Moly, a prototype hand-held 3D digitizer with diffraction optics

A working hand-held 3-D digitizer, Moly, is demonstrated. It is distinguished by a magnification feature which is made possible by special diffraction optics that minimize the perspective effects typical of conventional triangulation. As a result this innovative device illuminates its target with a collimated laser projector that produces a:sheet of light of uniform heigh at all working distances. The diffraction optics afford improved depth-of-field compared to triangulation scanners of equivalent resolution. This prototype also employs dual magnetic wave detectors to facilitate freedom of movement for both the digitizer and the subject. The instrument was designed primarily to digitize human faces and figures for applications in art and medicine.