IP Library Granted Patent US 12693419
Granted Patent B2
US 12693419 · App. 18/003,660 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus and distance-measurement apparatus

Inventor: Hiroki Okada (Machida, JP)
Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
G01S17/86G01S7/4815G01S7/4816G01S7/4863G01S7/4865G01S17/58G01S17/66G01S17/894G01S17/931
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693419
App. No.
18/003,660
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are an electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus and a distance-measurement apparatus capable of accurately detecting the position of a subject. An electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus ( 10 ) includes a first detection unit ( 20 ) configured to detect a reflected wave that is an electromagnetic wave radiated in multiple directions in a space in which an object (ob) is present and reflected by the object (ob), an image-information acquisition unit ( 141 ) configured to acquire image information of the space, and a light-reception control unit ( 144 ) configured to perform control such that the time difference between the timing at which the image-information acquisition unit ( 141 ) acquires the image information and the timing at which the electromagnetic wave is radiated onto a predetermined tracking target included in the object is reduced.

Claims (31)

1 . An electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus comprising:

a first detector configured to detect a reflected wave that is an electromagnetic wave radiated in multiple directions in a space in which an object is present and reflected by the object; and

a controller configured to acquire image information of the space and perform control on the electromagnetic wave such that a time difference between a timing at which the controller acquires the image information and a timing at which the electromagnetic wave is radiated onto a predetermined tracking target included in the object is reduced.

2 . The electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an electromatic wave transmitter configured to radiate an electromagnetic wave into the space; and

wherein the controller is further configured to

control a direction in which the electromatic wave transmitter radiates the electromagnetic wave into the space and a timing at which the electromatic wave transmitter radiates the electromagnetic wave into the space,

calculate a tracking-target radiation timing that is a timing at which the electromatic wave transmitter radiates the electromagnetic wave in a direction toward the tracking target present in the space, and

acquire the image information based on the tracking-target radiation timing.

3 . The electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the controller is configured to

acquire the image information at a predetermined timing,

reduce a time difference between a timing at which the controller acquires the image information and the tracking-target radiation timing by delaying the predetermined timing, and

wherein the predetermined timing that is not delayed by the controller is a timing that is set such that the image information is acquired at a fixed rate.

4 . The electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is further configured to determine the tracking target from the object based on the image information acquired by the controller.

5 . The electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first detector is configured to cause the electromagnetic wave to scan the tracking target while changing a direction in which the electromagnetic wave is radiated, and

wherein a time taken for the controller to acquire the image information for one frame is shorter than a time taken for the first detector to detect the reflected wave for one frame.

6 . The electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein a predetermined position in the image information and an optical axis of the reflected wave reflected at the predetermined position and detected by the first detector match each other.

7 . The electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a second detector configured to detect a light and output the image information; and

a separator configured to separate electromagnetic waves including the reflected wave such that the reflected wave travels toward the first detector and such that the light travels toward the second detector.

8 . The electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is further configured to generate positional information regarding the tracking target based on detection of the reflected wave and a position of the tracking target in the image information.

9 . The electromagnetic-wave detection apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the controller is further configured to calculate a moving speed of the tracking target based on positional information items regarding the tracking target detected at different timings.

10 . A distance-measurement apparatus comprising:

a first detector configured to detect a reflected wave that is an electromagnetic wave radiated in multiple directions in a space in which an object is present and reflected by the object; and

a controller configured to acquire image information of the space, perform control on the electromagnetic wave such that a time difference between a timing at which the controller acquires the image information and a timing at which the electromagnetic wave is radiated onto a predetermined tracking target included in the object is reduced, and calculate a distance to the object based on detection information obtained by the first detector.