JPH08338880A - Thermal object measuring device, personal audience rating survey system, and distance detector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A thermal object measuring device that is inexpensive, can be downsized, and has high detection accuracy. SOLUTION: An infrared detecting means 10 having one or more light receiving parts for detecting infrared rays emitted from an object, and a distance detecting means having at least one pair of infrared light emitting element and light receiving element for detecting the distance to the object. 4 and the outputs from the infrared detecting means 10 and the distance detecting means 4,
A thermal object measuring device comprising: sensor signal processing means 25, 26 for determining a temperature distribution in space and an object distance distribution.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal object measuring device for detecting a thermal object using a distance sensor using a pyroelectric sensor for detecting infrared rays, particularly heat rays and a near infrared ray, and a distance detector used for the same. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, non-contact means for detecting a human body has been earnestly desired in the fields of air conditioning, lighting, security and the like.

Conventionally, as a means for detecting a human body existing in space, a method of extracting a human body from an obtained image using a CCD camera and a method of detecting infrared rays by a quantum infrared sensor to detect the human body are known. A method has been used or proposed in which an inexpensive pyroelectric infrared sensor is used and a Fresnel lens is installed in front of the sensor to detect a voltage output generated when a thermal object moves.

[0004]

However, in the method using the CCD camera as described above, since the detection algorithm for extracting the human body from the image is very complicated, the apparatus is large and the processing time is long. It was a very expensive system. Further, in the method using the quantum infrared sensor, the sensor must be cooled and used, the device is large and expensive, and is not practical for general use. The method using the pyroelectric type sensor solves the disadvantages of the quantum type sensor that it is large and expensive, but it not only cannot detect a stationary human body but also has a problem of malfunction due to wind or the like. Therefore, if a chopper is installed in front of the sensor, a stationary human body can be measured, but if there is a heat source having the same radiation temperature and area as the human body, there is a problem that the human body is erroneously detected.

On the other hand, as a distance sensor for measuring the distance to an object, there are methods using ultrasonic waves, millimeter waves, and laser radar. The method using ultrasonic waves is practical up to a distance of about 5 m, but it is difficult to improve the directivity up to the accuracy of detecting a human body at a distance of more than 5 m. The method using millimeter waves and laser radar has begun to be put to practical use in the field of measuring the distance between vehicles such as automobiles, but the device is very large and expensive, and there are restrictions on use such as danger to the eyes. There were also many.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems of various conventional methods, and an object thereof is to provide a thermal object measuring device which can be made inexpensive, can be miniaturized, and can have high detection accuracy, and a distance detector used therein. Is.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an infrared detecting means having at least one light receiving portion for detecting infrared rays emitted from an object, an infrared light emitting element and a light receiving element for detecting a distance to the object. And a sensor signal processing unit that obtains a temperature distribution in space and a distance distribution between objects by using outputs from the infrared detection unit and the distance detection unit. It is a thermal object measuring device.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the temperature distribution in the space and the distance information of the object in the space. Therefore, it is possible to detect the human body with high accuracy by an inexpensive and small device.

Further, a temperature correction means for correcting the output of the infrared detection means by using the output of the distance detection means is further provided, and by using this, a more accurate thermal image can be obtained.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments thereof. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the outline of a thermal object measuring apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
In the front of the pyroelectric infrared sensor 1 as the infrared detecting means, a chopper 6 for interrupting the infrared rays incident on the light receiving section is provided, and the distance sensor section 4 as the distance detecting means is an infrared light emitting element. It is composed of an infrared LED 2 and a photodiode 3 which is a light receiving element. The infrared sensor 1 and the distance sensor unit 4 are movable as a scanning unit so that they can be rotated right and left about a rotation shaft 5.
Connected to data 7. Here, the facing direction of the infrared sensor 1 and the facing direction of the distance sensor unit 4 are adjusted so as to face the same direction.

Next, the operation of the thermal object measuring device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

When the motor 7 is rotated and the infrared sensor 1 is rotated about the rotary shaft 5, when the infrared sensor 1 faces the chopper 6 and an object having a different radiation temperature,
A sensor output corresponding to the temperature difference between the chopper 6 and the object can be obtained. As shown in the time chart of FIG. 2, the distance sensor unit 4 projects the AM-modulated light (near infrared) from the infrared LED 2 and uses the photodiode 3 to reflect the light reflected back to the object. The distance from the sensor to the object can be obtained based on the time difference between the light receiving and projecting waveform and the light receiving waveform and the speed of light.

