The disclosed range detecting device includes a light emitting source and a first lens system including a number of lens surfaces for projecting a light beam from the source toward an object whose distance from the device is to be measured. A second lens system receives light reflected from the object, and a sensing device provides a signal corresponding to the light received by the second lens system. At least one of the lens surfaces of the first lens system is aspherical, so that the cross section of the reflected light beam impinging on the sensing device is such as to provide a well defined output signal from the device.