Method and apparatus for obtaining 3-dimensional data with a portable device

A three dimensional imaging system comprising:

• a portable housing configured to be carried by a user, the portable housing comprising a cellular telephone housing defining a projector port and a camera port;
• a microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) projector supported by the housing and positioned to project signals through the projector port;
• a sensor supported by the housing and configured to detect incoming energy received through the camera port;
• a memory supported by the housing including program instructions for generating an encoded signal with the MEMS projector,
• activating the MEMS projector to emit the encoded signal through the projector port,
• activating the sensor to detect the emitted signal after the emitted signal is reflected by a body,
• associating the detected signal with the emitted signal,
• comparing the detected signal with the associated emitted signal,
• determining an x-axis dimension, a y-axis dimension, and a z-axis dimension of the body based upon the comparison, and
• storing the determined x-axis dimension, y-axis dimension, and z-axis dimension of the body;
• and
• a processor operably connected to the memory, to the sensor, and to the MEMS projector for executing the program instructions.