Patent ID: 7505151

Claim:
An apparatus for optically determining distance, wherein the apparatus comprises: (i) at least one collimating optical element, wherein the at least one collimating optical element has an optical axis; and (ii) at least two focusing optical elements, wherein each of the at least two focusing optical elements has an optical axis, wherein the optical axes of the focusing optical elements are aligned parallel to the optical axis of the at least one collimating optical element, and wherein at least two optical axes of the focusing optical elements are not collinear; wherein light is directed through the at least one collimating optical element that collimates in the direction of a reflecting surface, through the at least two focusing optical elements that focus in the direction of the reflecting surface, and onto the reflecting surface that reflects the light, and wherein the light is directed through a first optical fiber, through the at least one collimating optical element that collimates in the direction of the reflecting surface, through the at least two focusing optical elements that focus in the direction of the reflecting surface, onto the reflecting surface that reflects the light through the first optical fiber to an optical detector, or optionally through a second optical fiber to an optical detector, and wherein the detector is a detector for measuring the intensity of the reflected light from the reflecting surface.