Semiconductor photo detector element, distance measuring equipment, and camera

A distance measuring equipment comprising:

• a light projecting unit for projecting light for a distance measurement;
• and
• a photo detector unit, having a light detection window disposed at an interval of a predetermined distance from said light projecting unit, for determining a distance up to a subject in such a manner that light is projected from said light projecting unit, and light reflected on the subject is detected through said light detection window,
• wherein said photo detector unit comprises:
• a semiconductor photo detector element comprising a detection surface for generating a photo-current upon receipt of irradiation of light, a pair of signal electrodes, disposed at both ends of said detection surface, adapted for outputting on a share basis the photo-current generated by irradiation of light onto said detection surface, and a first switch, disposed at a position adjacent to one signal electrode which is one of said pair of signal electrodes, for selectively offering a first state which permits the photo-current generated on said detection surface to conduct into said one signal electrode, and a second state which inhibits the photo-current generated on said detection surface from conducting into said one signal electrode, in accordance with a control signal;
• a first distance arithmetic unit for determining a distance up to the subject in accordance with both the photo-currents derived through said pair of signal electrodes, in a state that said first switch is changed over to said first state;
• and
• a second distance arithmetic unit for determining a distance up to the subject in accordance with the photo-current derived through another signal electrode different from said one signal electrode, of said pair of signal electrodes, in a state that said first switch is changed over to said second state.

A camera loaded with a distance measuring equipment comprising a light projecting unit, having a light projection window disposed in front of the camera, for projecting light for focusing from said light projection window in front of the camera, and a photo detector unit, having a light detection window disposed in front of the camera and at an interval of a predetermined distance from said light projection window, for determining a distance up to a subject in such a manner that light is projected from said light projection window in front of the camera, and light reflected on the subject is detected through said light detection window,

• wherein said photo detector unit comprises:
• a semiconductor photo detector element comprising a detection surface for generating a photo-current upon receipt of irradiation of light, a pair of signal electrodes, disposed at both ends of said detection surface, adapted for outputting on a share basis the photo-current generated by irradiation of light onto said detection surface, and a first switch, disposed at a position adjacent to one signal electrode which is one of said pair of signal electrodes, for selectively offering a first state which permits the photo-current generated on said detection surface to conduct into said one signal electrode, and a second state which inhibits the photo-current generated on said detection surface from conducting into said one signal electrode, in accordance with a control signal;
• a control unit for generating a control signal to change over said first switch and transmitting the control signal to said semiconductor photo detector element;
• a first distance arithmetic unit for determining a distance up to the subject in accordance with both the photo-currents derived through said pair of signal electrodes, in a state that a control signal to change over said first switch to said first state is transmitted to said semiconductor photo detector element by said control unit;
• and
• a second distance arithmetic unit for determining a distance up to the subject in accordance with the photo-current derived through another signal electrode different from said one signal electrode, of said pair of signal electrodes, in a state that a control signal to change over said first switch to said second state is transmitted to said semiconductor photo detector element by said control unit.

A camera loaded with a flash emission device in which at time of a photography a flash is projected to a subject, a reflected light from the subject is detected, and a flash emission is stopped at a timing that the reflected light reaches a predetermined light quantity, and a distance measuring equipment comprising a light projecting unit, having a light projection window disposed in front of the camera, for projecting light for focusing from said light projection window in front of the camera, and a photo detector unit, having a light detection window disposed in front of the camera and at an interval of a predetermined distance from said light projection window, for determining a distance up to a subject in such a manner that light is projected from said light projection window in front of the camera, and light reflected on the subject is detected through said light detection window,

• wherein said camera comprises:
• a semiconductor photo detector element comprising a detection surface for generating a photo-current upon receipt of irradiation of light, a pair of signal electrodes, disposed at both ends of said detection surface, adapted for outputting on a share basis the photo-current generated by irradiation of light onto said detection surface, and a first switch, disposed at a position adjacent to one signal electrode which is one of said pair of signal electrodes, for selectively offering a first state which permits the photo-current generated on said detection surface to conduct into said one signal electrode, and a second state which inhibits the photo-current generated on said detection surface from conducting into said one signal electrode, in accordance with a control signal, said semiconductor photo detector element being used on a common basis for said flash emission device and said distance measuring equipment and serving to detect both flash reflected on the subject and incident through said light detection window and light for focusing reflected on the subject and incident through said light detection window;
• and
• a control unit for generating a control signal to change over said first switch and transmitting the control signal to said semiconductor photo detector element.

A camera loaded with a remote control device responsive to light from a remote control equipment for controlling the camera in accordance with an emission of light directed to the camera for instructing an execution of operation according to detection of the light, and a distance measuring equipment comprising a light projecting unit, having a light projection window disposed in front of the camera, for projecting light for focusing from said light projection window in front of the camera, and a photo detector unit, having a light detection window disposed in front of the camera and at an interval of a predetermined distance from said light projection window, for determining a distance up to a subject in such a manner that light is projected from said light projection window in front of the camera, and light reflected on the subject is detected through said light detection window,

• wherein said camera comprises:
• a semiconductor photo detector element comprising a detection surface for generating a photo-current upon receipt of irradiation of light, a pair of signal electrodes, disposed at both ends of said detection surface, adapted for outputting on a share basis the photo-current generated by irradiation of light onto said detection surface, and a first switch, disposed at a position adjacent to one signal electrode which is one of said pair of signal electrodes, for selectively offering a first state which permits the photo-current generated on said detection surface to conduct into said one signal electrode, and a second state which inhibits the photo-current generated on said detection surface from conducting into said one signal electrode, in accordance with a control signal, said semiconductor photo detector element being used on a common basis for said remote control device and said distance measuring equipment and serving to detect both light emitted from said remote control equipment and incident through said light detection window and light for focusing reflected on the subject and incident through said light detection window;
• and
• a control unit for generating a control signal to change over said first switch and transmitting the control signal to said semiconductor photo detector element.

A camera loaded with a remote control device responsive to light from a remote control equipment for controlling the camera in accordance with an emission of light directed to the camera for instructing an execution of operation according to detection of the light, a flash emission device in which at time of a photography a flash is projected to a subject, a reflected light from the subject is detected, and a flash emission is stopped at a timing that the reflected light reaches a predetermined light quantity, and a distance measuring equipment comprising a light projecting unit, having a light projection window disposed in front of the camera, for projecting light for focusing from said light projection window in front of the camera, and a photo detector unit, having a light detection window disposed in front of the camera and at an interval of a predetermined distance from said light projection window, for determining a distance up to a subject in such a manner that light is projected from said light projection window in front of the camera, and light reflected on the subject is detected through said light detection window,

• wherein said camera comprises:
• a semiconductor photo detector element comprising a detection surface for generating a photo-current upon receipt of irradiation of light, a pair of signal electrodes, disposed at both ends of said detection surface, adapted for outputting on a share basis the photo-current generated by irradiation of light onto said detection surface, and a first switch, disposed at a position adjacent to one signal electrode which is one of said pair of signal electrodes, for selectively offering a first state which permits the photo-current generated on said detection surface to conduct into said one signal electrode, and a second state which inhibits the photo-current generated on said detection surface from conducting into said one signal electrode, in accordance with a control signal, said semiconductor photo detector element being used on a common basis for said remote control device, said flash emission device and said distance measuring equipment and serving to detect three types of light emitted from said remote control equipment and incident through said light detection window, flash reflected on the subject and incident through said light detection window and light for focusing reflected on the subject and incident through said light detection window;
• and
• a control unit for generating a control signal to change over said first switch and transmitting the control signal to said semiconductor photo detector element.