Acquisition of 3-D image of still or moving objects utilizing laser diode range-finding speedometer

Described is acquisition of a 3-D image of some still or moving objects utilizing the laser diode range-finding speedometer. The laser beam is scanned in x and y directions by two plane mirrors. Measurement errors of both the contour and the depth of a still 10 cm/spl times/10 cm white paper positioned at 30 cm were 1.2 mm or 0.4%, and its measuring time was 30 seconds to survey 11/spl times/11 points. An image of the same square paper moving at 2 mm/s was obtained in 12 seconds surveying 7/spl times/7 points with depth error 1.8 mm or 0.6% and contour error 15 mm or 5%. A 3-D image of a standstill or moving white spherical ball is also obtained.<
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