U.S. patent number 3,723,003 [Application Number 04/877,738] was granted by the patent office on 1973-03-27 for rangefinder.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Raimund Hauser. Invention is credited to Eduard Keznickl, Karl Vockenhuber.
United States Patent |
3,723,003 |
Vockenhuber , et
al. |
March 27, 1973 |
RANGEFINDER
Abstract
A rangefinding assembly, which comprises a transmitter having
emitting means for emitting short waves. A receiver is mounted in
fixed relation with respect to the transmitter, which receiver is
adapted to receive short waves emitted by the transmitter and
reflected by an object. An image forming system is adapted to
project the waves reflected from the object on the receiver. The
image forming system defines an axis. The axis, the transmitter and
the receiver define a plane adapted to pass through the object. The
receiver has at least two receiving zones. At least a part of the
receiving zones is disposed in the plane and is at least partly
offset from the axis, whereby each receiving zone is assigned to a
different distance range of the object and delivers a specific
output signal, when admitted by the short waves reflected from the
object. Transducing means are arranged within at least a part of
the receiving zones and are adapted to produce specific output
signals in response to the short waves.
Inventors: |
Vockenhuber; Karl (Vienna,
OE), Keznickl; Eduard (Vienna, OE) |
Assignee: |
Hauser; Raimund (Vienna,
OE)
|
Family
ID: |
3628796 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/877,738 |
Filed: |
November 18, 1969 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
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Nov 25, 1968 [OE] |
|
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A 11 452/68 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
356/3.06;
250/201.4; 352/140; 352/141; 396/139; 356/3.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S
17/46 (20130101); G01C 3/10 (20130101); G02B
7/32 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01C
3/10 (20060101); G01C 3/00 (20060101); G02B
7/32 (20060101); G01S 17/46 (20060101); G01S
17/00 (20060101); G01c 003/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;356/1,4,5 ;95/44C,64A
;250/208,214R,26R,201 ;352/140,141 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
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|
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822,388 |
|
Dec 1937 |
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FR |
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728,860 |
|
Mar 1966 |
|
CA |
|
790,879 |
|
Jul 1968 |
|
CA |
|
Primary Examiner: Borchelt; Benjamin A.
Assistant Examiner: Buczinski; S. C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A rangefinder assembly, comprising a transmitter having emitting
means for emitting short electromagnetic waves,
a receiver mounted in fixed relation with respect to said
transmitter, said receiver being adapted to receive short
electromagnetic waves emitted by said transmitter and reflected by
an object,
an image forming system adapted to project said waves reflected
from the object onto said receiver, said image forming system
defining an axis, said axis, said transmitter and said receiver
defining a plane adapted to pass through said object.
said receiver having at least two receiving zones, at least a part
of said receiving zones being disposed in said plane and at least
partly offset from said axis, whereby each receiving zone is
assigned to a different distance range of said object and delivers
a specific output signal when impinged by said short waves
reflected from the object, each of said output signals having a
characteristic specific for a predetermined distance range,
transducing means arranged within at least a part of said receiving
zones and being adapted to produce specific output signals in
response to said short electromagnetic waves,
said receiver comprises data storage means being operatively
coupled to said transducing means.
data-utilizing means operatively connected with said data storage
means and being responsive to the data stored therein,
said data storage means comprises a plurality of bi-stable
switching stages,
said specific output signals constitute electric signals, a source
of direct current having two terminals,
said switching stage having a first and second switching state and
shifting from said first state to said second state when the
electric signal exceeds a predetermined threshold level,
a resistor having a plurality of taps, each of which being
connected with one of said switching stages, one end of said
resistor being connected to said source of direct current, the
other end being connected with said data-utilizing means, and
each of said switching stages being operatively connected to
disconnect the tap of said resistor associated therewith from one
end of said resistor, when said switching stage is in said first
state, and to connect the tap associated therewith to said one end
of said resistor when said switching stage is in said second
state.
