Patent ID: 7417666

Claim:
A 3-D imaging system adapted for remote information acquisition comprising: a. a platform for supporting and conveying the imaging system; b. an illumination source affixed to the platform, said illumination source adapted to transmit light to an object being scanned; c. a light detector affixed to the platform, said light detector adapted to collect the light reflected back from the object being scanned; and d. a data processing system in communication with the light detector for compiling data obtained from the reflected light to produce an image therefrom by using algorithm (i): i: i . ⁢ R = S ⁢ ⁢ • ⁢ ⁢ ⁢ tan ⁡ ( ϕ + row ⁢ ⁢ # ⁢ ⁢ • ⁢ ⁢ F . O . V . totalrows ) , where R is equal to a distance between the illumination source and the object being scanned, S is equal to a distance between the source and the detector, row# is equal to a current row where line is detected, totalrows is equal to a total number of vertical imaging elements, F.O.V. is equal to a field of view as seen by the light receiver in relation to the object being scanned, and phi is equal to a vertical angle between a plane of light created by the illumination source and the center of the field of view of the detector.