Telecentric scanner for 3 -D sensing

Triangulation systems that are based on the simultaneous deflection of the illuminating and observing light beam are able to scan large object fields fast and with high space-bandwidth product. On the other hand, in nontelecentric systems, the direction of illumination and observation vary along the scan path, and the shape of an object is usually determined with respect to a circular reference shape. We describe a telecentric system with variable reference shape, stationary measuring geometry over the whole field, and expanded depth of field.