US Patent 6922577 Optical measuring device having d.c. component elimination

An optical measuring device includes a sensor which emits light flashes toward a subject of detection with a light emitting element which is supplied with electric power from a rechargeable battery for a certain duration at certain intervals and receives reflected light from the subject with a light sensitive element. A subtractor subtracts a d.c. component from a sensed signal provided by the light sensitive element, thereby extracting a variation component. The subtractor has its output signal amplified with an amplifier, with the output thereof being A/D-converted with an A/D converter.