Optically offset three-dimensional imager

An imager comprising:

• a light source;
• a spatial light modulator to receive light from the light source and to provide patterned light to illuminate an object;
• a sensor to receive first reflected light from reflection of the patterned light off an object and to receive offset reflected light from reflection of the patterned light off the object;
• and
• a processor to receive sensed images of the first reflected light and the offset reflected light and apply a deconvolution to a combined image including a combination of the sensed images of the first reflected light and the offset reflected light to generate the combined image having pixel density greater than the sensed images of the first reflected light and the offset reflected light, wherein the processor is configured to determine a position of at least one point on the object by triangulation between the spatial light modulator and the sensor using the patterned light and the combined image.

A method comprising:

• illuminating an object with a light structure;
• capturing a first reflected image of the light structure reflected off the object;
• capturing an offset reflected image of the light structure reflected off the object;
• combining the first reflected image and the offset reflected image to provide a combined image;
• and
• determining surface features of the object using the combined image.