Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that provide both an image of a scene and depth information for the scene. An example system includes at least one time-of-flight (ToF) sensor and an imaging sensor. The ToF sensor and the imaging sensor are configured to receive light from a scene. The system also includes at least one light source and a controller that carries out operations. The operations include causing the at least one light source to illuminate at least a portion of the scene with illumination light according to an illumination schedule. The operations also include causing the at least one ToF sensor to provide information indicative of a depth map of the scene based on the illumination light. The operations additionally include causing the imaging sensor to provide information indicative of an image of the scene based on the illumination light.

Abstract: A distance measurement device according to the present disclosure includes: a laser irradiation unit that irradiates a measurement target with laser light; and a laser light receiving unit including a light receiving element that receives the laser light reflected by the measurement target on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Furthermore, the pitch of the unit pixels of the light receiving element varies with location in a light receiving pixel area. A mobile apparatus according to the present disclosure is equipped with a distance measurement device having the above configuration.

Abstract: A head-up display device for a transportation vehicle and a method, a device and a computer-readable recording medium with instructions for controlling a display of a head-up display device for a transportation vehicle. A road course ahead of the transportation vehicle is determined and the contents shown by the head-up display device are then displaced according to the road course that was determined.

Abstract: A derivation unit derives irradiation position pixel coordinates for specifying the position of a pixel corresponding to an irradiation position of directional light on the real space with respect to a subject, on the basis of the corresponding distance acquired by an acquisition unit, with respect to each of a plurality of second captured images included in a moving image acquired by the acquisition unit, and an execution unit executes a predetermined process as a process to be executed in a position specifiable state with respect to each of the plurality of second captured images, in a case of a position specifiable state where the position of the pixel which is specified by the irradiation position pixel coordinates derived by the derivation unit is the position of a pixel which is specifiable at positions corresponding to each other in the respective first and second captured images.

Abstract: Frames from an image stream or streams are processed by independently operating digital signal processors (DSPs), with only frame checking microprocessors operating in a lockstep mode. In one example, two DSP are operating on alternate frames. Each DSP processes the frames and produces prediction values for the next frame. The lockstep microprocessors develop their own next frame prediction. The lockstep processors compare issued frames and previously developed predicted frames for consistency. If the predictions are close enough, the issued frame passes the test. The lockstep processors then compare the issued frame to the preceding two frames for a similar consistency check. If the prior frames are also close enough, the issued frame is acceptable. In another example, hardware checkers are provided to compare the present frame with a larger number of prior frames. The hardware checkers provide comparison results to the lockstep processors to compare against allowable variation limits.

Abstract: The imaging apparatus 10 includes the lens 11, the image sensor 12 and the controller 14. A light receiving surface of the image sensor 12 is disposed on a focused position of an object by the lens 11, the object being located at a specific object distance. The controller 14 generates one or more second images from a first image obtained from the image sensor 12, the focus position of the second images being changed to an object distance different from a specific object distance, and determines the presence of foreign matters adhered to the surface on the object side of the lens, on the basis of the focused state of the second image.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: a capturer configured to obtain height information of a preceding vehicle; a sensor configured to obtain at least one of position information or speed information of the preceding vehicle and a leading vehicle; and a controller configured to determine a first distance between the preceding vehicle and a subject vehicle, to determine a second distance between the preceding vehicle and the leading vehicle, to determine an acceleration of the preceding vehicle based on a relative speed and a relative distance of the preceding vehicle and the leading vehicle, and to control at least one of braking or steering of the subject vehicle when the second distance is less than or equal to a collision prediction distance between the preceding vehicle and the leading vehicle and the acceleration of the preceding vehicle is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus including a first position calculation unit that calculates a three-dimensional position of a target on a first coordinate system from a stereo image captured by a stereo camera, a second position calculation unit that calculates a three-dimensional position of the target on a second coordinate system from a sensor signal of a sensor capable of obtaining position information of at least one of a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction and position information of a depth direction, a correspondence detection unit that detects a correspondence relationship between the target on the first coordinate system and the target on the second coordinate system, and a positional relationship information estimating unit that estimates positional relationship information of the first coordinate system and the second coordinate system on the basis of the detected correspondence relationship.

