DISTANCE MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND DETECTION METHOD

The present disclosure relates to a distance measurement apparatus and a detection method that allow for reliable detection of diffuser breakage. Provided is a distance measurement apparatus that includes a light source section and a breakage detection section. The light source section emits a laser beam. The breakage detection section detects breakage of a diffusion member that diffuses the laser beam emitted from the light source section. The light source section modulates the laser beam on the basis of a pulsed wave generated by a pulse generator and emits the modulated laser beam. The breakage detection section feeds the pulsed wave to one end of a transparent electrode formed in a predetermined pattern on the diffusion member, detects a reflected wave that occurs at a released end that is another end, and detects breakage of the diffusion member on the basis of a detection result of the reflected wave. The technology according to the present disclosure is applicable, for example, to a distance image sensor using a TOF technique.