JPH09222553A - Range-finding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent range-finding accuracy from lowering even when the sensor pitch of a sensor array is shortened in order to reduce the device. SOLUTION: A pair of storage parts 114 and 115 provided in respective sensors S1 to S5 is arranged on both sides of the sensor array 111. Thus, the width of the accumulation parts 114 and 115 or linear CCDs 1A to 10A is made comparatively large even when the width of the sensors S1 to S5 is made small, so that the storage charge capacitance of the storage parts 114 and 115 is large and an SN ratio is improved.

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 distance measuring object by triangulation, and for example, to a distance measuring device suitable for application to an AF mechanism of a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a device which receives a spot light projected by a position detecting means (PSD or the like) and measures a distance from the principle of triangulation. In addition, Japanese Patent Fair 5-2
Japanese Patent No. 2843 discloses a sensor array in which a plurality of sensors for photoelectrically converting blinking and projected spot light are arrayed, and a charge transfer unit such as a CCD is formed in a ring shape to circulate the signal charges from the sensor array. And a device for performing a skimming operation for discharging a fixed amount of electric charges in an outside light portion other than the spot light, have been proposed. According to this, when the signal charge is not at a sufficient level, the signal charge can be sequentially added while being transferred in the ring portion of the charge transfer means to obtain a signal charge having a good S / N ratio.

[0003]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention
Using two devices as described in Japanese Patent No. 43,
A distance measuring device for obtaining a distance by the relative value of the positions of two received light images to one light receiving system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-26318 by the present applicant.
Proposed in Issue 2. The distance measuring device proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-263182 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5, 1 is a first light-receiving lens that forms a first optical path, 2 is a second light-receiving lens that forms a second optical path, and 3 is a light-projecting device that performs spot light projection on an object to be measured. The optical lenses 4 are light emitting elements (IREDs) for projecting spots. Reference numeral 5 is a first sensor array, 6 is a second sensor array, and 7 is an electronic shutter function for discarding charges photoelectrically converted by each sensor (photoelectric conversion element, pixel) of the first sensor array 5 based on an ICG pulse. Is a first clearing part having. Reference numeral 8 is a second clear unit having an electronic shutter function of discarding the charges photoelectrically converted by the sensors of the second sensor array 6 based on the ICG pulse.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a first charge storage unit, which includes an ON storage unit and an OFF storage unit (not shown), and stores the charge during the ON and OFF periods of the light emitting element 4 from the first sensor array 5.
_{The 1} pulse and the ST ₂ pulse are alternately accumulated in each pixel unit. Reference numeral 10 is a second charge storage portion,
It has a function similar to that of the charge storage unit 9. Reference numeral 11 denotes a first charge transfer gate, which transfers the charges stored in the first charge storage unit 9 to the charge transfer means 13 in parallel by an SH pulse. 12 is a second charge transfer gate,
It has the same function as the first charge transfer gate 11.

First charge transfer means 13 (eg CCD)
Partly or wholly has a ring-like structure, and the charges are circulated in the circulation part to sequentially add the charges in the ON and OFF periods of the first charge storage part 9 separately. Hereinafter, the place where this circulating portion is formed is called a ring CCD,
A portion that does not form a circulating portion (including a portion facing the first charge transfer gate 11) is a linear CCD. By using the charge transfer means having the ring CCD as in the present embodiment, the charges can be sequentially added, so that accurate distance measurement with a high S / N ratio can be performed. Reference numeral 14 is a second charge transfer means, which is similar to the first charge transfer means 13. Reference numeral 15 denotes a first initialization unit, which rejects the charges of the first charge transfer unit 13 by the CCDCLR pulse and performs initialization. Reference numeral 16 is a second initialization means, which is similar to the first initialization means 15.

Reference numeral 17 is a first skimming means for discharging a fixed amount of charges from the ring CCD. 18 is a second skim means similar to this. Reference numeral 19 denotes a SKOS ₁ signal output means for determining whether or not a certain amount of charge is to be rejected, and reads out the amount of charge in the charge transfer means 13 by destruction (while leaving the charge). Reference numeral 20 is a SKOS ₂ signal output means similar to this. Reference numeral 21 is an OS ₁ signal output means for sequentially reading out the charges in the charge transfer means 13. 22 is an OS ₂ signal output means similar to this.

FIG. 6 shows a received light image 31 on the first sensor array 5 and a received light image 32 on the second sensor array 6 shown in FIG. 5, and a sensor signal output 3 corresponding to each of them.
It is a schematic diagram which shows 3,34. In this distance measuring device, the distance to the object to be measured is obtained from the relative value of the positions of the two received light images 31 and 32 based on the principle of triangulation.

FIG. 7 shows the sensor array 5 shown in FIG.
From 1 pixel (sensor 35) in 6 to linear CCD
It is a figure for demonstrating charge transfer. Figure 7 Smell
Sensor 3 which is one pixel in sensor arrays 5 and 6
The signal charge photoelectrically converted in 5 is integrated by the integration unit 36.
To go. A clear section 37 is provided adjacent to the integrating section 36.
And the charge of the integrator 36 is changed by the ICG pulse.
Cleared. Controlling ICG pulse
The integration time in the integration unit 36 can be controlled by
You. Also, from the ICG pulse of FIG. 8 to ST₁, ST_TwoUntil
Time t₁, T _TwoAt the time of integration of this electronic shutter function
In between.

Each integrating unit 36 further includes a pair of storage units 3.
8 and 39 are provided, and the storage unit 39 is ST₁pulse
The charge is received from the integration unit 36 by the
ST _TwoThe charge is received from the integrating unit 36 by the pulse.
From the storage units 38 and 39, CK₁Pulse and bar CK₁Pa
Is applied alternately and the number of pixels in the sensor array is 2
It has double the number of stages and is arranged in parallel with the sensor array.
SH pulse to linear CCD 41 via shift unit 40
The charges are transferred by. That is, IRED turned on
Outside light when + signal is ST₁In the storage unit 39 by the pulse
Only the external light that is transferred and then when IRED is turned off is ST
_TwoThe pulse is transferred to the storage unit 38, and the storage unit 38,
The charge of 39 is transferred to the linear CCD 41 by the SH pulse.
Sent. The linear CCD 41 is CK₁Pulse and
ー CK₁As a two-phase clock in which charges are transferred by pulse
However, any phase is acceptable.

By the way, in recent years, the distance measuring device is required to be further reduced in size with the downsizing of the product in which it is mounted. In order to reduce the size of the range finder in this way,
Shortening the distance between the two sensor arrays, that is, shortening the baseline length is an important factor. Further, in order to maintain the ranging accuracy even when the baseline length is shortened in this way,
The sensor pitch of the sensor array must be reduced in proportion to the reduction in baseline length. Therefore, along with this, it is necessary to shorten the widths of the storage sections 38 and 39 and the pitch of the linear CCD 41.

However, if the sensor pitch of the sensor array, the widths of the accumulating portions 38 and 39 and the pitch of the linear CCD 41 are shortened, the accumulating portion 38 which can only have a width of about half of each sensor among these portions,
39, the amount of electric charge accumulated in the linear CCD 41 decreases, and the S / N ratio in the distance measuring performance decreases as the dynamic range decreases. Sufficient distance measuring accuracy cannot be obtained only by adding signals in the ring CCD. .

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a high-performance distance measuring device in which the S / N ratio does not decrease even if the sensor pitch of the sensor array is shortened in order to downsize the distance measuring device. Is.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a distance measuring device of the present invention spot-lights an object to be measured,
A distance measuring device for receiving the reflected light and performing a trigonometric distance measurement, comprising: a light projecting means for projecting light on the object to be measured, and photoelectric conversion for receiving light reflected from the object to be measured. A sensor array in which a plurality of sensors are arranged, a plurality of accumulating means provided for each of the plurality of sensors and accumulating the output charges from the sensors, and the charges accumulated in the plurality of accumulating means are supplied in parallel. And a charge transfer means at least part of which is coupled in a ring shape,
The plurality of accumulating means are arranged on both sides of the sensor array with respect to the array direction of the sensors.

In one aspect of the present invention, the plurality of accumulating means are alternately arranged on both sides of the sensor array with respect to the arrangement direction of the sensors.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is further provided control means for rearranging the output signal from the charge transfer means in accordance with the arrangement order of the plurality of sensors of the sensor array to perform distance measurement calculation. There is.

In one aspect of the present invention, the charge transfer means is formed in a ring shape surrounding the sensor array and the plurality of storage means.

In one aspect of the present invention, the charge transfer means includes two linear portions to which the charges accumulated by the plurality of accumulating means are supplied in parallel, and a ring portion coupled to the two linear portions. Are formed to have.

In one aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of storage means has a first storage means and a second storage means.

In one aspect of the present invention, the first accumulating means accumulates an output signal from the sensor when the light projecting means projects light, and the second accumulating means stores the output signal from the light projecting means. The output signal from the sensor during light projection is accumulated.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a skim means for removing a fixed amount of electric charge from the electric charge transferred by the electric charge transfer means.

In one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of integrating means arranged between each of the plurality of accumulating means and the sensor, integrating the electric charge from the sensor and supplying the integrated electric charge to the accumulating means, Gate means for extracting charges from the integrating means is further provided.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, regarding the first embodiment of the present invention,
This will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sensor device used in the distance measuring apparatus of this embodiment. In this embodiment, two sensor devices shown in FIG. 1 are used, and the same light projecting means as shown in FIG. 5 is used. Further, in the present embodiment, the sensor array 111 will be described as having five pixels S _{1 to} S ₅ , but the number of pixels of the sensor array 111 is not limited to 5 pixels, and an arbitrary pixel value N
But it is good.

The sensor array 111 is composed of five sensors S _{1 to} S ₅ , and the spot projection from the projection means reflected by the object to be measured is sent to the sensor S ₁ via a light receiving lens (not shown). A light receiving image is formed on S ₅ . The signal charges photoelectrically converted by each sensor are integrated into each integrator 112. Each of the integrators 112 has a clearer 113, the charge of the integrator 112 is cleared by the ICG pulse, and the integrator 112 is initialized (see the thick arrow in FIG. 1). As described above, the sensor device of this embodiment also has an electronic shutter function, and the times t ₁ and t ₂ from the ICG pulse to ST ₁ and ST ₂ shown in FIG. ₂ are integration times.

Each storage unit comprises a first storage unit 115 and a second storage unit 114, and the first storage unit 115.
Receives a charge from the integration unit 112 by the ST ₁ pulse (see the thin arrow in FIG. 1), and the second storage unit 114 outputs ST 1
_The electric charge is received from the integrating unit 112 by _two pulses (see the dashed arrow in FIG. 1).

The first storage section 115 and the second storage section 114
1 are alternately arranged on both sides of the sensor array 111 with respect to the arrangement direction of the _five sensors S _{1 to} S ₅ , as shown in FIG. That is, the first storage unit 115 and the second storage unit 114 corresponding to the sensor S ₁ are arranged in the sensor array 1
The first storage unit 115 and the second storage unit 114, which are arranged below the sensor 11 and correspond to the sensor S ₂ , have the sensor array 1
11 is arranged above the sensor array 1
The first accumulation unit 11 corresponding to the eleventh odd-numbered sensor
5 and the second storage unit 114 are arranged below the sensor array 111, and the first storage unit 115 and the second storage unit 114 corresponding to the even-numbered sensors of the sensor array 111 are arranged above the sensor array 111, respectively. ing. The first and second storage units 11 corresponding to the odd-numbered sensors
4, 115 above the sensor array 111, and the first and second storages 114 and 11 corresponding to even-numbered sensors.
5 may be arranged below the sensor array 111, respectively.

