Abstract: A three-dimensional distance measurement device includes a light emitting unit that irradiates a subject with light; a light receiving unit that detects reflected light from the subject; a distance calculation unit that calculates a three-dimensional distance to the subject on the basis of a transmission time of the detected reflected light; an image processing unit that generates a distance image of the subject on the basis of the calculated distance data; and a distance mode selection processing unit that selects a predetermined distance mode from a plurality of distance modes having different measurable distance ranges and sets a driving condition of the light emitting unit. By selecting a first distance mode in a first frame and selecting a second distance mode in a second frame, and by combining the distance data acquired in the respective frames, three-dimensional distance data of a frame to be output is generated.

Abstract: A distance measurement system according to the invention includes a processor, a distance measurement device, and a heat detection device. In the distance measurement system, the distance measurement device can measure a distance to a subject and can generate a distance image related to the subject whose distance has been measured. The heat detection device can measure the temperature of the subject and can generate a temperature image related to the subject whose temperature has been measured. The processor can associate the distance image and the temperature image acquired from the same point of view and determine whether or not the subject is an object on the basis of a distance value and a temperature value at the same position in the images.

Abstract: A distance measurement system includes a distance measurement device and an external processing device. Here, the distance measurement device receives reflected light from a subject for a plurality of exposure periods in a frame in which irradiation light is emitted, switches a plurality of distance calculation expressions according to an amount of charge measured for each exposure period, and calculates a measured distance to the subject from the amount of charge measured for each exposure period. The external processing device acquires the measured distance from the distance measurement device and performs data processing. Then, the external processing device predicts a measured distance including a distance error caused by an influence of multipath. The external processing device generates a correction expression for correcting the measured distance. The external processing device corrects the measured distance acquired from the distance measurement device using the correction expression.

Abstract: The distance measurement system is a system for measuring a distance to a target by a time of flight of light using a plurality of distance measurement image pickup apparatuses. The plurality of distance measurement image pickup apparatuses may emit pulsed light rays at a plurality of different pulse widths. Further, intervals of pulsed light rays from the plurality of distance measurement image pickup apparatuses are set to be proportional to pulse widths in the respective distance measurement image pickup apparatuses. Further, the respective distance measurement image pickup apparatuses emit pulsed light rays at intervals of the pulsed light rays corresponding to pulse widths and the intervals of the pulsed light rays different from each other.

Abstract: The distance measurement system is a system for measuring a distance to a target by a time of flight of light using a plurality of distance measurement image pickup apparatuses. The plurality of distance measurement image pickup apparatuses emits pulsed light at different intervals having a relatively prime relationship. Further, an interval of pulsed light rays is set based on any one of (1) a value obtained by raising a prime number to a power of a natural number of 2 or more used as an exponent, (2) a value obtained by multiplying a prime number by a natural number of 2 or more used as an integer, and (3) a value obtained by multiplying the value obtained by raising the prime number to the power by a natural number of 2 or more used as an integer.

Abstract: A power transmission and reception system device includes: a first device including an outer surface on which a first image is represented; and a second device including an outer surface on which a second image is represented, the second device being placed on the first device. One of the first device and the second device is a power transmission device including a power transmission unit, and the other is a power reception device including a power reception unit. In a case where the power transmission device and the power reception device are positioned such that the first image and the second image are aligned, power can be fed such that a received voltage is greater than or equal to a predetermined value at the time of transmitting power to the power reception unit from the power transmission unit.

Abstract: A distance measuring device includes: a light emitting unit that irradiates a subject; a light receiving unit that receives reflected light; a distance calculating unit that calculates a distance to the subject; a luminance calculating unit that calculates a luminance of the subject; an image processing unit that generates a distance image and a luminance image of the subject; a screen luminance calculating unit that calculates a screen luminance value from the luminance image; and a light source light emission determining unit that determines whether a light emission state of the light source is normal or abnormal. The light source light emission determining unit acquires a screen luminance value at the time of turning on the light source in a first frame, a screen luminance value at the time of turning off the light source in a second frame, and compares the screen luminance values of each of the frames.

Abstract: A three-dimensional distance measurement device includes a light emitting unit that irradiates a subject with light; a light receiving unit that detects reflected light from the subject; a distance calculation unit that calculates a three-dimensional distance to the subject on the basis of a transmission time of the detected reflected light; an image processing unit that generates a distance image of the subject on the basis of the calculated distance data; and a distance mode selection processing unit that selects a predetermined distance mode from a plurality of distance modes having different measurable distance ranges and sets a driving condition of the light emitting unit. By selecting a first distance mode in a first frame and selecting a second distance mode in a second frame, and by combining the distance data acquired in the respective frames, three-dimensional distance data of a frame to be output is generated.

Abstract: A distance measurement apparatus 1 includes a light emitting unit 11 that irradiates a subject with a light-source light from a light source, a light receiving unit 12 that receives a reflected light from the subject, a distance calculation unit 13 that calculates a distance to the subject based on a time difference from the irradiation of the light-source light to the reception of the reflected light; and an image processing unit 20 that generates a distance image of the subject based on the calculated distance. Further, the apparatus includes a first rotation mechanism 14 that adjusts an irradiation angle of the light emitting unit and a second rotation mechanism 15 that adjusts a light receiving angle of the light receiving unit, in which the angles of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit may be adjusted independently of each other.

Abstract: A three-dimensional distance measurement apparatus include: a plurality of light sources 11 that irradiate light onto the subject; a light emission control unit 12 that controls light emission from a plurality of light sources; a light-receiving unit 13 that detects reflection light from the subject; a distance-calculating unit 14 that calculates a distance to the subject on the basis of a transmission time of reflection light; and an image processing unit 15 that creates a distance image of the subject on the basis of calculated distance data. The plurality of irradiation areas 3 onto which light from the light sources are irradiated are arranged to partially overlap only with the neighboring ones. The light emission control unit 12 individually turns on or off the light sources 11 or individually adjusts the emitted light amounts.

Abstract: A three-dimensional distance measurement apparatus include: a plurality of light sources 11 that irradiate light onto the subject; a light emission control unit 12 that controls light emission from a plurality of light sources; a light-receiving unit 13 that detects reflection light from the subject; a distance-calculating unit 14 that calculates a distance to the subject on the basis of a transmission time of reflection light; and an image processing unit 15 that creates a distance image of the subject on the basis of calculated distance data. The plurality of irradiation areas 3 onto which light from the light sources are irradiated are arranged to partially overlap only with the neighboring ones. The light emission control unit 12 individually turns on or off the light sources 11 or individually adjusts the emitted light amounts.

Abstract: A distance measurement apparatus 1 includes a light emitting unit 11 that irradiates a subject with a light-source light from a light source, a light receiving unit 12 that receives a reflected light from the subject, a distance calculation unit 13 that calculates a distance to the subject based on a time difference from the irradiation of the light-source light to the reception of the reflected light; and an image processing unit 20 that generates a distance image of the subject based on the calculated distance. Further, the apparatus includes a first rotation mechanism 14 that adjusts an irradiation angle of the light emitting unit and a second rotation mechanism 15 that adjusts a light receiving angle of the light receiving unit, in which the angles of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit may be adjusted independently of each other.

Abstract: For use with a multi-layer optical disc, an optical pickup can eliminate a problem of causing a focus error signal and a tracking error signal to fluctuate due to interference of a signal light beam with a return light beam from another recording surface of a multi-layer optical disc during reproduction with an optical pickup that produces a tracking error signal and a focus error signal from a difference signal based on polarized reflected light.