FIG. 3 shows the output waveform of the infrared sensor 1 (upper figure) when one person is standing in front of the apparatus and the distance distribution from the sensor to the person measured by the distance sensor section 4 (lower figure, black circles). ) And. Here, the optical axes of the infrared sensor 1 and the distance sensor unit 4 were adjusted parallel to the floor. When the rotation of the motor 7 is started, a sensor output corresponding to the temperature difference between the facing field of view and the chopper 6 is generated in the infrared sensor 1 accordingly. The distance sensor unit 4 has an infrared ray L with respect to the facing field of view.
The light is emitted from the ED 2, the reflected light from the object is received by the photodiode 3, and the distance is calculated from the time difference. Operate the motor 7, stop the motor 7 in the next field of view, infrared LED
Light emission from 2, light reception by the photodiode 3, and distance calculation are repeated. As is apparent from FIG. 3, it can be seen that an object having a high temperature exists in the ninth visual field from the start of rotation of the motor 7, and the object exists in front of the device toward the wall. (Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a thermal object measuring device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, infrared rays radiated from the heat object are intermittently blocked from the optical path by the cylindrical chopper 9. Further, it is condensed by the infrared condenser lens 11, passes through the slit portion 13 of the infrared array sensor 8, and forms an image on the light receiving portion inside the infrared array sensor 8. The infrared condenser lens 11 and the infrared array sensor 8 are supported by the sensor fixing portion 12.

In the present embodiment, the infrared array sensor 8 has eight light receiving portions, and FIG. 5 shows the vertical field distribution when the sensors are installed at a height of 1.2 m. 1
The field of view that can be detected by the two light receiving units is 6 ° in the vertical direction in the range between the solid lines. Therefore, a total of 4 in 8 light receiving parts
It will be 8 degrees. On the other hand, the distance sensor unit 4 is the infrared sensor unit 1.
It is installed at the bottom of 0 and is adjusted so that the optical axis in the horizontal direction is in the same direction. The near-infrared light emitted from the infrared LED 2 is condensed into a beam having an angle of 1 ° by the infrared LED lens 15 and projected onto an object. The beam reflected by the object and returned is condensed by the photodiode lens 14 and enters the photodiode 3. In this embodiment, the number of infrared LEDs 2 and the number of photodiodes 3 are four, respectively, and FIG. 6 shows the vertical field distribution when the sensor is installed at a height of 1.2 m. An alternate long and short dash line indicates the near-infrared optical axis projected, and is arranged vertically so that people lying on the floor, people sitting, and people standing by the wall can be detected. Needless to say, the optical axes in the vertical direction of the pair of infrared LED 2 and photodiode 3 are the same.

Now, the infrared sensor unit 10 and the distance sensor unit 4 are fixed to the upper part of the sensor turntable 20. When the stepping motor 21 rotates, its driving force is transmitted to the sensor rotary base 20 via the rotary belt 22. In the first field of view, the infrared sensor unit 10 rotates the cylindrical chopper 9 to measure the one-dimensional temperature distribution of the space, and at the same time, the distance sensor unit 4 measures the one-dimensional distance distribution of the space. Next, the stepping motor 21 is rotated by a certain angle, and the sensor is aimed at the next visual field and stopped. Here, the one-dimensional temperature distribution and distance distribution of space are measured every 3 ° in the horizontal direction by the same method as described above. In the same manner, continuous visual fields are measured, and by combining the information, a two-dimensional temperature distribution and distance distribution in space can be obtained. (Embodiment 3) FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a thermal object measuring apparatus according to a third embodiment, which is an improvement of the thermal object measuring apparatus according to (Embodiment 2). The measurement procedure is the same as that described in (Embodiment 2), but in the present embodiment, the device is simplified by using one photodiode lens 14 and one photodiode 3. The area of the photodiode lens 14 is increased so as not to impair the accuracy. The number of infrared LEDs 2 is eight.

Next, a method of receiving near infrared rays from a plurality of infrared LEDs 2 by one photodiode 3 and calculating the distance will be described.

