SPACE MEASURING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a space measuring device for a vehicle, inexpensive and improved in measuring accuracy. SOLUTION: This space measuring device for a vehicle, which is loaded on a vehicle to measure a predetermined space in the neighborhood of one's own vehicle, includes: a distance measuring means configured to emit a fan-beam shaped laser pulse rays having an elliptic section elongated substantially in the vertical direction from the longitudinal rear end part of the own vehicle toward the substantially horizontal right-hand direction and the substantially horizontal left-hand direction, and measure the time of flight, thereby measuring a distance to a peripheral object existing in right and left areas at the back of the own vehicle; and a space measuring means for measuring a space existing at the back of the own vehicle from the distance to the peripheral object measured by the distance measuring means, an average value of wheel speed pulses of a rear wheel and a turning angle of a steering wheel. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT