Abstract: A scanner for scanning three-dimensional objects, wherein the distance between the scanner and the object for each measured location is derived by determining the phase difference between a generated light beam, and light received off of the object being scanned. The phase difference is determined by mixing the modulation signal for the generated light with a second modulation signal, and also mixing the received light signal with the second modulation signal. Additionally, an approximation of the amplitude of the mixed received light signal and the second modulation signal is used in conjunction with the received light signal to generate a correction for delay inherent in a photoreceiver used in the scanner. The approximation and raw receiver signal may also be used to obtain texture information from a surface being scanned. The distance between two points may also determined by the apparatus and method of this invention.