Abstract: A stereoscopic 3D imaging system includes multiple imaging sensors with adjustable optics. The adjustable optics are variable to alter the FOV of each of the multiple imaging sensors to improve angular resolution of the imaging system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for navigating a vehicle within an environment are provided. In one aspect, a method comprises: (a) selecting, with aid of a processor, a subset of a plurality of sensors to be used for navigating the vehicle within the environment based on one or more predetermined criteria, wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged on the vehicle such that each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to obtain sensor data from a different field of view; (b) processing, with aid of the processor, the sensor data from the selected sensor(s) so as to generate navigation information for navigating the vehicle within the environment; and (c) outputting, with aid of the processor, signals for controlling the vehicle based on the navigation information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for determining a distance between a vehicle and a computing device during a remote parking operation. An example method includes receiving, by a computing device, a 3D model of a vehicle and vehicle inertial data. The method also includes capturing an image of the vehicle. The method further includes determining a distance between the computing device and the vehicle based on the image and the 3D model, and updating the distance based on the vehicle inertial data.

Abstract: A system for detecting arcing between two electrical conductors includes an image capture arrangement including a plurality of image capture devices configured to be arranged in spaced relationship relative to one another and to a contact region between the electrical conductors so as to provide depth information. A processor is responsive to the image capture arrangement for computing a depth range of the contact region between the electrical conductors relative to a first image capture device of the image capture arrangement and determining if an arcing candidate appears within the computed depth range for the first image capture device of the image capture arrangement and at least one further image capture device of the image capture arrangement and, if it does, flagging the candidate as arcing at the contact region.

Abstract: A system includes a laser displacement sensor which is provided on a shoulder of a roadway, emits a laser beam which scans a roadway space in a height direction thereof, receives a beam reflected by an object which is present in the roadway space, and measures a distance up to a reflection point on the object, at which the laser beam was reflected; and a vehicle window detection device that detects a window of the vehicle based on the distance measured by the laser displacement sensor. The vehicle window detection device detects the window of the vehicle based on a change in a distance in a horizontal direction from the laser displacement sensor to the reflection point after the vehicle in the roadway space was detected.

Abstract: A system includes a laser displacement sensor which is provided on a shoulder of a roadway, emits a laser beam which scans a roadway space in a height direction thereof, receives a beam reflected by an object which is present in the roadway space, and measures a distance up to a reflection point on the object, at which the laser beam was reflected; and a vehicle window detection device that detects a window of the vehicle based on the distance measured by the laser displacement sensor. The vehicle window detection device detects the window of the vehicle based on a change in a distance in a horizontal direction from the laser displacement sensor to the reflection point after the vehicle in the roadway space was detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a depth, and a method and apparatus for training an distance estimator are provided, wherein the method for estimating a depth may include obtaining an image, and estimating a depth of a second image object based on a correlation between a first image object and the second image object in the image and a depth of the first image object.

Abstract: An information distribution device capable of distributing call attention information for calling attention to an event after confirming whether or not an event has occurred depending on circumstances is provided. A communication unit receives vehicle information, which relates to the behavior of a vehicle, and image information, which includes an image photographed by a vehicle has photographed, and distributes the call attention information for calling attention to an event, to a vehicle. A control unit determines whether or not to make a request to a vehicle for transmission of the image information, based on vehicle information or weather information, and makes a request to a vehicle for transmission of an image if it is determined to make a request for transmission of the image information.

Abstract: In order to be able to measure a distance with disparity resolution of a stereo camera or less and precisely measure a relative distance to a target even in the event of degradation of the imaging condition, a distance calculator includes a monocular distance calculation section 203, a stereo distance calculation section 204, a blurriness level calculation section 201, a distance estimation section 202, and an output distance calculation section 206. The monocular distance calculation section 203 calculates the distance to a target based on image information captured by a camera 101 or 102. The stereo distance calculation section 204 calculates the distance to the target based on image information captured by the two cameras 101 and 102. The blurriness level calculation section 201 calculates the blurriness level of the image information captured by the image information captured by the cameras 101 and 102.

Abstract: A non-retro-reflective imaging system and methods in which a relay optic is configured to segment a source image into a plurality of slices and reimage each of the slices individually onto a rotated image plane such that a substantially in-focus reconstruction of the entire image is obtained, while substantially eliminating retro-reflection from the system. According to one example a non-retro-reflective imaging system includes a segmented relay optic configured to reimage a source image onto an image plane tilted with respect to an optical axis of the system, and further configured to slice the image volume into a plurality of image slices and spatially position the plurality of image slices such that a depth of focus of each image slice overlaps the tilted image plane. The system further includes an image sensor co-aligned with the tilted image plane and configured to produce a reconstructed image from the plurality of image slices.

