A time-of-scan laser triangulation technique for distance measurements

This paper reports the development of an electro-optic device for relative distance measurement. The time-of-scan triangulation technique has been used as measurement principle and a rotating mirror employed as beam deflection system. A calibration technique is needed to calculate the geometrical parameters of the system. The device has an accuracy of 100 mum, a working distance of 20 cm and a range of 10 mm. The accuracy obtained depends on the instability of the rotation speed of the mechanical scanner that affects the measurement of the scanning time. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.