DISTANCE MEASURING APPARATUS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an active distance measuring apparatus for improving the maintenance of distance measurement performance and extending the lifetime of the apparatus. SOLUTION: The distance measuring apparatus comprises: a light projection section 6 for projecting luminous flux to an object; a light reception section 7 for receiving luminous flux that is reflected from the object and returns and outputting detection signals I1, I2; an operation section 8 for measuring distance to the object, based on the detection signals I1, I2; and a control section 9 for controlling the operation of the light projection section 6 and the light reception section 7. The light projection section 6 includes a light-emitting element 1 for radiating luminous flux according to a drive current Iled and a drive circuit 10 for supplying the drive current Iled to the light-emitting element 1. The control section 9 controls the drive circuit 10 of the light projection section 6, sweeps the drive current Iled from a low level to a high level, and projects light, and then monitors the quantity of received light at the light reception section 7 and stops sweeping the drive current Iled when a level suitable for measuring distance is reached for measuring distance. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI