JP2007298372A - Light-wave distance meter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out a non-prism measurement and a prism measurement without allowing a portion of distance-measuring light to enter a light receiving means as a noise. <P>SOLUTION: In the non-prism measurement, a parallel plane glass 20 is removed from a distance-measuring light propagation path 62 between a concave lens 18 and a convex lens 22, and the distance-measuring light 102 composed of parallel light is output from the convex lens 22, and then the light 102 composed of the parallel light is fed from the front side of an objective lens 30 toward an object such as a wall 64 or the like. In the prism measurement, the parallel plane glass 20 is inserted into the propagation path 62 between the concave lens 18 and the convex lens 22, and the light 102 composed of diverging light is output from the convex lens 22, and then the light 102 composed of the diverging light is fed from the front side of the objective lens 30 toward an object such as a reflection prism 66 or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention transmits a distance measuring light whose intensity is modulated by a modulation signal toward a target, and can obtain a distance to the target based on the reflected light reflected by the target and returned. Regarding the total.

  As an optical distance meter, for example, the distance to the target is obtained based on the phase difference between the reflected light by the distance measuring light (laser beam) irradiated toward the target and the reference light irradiated on the internal reference optical path. A phase-difference type optical distance meter as described above is known. When performing distance measurement using this type of lightwave distance meter, the non-prism measurement using a low-reflectance wall as a target (target) without placing the reflective prism at the target point, and the reflective prism as the target The prism measurement is performed.

  In constructing an optical distance meter, one using a single light source or one using a plurality of light sources has been proposed. For example, in a non-prism measurement, a target is irradiated with distance measuring light by parallel light, and in a prism measurement, a target is irradiated with distance measuring light by divergent light. Yes (see Patent Document 1). When performing non-prism measurement using a light wave distance meter, using parallel light as the distance measuring light can make the beam spot of the distance measuring light smaller than when using divergent light, and can be used for small targets or long distances. This is advantageous when measuring a target. On the other hand, when performing prism measurement using an optical distance meter, if divergent light is used as the distance measuring light, the distance measuring light diverges and spreads more than when parallel light is used. It can be measured even if it deviates to some extent, and the influence of the atmospheric heat flame is reduced.

Japanese Patent No. 3272699 (see pages 6 to 8, see FIG. 4)

  In the prior art, when performing non-prism measurement and prism measurement using a single light source, the objective lens is shared by the light transmitting optical system and the light receiving optical system, and the light transmitting optical system connecting the light source and the objective lens is used. Because divergent light or parallel light is transmitted through the objective lens by inserting or removing the optical element for expanding the light beam, when the distance measuring light from the light source is incident on the objective lens In addition, there is a concern that part of the light is reflected by the objective lens and enters the light receiving means (light receiving optical system) as noise.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to perform non-prism measurement and prism measurement without a part of distance measuring light entering the light receiving means as noise. is there. Further, even if the prism is not at the center of the diverging light, the diverging light hits the entire surface of the prism, so that the phase difference is reduced in the reflected light, and the variation in the measured value is eliminated.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the optical distance meter according to claim 1, a light emitting means for emitting light that has been intensity-modulated by a modulation signal as parallel light, and divergent light generated by the light emitted from the light emitting means is converted into parallel light. A collimating lens, a light distribution unit that radiates parallel light and distributes it to ranging light or reference light, and a ranging light that transmits the ranging light emitted from the light distribution unit toward a target A light transmitting means; a reference light transmitting means for transmitting the reference light emitted from the light distributing means to a reference light path; and an objective lens for reflecting the reflected light reflected by the target object as the distance measuring light is transmitted. A light receiving means for receiving light through the light receiving means, and performing photoelectric conversion on the reflected light by the light received by the light receiving means to generate a ranging signal, and performing photoelectric conversion on the reference light from the reference light path to generate a reference signal Photoelectric conversion means for generating the light Comparing a distance measurement signal generated by the conversion means with a reference light, and calculating means for calculating a distance to the target, the distance measurement light transmitting means is adapted to receive the distance measurement light from the light distribution means. Ranging light magnifying optical system for converting into expanded parallel light, and insertion into or from the ranging light propagation path connecting the light distribution means and the ranging light magnifying optical system Switching means for switching, and when the distance measuring light is inserted into the distance measuring light propagation path by the switching means, the distance measuring light expanding optical system converts the expanded parallel light into divergent light, thereby expanding the distance measuring light Ranging light diverging optical system that outputs diverging light from diverging light from the optical system, and sending distance measuring light from the ranging light expanding optical system toward the target from the front side of the objective lens An optical optical system was used.

