JPH06100461B2 - Distance measuring device for distance measuring module for auto focus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a distance measuring test device for a distance measuring module for active autofocus by a triangulation method.

(Prior Art) An active auto-focusing distance measuring module (hereinafter simply referred to as a distance measuring module) emits a modulated infrared beam from a light emitting unit toward a subject and forms an image of the reflected light on a light receiving unit. The distance from the image forming position information to the object is measured by the triangulation method.

In this type of distance measuring module alone or in a distance measuring module mounted on a camera, it is necessary to check whether or not the distance measuring operation is actually performed correctly.

FIG. 3A is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional distance measuring test device for a distance measuring module.

In the figure, a distance measuring module 1 includes a light emitting unit 2 including an infrared light emitting element and a light projecting lens, and a light receiving unit 3 including a condensing lens and a light receiving element for reading an optical image emitted from the light emitting unit 2 onto a subject. Distance Xo between light-emitting unit 2 and light-receiving unit 3
Are only separated. This distance Xo is the baseline length for distance measurement.

The distance measuring module 1 described above is positioned and set at a predetermined position of the distance measuring test unit 4. The ranging test unit 4
A plurality of reflectors 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ , 5 ₃ which give distance information in the irradiation direction of the infrared spot beam from the light emitting unit 2 of the distance measuring module 1.
Are arranged so that they can be put in and taken out from the distance measuring module 1 at predetermined actual distances l ₁ , l ₂ , l ₃ ...

In the conventional distance measuring test system configured as described above, when checking whether the distance measuring operation of the distance measuring module 1 is normally performed, for example, the measurement of the distance measuring module 1 with respect to the actual distance of the distance l ₁ is performed. If you want to get distance data, distance l ₁
The reflection plate 5 ₁ is set on the irradiation light path of the light emitting unit 2, and an infrared spot beam having a projection angle is projected from the light emitting unit 2 toward the reflection plate 5 ₁ . Reflector 5 ₁ spot beam image ₆₁ projected on (see FIG. 3 b) is imaged onto a light-emitting element array is reflected emitting portion 3 by the reflecting plate 5 _1. In the light emitting unit 3, and detects whether any part of the light emitting element array spot beam image ₆₁ is imaged, by performing calculation based on the triangulation method is taken to the operation unit (not shown) of the detection signal Measure the distance to the reflector 5 ₁ . Then, by comparing the actual distance l ₁ between the measurement data calculated by the distance measuring module 1 to the reflecting plate 5 _1, it is checked whether the distance measurement module 1 is distance measurement operation correctly.

Further, the measurement of the distances l ₂ , l ₃ , ... With respect to the reflection plates 5 ₂ , 5 _3, ... Is performed in the same manner as described above. At this time, the difference in the positions of the projected spot images 6 ₂ , 6 ₃ ... (Refer to FIG. 3b) on the respective reflection plates 5 ₂ , 5 ₃ ... Is due to the image formation on the light receiving element array surface of the light receiving unit 3. It appears as a difference in position, which is converted into an electric signal by the light receiving unit 3 and input to the calculation unit, whereby the reflection plate
5 _2, 5 ₃ calculates the distance to the., The actual distance l ₂ up to this and calculated measurement data each reflector 5 _2, 5 ₃ ..., l ₃ ...
By comparing with, it is checked whether the distance measuring module 1 is correctly performing the distance measuring operation.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional distance measuring test device for the distance measuring module as described above, each distance information for the distance measuring module 1 is arranged in an actual distance in the infrared spot beam projection direction of the distance measuring module 1. Since the reflectors 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ , 5 ₃ ... are provided, the reflectors arranged at the actual distances to be actually tested and at the respective actual distances in the distance measurement test of the distance measuring module. Is needed, and the system becomes larger,
The installation space becomes large. In particular, a distance measuring module for a camera equipped with a zoom mechanism requires a distance of 10 m or more, which further increases the size of the test system. Incorporating it into the line was equivalent to making it possible to move up and down the assembly line.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and enables the downsizing and space saving of a test system, and the autofocus distance measurement that can be easily incorporated into an assembly line. An object is to provide a distance measuring test device for a module.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a distance measuring test device for a distance measuring module for autofocus according to the present invention includes a supporting means for detachably supporting an object to be tested including the distance measuring module, An infrared illuminator that emits a spot beam for autofocus, which is movably arranged in the support means in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the distance measuring module, and is optional for the distance measuring module and the infrared light emitting unit. A screen for forming a spot beam image emitted from the infrared light-emitting body on the light receiving portion of the distance measuring module, which is directly faced at a distance and is projected from the infrared light emitting body; Distance-measuring operation for shielding the light-emitting portion during operation and the distance measuring module with the light-emitting portion shielded by the shielding means. The control means controls the light emission control so that the movement amount of the infrared light emitter is controlled to be virtual distance information by controlling the mode and the infrared light emitter.