2. A rangefinding assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which with
all switching stages being in said first state said resistor
effecting a maximum resistance associated with largest finite
object distances, said transducing means comprising one transducer,
which is associated with the switching stage connected to that tap
of said resistor, which is next to said other end of said resistor,
this one transducer being associated with smallest finite object
distances.
3. A rangefinding assembly as set forth in claim 1, said
data-utilizing means comprising a resistance measuring device
including said resistor and a measuring instrument arranged to
indicate the object distance measured last.
4. A rangefinding assembly as set forth in claim 3, said
resistance-measuring device consisting of a Wheatstone bridge.
5. A rangefinding assembly as set forth in claim 1, said
data-utilizing means comprising a self-balancing bridge including
said resistor, a variable resistor controlled by said lens-focusing
means and disposed within said self-balancing bridge, said
positioning device comprising a positioning motor coupled to said
lens-focusing means and responsive to the voltage across the
diagonal of said bridge.
6. A rangefinding assembly as set forth in claim 5, comprising
amplifier means disposed within the diagonal of said bridge and
controlling said positioning motor.
7. A rangefinding assembly within a camera, comprising
a lens structure for said camera,
said lens structure having a variable focus setting,
a variable diaphragm and a range of depth of field depending on
said focus setting and said diaphragm,
a transmitter fixed relatively to said camera,
emitting means for emitting short waves,
a receiver mounted in fixed relation with respect to said
transmitter, said receiver being adapted to receive short waves
emitted by said transmitter and reflected by an object, an
image-forming system adapted to project said waves reflected from
the object on said receiver, said image forming system defining an
axis, said axis, said transmitter and said receiver defining a
plane adapted to pass through said object,
said receiver having at least two receiving zones, each of said
zones comprising transducing means, said transducing means adapted
to produce different output signals with respect to one another
when impinged by said short waves,
one of said zones being associated with a distance range of said
object lying before the depth of field of said lens structure, the
other of said zones being associated with a distance range of said
object lying outside said depth of field, and
positioning means connected with said lens structure to vary the
distance between said zones in dependence on the variations of the
depth of field of said lens structure.
8. A rangefinding assembly as set forth in claim 7, in which said
lens structure has a variable focal length with, said range of
depth of field depending on said focal length, said transducing
means comprising at least two transducers having a variable
distance from each other within the plane of the image projected on
said receiver, said transducers being at least partly offset from
said axis, said positioning means controlling the distance between
said two transducers, said distance corresponding to the depth of
field of said lens structure.
9. A rangefinding assembly as set forth in claim 7, in which
said lens structure has a variable focal length and is adapted to
be adjusted to the setting of values of said focal length and
diaphragm which are most critical as to said range of depth of
field,
each of said transducing zones being separated so that the extent
of said object distance does not exceed said range of depth of
field of said lens structure, for a predetermined focus and and
setting of said diaphragm.
10. A rangefinding assembly as set forth in claim 7, in which said
two specific output signals deriving from said two zones are
electric signals, each having a predetermined specific value.
11. A rangefinding assembly as set forth in claim 10, in which one
of said values is zero, the other of a predetermined threshold
level being different from zero.
12. A rangefinding assembly within a camera, comprising
a lens structure for said camera,
said lens structure having a variable focus setting,
a variable diaphragm and a range of depth of field depending on
said focus setting and said diaphragm,
a transmitter fixed relatively to said camera,
emitting means for emitting short waves,
a receiver mounted in fixed relation with respect to said
transmitter, said receiver being adapted to receive short waves
emitted by said transmitter and reflected by an object, an
image-forming system adapted to project said waves reflected from
the object on said receiver, said image forming system defining an
axis, said axis, said transmitter and said receiver defining a
plane adapted to pass through said object,
said receiver having stop members and transducing means,
one of said stop members being associated with a distance range of
said object lying before the depth of field of said lens structure,
the other of said stop members being associated with a distance
range of said object lying outside said depth of field,
positioning means connected with said lens structure to vary the
distance between said stop members in dependence on the variations
of the depth of field of said lens structure, and
said receiver comprises two stop members movably disposed between
said image forming system and said transducing means, said stop
members being connected with said positioning means to be moved
thereby to positions in which they expose on said transducing means
only an area being associated with the range of depth of field.