  (Function) When non-prism measurement is performed using light whose intensity is modulated by a modulation signal, the light emitting means in a state in which the distance light diverging optical system of the distance light expanding optical system is separated from the distance light propagation path In the process of distributing the collimated light from the light into distance measuring light or reference light and propagating the distributed distance measuring light along the distance measuring light propagation path, the distance measuring light is collimated from the divergent light by the distance light expanding optical system. The light is converted into light, and the distance-measuring light by the parallel light is transmitted from the light transmission optical system arranged on the front side of the objective lens toward the target, and the distributed reference light is transmitted to the reference optical path to be parallel. A distance measurement signal is generated by photoelectrically converting the reflected light reflected by the target as the distance measurement light is transmitted by light, for example, the reflected light reflected by a low-reflectance wall, and the reference from the reference optical path. The photoelectric conversion of light generates a reference signal, and the generated ranging signal and reference signal Compared to by obtaining the distance to the target, it is possible to perform non-prism measurement.

  On the other hand, when performing prism measurement using light that has been intensity-modulated by the modulation signal, the distance light diverging optical system of the distance light expansion optical system is inserted into the distance light propagation path, In the process of distributing parallel light to ranging light or reference light and propagating the distributed ranging light along the ranging light propagation path, the ranging light diverging optical system inserted in the ranging light propagation path, Performs conversion from divergent light into parallel light expanded by the distance-expanding optical system, outputs the distance-measuring light by the diverging light from the distance-expanding optical system, and converts the distance-measuring light by the diverging light into the objective lens Light is transmitted toward the target from the light transmission optical system arranged on the front side, the distributed reference light is transmitted to the reference optical path, and reflected by the target as the distance measurement light is transmitted by the divergent light Ranging signal by photoelectrically converting the reflected light, for example, the reflected light reflected by the reflecting prism And generating a reference signal by photoelectrically converting the reference light from the reference optical path, and performing a prism measurement by calculating the distance to the target by comparing the generated distance measurement signal and the reference signal. Can do.

  In this way, the light transmission optical system that transmits the distance measurement light from the distance measurement light conversion optical system toward the target from the front side of the objective lens is set to a region outside the region connecting the objective lens and the light receiving means. Since the distance measurement light by the parallel light or the distance measurement light by the diverging light is transmitted from the light transmission optical system to the target, a part of the distance measurement light is not incident on the light receiving means as noise. Prism measurement and prism measurement can be performed, which can contribute to improvement of measurement accuracy.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the optical distance meter according to the first aspect, the distance measuring light divergence optical system is composed of parallel plane plates whose incident surface and output surface are parallel to each other.

  (Function) The distance measuring light divergence optical system is composed of parallel plane plates whose entrance surface and exit surface are parallel to each other, so that when the parallel plane glass is inserted into the distance measuring light propagation path, the position is measured. Within the light propagation path, the divergence effect on the distance measuring light can be maintained without shifting the optical axis even if it is shifted vertically and horizontally.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the lightwave distance meter according to claim 1, with such a configuration, a part of the distance measuring light does not enter the light receiving means as noise, so that the measurement accuracy can be improved. In addition to being able to contribute, it is possible to measure prism mode and non-prism mode with a single unit, thereby reducing costs.

