Image capturing apparatus and distance measuring method

A distance measuring method for obtaining information regarding a depth of a subject, comprising:

• an illumination step for simultaneously casting a first illumination light beam, having a first wavelength as a main component, and a second illumination light beam, having a second wavelength and a third wavelength as main components,
• said first and second illumination light beams being modulated such that intensities of said first and second illumination light beams are changed along respective traveling directions thereof;
• a separation step for optically separating outgoing light beams, from said subject onto which said first and second illumination light beams are cast, into a first outgoing light beam having said first wavelength, a second outgoing light beam having said second wavelength, and a third outgoing light beam having said third wavelength;
• a capturing step for capturing said first, second and third outgoing light beams;
• a light intensity detection step for detecting intensities of said first, second and third outgoing light beams;
• and
• a depth calculation step for calculating a depth-direction distance to said subject based on said intensities of said first, second and third outgoing light beams.

A distance measuring method for obtaining information regarding a depth of a subject, comprising:

• an illumination step for simultaneously casting a first illumination light beam, having a first wavelength as a main component, and a second illumination light beam, having a second wavelength and a third wavelength as main components,
• said first and second illumination light beams being modulated such that intensities of said first and second illumination light beams are changed along respective traveling directions thereof,
• second wavelength being shorter than said first wavelength, said third wavelength being longer than said first wavelength;
• a separation step for optically separating outgoing light beams, from said subject onto which said first and second illumination light beams are cast, into a first outgoing light beam having said first wavelength and a second outgoing light beam having said second and third wavelengths;
• a capturing step for capturing said first and second outgoing light beams;
• a light intensity detection step for detecting the intensities of said first and second outgoing light beams;
• and
• a depth calculation step for calculating a depth-direction distance to said subject based on said intensities of said first and second outgoing light beams.