Abstract: Scanning density of laser scanning is increased at low cost. A laser scanning apparatus includes a horizontal rotation unit and a controller. The horizontal rotation unit determines an area of laser scanning. The controller controls rotation of the horizontal rotation unit. The horizontal rotation unit is rotated while the laser scanning is performed, whereby scanning using laser scanning light is performed in a vertical angle direction at a predetermined interval. The controller makes the horizontal rotation unit repeatedly rotate multiple times in angular ranges that partially overlap one another, in order to perform the laser scanning multiple times on areas of the laser scanning that overlap one another. Start positions of the rotation of multiple times of the horizontal rotation unit are successively shifted by a predetermined amount. The predetermined amount of shifting corresponds to a distance shorter than the predetermined interval.

Abstract: Scanning density of laser scanning is increased at low cost. A laser scanning apparatus includes a vertical rotation unit and a controller. The vertical rotation unit emits pulses of laser scanning light. The controller controls emission of pulses of the laser scanning light. Assuming that a symbol “n” is a natural number of one or more, the controller controls so that a position in a rotation direction of emission of pulses of the laser scanning light for (n+1)th rotation of the vertical rotation unit will be different from that for nth rotation of the vertical rotation unit.

Abstract: Provided is a distance measuring device which allows the measurement accuracy to be improved while the memory size is reduced. A distance measuring device includes a light emitting element which emits range-finding light as pulse light, a light receiving element which receives reflected range-finding light obtained as the range-finding light is reflected on a measurement object, an AD converter which converts the light reception signal output from the light receiving element from an analogue signal to a digital signal, multiple memories which have different memory sizes from each other and store sampled data output from the AD converter, and a rough distance calculator which calculates a distance on the basis of the sampled data stored in the multiple memories.

Abstract: Provided is a distance measuring device which allows the measurement accuracy to be improved while the memory size is reduced. A distance measuring device includes a light emitting element which emits range-finding light as pulse light, a light receiving element which receives reflected range-finding light obtained as the range-finding light is reflected on a measurement object, an AD converter which converts the light reception signal output from the light receiving element from an analogue signal to a digital signal, multiple memories which have different memory sizes from each other and store sampled data output from the AD converter, and a rough distance calculator which calculates a distance on the basis of the sampled data stored in the multiple memories.

Abstract: A distance calculating unit includes a first filter that receives a detection signal of reference pulsed light, a second filter that receives a detection signal of measuring pulsed light, an adder circuit that adds the outputs from the two filters together, an A/D converter that receives the output signal from the adder circuit, and a separated-signal calculating unit that analyzes the output from the A/D converter and that generates a first separated signal corresponding to a reference detection signal and a second separated signal corresponding to a measurement detection signal. The distance calculating unit further includes a conversion processing unit that converts the phase of at least one of the two separated signals into a phase of a predetermined frequency, and a distance calculating unit that calculates a distance to an object by using a phase difference between the two separated signals in the predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A distance calculating unit includes a first filter for a detection signal of reference pulsed light, a second filter for measuring pulsed light, an adder circuit that adds outputs from the two filters together, an A/D converter that receives output from the adder circuit, a separated-signal calculating unit that analyzes output from the A/D converter and that generates a first separated signal and a second separated signal, a conversion processing unit that converts the phase of at least one of the two separated signals into a phase of a predetermined frequency, and a distance calculating unit that calculates a distance to an object by using a phase difference between the two separated signals and a correction parameter, which is obtained by making the reference pulsed light pass through the first filter and the second filter at the same time and by calculating a phase difference between outputs from these filters.

Abstract: Provided is a technology for suppressing variations in the waveform of a light emission pulse caused by various factors in a light-emitting device. A light-emitting device is provided with: a light source 101 in which relaxation oscillation occurs immediately after energization; a light source drive circuit 104 which includes a differentiation circuit 102 having a resistor and a capacitor connected in parallel, and in which a switching element 103 for voltage application is connected in series with the differentiation circuit; a power supply circuit 105; a light-reception element 107 which detects pulsed light emitted from the light source 101; and a voltage control unit 109 which controls an output voltage from the power supply circuit 105 in correspondence with the waveform of the detected pulsed light.