  According to the second aspect, the optical axis is not shifted depending on the position of the plane-parallel glass, and the divergence effect by the plane-parallel glass can be maintained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an optical distance meter according to an embodiment of the present invention during non-prism measurement, and FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of an optical distance meter according to an embodiment of the present invention during prism measurement. .

  In these figures, a phase difference type lightwave distance meter 10 includes a single distance measuring light source 12, a light transmitting lens 14, a parallel plane glass 16, a concave lens 18, a parallel plane glass 20, a convex lens 22, and an optical path as a distance measuring system. A diaphragm 23, a dichroic mirror 24, a light transmitting prism 26, a parallel glass 28, an objective lens 30, a dichroic prism 32, a light receiving lens 34, dichroic prisms 36 and 37, a band pass filter 38, a light receiving diaphragm 40, and a light receiving element 42 are provided. As the quasi-optical system, in addition to the objective lens 30 and the dichroic prism 32, a focusing lens 44, an erecting prism 46, a focusing screen 48, and an eyepiece lens 50 are provided. The collimation point can be confirmed. A crosshair is provided on the focusing screen 48, and the intersection of the crosshairs is the collimation axis of the collimation optical system connecting the optical axis of the objective lens 30 and the intersection.

  In addition to the distance measuring system, as elements of an automatic tracking / automatic collimation system, a light source 52, a convex lens 54, a reflecting mirror 56, a reflecting prism 26, an objective lens 30, a dichroic prism 32, a dichroic prism 36, a light receiving lens 58, An automatic tracking / automatic collimation light receiving unit 60 is provided. In addition, arrangement | positioning of the optical element of the light transmission part (56,54,52) and light-receiving part (58,60) of an automatic collimation optical system is one Example, and another optical arrangement | positioning may be sufficient.

  The ranging light source 12 is configured as a light emitting means, for example, a light emitting element that emits visible light intensity-modulated with a modulation signal having a frequency of 75 MHz, 250 kHz, or the like as divergent light, for example, a laser diode that emits visible light having a wavelength of 690 nm. Has been. The divergent light generated by the light emitted from the distance measuring light source 12 is transmitted through the light transmitting lens 14 and is incident on the parallel flat glass 16. The plane parallel glass 16 distributes the parallel light transmitted through the light transmission lens 14 into the reference light 100 and the distance measuring light 102, and the reference light 100 with a small amount of light is distributed through an internal reference optical system (not shown). The distance measuring light 102 transmitted to the light receiving element 42 and transmitted to the distance measuring light propagation path 62 is configured as light distribution means.

  The distance measuring light propagation path 62 is formed in an area outside the area connecting the objective lens 30 and the dichroic prism 32, and along this distance measuring light propagation path 62, the concave lens 18, the convex lens 22, the dichroic mirror 24, An optical prism 26 and a parallel glass 28 are arranged as distance measuring light transmitting means. Among these distance measuring light transmitting means, the parallel flat glass 20 is arranged so as to be freely inserted into and removed from the distance measuring light propagation path 62. Insertion / removal of the parallel flat glass 20 is performed by selecting with the switching means 61. The concave lens 18 receives the distance measuring light 102 from the parallel flat glass 16 and transmits the incident distance measuring light 102 to the convex lens 22 side in a diverged state.

  Here, when the parallel plane glass 20 is not inserted into the distance measuring light propagation path 62 between the concave lens 18 and the convex lens 22, the distance measuring light 102 generated by the divergent light incident on the convex lens 22 is diverged by the convex lens 22. To parallel light. That is, the convex lens 22 is configured as a distance measuring light conversion optical system that converts the distance measuring light 102 by diverging light into parallel light by inserting and removing the parallel flat glass 20. On the other hand, when the parallel plane glass 20 is inserted into the distance measuring light propagation path 62 between the concave lens 18 and the convex lens 22, the distance measuring light 102 incident on the convex lens 22 is converted into divergent light. Therefore, the light is output from the convex lens 22 as divergent light. In this case, the parallel plane glass 20 changes the apparent focal position of the convex lens 22 when it is inserted into the distance measuring light propagation path 62 between the concave lens 18 and the convex lens 22. A ranging light diverging optical system that performs conversion to diverging light is configured.

