Distance-measuring/imaging apparatus, distance measuring method of the same, and solid imaging element

A solid imaging element used for a distance-measuring/imaging apparatus, the distance-measuring/imaging apparatus comprising:

• a signal generation unit for measuring a distance by a light irradiation and an exposure to reflected light, and for generating an emission signal for commanding the light irradiation and an exposure signal for commanding the exposure to the reflected light;
• a light source unit for performing the light irradiation by receiving the emission signal;
• an imaging unit including the solid imaging element, and used for performing the exposure by receiving the exposure signal and for acquiring an exposure amount of the reflected light;
• and
• a calculation unit for calculating and outputting distance information based on the exposure amount, and calculating the distance information based on a first exposure amount and a second exposure amount acquired by changing at least one of:
• a number of repeats of at least one of the emission signal and the exposure signal in a first emission/exposure period;
• and
• a number of repeats of at least one of the emission signal and the exposure signal in a second emission/exposure period,
• wherein
• the solid imaging element acquires the first exposure amount corresponding to the exposure in the first emission/exposure period, in which the exposure is performed by receiving the exposure signal after a lapse of a first delay time from a receiving timing of the emission signal, and
• the solid imaging element acquires the second exposure amount corresponding to the exposure in the second emission/exposure period, in which the exposure is performed by receiving the exposure signal after a lapse of a second delay time from the receiving timing of the emission signal, the second delay time being different from the first delay time.

A distance measuring method of a distance-measuring/imaging apparatus for measuring a distance by a light irradiation and an exposure to reflected light, the distance measuring method comprising:

• a first-exposure-amount acquiring step of acquiring a first exposure amount corresponding to the exposure in a first emission/exposure period, in which the exposure is performed by outputting an exposure signal for commanding the exposure to the reflected light after a lapse of a first delay time from an output timing of an emission signal for commanding the light irradiation;
• a second-exposure-amount acquiring step of acquiring a second exposure amount corresponding to the exposure in a second emission/exposure period, in which the exposure is performed by outputting the exposure signal after a lapse of a second delay time from the output timing of the emission signal, the second delay time being different from the first delay time;
• and
• a distance calculating step of calculating and outputting distance information based on the first exposure amount and the second exposure amount,
• wherein, in the first-exposure-amount acquiring step and the second-exposure-amount acquiring step, the first exposure amount and the second exposure amount are acquired by changing at least one of:
• a number of repeats of at least one of the emission signal and the exposure signal in the first emission/exposure period;
• and
• a number of repeats of at least one of the emission signal and the exposure signal in the second emission/exposure period.