Abstract: A distance measuring technology capable of stably and accurately performing distance measurement of an object without any highly accurate focus control mechanism is provided. A distance measuring apparatus has a mask for restricting light so as to pass through two or more different light passing positions; a lens system for focusing the light passed through the mask; an image taking-in means for taking in images from the light focused by the lens system; and a distance calculating means for calculating a distance from an imaging element to an object using the taken-in images. The mask restricts the light so as to pass through only specified positions.

Abstract: A method is provided that allows a simple and inexpensive apparatus to measure the uniformity of the height-directional positions of spheres or hemispheres such as bump electrodes of a semiconductor device. The degree of focus is calculated from an image of bump electrodes 11a and 11b acquired at a first focusing position F1 using an imaging system. After that, the bump electrodes 11a and 11b and the imaging system is relatively moved closer or farther, and then the degree of focus is calculated from an image acquired at a second focusing position F2. The degrees of focus at these two focusing positions F1 and F2 are compared with each other. As a result, detected are the contour lines of the horizontal cross sections of the bump electrodes 11a and 11b at the height (F1+F2)/2 of the position of equal degree of focus indicated by PQ. On the basis of the shapes and/or sizes thereof, the height-directional positions of the bump electrodes 11a and 11b are measured.

Abstract: An apparatus (12) for determining the location of a vehicle occupant (20) in a vehicle interior includes a light source (40) for projecting at least one structured light beam (42) onto an area of interest (44) to form a light pattern on the area of interest. A beam divergence control device (50) alters the apparent location of the light source (40) with respect to the area of interest (44). An imager (60) detects the light reflected from the area of interest (44). A characteristic of the reflected light is measured, and the distance between the imager (60) and the area of interest (44) is measured, based on the measured characteristic of the reflected light.

Abstract: An apparatus (12) for determining the location of a vehicle occupant (20) in a vehicle interior includes a light source (40) for projecting at least one structured light beam (42) onto an area of interest (44) to form a light pattern on the area of interest. A beam divergence control device (50) alters the apparent location of the light source (40) with respect to the area of interest (44). An imager (60) detects the light reflected from the area of interest (44). A characteristic of the reflected light is measured, and the distance between the imager (60) and the area of interest (44) is measured, based on the measured characteristic of the reflected light.

Abstract: A position measurement apparatus and method using laser includes a laser generating device, an image device, and a control unit. The laser generating device generates three or more laser beams progressing in parallel with each other at regular intervals. The image device obtains a picture for three or more points formed on a target by the laser beams. The control unit calculates a position relative to the target using number of pixels between pairs of neighboring ones of the three or more points in the picture. Thus, the present invention is advantageous in that laser pointers and a CCD camera having simple constructions and low prices are used, so that the position measurement apparatus is handled conveniently and is economical.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle wheel alignment in non-contact fashion with high accuracy is disclosed. A laser light source (4) emits a laser beam of a predetermined geometric pattern toward the wheel side surface. A laser beam control device (6) controls the width of the laser beam in such a manner as to be radiated only in a predetermined range of the wheel side surface. Two laser light sources (120), (121) emit non-parallel laser beams. A photdetecting device (122) receives the two laser beams and converts them to two corresponding image data. A processing unit calculates the distance between the two images based on the two image data and calculates the wheel alignment based on the same distance.

Abstract: A distance-measuring apparatus is arranged to project light toward an object at a distance to be measured, receive reflected light from the object, and detect the distance to the measured object through arithmetic operation and integration. In the distance-measuring apparatus, an integrating capacitor discharge/charge to a maximum when a time necessary for a first integration is longer a minimum. In the detection of the distance to the object, when the time necessary for the first integration is longer than the minimum time, a first integration and a second integration by the integrating capacitor are carried out repeatedly.

Abstract: A distance measuring technology capable of stably and accurately performing distance measurement of an object without any highly accurate focus control mechanism is provided. A distance measuring apparatus has a mask for restricting light so as to pass through two or more different light passing positions; a lens system for focusing the light passed through the mask; an image taking-in means for taking in images from the light focused by the lens system; and a distance calculating means for calculating a distance from an imaging element to an object using the taken-in images. The mask restricts the light so as to pass through only specified positions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-prism type automatic surveying apparatus and a three-dimensions measuring method or the like, which measure a distance to an object to be measured without using a reflecting prism or the like. A lightwave range finder capable of performing non-prism measurements has an angle measuring unit and a distance measuring unit. Arithmetic processing means for recognition can recognize an object to be measured according to image processing. The angle measuring unit and the distance measuring unit can respectively measure distances to and angles relative to at least three specified points on a plane &agr; including measuring points of the object to be measured. The angle measuring unit can measure angles relative to each individual measuring points.

Abstract: A reticle adapter (100) for judging distance from an object (12) is used with a viewing apparatus (A) to detect relative positions of signals from at least two spaced apart marker devices (10) formed on a first object (12). An image of the relative positions of the markers is created within a field of view (16). A reticle projecting member (110) is removably mounted on the viewer (A). The reticle projector (110) forms a reticle signal (112) superimposed on the field of view at the scene input end (118) of the viewer (A). The reticle is selected to form a control area within which simultaneous appearance of at least two images of the spaced apart markers indicates that the first object (12) is at a distance at least as great as a desired distance from the viewer.

