Abstract: In a target object detection apparatus, an LD module projects laser light onto a predetermined range, and a PD module receives the reflected light from a target object, and outputs a light reception signal. Based on the light reception signal, an object detector detects presence or absence of the target object and a distance from the target object detection apparatus to the target object, and a dirt detector detects presence or absence of dirt on an optical window. The dirt detector detects, based on the light reception signal, dirt levels in units of segments in a detection field-of-view of the target object detection apparatus, and also detects a density and an extent of the dirt, based on the dirt levels. A controller causes an interface to notify a vehicle-side ECU of the result of detection as to the dirt.

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 object detection device includes: a projection unit; a light receiving unit; an object detection unit; a distance measurement unit; and a region setting unit that sets a short distance detection region and a long distance detection region. The object detection unit detects a change state of a path based on a result of measurement performed by the distance measurement unit. The region setting unit sets the short distance detection region and the long distance detection region based on the change state of the path detected by the object detection unit. A projection distance of the measurement light is longer, a spread angle of the measurement light is smaller, and a detection sensitivity of the target object is higher in the long distance detection region than those in the short distance detection region.

Abstract: A scanning-type distance measuring apparatus includes: a light projector projecting laser beams at predetermined intervals; a light receiver including light receiving elements, receiving a reflected beam of a laser beam that the light projector projects, and outputting a light reception intensity signal of the reflected beam; a scanning operation unit projecting a laser beam projected by the light projector to perform scanning; an integrator integrating, for each light receiving element, time-series light reception intensity signals output by the light receiver when the light receiver receives reflected beams corresponding to the laser beams projected at the predetermined intervals; and a distance calculator calculating a distance to an object for each light receiving element, based on integration that the integrator performs.

Abstract: An object detection device includes: a light emitter; a light receiver; a rotating scanner having a mirror and reflecting light from the light emitter off the mirror by rotating the mirror to scan the reflected light over a predetermined range, and reflecting light reflected off a target off the mirror to guide the reflected light to the light receiver; an object detector detecting whether there is a target, based on a light reception signal; a light guider guiding light from the light emitter to the light receiver; and a failure detector detecting whether there is a failure, based on a light emission state of the light emitter and a light reception state by the light receiver. The light guider receives light emitted from the light emitter and reflected off the mirror, and reflects the light off the mirror to guide the reflected light to the light receiver.

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.