(Operation) When the infrared light emitter is moved and emitted by the command signal from the control means, the amount of movement of the spot beam image projected on the screen with respect to the reference point becomes virtual distance information simulating the actual distance. Therefore, since the virtual spot beam image projected on the screen is distance information reflecting the actual distance, the distance measuring module forms an image of the beam image from the actual distance by forming an image on the light receiving portion of the distance measuring module. As a result, the distance measurement corresponding to the actual distance is performed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to dispose the screen at an actual distance, and it is possible to reduce the distance by a minimum necessary distance. Easy to integrate into

(Example) Hereinafter, the Example of this invention is described based on drawing.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the whole range-finding test apparatus for an auto-focus range-finding module according to the present invention.

In the figure, 10 is a frame forming a part of the supporting means, and the frame 10 has an upper substrate 10a and a lower substrate 10b which are vertically separated by a predetermined distance and arranged in parallel, and the upper and lower substrates 10a and 10b are plural. Are integrally connected by a column 10c.

A support base for setting the distance measuring module 1 as the DUT on the upper end of the pillar 11 which is erected in the center of the upper substrate 10a.
A probe head 13 having an input terminal for supplying a signal for emitting light to the distance measuring module 1 and an input terminal for picking up distance information detected by the distance measuring module 1 is fixed to the support base 12. A lock mechanism 14 for fixing the distance measuring module 1 on a support 12 is attached. Further, an air cylinder 15 with a solenoid valve for operating the probe head 13 and the lock mechanism 14 in a set state and an open state is installed on the support 12, and air is supplied to the air cylinder 15 from an air source (not shown) through a solenoid valve. We are able to supply.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 is a shield plate for shielding the projection beam from the light emitting part 2 when the distance measuring module 1 is tested, and one end of this shield plate 16 is provided with a solenoid valve installed on the support base 12. A phototransistor 16a for detecting the light emission of the light emitting section 2 is attached to the other end of the air cylinder 17. Air can be supplied to the air cylinder 17 from an air source (not shown) through a solenoid valve.

A guide member 18 is installed on the lower substrate 10b of the frame body 10, and an infrared light emitter 20 is mounted on the guide member 18 via a movable table 19 to emit light from the light emitting unit 2 and the light receiving unit of the distance measuring module 1. It is mounted so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the motors 3, and is moved in the direction of arrow X by a driving means 20a such as a pulse motor.

The infrared light emitter 20 gives a virtual distance information spot beam image to the distance measuring module 1, and has the same structure and characteristics as the light emitting unit 2 of the distance measuring module 1.

It should be noted that the infrared light emitter 20 is not limited to a single structure as in the embodiment, and for example, a distance measuring module configured to perform a correct distance measuring operation may be used. In this case, the light emitting unit is used in a non-operating state.

Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 denotes a screen for real distance simulation, which is faced at an arbitrary distance Lo (for example, 1 m) from the distance measuring module 1 and the infrared light emitting body 20, and a predetermined reflectance is set on the screen. Have. On this screen 21,
A spot beam image for virtual distance emitted from the infrared light emitter 20 is projected. By moving this spot beam image in the horizontal direction on the screen 21, the distance measurement module 1 is equivalent to the actual distance. To form a spot beam image of.

In FIG. 1, the main control unit 22 controls the entire test system, and is composed of a microcomputer.

