Abstract: A retro-reflector comprising a front boundary surface configured for entry of measuring light into the retro-reflector and a back boundary surface configured for reflecting the measuring light as reflected measuring light. The front boundary surface and the back boundary surface are arranged on opposite sides of the retro-reflector, and an optical axis is defined by the arrangement of the front boundary surface and/or the back boundary surface of the retro-reflector, wherein an incidence angle of the measuring light relative to the optical axis is equal to an exit angle of the reflected measuring light relative to the optical axis. A first optical element is provided comprising the front boundary surface, and a second optical element is provided comprising the back boundary surface.

Abstract: An image based opto-electronic encoder for a joint, the encoder having a reading head for the first part of the joint and an optical system, comprising a ball lens for the second part of the joint. The ball lens has a front surface transparent for measuring light and an at least partially reflective, structured back surface. The ball lens has—with respect to the measuring light—a refractive index of at least approximately two or an equal radially varying refractive index, such that a bundle of measuring light rays reflected inside the ball lens from a point of the back surface of the ball lens forms at least approximately a parallel bundle after getting refracted at the front surface of the ball lens. The reading head and the ball lens are rotatable relative to each other in at least two degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A laser line module for projecting a laser line onto a surface of a distant target object, the projected laser line having a laser line length, the laser line module comprising: a laser diode configured to emit radiation in the form of a laser beam; a beam-shaping optical arrangement; a micro-lens array comprising a multitude of microlenses and having a surface with a height profile, each point on the surface having a distance from an average height of the height profile and providing a divergence for radiation passing through the micro-lens array at the respective point, which divergence depends on the relative height of the respective point; and a spatial light modulator that is provided between the beam-shaping optical arrangement and the micro-lens array.

Abstract: A laser line module LLM for projecting a laser line onto a surface of a distant target object comprising a light emitting assembly configured to emit measuring radiation, the light emitting assembly comprising a laser diode and a beam shaping assembly, wherein the laser diode and the beam shaping assembly are arranged and configured to guide the measuring radiation along an optical axis of the laser line module. The LLM comprises a line adjusting unit successively arranged to be irradiated by the measuring radiation of the light emitting assembly and configured to manipulate the measuring radiation to provide the laser line with a defined laser line length, the line adjusting unit comprising a first micro-lens array having a first beam-manipulation surface having a multitude of first microlenses which define a first periodic height profile and providing a first refractive power.

Abstract: A range imaging module and a reality capture device comprising a range imaging module and configured to generate 3D measurement data for generating a digital representation of an environment. The range imaging module comprises a cover, which is transparent for at least part of distance measurement radiation of the range imaging module and which comprises a band-pass filter coating. The cover with the band-pass filter coating is arranged in a collimated beam region outside an imaging unit of the range imaging module and encloses the imaging unit, so that returning distance measurement radiation from an imaging field of view of the imaging unit first passes the cover with the band-pass filter coating and then the imaging unit.

Abstract: A target reflector search device. This device comprises an emitting unit for emitting an emission fan, a motorized device for moving the emission fan over a spatial region, and a receiving unit for reflected portions of the emission fan within a fan-shaped acquisition region, and a locating unit for determining a location of the reflection. An optoelectronic detector of the receiving unit is formed as a position-resolving optoelectronic detector having a linear arrangement of a plurality of pixels, each formed as an SPAD array, and the receiving unit comprises an optical system having an imaging fixed-focus optical unit, wherein the optical system and the optoelectronic detector are arranged and configured in such a way that portions of the optical radiation reflected from a point in the acquisition region are expanded on the sensitivity surface of the optoelectronic detector in such a way that blurry imaging takes place.

Abstract: An image based opto-electronic encoder for a joint, the encoder having a reading head for the first part of the joint and an optical system, comprising a ball lens for the second part of the joint. The ball lens has a front surface transparent for measuring light and an at least partially reflective, structured back surface. The ball lens has -with respect to the measuring light- a refractive index of at least approximately two or an equal radially varying refractive index, such that a bundle of measuring light rays reflected inside the ball lens from a point of the back surface of the ball lens forms at least approximately a parallel bundle after getting refracted at the front surface of the ball lens. The reading head and the ball lens are rotatable relative to each other in at least two degrees of freedom.

Abstract: Light emitting unit, in particular of or for a triangulation-based distance measuring device, for providing defined measuring light, in particular laser light, is disclosed. The light emitting unit comprising a light source for emitting light, in particular a laser light source for emitting laser light, and a beam forming assembly for shaping the light by affecting propagation of the light emitted by the light source, wherein the beam forming assembly is arranged and designed so that measuring light is provided in form of a light line having a midpoint and two opposite ends. The beam forming assembly comprises at least one micro-lens array, the at least one micro-lens array comprises a plurality of micro-lenses, wherein the micro-lenses are designed and arranged in joint manner next to each other with algebraic signs for curvatures of successive micro-lenses being opposite and so that a periodic structure is provided.

Abstract: A target reflector search device. This device comprises an emitting unit for emitting an emission fan, a motorized device for moving the emission fan over a spatial region, and a receiving unit for reflected portions of the emission fan within a fan-shaped acquisition region, and a locating unit for determining a location of the reflection. An optoelectronic detector of the receiving unit is formed as a position-resolving optoelectronic detector having a linear arrangement of a plurality of pixels, each formed as an SPAD array, and the receiving unit comprises an optical system having an imaging fixed-focus optical unit, wherein the optical system and the optoelectronic detector are arranged and configured in such a way that portions of the optical radiation reflected from a point in the acquisition region are expanded on the sensitivity surface of the optoelectronic detector in such a way that blurry imaging takes place.