13. A rangefinding assembly as set forth in claim 12, in which said
transducing means consist of a single transducer.
Description
This invention relates to a rangefinder comprising a transmitter
for beamed short waves, preferably electromagnetic waves, and a
receiver, and preferably comprising two transducers, which convert
the energy emitted by the transmitter into an electrical parameter,
and, if desired, a first image-forming system, which forms an image
of the emitting surface of the transmitter on an object, and a
second image-forming system, which forms on the transducers an
image of the image formed on the object, whereby in particular the
transducers are disposed in the plane, which is defined by the axes
of the transmitter and receiver and offset from the axis of the
image-forming system of the receiver and whereby further the axis
of the beam emitted by the transmitter and the axis of the
image-forming system of the receiver intersect, if desired, at a
finite distance, and the image formed by the second image-forming
system exhibits a parallax, which depends on the object
distance.
In a known rangefinder of the kind described hereinbefore the
transmitter consists of a light source and an optical system is
provided to form an image of the light source on the object. The
receiver comprises a second optical system and a sharp edge, which
is disposed in the image plane of the second optical system. Two
photoconductors are arranged on that side of the sharp edge, which
is remote from the optical system and symmetrically disposed with
respect to the optical axis of the optical system. When an image of
the light spot formed on the object is formed in the plane of the
above-mentioned sharp edge, both photoconductors will be uniformly
illuminated. When an image of the light spot is formed in front of
the sharp edge, one photoconductor will be preferentially
illuminated. When the image is formed behind the sharp edge, light
will be preferentially received by the other photoconductor. A
comparison of the quantities of light, which are incident on the
two photoconductors may be used to control a positioning motor,
which displaces the optical system of the receiver along the
optical axis until equal quantities of light fall on both
photoconductors. The sensitivity of that rangefinder depends
primarily on the aperture of the optical system of the receiver. To
provide a sufficiently exact measurement in a range of, e.g. 1 - 20
meters, it will be necessary to select an optical system, which has
a relatively large relative aperture. This will involve a high
display, particularly because the aberrations of the optical system
should be minimized, and relatively large overall dimensions of the
instrument. An arrangement of the kind described above has also
already been known, whereby the axis of the beam of the emitter and
the axis of the image-forming system for the receiver are so long
deviated relatively to each other, until the beam reflected by the
object reaches the receiver. The displacement of the focusing
member of the lens was coupled with the movement of the emitter
and/or the receiver, so that the lens was focused, when the
reflected beam reached the receiver. This arrangement involved a
relatively high display for the different movable parts. This
complicated gear however had also to be adjusted carefully and was
rather susceptible to troubles.
According to the invention these difficulties are avoided in that
the receiver and the emitter are arranged essentially stationarily
with respect to each other, whereby the receiver -- as already
known -- shows zones assigned to variable object distances, which,
upon equally strong impingement by the beam of the emitter,
generate specific output signals, which may be of different value
or may be applied to different pilot channels, and whereby
preferably the emitter generates short-time pulses, as it is
already known.
Because the transducers for visible light and the adjacent spectral
ranges may be extremely small, the receiver will be very compact.
The sensitivity of the rangefinder will primarily depend on the
distance of the receiver from the transmitter. It will not be
difficult to provide a sufficiently large base line for the
measurement, particularly if the instrument is structurally
combined with other devices, such as cameras, binoculars, etc.,
because these devices are so dimensioned as to afford a
sufficiently large base line.
