Apparatus, system, and method for capturing an image with a scanned beam of light

An image capture apparatus comprising:

• a light emitter operable to emit light;
• a beam scanner aligned to receive the emitted light and operable to scan the received light in a two-dimensional pattern;
• imaging optics aligned to receive the scanned two-dimensional pattern and image the two dimensional scanned pattern onto an object, and further configured to collect light scattered from the object;
• a detector configured to receive scattered light from the imaging optics;
• an electronic controller coupled to the detector and operable to receive an electrical signal from the detector corresponding to the received scattered light;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the electronic controller operable to modify the relative alignment between the beam scanner and the imaging optics to change an imaged location on the object.

A method for capturing an image comprising:

• scanning a beam of light from a beam scanner in a scanned pattern through imaging optics onto a location on a surface;
• detecting light scattered by the surface;
• and
• responsive to detecting a change in the light scattered by the surface, steering the beam scanner relative to the imaging optics to change the trajectory of the scanned pattern.

A system for scanning a field of view comprising:

• a light source operable to emit light;
• an optical fiber having a first end aligned to receive emitted light from the light source and a second end;
• a MEMs scanner aligned to receive the light from the second end of the optical fiber and operable to scan the light through a partially-reflective imaging optic in a pattern having a field of view;
• and
• a photo-detector aligned to receive light scattered from the field of view.