A position detector for generating 3D position information of an object in a position determination space for the object. The position detector has a camera with a lens and an image sensor that defines an imaging area with one first light deflecting element arranged in the imaging area as the camera and the at least one light deflecting element are adapted to simultaneously produce on the image sensor at least two images of the position determination space, a first image being produced by light beams deflected at the first light deflecting element, the at least two images differ with respect to the viewing direction of the position determination space.

A method of automatically orienting symmetric and asymmetric food items, such as apples for example, is provided. Individual items of food are manipulated by a programmable manipulator within the view of one or more depth imaging cameras. Digital three dimensional characterizations of the surface of the food items are generated by the depth imaging camera or cameras and are utilized by a computer connected to the depth imaging camera or cameras to locate the stem and blossom of each food item. Asymmetric food items, such as apples with dropped shoulders as well as symmetric food items can be properly oriented and processed automatically.

A method of automatically orienting symmetric and asymmetric food items, such as apples for example, is provided. Individual items of food are manipulated by a programmable manipulator within the view of one or more depth imaging cameras. Digital three dimensional characterizations of the surface of the food items are generated by the depth imaging camera or cameras and are utilized by a computer connected to the depth imaging camera or cameras to locate the stem and blossom of each food item. Asymmetric food items, such as apples with dropped shoulders as well as symmetric food items can be properly oriented and processed automatically.

An intraoral scanner comprises a light source for generating light, an optics system for focusing the light, and a light-guiding part having an entrance and an exit. The light source, the optics system and the light-guiding part are arranged such that the light passes through the optics system, enters the light-guiding part via the entrance, and exits the light-guiding part via the exit. The optics system is configured such that, upon entering the light-guiding part, an outermost chief ray of the light with respect to an optical axis of the optics system is divergent to the optical axis and an outermost marginal ray of the light with respect to the optical axis is parallel or divergent to the optical axis.

An intraoral scanner comprises a light source for generating light, an optics system for focusing the light, and a light-guiding part having an entrance and an exit. The light source, the optics system and the light-guiding part are arranged such that the light passes through the optics system, enters the light-guiding part via the entrance, and exits the light-guiding part via the exit. The optics system is configured such that, upon entering the light-guiding part, an outermost chief ray of the light with respect to an optical axis of the optics system is divergent to the optical axis and an outermost marginal ray of the light with respect to the optical axis is parallel or divergent to the optical axis.

A method of measuring a surface of an optical element and an interferometric measuring device for measuring a surface or profile of the optical element. The optical element having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The method includes defining at least a first measurement point, a second measurement point and a third measurement point on a measurement surface of the optical element being one of the first surface and the second surface, measuring a first position of the first measurement point by directing a measurement beam from a measurement head onto the first measurement point and by detecting a measurement beam portion reflected at the first measurement point, subsequently measuring at least a second position of the second measurement point and a third position of the third measurement point by directing the measurement beam onto the second measurement point and onto the third measurement point and by detecting a measurement beam portion reflected at the second measurement point and the third measurement point, respectively, and determining at least one of a decenter and a tilt of the measurement surface relative to a reference axis on the basis of at least the first position, the second position and the third position.

Surface sensing methods for imaging a scanned surface of a sample via sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy are disclosed herein. The methods include exposing a sampled location of the scanned surface to a visible light beam and exposing the sampled location to a tunable infrared beam such that the tunable infrared beam is at least partially coincident with the visible light beam. The methods also include varying a frequency of the tunable infrared beam an inducing optical resonance within an imaged structure that extends at least partially within the sampled location. The methods further include receiving at least a portion of an emitted light beam from the sampled location and scanning the visible light beam and the runnable infrared beam across the scanned portion of the scanned surface. The methods also include generating an image of the scanned portion of the scanned surface based upon the receiving and the scanning.

Surface sensing methods for imaging a scanned surface of a sample via sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy are disclosed herein. The methods include exposing a sampled location of the scanned surface to a visible light beam and exposing the sampled location to a tunable infrared beam such that the tunable infrared beam is at least partially coincident with the visible light beam. The methods also include varying a frequency of the tunable infrared beam an inducing optical resonance within an imaged structure that extends at least partially within the sampled location. The methods further include receiving at least a portion of an emitted light beam from the sampled location and scanning the visible light beam and the runnable infrared beam across the scanned portion of the scanned surface. The methods also include generating an image of the scanned portion of the scanned surface based upon the receiving and the scanning.

Stereo imaging systems and devices are disclosed. A stereo imaging system can include one or more stereo imaging modules and an image processing module connected to the one more stereo imaging modules by a coaxial cable that carries two-way communication signals and transfers electrical power from the image processing module to the stereo imaging modules. The stereo imaging modules each include a plurality of image sensors positioned to capture images of at least partially overlapping fields of view, and processing circuitry configured to transmit the captured images to the stereo imaging module via the coaxial cable. The processing module includes processing circuitry configured to receive and process the captured images, and power circuitry configured to provide electrical power to the stereo imaging module via the coaxial cable. The plurality of image sensors may be color image sensors configured to collect color images for stereo image processing.

A display control apparatus (1) includes: an acquisition unit (6e) configured to acquire an invisible light image showing invisible light in a real space from a sensor; a map generation unit (6a) configured to generate an environment map indicating a shape of the real space based on the invisible light image; and a display control unit (6d) configured to control a display unit (4) such that a virtual object regarding a state of an invisible substance in the real space is superimposed on the real space based on the invisible light image.