Abstract: A target detecting device projects measuring light over a predetermined range in front of a vehicle, receives reflected light from a target, and detects the target or a distance to the target, based on a light reception signal output according to the light reception state. The light projecting unit includes a light emitting element emitting measuring light and light diffusion members. The light diffusion members are provided on an upper end portion and a lower end portion of a light projecting lens constituting part of a light projecting path, and diffuses, in the vertical direction, measuring light emitted from the light emitting element and traveling through the end portions in the vertical direction of the light traveling path while transmitting the measuring light.

Abstract: A projection optical system includes a laser diode; a laser diode module having a plurality of the laser diodes one-line arranged; a light projecting lens to adjust spread of light emitted from the respective laser diodes; and an optical deflector to deflect light passing through the light projecting lens and irradiate a target with the deflected light. The laser diodes emit light such that the light spreads at a first angle in a first direction and spreads at a second angle being wider than the first angle in a second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. The laser diode modules are disposed such that an arrangement direction thereof coincides with the first direction and they are placed along the second direction and shifted in position relative to each other in the first direction. The light projecting lenses are disposed with corresponding to the laser diode modules.

Abstract: A target detecting device projects measuring light over a predetermined range in front of a vehicle, receives reflected light from a target, and detects the target or a distance to the target, based on a light reception signal output according to the light reception state. The light projecting unit includes a light emitting element emitting measuring light and light diffusion members. The light diffusion members are provided on an upper end portion and a lower end portion of a light projecting lens constituting part of a light projecting path, and diffuses, in the vertical direction, measuring light emitted from the light emitting element and traveling through the end portions in the vertical direction of the light traveling path while transmitting the measuring light.

Abstract: During a first scanning duration in which projection light is reflected by a first reflection surface of a mirror of the rotary scanning unit, light emitting elements are caused to sequentially emit light, a light receiving element corresponding to a light emitting element in a light-emitted state is caused to sequentially receive the reflection light, and a light reception signal output from the light receiving element in the light-received state is sequentially selected by a signal selection unit. During a second scanning duration in which the projection light is reflected by a second reflection surface of the mirror, a specific light emitting element of the light emitting elements is caused to emit light with a prescribed period, the light receiving elements are caused to sequentially receive the reflection light, and the light reception signal output from the light receiving element in the light-received state is sequentially selected.

Abstract: An object detection device includes a first substrate with a laser diode thereon; a second substrate with a photodiode thereon; a holding member holding the first and second substrates; an optical deflector deflecting light projected from the LD to irradiate a target with the deflected light, and deflects light reflected off the target; and a reflecting mirror guiding the reflected light deflected by the optical deflector to the PD. The LD is mounted on a mounting surface of the first substrate to project light mainly in a direction parallel to the mounting surface. The PD is mounted on a mounting surface of the second substrate to receive light coming mainly in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface. The holding member parallelly holds the first and second substrates such that projection planes of the first and second substrates perpendicular to the mounting surfaces overlap each other.

Abstract: An object detection device includes a first substrate with a laser diode thereon; a second substrate with a photodiode thereon; a holding member holding the first and second substrates; an optical deflector deflecting light projected from the LD to irradiate a target with the deflected light, and deflects light reflected off the target; and a reflecting mirror guiding the reflected light deflected by the optical deflector to the PD. The LD is mounted on a mounting surface of the first substrate to project light mainly in a direction parallel to the mounting surface. The PD is mounted on a mounting surface of the second substrate to receive light coming mainly in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface. The holding member parallelly holds the first and second substrates such that projection planes of the first and second substrates perpendicular to the mounting surfaces overlap each other.

Abstract: A laser radar system is installed in a moving body and includes a plurality of scanning type laser radar devices which detect distances to an object. The scanning type laser radar device has a first direction and a second direction in a scanning range. In the first direction, a detectable distance to an object having identical reflectance is longer. In the second direction, a detectable distance to an object having identical reflectance is shorter. The scanning range of one scanning type laser radar device overlaps with the scanning range of another scanning type laser radar device adjacent to the one scanning type laser radar device such that the detectable area in the first direction of the one scanning type laser radar device overlaps with the detectable area in the second direction of the other scanning type laser radar device.

Abstract: A projection optical system includes a laser diode; a laser diode module having a plurality of the laser diodes one-line arranged; a light projecting lens to adjust spread of light emitted from the respective laser diodes; and an optical deflector to deflect light passing through the light projecting lens and irradiate a target with the deflected light. The laser diodes emit light such that the light spreads at a first angle in a first direction and spreads at a second angle being wider than the first angle in a second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. The laser diode modules are disposed such that an arrangement direction thereof coincides with the first direction and they are placed along the second direction and shifted in position relative to each other in the first direction. The light projecting lenses are disposed with corresponding to the laser diode modules.

