Distance detection system for vehicles

A distance detection system for a vehicle, having first and second cameras provided on said vehicle to image external objects, comprising:

• means for dividing images detected by said first and second cameras into a plurality of small regions;
• coincidence determining means for determining a degree of coincidence between said images in each of said small regions;
• and
• discrepancy amount determining means responsive to said degree of coincidence for determining a discrepancy amount between said images at each of said small regions, whereby discrepancy amounts over entire images represent a distance distribution in said image.

A distance detecting system for a vehicle comprising:

• first image taking means for taking a first optical image in a predetermined area;
• second image taking means distanced from a position of said first image taking means for taking a second optical image in said predetermined area;
• coincidence calculation means for dividing said first optical image into a plurality of predetermined regions and for calculating a degree of coincidence between said plurality of predetermined regions and regions in said second optical image;
• and
• discrepancy amount determining means for determining a discrepancy amount between a region in said second optical image corresponding to said predetermined region and a region in said second optical image which has a maximum degree of coincidence with said predetermined region and for storing said discrepancy amount into memory means at an address representing said predetermined region.