Light projecting apparatus, distance measuring apparatus, and light projection control method of laser light

A distance measuring apparatus comprising:

• a light projecting apparatus;
• a light receiving device that receives a reflected optical signal obtained by reflecting an optical signal emitted from the light projecting apparatus by an object;
• and
• a distance measurer that measures a distance to the object based on the optical signal emitted from the light projecting apparatus and the reflected optical signal received by the light receiving device,
• wherein the light projecting apparatus comprises:
• a plurality of light projectors, each being capable of individually controlling an emission direction and an emission timing of an optical signal;
• and
• a plurality of first controllers, each controlling an emission direction and an emission timing of an optical signal emitted from a corresponding light projector among the plurality of light projectors.

A light projection control method of laser light comprising:

• radiating, by a plurality of light projectors, laser light such that beams of the laser light at least partially overlap each other in a range separated from emission positions of the laser light by a predetermined distance or more;
• and
• setting light intensity of the laser light emitted by the plurality of light projectors and an interval between the plurality of light projectors such that light intensity of the laser light at the time of emission and light intensity of the overlapping laser light conform to a laser safety standard,
• wherein each of the plurality of light projectors is capable of controlling an emission direction and an emission timing of the laser light.