Abstract: A computer readable medium embodies a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a processing apparatus to perform operations including determining information corresponding to a number of differences in distances between ending points of journeys taken by a vehicle and starting points of consecutive journeys taken by the vehicle, and transmitting one or more representations of the information. Another computer readable medium tangibly includes instructions for, for each of a number of vehicles, receiving one or more scores corresponding to a vehicle, and determining a ranked list containing at least a portion of the scores, and outputting the ranked list. Another computer readable medium includes instructions for, for each of a number of vehicles, receiving information corresponding to a vehicle, using one or more metrics, calculating one or more values from the received information, and communicating one or more representations of the one or more value to one or more entities.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing obstacle information in an autonomous mobile vehicle and a method thereof, in which a target object is determined to be what obstacle by combining pieces of information received from a laser distance sensor and radars, thereby enabling the autonomous driving of a vehicle. The apparatus and method for providing obstacle information in an autonomous mobile vehicle, which is capable of providing robust obstacle information not only in environments normal times, but also dust environments by combining a laser distance sensor and radars. A problem that an obstacle through which a mobile unit can pass, such as dust, is mistaken for an obstacle through which the mobile unit cannot pass can be solved.

Abstract: Techniques for using small parallax angles in remote sensing to determine cloud feature height include exploiting two identical medium-resolution SWIR bands with parallax to estimate cloud edge feature heights well enough to enable assessments of the impacts of shadows and proximate cloud scattering on ground illumination, and hence, on reflectance calculations. The bands are intentionally designed to have a suitable parallax angle, in one embodiment approximately 1.5 degrees. With this parallax, one band will see more ground pixels than the other band as they encounter a leading edge of a cloud and the other band will see more ground pixels than the one band as they encounter the lagging edge of the cloud. From these numbers of pixels, the height of the leading and lagging edges of the cloud can be determined.

Abstract: An optical rangefinder having a photosensor adapted to transform the image projected thereon into an electronic image, an imaging system for projecting an image of an object on the photosensor, an optical arrangement to modulate the incoming light forming the image on the photosensor, means for providing the spatial spectrum of the image and means for deriving the distance from the object to the rangefinder on the degree of defocus of the image, wherein the optical arrangement is adapted to modulate the incoming light such that the degree of defocus of the image on the photosensor relative to the in-focus image plane results in displacement of the spatial spectrum of the image relative to a reference pattern and wherein the rangefinder has means for deriving the degree of defocus from the degree of displacement.

Abstract: A method and system for 3D surface mapping system using a plurality of image sensors, each image sensor associated with an optical flow processor, each image sensor sharing a substantially coaxial optical path from the scene to a beam splitter and having substantially non-coaxial optical paths between the beam splitter and the image sensor such that the optical magnification of each optical path varies differently with the distance between the system and the surface of interest. The ratio of detected optical flows combined with the parameters of the two optical paths and the baseline between the image sensors is used to compute the Z-distance from the optical center of the image sensors to the surface.

Abstract: Techniques for using small parallax angles in remote sensing to determine cloud feature height include exploiting two identical medium-resolution SWIR bands with parallax to estimate cloud edge feature heights well enough to enable assessments of the impacts of shadows and proximate cloud scattering on ground illumination, and hence, on reflectance calculations. The bands are intentionally designed to have a suitable parallax angle, in one embodiment approximately 1.5 degrees. With this parallax, one band will see more ground pixels than the other band as they encounter a leading edge of a cloud and the other band will see more ground pixels than the one band as they encounter the lagging edge of the cloud. From these numbers of pixels, the height of the leading and lagging edges of the cloud can be determined.

Abstract: Provided is a distance measuring apparatus and a distance measuring method enabling measurement of, based on an image, a relative distance from an object even during nighttime. Included are imaging means for taking an image in a traveling direction of an own-vehicle as a taken image; specifying means for respectively specifying combinations of positions, in the taken image, of direct light which is imaged in the taken image and of a reflected light which is a reflection of the direct light on a travel path surface; and measuring means for measuring a relative distance from an object based on the combinations of the positions of the direct light and the positions of the reflected light, which are specified by the specifying means.