FIG. 8 shows a time chart of the sensor signal of the distance sensor section 4. The first infrared LED 2 and the second infrared LED 2 emit light (hereinafter, similarly, the nth infrared LED 2 emits light and the (n + 1) th infrared LED 2 emits light) 1
When delayed by 0 μsec, the reflected light returning from the object is 100 nse if the distance to the object is up to several tens of meters.
Since it returns with a delay of c or less, it is possible to perform good measurement if the sampling is performed with a proper timing. (Embodiment 4) FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a thermal object measuring device according to a fourth embodiment, which is an improvement of the thermal object measuring device according to (embodiment 3). The measurement procedure is the same as that described in (Embodiment 2) and (Embodiment 3), but in this embodiment, for infrared LEDs installed in front of the infrared LEDs 2 arranged in an array. The device is simplified by using only one lens 15. The area of the infrared LED lens 15 is increased so as not to impair the accuracy. It goes without saying that the optical axes of the arrayed infrared LEDs 2 are adjusted. By using this method, it was possible to reduce the number of parts and downsize without lowering the accuracy. (Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a thermal object measuring apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, the analog signal obtained from the infrared sensor unit 10 is A / D converted by the infrared sensor signal processing unit 25. On the other hand, the sensor signal obtained from the distance sensor unit 4 is A / D converted as distance information in the distance sensor signal processing unit 26. The two-dimensional temperature distribution information of the space output from the infrared sensor signal processing unit 25 is displayed on the thermal image display unit 27 using a color display suitable for each temperature. Further, the two-dimensional distance distribution output from the distance sensor signal processing unit 26 is displayed on the distance distribution display unit 28 using a color display corresponding to each distance. Here, the infrared sensor signal processing unit 25 and the distance sensor signal processing unit 26 form a sensor signal processing unit, and the thermal image display unit 27 and the distance distribution display unit 28 form an image display unit. or,
As the infrared sensor unit 10 and the distance sensor unit 4, any one of the above-described (Embodiment 1) to (Embodiment 4) may be used.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which measurement is performed using the thermal object measuring device according to the fifth embodiment. In the room shown in FIG. 11, there are a closet 33 and a sofa 32,
The sensor unit 31 of the thermal object measurement device of the present embodiment is installed on the wall surface. As a condition, it is assumed that the sun rays 35 are incident from the outside and the sofa 32 in the room is warm.

First, a distance sensor measures a distance image in an unmanned room in advance. When one person enters a room with a bag, the sensor unit 31 is operated to measure a two-dimensional thermal image by the infrared sensor and a distance image of an object by the distance sensor. The distance image cuts out the newly appearing object image based on the difference from the distance image in the initial state measured in advance. Therefore, the sofa 32 exists from the beginning and is not output as an object image. The result is shown in FIG. 12 together with the thermal image obtained by the infrared sensor. The black portion is the thermal image, and the shaded portion is the object pattern cut out by the distance image.

The thermal image is confirmed in the position of the human body 34 and the vicinity of the sofa 32, and the position of the human body 34 and the position of the bag 36 are confirmed in the object pattern cut out from the distance image. When detecting an intruding human body, it is determined that there are two people at two positions, the actual position of the human body 34 and the position of the sofa 32, if only the thermal image is determined, and if it is determined by the data of the distance sensor only, the actual human body is detected. An intruding object is confirmed at the position of 34 and the position of the bag 36, and it is determined that the two persons are newly present. However, by superimposing the thermal image and the object detection, if one of the new intruding objects that overlaps the thermal image is the human body, one human body is determined and the human body can be detected accurately.

Further, when a plurality of human bodies are present, when there is one person nearby, and when there are a plurality of persons at a distant place, it is difficult to discriminate with one temperature distribution measured. It is possible to determine empirically from the time-dependent change value of the intake temperature distribution. Further, by introducing fuzzy reasoning using a membership function for the judgment, more accurate judgment can be made. These pieces of information can be applied to, for example, audience rating detection and control of air conditioning and lighting systems. (Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 14 is a plan view for explaining a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the device of the first embodiment, an infrared sensor 1 and a distance sensor unit 4 are provided. Rotate on the same rotation axis, but in the present embodiment,
It is fixed to the upper part of the sensor fixing base 20 on each independent rotating shaft. When the DC servo motor 21 rotates, its driving force is transmitted to the sensor fixing base 20 via the rotating belt 22. Since the infrared sensor 1 and the distance sensor unit 4 are on independent rotation axes, the infrared sensor 1 is less likely to be affected by heat generated by the distance sensor 4, and the height of the device itself can be reduced. Therefore, this device can be easily incorporated into a device such as a television. DC here
The means for transmitting the driving force of the servo motor 21 is not limited to the belt, and a gear or the like may be used. (Embodiment 7) FIG. 15 is a view for explaining a seventh embodiment of the present invention, which is an infrared sensor unit 10.
The analog signal obtained from the infrared sensor signal processing unit 2
5, A / D conversion is performed. On the other hand, the sensor signal obtained from the distance sensor unit 4 is A / D converted as distance information by the distance sensor signal processing unit 26. Furthermore, the temperature characteristic compensating unit 41 compensates the temperature of the distance sensor unit 4 by using a signal from the temperature detecting unit 40 that is provided inside the device and measures the temperature of the distance sensor unit 4. That is, the temperature characteristic compensating unit 41 compensates the distance data in the distance sensor signal processing unit 26. This compensation improves the detection accuracy. Others are the same as the other embodiments. (Embodiment 8) FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an eighth embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 13 (a) is a schematic view showing a distance sensor section in a thermal object measuring device of the present embodiment. FIG. 3B is a diagram schematically showing the detection visual field distribution of the distance sensor section. The distance sensor unit of the present embodiment has a structure in which a plurality of pairs (8 in this example) of the infrared LED 2 and the photodiode 3 are arranged in the horizontal direction, and each pair of the infrared LED 2 and the photodiode 3 is arranged. The detection directions of are set at intervals of, for example, 5 ° in the horizontal plane as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the infrared sensor unit as the thermal sensor may be combined with any of the infrared sensor units described in the above (first embodiment) to (seventh embodiment).

