Abstract: A device used with a conventional television set that permits both hearing impaired and non hearing impaired individuals to view television audio voice signals in a text format on the television screen without the requirement of a closed/open caption broadcast signal or a closed/open caption enabled television. The device also can utilize an FM audio input, an audio line input, and a microphone or impedance input for conversion into a text format. The system may use on-board or remote displays, wireless or wired, for also providing the text format representative of human speech. The system includes audio filters for filtering a television audio signal and filtering out human speech audio signals for processing and conversion by a speech-to-text converter.

Abstract: An image zooming apparatus and method for zooming a specific portion of an image in a vertical direction for a digital TV is disclosed. The present apparatus includes a line memory unit for storing the input images; an input data controller for storing the input data in the line memory unit according to a type of the input image and zoom magnification; a zoom controller for receiving zoom area information and zoom magnification from a user, and controlling the data storage in the line memory unit and the processing of the stored data; and data processor for providing a zoomed image according to the control of the zoom controller. The present invention allows a user to zoom an image area of interest and re-zoom a zoomed image area of interest, thereby providing a user-friendly device.

Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus capable of improving signal level while reducing noise component no matter a video signal of what illuminance is input is provided, which apparatus includes a video signal amplifying circuit amplifying an input video signal and outputting a video signal of a predetermined image size in accordance with a gain control coefficient, a frame addition circuit connected to the video signal amplifying circuit for adding outputs of the video signal amplifying circuit by a predetermined number of frames, a first signal level detecting circuit connected to the video signal amplifying circuit and calculating the gain control coefficient and a multiplication coefficient in accordance with an output of the video signal amplifying circuit, and a first multiplier connected to the frame addition circuit and the first signal level detecting circuit and receiving as inputs an output of the frame addition circuit and the multiplication coefficient.

Abstract: A method of receiving and demodulating a plurality of digital signals transmitted with different respective carrier frequencies and a digital receiver for receiving and demodulating a plurality of digital signals transmitted with different respective carrier frequencies wherein the carrier frequency signals are down converted to respective base-band signals and digitized and a common demodulator is provided to demodulate the respective digitized base-band signals in a time division manner.

Abstract: A display optical system has an illumination optical system for emitting illumination light, a plurality of reflection-type display devices, a projection optical system, and a plane-parallel mirror. The reflection-type display devices individually modulate the illumination light emitted from the illumination optical system and reflect the illumination light thus modulated as projection light. The projection optical system projects the projection light and has at least one optical element included therein arranged so as to be decentered with respect to the other optical elements included therein.

Abstract: In a pixel structure of an active matrix display device, aperture ratio and a sufficient storage capacitor are secured. A light shielding film provided under an active layer of a pixel TFT and the pixel TFT, the active layer of the pixel TFT, and a thinned gate insulating film are used to form a gate wiring and a capacitor.

Abstract: An LCD fastening method and equipment for using common portions necessary for fastening a color LCD display, that is, common portions suitable for various kinds of color LCD display are disclosed, thereby omitting the process of attaching the LCD by using screws inserted from the outside of an external frame and improving the appearance. The method comprises the steps of attaching brackets to a color LCD using first fastening screws inserted through holes provided in the brackets; attaching the brackets to an LCD base by inserting second fastening screws through holes provided in the brackets into bosses provided in the LCD base; and attaching an LCD cover to the LCD base by engaging a predetermined number of latches provided in the LCD cover with corresponding first ribs provided in the LCD base.

Abstract: Light from an EL backlight is used effectively without a condensing unit such as a lens sheet. A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel provided with multiple openings allowing adjustable in light transference quantity and an EL backlight being an approximate size of the liquid crystal display panel and irradiating the liquid crystal display panel from the back. Concave luminous parts respectively corresponding to the openings are formed in a luminous layer of the EL backlight. Light generated in the concave luminous part is repeatedly reflected by an inner wall of the concave luminous part and then goes out along the central axis of the concave luminous part, therefore, the light has a strong directivity to the opening corresponding to the concave luminous part.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (1) which can display information on both surfaces is structured: by respectively disposing reflection-type polarizing films (8, 9) which transmit a linearly polarized light in a direction parallel to a transmission axis and reflect a linearly polarized light in a direction orthogonal to the transmission axis on both sides of a liquid crystal cell (7) formed by sealing a liquid crystal layer (6) between a pair of two glass substrates (2, 3) with transparent electrodes (4, 5) formed on the opposed inner surfaces, while disposing absorption-type polarizing films (10, 11) respectively on both sides thereof, which transmit a linearly polarized light in a direction parallel to a transmission axis and absorb a linearly polarized light in a direction orthogonal to the transmission axis, and by disposing the reflection-type polarizing film and the absorption-type polarizing film (8) and (10), (9) and (11) which are disposed on the same side of the liquid crystal cell (7) so that the di