Abstract: A position estimation system comprising a plurality of ‘shaped for depth sensing’ lenses comprising a lens profile directly based on distance estimation propagation of errors; a plurality of light sensing devices associated with the plurality of ‘shaped for depth sensing’ lenses; and a position estimator for estimating a position of at least a first object with respect to a second object based on the plurality of ‘shaped for depth sensing’ lenses and the plurality of light sensing devices.

Abstract: A display apparatus is provided which, when projecting a video onto a curved surface of an object for display, can realize an undistorted display of the video. The measuring means outputs the distance information representing the distance to the object. Based on the distance information produced by the measuring means, the curved surface contour is detected with high precision. According to at least the detected curved surface contour distortions, pixels of the display image are unevenly rearranged to correct the video information before it is output. This arrangement realizes an undistorted display of video when the video is projected onto the curved surface of the object.

Abstract: A method and system for 3D surface mapping system using a plurality of image sensors, each image sensor associated with an optical flow processor, each image sensor sharing a substantially coaxial optical path from the scene to a beam splitter and having substantially non-coaxial optical paths between the beam splitter and the image sensor such that the optical magnification of each optical path varies differently with the distance between the system and the surface of interest. The ratio of detected optical flows combined with the parameters of the two optical paths and the baseline between the image sensors is used to compute the Z-distance from the optical center of the image sensors to the surface.

Abstract: A system for optical navigation includes a light source and an imaging system. The light source illuminates a navigation surface. The navigation surface reflects light from the light source. The imaging system is located approximately within a path of the reflected light. The imaging system includes a lens, a mask, and an image sensor. The lens receives reflected light from the navigation surface. The lens focuses a specular portion of the reflected light to a focus region. The mask is located at approximately the focus region. The mask filters out substantially all of the specular portion of the reflected light and passes at least some of a scatter portion of the reflected light outside of the focus region. The image sensor generates a navigation signal based on the scattered portion of the light that passes outside the focus region and is incident on the image sensor.

Abstract: A stereo-image processing apparatus includes a stereo-image taking means configured to take a plurality of images from different viewpoints, a parallax detecting means configured to detect a parallax of a subject on the basis of the images taken by the stereo-image taking means, an object detecting means configured to detect objects on the basis of the parallax detected by the parallax detecting means and a parallax offset value, and a parallax-offset-value correcting means configured to correct the parallax offset value on the basis of a change in a parallax corresponding to an object whose size in real space does not change with time, of the objects detected by the object detecting means, and a change in an apparent size of the object.

Abstract: The distance measurement and photometry device includes: a case having an opening in its front surface; a rectangular lens array which is located on a front surface side of the case, which is made of a transparent resin material, and in which first and second distance measurement lenses and a photometry lens located between the distance measurement lenses are integrally formed in line; an image sensor board which is shaped like a thin plate, which is arranged on a back surface side of the case, and which is located opposed to the lens array; and two-dimensional distance measurement image sensors and photometry image sensor which are arranged on the image sensor board.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a sensor and apparatus for vehicle height and slant measurement which can include a light source, and two cameras with respective lenses. The light source can be configured to emit light towards a road, and both cameras can be configured to receive the image of the road that is illuminated by the light from the light source and to thereby create image data. The apparatus can include a control circuit that can geometrically measure a vehicle height in accordance with the image data. The sensor can also receive image data from different points and from two light sources, and the apparatus can detect a vehicular lean using the different vehicle heights. Thus, because the sensors of the disclosed subject matter do not necessarily include a moving part as in the conventional sensor, the sensors can be easily attached to a vehicle body and can also be used for a vehicular lean detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser processing method and the like having a structure for making it possible to process an object to be processed in various ways while accurately adjusting the installation state of the object. The method irradiates the object with plural adjustment laser light beams that are set in a specific positional relationship against a converging point of processing laser light beam, and adjusts the state of installation of the object while monitoring irradiation areas of the adjustment laser light beams on the surface of the object. Each irradiation directions of adjustment laser light beams is different from that of the processing laser light beam. By reflecting the irradiation condition of the adjustment laser light beam and monitored information of the irradiation areas in positional adjustment of the object, the installation state of the object can be adjusted in accordance with various kinds of processing.

Abstract: A position estimation system comprising a plurality of ‘shaped for depth sensing’ lenses comprising a lens profile directly based on distance estimation propagation of errors; a plurality of light sensing devices associated with the plurality of ‘shaped for depth sensing’ lenses; and a position estimator for estimating a position of at least a first object with respect to a second object based on the plurality of ‘shaped for depth sensing’ lenses and the plurality of light sensing devices.

