IP Library Granted Patent US 6,897,946
Granted Patent B2
US 6,897,946 · App. 10/420,650 · Granted May 24, 2005

Ranger finder device and camera

Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,897,946
App. No.
10/420,650
Granted
May 24, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A range finder device, for measuring, when a plurality of projected lights having radiation patterns whose light intensity differs three-dimensional space-wise are irradiated onto an object from a light source on a time-sharing basis to image-pick up reflected light of the projected light from the object with a camera, a distance using the light intensity of an image picked up, characterized in that, with respect to each of a plurality of surfaces including the center of the light source and the center of a lens, there is obtained, in advance, relation between an angle of each projected light from the light source and light intensity ratio in each surface, characterized in that, at the time of actual distance measurement, light intensity of each pixel of the camera is measured, and on the basis of the light intensity thus measured, and relation between the angle and the light intensity ratio on a predetermined surface corresponding to a coordinate position of the pixel measured, there is obtained the angle corresponding to the light intensity of the predetermined pixel thus measured, and characterized in that, on the basis of these light intensity measured, the angles obtained and further two-dimensional coordinate position information on the predetermined pixel on the image, a distance to the object is calculated.

Claims (13)

1. A camera for shape measuring or object extracting, comprising:

light-emitting means of irradiating an object with projected light having a specified radiation pattern; and

an image-pickup lens for picking up reflected light of said light-emitting means from said object to obtain a depth image using light intensity of an image picked up;

wherein said camera has a moveable structure for varying to a predetermined set distance a distance between said light-emitting means and said image-pickup lens; and

said predetermined set distance between said light-emitting means and said image-pickup lens is of a magnitude to obtain the depth image.

2. The camera according to claim 1 , wherein:

said predetermined set distance between said light-emitting means and said image-pickup lens is realized by said light-emitting means and a main body of said camera, including said image-pickup lens, being relatively slidable; and

during use of said camera, said light-emitting means and said main body are caused to slide such that they are spaced apart from each other by the predetermined set distance, whereby said predetermined set distance between said light-emitting means and said camera lens is of the magnitude to obtain the depth image.

3. The camera according to claim 1 , wherein:

said predetermined set distance between said light-emitting means and said image-pickup lens is realized by said light-emitting means and a main body of the camera, including said image-pickup lens, being connected together by a hinge configuration; and

during use of said camera, the hinge configuration between said light-emitting means and said main body is opened, whereby said predetermined set distance between said light-emitting means and said camera lens is of the magnitude to obtain the depth image.

4. The camera according to claim 1 , wherein said light-emitting means irradiate said object with a plurality of projected lights, each light having a different specified radiation pattern than the other lights.

5. The camera according to claim 1 , wherein light-emitting means irradiate said object with a flash projecting said light having said specified radiation pattern.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2015
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION; PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035923/0506 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 033033/0163 →
Priority Claims (3)
JP H10-142682 · May 25, 1998 · national
JP H10-316112 · Nov 6, 1998 · national
JP H11-119435 · Apr 27, 1999 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 0946353000
Related Publication 20030193658A1 · Oct 16, 2003