In a desirable embodiment of the invention, the transmitter emits a
short-time pulse. Each transducer feeds preferably through an
amplifier stage a data storage device and these storage devices are
connected to an indicating means and/or a positioning means. The
pulsed operation of the transmitter has the advantage that only a
relatively small power is required, so that this rangefinder can be
used also in portable devices, which are fed by low-capacity
batteries. To ensure that the operation does not depend on
environmental conditions, it has proved desirable to measure not
the absolute value of the energy, which is incident on the
transducer, but the energy change, which accompanies the emitted
pulse. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a
differentiating stage, such as a coupling capacitor, is provided
for this purpose between the transducer and the storage device.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the data storage device
consists of a bistable switching stage, e.g., a bistable
multivibrator, which is shifted from a first state into a second
one, when the output signal of the transducer or a signal derived
from said output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value. If
the rangefinder operates in the visible range of the spectrum or in
the near infrared or ultraviolet ranges, the transmitter may
preferably consist of a gas discharge lamp. According to another
embodiment, the transmitter consists of a luminescent semiconductor
diode, e.g., a gallium arsenide diode. These luminescent diodes
have extremely small dimensions and a relatively high efficiency.
It will be a special advantage that the light-emitting surface is
extremely small, so that the transmitter rays can be very sharply
beamed. Besides, the above-mentioned gallium arsenide diode has the
advantage that it emits virtually monochromatic radiation having a
wave length of about 900 nanometers, which is in the infrared
range.
Further features of the invention will become apparent from the
following description of several illustrative embodiments and the
drawing.
In FIG. 1 a rangefinder for pulsed operation is illustrated,
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are block diagrams illustrating the means for
utilizing the signals of the receiver in a rangefinder as shown in
FIG. 1,
FIG. 5 shows a detail of the circuit of the arrangement shown in
FIG. 4,
FIGS. 6 and 7 show also diagrammatically two embodiments of the
novel rangefinder as applied to motion picture or photographic
cameras,
FIG. 8 illustrates a modification of the arrangement shown in FIG.
7,
FIG. 9 shows diagrammatically another embodiment of the
invention.
The rangefinder, which is shown in FIG. 1 gives a measurement in a
predetermined sequence. Since it is not required, as a rule, to
provide an indication, which is continuous throughout the measuring
range, it will be sufficient in general, if the distance is
indicated in certain steps. In such cases the operation of the
transmitter will be pulsed rather than continuous and the power
requirement of the transmitter can be reduced to a fraction of the
power, which is required for a continuous operation. FIG. 1 shows
diagrammatically such an inventive rangefinder for pulsed
operation. The transmitter consists of a gas discharge lamp 29,
which has associated with it a power supply unit comprising a
capacitor 30 and an associated charging device 31. The ignition
switch is indicated at 32. An image of the electric arc produced by
the gas discharge lamp is formed in the object space by a lens 33.
The receiver comprises also a lens 34 and a number of photodiodes
35, which are disposed in the image plane of the lens. It may be
desirable to provide filter discs 36a and 37a before the lenses of
the transmitter and receiver, respectively. The photodiodes 35 are
connected to a data storage device 36, which controls an indicator
37. The transmitter and receiver are rigidly mounted. To perform a
measurement, the key 32 is pressed to cause a discharge of the
capacitor 30 through the gas discharge lamp 29, so that a defined,
relatively small zone of the object 28 is illuminated. An image of
this light spot is formed by the lens 34 of the receiver on the
photodiodes 35. It will depend on the position of the object 28,
which one of the photodiodes receives the light, which is emitted
by the transmitter; the remaining photodiodes are not illuminated
by the transmitter. If the object 28 is disposed at the
intersection of the optical axes of the transmitter and receiver,
light will be incident on the optical axis of the receiver. If the
object 28 is more distant, light will be incident on a photodiode,
which is above the optical axis. If the object lies before the
intersection of the optical axes, the light pulse emitted by the
transmitter will be incident on a photodiode, which is below the
optical axis of the receiver. Since the object 28 has normally a
certain illumination, which is due to the ambient light and causes
light to be incident on all photodiodes 35, the parameter, which is