  The distance measuring light 102 that has passed through the convex lens 22 passes through the optical path stop 23, is reflected by the dichroic mirror 24, then enters the light transmitting prism 26, and is directed from the light transmitting prism 26 to the target through the parallel plane glass 28. Is transmitted. The light transmission prism 26 is fixed to a plane parallel glass 28 as an element of the light transmission optical system. The plane parallel glass 28 is disposed on the front side of the objective lens 30 on the extension of the optical axis connecting the objective lens 30 and the dichroic prism 32, and is fixed to the tip of the collimating telescope body (not shown). . That is, the light transmission prism 26 constitutes a light transmission optical system together with the dichroic mirror 24 and the parallel flat glass 28, and transmits the distance measuring light 102 from the convex lens 22 toward the target from the front side of the objective lens 30. It is like that.

  On the other hand, the distance measuring light 102 from the convex lens 22 is transmitted from the front side of the objective lens 30 toward the target, and when the distance measuring light 102 is reflected by the target such as the wall 64 or the reflecting prism 66, the reflected light is reflected. The light 104 passes through the plane parallel glass 28 and then enters the dichroic prism 32 through the objective lens 30. All of the reflected light 104 incident on the dichroic prism 32 is reflected, passes through the light receiving lens 34, the dichroic prisms 36 and 37, the band pass filter 38, and the light receiving aperture 40 and enters the light receiving element (light receiving diode) 42. It is like that. Further, the light receiving diaphragm 40 is inclined and attached in order to prevent the light receiving element 42 from being affected by reflection.

  The light receiving element 42 receives the reference light 100 from the internal reference optical path in addition to the reflected light 104 from the target. When receiving the reflected light 104, the light receiving element 42 performs photoelectric conversion on the reflected light 104 to generate a distance measurement signal. On the other hand, when receiving the reference light 100, the light receiving element 42 performs photoelectric conversion on the reference light 100. It is configured as a photoelectric conversion means for generating a reference signal, and the distance measuring signal or the reference signal output from the light receiving element 42 is output to the distance measuring light processing unit 51.

  The ranging light processing unit 51 includes a microcomputer, a signal generator, and the like, obtains a phase difference between the ranging signal and the reference signal generated by the light receiving element 42, and calculates a distance to the target based on the phase difference. It is configured to have a function as a computing means.

  When performing non-prism measurement using the optical distance meter 10 having the above-described configuration, first, the plane-parallel glass 20 is removed in the distance measuring light propagation path 62 between the concave lens 18 and the convex lens 22, as shown in FIG. In this state, the ranging light source 12 is driven to turn on. Light due to the lighting of the distance measuring light source 12 passes through the light transmission lens 14 as parallel light and enters the parallel plane glass 16. The parallel light incident on the plane parallel glass 16 is distributed to the reference light 100 and the distance measuring light 102, the reference light 100 is guided to the light receiving element 42 through the internal reference optical system, and the distance measuring light 102 passes through the concave lens 18. Then, the light enters the convex lens 22. The distance measuring light 102 generated by the diverging light incident on the convex lens 22 is output as a parallel light from the convex lens 22. The distance measuring light 102 that has passed through the convex lens 22 passes through the optical path stop 23 and is reflected by the dichroic mirror 24, then enters the light transmitting prism 26, and enters the light transmitting prism 26 through the parallel plane glass 28 and the wall 64. Light is sent toward the target.

