JPH09222322A - Distance measuring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a device compact by holding a light projection means and a light reception means in a manner to be adjacent to each other and arranging one end of the light projection part nearer to the center of the light reception part than one end on light emitting part side. SOLUTION: A spot light is projected to an object through a light emitting element 2 and a projection lens 3. A ray 11 entering light receiving sensor elements 8a and 8b becomes narrower gradually, and an enclosure 1 requires a distance A on the side of the object in its widthwise direction and a distance B (A>B) on the side of a light reception sensor 8 therein. Therefore, the element 2 can be arranged in a place with a distance B smaller than the width of the distance A. The horizontal width is not necessary to be a width with a distance C (width of rear end of light reception system) and a distance D (width of rear end of light projection system), and it is a horizontal width smaller than the distances C and D, so that a light axis 5 of the lens 3 is closer to the central axis 12 of a light reception lens 10. Thus, the projection means and light reception means are held close to each other and the one end of the light emitting part is arranged nearer to the center of the light reception part than that on the light emitting part side in the light reception part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distance measuring device for measuring a distance to a measuring object, and more particularly to a distance measuring device used for a camera or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A range finder for measuring a distance to a measuring object is generally classified into an active type and a passive type. In recent years, there has been proposed a camera or the like having a hybrid type distance measuring device that has both the active type and the passive type in order to fill the weaknesses of the active type and the passive type. A hybrid distance measuring device using a CCD sensor has been proposed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of a hybrid type distance measuring device using the CCD sensor. In the figure, 21 is a light emitting element IR for performing spot light projection.
It is ED. Reference numeral 22 is a first CCD sensor array, 23 is a second CCD sensor array, and the CCD sensor 20
Is composed of the CCD sensor arrays 21 and 22 and a charge accumulating portion (not shown), charge transfer means, charge repulsion means and the like. Reference numeral 24 is a range-finding object 2 that collects the light from the IRED 21.
A light projecting lens for projecting light on 7, and 25, 26 are light receiving lenses for allowing the CCD sensor to receive the reflected light of the projected light.

Conventionally, the focal lengths of the light projecting system and the light receiving system are similar or close to each other, and even if there is a difference, it is not a large difference. Therefore, the distance from the light projecting lens to the IRED and the light receiving lens receives light. The distance to the sensor becomes similar and I
Since the RED and the light receiving sensor are lined up in a horizontal line, the distance between the light projecting system and the light receiving system can only be brought close to a position where the IRED and the light receiving sensor do not collide.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional light projecting holder part. Reference numeral 50 is a light emitting element IRED, and 51 is a flexible substrate. The dome portion 50a at the tip of the IRED 50 enters the hole portion 53c of the light projecting holder, and the IRED 50 is bonded to the light projecting holder 53.

Tool pin portions 52a, 5 of a tool 52 for adjusting the position by pressing the light emitting holder 53 against the front casing 54.
2b are respectively inserted into the holes 53a and 53b of the light projecting holder to adjust the position. The position adjustment will be described in an embodiment described later. Since the tool pin holes 53a and 53b necessary for position adjustment are required on the surface perpendicular to the optical axis 55, the light projecting holder 53 is required to have a height h1.

Next, a conventional light receiving sensor section is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 60 is a light receiving sensor, and 61 is a flexible substrate. 62 is a spacer. 6
Reference numeral 3 denotes a housing that is arranged in the front and holds a light receiving lens (not shown), and the pin portion 64a of the adjusting tool 64 is a spacer 62.
It enters the hole 62a and is pressed against the housing 63 from the rear.

At that time, the flexible substrate 61 having the light receiving sensor 60 is also pushed forward from the rear by the tool 65 to adjust the optical axis 66 in the vertical direction. At this time, the plate thickness t1 of the spacer 62 is adjusted in the direction of the optical axis 66.
It is adjusted by changing. In this way, the tool pin 64
To insert a, the spacer 62 has a tool pin 64a.
A height R3 is required to form a hole for the.

[0009]

However, since there is no great difference in the focal length of the light projecting lens and the focal length of the light receiving lens in the above-mentioned conventional example, the positions of the light projecting sensor (IRED) and the light receiving sensor are adjacent to each other. Become. If the position of the light emitting sensor and the position of the light receiving sensor are adjacent to each other, the light emitting sensor and the light receiving sensor will be closer to each other even if they are closest to each other (direction perpendicular to the optical axis). I couldn't do that.

