Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a beam path for tracking an object includes an illumination unit to generate an illumination light beam, an optical unit with a beam expander optical unit and a beam deflection unit, the beam expander optical unit being configured to divergently expand the illumination light beam and the beam deflection unit being configured to deflect the illumination light beam spatially about two different axes of rotation, a detector unit to capture a light beam reflected by the object in response to an illumination by the illumination light beam and to generate a measurement signal, an evaluation and control unit to evaluate the measurement signal and configured to determine a manipulated variable for setting an effective focal length of the beam expander optical unit and/or for setting a spatial alignment of the beam deflection unit based on the information item in respect of the illumination of the object.

Abstract: A triangulation sensing system includes a projection axis configuration and an imaging axis configuration. The projection axis configuration includes a triangulation light source (e.g. an incoherent source) and a variable focus lens (VFL) that is controlled to rapidly periodically modulate a triangulation light focus position (TLFP) along a Z axis over a focus position scan range, to provide a corresponding triangulation light extended focus range (TLEFR) that supports accurate measurement throughout. In some implementations, the triangulation system may be configured to provide the best measurement accuracy for a workpiece region of interest (WROI) by exposing its triangulation image only when the scanned TLFP temporarily coincides with the WROI Z height. In some implementations, the triangulation system may be configured to limit various measurement operations to using only an operational pixel subset of a detector that receives image light from the WROI, in order to shorten the measurement time.

Abstract: The interior of a first measurement surface and the interior of a second measurement surface traveling together with a measuring vehicle are scanned to acquire first measurement coordinate points and second measurement coordinate points, respectively. A first comparison point cloud representing a comparison part on a surface of a structure is extracted from the first measurement coordinate points. A second comparison point cloud representing a comparison part on the surface of the structure is extracted from the second measurement coordinate points. A difference between the first comparison point cloud and the second comparison point cloud corresponding to measurement of a common comparison part on the surface of the structure is calculated. Error having time dependence included in the first measurement coordinate points and the second measurement coordinate points is calculated on the basis of the calculated difference. The measurement coordinate points are corrected on the basis of the calculated error.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing a scan pattern of a LIDAR system including a bistatic transceiver include receiving first SNR values based on values of a range of the target, where the first SNR values are for a respective scan rate. Techniques further include receiving second SNR values based on values of the range of the target, where the second SNR values are for a respective integration time. Techniques further include receiving a maximum design range of the target at each angle in the angle range. Techniques further include determining, for each angle in the angle range, a maximum scan rate and a minimum integration time. Techniques further include defining a scan pattern of the LIDAR system based on the maximum scan rate and the minimum integration time at each angle and operating the LIDAR system according to the scan pattern.

Abstract: A system to determine a position of one or more objects includes a transmitter to emit a beam of photons to sequentially illuminate regions of one or more objects; multiple cameras that are spaced-apart with each camera having an array of pixels to detect photons; and one or more processor devices that execute stored instructions to perform actions of a method, including: directing the transmitter to sequentially illuminate regions of one or more objects with the beam of photons; for each of the regions, receiving, from the cameras, an array position of each pixel that detected photons of the beam reflected or scattered by the region of the one or more objects; and, for each of the regions detected by the cameras, determining a position of the regions using the received array positions of the pixels that detected the photons of the beam reflected or scattered by that region.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for non-contacting measuring of a distance and/or a profile of a measured object (9), a light source (2) generating an illuminating light beam for illuminating the measured object (9), and a detector (11) being provided for detecting the reflected portion of the illuminating light beam at the measured object (9), characterized with regard to a potentially robust and nevertheless compact sensor construction in that a first optic (13) and a second optic are disposed in the beam path of the illuminating light beam, wherein the illuminating light beam can first be expanded in an expansion plane parallel to the diffusion direction by means of the first optic (13), and then made nearly parallel by means of the second optic. In a particularly preferable embodiment, the second optic is formed by a Fresnel lens (5). A corresponding method is disclosed.