  When the distance measuring light 102 from the convex lens 22 is transmitted from the front side of the objective lens 30 toward the target, and the distance measuring light 102 is reflected by the target such as the wall 64, the reflected light 104 is parallel plane glass. After passing through 28, the light enters the dichroic prism 32 via the objective lens 30. All of the reflected light 104 incident on the dichroic prism 32 is reflected, passes through the light receiving lens 34, the dichroic prisms 36 and 37, the band pass filter 38, and the light receiving aperture 40 and enters the light receiving element (light receiving diode) 42. When the reflected light 104 or the reference light 100 is incident on the light receiving element 42, a distance measurement signal is generated by photoelectric conversion with respect to the reflected light 104 at the light receiving element 42, and a reference signal is generated by photoelectric conversion with respect to the reference light 100. A distance signal or a reference signal is output to the distance measuring light processing unit 51. In the distance measuring light processing unit 51, the phase difference between the distance measurement signal generated by the light receiving element 42 and the reference signal is obtained, and the distance to the target such as the wall 64 is obtained based on the phase difference. In this case, the distance measuring light 102 transmitted through the convex lens 22 and guided from the light transmitting prism 26 to the parallel glass 28 is incident on the objective lens 30 and is not reflected to the dichroic prism 32 side, but as divergent light, such as the wall 64. Therefore, the distance to the target such as the wall 64 can be obtained with high accuracy during non-prism measurement, which contributes to improvement in measurement accuracy.

  Next, when performing prism measurement, as shown in FIG. 2, the distance measuring light source 12 is turned on with the parallel plane glass 20 inserted from within the distance measuring light propagation path 62 between the concave lens 18 and the convex lens 22. To drive. Light due to the lighting of the ranging light source 12 passes through the light transmission lens 14 as diverging light and enters the parallel flat glass 16. The light incident on the parallel plane glass 16 is distributed to the reference light 100 and the distance measuring light 102, and the slight reference light 100 by the parallel plane glass 16 is guided to the light receiving element 42 through the internal reference optical system, and the distance measuring light. 102 enters the convex lens 22 via the concave lens 18. The ranging light 102 by the divergent light incident on the convex lens 22 is converted into the divergent light as it is by the convex lens 22 that is incident on the convex lens 22 while shifting the optical path diverging through the parallel flat glass 20. The distance measuring light 102 by the parallel light transmitted through the convex lens 22 is transmitted through the optical path stop 23 and reflected by the dichroic mirror 24, then enters the light transmitting prism 26, and passes through the parallel planar glass 28 from the light transmitting prism 26. Light is transmitted (emitted) toward a target such as the reflecting prism 66.

  When the distance measuring light 102 from the convex lens 22 is transmitted toward the target from the front side of the objective lens 30, and the distance measuring light 102 is reflected by the target such as the reflecting prism 66, the reflected light 104 is parallel plane. After passing through the glass 28, the light enters the dichroic prism 32 through the objective lens 30. All of the reflected light 104 incident on the dichroic prism 32 is reflected, passes through the light receiving lens 34, the dichroic prisms 36 and 37, the band pass filter 38, and the light receiving aperture 40, and enters the light receiving element (light receiving diode) 42. When the reflected light 104 or the reference light 100 is incident on the light receiving element 42, a distance measurement signal is generated by photoelectric conversion with respect to the reflected light 104 at the light receiving element 42, and a reference signal is generated by photoelectric conversion with respect to the reference light 100. Alternatively, the reference signal is output to the distance measuring light processing unit 51. In the distance measuring light processing unit 51, the phase difference between the distance measuring signal generated by the light receiving element 42 and the reference signal is obtained, and the distance to the target such as the reflecting prism 66 is obtained based on the phase difference. In this case, the distance measuring light 102 that is transmitted through the convex lens 22 and guided from the light transmitting prism 26 to the parallel glass 28 is incident on the objective lens 30 and is not reflected on the dichroic prism 32 side. Therefore, the distance to the target such as the reflecting prism 66 can be obtained with high accuracy at the time of prism measurement, which can contribute to the improvement of measurement accuracy.

