Method and system for high-speed, 3-d imaging of an object at a vision station

A method and system for high-speed, 3-D imaging of an object at a vision station including a flying spot laser scanner, a dynamically configurable spatial filter and a diffuser for spatial averaging, are used in conjunction with a variable transmission filter in an optical depth sensing system. The reflected laser signal received by the sensing system is first spatially filtered and averaged and then split into first and second beams which are imaged onto a pair of highly sensitive photodetectors which introduce capability for high-speed, 3-D sensing under low light level conditions. The first beam passes through a variable transmission filter which is used to encode position which, in turn, is proportional to the height of the object. The second or reference split beam is provided to compensate for changes in the reflectance of the object and the power of the laser scanner. A high-speed signal processing unit which incorporates special circuitry to greatly extend dynamic range computes the ratio of the transmitted signal to the sum of the reference signal and the transmitted signal to determine height information. The signal processing unit also contains noise rejection circuitry which is activated during "off" and "on" periods of laser diode TTL modulation and includes feedback control for pulse amplitude modulation of the laser diode source if necessary to increase dynamic range of the system.