3D Technologies

The diagram depicts the optical geometry of a probe based on optical triangulation. It shows how light from a laser beam is bounced off the surface of an object and the scattered laser light from the surface is imaged on a position sensor located at a different vantage point beside the laser source. This special position sensor measures the various angles created by the return beam as the object moves away from the probe. The combination laser source, return beam angle and distance source-position sensor form the basic triangle that is sufficient to locate the surface of the object. In order to capture a 3D surface map, a laser spot is scanned onto a scene by way of accurate deflecting mirrors not shown on the diagram.