DEVICE FOR DETECTING OPTICAL ANGLE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for detecting an optical angle capable of detecting an angle actively in a simple operation. SOLUTION: An optical ranging unit 1 is provided, comprising: a light projecting section 2 for projecting a light beam along an optical axis; and a light receiving section 3 for receiving a light beam reflected from a measurement region where the optical axis intersects with a planar section of an object 20, and outputting a ranging-use signal representing a distance from the measurement region. Furthermore, an optical axis deflecting section is employed therein, which deflects the optical axis between a first orientation and a second orientation, thereby changing over between a first measurement region A and a second measurement region B. Therefore, a first ranging-use signal corresponding to the first measurement region A and a second ranging-use signal corresponding to the second measurement region B are output from the optical ranging unit 1. Then, distance values from the first measurement region A and the second measurement region B are obtained based on the first and second ranging-use signals, and a tilt angle of the planar section is computed based on the distance values, by using a control section. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI