A Split Image Vision Sensor

A vision sensor has been developed that uses only two lenses, a split prism, and a detector to acquire an image. This system uses the split prism to create a split image such that the displacement of the image is proportional to its range from the sensor. Prototype sensors have been examined both theoretically and experimentally, and have been found to measure object ranges with less than ±2 percent error. Acquisition of a single-point depth measurement is sufficiently fast for real-time use, and the optical components needed to build the sensor are inexpensive. The effect that each optical component has on the performance of the sensor is also discussed, and an optimal system design procedure is developed.