Abstract: A laser radar device has a light projection part that projects light to a monitoring area outside a vehicle from a vehicle interior through a glass surface, a light receiving part that is placed a given distance away from the light projection part in a substantially horizontal direction to receive reflected light from an object outside the vehicle in the light projected by the light projection part through the glass surface, a measuring part that measures the distance to the object in the monitoring area based on timing when the light projection part projects the light and timing when the light receiving part receives the reflected light, and a light-projection shielding part that shields the light projected to an outside of the monitoring area in the light projected by the light projection part.

Abstract: A laser radar device has a light projection part that projects light to a monitoring area outside a vehicle from a vehicle interior through a glass surface, a light receiving part that is placed a given distance away from the light projection part in a substantially horizontal direction to receive reflected light from an object outside the vehicle in the light projected by the light projection part through the glass surface, a measuring part that measures the distance to the object in the monitoring area based on timing when the light projection part projects the light and timing when the light receiving part receives the reflected light, and a light-projection shielding part that shields the light projected to an outside of the monitoring area in the light projected by the light projection part.

Abstract: A laser radar device has a light projection part that projects light to a monitoring area outside a vehicle, and a light receiving part that receives a reflected light that is projected by the light projection part and reflected by an object outside the vehicle. The light projection part has a light projection circuit that emits a laser beam, a converter that converts the laser beam into parallel light and outputs the parallel light in a horizontal direction, and a lenticular lens or a lens array. The lenticular lens or the lens array diffuses horizontally the parallel light in a plurality of directions.

Abstract: A distance measuring device measures relative positional relationship with a target object based on time difference between time when detecting waves are projected and time when reflected waves from said target object are received. A plurality of wave projecting and receiving units are arranged in a selected scanning direction. Each of these units has a wave projecting device for projecting detecting waves to a detection area and a wave receiving device for receiving reflected waves of the detecting waves reflected by an object in the detection area. A mechanism is provided for scanning a target area in the selected scanning direction with the detecting waves from these wave projecting and receiving units. Distance to the object is obtained based on timing for receiving the reflected waves.

Abstract: An object detecting device has components which emit electromagnetic waves by scanning a scan range in horizontal and vertical directions, receive reflected waves, obtain signal level of the received reflected waves, calculate a correction value based on vertical position of the zone in the scan range where the level of the received waves is the highest and the center position of the scan range in the vertical direction, and correct the center position in the vertical direction of the scan range based on the calculated correction value.

Abstract: An object detecting device has components which emit electromagnetic waves by scanning a scan range in horizontal and vertical directions, receive reflected waves, obtain signal level of the received reflected waves, calculate a correction value based on vertical position of the zone in the scan range where the level of the received waves is the highest and the center position of the scan range in the vertical direction, and correct the center position in the vertical direction of the scan range based on the calculated correction value.

Abstract: A scanning-type distance measurement device is responsive to selected signals to reduce interference due to stray light. An emitted beam of light is aimed to be reflected from an object and to a photodetector among a plurality of photodetectors which are positioned linearly or in two-dimensions. The outputs of the photodetectors are selected based on the position of the emitted beam of light, so that photodetectors which should not contribute to the reflected beam, based on the geometry of the emitted beam and the reflecting object, are ignored. This approach reduces the effects of stray noise from other light sources. The selection of the photodetectors is synchronized with a scanning light emitter generating the beam of light by a position signal and an angular signal so that the noise component in the output signal which is due to stray light can be kept to a minimum.

Abstract: A safety distance measuring device employing an electromagnetic wave is provided. A laser diode 2 is energized to emit laser beams by a laser diode drive circuit 3 in accordance with a clock signal generated by a control circuit 29. The emitted laser beams are sequentially changed to predetermined scanning directions by a scanner 1 associated with control circuit 29. The scanned laser beams from scanner 1 are reflected by an object 19 to be received by a photodiode 5. An output of the photodiode is applied to control circuit 29 through a light receiving circuit 6 where an elapsed time from emission to receipt is computed to obtain a distance from scanner 1 to object 19. Based on data relating to scanning directions by a scanning position detector 4, a begin-and-end detecting circuit 28 can stop the radiation of electromagnetic waves around a scanning start point and a scanning end point which is danger to human bodies.

Abstract: A speed measuring apparatus includes a light projecting unit having a light source for emitting light, a projection optical system for projecting the light from the light source onto a relatively moving object and a first polarizer included in a part of the projection optical system for allowing the passage of polarized light from the light source as projected light. A light receiving unit includes a second polarizer allowing the passage of polarized light in a direction at right angles to the direction of polarization of the projected light reflected from the relatively moving object and a spatial filter detector for taking out a predetermined spatial frequency of the light passed through the second polarizer and outputting an electrical signal representing the frequency. The relative speed of the relatively moving object is calculated on the basis of the signal from the spatial filter detector.