Patent ID: 7821649

Claim:
A probe comprising: an insertion tube; a plurality of light emitters disposed on the distal end of the insertion tube; at least one intensity modulating element through which light from the plurality of light emitters is passed to project a plurality of fringe sets onto a surface, each of the plurality of fringe sets comprising a structured-light pattern projected when one emitter group of at least one of the plurality of light emitters is emitting; an imager for obtaining at least one image of the surface; a processing unit that is configured to perform phase-shift analysis on the at least one image; an inspection light delivery system which delivers light from an inspection light source to the surface; wherein the inspection light delivery system outputs light from the distal end of the insertion tube during inspection mode; wherein the intensity of light output from the inspection light delivery system is automatically decreased during measurement mode; and wherein the probe operates in measurement mode when at least one of the plurality of fringe sets is projected onto the surface.