The first and second storage units 114 and 115 are also provided.
Need not be arranged alternately on both sides of the sensor array 111, and if the design is changed such as changing the shape of the integrating section 112, for example, the _first and _second sensors corresponding to the sensors S ₁ , S ₂ and S ₃ , It is also possible to dispose the second storage units 114 and 115 above the sensor array 111, and to dispose the first and second storage units 114 and 115 corresponding to the sensors S ₄ and S ₅ below the sensor array 111. .

Further, the first storage unit 115 and the second storage unit 114 have the sensor array 111 so that the charge storage capacities are substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the charge storage capacities of the sensors S _{1 to} S _5. It is formed in the same or slightly smaller width and each sensor S ₁ to S ₅ of.

The first storage section 115 and the second storage section 114
The signal charge from the sensor array 111 is arranged in parallel.
CCD1_A-10_AThrough the shift unit 116
Transferred by SH pulse. These CCD 1_A~ 1
0_AOf which, sensor S₁, S_Three, S_FiveCC corresponding to
D1_ATwo_AAnd CCD5_A, 6_AAnd CCD9_A, 1
0_AAnd are located below the sensor array 111
Sensor S_Two, S_FourCCD3 corresponding to_A, 4
_AAnd CCD7_A, 8_AIs on the sensor array 111
It is located in the direction. In addition, CCD1_A-10_AEach of
Is approximately the same width as the first and second accumulation units 114 and 115.
Is formed. Therefore, CCD1_A-10_ACharge storage
The product capacity is equal to that of the first storage unit 115, the second storage unit 114, and
And each sensor S ₁~ S_FiveIs almost equal to the charge storage capacity of
It will be a slightly smaller value.

The integrating unit 112, the clearing unit 113, the first accumulating unit 115, the second accumulating unit 114, and the shift unit 1
16 are collectively referred to as the ST unit 121.

The charges photoelectrically converted by the sensors S _{1 to} S ₅ are the outside light + signal when the light projection is turned on, transferred to the first storage section 115 by the ST ₁ pulse, and then the light projection is turned off. Only the external light at that time is transferred to the second storage unit 114 by the ST ₂ pulse. In addition, the first and second storage units 11
The charges of 4, 115 are CCD 1 _A-
Transferred to 10 _A. CCD 1 _A charge when the light projecting off of the sensor S ₁ in, CCD 2 _A charge when the light projection on the sensor S ₁ in the charge when the light projecting off of the sensor S ₂ is the CCD 3 _A, CCD 4 _A charge when the light projection on the sensor S ₂ is supplied to, and so CCD 5 _a to 10 _a
The electric charges of the sensors S _{3 to} S ₅ are transferred to.

CCD1 _A to 10 _A are CCD1 _A to 26 _A
It constitutes a part of the ring CCD 118 having _A.
In the ring CCD 118, the charge is 1 _A → 2 _A →
5 _A → 6 _A → 9 _A → 10 _A → 11 _A → 12 _A → 13 _A →
14 _A → 15 _A → 16 _A → 17 _A → 18 _A → 7 _A → 8 _A
→ 3 _A → 4 _A → 19 _A → 20 _A → 21 _A → 22 _A → 23
_A → 24 _A → 25 _A → 26 _A → 1 _A are transferred in this order,
It will orbit. Ring CCD 118 of this embodiment
Is driven by a two-phase clock pulse (CK ₁ pulse and CK ₂ pulse) alternately applied to each CCD 1 _{A to} 26 _A , and charges are transferred, but it may be driven in any phase.

The ring CCD 118 of this embodiment is also used.
Is the sensor array 111 and the first and second storage units 1
Since it is formed in a ring shape surrounding 14 and 115, the inside of the ring CCD 118 can be effectively used to integrate elements at a high density, and the size of the entire device can be significantly reduced.

