Distance measurement device

Abstract

To provide a distance measurement device for easily recognizing that a laser beam is being radiated to a measurement object.SOLUTION: A distance measurement device 1 includes: an objective lens 4; an eye-piece 7; a half mirror 18 arranged between the objective lens 4 and the eye-piece 7; a light emitting section 16 for emitting a laser beam L to a measurement object M; a light receiving section 17 for receiving the laser beam L reflected against the measurement object M; and a reception section 19 for receiving a signal from a satellite positioning system. The half mirror 18 is visually recognized through the eye-piece 7. The half mirror 18 has light transmissivity. An image displayed on the half mirror 18 is displayed by superimposition on a real image formed by the objective lens 4. The half mirror 18 displays a measurement distance to the measurement object M measured by using the laser beam L and a calculation distance to the measurement object M calculated by using the satellite positioning system.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a distance measuring device that irradiates a measurement object with laser light and measures the distance to the measurement object. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a distance measuring device that projects laser light toward an object to be measured, measures the elapsed time from emission to reception of the measurement light reflected from the object to calculate and display the distance to the object based on the elapsed time and the propagation speed of the laser light (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The distance measuring device described in Patent Document 1 is used, for example, by a golf player when measuring the distance to a cup (hole). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-115191 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When measuring the distance to the cup, it is necessary to shine a laser beam on the pin flag, but from a distance, it can be difficult to judge whether the laser beam is correctly shining on the pin flag. In particular, when there is a tree or the like behind the pin flag, it can be difficult to judge whether the laser beam is shining on the pin flag or on the tree or the like. Therefore, even when the laser beam is actually shining on the tree or the like, the player may mistakenly think that the laser beam is shining on the pin flag. In such a case, the distance to the cup is not measured correctly, which affects the golf play.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a distance measuring device that makes it easy to recognize that a laser beam is being irradiated onto a measurement target. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The distance measuring device of the present invention comprises an objective lens, an eyepiece lens, a display unit arranged between the objective lens and the eyepiece lens, an emitter unit that emits laser light toward a measurement object, a light receiving unit that receives the laser light reflected by the measurement object, and a receiver unit that receives a signal from a satellite positioning system, wherein the display unit is viewable through the eyepiece lens, the display unit is translucent, an image displayed on the display unit is superimposed on a real image formed by the objective lens, and the display unit displays the measured distance to the measurement object measured using the laser light and the calculated distance to the measurement object calculated using the satellite positioning system. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the distance measuring device of the present invention, it is possible to compare the measured distance to the object measured using laser light with the calculated distance to the object calculated using a satellite positioning system, making it easier to determine whether or not laser light is being irradiated to the object. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a front perspective view of a distance measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the distance measuring device in use. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the distance measuring device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing the real image visible when looking through the eyepiece and the display on the half mirror. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a real image that can be seen when looking through the eyepiece from a position different from that shown in FIG. 5 and the display on the half mirror. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that not all of the configurations described below are essential requirements for the present invention.

[0011] 1 and 2 show the external appearance of a laser rangefinder 1 as a distance measuring device according to the present invention. An objective lens 4 and a light receiving lens 5 are provided on a front surface 3 of a main body 2 of the laser rangefinder 1. An eyepiece lens 7 is provided on a rear surface 6 of the main body 2. Furthermore, an operation unit 9 consisting of various operation buttons is provided on a top surface 8 of the main body 2.

[0012] 3, the laser rangefinder 1 irradiates a laser beam L through an objective lens 4, and receives the laser beam L reflected by an object to be measured M through a light-receiving lens 5. The laser rangefinder 1 also includes a timing means 10 for measuring time, and measures the time it takes for the irradiated laser beam L to be reflected by the object to be measured M and then received.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 4, the laser rangefinder 1 includes a control means 11, which has a light emitting unit control unit 12, a distance calculation unit 13, a position calculation unit 14, and an image display control unit 15.

[0014] When the player P (user) operates the operation unit 9 to emit laser light L, an operation signal is transmitted from the operation unit 9 to the light-emitting unit control unit 12. The light-emitting unit control unit 12, which has received the operation signal, transmits a drive signal to the light-emitting unit 16 disposed inside the main body 2, and controls the emission of the laser light L.