Abstract: A color filter of a liquid crystal display and method of fabricating the same is disclosed in the present invention. More specifically, a color filter of a liquid crystal display includes a glass substrate, a color resin layer on the glass substrate, and a transparent electrode over the color resin layer, wherein the color resin layer has transmission and reflection sections, and the reflection section has first and second portions, wherein the first portion is patterned and the second portion is not patterned, thereby controlling a quantity of light passing through the treflection section.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a structure of LCD, having a first polarizer with a first polarization direction along a first angle. A first retardation phase plate is located behind the first polarizer. The first retardation phase plate is used to produce a retardation effect. The retardation direction is the same as the first angle. A first WV film is behind the first retardation phase plate. The WV film is operated along a second angle vertical to the first angle. A liquid crystal layer is located behind the WV film 110. The crystal rubbing direction of the liquid crystal layer is along the second direction. A second WV film is behind the liquid crystal layer. The second WV film is operated along the first angle. A second retardation phase plate is located behind the second WV film. The retardation direction of the second retardation phase plate is along the second angle. A second polarizer is located behind the second retardation phase plate.

Abstract: At least one of a pair of substrates constituting a liquid crystal device is provided with a composite alignment film including a homeotropic alignment film region and a homogeneous alignment film region, whereby the liquid crystal in contact with the homogeneous alignment film region is surrounded by the region of liquid crystal in a hybrid or homeotropic alignment state and is stably held in a twit alignment state under no electric field which can be continuously transformed into a bend alignment state. As a result, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal device capable of display by utilizing bend alignment with reduced bending voltage and voltage for holding the bend alignment.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer sealed between the first and second substrates. A first group of electrodes are formed on the first substrate, and a second group of electrodes are formed on the second substrate at staggered positions with respect to the first electrodes, the electrodes extending in the form of linearly elongated strips in a direction parallel to the substrate surfaces. A liquid crystal display apparatus of a transverse electric field drive type is thus provided.

Abstract: A compression-bond-connection substrate compression-bonded to a compression-bonding target object has front-side terminals conductively connected to opposing-side terminals and backside terminals formed at the backsides thereof. The backside terminals are formed diagonally to the front-side terminals. Pressure is exerted uniformly on substrate-side terminals in the pressure application in compression-bonding. Therefore, a highly reliable compression-bonding connected assembly can be stably obtained.

Abstract: An STN liquid crystal layer (8) is sandwiched between a first substrate (1) having first electrodes (6) and a second substrate (2) having second electrodes (7), a reflective layer (3) is formed over the entire first substrate (1), and a color filter (4) is provided on the reflective layer (3) to constitute a liquid crystal cell (10). A twisted retardation film (9), retardation films (11, 12) and a polarizing film (13) are arranged on the visible side of the second substrate (2). The second substrate (2) is larger than the first substrate (1). First electrode wiring patterns (26) extending to an area of the second substrate (2) outside the area superposed on the first substrate (1) are formed on a surface of the second substrate (2) provided with the second electrodes (7). Input patterns (28) are formed on the area of the second substrate (2), outside the first substrate (1).

Abstract: A seal pattern including a plurality of main seal lines, a first auxiliary seal line including a plurality of open holes and surrounding the plurality of main seal lines, and a plurality of second auxiliary seal lines positioned corresponding to the open holes. Since the second auxiliary seal lines pass only gas such as air, the main seal lines are protected from being damaged from cleaning detergent or an etching solution during a cleaning and etching process. A hardening agent is used to seal the open holes during an etching process.

