Optical distance measuring sensor

An optical distance measuring sensor for estimating a distance to an object by measuring a time from when light is emitted to the object to when reflected light is received, the sensor comprising:

• a charge accumulation unit configured to accumulate charge for generating a pulse current to be supplied to a light-emitting element;
• a setting unit configured to set a target sensitivity of the optical distance measuring sensor;
• a pulse current controller configured to generate the pulse current in synchronization with a repetitive signal, and to pulse-drive the light-emitting element, the pulse current controller being configured to adjust the pulse current based on the target sensitivity;
• a light-receiving element configured to receive the reflected light;
• a first temperature sensor;
• a nonvolatile memory having characteristic data of the individual light-receiving element stored therein;
• a light-receiving element controller configured to adjust a multiplication factor of the light-receiving element based on a temperature measured by the first temperature sensor, the characteristic data, and the target sensitivity;
• and
• a calculation unit configured to calculate the time based on an output signal repeatedly obtained from the light-receiving element in which the multiplication factor has been adjusted.