[0015] The distance calculation unit 13 calculates the measured distance D1 to the object M based on the time measured by the timing means 10 from the emission of the laser light L from the light emitting unit 16 to the reception of the laser light L by the light receiving unit 17 arranged inside the main body 2.

[0016] The position calculation unit 14 calculates the calculated distance D2 to the measurement target M based on the position information of the laser rangefinder 1 received by the receiving unit 19 described later and the position information of the cup (hole) of the course layout stored in the memory unit 20.

[0017] The image display control unit 15 controls the display of the auxiliary image G displayed on the half mirror 18 serving as a display unit disposed inside the main body 2. Note that, by operating the operation unit 9, a part or the whole of the auxiliary image G can be made non-displayable.

[0018] The laser rangefinder 1 includes a receiving unit 19 that wirelessly receives radio waves from a plurality of artificial satellites S, and is capable of acquiring position information of the laser rangefinder 1 by using a satellite positioning system.

[0019] When the player P looks into the eyepiece 7, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the real image R formed by the objective lens 4 and the auxiliary image G displayed on the half mirror 18 are seen to overlap. Because the half mirror 18 is translucent, the real image R can be seen even when the auxiliary image G is displayed on the half mirror 18. The auxiliary image G in this embodiment is a two-dimensional course layout image G1, a reticle G2 that serves as an index when aiming, a current position display G3 of the laser rangefinder 1, a distance guide display G4, an adjustment line G5, a distance display G6 of a measured distance D1 measured by the laser rangefinder 1, and a distance display G7 of a calculated distance D2 calculated based on the position information received by the receiving unit 19, but other information may also be displayed.

[0020] The laser rangefinder 1 is equipped with a memory unit 20, which stores layout information for each golf course together with position information for each course. The memory unit 20 can store course layout information and course position information for multiple golf courses. Furthermore, this course layout information and position information can be changed, added, or deleted as desired.

[0021] Based on the position information of the laser rangefinder 1 received by the receiving unit 19, the position calculation unit 14 determines which course of the golf course stored in the memory unit 20 the player P who owns the laser rangefinder 1 is on. The image display control unit 15 reads out the course layout image G1 of the determined course from the memory unit 20 and displays it on the half mirror 18. The course layout image G1 is displayed in approximately the center in the left-right direction of the half mirror 18, and displays the course layout in the direction of the cup as viewed from the position of the laser rangefinder 1 (current position display G3). The course layout image G1 displays a reticle G2, a current position display G3, and a distance guide display G4 in an overlapping state. The reticle G2 is displayed so that its center overlaps with the position of the cup (hole) in the course layout image G1.

[0022] Reticle G2 consists of a circle and short straight lines that intersect with the circle above, below, left and right of the circle. None of the four straight lines intersect with each other. By adjusting the orientation of laser rangefinder 1 and aligning the center of reticle G2 with the position of the cup in real image R, the course in real image R can be aligned with course layout image G1. The course layout image G1 includes indications of the fairway, rough, hazards (ponds, bunkers, etc.), OB ranges, cart paths, etc.

[0023] The position calculation unit 14 calculates the position of the laser rangefinder 1 in the course layout image G1 based on the position information of the laser rangefinder 1 and the position information of the course. A current position display G3 is displayed at the calculated position. The current position display G3 has a direction display unit G3-1. The direction display unit G3-1 indicates the direction in which the front part 3 of the laser rangefinder 1 is facing. Therefore, the player P can check in which direction the front part 3 of the laser rangefinder 1 is facing.

[0024] The distance guide display G4 consists of multiple circles and numbers. In this embodiment, it consists of four circles and the numbers "25", "50", "75", and "100" displayed adjacent to each circle. Each number indicates that the distance from the current position of the laser rangefinder 1 to the adjacent circle is 25 yards (Yd), 50 yards (Yd), 75 yards (Yd), and 100 yards (Yd). The distance guide display G4 allows the user to check not only the distance from the current position of the laser rangefinder 1 to the cup, but also the distance to hazards and OB ranges.