The main control unit 22 includes a virtual distance data for simulation with respect to a test actual distance that is standardized in advance corresponding to a standard lens, a zoom lens, a microlens, or the like.
A memory 23 that stores test distance step number data and a measurement program, a light emitter control unit 24 that controls movement of the infrared light emitter 20 in the X-axis direction based on virtual distance data for simulation, a distance measurement module 1, and a main control unit. An input / output unit 25 for exchanging signals between 22 and a support base control unit 26 for controlling the air cylinders 15 and 17 are connected to each other, and a phototransistor 16a is further connected via the input / output unit 25 to the main control unit 22.
It is connected to the.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the distance measurement test of the distance measurement module 1, first, the distance measurement module 1, which is the device under test, is placed on the support base 12,
Start the test system. In this state, by giving a set command to the main control unit 22 from the outside, the main control unit 22
Outputs a set signal to the support controller 26. As a result, the air cylinder 15 is operated to lock the distance measuring module 1 on the support base 12 and the probe head 13 is brought into contact with a predetermined signal input / output terminal of the distance measuring module 1 (step S1).

Next, in step S2, the main control unit 22 gives a light emitting unit operation command to the input / output unit 25 to cause the light emitting unit 2 to emit light. Then, the spot beam image emitted from the light emitting unit 2 is projected on the screen 21, and the distance measuring module 1 is adjusted so that the center position of the spot beam image coincides with a predetermined reference point 27 (see FIG. 1). The included support base 12 is manually adjusted.

After the zero position adjustment for the screen 21 of the distance measuring module 1 is completed, the process proceeds to the next step S3, where the main control unit 22 issues a command to the support base control unit 26 to operate the air cylinder 17 to operate the light emitting unit 2 The light projecting window is covered with a shielding plate 16 so that the spot beam of the light emitting section 2 which emits light during the test is not projected on the screen 21. Then, in the next step S4, the distance measuring test of the distance measuring module 1 is executed.

That is, the number of distance measuring steps to be used for distance measurement from the memory 23 and the corresponding virtual distance data for simulation are sequentially read into the main control unit 22, and the main control unit 22 performs arithmetic processing, and then the light emitter control unit 24. Through the stepping motor or the like to the light emitter driving means 20a, and by driving the driving means 20a, the simulation infrared light emitter 20 is moved in accordance with the virtual distance measurement data for simulation of each distance measuring stage. Move in the direction. Then, each time the infrared light emitter 20 is indexed to a position corresponding to each virtual distance data, the main control unit 22
A distance measuring operation command is given to the distance measuring module 1 from the input / output unit 25 and the probe head 13 to cause the light emitting unit 2 to emit light. The light emitted from the light emitting unit 2 is the phototransistor 16a.
When detected by, the detection signal is taken into the main control unit 22 through the input / output unit 25, and a light emission command is output to the infrared light emitter 20 through the light emitter control unit 24. As a result, when the infrared light emitter 20 emits light in synchronization with the operation of the distance measuring module 1, the spot beam emitted from the infrared light emitter 20 is projected on the screen 21.

At this time, the deviation of each spot beam line SB ₁ , SB ₂ , SB ₃ , ... Projected from the infrared light emitter 20 onto the screen 21 at each index position moved according to the virtual distance data of each distance measuring stage. The quantity corresponds to the actual distances l ₁ , l ₂ , l ₃ , ... Shown in FIG. That is, each spot beam image SB ₁ , SB ₂ ,
When SB ₃ , ... Are viewed from the light emitting unit 2 of the distance measuring module 1, these spot beams are as if they were spot beam images reflected from the actual distance. Each spot beam image SB ₁ from the reference point 27, SB _2, SB _3, the moving amount of ... to _{X 1, X 2, X 3} , ...
Means that the actual distances l ₁ , l ₂ , l ₃ , ... Shown in FIG. 3 (a) are simulated.

Therefore, the spot beam image projected on the screen 21
SB _1, SB _2, SB _3, read ... receiving section 3 of the distance measurement module 1, if imaged it onto the light-receiving array plane, the measurement distance range finding module 1 with respect to the real distance from the imaging position data You can ask for data. That is, the light receiving unit 3 detects in which part on the light receiving array the spot beam image is formed, and the detection signal is taken into the main control unit 22 through the input / output unit 25 to perform the calculation based on the triangulation method. By doing so, the distance data corresponding to the actual distances l ₁ , l ₂ , l ₃ , ... Shown in FIG. 3A can be calculated. The calculated distance data refers to a table (which is stored in the internal memory or the like of the main control unit 22) obtained in advance corresponding to the movement amounts X ₁ , X ₂ , X ₃ , ... By comparing, the quality of the distance measuring module 1 is determined (step S5).