Abstract: A distance measurement and photometry device includes a pair of distance measurement sensors each of which is a two-dimensional image sensor, a photometry sensor, which includes a two-dimensional image sensor, a pair of distance measurement lenses arranged to correspond to the pair of distance measurement sensors, a photometry lens arranged to correspond to the photometry sensor, a photometry process unit that calculates a brightness value of a subject, an exposure state setting unit that sets an exposure state correspond to at least the pair of distance measurement sensors, a distance measurement unit that measures a distance to the subject, wherein the exposure state setting unit alternates an exposure state of at least the pair of distance measurement sensors corresponding to a result of the photometry process unit.

Abstract: A distance measurement device having better measurement accuracy than conventional distance measurement devices. A stereo camera (1) has a camera stay (4) to be secured to a housing (12) of a vehicle and also has a pair of cameras (2, 3) mounted on the camera stay (4). The camera stay (4) has an installation section (4a) located between the pair of cameras (2, 3) and to be mounted on the housing of the vehicle via fixation sections (6, 7, 8). The installation section (4a) is movable in the direction of a base line interconnecting the cameras (2, 3).

Abstract: An object recognition apparatus that processes images, as acquired by an imaging means (10) mounted on a moving object, in a first image plane and a second image plane of different points of view, and recognizes an object in the vicinity of the moving object. The object recognition apparatus comprises: a feature point detection means (42) that detects feature points in first and second image planes of an object image; a fundamental matrix determination means (43a) that determines, based on calculation of an epipole through the auto-epipolar property, a fundamental matrix that expresses a geometrically corresponding relationship based on translational camera movement, with not less than two pairs of feature points corresponding between the first and second image planes; and a three-dimensional position calculation means (43b) that calculates a three-dimensional position of an object based on the coordinates of the object in the first and second image planes and the determined fundamental matrix.

Abstract: The distance measurement and photometry device includes: a case having an opening in its front surface; a rectangular lens array which is located on a front surface side of the case, which is made of a transparent resin material, and in which first and second distance measurement lenses and a photometry lens located between the distance measurement lenses are integrally formed in line; an image sensor board which is shaped like a thin plate, which is arranged on a back surface side of the case, and which is located opposed to the lens array; and two-dimensional distance measurement image sensors and photometry image sensor which are arranged on the image sensor board.

Abstract: A geographic data collecting system, comprising a distance measuring unit for projecting a distance measuring light and for measuring a distance to an object to be measured, a camera for taking an image in measuring direction, a display unit for displaying the pickup image, a touch panel provided to correspond to a screen position of the display unit, a tilt sensor for detecting a tilting of the measuring direction, and an arithmetic unit for calculating a distance to the object to be measured by giving consideration on the tilting in the measuring direction and a point-to-point distance as specified on the image by specifying two or more points of the object to be measured on a displayed image via the touch panel.

Abstract: A geographic data collecting system, comprising a distance measuring unit for projecting a distance measuring light and for measuring a distance to an object to be measured, a camera for taking an image in measuring direction, a display unit for displaying the pickup image, a touch panel provided to correspond to a screen position of the display unit, a tilt sensor for detecting a tilting of the measuring direction, and an arithmetic unit for calculating a distance to the object to be measured by giving consideration on the tilting in the measuring direction and a point-to-point distance as specified on the image by specifying two or more points of the object to be measured on a displayed image via the touch panel.

Abstract: A rangefinder includes: a lens system (3) including multiple lenses (3a, 3b) arranged so that their optical axes are parallel to each other and integrated together; an imager (4) having image capturing areas (4a, 4b) that face the lenses (3a, 3b) and transforming light incident on the image capturing areas into an electrical signal; a transparent plate (6) arranged between the imager and the lens system and having substantially the same thermal expansion coefficient as the lenses (3a, 3b); markers (11a, 11b) provided on the transparent plate for the lenses (3a, 3b) and each casting its shadow on an associated image capturing area (4a, 4b); a signal receiving section (21) receiving the electrical signal from the imager; and an image processing section (22) correcting the positions of the optical axes of the lenses by reference to information about the locations of the markers (11a, 11b) on the respective images, thereby determining the distance to an object by performing a triangulation based on the corrected

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for identifying the covert foci of attention of a person when viewing an image or series of images. The method includes the steps of presenting the person with an image having a plurality of visual elements, measuring eye movements of the subject with respect to those images, and based upon the measured eye movements triangulating and determining the level of covert attentional interest that the person has in the various visual elements.

