Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging element, and an image capturing optical system configured to generate an image of an object on the imaging element. The image capturing optical system has a gradient decreasing region in which a change of a gradient of an image magnification rate with respect to an angle of view of the image generated on the imaging element decreases as a concerned position deviates farther away from an optical axis of the image capturing optical system, and a gradient increasing region in which the change of the gradient of the image magnification rate with respect to the angle of view of the image generated on the imaging element increases as the concerned position deviates farther away from the optical axis of the image capturing optical system.

Abstract: A light signal detection device includes a light receiving optical system configured to receive a reflection signal reflected from an object when irradiation light emitted from an irradiation unit hits the object and reflects from the object; and circuitry configured to binarize the received reflection signal using a first threshold value, based on a determination of whether the reflection signal is equal to or greater than the first threshold value; binarize the received reflection signal using a second threshold value set with a given value similar to a noise signal value, based on a determination of whether the reflection signal is equal to or greater than the second threshold value; and measure a time difference between a time of emitting the irradiation light from the irradiation unit and a time of receiving a reflection signal equal to or greater than the first threshold value or the second threshold value.

Abstract: A distance-measuring apparatus, a mobile object, a distance-measuring method, and a distance-measuring system. The distance-measuring apparatus and the distance-measuring method include performing matching for a plurality of images obtained by a plurality of imaging devices to convert the plurality of images into first distance information on a pixel-by-pixel basis, emitting a laser beam where at least one of a laser-beam resolution in a horizontal direction and a laser-beam resolution in a vertical direction exceeds two degrees, obtaining a reflected signal obtained when the laser beam is reflected by an object, detecting a peak that corresponds to reflection from the object from the reflected signal, calculating second distance information based on a length of time taken to observe the peak after the laser beam is emitted in the emitting, and integrating the first distance information and the second distance information with each other. The mobile object includes the distance-measuring apparatus.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging element, and an image capturing optical system configured to generate an image of an object on the imaging element. The image capturing optical system has a gradient decreasing region in which a change of a gradient of an image magnification rate with respect to an angle of view of the image generated on the imaging element decreases as a concerned position deviates farther away from an optical axis of the image capturing optical system, and a gradient increasing region in which the change of the gradient of the image magnification rate with respect to the angle of view of the image generated on the imaging element increases as the concerned position deviates farther away from the optical axis of the image capturing optical system.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus includes a light-emitting unit configured to emit light; an optical scanning unit configured to rotate a deflection face to deflect the light used as scanning light; a light-projection optical system configured to project the scanning light to a detection region; a light-receiving optical system configured to receive light reflected or light scattered from an object existing within the detection region, respectively as reflection light and scattered light; and a light receiving unit configured to output at least a received-light signal of the reflection light or a received-light signal of the scattered light received by the light receiving system. A projection light center axis of the light-receiving optical system is non-parallel with respect to a focusing light center axis of the light-projection optical system.

Abstract: A calibration method calibrates a stereo camera. The calibration method includes: measuring a relative position between the stereo camera and an object that is placed so as to fall within an image capturing area of the stereo camera; acquiring a captured image that is captured by the stereo camera and includes the object; and determining a calibration parameter for calibrating the stereo camera based on the relative position and the captured image.

Abstract: In an apparatus for monitoring surroundings of a vehicle based on a plurality of images captured by a plurality of imagers through a windshield of the vehicle, an image acquirer is configured to acquire the plurality of images captured by the plurality of imagers, and a distortion corrector is configured to correct the plurality of images based on an optical distortion distribution of the windshield.

Abstract: A light signal detection device includes a light receiving optical system configured to receive a reflection signal reflected from an object when irradiation light emitted from an irradiation unit hits the object and reflects from the object; and circuitry configured to binarize the received reflection signal using a first threshold value, based on a determination of whether the reflection signal is equal to or greater than the first threshold value; binarize the received reflection signal using a second threshold value set with a given value similar to a noise signal value, based on a determination of whether the reflection signal is equal to or greater than the second threshold value; and measure a time difference between a time of emitting the irradiation light from the irradiation unit and a time of receiving a reflection signal equal to or greater than the first threshold value or the second threshold value.

Abstract: A calibration method is for a photographic device that photographs an object through a transparent body. The calibration method includes: acquiring a first photographic image by photographing the object without interposing the transparent body; acquiring a second photographic image by photographing the object through the transparent body; calculating an absolute positional deviation that indicates a deviation in coordinates of an image of the object due to the transparent body based on coordinates of an image of the object on the first photographic image and coordinates of an image of the object on the second photographic image; calculating a correction parameter for calibrating the absolute positional deviation; and storing the correction parameter in the photographic device.