In the present embodiment, in the vertical direction,
This is effective in a case where it is sufficient to be able to grasp information at a certain height, and the distance sensor unit does not need rotational scanning, so the measurement time is shortened. Furthermore, since infrared rays are used for distance detection, it is possible to obtain a distance distribution in a horizontal plane up to a long distance in an extremely short time, as compared with a distance sensor using ultrasonic waves. Here, although the interval in the detection direction is 5 °, this may be combined with the rotational scanning interval of the infrared sensor unit.

Further, as described above, since the distance distribution can be obtained up to a long distance in an extremely short time, only the distance sensor unit is used to detect the distance of each of a plurality of moving objects or each moving object. An application as a distance detector that separates, etc. is also considered. (Ninth Embodiment) FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a personal audience rating measuring system according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. The thermal object measuring device described above is installed on a television or the like, and the number-of-persons determination unit 42 determines the number of human bodies within the detection range of these sensors based on the signals from the infrared sensor unit 10 and the distance sensor unit 4. . Further, the television data processing unit 44 outputs the on / off state of the television, the channel of the program currently being broadcast, and the time zone. On the other hand, the person in front of the television uses the data input unit 43 to input that he / she is watching by using each remote controller. The determination means 46 inputs the output from the data input section 43 and the output from the number-of-people determination section 42 and determines whether or not they match.
As a result, if they match, the data transmitting unit 45 transmits the information from the television data processing unit 44 to the audience rating research center through a telephone line or the like. In the case of disagreement, the determination means 46 sounds a buzzer or blinks an LED to warn the person in front of the television and prompt the user to input that he / she is watching. The viewer receives the warning and operates the data input unit 43.

As described above, the two-dimensional temperature distribution and the distance information of the space object are obtained by rotationally scanning the pyroelectric infrared sensor with the chopper and the distance sensor composed of the infrared LED and the photodiode. Because you can
It is possible to detect a human body with high accuracy. In addition, since near infrared rays are used for distance detection and the directivity is enhanced by a lens, it is easier to separate objects due to differences in distance even at long distances compared to the conventional ultrasonic method. When counting multiple people who are moving in the same direction, if there is a slight deviation between the people, even if only one can be recognized by the infrared sensor, the difference in the distance in the front-back direction seen from the device is detected. Can be separated.

FIG. 17 shows a two-dimensional infrared sensor 1 ',
Two-dimensional infrared LED 2'and two-dimensional photodiode 3 '
It is a perspective view of the apparatus which assembled. By using a two-dimensional device in this way, the rotation for scanning can be omitted, or at least the rotation angle can be reduced.

In each of the above embodiments, the infrared LED is used as the infrared light emitting element, but the present invention is not limited to this.
Others such as an infrared laser diode may be used.

In each of the above embodiments, the photodiode is used as the light receiving element, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other elements such as a phototransistor may be used.

In the above embodiment, the number of infrared LEDs in the distance sensor section is four or eight, but the number of infrared LEDs is not limited to this.

Further, although the present invention uses the optical element as the distance detecting means, a distance measuring device utilizing ultrasonic waves may be used instead.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the sensor signal processing means, the thermal object detecting means and the like are described as being constituted by dedicated hardware, but instead of this, a computer having a similar function is used. It may be realized by software.

[0031]

As is clear from the above description, the present invention has the advantages that the device for detecting a thermal object can be inexpensive, downsized, and highly accurate.