measured, is not the absolute value of the quantity of light, which
is incident on the photodiodes, but the change of such quantity
with time. The change of the output of the photodiodes 35 is
amplified and stored in the data storage device 36. The indicator
37 indicates at any time the result of the last rangefinding
operation. The switch 32 may be operated by hand. Alternatively, it
may be desirable to operate the transmitter with a certain pulse
train. The frequency of that pulse train will depend on the
relative velocity between the rangefinder and the object 28.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram, which represents the data storage device
36. Each photodiode 35 is connected by a coupling capacitor 38 to a
bistable switching device 39, which may consist of a multivibrator
or of a Schmitt trigger. Each switching stage is connected to a tap
of a series connection of resistors 40. When one of the photodiodes
35 is excited by a light pulse, its output will be transmitted by
the coupling capacitor 38 to the associated switching stage 39, so
that the same assumes its set state, in which it grounds the
associated tap of the series connection of resistors 40. The
arrangement is such that the photodiode, which is associated with
the largest range of distances, connects the smallest resistance,
whereas the switching stage, which is associated with the smallest
range of distances, bridges the largest resistance. The effective
resistance of the series connection of resistors is thus a measure
of the distance from the rangefinder to the object. If the distance
from the rangefinder to the object 28 is os large that the
reflected light is not sufficient to excite a switching stage, the
total resistance of the series connection of resistors 40 will be
effective. That resistance could be associated e.g., with an
infinite distance. For the actual indication of the distance, a
resistance-measuring device might be used, which comprises a
measuring instrument 37 carrying a distance scale. FIG. 2 shows an
indicating bridge network for a resistance measurement. Any other
resistance-measuring circuit may be used, such as a cross-coil
instrument and the like.
FIG. 3 shows a modification of the circuit, which is shown in FIG.
2. In this embodiment, incandescent bulbs 41 are switched by the
switching stage 39. When a light pulse has been emitted, that
incandescent bulb 41 is energized, which is associated with the
distance range in which the object 28 is disposed. It will be
desirable to provide in the power supply part of the storage stage
36 a switch, which is opened for a short time immediately before a
new measuring pulse is transmitted. The opening of that switch
causes the canceling of the result of the original measurement.
Such switch may consist of a wiping switch and may be coupled to
the initiating switch 32.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing another modification of the
embodiment of FIG. 1. A transmitter 42 is connected by a main
switch 43 to a power source, not shown. The transmitter comprises
an ignition switch 44, which is connected to a switch 45 included
in the circuit of the measuring and storage unit. The photodiodes
35 are included in the input circuit of respective amplifiers 46,
which just as in the above-described embodiment are connected by
respective coupling capacitors 37 to a bistable multivibrator 48
(flip-flop). The multivibrators 48 cooperate with a respective
controller 49, which includes in its output circuit a motor 50 and
a relay 51. The multivibrators 48 have a preferential state, so
that they assume initially a defined position of rest, when the
supply voltage is applied. This arrangement has substantially the
following mode of operation:
When the ignition switch 44 is operated, the contact 45 is closed
first to energize the amplifiers, the multivibrators and the
controller. The contact 44 is then closed to initiate the flash.
Depending on the position of the object 28, one of the photodiodes
35 is excited to shift the associated multivibrator to its
operative position. The resistance value thus defined is compared
in the controller 49 with a setting, which corresponds to the
position of the motor 50. If that position is in agreement with the
measured value, the motor 50 and the relay 51 will remain
deenergized, so that the amplifiers, multivibrators and controller
are deenergized, when the key 44 is released. The measured value
will in most cases fail to correspond to the pregiven position of
the motor 50. Depending on the direction of the deviation, the
motor will then be energized to operate in one sense of rotation or
the other. The motor 50 will be operated until a feedback device
indicates that the position of the motor corresponds to the
measured value. The relay 51 remains excited as long as the motor
is energized. The normally open contact 52 of the relay 51 connects
the amplifiers, multivibrators and controller to the source of
power regardless of the position of switch 44 and will not
interrupt the circuit until the motor 50 has reached the position
corresponding to the object distance.