Abstract: An optical pickup free from tracking error signal variation when playing back a double-layered disc, and coping with incompatible optical discs, such as BDs and HD DVDs, includes a laser light source, a first polarization rotation element for rotating a polarization direction of an optical beam from the source, an optical branching element disposed in a position after the polarization rotation element to reflect or transmit an optical beam according to polarization of the beam, first and second object lenses for focusing the reflected and transmitted optical beams onto first and second optical discs, respectively, a photodetector for sensing reflected light from the first and second optical discs, and a second polarization rotation element disposed after reflection or transmission of the reflected light from the first and second optical discs conducted by the branching element, to rotate a polarization direction of the reflected light.

Abstract: Provided are an optical pick up and an optical component used for the optical pickup which are capable of preventing or restraining occurrence of deviation and unbalance which are caused by assembly errors during manufacturing of optical components, a temperature variation or the like. The optical pickup comprises a laser, a polarization changeover element for changing over a direction of polarization of an optical beam emitted from the laser, a beam splitting element for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of optical paths in accordance with a direction of a polarization, a plurality of objective lenses for focusing laser beams onto a recording layer of the optical disc, a rise-up mirror, and a plurality of coupling lenses arranged respectively intermediate of the plurality of optical paths led to the plurality of objective lenses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photodetector capable of generating highly accurate tracking and focusing error signals free of variations in light quantity caused by interference, in an optical pickup with a two-wavelength multilaser. The photodetector comprises first three light receiving areas arranged linearly to receive three light beams respectively resulting from splitting of a light beam emitted from a laser light source of a first wavelength and second three light receiving areas arranged linearly to receive three light beams respectively resulting from splitting of a light beam emitted from a laser light source of a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength. The distance between both-end light receiving areas out of the first three light receiving areas is longer than the distance between both-end light receiving areas out of the second three light receiving areas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photodetector capable of generating highly accurate tracking and focusing error signals free of variations in light quantity caused by interference, in an optical pickup with a two-wavelength multilaser. The photodetector comprises first three light receiving areas arranged linearly to receive three light beams respectively resulting from splitting of a light beam emitted from a laser light source of a first wavelength and second three light receiving areas arranged linearly to receive three light beams respectively resulting from splitting of a light beam emitted from a laser light source of a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength. The distance between both-end light receiving areas out of the first three light receiving areas is longer than the distance between both-end light receiving areas out of the second three light receiving areas.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed including an optical pickup having a wavefront aberration-correcting element capable of correcting coma aberration and astigmatism, and an optical disc apparatus which uses the optical pickup. The optical pickup includes a laser light source for irradiating an optical disc with a light beam; an objective lens for focusing the light beam on the optical disc; a lens for correcting astigmatism; a second lens for correcting coma aberration; and a photodetector for receiving the light beam reflected from the optical disc. The astigmatism and the coma aberration are corrected independently of each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photodetector capable of generating highly accurate tracking and focusing error signals free of variations in light quantity caused by interference, in an optical pickup with a two-wavelength multilaser. The photodetector comprises first three light receiving areas arranged linearly to receive three light beams respectively resulting from splitting of a light beam emitted from a laser light source of a first wavelength and second three light receiving areas arranged linearly to receive three light beams respectively resulting from splitting of a light beam emitted from a laser light source of a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength. The distance between both-end light receiving areas out of the first three light receiving areas is longer than the distance between both-end light receiving areas out of the second three light receiving areas.

Abstract: Provided are an optical pick up and an optical component used for the optical pickup which are capable of preventing or restraining occurrence of deviation and unbalance which are caused by assembly errors during manufacturing of optical components, a temperature variation or the like. The optical pickup comprises a laser, a polarization changeover element for changing over a direction of polarization of an optical beam emitted from the laser, a beam splitting element for splitting the laser beam into a plurality of optical paths in accordance with a direction of a polarization, a plurality of objective lenses for focusing laser beams onto a recording layer of the optical disc, a rise-up mirror, and a plurality of coupling lenses arranged respectively intermediate of the plurality of optical paths led to the plurality of objective lenses.