Method and apparatus for determining optical distance

A method for determining depth of view for each one of a plurality of samples areas within an optical field of view, comprising the steps of:

• receiving light from the optical field of view;
• scanning the received light along a predetermined pattern;
• converging a portion of the scanned light;
• respectively detecting over time a pattern of the converged light corresponding to each one of the plurality of sample areas;
• and
• respectively identifying from the respective detected pattern a depth of view for each said one of the plurality of sample areas.

An apparatus for determining depth of view for a sample area within an optical field of view, comprising:

• a first lens receiving light from the optical field of view and directing the light along a light path;
• a scanner receiving the directed light for redirecting at least a portion of the light;
• a second lens receiving the redirected light and converging the redirected light;
• and
• a light detector which receives the converged light and generates a signal indicative of the depth of view for the sample area corresponding to the converged light.

An apparatus for determining depth of view for a sample area within an optical field of view, comprising:

• a first lens receiving light from the optical field of view and directing the light along a light path;
• a scanner receiving the directed light for redirecting at least a portion of the light;
• a second lens receiving the redirected light and converging the redirected light;
• and
• a light detector which receives the converged light and generates a signal indicative of the depth of view for the sample area corresponding to the converged light;
• wherein the scanner comprises a mirror which moves along a predetermined scanning path, wherein at a given time during the scanning path the mirror redirects light for a select pixel within the field of view, the select pixel changing with time during a scanning cycle, and wherein the light detector receives converged light for the select pixel, the select pixel corresponding to the sample area.

An apparatus for determining depth of view for pixels within an optical field of view, comprising:

• a first lens receiving light from the optical field of view and directing the light along a light path;
• a scanner receiving the directed light for redirecting at least a portion of the light, wherein the scanner comprises a mirror which moves along a predetermined scanning path, wherein at a given time during the scanning path the mirror redirects light for a select pixel within the field of view, the select pixel changing with time during a scanning cycle, a variable focus lens receiving the redirected light and receiving a signal for controlling focal length of the variable focus lens, the variable focus lens converging the redirected light, the converged light corresponding to the select pixel;
• a light detector which receives the converged light and generates a signal;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the variable focus lens which generates the controlling signal received at the variable focus lens, wherein the focal length of the variable focus lens corresponds to the determined depth of view for the sample area.