Then, when the distance measurement test for the distance measurement module 1 is completed, the process proceeds to step 6, where the main control unit 22 gives an opening command to the support base control unit 26 to turn on the shielding air cylinder 17 and the locking air cylinder 15. The opening operation is performed and the position of the infrared light emitting body 20 is initialized to a reference position (a position where the spot beam coincides with the reference point 27). After that, the distance measuring module 1 for which the distance measuring test has been completed is taken out from the support 12 and the next distance measuring module is tested.

That is, in this embodiment, first, the distance measuring module 1 to be tested is positioned and set on the upper part of the frame body 10, and an operation command is given to the distance measuring module 1 from the main control unit 22 to perform the distance measuring operation. Arrangement of a light emitting unit 2 and a light receiving unit 3 of the distance measuring module 1 according to a command from the main control unit 22 based on the simulation virtual distance data corresponding to the actual distance Move in a direction parallel to the direction. Then, when the infrared light emitter 20 is indexed to a position corresponding to the virtual distance data, the infrared light emitter 20 is caused to emit light in synchronization with the light emitting operation of the light emitting unit 2 so that an arbitrary distance from the distance measuring module 1 is obtained. A spot beam image is projected on a screen (21) facing each other with a space therebetween to form a virtual distance beam image corresponding to an actual distance. And
This virtual distance beam image is used as the light receiving unit 3 of the distance measuring module 1.
The position information imaged on the light emitting surface is output to the main control unit 22 to measure the actual distance.
Perform the distance measurement test.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to arrange the screen 21 at an actual distance for any type of module in the distance measuring test of the distance measuring module 1.
The minimum required distance is about 1 m from the module.
Along with this, the distance measuring test apparatus can be downsized and space can be saved, and since the distance measuring test of the distance measuring module 1 is sequenced by the main control unit 22 and the like, the module and camera assembly line It can be installed easily without any problem.

In the above embodiment, the case where the distance measuring module alone is tested has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the distance measuring module after being incorporated in the camera body can be similarly tested.

(Effect of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, an infrared light emitting unit different from the light emitting unit of the distance measuring module is provided on the screen which is directly faced to the distance measuring module as the DUT at an arbitrary distance. Is moved in a direction parallel to the base line length of the distance measuring module and is made to emit light to project a virtual distance spot beam image that simulates the actual distance, and this spot beam image is formed on the light receiving unit of the distance measuring module. Since it is made to measure the distance by doing so, it is not necessary to arrange the screen in the actual distance, and the minimum required short distance is sufficient.
The distance measuring device can be downsized and the space can be saved, and the distance measuring device can be easily incorporated in the module and camera assembly line.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram showing an example of a distance measuring test device for a distance measuring module according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an operation procedure of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 (a) is a conventional distance measuring test. FIG. 3 (b) is a schematic configuration diagram of the apparatus and is an explanatory diagram of the spot beam. In the figure, 1 is a distance measuring module, 2 is a light emitting unit, 3 is a light receiving unit,
10 is a frame body, 12 is a support base, 13 is a probe head, 14 is a lock mechanism, 16 is a shield plate, 16a is a phototransistor, 18 is a guide member, 19 is a moving body, 20 is an infrared light emitting body, 20a is a driving means. , 21 is a screen, 22 is a main controller, 23 is a memory, 24
Is a light emitter control unit, 25 is an input / output unit, and 26 is a support base control unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Support means for detachably supporting an object to be tested including a distance measuring module, and the support means movably arranged in a direction parallel to an arrangement direction of a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion of the distance measuring module. The infrared light emitting body that emits a spot beam for autofocus is directly faced to the distance measuring module and the infrared light emitting body at an arbitrary distance, and the spot beam image emitted from the infrared light emitting body is projected and the spot beam image is projected. A screen for forming an image on the light receiving portion of the distance measuring module as a real distance beam image, a shielding means for shielding the light emitting portion when the distance measuring module is operating, and the distance measuring module for the light emitting portion by the shielding means. By controlling the distance measurement operation mode in the shielded state and controlling the movement of the infrared light emitter, the actual distance so that the movement amount becomes virtual distance information. A distance measuring test device for a distance measuring module for autofocus, comprising: a control means for simulating separation and controlling light emission.