Patent ID: 7428061

Claim:
A method of measuring the features of an object using an optical probe comprising more than one projection directions and more than one viewing directions, the method comprising: a) configuring the optical probe into two or more optical groups, wherein each optical group comprises at least one viewing direction and at least one projection direction, and wherein at least one viewing direction and at least one projection direction is different between the optical groups, and wherein data generated by the viewing directions is generated only from patterns projected by the projection directions of the same optical group; b) collecting data from each optical group while scanning the object; and c) obtaining a measurement of the features of the object based on the collected data, wherein the optical probe moves relative to the object while taking measurements and comprises a mount suitable for connection to a localizer, wherein at least one optical group is inactivated before or while scanning at least part of the object, and data is collected from the remaining optical groups.