The SH pulse is synchronized with one round of the ring CCD 118, and the SH pulse is CK _{1 in} FIG.
The ring CCD 118 is also synchronized with the 1 and 1'of the pulse, the on / off of the projection, and the ST ₁ and ST ₂ pulses.
Causes the signal charges from the respective sensors S _{1 to} S ₅ to circulate while adding to the same CCD 1 _{A to} 26 _A units corresponding to the first storage unit 115 and the second storage unit 114, respectively. . That is, for example, the signal charge from the sensor S ₁ is
The signal charge from the sensor S ₁ supplied to the ring CCD 118 by the previous and previous SH pulses and the signal charge that has circulated around the ring CCD 118, and CCD 1 _A ,
Added at 2 _A.

The CCD 20 _A in the ring CCD 118 is a floating gate, and the output section 120 connected to the CCD 20 _A exchanges the amount of charge in the CCD 20 _A with a voltage and outputs an OS signal from the amplifier 101. Further, RD is a reset potential and is a MOS driven by the pulse RS _1.
The floating gate of the CCD 20 _A is reset via the gate.

The CCDCLR terminal provided on the CCD 26 _A of the ring CCD 118 is for clearing the charge of the CCD 26 _A by the CCDCLR pulse.
The charge of the ring CCD 118 is cleared at this portion when the device is initialized.

Next, the space provided on the ring CCD 118 is
The configuration of the Kim section 119 will be described. Ring CCD 118
CCD22_AAnd CCD23_AAre the elements for skim SK
₁, SK_TwoIs configured. That is, the first skim element
Child SK₁Is a potential to store only a certain amount of charge
The well is constructed and the CCD21 in the previous stage_ATransferred from
If the incoming charge exceeds the capacity of this well,
The overflowed charge is the element DC ₁It is supposed to flow into.
And the CCD 21_ASkim element with first charge
SK₁And element DC₁Their charge after being distributed to
Is CK_TwoBy the pulse, the second skimming element SK_Two
And element DC_TwoRespectively transferred to. Second skim element S
K_TwoThe first skim element SK₁Smaller capacity
The potential well of the
Load is element DC_TwoFlow into the device DC₁Transferred from
It is added to the incoming charge.

The amplifier 1 provided in the skim section 119
02 has the same configuration as the amplifier 101 of the output unit 120 described above, and converts the charge amount transferred from the element DC ₂ to the CCD of the output stage of the skim unit 119 into a voltage to generate SKOS.
Output as a signal. The floating gate of the CCD at the output stage of the skim section 119 is reset to the RD level by the reset signal RS ₂ . And the amplifier 10
By looking at the output SKOS of 2, the skim element SK
It is possible to determine whether or not the charge has overflowed at ₁ and SK _2. If the charge has overflowed, the SKLCLR pulse causes the second skimming element SK ₂ to move to the next stage CCD 24 _A.
The charge transferred to is cleared. In addition, the element DC ₂
The electric charge of the overflow in the area is transferred to the CCD 25 _A and goes around the ring CCD 118. On the other hand, the skim element S
If the charge does not overflow in K ₁ and SK ₂ , SKCL
The R pulse is not formed, and the charges in the _second skimming element SK ₂ circulate in the ring CCD 118.

Next, the skim operation will be described in more detail with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

Here, the charges corresponding to the turning off and on of the light projection correspond to the turning off of the ring CCD 118 first, and the SKOS output is first observed at the off portion to see SK.
It is determined whether or not to output the CLR pulse. Then, if there is SKOS output in the off portion, a SKCLR pulse is output to output the CCD2 from the second skimming element SK _2.
4 Clear the transferred charges into a _A. On the other hand, the electric charge corresponding to the turn-on of the light projection is subjected to the same clearing process only when it is determined that the electric charge should be cleared at the previous off-portion.
As a result, the same amount of electric charge is always cleared by the pair of on and off of light projection. That is, it is the portion corresponding to the outside light component that is removed from the transferred signal charge, and the portion of the signal light goes around the ring CCD 118 as it is and is integrated. Therefore, when the difference between the charge outputs of the off / on pairs is finally obtained, the light emitting signal can be obtained. Incidentally, the above-mentioned first skimming element SK ₁
To CCD 25 _A form the skim section 119.