Abstract: A distance-measuring apparatus, a mobile object, a distance-measuring method, and a distance-measuring system. The distance-measuring apparatus and the distance-measuring method include performing matching for a plurality of images obtained by a plurality of imaging devices to convert the plurality of images into first distance information on a pixel-by-pixel basis, emitting a laser beam where at least one of a laser-beam resolution in a horizontal direction and a laser-beam resolution in a vertical direction exceeds two degrees, obtaining a reflected signal obtained when the laser beam is reflected by an object, detecting a peak that corresponds to reflection from the object from the reflected signal, calculating second distance information based on a length of time taken to observe the peak after the laser beam is emitted in the emitting, and integrating the first distance information and the second distance information with each other. The mobile object includes the distance-measuring apparatus.

Abstract: A calibration method calibrates a stereo camera. The calibration method includes: measuring a relative position between the stereo camera and an object that is placed so as to fall within an image capturing area of the stereo camera; acquiring a captured image that is captured by the stereo camera and includes the object; and determining a calibration parameter for calibrating the stereo camera based on the relative position and the captured image.

Abstract: A calibration method is for a photographic device that photographs an object through a transparent body. The calibration method includes: acquiring a first photographic image by photographing the object without interposing the transparent body; acquiring a second photographic image by photographing the object through the transparent body; calculating an absolute positional deviation that indicates a deviation in coordinates of an image of the object due to the transparent body based on coordinates of an image of the object on the first photographic image and coordinates of an image of the object on the second photographic image; calculating a correction parameter for calibrating the absolute positional deviation; and storing the correction parameter in the photographic device.

Abstract: A calibration method calibrates a stereo camera. The calibration method includes: measuring a relative position between the stereo camera and an object that is placed so as to fall within an image capturing area of the stereo camera; acquiring a captured image that is captured by the stereo camera and includes the object; and determining a calibration parameter for calibrating the stereo camera based on the relative position and the captured image.

Abstract: In an apparatus for monitoring surroundings of a vehicle based on a plurality of images captured by a plurality of imagers through a windshield of the vehicle, an image acquirer is configured to acquire the plurality of images captured by the plurality of imagers, and a distortion corrector is configured to correct the plurality of images based on an optical distortion distribution of the windshield.

Abstract: A calibration method is for a photographic device that photographs an object through a transparent body. The calibration method includes: acquiring a first photographic image by photographing the object without interposing the transparent body; acquiring a second photographic image by photographing the object through the transparent body; calculating an absolute positional deviation that indicates a deviation in coordinates of an image of the object due to the transparent body based on coordinates of an image of the object on the first photographic image and coordinates of an image of the object on the second photographic image; calculating a correction parameter for calibrating the absolute positional deviation; and storing the correction parameter in the photographic device.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a light emitting unit that outputs light; a light condensing unit that condenses the light output from the light emitting unit; a diffusion unit that diffuses the light condensed by the light condensing unit; and a uniformizing optical system that receives the light diffused by the diffusion unit, uniformizes a brightness distribution thereof compared with that of the light being received, and outputs the resulting light.

Abstract: A calibration method is for a photographic device that photographs an object through a transparent body. The calibration method includes: acquiring a first photographic image by photographing the object without interposing the transparent body; acquiring a second photographic image by photographing the object through the transparent body; calculating an absolute positional deviation that indicates a deviation in coordinates of an image of the object due to the transparent body based on coordinates of an image of the object on the first photographic image and coordinates of an image of the object on the second photographic image; calculating a correction parameter for calibrating the absolute positional deviation; and storing the correction parameter in the photographic device.

Abstract: A calibration method calibrates a stereo camera. The calibration method includes: measuring a relative position between the stereo camera and an object that is placed so as to fall within an image capturing area of the stereo camera; acquiring a captured image that is captured by the stereo camera and includes the object; and determining a calibration parameter for calibrating the stereo camera based on the relative position and the captured image.

Abstract: A method is for manufacturing laminated glass. The method includes: cutting a first glass and a second glass out of one sheet of glass having a corrugation formed in a predetermined direction, in such a manner that corresponding sides of the first glass and the second glass are cut in a same cutting direction; and bonding the first glass and the second glass together in such a manner that the corrugation of the first glass and the corrugation of the second glass are aligned with each other.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a light emitting unit that outputs light; a light condensing unit that condenses the light output from the light emitting unit; a diffusion unit that diffuses the light condensed by the light condensing unit; and a uniformizing optical system that receives the light diffused by the diffusion unit, uniformizes a brightness distribution thereof compared with that of the light being received, and outputs the resulting light.