Abstract: A metallized pattern, used as an electrical conductor, is altered by means of standard lithographic processes to have regions of interspersed missing metal, or voids, in a specified region of the pattern. The voids in the conducting pattern allow radiation, emanating from various angles, to penetrate through the voids so that a glue seal, disposed underneath the pattern, can be exposed to the radiation and thus activated and cured. The preferred application is found in flat panel displays where radiation is required to cure a glue seal that affixes two substrates to one another. The openings in the metallized pattern in the region of the glue seal minimize the shadowing, caused by the solid portions of the pattern, which can result in the lack of glue seal curing or polymerization. The absence of shadowing assures that the glue seal is fully cured and will not contaminate the liquid crystal after final processing.

Abstract: A resistor array including a series of spaced first conductor members, a series of initially substantially non-conductive switches respectively connecting adjacent first conductor members to one another, at least one second conductor member in spaced relation to the first conductor members, and a series of resistors extending from respective first conductive members to the at least one second conductor member.

Abstract: The present invention involves a photolithographic process, and apparatus and material for use therein, for producing etched or eroded areas or holes in a selected pattern on or in the surface of fine workpieces, such as small diameter tubes. One aspect of the present invention is a photolithographic process for producing a selected pattern on a nonplanar surface of a workpiece using at least one mask to define the selected pattern. The process includes the acts of applying a photoresist material to the workpiece and aligning the mask with the nonplanar surface of the workpiece. The mask may have an inner surface that corresponds to the nonplanar surface. The process may also include the acts of exposing and developing the photoresist material.

Abstract: A plate with substantially constant thickness is used to compensate for the residual distortion in the image projected by a high-quality projection lens for lithography. The two surfaces of the plate have an identical aspherical profile, whose shape has been calculated using the measured distortion map of the lithographic objective. The figuring process applied to the plate uses the principle of polishing in the presence of an elastic deformation, so as to achieve the desired aspherical shape on both sides.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus has at least one compartment closely surrounding at least one of the mask and substrate holders but not either of the illumination or projection systems so as to reduce the volume that must be purged with gas transparent to the projection radiation. In a scanner, the compartment surrounding the mask holder preferably moves with the mask table and may be formed by a combination of a frame-shaped mask table driven in the scanning operation and stationary plates fixed relative to the projection and illumination systems.

Abstract: A method (40) of determining a best focus for an integrated circuit stepper (10). The method repeats various steps for a plurality of different focus levels. The repeated steps include forming a first element group (C1) on a wafer (30F1), where the first element group comprises one or more elements and each of the one or more elements in the first element group has a shape. The repeated steps further include defining a first reference point (CC1) for the first element group at a position relative to the shape of the one or more elements in the first element group. Similarly, the repeated steps include forming a second element group (C2) on the wafer, where the second group comprises one or more elements and each of the one or more elements in the second element group has a shape, and defining a second reference point (CC2) for the second element group at a position relative to the shape of the one or more elements in the second element group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beam output control method in which an output from a pulse energy source that emits pulses of exposure beam used in an exposure apparatus is controlled. This method controls an output from the pulse energy source by changing a control mode in accordance with an operation of the exposure apparatus.

Abstract: In a scanning type exposure apparatus, an illumination light beam from a light source through an opening portion of a reticle blind is introduced onto a reticle. A pattern on the reticle is sequentially transferred onto the substrate by scanning the reticle and the substrate, respectively. The substrate is divided into a plurality of regions along a scanning direction. A variable unit for changing an opening area of the opening portion is arranged so as to substantially equalize integrated exposure quantity in each region.

Abstract: A lithographic stage includes a platen having a top face and a bottom face and a holder for holding an optical component on the top face of the platen. The platen is made of a light-weight material such as high purity fused silica or ultra low expansion glass. The bottom face of the platen may further include means for connecting to a positioning device in an extreme ultraviolet lithography system.

Abstract: A surveying machine that automatically adjusts an optical axis includes a sighting optical system for sighting an object, a light-transmitting optical system that transmits a beam for surveying, radiated from a light source, to the object, a deviation detector, and an optical axis adjuster. The deviation detector detects a deviation between a first optical axis corresponding to the sighting optical system and a second optical axis corresponding to the light-transmitting optical system. The optical axis adjuster automatically adjusts at least one of the first optical axis and the second optical axis so as to correct the deviation.

