenses 53, 5
4 is divided into two parts.

Then, each of the two divided images is
Each of the line sensors 10, 20 (1
2A, 12B, and 12C).

The secondary imaging surface is a surface on which an image of a predetermined imaging surface is formed, and an image of a subject by the photographing lens 71 is formed on this secondary imaging surface.

FIG. 7 shows the distance measuring areas 212A, 212B, 21 in the photographing screen 200 of the single-lens reflex camera.
2C is shown.

A timing control circuit (not shown) includes a CPU
When “H” is received as an external light / TTL switching signal by serial communication from the TTL mode 21, the TTL mode is set, and the line sensors 112 A, 112 B, and 112 C are set to be effectively operated.

That is, each line sensor 113A, 11A
3B, 113C are processing circuit units 13A, 13B, 13
C and an integration control circuit 15 based on the output from each monitor circuit built in 113A, 113B, 113C.
Is controlled by the integral.

Further, the line sensors 112A, 112B, 11 selected by a timing control circuit (not shown)
The charge of each photodiode of 2C is output as an image signal to the CPU 21 of the camera.

The CPU 21 controls each line sensor 112A,
Based on a pair of image signals from 112B and 112C, a pair of image intervals is obtained for each of the line sensors 112A, 112B and 112C, and a defocus amount is calculated.

Then, the defocus amount obtained for each line sensor is processed by using a predetermined algorithm, and for example, the closest defocus amount is selected to perform camera focusing.

When the distance measuring sensor 11 is applied to a passive external light system of a compact camera, a pair of line sensors 10 and 20 extending in the horizontal direction respectively measure the distance of the subject in three vertically discrete areas. When a single-lens reflex camera is applied to a TTL passive system, a pair of line sensors 30 and 40 extending in a vertical direction is available.
However, it is possible to measure the distance of the subject in three horizontally discrete areas, and a pair of line sensors 10 extending in the horizontal direction.
20 is a pair of line sensors 30, 4 extending in the vertical direction.
Since it is arranged so as to sandwich 0, highly accurate ranging can be performed by triangulation.

Although the pitch of each light receiving element of each line sensor is fixed, by switching the pitch as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-274562, a plurality of distance measuring optical systems can be used. Alternatively, the pitch of each light receiving element of the line sensor may be switched according to conditions or other conditions.

In this embodiment, the external light passive type is set so as to correspond to the long distance measuring field of view in the horizontal direction, and the TTL passive type is set so as to correspond to the long distance measuring field of view in the vertical direction. You may.

FIG. 8 shows the line sensors 12A, 12B, 1
2C and line sensors 112A, 112B, 112C
2 shows an embodiment in which both are applied to the external light passive distance measurement method.

As shown in FIG. 8, a pair of left and right line sensors 10 and 20 (12
A, 12B, and 12C), a pair of imaging lenses 61 and 62 that are distance measuring optical systems are arranged.

A pair of upper and lower line sensors 30, 40
A pair of imaging lenses 161 and 162, a pair of mirrors 163 and 164, and a pair of mirrors 165 and 166, which are distance measuring optical systems corresponding to (112A, 112B and 112C), are arranged.

The subject light beams incident on the imaging lenses 61 and 62 are imaged on the line sensors 12A, 12B and 12C by the imaging lenses 61 and 62, respectively.

The subject light beams incident on the imaging lenses 161 and 162 are
Is reflected by the pair of mirrors 163 and 164 and the pair of mirrors 165 and 166,
Images are formed on 2A, 112B and 112C.

As described above, in the case of the external light passive distance measuring method, the distance is measured on an optical path different from that of the photographing lens 63.

FIG. 9 shows the line sensors 12A, 12B, 1
2C and line sensors 112A, 112B, 112C
Ranging areas 312A, 312B, 312C and 313 in the shooting screen 200 of the compact camera corresponding to
A, 313B and 313C are shown.

In FIG. 1, the integration control circuit 15 is configured so that both the line sensors 12A, 12B, and 12C and the line sensors 112A, 112B, and 112C can be simultaneously integrated and pixel data can be read.

Then, from the CPU 21, each line sensor 12A, 12B, 12C and each line sensor 112
When both A, 112B, and 112C are set to a mode in which they can operate simultaneously, the above-described integration operation and read operation can be performed.

In this way, each line sensor 10, 2
0 (12A, 12B, 12C) and each line sensor 30,
40 (112A, 112B, 112C) can be used for the external light passive ranging method.

In this case, it is possible to detect both a subject having a contrast in the horizontal direction (for example, a vertical line) and a subject having a contrast in the vertical direction (for example, a horizontal line), and the detection capability is greatly improved.

