Abstract: An object information processing apparatus includes a focussing unit for focussing light information from an object point; a light transmission unit for transmitting the light information from the object point to the focussing unit via first and second optical passages; and mask units provided respectively in the first and second optical passages in the light transmission unit and formed respectively with predetermined patternings which are in negative and positive relation to each other. By virture of the mask units, the light information from the object point is blocked into a plurality of distance informations from which distance patterns are obtained. The apparatus can recognize an object in three dimensions using the distance patterns.

Abstract: A multi-direction distance measuring method including the steps of directing a light beam to an object to be measured and scanning the same, condensing the reflected light beam reflected by the object to be measured, disposing a sensor at a position at which the reflected light beam is condensed and receiving the reflected light beam by the sensor, and determining the distance to the object to be measured on the basis of the position of incidence of the reflected light beam on the light-receiving surface of the sensor. An apparatus utilizing such a method is also provided.

Abstract: A distance distribution measuring method includes the steps of disposing an image pickup on the optic axis of a projection optical system, forming on the image pickup the images of objects existing in multiple directions through the projection optical system, progressively varying the spacing in the direction of the optic axis between the projection optical system and the image pickup, extracting substantially in-focus one of the object images on the image pickup for each amount of spacing along with the step of varying the spacing, and finding the distance to an object corresponding to each object image extracted at the step of extracting, on the basis of the amount of spacing when the object image is extracted, thereby obtaining the distances to the objects existing in the multiple directions and measuring the distance distribution.

Abstract: This specification discloses a distance measuring apparatus and method in which two-dimensionally arranged light-receiving elements are used as illumination distribution measuring means, the correlation between the illumination distributions of the images of an object on the set of certain portions of the respective measuring means is taken to thereby calculate the distance to the object present in a certain direction corresponding to the set, and the calculations are effected with respect to a plurality of sets portions of the respective measuring means to thereby calculate the distances to objects present in a plurality of directions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for obtaining three-dimensional information about an object, includes a first optical system, a projection device, a second optical system, and an image sensor. A plurality of pattern beams are radiated onto the object through the first optical system. Optical images formed by the pattern beams on the object are received by the image sensor through the second optical system to detect the positions of the received optical images. The distances from the detected positions of the optical images to a plurality of positions on the object are measured, thereby obtaining three-dimensional information about the object.

Abstract: A visual sensor system for producing stereoscopic visual information comprises two sensors arranged on a plane and spaced by a predetermined distance from each other, light emitting elements arranged in one of the sensors for emitting light to an object through an imaging lens of the one sensor, a photo-sensor arranged on the other sensor for sensing the light reflected by the object through an imaging lens of the other sensor and determining a convergence position of the object based on an incident position of the sensed light, a changing device for changing a convergence angle between the two sensor on the focusing plane by relatively changing the direction of the other sensor, and a controller for controlling the changing device to change the direction of the other sensor toward the convergence position of the object.

Abstract: This specification discloses a distance measuring apparatus and method in which two-dimensionally arranged light-receiving elements are used as illumination distribution measuring means, the correlation between the illumination distributions of the images of an object on the set of certain portions of the respective measuring means is taken to thereby calculate the distance to the object present in a certain direction corresponding to the set, and the calculations are effected with respect to a plurality of sets portions of the respective measuring means to thereby calculate the distances to objects present in a plurality of directions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for measuring the distance to an object, using an apparatus having two optical systems which have optical axes parallel with each other, and detecting means on which images are respectively formed by the two optical systems, comprising the steps of:(a) obtaining correlation between illumination distributions of object images formed on the two detecting means;(b) changing the positional relationships between the respective optical systems and detecting means on the basis of the correlation obtained in the step (a);(c) obtaining positional relationship between the two optical systems and the two detecting means when a desired correlation is obtained in steps (a) and (b); and(d) obtaining the distance between an object and said apparatus on the basis of the desired positional relationship obtained in the step (c).

Abstract: An actuating device comprises a three-dimensionally movable member, a support member for supporting the movable member and an induction unit for imparting an induction force to at least one of the movable member and the support member to three-dimensionally move the movable member relative to the support member.

Abstract: A working apparatus comprises a plurality of rollers and a control unit for controlling rotation or movement of the rollers. The control unit controls the rollers such that at least one of the rollers is located on the opposite side of the other rollers with respect to a sheet.

Abstract: A visual field searching device is arranged to divide the visual field to be searched into a plurality of intermediate fields each of which is larger than a constituent unit field; to select, for each of the intermediate fields, a typical or representative object distance data from among object distance data obtained for individual constituent unit fields included in each intermediate field; further, for each intermediate field, to discriminate whether the representative distance data thus selected is in a predetermined relation to other object distance data; and after that, to perform a signal processing operation to obtain necessary information by processing only the number of data representing the intermediate fields instead of processing all the data for all the constituent unit fields.

Abstract: In the exposure control system disclosed, a first photoelectric element responds to light from a scene to be photographed. A second photoelectric element is a spot sensor set to respond from a portion of the scene to be photographed. An exposure control circuit which is coupled to the first and second photoelectric elements controls the shutter and aperture on the basis of at least the relationship between the responses of the first and second photoelectric elements.

Abstract: A camera of the type in which the shutter actuator is operated by means of an electromagnet or a permanent magnet associated with a solenoid has a film winding mechanism and a shutter tensioning mechanism operatively connected with each other through an improved interconnecting mechanism which includes a cam arrangement and a switching arrangement for the electromagnet or the solenoid. The cam arrangement is constructed as having complementary camming surfaces to facilitate the minimization of dimensions of the interconnecting mechanism. During the film winding or shutter tensioning operation, the electromagnet or the solenoid is rendered inoperative or operative respectively by the switching arrangement to thereby reduce the torque of a single operating member for the film winding and shutter tensioning mechanisms.

Abstract: In the exposure control system disclosed, a first photoelectric element responds to light from a scene to be photographed. A second photoelectric element is a spot sensor set to respond from a portion of the scene to be photographed. An exposure control circuit which is coupled to the first and second photoelectric elements controls the shutter and aperture on the basis of at least the relationship between the responses of the first and second photoelectric elements.