DISTANCE DETECTION DEVICE

A distance detection device calculates a pixel cost, every reference pixel, based on a difference between reference pixel information in a reference image and comparative pixel information in a comparative image while switching the reference and comparative images. The device calculates a parallax cost, every reference pixel, representing a cost regarding a change-amount of the parallax as a coordinate difference between a reference pixel and a comparative pixel when the reference image is switched. The device calculates a combination of each reference pixel and a comparative pixel having a minimum total cost every reference pixel. The minimum total cost represents a sum of the pixel cost and the parallax cost. The device obtains a relationship of a corresponding point between each reference pixel and its corresponding comparative pixel, and calculates a distance to an object in each captured image based on the relationship of the corresponding point.