Abstract: A distance-measuring apparatus is arranged to project light toward an object at a distance to be measured, receive reflected light from the object, and detect the distance to the measured object through arithmetic operation and integration. In the distance-measuring apparatus, an integrating capacitor discharges/charges to a maximum voltage when a time necessary for a first integral is a minimum. In the detection of the distance to the object, when the time necessary for the first integration is longer than the minimum time, a first integration and a second integration by the integrating capacitor are carried out repeatedly.

Abstract: A non-contact type wheel alignment measuring apparatus includes a fixed-focal-length lens and a pair of light sources located on the opposite sides of the lens for projecting a pair of laser beams onto the side surface of a wheel to be measured. The apparatus also includes a CCD sensor on which images reflecting from the wheel are formed and the distance between the two images is detected as a function of pixels of CCD sensor between them. The information of this distance (or the number of pixels) is utilized to determine the distance between the measuring apparatus and a point of interest on the wheel. With two or more such information for different locations on the wheel, its alignment characteristic, such as toe-in and camber angles, can be determined.

Abstract: A system and method for accurate measurement of distance and location of an object. The system comprises low-cost optical signal generators, aligned in a known configuration, to project a two-dimensional geometric figure on the object to be measured, or on a target attached to the object. The system captures an image of the projected figure, determines the exact geometry (e.g., area or circumference) of the figure, and calculates the exact distance to the object based on comparison of that geometry to the known configuration of the laser line generators. The invention simultaneously determines relative X and Y position of the object, thereby giving accurate X, Y, and Z coordinates.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus is provided which utilizes a light-section method capable of preventing input of disturbance light without narrowing measurement viewing angle. The apparatus comprises: a laser emitting section for generating laser light, an imaging section for imaging reflected light reflected by a surface of a target object, a telecentric optical system lens for forming an image of the reflected light on the imaging section, an optical filter provided between the telecentric optical system lens and the imaging section and perpendicular to an optical axis of the telecentric optical system lens, for passing light of a wavelength band of laser light emitted from the laser emitting section, and a distance calculation section for calculating a distance to the object based on an image taken by the imaging section and a positional relationship between a light emission position of the laser light and an image position.

Abstract: A distance judging system (S) includes at least two spaced apart marker devices (10) formed on a first object (12) and providing a signal (14). A viewer (A) is adapted to detect relative position of the signals (14) from the markers (10), and create an image (22) of the relative positions of the markers (10) within a field of view (16). A reticle (18) is superimposed on the field of view (16) of the viewer (A). The reticle (18) is selected to form a control area (20) within which simultaneous appearance of at least two images (22) of the markers (10) indicates that the first object (12) is at a distance (24) at least as great as a desired distance from the viewing apparatus (A); whereas, simultaneous appearance of less than two images (22) of the markers (10) within the control area (20) indicates that the first object (12) is at a distance (24) less than the desired distance.

Abstract: In a distance measurement system, an integrating capacitor is preliminarily charged to at least a reference voltage VREF upon main power source power-on (a first predetermined period). When a shutter release button is half depressed to start a distance measurement (second predetermined period), the integrating capacitor is also preliminarily charged. At the end of the preliminarily charging in the first predetermined period, a drop in voltage occurs in the integrating capacitor due to dielectric absorption. However, by subsequently preliminarily charging at the start of the distance measurement (second predetermined period), a voltage drop in the integrating capacitor due to the dielectric absorption can be prevented. This second charging contributes to the prevention of error. Especially, if the first predetermined period is longer than the second one, the time required for the preliminarily charging at the start of the distance measurement can be further reduced.

Abstract: A distance measuring device using markers and capable of accurately measuring distance irrespective of the distance to an object. An optical system converges light from markers affixed to an object on the light receiving surface of a light receiving section. The light receiving section generates an image signal by photoelectric conversion and outputs the generated signal. First marker image acquiring means acquires images of markers, and second marker image acquiring means also acquires images of markers. Selecting means selects the output of the first marker image acquiring means if the distance to the object is short, and selects the images acquired by the second marker image acquiring means if the distance to the object is large. Based on the distance between the marker images selected by the selecting means, computing means computes the distance to the object by trigonometry.

Abstract: A technique for measuring and selectively adjusting a clearance between a stationary object and desirably a rotating object includes a non-contact, sensing system having a sensor attachable to the stationary object, a mask having a predetermined sized viewport or aperture that sets or limits the sensing or operation of the sensor, and a controller. The sensor is operable for sensing within a field of view a portion of the rotating object and generating a signal in response thereto. The field of view varies in response to varying the clearance between the sensor and the second object. Desirably, the portion of the second object includes a varying pattern. The controller is operable to determine the clearance between the first object and the second object in response to the signal. In another embodiment, sensing system is operable to adjust the clearance by controller providing an electrical current to a resistive heating element in the thermally expandable portion of a plurality of segmented labyrinth seals.