[0025] The adjustment line G5 is composed of a fixed line G5-1 in the shape of a vertical arrow and a movable line G5-2 in the shape of a vertical arrow. The lower end of the fixed line G5-1 and the lower end of the movable line G5-2 are fixed at the same position. The fixed line G5-1 is displayed so as to extend in the vertical direction of the half mirror 18 without moving even if the direction of the laser rangefinder 1 is changed. When the direction of the laser rangefinder 1 is changed to the left or right, the movable line G5-2 swings left or right around the lower end as an axis in response to the movement. The adjustment line G5 serves as a guide for left or right alignment when aligning the center of the reticle G2 with the position of the cup of the real image R. When the left or right direction of the laser rangefinder 1 is adjusted so that the movable line G5-2 overlaps with the position of the fixed line G5-1, the center of the reticle G2 and the position of the cup of the real image R coincide in the left or right direction. Next, by adjusting the vertical orientation of laser rangefinder 1, the center of reticle G2 can be aligned with the cup position of real image R.

[0026] The measured distance D1 measured by the laser rangefinder 1 is displayed as a distance display G6 in the upper right portion of the half mirror 18. The calculated distance D2 calculated based on the position information received by the receiving unit 19 is displayed as a distance display G7 in the lower right portion of the half mirror 18. The display positions of the distance displays G6 and G7 may be different as long as the course layout image G1, the distance guide display G4, and the adjustment line G5 are not obscured. For example, the distance display G6 may be displayed in the lower right portion of the half mirror 18, and the distance display G7 may be displayed in the upper right portion of the half mirror 18.

[0027] Here, a method of using the laser rangefinder 1 will be described. First, the laser rangefinder 1 is turned on by operating the operation unit 9. When the laser rangefinder 1 is turned on, the auxiliary image G is displayed on the half mirror 18. At this time, the measured distance D1 is not displayed because it has not been measured, but the course layout image G1, the reticle G2, the current position display G3, the distance guide display G4, the adjustment line G5, and the distance display G7 of the calculated distance D2 are displayed. Next, while looking through the eyepiece 7, the player aligns the center of the reticle G2 with the position of the cup of the real image R, and operates the operation unit 9 to irradiate the laser light L onto the pin flag, which is the measurement target M, to measure the measured distance D1. The measured measured distance D1 is displayed as the distance display G6 on the half mirror 18. The player P compares the measured distance D1 displayed as the auxiliary image G with the calculated distance D2, and judges whether the laser light L is correctly irradiated onto the pin flag. Specifically, if the measured distance D1 and the calculated distance D2 are the same or close to each other, it can be determined that the laser light L is correctly projected onto the pin flag, and if there is a difference of a certain degree or more between the measured distance D1 and the calculated distance D2, it can be determined that the laser light L is not correctly projected onto the pin flag. If it is determined that the measured distance D1 is correct, the shot can be made taking into consideration the measured distance D1 to the cup and the positions of hazards on the course layout image G1.

[0028] The image display control unit 15 adjusts the orientation of the course layout image G1 displayed on the half mirror 18 based on the position information of the laser rangefinder 1 and the position information of the cup. That is, the reticle G2 is displayed in a slightly upper central portion of the half mirror 18, the current position display G3 is displayed in a lower portion of the half mirror 18, and approximately in the central portion in the left-right direction, and the course layout image G1 is displayed so as to correspond to the reticle G2 and the current position display G3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 showing the course layout image G1 when the player P holding the laser rangefinder 1 looks into the eyepiece 7 while on the fairway, and FIG. 6 showing the course layout image G1 when the player P holding the laser rangefinder 1 looks into the eyepiece 7 while on the rough, the distance to the cup is the same, but the orientation of the course layout image G1 displayed differs depending on the position of the laser rangefinder 1. That is, when the center of the reticle G2 is aligned with the position of the cup of the real image R, the orientation of the course layout image G1 is adjusted to match the course of the real image R and is displayed.

[0029] As described above, the distance measuring device 1 of this embodiment includes the objective lens 4, the eyepiece lens 7, the half mirror 18 disposed between the objective lens 4 and the eyepiece lens 7, the light emitting unit 16 that emits the laser light L toward the measurement target M, the light receiving unit 17 that receives the laser light L reflected by the measurement target M, and the receiving unit 19 that receives a signal from the satellite positioning system. The half mirror 18 is visible through the eyepiece lens 7, the half mirror 18 has translucency, the image displayed on the half mirror 18 is displayed superimposed on the real image R formed by the objective lens 4, and the half mirror 18 displays the measured distance D1 to the measurement target M measured using the laser light L and the calculated distance D2 to the measurement target M calculated using the satellite positioning system. Therefore, the measured distance D1 and the calculated distance D2 can be compared, making it easy to determine whether the laser light L is irradiated to the measurement target M.