  According to the present embodiment, at the time of non-prism measurement, the parallel plane glass 20 is removed from the distance measuring light propagation path 62 between the concave lens 18 and the convex lens 22, and the distance measuring light 102 by parallel light is output from the convex lens 22. The distance measuring light 102 by the parallel light is transmitted from the front side of the objective lens 30 toward the target such as the wall 64, and in the distance measuring light propagation path 62 between the concave lens 18 and the convex lens 22 at the time of prism measurement. The parallel plane glass 20 is inserted into the lens, and the ranging light 102 by the diverging light is output from the convex lens 22, and the ranging light 102 by the diverging light is directed from the front side of the objective lens 30 to the target such as the reflecting prism 66. Since light is transmitted, a part of the distance measuring light 102 is incident as noise on the light receiving means such as the objective lens 30 and reflected to the dichroic prism 32 side at any measurement. Rather, the distance to the target can be determined accurately, it is possible to contribute to improvement of the measurement accuracy.

  In this embodiment, since the parallel plane glass 20 having the incident surface and the exit surface parallel to each other is used as the distance measuring light divergence optical system, the parallel plane glass 20 is inserted into the distance measuring light propagation path 62. In addition, if the position is within the distance measuring light propagation path 62, the optical axis of the distance measuring light propagation path 62 will not be shifted even if it is shifted vertically and horizontally, and the divergence effect by the parallel plane glass 20 can be maintained. it can.

It is a block block diagram at the time of the non-prism measurement of the light wave distance meter which shows one Example of this invention. It is a block block diagram at the time of the prism measurement of the light wave distance meter which shows one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Light wave rangefinder 12 Distance measuring light source 14 Light transmission lens 16 Parallel plane glass 18 Concave lens 20 Parallel plane glass 22 Convex lens 24 Dichroic mirror 26 Light transmission prism 28 Parallel glass 30 Objective lens 32, 36 Dichroic prism 42 Light receiving element 51 Distance light processing Unit 44 Focusing lens 48 Focus plate 62 Distance measuring light propagation path 64 Wall 66 Reflecting prism 100 Reference light 102 Distance measuring light 104 Reflected light

Claims (2)

  A light emitting unit that emits light whose intensity is modulated by a modulation signal as parallel light, a collimator lens that converts the divergent light generated by the light emitted from the light emitting unit into parallel light, and enters the parallel light and distributes it to ranging light or reference light The light distribution means that emits the light, the distance measurement light transmission means that transmits the distance measurement light emitted from the light distribution means toward the target, and the reference light emitted from the light distribution means as a reference optical path Reference light transmitting means for transmitting light, light receiving means for receiving reflected light reflected by the target object as the distance measuring light is transmitted through an objective lens, and reflected light received by the light receiving means Photoelectric conversion to generate a ranging signal, photoelectric conversion means for photoelectrically converting the reference light from the reference light path to generate a reference signal, and a ranging signal generated by the photoelectric conversion means Compared with the reference light, A distance measuring light transmitting means for converting the distance measuring light from the light distributing means into expanded parallel light, and the light distributing means. Switching means for switching between insertion into and removal from the distance measuring light propagation path connecting the distance measuring light expansion optical system and the distance measuring light propagation optical system, and inserted into the distance measuring light propagation path by the switching means A distance measuring light diverging optical system that converts the divergent light from the parallel light expanded by the distance measuring light expanding optical system and outputs the distance measuring light by the diverging light from the distance measuring light expanding optical system, A light wave distance meter comprising: a distance-measuring optical system that transmits distance-measuring light from the distance-measuring light enlarging optical system toward the target from the front side of the objective lens.   2. The light wave distance meter according to claim 1, wherein the distance measuring light divergence optical system is made of parallel flat glass whose entrance surface and exit surface are parallel to each other.

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