Similarly, each of the line sensors 10, 20
(12A, 12B, 12C) and each line sensor 30, 4
0 (112A, 112B, 112C) can also be used for the TTL passive ranging method.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10A, an infrared light emitting diode (IR
LD) 401, and the auxiliary light from the IRED 401 is condensed by the light projecting lens 400 and projected toward the subject.
The sensor 11 may be applied as a light receiving sensor of a so-called active type distance measuring device using the reflected signal light.

That is, in addition to the so-called passive AF (autofocus) based on an image signal obtained by the sensor array via the light receiving lenses 261 and 262, this auxiliary light is used for a dark or low-contrast subject. (Steps S9, S10, S11 in FIG. 11) and the sensor array 112 (a, b, c) which is not used for normal passive distance measurement. If the position is detected (step S1, FIG.
S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8), FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3B, it is possible to determine the distance to a short distance area where distance measurement cannot be performed by passive AF.

In this case, when the reflected light is incident on the farthest sensor 112a from the IRED 401, the distance to the subject can be determined to be extremely short by the principle of triangulation, so that step S3 is performed. Branch to Y to warn that shooting is not possible.

When the reflected light enters the sensors 112b and 112c which are farther from the IRED 401 in order,
In steps S3 and S4, the process branches to Y, for example,
This can be used for determining whether to perform macro photography at a short distance of 10 cm or 30 cm.

According to such a modified example, by adding a light projecting means for projecting auxiliary light, a sensor array provided at a position not used for ordinary passive distance measurement is effectively used. Thus, a distance measuring sensor and a distance measuring device having higher functions can be realized.

As described above, according to the distance measuring sensor and the distance measuring apparatus of the present invention, the present invention can be applied to a single-lens reflex camera and a compact camera, and can reduce the cost.
It is possible to measure the distance in a distance measuring area having a wide field of view in a dimension, and to improve usability.

In the present specification described in the above-described embodiments, in addition to claims 1 to 3 described in the claims, the inventions described as appendices 1 to 7 below are described. include.

(Supplementary Note 1) Subject light is received by light receiving means provided with a plurality of light receiving elements arranged along different directions, and defocus or distance to the subject is determined based on the output of the photographing optical system of the light receiving means. In the distance measuring device for measurement, at least one first light receiving unit and the first light receiving unit are arranged at predetermined intervals, and are arranged along a direction different from the arrangement direction of the first light receiving units. A distance measuring device comprising at least a pair of second light receiving means.

(Supplementary Note 2) The distance measuring apparatus according to (Supplementary Note 1), wherein the first light receiving means and the second light receiving means arranged in the different directions have different pitches of light receiving elements.

(Supplementary Note 3) An integral control means for integrating and controlling each of the light receiving means is provided.
The distance measuring apparatus according to (Appendix 1), wherein the integration is controlled by switching between the light receiving means and the second light receiving means.

(Supplementary Note 4) A reading means for reading an accumulation signal from each of the light receiving means is provided.
The distance measuring device according to (Appendix 1), wherein reading is performed by switching between the first light receiving means and the second light receiving means.

(Supplementary Note 5) A distance measuring optical system for forming a subject image on the second light receiving means via a photographing optical system is provided.
Any one of (Supplementary note 1) to (Supplementary note 4), wherein a defocus amount of the photographing optical system is obtained based on an output signal of the light receiving element array regarding a pair of subject images formed by the distance measuring optical system. A distance measuring device according to any of the claims.

(Supplementary Note 6) A distance measuring optical system including a pair of imaging lenses for forming a subject image on a pair of light receiving element rows of the second light receiving means, respectively, and a subject image formed by the distance measuring optical system. The distance measuring apparatus according to any one of (Appendix 1) to (Appendix 4), wherein a distance to the subject is obtained based on output signals from the pair of light receiving element arrays.

(Supplementary Note 7) A light projecting means is provided, and in a state where the light is projected from the light projecting means toward a subject, the incidence of reflected light on the second light receiving means is determined, and based on a light receiving output signal, The distance measuring apparatus according to (Appendix 6), wherein the distance to the subject is determined.

[0112]

Therefore, as described above, claim 1 is as follows.
According to the present invention described in (2) and (3), a passive system capable of being used for both a single-lens reflex camera and a compact camera for cost reduction and capable of two-dimensionally measuring a ranging field having a wide field of view. Can be provided.

As described above, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the present invention can be used for a single-lens reflex camera and a compact camera to reduce the cost and to achieve a two-dimensional wide-angle. It is possible to provide a passive distance measuring apparatus capable of measuring a distance measuring area in a visual field.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a passive distance measuring apparatus (distance measuring sensor 11) to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main circuit configuration when the distance measuring sensor 11 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a camera.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a case where each of the line sensors 12A, 12B and 12C and each of the line sensors 112A, 112B and 112C of the distance measuring sensor 11 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called photodiode array; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which photodiodes (pixels) that receive a light beam and perform photoelectric conversion are provided along a straight line at a constant interval (arrangement pitch).