[0030] Furthermore, in the distance measurement device 1 of this embodiment, a course layout image G1 of the golf course is displayed on the half mirror 18. Therefore, the measurement distance D1 to the measurement target M can be measured and the course layout of the golf course can be confirmed.

[0031] In addition, the distance measurement device 1 of this embodiment displays the position of the distance measurement device 1 on the course layout image G1, which is a layout image of the golf course from the position of the distance measurement device 1 to the cup side. In other words, since the layout image of the direction in which the shot will be hit is displayed, the player P can visually recognize only the information necessary for the next shot, such as the fairway, rough, hazards, OB range, cart path, etc.

[0032] Furthermore, in the distance measurement device 1 of this embodiment, the course layout image G1 is displayed approximately in the center in the left-right direction of the half mirror 18. Therefore, the course layout image G1 can be displayed widely in the left-right direction, allowing the player P to visually recognize a wide range of the course layout.

[0033] Furthermore, in the distance measurement device 1 of this embodiment, the half mirror 18 displays a fixed line G5-1 that does not move even if the orientation of the distance measurement device 1 is changed, and a movable line G5-2 that swings left and right corresponding to the left and right orientation of the distance measurement device 1, and the fixed line G5-1 linearly indicates the direction from the position of the distance measurement device 1 to the measurement target M, and the bottom ends of the fixed line G5-1 and the movable line G5-2 are fixed at the same position. Therefore, the fixed line G5-1 and the movable line G5-2 can be used as guides when adjusting the left and right orientation of the distance measurement device 1.

[0034] Furthermore, in the distance measurement device 1 of this embodiment, when an image of the measurement object M is displayed on the half mirror 18 and the positions of the fixed line G5-1 and the movable line G5-2 overlap, the left-right positions of the image of the measurement object M and the real image R of the measurement object M become the same. Therefore, the left-right positions of the image of the measurement object M and the real image R of the measurement object M can be aligned using the fixed line G5-1 and the movable line G5-2 as guides, making alignment easy.

[0035] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. The course layout image G1 in the above embodiment is a two-dimensional display, but it may be a three-dimensional display showing elevation differences and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 Distance measuring device 4 Objective Lenses 7 Eyepiece 16 Light emitting part 17 Light receiving part 18 Half Mirror 19 Receiving section D1 Measurement distance D2 Calculated distance G1 course layout image G5-1 Fixed Line G5-2 Moving Line L Laser light M Measurement target

Claims

1. An objective lens; An eyepiece and a display unit disposed between the objective lens and the eyepiece lens; A light emitting unit that emits laser light toward a measurement object; a light receiving unit that receives the laser light reflected by the object to be measured; A receiving unit that receives a signal from a satellite positioning system, The display unit is viewed through the eyepiece, The display unit has a light-transmitting property, the image displayed on the display unit is displayed superimposed on a real image formed by the objective lens, A distance measuring device characterized in that the display unit displays a measured distance to the object measured using the laser light and a calculated distance to the object calculated using the satellite positioning system.

2. 2. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays an image of a layout of a golf course.

3. the course layout image displays the position of the distance measuring device; 3. The distance measurement device according to claim 2, wherein the course layout image is a layout image of the golf course in a range from the position of the distance measurement device to a cup side.

4. 3. The distance measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the course layout image is displayed at approximately the center in the left-right direction of the display unit.

5. the display unit displays a fixed line that does not move even if the orientation of the distance measurement device is changed, and a movable line that swings left and right in response to the left and right orientation of the distance measurement device, the fixed line linearly indicates a direction of the measurement object from the position of the distance measuring device; 2. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the fixed line and a lower end of the movable line are fixed at the same position.

6. an image of the measurement target is displayed on the display unit; When the fixed line and the movable line are positioned to overlap, 6. The distance measuring device according to claim 5, wherein the image of the object to be measured and the real image of the object to be measured are in the same position in the left-right direction.

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