Abstract: Light with a short pulse width is emitted using a simple structure. A light source 101, a differentiation circuit 102, and a switch 103 are connected in series. When the switch 103 is switched on, inrush current flows in a capacitor 102b forming the differentiation circuit 102, and accordingly the light source 101 is supplied with electric current and thereby emits light. When the capacitor 102b is charged, electric current flows in a resistor 102a, and voltage drops at the resistor 102a. Then, the voltage applied to the light source 101 is decreased, whereby the light source 101 stops emitting light. By using the inrush current at the capacitor 102b, light with a short pulse width can be generated.

Abstract: Provided is a technology for suppressing variations in the waveform of a light emission pulse caused by various factors in a light-emitting device. A light-emitting device is provided with: a light source 101 in which relaxation oscillation occurs immediately after energization; a light source drive circuit 104 which includes a differentiation circuit 102 having a resistor and a capacitor connected in parallel, and in which a switching element 103 for voltage application is connected in series with the differentiation circuit; a power supply circuit 105; a light-reception element 107 which detects pulsed light emitted from the light source 101; and a voltage control unit 109 which controls an output voltage from the power supply circuit 105 in correspondence with the waveform of the detected pulsed light.

Abstract: A distance calculating unit includes a first filter that receives a detection signal of reference pulsed light, a second filter that receives a detection signal of measuring pulsed light, an adder circuit that adds the outputs from the two filters together, an A/D converter that receives the output signal from the adder circuit, and a separated-signal calculating unit that analyzes the output from the A/D converter and that generates a first separated signal corresponding to a reference detection signal and a second separated signal corresponding to a measurement detection signal. The distance calculating unit further includes a conversion processing unit that converts the phase of at least one of the two separated signals into a phase of a predetermined frequency, and a distance calculating unit that calculates a distance to an object by using a phase difference between the two separated signals in the predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A distance calculating unit includes a first filter for a detection signal of reference pulsed light, a second filter for measuring pulsed light, an adder circuit that adds outputs from the two filters together, an A/D converter that receives output from the adder circuit, a separated-signal calculating unit that analyzes output from the A/D converter and that generates a first separated signal and a second separated signal, a conversion processing unit that converts the phase of at least one of the two separated signals into a phase of a predetermined frequency, and a distance calculating unit that calculates a distance to an object by using a phase difference between the two separated signals and a correction parameter, which is obtained by making the reference pulsed light pass through the first filter and the second filter at the same time and by calculating a phase difference between outputs from these filters.

Abstract: Light with a short pulse width is emitted using a simple structure. A light source 101, a differentiation circuit 102, and a switch 103 are connected in series. When the switch 103 is switched on, inrush current flows in a capacitor 102b forming the differentiation circuit 102, and accordingly the light source 101 is supplied with electric current and thereby emits light. When the capacitor 102b is charged, electric current flows in a resistor 102a, and voltage drops at the resistor 102a. Then, the voltage applied to the light source 101 is decreased, whereby the light source 101 stops emitting light. The values of the resistor 102a and the capacitor 102b are adjusted so that the above phenomenon occurs.

Abstract: Light with a short pulse width is emitted using a simple structure. A light source 101, a differentiation circuit 102, and a switch 103 are connected in series. When the switch 103 is switched on, inrush current flows in a capacitor 102b forming the differentiation circuit 102, and accordingly the light source 101 is supplied with electric current and thereby emits light. When the capacitor 102b is charged, electric current flows in a resistor 102a, and voltage drops at the resistor 102a. Then, the voltage applied to the light source 101 is decreased, whereby the light source 101 stops emitting light. By using the inrush current at the capacitor 102b, light with a short pulse width can be generated.