FIG. 4 is a distance measurement area 312A, 312B, 3 in a shooting screen 200 of the compact camera applied in FIG. 5;
It is a figure showing 12C.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing an embodiment in which the distance measuring sensor 11 shown in FIG. 1 is applied to an external light passive distance measuring method of a compact camera.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration and a distance measuring optical system of a camera when the distance measuring sensor 11 shown in FIG. 1 is applied to a TTL passive type of a single-lens reflex camera.

FIG. 7 is a distance measurement area 212A, 212 in a photographing screen 200 when applied to a single-lens reflex camera.
B, 212C.

FIG. 8 is an embodiment in which both the line sensors 12A, 12B and 12C and the line sensors 112A, 112B and 112C of the distance measuring sensor 11 shown in FIG. 1 are applied to an external light passive distance measuring method. It is a figure showing a form.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating line sensors 12A, 12B, and 12;
C and each line sensor 112A, 112B, 112C
Ranging areas 312A, 312B, 312C and 313A in the shooting screen 200 of the compact camera corresponding to
It is a figure which shows 313B, 313C.

FIG. 10A shows a case where the distance measuring sensor 11 shown in FIG. 1 projects auxiliary light from a light projecting unit for projecting auxiliary light toward a subject, and reflects the reflected signal light. As a light-receiving sensor of a so-called active type distance measuring device,
FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a modified example to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 10B, according to the configuration of FIG. 10A, distance determination up to a short distance area where distance measurement cannot be performed by passive AF. It is a figure showing that it becomes possible.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in a case where the present invention is applied as a light receiving sensor of the active type distance measuring device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: distance measuring sensor, 10, 20: pair of left and right line sensors, 30, 40: pair of upper and lower line sensors, 12A, 12B, 12C: line sensor, 13A, 13B, 13C: processing circuit unit, 14A, 14B, 14C: shift register, 112A, 112B, 112C: line sensor, 113A, 113B, 113C: processing circuit section, 114A, 114B, 114C: shift register, 15: integration control circuit, 16: output circuit, 21: CPU, 22 ... D / A circuit, 23 ... A / D circuit, 24 ... RAM, 25 ... ROM, 61, 62 ... A pair of imaging lenses, 63 ... Shooting lens, 200 ... Shooting screen of compact camera, 312A, 312B, 312C ... Measurement Distance area, 72: Main mirror, 74: Finder optical system, 73: Sub mirror, 75: Screen , 76: pentaprism, 77: eyepiece, 79: film, 78: distance measuring unit, 71: photographic optical system including photographic lens, 51: field mask, 51A, 51B, 51C: aperture, 52: condenser lens 53, 54: a pair of separator lenses, 200: a photographing screen of a single-lens reflex camera, 212A, 212B, 212C: a ranging area, 161, 162: an imaging lens, 163, 164: a pair of mirrors, 165, 166 ... A pair of mirrors, 200: a photographing screen of a compact camera, 312A, 312B, 312C, 313A, 313B,
313C distance measurement area, 400: light projecting lens, 401: infrared light emitting diode (IRED), 261, 262: light receiving lens, 112 (a, b, c): sensor array.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G02B 7/32 G02B 7/11 B G03B 13/36 G03B 3/00 A F-term (reference) 2F112 AC03 BA03 BA06 CA02 DA28 FA03 FA29 FA45 2H011 BA01 BA11 2H051 BA15 BA21

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first system including at least a pair of light receiving elements arranged along a predetermined arrangement direction, receiving a subject image via an optical system different from a photographing optical system, and outputting a subject image signal. A light receiving means, and at least one pair of light receiving elements arranged at a predetermined interval with the first light receiving means interposed therebetween and along a direction different from the arrangement direction of the pair of light receiving elements of the first light receiving means. And a second light receiving means for receiving a subject image via the photographing optical system and outputting a subject image signal, wherein the first light receiving means and the second light receiving means are the same sensor chip. A distance measuring sensor formed above. 2. The distance measuring sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first light receiving means and the second light receiving means have different arrangement pitches of light receiving elements. 3. A first device that includes at least a pair of light receiving elements arranged along a predetermined arrangement direction, receives a subject image via an optical system different from the photographing optical system, and outputs a subject image signal. The light receiving means is disposed at a predetermined interval with the first light receiving means interposed therebetween, and along a direction different from the arrangement direction of the pair of light receiving elements of the first light receiving means. A second light receiving means for receiving a subject image, a distance measuring sensor formed on the same sensor chip, the first light receiving means formed on the distance measuring sensor, and the second light receiving means; Selecting means for switching and selecting any one of the light receiving means, and signal processing means for processing a subject image signal from the light receiving means selected by the selecting means and outputting distance measurement calculation data. A distance measuring device.