Further, since the hole for the tool pin for adjusting the position of the sensor with the tool has to be extended to the position where it is released from the sensor or the flexible substrate, the height or width of the space of the sensor is It had grown up.

An object of the first invention relating to the present application is to provide a distance measuring device which is downsized.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring device for reducing the size of the light projecting means.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a distance measuring device for reducing the size of the light receiving means.

A fourth object of the present invention is to reduce the size of dormitory transfer of a device.

[0015]

The structure for realizing the object of the first invention according to the present application is to provide a projecting means for projecting a spot light from a light emitting portion to a subject side and a reflected light from the subject. In a distance measuring device having a light receiving means for receiving light by a plurality of light receiving parts, wherein the light projecting means and the light receiving means are arranged with a fixed base line distance, the light projecting means and the light receiving means are held adjacent to each other. In addition, the one end of the light emitting unit is closer to the center of the light receiving unit than the one end of the light receiving unit on the light emitting unit side is.

The structure for realizing the second object of the present invention is a light projecting means for projecting spot light to a subject by providing a light projecting lens in front of a light emitting part held by a holding member. A distance measuring device having a light receiving means for receiving reflected light from the subject at a light receiving portion through a light receiving lens,
The distance measuring device is characterized in that the holding member for holding the light emitting unit has a holding unit that can be held by a jig in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the light emitting unit.

The structure for realizing the third object of the present invention is a light projecting means for projecting a spot light from a light emitting portion to a subject side through a light projecting lens, and a light receiving lens for reflecting light from the subject. In the distance measuring device having a light receiving unit that receives light at a light receiving unit held by a holding member, the holding member that holds the light receiving unit is a holding unit that can be held by a jig in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the light receiving unit. A distance measuring device characterized by having.

In each of the above configurations, the light receiving means has a plurality of light receiving portions.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned configurations, a large difference is provided between the focal length of the light projecting lens and the focal length of the light receiving lens.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a top view of a distance measuring device according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a housing for holding each component of the distance measuring device. The light emitting element IRED2 and the light projecting lens 3 project spot light onto the subject. The light emitting element IRED2 is held by a light projecting holder 4 for alignment with the light projecting lens 3, and the light projecting holder 4 is held by a tool or the like, and adjustment is performed in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis 5 of the light projecting system.

The adjustment of the projection system in the direction of the optical axis 5 can be performed by changing the plate thickness t of the spacer 6. This adjustment in the optical axis direction is necessary because of variations in the dome shape of the dome portion 2a at the tip of the light emitting element 2. 7 is the light emitting element I
This is a flexible substrate for electrically connecting the RED 2.

Next, the light receiving system will be described. Reference numeral 8 is a CCD sensor, and 8a and 8b are light receiving portions. 8
Reference numerals c to 8h denote terminals of the light receiving sensor, and the flexible substrate 9 electrically connects these terminals.
Reference numeral 10 denotes a light-receiving lens for receiving the reflected light from the subject in the light-receiving unit 8
The images are formed on a and 8b.

In the structure of the distance measuring device described above, the light projecting lens 3 is shorter than the focal length of the light receiving lens 10, the focal length ft of the light projecting lens 3 is ft = 3.92 (mm), and the focal length of the light receiving lens 10. Is fj = 10 (mm). Also, the difference in focal length is not limited to this,
It is possible to set ft ≦ 0.5fj.

Reference numeral 11 is a light beam received by the light receiving sensor 8b. Since the light rays entering the light receiving sensors 8a and 8b are gradually narrowed, the width of the casing 1 needs to be A on the object side, but B (A> B) on the light receiving sensor 8 side. Is enough.

Therefore, by setting the focal length as described above, the light projecting sensor 2 can be arranged at a position B which is shorter than the width A. The lateral width does not need to be C (the width of the rear end of the light receiving system) + D (the width of the rear end of the light projecting system), which is shorter than C + D, and the optical axis 5 of the light projecting lens 3 and the light receiving lens 10 The central axis 12 of the can be brought closer.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

The projecting holder 4 has arms 4a extending from the upper and lower parts of the main body at right angles in parallel along the projecting optical axis.
Counterbore portions 4b are formed on the curved portions of these arm portions 4a so as to open on the upper and lower surfaces, respectively.

Then, in order to adjust the position of the light emitting element IRED2, the adjusting tool 13 is attached to the upper and lower counterbore portions 4b of the light projecting holder 4 integrally bonded to the light emitting element IRED2.
Are arranged in the vertical direction, and the tool pin 13a is inserted into the spot facing portion 4b of the light projecting holder 4 to perform the position adjustment work of the IRED 2.