Abstract: Light with a short pulse width is emitted using a simple structure. A light source 101, a differentiation circuit 102, and a switch 103 are connected in series. When the switch 103 is switched on, inrush current flows in a capacitor 102b forming the differentiation circuit 102, and accordingly the light source 101 is supplied with electric current and thereby emits light. When the capacitor 102b is charged, electric current flows in a resistor 102a, and voltage drops at the resistor 102a. Then, the voltage applied to the light source 101 is decreased, whereby the light source 101 stops emitting light. The values of the resistor 102a and the capacitor 102b are adjusted so that the above phenomenon occurs.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus and method that enable high-precision and high-speed measurement by canceling variations of a delay circuit in the apparatus are provided. Pulsed light is branched into first and second reference light, and transmitted measurement light, and the difference in detection time among the first reference light along a first path with no optical variations, the second reference light along a second path with an optical delay, and received measurement light from an object to be measured is measured. The received measurement light and the first reference light are temporally separate, distance is calculated from the difference in detection time between the received measurement light and the first reference light.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus and a distance measuring method that enable high-precision and high-speed measurement by canceling variations of a delay circuit in the distance measuring apparatus are provided. In the apparatus and the method, light emitted by a light source section 10 in a pulsed manner is branched into first reference light r1, second reference light r2, and transmitted measurement light mt, and the difference in detection time among the first reference light r1 having propagated through a first reference light path R1 which causes substantially no optical variations, the second reference light r2 having propagated through a second reference light path in which an optical delay generating section 50 is inserted, and received measurement light mr returning from an object to be measured 160 as a result of radiating the transmitted measurement light to the object to be measured 160 is measured to measure the distance from the object to be measured 160.

Abstract: In measuring a certain time lag between generations of two pulse signals, a time lag measuring device prevents errors in measurement results even with an error in two reference signals for measuring the time lag. The device measures a time lag between a start signal M1 and a stop signal M2 and includes a reference signal generating section 41 generating two reference signals S1, S2 having a phase difference ?/2, and an amplitude detecting section 42 detects amplitudes A11, A12 and A21, A22 of the reference signals S1, S2 at generation timings for the start signal M1 and the stop signal M2, a phase difference detecting section 43 calculating a phase _ of the reference signals S according to each set of the amplitudes (A11, A12) and (A21, A22), and a correcting section 46 correcting the calculated phase using correction data for error correction in the reference signals S1, S2.

Abstract: In measuring a certain time lag between generations of two pulse signals, a time lag measuring device prevents errors in measurement results even with an error in two reference signals for measuring the time lag. The device measures a time lag between a start signal M1 and a stop signal M2 and includes a reference signal generating section 41 generating two reference signals S1, S2 having a phase difference ?/2, and an amplitude detecting section 42 detects amplitudes A11, A12 and A21, A22 of the reference signals S1, S2 at generation timings for the start signal M1 and the stop signal M2, a phase difference detecting section 43 calculating a phase _ of the reference signals S according to each set of the amplitudes (A11, A12) and (A21, A22), and a correcting section 46 correcting the calculated phase using correction data for error correction in the reference signals S1, S2.

Abstract: To provide a surveying instrument for measuring difference in required time of light or distance to an object to be measured while covering a wide dynamic range without adjusting light amount. A light pulse emanating from a light emitting section 1 is divided into a reference light cast to a reference light path F1 and a measurement light cast to a measurement light path F2 through which the measurement light travels to and is reflected back from the object to be measured. These two light beams are received with a light receiving section 9. With a multiplex reflection optical fiber Mp1 interposed in the middle of the measurement light path F2, the measurement light comes out as a row of multiplex light pulses attenuating successively in light amount at a constant rate. From this row of pulses, a measurement light of approximately the same in received light level as the reference light may be selected.

Abstract: In measuring a certain time lag between generations of two pulse signals, a time lag measuring device prevents errors in measurement results even with an error in two reference signals for measuring the time lag. The device measures a time lag between a start signal M1 and a stop signal M2 and includes a reference signal generating section 41 generating two reference signals S1, S2 having a phase difference ?/2, and an amplitude detecting section 42 detects amplitudes A11, A12 and A21, A22 of the reference signals S1, S2 at generation timings for the start signal M1 and the stop signal M2, a phase difference detecting section 43 calculating a phase _ of the reference signals S according to each set of the amplitudes (A11, A12) and (A21, A22), and a correcting section 46 correcting the calculated phase using correction data for error correction in the reference signals S1, S2.