Further, it is possible to accurately detect the number and positions of human bodies.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a thermal object measurement device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time chart of sensor signals of the distance sensor unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an output waveform of the infrared sensor and a distance distribution measured by a distance sensor unit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a thermal object measurement device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a visual field distribution of the infrared sensor according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detection visual field distribution of the distance sensor according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a thermal object measurement device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a time chart of sensor signals from the distance sensor unit according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a thermal object measurement device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a thermal object measurement device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a measurement state in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a pattern diagram showing a measurement result in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 (a) is a schematic configuration diagram of a distance sensor section in an eighth embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 13 (b).
[Fig. 4] is a schematic view showing the detected visual field distribution.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is of a two-dimensional type.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Infrared Sensor 2 Infrared LED 3 Photodiode 4 Distance Sensor 7 Motor 8 Infrared Array Sensor 10 Infrared Sensor 14 Photodiode Lens 15 Infrared LED Lens 21 Stepping Motor 22 Rotating Belt 25 Infrared Sensor Signal Processor 26 Distance sensor signal processing unit 27 Thermal image display unit 28 Distance distribution display unit 31 Sensor unit 40 Temperature detection unit 41 Temperature characteristic correction unit 42 Number of people determination unit 43 Data input unit 44 Television data processing unit 45 Data transmission unit 46 Determination means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location 9406-2G G01V 9/04 A 9406-2G Q (72) Inventor Tetsuya Kawai Daimon Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture 1006 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An infrared detecting means having one or more light receiving portions for detecting infrared rays emitted from an object, and a distance detecting means having at least one pair of infrared light emitting element and light receiving element for detecting a distance to the object. And a sensor signal processing unit that obtains a temperature distribution in space and a distance distribution between objects using outputs from the infrared detection unit and the distance detection unit. 2. A rotation scanning means for rotating and scanning the infrared detecting means and the distance detecting means is further provided, and the sensor signal processing means causes the temperature distribution of the space and The thermal object measuring device according to claim 1, wherein a distance distribution of the object is obtained. 3. The rotating scanning means rotates the infrared detecting means and the distance detecting means, which are installed on independent rotating shafts, respectively by using a single motor. The thermal object measuring device according to claim 2. 4. A thermal object detecting means for detecting a predetermined thermal object based on the temperature distribution of the space and the distance distribution of the object obtained by the sensor signal processing means. Item 1. A thermal object measurement device according to item 1 or 2. 5. The thermal object measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising image display means for displaying the temperature distribution and the distance distribution obtained by the sensor signal processing means as an image. 6. The thermal object detection means detects information regarding the presence of a human body such as the number, position and movement state of human bodies by analyzing the temperature distribution of the obtained space and the distance distribution of the object. The thermal object measuring device according to claim 4, which is characterized in that. 7. The thermal object detection means stores the information of the temperature distribution of the space and the information of the distance distribution of the object obtained in the past as initial values, and the information of the temperature distribution obtained in time series and The intruding heat object is detected by calculating a difference from the distance distribution information.
The thermal object measuring device described. 8. The thermal object measurement according to claim 1, further comprising temperature correction means for correcting the output of the infrared detection means by using the output of the distance detection means. apparatus. 9. Existence teaching means for teaching the presence of a human body,
At least a television information generating means for generating a channel and time of a program currently being broadcast by a television, a thermal object measuring device according to claim 6, an output from said existence teaching means, and a thermal object device according to claim 6 have. A determination unit that compares the output from the thermal object detection unit and determines whether they match, a warning unit that warns based on the determination result, an output from the television information generation unit, and the thermal object detection A personal audience rating survey system, comprising: a transmission means for transmitting the output from the means. 10. The distance detecting means includes a plurality of infrared light emitting elements arranged in an array and one light receiving element, and the one light receiving element is used for the plurality of infrared light emitting elements. The thermal object measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the reflected light of the light emitting element is received. 11. The thermal object measuring apparatus according to claim 10, wherein light emitted from the plurality of infrared light emitting elements of the distance detecting means is projected by one lens. 12. A temperature detecting section for detecting the temperature of the distance detecting means and correcting the temperature characteristic of the distance detecting means.
1. The thermal object measuring device according to any one of 1. 13. A plurality of infrared light emitting elements arranged in an array, and a light receiving element for receiving the reflected light of the plurality of infrared light emitting elements, wherein the infrared rays of each of the plurality of infrared light emitting elements are provided. A distance detector, wherein the emitting directions are different from each other by a predetermined angle with respect to the arrangement direction. 14. The plurality of light receiving elements are provided corresponding to the infrared light emitting elements, and the reflected light of each infrared light emitting element is received by each corresponding light receiving element. Item 13. The distance detector according to item 13. 15. The distance detecting means is replaced with an ultrasonic distance detecting means for measuring a distance by using ultrasonic waves, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, 10, 11, and 12. Thermal object measuring device.