At this time, the optical axis direction can be adjusted by changing the plate thickness of the spacer (same as the spacer 6 in FIG. 1).

According to the configuration of this embodiment, the tool pin 13
By making the shape so that it can be inserted from above and below, the total height h2 of the light projecting holder 4 can be made lower than that of the conventional example h1, so that the distance measuring device can be downsized.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 8 is a light receiving sensor, and 30 is a flexible substrate. Reference numeral 31 is a spacer for position adjustment in the direction of the optical axis 32.

Reference numeral 33 is a housing holding a front light-receiving lens (not shown), 31 is a spacer, and hole portions 31a into which the pin portions 34a of the adjusting tools 34 arranged above and below are fitted are formed respectively in the upper and lower portions. ing. And this upper and lower adjustment tool 3
The spacer 33 held by the pin portion 34a of No. 4 is pressed against the housing 33 from the rear. At that time, the flexible substrate 30 with the light receiving sensor 8 is also pressed forward from the rear by the tool 35. As a result, adjustment in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis 32 is performed.

At this time, the adjustment in the optical axis direction is performed by changing the plate thickness t3 of the spacer 31. In this way, if the spacer is shaped so that the tool pin 34a can be inserted from above, the height of the spacer can be as low as h4, and the spacer can be made lower than the conventional one. (Relationship between Configuration of Embodiment and Claims) The light emitting element 2 in the embodiment corresponds to a light emitting section in the claims, and the light receiving sections 8a and 8b correspond to light receiving sections. Also,
The light projecting lens 3 corresponds to a light projecting lens, and the light receiving lens 10 corresponds to a light receiving lens.
b corresponds to the holding portion of the holding member, and the hole portion 31a of the spacer 31 corresponds to the holding portion of the holding member.

The present invention is applicable to various forms of cameras such as single-lens reflex cameras, lens shutter cameras, video cameras,
Furthermore, for optical devices and other devices other than cameras, and further for those cameras, optical devices, and other devices, as well as devices that are applied to these cameras, optical devices, and other devices, or elements that constitute them Can be applied.

Further, the present invention is such that the whole or part of the configuration of the claims or the embodiments forms one device and is combined with another device. It may be present or may be an element constituting the device.

[0038]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, by making a large difference in the focal length of the lens of the light projecting system and the focal length of the lens of the light receiving system (for example, ft <0.5fj), the light projecting sensor (IRED). ) And the position of the light receiving sensor can be arranged before and after, and the positions of the light projecting system and the light receiving system can be brought closer to each other, and the size can be reduced.

According to the second and third aspects of the invention, the tool pins of the holding members of the light projecting sensor and the light receiving sensor can be inserted from the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, so that Miniaturization is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a distance measuring device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a floodlight holder according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a light receiving section according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional distance measuring device.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional light emitting holder unit.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional light receiving sensor unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 33, 63, 54 ... Housing 2, 50 ... Light emitting element (light emitting sensor) 3 ... Light emitting lens 10 ... Light receiving lens 6, 70, 62, 31 ... Spacer 4 ... Light emitting holder 13, 52, 34, 64, 35, 65 ... Tools

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A light projecting unit for projecting spot light from a light emitting unit to a subject side, and a light receiving unit for receiving reflected light from the subject by a plurality of light receiving units. In a distance measuring device in which a light receiving unit and a light receiving unit are arranged with a fixed baseline length apart, the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit are held adjacent to each other, and one end of the light emitting unit is located closer to one end than the light emitting unit of the light receiving unit. Is a distance measuring device characterized by being close to the center of the light receiving part. 2. A light projecting means for projecting spot light to a subject side by providing a light projecting lens in front of a light emitting part held by a holding member, and a light receiving part for receiving reflected light from the subject through a light receiving lens. A distance measuring device having a light receiving means for receiving light, wherein the holding member for holding the light emitting unit has a holding unit that can be held by a jig in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the light emitting unit. . 3. A light projecting means for projecting a spot light from a light emitting portion to a subject side through a light projecting lens, and a light receiving means for receiving reflected light from the subject through a light receiving lens by a light receiving portion held by a holding member. In the distance measuring device including the above, the holding member that holds the light receiving unit has a holding unit that can be held by a jig in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the light receiving unit. 4. The distance measuring device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the light receiving unit has a plurality of light receiving units. 5. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein a large difference is provided between the focal length of the light projecting lens and the focal length of the light receiving lens.