Abstract: A range finder system (100) includes a point light source (10), image pickup devices (20), (30), and a processing device (50). The point light source (10) emits light. The image pickup devices (20), (30) include lenses (22), (32) and sensors (24), (34), respectively. The lenses have focal lengths F1, F2 and the sensors (24), (34) have light-received units. The processing device (50) is electrically coupled to the image pickup devices (20), (30). The processing device (50) calculates distance D1, D2 from locations of images of the point light source (10) on the light-received units to centers of the sensors (24), (34), respectively. A distance X from the point light source (10) to the first lens (22) and the second lens (32) is determined based on the ratio of D1 to F1 and the ratio of D2 to F2.

Abstract: Optical tracking systems, method, and devices are described in which optical components detect light within a substantially planar region adjacent to a user device. Tracking logic may receive signals output by the optical components and determine coordinates associated with a movement of a pointing object through the substantially planar region. The tracking logic may then provide for translation of the coordinates into an action on a display, such as, for example, a movement of a cursor or other icon on the display.

Abstract: Apparatus for information input to a computing device including imaging sensors arranged to simultaneously view an input region and enhanced triangulation signal processing circuitry receiving signal outputs from two of the imaging sensors, which signal outputs contain information indicating an angular position of an object relative to each of the two imaging sensors and information representing angles respectively subtended by the object with respect to each of the two imaging sensors, useful for indicating a relationship between the angles respectively subtended by the object with respect to each of the two imaging sensors, the enhanced triangulation signal processing circuitry providing an object location output based not only on the information indicating an angular position of the object but also on the relationship between the angles respectively subtended by the object.

Abstract: This stereo camera system is constituted of a stereo optical module which acquires a stereo image, a central control unit which evaluates an object as a target based on the stereo image acquired by the stereo optical module, and a communication line through which stereo image data output from the stereo optical module is input to the central control unit. Further, in this stereo camera system, an image output processing circuit which performs predetermined image processing with respect to the stereo image acquired by the stereo optical module is provided in the stereo optical module, whereby this image output processing circuit performs a correction arithmetic operation which corrects unbalance at the time of capturing the stereo image.

Abstract: A range finder includes an optical sensor circuit including optical sensors and an integrator circuit disposed for the optical sensors. It further includes selection switches (MOSFETs), which selectively connect optical sensors to the integrator circuit, non-selection switches (MOSFETs), and a biasing voltage circuit or other photoelectron removing device. The non-selection switches (MOSFETS) are switched on to connect the unselected optical sensors to the biasing voltage circuit so that the photoelectron current (photoelectrons) generated in the unselected optical sensors can flow to the biasing voltage circuit but not to the integrator circuit. The range finder can reduce the noises in the unselected optical sensors and measure the object distance accurately.

Abstract: An intrusion detection system comprises a pair of optical lenses arranged a predetermined distance apart and having overlapping fields of view within an area to be monitored to form a common field of view; at least one light-sensitive device responsive to light from each of the optical lenses; a range detector responsive to signals from the light-sensitive device and operable to determine a range to an object within the common field of view; and a range discriminator for setting at least one range gate to sense objects within the common field of view at predetermined ranges and for ignoring objects outside of the predetermined ranges.

Abstract: In a distance measurement and photometry sensor device in which sensors are arranged on the same plane to be formed in the form of a semiconductor chip, a photometry sensor is arranged such that its sensor center is deviated by a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to a base length direction in which sensor centers of a pair of first and second line sensors are connected with each other.

Abstract: In a rangefinder, if sensor data initially received by a sensor data storage part from an A/D converter includes data with low contrast, the sensor data storage part receives the sensor data at least one additional time, adds additionally received sensor data to the initially received sensor data, and stores their sum. In accordance with the sum of sensor data stored in the sensor data storage part, a correlation calculation and a rangefinding calculation are carried out, which enables rangefinding with respect to an object having low contrast; Also, the time required for A/D-converting the sensor data again and adding the resulting data to those initially obtained is much shorter than the integration time required for integrating output signals of a pair of line sensors a second time for a region with low luminance and low contrast.