FIG. 5 is a basic circuit diagram of the arrangement just
described. The photodiode 35 is connected to the base of a first
transistor stage 53, the collector circuit of which is coupled by
the capacitor 47 to the bistable multivibrator. The latter
comprises two transistors 54, 55. In known manner, the collector
circuit of one transistor is connected by a resistor to the base
circuit of the other. A diode 56 connects the multivibrator to a
tap of the series connection of resistors 40. As in FIG. 2, that
series connection is included in a Wheatstone bridge, which
contains in its other arms the resistors 57, 58 and 59. The
resistors 57 and 58 have fixed values. The resistor 59 is
adjustable by the motor 50. A differential amplifier connected
across the diagonal of the bridge comprises two transistors 60 and
61. The motor 50 and the relay 51 are included in the output
circuit of the transistors 60 and 61. The motor 50 may be connected
to an indicating instrument or to a mechanism for focusing a
lens.
It will be desirable to form the photodiodes 35, the preamplifier
53, the coupling capacitor 47 and the multivibrator 54, 55 on a
common support, or carrier means preferably a semiconductor
crystal, by the integrated switching circuit technique. The
individual stages may constitute integrated switching circuits,
alternatively, all stages may be combined in one such switching
circuit, which may include also the differential amplifier 60, 61,
if desired.
FIG. 6 illustrates the use of the novel rangefinder in a
cinematographic camera. The optical system of the camera consists
of a prime lens 62 and an auxiliary lens 63 having a variable
magnification. The front lens element 64 of the auxiliary lens 63
is axially movable to focus the optical system. A partially
reflecting prism 65 is disposed between the prime lens 62 and the
auxiliary lens. Part of the light, which falls through the
auxiliary lens is deflected by the prism 65 into a viewfinder 66. A
rotating shutter 68 is disposed between the prime lens 62 and an
exposure aperture 67 and covers the latter as the film is advanced.
A contact roller 70 is carried by the shaft 69 of the rotating
shutter 68 and cooperates with stationary contacts 71 to connect
the same as the film is advanced and the exposure aperture is
covered. The transmitter and receiver are disposed on the opposite
side of the optical axis of the lens. The transmitter comprises a
lens 72. A luminescent diode 73, particularly a gallium arsenide
diode, is disposed in the image plane of the lens 72 and comprises
a power supply unit 74. The ignition switch of the transmitter is
designated 75. The receiver comprises a lens 76 and photodiodes 77
disposed in the image plane of the lens 76 and controlling a data
storage device 78. The photodiodes have a spectral sensivity, which
is selected to match the transmitter. Silicon photodiodes are
desirable for use with gallium arsenide diodes, because they have a
maximum sensitivity in the infrared range. The data storage device
controls by means of a Wheatstone bridge 79 a motor 80 in the
manner described above. The motor 80 displaces the front lens
element 64 of the lens in an axial direction. For a feedback of the
existing focus setting, the front lens element is connected to a
variable resistance 81 of the bridge 79. Where a luminescent diode
73 is used, which emits light that would result in a response of
the film, it will be recommendable to synchronize the light pulses
with the operation of the shutter 68 of the camera, so that no
light pulse will be emitted, unless the shutter 68 covers the
exposure aperture. For this purpose, the switch consisting of the
contact roller 70 and the stationary contacts 71 is included in the
ignition circuit of the transmitter. Because the object space
includes normally a large number of objects at different distances,
an area is defined in the viewfinder in known manner, which
corresponds to the measuring field of the rangefinder. The ignition
switch 75 may be manually operable or may be automatically
controlled at a certain pulse frequency, which may be adjustable,
if desired. The size of the light-receiving areas of the
photodiodes 77 is selected to match the range, in which the depth
of field of the camera lens is most critical. This means that the
object distance range corresponding to the width of the
light-receiving surface must be smaller than the depth of field,
when the camera is set to the most critical values of the focal
length and stop. The use of luminescent diodes rather than a gas
discharge lamp in the transmitter has the advantage that a
relatively low feed voltage is sufficient. Besides, the dimensions
of that transmitter element are much smaller than those of
comparable other light sources, so that the information of an exact
image is particularly facilitated. Gallium arsenide diodes emit
light, which has only a very small band width, so that it is
virtually monochromatic, and this light is in the infrared range so
that persons and animals in the object space will not become aware
of the rangefinding operation. Reference is also made to the
relatively high efficiency of gallium arsenide diodes and to the
fact that they are highly suitable for pulsed operation.
