Image capture apparatus with illuminator and distance measuring light emitting device
US7646423B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 6, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jan 12, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06V40/14
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An image capturing apparatus illuminates and captures an image of an object using reflected light therefrom, with simplified distance measurement. A plurality of light-emitting devices are mounted around an image sensor, and a light guide member guides the light of the light-emitting devices to an image capturing region for illumination. The image capturing apparatus having the closely disposed image capturing system and illumination system, further has a distance-measuring light-emitting device and an aperture on the distance-measuring light-emitting device and for generating an optical path having narrowed downside and broadened upside. Thus, diffused reflected light rays of distance-measuring light-emitting device can be selected, converged and output to one direction. It becomes possible to obtain sufficient irradiation amount even when using a power-saving light-emitting device of a small emission amount, and to miniaturize a distance sensor irradiating spot light, contributing to miniaturization of the image capturing apparatus.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.