The RS ₁ pulse and the OS output of FIG. 3 respectively show two values, normal and difference, which are the absolute value of each CCD depending on the timing of outputting the RS ₁ pulse of the output section 120. And a case of outputting the difference between the above-mentioned light-emission off / on pair. That is, in the former case, the CCD 20 which is the output stage
By outputting the RS ₁ pulse and resetting when there is no charge in _A , the absolute values of the transferred charges are sequentially output. On the other hand, in the latter case, when the light-emission-off electric charge is present in the CCD 20 _A and the light-emission-on electric charge is transferred, the RS ₁ pulse is output to reset the light-emission-on electric charge. A difference signal is output by subtracting the charge amount of.

In this embodiment, the output unit 120
When the OS output signal output from the sensor is associated with the sensors S _{1 to} S ₅ , S ₂ → S ₄ → (empty pixel) → S ₅ → S ₃ →
It is output in the order of S ₁ . However, the distance measuring device of the present embodiment uses two sensor devices shown in FIG.
Since the distance measurement is performed based on the relative value of the positions of the two light-receiving images formed on one sensor array, the OS output signal is S ₁ → S ₂ → S _{3 which} is the original arrangement order of the sensors S _{1 to} S _5. →
It is necessary to rearrange S ₄ → S ₅ . Therefore, to which pixel of the sensors S _{1 to} S _{5 the} signal output from the output unit 120 corresponds from the rising or falling timing of the drive signal of the IRED of the light projecting means and the timing of the CK ₁ pulse. This is dealt with by controlling so that the OS output signals are rearranged during distance measurement calculation.

Thus, in the distance measuring device of this embodiment,
Since the first storage unit 115 and the second storage unit 114 are arranged on both sides of the sensor array, even when the widths or pitches of the sensors S _{1 to} S ₅ are reduced in order to shorten the base line length. , first accumulation unit 115 and the second accumulation unit 114 and the CCD 1 _a to 10 _a, respectively each sensor S ₁ the width of ~S of
It can be a value close to or close to the width of ₅ .
Therefore, the charge storage capacities of the first storage unit 115, the second storage unit 114, and the CCDs 1 _A to 10 _A can be significantly increased as compared with the related art, so that the dynamic range is expanded and the S / N ratio in distance measuring performance is increased. The ratio also improves.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The range finder according to the present embodiment comprises two linear CCDs and a ring CC connected to the linear CCDs, as shown in FIG.
A device having D and is used.

In FIG. 4, 81 is the sensor array 111 of FIG. 1, 82 is the integrating unit 112 and the clearing unit 11 of FIG.
3, ST section 121 including first storage section 115, second storage section 114, and shift section 116, respectively.
Further, reference numeral 83 is a linear CCD in which a large number of CCDs similar to those constituting the ring CCD 118 of FIG. 1 are arranged,
84 is a ring CCD similar to the ring CCD 118 of FIG.
It is. That is, in this embodiment, the charge transfer means has two linear CCDs 83 and a ring CCD 84 coupled to these two linear CCDs 83.

The sensor array 81 is composed of N sensors, and along with this, N ST units 82 are also provided. Each linear CCD 83 arranged in parallel with the sensor array 81 is composed of (N + α) CCDs, and the ring CCD 84 coupled to the linear CCD 83 is 2 (N).
+ Α) or more CCDs.

The cycle in which the signal charge makes one round in the ring CCD 84 is in synchronism with the on / off of the light projection, and the other operation timings are the same as in the first embodiment described above. CCDC
The LR unit 85 is means for clearing charges transferred by the ring CCD 84 and the linear CCD 83, and initializes the device. Therefore, clearing is prohibited during signal addition. The output unit 87 is a unit that nondestructively converts the charge amount into a voltage and reads a signal. The SK1M unit 86 has the same structure and function as the skim unit 119 of the above-described first embodiment, and is turned off when the amount of the external light signal exceeds a predetermined amount so that the ring CCD 84 is not saturated. A fixed value is excluded from the paired CCDs so that only the light projection signal is integrated.

