Distance measuring apparatus

摘要

A distance measuring apparatus includes a light transmission optical system for transmitting a light beam having intensity distribution with a pair of peaks, and a reception system for measuring a distance to an obstacle on the basis of reflected light from the obstacle. The light transmission optical system has a pair of light transmission units for transmitting two light beams, each having a Gaussian intensity distribution, and composition of the two light beams forms the light beam having the intensity distribution with the pair of peaks. The light transmission units are arranged at positions near both ends of a front portion of an automobile, to transmit the two light beams in parallel from the positions. An interval between the peaks is a distance corresponding to an area in which the degree of danger to life is high in a collision against the obstacle, i.e. about 1 m. And the feet of the light intensity distribution with the pair of peaks fall within the width of the automobile.