System and method for reduced-speckle laser line generation

A coherent beam moves across a stationary line generator, allowing the speckle pattern projected through the diffuser onto the surface—for example using a MEMS mirror, or another arrangement that is free of a moving mass, such as solid state beam deflector (e.g. an AOM). Where an image sensor is emp...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author Filhaber, John F
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 14.04.2020
Subjects
ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
ELECTRICITY
MEASURING
MEASURING ANGLES
MEASURING AREAS
MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEARDIMENSIONS
OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS
OPTICS
PHYSICS
PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
TESTING
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Summary:A coherent beam moves across a stationary line generator, allowing the speckle pattern projected through the diffuser onto the surface—for example using a MEMS mirror, or another arrangement that is free of a moving mass, such as solid state beam deflector (e.g. an AOM). Where an image sensor is employed, such as a DS, the beam is moved at a speed of at least ½ cycle per image frame so that the full length of the line within the imaged scene is captured by the image sensor. The distance traversed on the diffuser provides sufficient uncorrelated speckle patterns within an exposure time to average to a smooth line. The MEMS mirror can be arranged to oscillate in two substantially orthogonal degrees of freedom so that the line is generated along a first direction and the line moves along the working surface in a second direction.
Bibliography:Application Number: US201715675629