Ranging system for three-dimensional object digitizing

A ranging system for a three dimensional object digitizing system, comprising:

• a laser source for directing a laser beam along a laser line of sight to a surface point on an object in order to produce reflected light beams;
• a member having an aperture for capturing a specific light beam reflecting from said surface at a predetermined angle from said laser line of sight;
• a mirror coupled to said member and for receiving said captured light beam along a reflecting line of sight and directing said captured light beam along a sensor line of sight orthogonal to said laser line of sight, said laser line of sight and said reflecting line of sight and said sensor line of sight forming a right triangle having predetermined angles;
• a sensor coupled to said laser source and for receiving said captured light beam along said sensor lien of sight and determining a sensor line of sight distance in response to said captured light beam;
• and
• a processing circuit for receiving said sensor line of sight distance and determining a laser line of sight distance for said surface point therefrom, said processing circuit determining a plurality of laser line of sight distances for a plurality of surface points to form a digital representation of said object.

A ranging system for a three dimensional object digitizing system, comprising:

• circuitry for directing a laser beam in a laser line of sight on a surface point of a three dimensional object to produce reflected light beams;
• an apertural member for capturing a specific reflected light beam at a predetermined angle from said laser line of sight;
• a reflecting surface for directing said captured light beam along a sensing line of sight, said sensing line of sight being orthogonal to said laser line of sight;
• circuitry for sensing said captured light beam along said sensing line of sight to determine a sensing line of sight distance;
• and
• circuitry for determining a laser line of sight distance in response to said sensing line of sight distance for a plurality of surface points on said object, said determining circuitry forming a digital representation of said three dimensional object from said laser line of sight distance.