Provided is a surveying instrument configured so that the optical axis of a guide light irradiation unit that irradiates guide light for guiding a survey operator and the optical axis of a lens barrel portion of a distance-measuring optical system become parallel to each other on a horizontal plane. The guide light irradiation unit is not disposed above the lens barrel portion that substantially matches a collimation direction is horizontally shifted with respect to the lens barrel portion. The horizontal shift distance D is configured so that a horizontal distance D between the optical axis of guide light and the optical axis of the lens barrel portion satisfies tan(α/2)×Cmin>D provided that α is an irradiation angle of the guide light in the horizontal direction, and Cmin is a shortest use distance of the surveying instrument.

A method for detecting a parallax problem in sensor data from two sensors spaced apart from each other and at least partly capturing the same environment, wherein at least one of the sensors provides distance information. The method includes obtaining the acquired sensor data from the sensors; assigning measured values in the acquired sensor data of one sensor to corresponding measured values in the acquired sensor data of the other sensor, wherein the assignment takes the respective imaging conditions of the two sensors into account; consecutively numbering the measured values in the sensor data; checking whether a sorting order of the numbering of the measured values that correspond to each other matches, a parallax problem being determined in response to a sorting order not matching; and outputting a test result. Also disclosed is an apparatus for detecting a parallax problem in sensor data from two sensors and a transportation vehicle.

A method for inspecting an object includes receiving or determining inspection image data, the inspection image data including an inspection image pixel array with at least one inspection image pixel in the inspection image pixel array having a pixel property associated therewith. The method includes receiving via a processor a user input associated with a continuous segment of inspection image pixels in the inspection image pixel array. The method includes determining a property of the object based on the pixel properties associated with the continuous segment of inspection image pixels in the inspection image pixel array.

A method for inspecting an object includes receiving or determining inspection image data, the inspection image data including an inspection image pixel array with at least one inspection image pixel in the inspection image pixel array having a pixel property associated therewith. The method includes receiving via a processor a user input associated with a continuous segment of inspection image pixels in the inspection image pixel array. The method includes determining a property of the object based on the pixel properties associated with the continuous segment of inspection image pixels in the inspection image pixel array.

An imaging system includes a light source, an image sensor and a processing unit. The image sensor alternatively captures a first bright image, a first dark image, a second bright image and a second dark image, wherein the first bright image is captured with a first exposure time corresponding to activation of the light source within a first time interval, the first dark image is captured with the first exposure time corresponding to deactivation of the light source within the first time interval, the second bright image is captured with a second exposure time corresponding to activation of the light source within a second time interval, and the second dark image is captured with the second exposure time corresponding to deactivation of the light source within the second time interval, wherein the second exposure time is longer than the first exposure time. The processing unit adjusts the second exposure time according to an object image size in the second dark image, and controls the image sensor to stop capturing the first bright and dark images with the first exposure time when no object image is contained in the second dark image.

An imaging system includes a light source, an image sensor and a processing unit. The image sensor alternatively captures a first bright image, a first dark image, a second bright image and a second dark image, wherein the first bright image is captured with a first exposure time corresponding to activation of the light source within a first time interval, the first dark image is captured with the first exposure time corresponding to deactivation of the light source within the first time interval, the second bright image is captured with a second exposure time corresponding to activation of the light source within a second time interval, and the second dark image is captured with the second exposure time corresponding to deactivation of the light source within the second time interval, wherein the second exposure time is longer than the first exposure time. The processing unit adjusts the second exposure time according to an object image size in the second dark image, and controls the image sensor to stop capturing the first bright and dark images with the first exposure time when no object image is contained in the second dark image.

An image sensing device includes an image sensor suitable for correcting depth information based on a control signal, and for generating image data according to the depth information, and a controller suitable for analyzing an error of the depth information, and for generating the control signal, based on first and second cycle signals provided from the image sensor.

An image sensing device includes an image sensor suitable for correcting depth information based on a control signal, and for generating image data according to the depth information, and a controller suitable for analyzing an error of the depth information, and for generating the control signal, based on first and second cycle signals provided from the image sensor.

Methods and systems for performing three-dimensional (3-D) LIDAR measurements with multiple illumination beams scanned over a 3-D environment are described herein. In one aspect, illumination light from each LIDAR measurement channel is emitted to the surrounding environment in a different direction by a beam scanning device. The beam scanning device also directs each amount of return measurement light onto a corresponding photodetector. In some embodiments, a beam scanning device includes a scanning mirror rotated in an oscillatory manner about an axis of rotation by an actuator in accordance with command signals generated by a master controller. In some embodiments, the light source and photodetector associated with each LIDAR measurement channel are moved in two dimensions relative to beam shaping optics employed to collimate light emitted from the light source. The relative motion causes the illumination beams to sweep over a range of the 3-D environment under measurement.

Methods and systems for performing three-dimensional (3-D) LIDAR measurements with multiple illumination beams scanned over a 3-D environment are described herein. In one aspect, illumination light from each LIDAR measurement channel is emitted to the surrounding environment in a different direction by a beam scanning device. The beam scanning device also directs each amount of return measurement light onto a corresponding photodetector. In some embodiments, a beam scanning device includes a scanning mirror rotated in an oscillatory manner about an axis of rotation by an actuator in accordance with command signals generated by a master controller. In some embodiments, the light source and photodetector associated with each LIDAR measurement channel are moved in two dimensions relative to beam shaping optics employed to collimate light emitted from the light source. The relative motion causes the illumination beams to sweep over a range of the 3-D environment under measurement.