In photographic and cinematographic operations it is often not
necessary for the operator to know the absolute value of the object
distance. Automatic focusing is sometimes inconsistent with an
optimum composition of the image. In this case a device may be
employed, which indicates to the user of the rangefinder, whether
the object is disposed in the zone of depth of field of the lens
82. The focusing device 83, the zooming device 84 and the means 85
for adjusting the diaphragm 86 associated with the lens are coupled
to a depth-of-field calculator 87, which may consist of a
mechanical calculating mechanism or an electric calculating
circuit. The depth-of-field calculator 87 controls a pinion 88,
which adjusts two racks 89 and 90 in opposite senses. Each of the
two racks 89 and 90 carries a photodiode 91 and 92. The two
photodiodes are so adjusted by the depth-of-field calculator 87
that they correspond respectively to the spaces disposed outside of
the zone of depth of field. The photodiode 92 is associated with
the space before the zone of depth of field and the photodiode 91
with the space which succeeds the zone of depth of field. The diode
91 or 92 will receive a light pulse during the measurement if the
object is outside of the zone of depth of field. This deviation is
indicated by suitable signalling means.
FIG. 8 shows a modification of the arrangement that has been
described hereinbefore. The pinion 88 of the depth-of-field
calculator 87 operates two racks 93, 94 to adjust stop blades 95
and 96, which precede a photodiode 97 and a photoconductor,
respectively. The stop blades 95 and 96 are so controlled that
their edges correspond to the limits of the zone of depth of field.
If the object is disposed outside the depth of field, an image of
the light spot formed by the transmitter 73 on the object will be
formed on the stop blade 95 or 96. A suitable alarm device can be
operated, when the receiver fails to receive a signal.
Another desirable embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 9.
An image of the transmitter 100 is formed by a lens 101 on the
object 102 to be measured. The image of the transmitter which is
produced on the object is formed by the lens 103 of the receiver.
To ensure the formation of sharp images of the particular objects,
regardless of their distance, the plane 104 in which the
transducers are disposed is inclined relative to the optical axis
in accordance with Scheimpflug's conditions. The plane 104 is
defined in known manner by the intersection 105 of the main plane
of the lens of the receiver and the plane, which contains the
several objects of which sharp images are to be formed. That plane
thus includes the optical axis of the transmitter.
Where photoconductors are used as photoelectric transducers, a
large useful signal will be obtained, if each photoconductor is
included in a voltage divider circuit, which comprises a second
resistor that consists also of a photoconductor which receives
light from the environment of the lens. Where nonlinear
photoelectric transducers are used, they will preferably be
operated at their optimum operating point. To eliminate the
influence of the illumination of the object by the ambient light,
the receiver is preferably preceded by a dimmer, which is
controlled by a photovoltaic cell, a photoconductor or the like and
by which a diaphragm or a neutral wedge preceding the photoelectric
transducer is adjusted so that the average of the luminous flux
falling on the photoelectric transducers is constant. Such a dimmer
may be designed like the automatic diaphragm control device, which
is known in photographic and cinematographic cameras. Where the
novel rangefinder is used in combination with photographic or
cinematographic lenses, it will be desirable to arrange the
receiver in the path of the light passing through the lens, or to
use reflecting means, whereby the light required for the receiver
is deflected out of the path of light passing through the lens. If
the receiver of the rangefinder or the beam-splitting mirror
succeeds the diaphragm of the lens, the average quantity of the
light, which is incident on the photoelectric transducer of the
receiver will be constant regardless of the illumination of the
object by the ambient light.
The invention is not restricted to the examples, which have been
described hereinbefore. In addition to photography, cinematography
and television, the invention may be used also for geodetic
surveying instruments, as well as for sighting and tracking
devices. Besides, the novel device may be used for a measurement of
altitude in known instrument landing operations.
Various lasers may be used rather than the transmitters described
hereinbefore, ruby lasers and CO.sub.2 lasers being particularly
desirable, because they have a favorable frequency range.
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