Abstract: A planar velocity measurement system (100) is operative to measure all three velocity components of a flowing fluid (106) across an illuminated plane (108) using only a single line of sight. The fluid flow is seeded with small particles which accurately follow the flow field fluctuations. The seeded flow field is illuminated with pulsed laser light source (102) and the positions of the particles in the flow are recorded on CCD cameras (122,124). The in-plane velocities are measured by determining the in-plane particle displacements. The out-of-plane velocity component is determined by measuring the Doppler shift of the light scattered by the particles. Both gas and liquid velocities can be measured, as well as two-phase flows.

Abstract: A LIDAR system for measuring flow velocity in three axes comprises: a LIDAR arrangement of optical elements for generating a coherent beam of light and directing the coherent beam of light by at least one rotationally operated optical element from the system with a predetermined pattern, the at least one rotationally operated optical element also for receiving reflections from particles along the predetermined pattern and directing the beam reflections to a light detector which converts the beam reflections into representative electrical signals; and a processor for detecting bursts from the electrical signals which are representative of light beam reflections from at least one particle substantially at a corresponding position along the predetermined pattern, and for computing a Doppler frequency for each of a selected plurality of detected bursts from the signal content thereof.

Abstract: In an optical time domain reflectometry method, in which a plurality of pulses of optical radiation, delayed by known amounts of time relative to one another such that adjacent pulses do not overlap, are launched into an optical fiber (6) of interest and optical radiation backscattered from the fiber (6) is detected to produce electrical output signals the said plurality of pulses have different respective wavelengths and are derived from optical radiation at a preselected wavelength, each of the said pulses having a peak power less than the power at which non-linear effects begin to occur in the said optical fiber (6). The said backscattered optical radiation is processed before detection so as to remove the effect thereon of the relative time delays between the said plurality of pulses.

Abstract: Optical sensors and methods are disclosed. The resonance energy transfer between a donor and acceptor pair on a surface is monitored. The change in resonance energy transfer as a function of the change in refractive index of a sensing area disposed between the donor and acceptor pair is utilized to provide various sensing methods and structures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing an operation on a workpiece at an inaccessible location are described. The apparatus includes a tube with proximal and distal ends, the distal end being insertable in use into an inaccessible location. A head is flexibly coupled to the distal end of the tube and can be moved relative to the tube by control means. Laser energy can be transmitted through the tube and out of the head. The apparatus includes viewing means for gathering and displaying an image of the workpiece and tracking means operable to identify and record the position of one or more selected points of the workpiece. A processor is provided to actuate the control means so as to move the head to direct the laser energy to the selected point or points of a workpiece and to control the laser so as to perform the desired operation on the workpiece.

Abstract: A liquid sample analyzer with a flow-through liquid waveguide cell is described. The light source is fiber coupled to a liquid waveguide or light pipe. The light pipe can be remotely located and fiber coupled to the spectrometer so that the light source is thermally isolated making the spectrometer easily thermally stabilized, and the dispersion minimized. The liquid waveguide cell includes a light pipe that has a lower index of refraction than the liquid flowing through the light pipe. Light is input into the liquid waveguide by an optical fiber that is coupled to the liquid waveguide. The optical fiber diameter and the light pipe core diameter and spacing are selected to provide coupling of all light modes transmitted through the optical fiber into the light pipe. The output light is received by an optical fiber which is arranged to receive all of the light transmitted through the light pipe.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, the quality of hard gold is determined by Raman vibrational spectroscopy. A sample of the hard gold is provided, a monochromatic light beam is directed onto the sample, and the frequency and intensity of the light scattered by the sample is analyzed for the vibrational frequencies of polymer molecules. Scattering frequencies offset from the initial beam frequency by about 2132 cm−1 and about 2182 cm−1, for example, are indicative of high quality nickel-hardened gold.

Abstract: An inexpensive broadband source such as an ASE source, used for erbium amplifier measurements, compares well with the use of a prior art ITU grid. Deltas are less than 0.4 and 0.3 dB for gain and noise figure respectively. The spectral loading used to test erbium amplifiers needs to closely resemble conditions seen in the field. Use of an ITU grid is a good way of achieving this, however it is a costly solution and may restrict the spectral resolution. Use of a high power amplified spontaneous emission source gives a cost-effective alternative, which compares well with ITU grid measurements. In addition the spectral resolution of the measurement is then only limited by the spectral resolution of the optical spectrum analyzer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting the particles of a tobacco particle stream in the production of smokable articles by scanning by means of a fine-beam light barrier, the diameter of which is smaller than the dimensions of the tobacco particles, and from the distribution of the dimensions of the tobacco particles determined by darkening of the fine-beam light barrier.

Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting circular parts of the present invention includes a light source, a camera, and a computer, which is in communication with the camera and has stored therein known good part profile data. The light source is for directing light onto the part to be inspected, with the camera generating profile signals in response to the light on the part. The computer receives the profile signals from the camera and assembles the profile signals into a height image of the part and, further, compares the height image with the known good part profile data to determine whether the part is acceptable or unacceptable.

Abstract: An illuminating and optical apparatus for inspecting soldering of an inspecting part on a PCB includes an illuminating and optical apparatus collecting light emitted by first and second illuminating units. The first and second illuminating units each includes lamps arranged in rows around a view axis of large and small view cameras at a predetermined angle, wherein the large and small view cameras draw sufficient light reflected by the inspecting part and obtain different view sizes of images in accordance with the sizes of the inspecting part. An illuminating and optical apparatus collects light emitted by the first and second illuminating units.

Abstract: An exposure method forms a plurality of patterns on a substrate, which is set on a stage of an exposure apparatus, through at least one mask. The method equalizes first positional linear error components of a pattern to be formed by the mask on a first coordinate system defined on the substrate to second positional linear error components of the pattern on a second coordinate system on which the stage is moved, by correcting coordinates for moving the stage on the second coordinate system. The method is capable of aligning the boundaries of patterns with each other on the substrate, to leave only positional linear error components on the patterns. These positional linear error components are removable to leave minimum random residual errors on the patterns, and therefore, the patterns on the substrate are precisely at specified positions.

Abstract: An electronic component mounting apparatus (1) includes a device for illuminating a mark (9) on a printed circuit board (14) for recognition. The illumination device (10) includes a light path adjustable member (5). This light path adjustable member (5) is disposed between an illumination source unit (2) and the object (9) to be illuminated. At least one of the light incidence side and the emission side of the light path adjustable member (5) is divided into a plurality of subareas (6), (7), (8), each having a different index of refraction. Each of the subareas (6), (7), (8) emits light at a respective different index of refraction. The emitted light can be collected on a specific area containing the object (9), and appropriate illumination light can thus be emitted to the object (9).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing the functionality of a spectrometer for faults comprising at least one radiation source, one filter arrangement for separating the radiation into different wavelength ranges, and one receiving arrangement. The invention also relates to a spectrometer comprising a fault recognition device. Reference values are generated at at least two different color temperatures of the radiation source and in the different wavelength ranges. Actual received signals at at least two color temperatures to be set are compared with the reference values in order to test the spectrometer. In the occurrence of variations, the type of variation is determined according to the wavelength ranges and the color temperatures, and definite faults are concluded from the type of variation.

Abstract: A defective roll in a strip processing line, e.g. an aluminum alloy strip cleaning line, may create an undesirable mark on the strip material. Where a plurality of rolls are in use, the defective roll is identified by providing a downstream inspection station which includes a data processor. When a mark on the strip passes the inspection station, the processor is activated whereby the rolls go through a timed opening and closing sequence. During this sequence, if no mark is observed on the strip at the time when a repeat of the mark would be expected, the lapsed time is compared to a data base and the defective roll is thereby identified.

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for optically reading out the information from substrates having a multiplicity of individual samples, in particular for analyzing chemical and biological sample carriers. The arrangement presents a new possibility for optically reading out the information from matrix-type substrates having a multiplicity of individual samples which allows a fast read-out of a radiation which is influenced by the individual samples with a high degree of sensitivity.