Abstract: A device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, which is designed as a laser scanner, with a light emitter, which emits an emission light beam, with a light receiver which receives a reception light beam which is reflected from an object (O) in the environment of the laser scanner or scattered otherwise, and with a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points (X), determines at least the distance to the object (O), the laser scanner has a swivel-axis module which, as a pre-assembled assembly, on the one hand is provided with a base resting in the stationary reference system of the laser scanner and, on the other hand, with parts which can be fixed to a carrying structure of the measuring head which is rotatable relative to the base.

Abstract: A system for optical navigation includes a light source and an imaging system. The light source illuminates a navigation surface. The navigation surface reflects light from the light source. The imaging system is located approximately within a path of the reflected light. The imaging system includes a lens, a mask, and an image sensor. The lens receives reflected light from the navigation surface. The lens focuses a specular portion of the reflected light to a focus region. The mask is located at approximately the focus region. The mask filters out substantially all of the specular portion of the reflected light and passes at least some of a scatter portion of the reflected light outside of the focus region. The image sensor generates a navigation signal based on the scattered portion of the light that passes outside the focus region and is incident on the image sensor.

Abstract: A bistatic laser radar (lidar) device is described that comprises a transmit channel (60) for forming a focused transmit beam, and a receive channel (62) for forming a focused receive beam. The device is arranged such that the focus of the transmit beam and the focus of the receive beam fall on a common axis when focused to a distance within the operable distance range of the device. The device may be used for vibrometry, wind speed measurements and the like. Implementation of such a device using optical fiber based components is described.

Abstract: An optical body height measurement instrument is provided comprising: a lens configured to be movable along a direction parallel to the height of an object to be measured and form an image of the object; a photosensitive sensor arranged at an image side of the lens to sense the image; and a driving device configured to drive the lens along a direction parallel to the height of the object, wherein when the lens is moved across the height at which the head of the object is located, a hop occurs to an output of the photosensitive sensor; and wherein the height of the object is determined based on the height of the lens measured at the time of the occurrence of the hop. The optical body height measurement instrument can rapidly, conveniently and accurately measure the height based on the infrared rays emitted from the measured object or the light with a predetermined wavelength emitted from an auxiliary light source so long as the person to be measured stands within a certain region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surveying instrument provided with a tracking function, said surveying instrument comprising a first image pickup means 40 with a first solid image pickup element 33, a second image pickup means 37 with a second solid image pickup element 19, an image pickup control instrument for controlling image pickup conditions of said first image pickup means and said second image pickup means, and a control unit for controlling the tracking operation of a target 36 based on a target image signal obtained at the first solid image pickup element or based on a target image signal obtained at the second solid image pickup element, wherein the first image pickup means can acquire an image in wider range by said second image pickup means, and wherein the image pickup control instrument controls so that a target image is acquired by the first image pickup means when the target image is out of a photodetection range of the target of the second solid image pickup element and controls so that the

Abstract: Dual mode depth imaging system and method is provided, the system comprising a first and second image sensors and a processor able to switch between a first mode of depth imaging and a second mode of depth imaging according to at least one predefined threshold. The method comprising providing depth sensing by Time of Flight if the distance of the sensed object from the camera is not below a first threshold and/or if a depth resolution above a second threshold is not required, and providing depth sensing by triangulation, if the distance of the sensed object from the camera is below the first threshold and/or if a depth resolution above the second threshold is required.

Abstract: A robot system including a beacon provided with a transmitting part to transmit a light for location determination, and a mobile robot provided with a receiving part to receive the light. The robot system further includes a rotation driving part to rotate the transmitting part about a predetermined axis; an encoder to add phase information regarding how much the transmitting part is rotated by the rotation driving part with respect to a reference direction to the light; and a location determiner to determine a location of the mobile robot based on the phase information of the light received by the receiving part. Accordingly, a robot system is provided, which can precisely determine a location of a mobile robot regardless of external environmental conditions, distance, and reduction of cost by using a few transmitters.

