Line scanner having target-tracking and geometry-tracking modes

A method performed by a scanner having a processor, the method comprising:

• projecting a pattern of laser light onto an object;
• capturing an image of the projected pattern of laser light with an image sensor, the captured image having a plurality of pixel values, each pixel value being based at least in part on a selection among at least two conversion gains;
• reading out selected pixel values from the image sensor;
• and
• determining 3D coordinates of points on the object based at least in part on the projected pattern of laser light and the selected pixel values,
• wherein the at least two conversion gains include a higher conversion gain (CG) and a lower CG, and the higher CG and the lower CG are alternately selected during the capturing of the image of the projected pattern of laser light, and
• wherein a number of electrons in a full pixel well of a pixel is substantially 10,000 electrons for the higher CG and 40,000 electrons for the lower CG.

A method performed by a scanner having a processor, the method comprising:

• projecting a pattern of laser light onto an object;
• capturing an image of the projected pattern of laser light with an image sensor, the captured image having a plurality of pixel values, each pixel value being based at least in part on a selection among at least two conversion gains;
• reading out selected pixel values from the image sensor;
• and
• determining 3D coordinates of points on the object based at least in part on the projected pattern of laser light and the selected pixel values,
• wherein the at least two conversion gains include a higher conversion gain (CG) and a lower CG, and the higher CG and the lower CG are alternately selected during the capturing of the image of the projected pattern of laser light, and
• wherein corresponding noise levels are at most 2 electrons for the higher CG and at most 9 electrons for the lower CG.