Also in this embodiment, since the ST section 82 having the first and second storage sections 114 and 115 is arranged on both sides of the sensor array 81, the first and first ST sections 82 forming a part of the ST section 82 are arranged. 2 storage units 114 and 115 and linear CCD 8
The width of the CCD in the portion facing the ST portion 82 of 3 can be increased to the same value as or close to each sensor of the sensor array 81. Therefore, since the charge storage capacities of the first and second storage units 114 and 115 and the linear CCD can be significantly increased as compared with the conventional case, the dynamic range is expanded and the S / N ratio in the ranging performance is also improved.

In this embodiment, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-263182 is used.
As described in No. 6, an example in which two sensor devices including a ring CCD and a sensor array are used to perform distance measurement based on the relative value of the positions of two light-receiving images has been described.
It is possible to measure distance by the principle of triangulation even if only one is used.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the storage means for storing the charges photoelectrically converted by the sensor array are arranged on both sides of the sensor array, it is possible to shorten the pitch of the sensor array without impairing the dynamic range of the charge storage amount. Therefore, even if the baseline length is shortened, it is possible to reduce the distance measuring device without degrading the distance measuring accuracy. Further, when the baseline length is not shortened, the distance measuring accuracy can be further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a sensor device used in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a linear C from each sensor in the apparatus of FIG.
6 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of each part when transferring charges to a CD.

3 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of each part of the ring CCD of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a sensor device used in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional distance measuring device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a received light image on a sensor array and a sensor signal output.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing in detail the configuration from the sensor array of FIG. 5 to a linear CCD.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the linear C from each sensor in the apparatus of FIG.
6 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of each part when transferring charges to a CD.

[Explanation of symbols]

111 sensor array 112 integrating part 113 clearing part 114 second accumulating part 115 first accumulating part 116 shift part 118 ring CCD 121 ST part S _{1 to} S ₅ sensor

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A distance measuring device for projecting a spot onto an object to be measured and receiving the reflected light to perform a triangular distance measurement, and a light projecting means for projecting light onto the object to be measured. A sensor array in which a plurality of sensors that receive reflected light from the object to be measured and perform photoelectric conversion are arranged, and a plurality of storage units that are provided for each of the plurality of sensors and that store the output charges from the sensors. And a charge transfer means in which at least a part of the charges accumulated in the plurality of accumulating means are supplied in parallel, and the charge transferring means is coupled in a ring shape. A distance measuring device arranged on both sides of the sensor array with respect to a direction. 2. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of accumulating means are alternately arranged on both sides of the sensor array with respect to the arrangement direction of the sensors. 3. A control means for rearranging an output signal from the charge transfer means according to an arrangement order of the plurality of sensors of the sensor array to perform a distance measurement calculation. The distance measuring device according to claim 1. 4. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the charge transfer means is formed in a ring shape surrounding the sensor array and the plurality of storage means. . 5. The charge transfer means is formed so as to have two linear parts to which charges accumulated by a plurality of the accumulating means are supplied in parallel, and a ring part coupled to these two linear parts. It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
3. The distance measuring device according to any one of 3 above. 6. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of storage units has a first storage unit and a second storage unit. apparatus. 7. The first storage means stores an output signal from the sensor when the light projecting means projects light, and the second storage means stores the output signal from the sensor.
7. The distance measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the storage means stores the output signal from the sensor when the light projecting means is not projecting light. 8. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising skim means for removing a fixed amount of charges from the charges transferred by the charge transfer device. apparatus. 9. A plurality of integrating means arranged between each of said plurality of accumulating means and said sensor, integrating a charge from said sensor and supplying said integrating means, and extracting electric charge from said integrating means. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising: