Method and apparatus for inputting three-dimensional data

An apparatus for inputting three-dimensional data, comprising:

• a light irradiation system for irradiating a first reference light beam from a first starting point to an imaginary plane so as to scan the imaginary plane, and for irradiating a second reference light beam from a second starting point at a distance from the first starting point to the imaginary plane so as to scan the imaginary plane;
• an image sensing system for receiving the first and the second reference light beam after reflected by an object and converting the received light into an electrical signal;
• and
• a signal processor for detecting each time point when the first or the second reference light beam passes each sampling section of the imaginary plane after reflected by an object, in accordance with the electrical signal, wherein the apparatus outputs data corresponding to irradiation angles of the first and the second reference light beams at each time point detected by the signal processor, as position information of plural parts of the object.

An apparatus for inputting three-dimensional data comprising:

• a light irradiation system for irradiating a reference light beam from a first starting point to an object, and irradiating a reference light beam from a second starting point at a distance from the first starting point to the object so as to scan the object;
• a sensor having plural light receiving elements in a predetermined arrangement for receiving the reference light beam reflected by the object;
• and
• a processor for detecting each time point when the first or the second reference light beam enters in accordance with each output signal of the plural light receiving elements and for outputting position information of a predetermined part of the object in accordance with the detected time point.

An apparatus for inputting three-dimensional data comprising:

• a light irradiation device for irradiating a reference light beam toward an imaginary plane so as to scan the imaginary plane;
• light receiving elements for receiving the reference light beam reflected by an object;
• a moving mechanism for moving the light irradiation device so as to irradiate the reference light beam from the first and the second starting point;
• and
• a processor for detecting each time point when the reference light beam passes each sampling section of the imaginary plane in accordance with the light receiving result, and for calculating the position information of the specific part of the object in accordance with irradiation angles of the reference light beams irradiated from the first and the second starting point at each detected time point.

A method for inputting three-dimensional data, comprising the steps of:

• irradiating a reference light beam toward an imaginary plane so as to scan the imaginary plane;
• receiving the reference light beam reflected by an object, at first and second receiving positions apart from each other simultaneously;
• detecting each time point when the reference light beam passes each sampling section of the imaginary plane after reflected by an object;
• and
• calculating the position of the object for each sampling section in accordance with light reception angles of the reference light beam of the first and the second receiving positions at each detected time point, and in accordance with a distance between the first and the second receiving positions.

An apparatus for inputting three-dimensional data comprising:

• a light irradiation system for irradiating a reference light beam toward an imaginary plane so as to scan the imaginary plane;
• an image sensing system for receiving the reference light beam reflected by an object at a first and second receiving position apart from each other simultaneously and converting the received light into an electrical signal;
• and
• a signal processor for detecting each time point when the reference light beam reflected by the object passes each sampling section of the imaginary plane, in accordance with the electrical signal corresponding to each receiving position, wherein the apparatus outputs data corresponding to the light reception angle of the reference light beam of the first and the second receiving positions at each time point detected by the signal processor, as position information of plural parts of the object.

An apparatus for inputting three-dimensional data comprising:

• a light irradiation device for irradiating a reference light beam toward an object so as to scan the object;
• a first sensor having plural light receiving elements in a predetermined arrangement for receiving the reference light beam reflected by the object;
• a second sensor having plural light receiving elements in a predetermined arrangement, located at a predetermined distance from the first sensor, for receiving the reference light beam reflected by the object;
• and
• a processor for detecting the time point when the reference light beam is determined to enter each sensor in accordance with each output signal of the plural light receiving elements, so as to output position information of a predetermined part of the object in accordance with irradiation angles of the reference light beams irradiated from the detected time point.

A method for inputting three-dimensional data by irradiating a reference light beam toward an object so as to scan an imaginary plane, the method comprising the steps of:

• irradiating a reference light beam toward the object from a first starting point by a first angle;
• irradiating a reference light beam toward the object from a second starting point apart from the first starting point by a second angle;
• moving the first and the second starting point in one direction so as to scan the imaginary plane;
• detecting each time point when the reference light beam reflected by the object passes each sampling section of the imaginary plane for each of the first and the second starting point;
• and
• calculating the position of the object for each sampling section in accordance with positions of the first and the second starting point and in accordance with the first and the second angles at each detected time point.

An apparatus for inputting three-dimensional data by irradiating a reference light beam toward an object so as to scan an imaginary plane and determining positions of plural parts of the object, the apparatus comprising:

• a light irradiation system for irradiating the reference light beam from a first starting point to the object by a first angle, and for irradiating the reference light beam from a second starting point apart from the first starting point to the object by a second angle;
• a scanning mechanism for moving the first and the second starting points in one direction;
• an image sensing system for receiving the reference light beam reflected by the object and converting the received light into an electrical signal;
• and
• a signal processor for detecting each time point when the reference light beam reflected by the object passes each sampling section of the imaginary plane for each of the first and the second starting point, in accordance with the electrical signal, wherein the apparatus outputs data corresponding to each of the first and the second positions at each time point detected by the signal processor, as the three-dimensional data.