# US 2013/0153756 A1 · Object detecting device and information acquiring device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153756 A1 - Document ID: US20130153756A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/731,535 - Filed: 2012-12-31 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-07 - Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Katsumi UMEDA; Takaaki MORIMOTO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153756A1 ## CPC - G01V 8/12: using one transmitter and one receiver - G01B 11/00: Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques - G02B 5/1842: {Gratings for image generation (G02B5/1847 takes precedence)} - G06T 19/006: {Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00)} - G03H 2001/2247: {for testing the hologram or holobject} - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G03H: HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS (holograms, e.g. point holograms, used as ordinary optical elements G02B5/32; producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional effects G02B30/00; diffraction-grating systems G02B27/44; systems using moiré fringes G02B27/60; optical logic elements G02F3/00; stereo-photography G03B35/00; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; {stereo-photographic or similar processes G03C9/00}; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D; analogue computers performing mathematical operations with the aid of optical elements G06E3/00; authentication by radiation, of concealed information carried by holograms or diffraction gratings G06K19/16; holographic storage G11B7/0065, G11C13/04; {stereoscopic or other three dimensional effects in television systems H04N13/00}) ## Abstract An information acquiring device is provided with a laser light source, a diffractive optical element which is disposed in such a direction as to be away from an optical axis of the laser light source, a photodetector which is disposed to face the diffractive optical element with respect to the optical axis, and an optical path separating portion which guides laser light emitted from the laser light source to the diffractive optical element, and guides the laser light reflected on the diffractive optical element to the photodetector. The diffractive optical element irradiates a target area with the laser light having a predetermined pattern. The photodetector receives a part of the laser light diffracted and reflected on the diffractive optical element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An information acquiring device for acquiring information on a target area using light, comprising: a laser light source; a diffractive optical element which is disposed in such a direction as to be away from an optical axis of the laser light source; a photodetector which is disposed to face the diffractive optical element with respect to the optical axis; and an optical path separating portion which guides laser light emitted from the laser light source to the diffractive optical element, and guides the laser light reflected on the diffractive optical element to the photodetector, wherein the diffractive optical element irradiates the target area with the laser light having a predetermined pattern, and the photodetector receives a part of the laser light diffracted and reflected on the diffractive optical element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The information acquiring device according to claim 1, wherein the optical path separating portion has a polarized beam splitter which reflects the laser light emitted from the laser light source, and a quarter wave plate which is disposed between the diffractive optical element and the polarized beam splitter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The information acquiring device according to claim 1, wherein the optical path separating portion has a non-polarized beam splitter which reflects a part of the laser light emitted from the laser light source, and which transmits a part thereof, and the laser light emitted from the laser light source is reflected on the non-polarized beam splitter, and is directed to the diffractive optical element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The information acquiring device according to claim 3, wherein the non-polarized beam splitter is a half mirror. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The information acquiring device according to claim 1, further comprising: a control portion which controls the laser light source, wherein the control portion controls the laser light source to stop emitting the laser light, in the case where an output signal from the photodetector is out of a predetermined threshold range. ### Claim 6 An object detecting device, comprising an information acquiring device which acquires information on a target area using light, the information acquiring device including: a laser light source; a diffractive optical element which is disposed in such a direction as to be away from an optical axis of the laser light source; a photodetector which is disposed to face the diffractive optical element with respect to the optical axis; and an optical path separating portion which guides laser light emitted from the laser light source to the diffractive optical element, and guides the laser light reflected on the diffractive optical element to the photodetector, wherein the diffractive optical element irradiates the target area with the laser light having a predetermined pattern, and the photodetector receives a part of the laser light diffracted and reflected on the diffractive optical element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The object detecting device according to claim 6, wherein the optical path separating portion has a polarized beam splitter which reflects the laser light emitted from the laser light source, and a quarter wave plate which is disposed between the diffractive optical element and the polarized beam splitter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The object detecting device according to claim 6, wherein the optical path separating portion has a non-polarized beam splitter which reflects a part of the laser light emitted from the laser light source, and which transmits a part thereof, and the laser light emitted from the laser light source is reflected on the non-polarized beam splitter, and is directed to the diffractive optical element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The object detecting device according to claim 8, wherein the non-polarized beam splitter is a half mirror. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The object detecting device according to claim 6, further comprising: a control portion which controls the laser light source, wherein the control portion controls the laser light source to stop emitting the laser light, in the case where an output signal from the photodetector is out of a predetermined threshold range.