Abstract: In a position sensitive photoelectric sensor that calculates a distance to a target based on a triangular range finding using a light and outputs a result compared with a reference distance, first the reference distance Dref is set roughly by using a light receiving portion adjusting mechanism that changes an angle of a light receiving portion including a reception lens and a light receiving device. Then, the change adjustment of the reference distance is performed by teaching. In addition, the user performs a fine adjustment of the reference distance by a manual adjustment using an increase/decrease key if necessary.

Abstract: Pattern projection apparatuses are placed on each other in a stack manner in a stripe pattern direction for projecting the same patterns. An image pickup apparatus (camera 1) is placed between the pattern projection apparatuses. The optical axes of the pattern projection apparatuses and the image pickup apparatus are aligned on the same plane parallel with the stripe pattern direction. On the plane, the principal points also become the same. An image of a stripe pattern is picked up directly by the image pickup apparatus without the intervention of a half mirror, etc., and is recoded. An image of the recoded stripe pattern is picked up by an image pickup apparatus (camera 2) and is decoded and the range of an object is measured by triangulation based on image correspondence points.

Abstract: The laser grid (1) permits a single-sided installation in order to record a person or object in the monitoring area. The grid operates using punctiform sensor units (3), each including at least one laser diode and two photosensitive pixels. The sensor units are arranged in a line in a housing (2).

Abstract: A distance measuring sensor includes a case subassembly having inside a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a lens case subassembly having a projection lens projecting a light output from the light emitting element and a condenser lens condensing the light reflected from the object, and attached to a front side of the case subassembly. The condenser lens is movably attached to the lens case subassembly, and after an output is adjusted, this condenser lens is fixed thereto. Thus, the distance measuring sensor enabling easier adjustment of an output can be provided.

Abstract: A laser diode (22) emits laser light which is collimated into parallel rays with a collimating lens (24). The collimated beams travel about 5 to 50 cm before being reflected back to an adjustable mirror (28), to a fixed mirror (30), and then on to a photoreceiver (34). The adjustable mirror (28) is pivoted by turning an adjusting screw (40). The adjustable mirror (28) has a toothed cam (48) on its backside that mate with the threads of the adjusting screw (40). When the adjusting screw (40) is turned, it forces the cam to move with it, thus changing the angle of the adjustable mirror (28). A ball lens (32) focuses the reflected light onto the photoreceiver (34). The photoreceiver (34) and laser diode (22) are synchronized so that the receiver (34) can only receive light during appropriate windows of time corresponding to when the laser light was emitted.

Abstract: A laser diode (22) emits laser light which is collimated into parallel rays with a collimating lens (24). The collimated beams travel about 5 to 50 cm before being reflected back to an adjustable mirror (28), to a fixed mirror (30), and then on to a photoreceiver (34). The adjustable mirror (28) is pivoted by turning an adjusting screw (40). The adjustable mirror (28) has a toothed cam (48) on its backside that mate with the threads of the adjusting screw (40). When the adjusting screw (40) is turned, it forces the cam to move with it, thus changing the angle of the adjustable mirror (28). A ball lens (32) focuses the reflected light onto the photoreceiver (34). The photoreceiver (34) and laser diode (22) are synchronized so that the receiver (34) can only receive light during appropriate windows of time corresponding to when the laser light was emitted.

Abstract: A simplified method and related apparatus are described for determining the location of points on the surface of an object by varying, in accordance with a unique sequence, the intensity of each illuminated pixel directed to the object surface, and detecting at known detector pixel locations the intensity sequence of reflected illumination from the surface of the object whereby the identity and location of the originating illuminated pixel can be determined. The coordinates of points on the surface of the object are then determined by conventional triangulation methods.