THREE-DIMENSIONAL LIDAR SENSOR BASED ON TWO-DIMENSIONAL SCANNING OF ONE-DIMENSIONAL OPTICAL EMITTER AND METHOD OF USING SAME

摘要

An apparatus and method are used for three-dimensional sensing with a time-of-flight lidar sensor having a single emitter sensing in one dimension, at least one photodetector, and a mechanical means of scanning in two dimensions said emitter and at least one photodetector. The external case of the lidar is preferably static, and only internal components involve mechanical motion. In a preferred embodiment of said lidar when operated in the infrared, said external static case has a window that is visually opaque and essentially transparent to infrared radiation.