Abstract: An arrangement for steering the laser beam, in an active optical triangulation method based on three-dimensional sensors, along paths which are sensitive to the context of the scene of interest, and alleviating the need to undergo a search path by the sensor. A conventional video camera is used to preview the scene of interest and the resultant intensity image is processed to locate the desired path based on the scene context. The sensory system is modeled to enable determination of the instantaneous angular deflections of the laser beam along with the translation of the laser source that can shift the nominal or actual data acquisition path to the desired data acquisition path.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for use in determining the location of object surface points wherein a short pulse of optical energy is projected at the object surface and a time dependent gain function is used to modify the reflected optical energy resulting from the pulse so that time delay information indicative range can be developed and processed.