Patent ID: 7474389

Claim:
A laser scanner apparatus for measuring two and three dimensional parameters of one or more objects on a platform, the apparatus comprising: a waveform generator to generate a predetermined reference waveform; an analog laser diode to supply a modulated laser beam responsive to the reference waveform; an optical scanning system for scanning a scene with a modulated laser beam and receiving a reflected modulated light from the objects on said platform, said optical scanning system having a hexagonal reflector connected to a series of computer control motors for moving said optical scanning system along a path, and said modulated laser beam being a result of the analog laser diode being driven by a signal modulated in the range of 20-30 megahertz; a plurality of mirrors positioned on sides of said platform to provide for reflection of the modulated laser beam against the objects in additional dimensions; a photo-detector positioned to receive said processed modulated light from the optical means, said photo-detector converting energy in said laser light into a time-modulated signal; a first electrical circuit for converting the time-modulated signal into a converted sinusoidal waveform that has zero crossing in said time-modulated range signal; a second electrical circuit for converting the reference waveform into a second converted sinusoidal waveform that has zero crossings in said reference waveform; a phase comparator coupled to receive said first and second converted waveforms and output a signal indicative of the time difference there between; and a processor means for displaying and recording physical measurements of objects in a specific location.