Abstract: Path Integrated Optical Remote Sensing (PI-ORS) instruments are used to provide Path Integrated Concentration (PIC) data corresponding to a particulate concentration in region scanned by a sequence of optical beams. Prior art methods of developing spatial concentration maps using PIC data have required a relatively large number of intersecting beam paths. The present invention can produce spatial concentration maps using considerably fewer optical beams. Preferably, a non-overlapping radial beam geometry is used to produce PIC data that are processed to produce a spatial concentration map. The PIC data are indicative of the cumulative spatial concentration distribution of the contaminant in the sampling region. Once the PIC data are obtained, a specifically developed reconstruction algorithm is applied to the PIC data to create a map of concentration or contaminants or other constituents in the sampling region. Any of several different reconstruction algorithms can be employed.

Abstract: A technique for testing the quality of optical components of a line-narrowing module is performed on-line. As the wavelength tends to drift from a desired value when the optical components of the line-narrowing module are heated due to absorption, one or more optical components is adjusted such as by rotation to tune the wavelength back to the desired wavelength using a feedback loop. The amount of adjustment of these optical components is monitored for indirectly measuring, and thereby testing, the absorption or quality of the optical components.

Abstract: The gauge length of an acoustic signal detector is dynamically variable by adjusting the location of an induced light reflection interface within a section of optical waveguide to which an acoustic stimulus is coupled. In an interferometer based architecture, a light beam is applied to each of an ‘acoustic signal detection’ optical waveguide and a ‘reference’ optical waveguide. The ‘acoustic signal detection’ waveguide is coupled to an acoustic energy transmission element. The acoustic input modifies the index of refraction of the optical waveguide and modulates the light passing through the waveguide. Since the index of refraction of the optical waveguide section is modified by the acoustic stimulus, the signal beam has a phase delay dependent upon the acoustic signal and the distance between one end of the signal waveguide section and an induced reflection interface.

Abstract: A dynamic change detecting apparatus permits selection of a combination condition of various detection sensitivities and dynamic ranges.

Abstract: A blood vessel imaging system includes a measuring light source which emits a measuring light beam. An optical heterodyne detection system consists of an optical system which splits the measuring light beam into a first light beam traveling to impinge upon an organism and a second light beam traveling not to impinge upon the organism and combines the second light beam with the first beam emanating from the organism into a combined light beam, a frequency shifter which causes the first and second light beams to have frequencies different from each other, and a beat component detector which detects beat components of the combined light beam. An image signal is generated on the basis of the ratio of the intensity of a pulsation wave band signal to the intensity of a beat signal included in an output signal of the optical heterodyne detection system.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for rhomboid assemblies cuts stacks of glass plates that are glued together with coatings between the glass plates. The cuts are at an angle such as 45° and surfaces resulting from the cuts are finished to optical tolerances. These optical surfaces permit attachment of rhomboid assemblies directly to optical elements such as a polarizing beam-splitter (PBS) in a multi-axis interferometer. Further, elements such as quarter-wave plates, cube corner reflectors, and rhomboid elements that extend the separation of measurement beams can be attached to the PBS to provide integrated beam optics that are compact and thermally stable. Placing a reflective coating or other reference reflector on a quarter-wave plate for the reference beam can keep the entire beam path for the reference beam within the integrated structure. When rhomboid elements extend the separation between measurement beams, an extension to the PBS can match the optical path lengths of reference and measurement beams.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for a quantified determination of the quality of structured surfaces comprising a first optical device that emits light at a predetermined angle onto the surface to be measured and a second optical device having at least one photo sensor which receives the light reflected by the measurement surface. The optical device are configured such that the reflected light is influenced by the structure of the measurement surface and the reflected light is evaluated by an evaluator, which is provided for controlling the measurement sequence and which comprises a processor and a controller where at least one structural variable is derived therefrom which is characteristic of at least one structural-contingent property of the surface.

Abstract: The apparatus and method measure the three-dimensional surface shape of a surface without contact with the surface, and without any physical constraint on the device during measurement. The device is a range-sensor or scanner, and in one embodiment is a laser-camera sensor, which has a portable camera and multi-line light projector encased in a compact sensor head, and a computer. The apparatus provides three-dimensional coordinates in a single reference frame of points on the surface. The sensor head does not have to be physically attached to any mechanical positioning device such as a mechanical arm, rail, or translation or rotation stage, and its position in three-dimensional space does not have to be measured by any position-tracking sensor. This allows unrestricted motion of the sensor head during scanning, and therefore provides much greater access to surfaces which are immovable, or which have large dimensions or complex shape, and which are in confined spaces such as interior surfaces.