ABSTRACT
Light scanning has numerous applications spanning a wide range of fields including manufacturing, life science and healthcare, defense and homeland security, information and communication systems, and consumer electronics. These scanning systems can mainly be categorized into one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) scanning, as shown in Figure 5.1a and b, respectively. In 1D scanning systems, light scans only in one dimension. Two-dimensional imaging or projection can also be achieved by moving the target or optical system in a direction perpendicular to the scan line. One-dimensional scanning applications include laser barcode readers, laser printers for the computer industry, terrestrial laser scanning systems for structural deformation and health monitoring. In 2D scanning systems, light scans in two mutually perpendicular directions as shown in the figure. Two-dimensional scanning applications include laser scanning confocal microscopes for biomedical and healthcare applications, raster-scanning laser projection displays/TVs for consumer markets, laser scanning 3D imaging ladar (laser detection and ranging) for unmanned ground vehicles, laser material processing for marking, cutting, welding, drilling, and so on, and laser cameras.