Abstract: Method of providing measuring light for triangulation-based distance measurement to an object to be measured, wherein distance information is derivable by detecting at least portions of the measuring light reflected at the object. The method comprises emitting light and shaping the light so that the measuring light is provided in form of a line having a midpoint and two opposite ends. The intensity distribution of the light across the line is adjusted so that a respective light intensity at the ends of the line is at least 10% higher than light intensity around the midpoint.

Abstract: The invention relates to a geodetic instrument, in particular a geodetic telescope, for example for a theodolite, or geodetic overview, photogrammetry or axial camera, comprising an imaging optical system which defines an optical axis and comprises an observation beam path for imaging a target object by an eyepiece and/or on a camera sensor, for registering and/or providing an image of the sighted target object. According to the invention, the imaging optical system comprises at least two diffractive optical elements in the observation beam path.

Abstract: Method of providing measuring light for triangulation-based distance measurement to an object to be measured, wherein distance information is derivable by detecting at least portions of the measuring light reflected at the object. The method comprises emitting light and shaping the light so that the measuring light is provided in form of a line having a midpoint and two opposite ends. The intensity distribution of the light across the line is adjusted so that a respective light intensity at the ends of the line is at least 10% higher than light intensity around the midpoint.

Abstract: Light emitting unit, in particular of or for a triangulation-based distance measuring device, for providing defined measuring light, in particular laser light, is disclosed. The light emitting unit comprising a light source for emitting light, in particular a laser light source for emitting laser light, and a beam forming assembly for shaping the light by affecting propagation of the light emitted by the light source, wherein the beam forming assembly is arranged and designed so that measuring light is provided in form of a light line having a midpoint and two opposite ends. The beam forming assembly comprises at least one micro-lens array, the at least one micro-lens array comprises a plurality of micro-lenses, wherein the micro-lenses are designed and arranged in joint manner next to each other with algebraic signs for curvatures of successive micro-lenses being opposite and so that a periodic structure is provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a sensor arrangement for inclination determination with respect to at least one axis. The sensor arrangement may include a code element having a code pattern and a line sensor, which is sensitive at least with respect to one wavelength range, having a reception direction orthogonal to its extension direction. In some embodiments the code element and the line sensor are arranged such that the extension direction of the line sensor and an extension direction of the code element are oriented in the same direction. The code element and the line sensor may be rigidly connected at a spacing of at least 1 mm and at most 10 mm such that a location, which is angle-dependent with respect to the reception direction, of a projection of the code pattern onto the line sensor can be determined by means of the line sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a geodetic instrument, in particular a geodetic telescope, for example for a theodolite, or geodetic overview, photogrammetry or axial camera, comprising an imaging optical system which defines an optical axis and comprises an observation beam path for imaging a target object by an eyepiece and/or on a camera sensor, for registering and/or providing an image of the sighted target object. According to the invention, the imaging optical system comprises at least two diffractive optical elements in the observation beam path.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a sensor arrangement for inclination determination with respect to at least one axis. The sensor arrangement may include a code element having a code pattern and a line sensor, which is sensitive at least with respect to one wavelength range, having a reception direction orthogonal to its extension direction. In some embodiments the code element and the line sensor are arranged such that the extension direction of the line sensor and an extension direction of the code element are oriented in the same direction. The code element and the line sensor may be rigidly connected at a spacing of at least 1 mm and at most 10 mm such that a location, which is angle-dependent with respect to the reception direction, of a projection of the code pattern onto the line sensor can be determined by means of the line sensor.

Abstract: An application controller for an application unit, for marking substances comprises a radiation sensor, by means of which the relative position of the application unit relative to a reference plane may be determined. The relative position of the application unit can be determined by means for recording the orientation of the application unit controller relative to the reference plane from the association of position with orientation information, such that control instructions, in particular for positional correction may be generated by the application unit controller. The position of the application unit can be adjusted by an actuator device according to the control instructions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic angle sensor (1a) for determining a rotational angle about an axis (6), comprising a circular disk (2a) that can be rotated about the axis. Said circular disk comprises a coding, essentially over the entire surface, a flat photosensitive detector (3a), a device for producing an evaluable image of the coding on the detector and a memory and evaluation component (4a) for determining the rotational angle. A largely complete, or in particular an entire image of the coding is produced on the detector. The rotational angle is determined using a parameter-varying stochastic comparison method, from the image and a parameterised electronic reference pattern that is provided by means of the memory and evaluation component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for registering surfaces, using a scanner system comprising a radiation source for emitting electromagnetic radiation (ES), a scanning device for guiding the radiation over the surface in order to scan the latter and a receiver for receiving the radiation (RS) that is reflected by the surface. According to the invention, the radiation is spectrally separated to analyze the surface characteristics and a distance measuring unit is used to derive distance information in parallel from the received radiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning method for determining the position and orientation of a mobile unit having a receiver (3?), whereby the receiver (3?) is detected by a scanner (2?), said scanner (2?) determining at least the distance and a direction in relation to the receiver (3?). The radiation emitted by the sensor is detected by the receiver (3?) and the direction of incidence of radiation and the direction of incidence of radiation in relation to an axis of reception are derived while an offset of the incident radiation in relation to the axis of reception (EA) is determined. Position and orientation of the unit are derived from at least the distance, the direction in relation to the receiver (3?), the offset and the direction of incidence as the position information and the unit is optionally controlled via the optical connection (OV).