Abstract:
In a method for defining the spatial location of points comprising an object surface, radiant energy is projected onto the object (10) in successive steps with the energy projected in each step having a unique change in intensity with distance along an axis (TA) extending transversely of the projection field. The spatial locations of surface points (P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , P 4 ) are derived by comparison of reflected intensity information derived from records (20) of the object so irradiated and predetermined patterns derived in accordance with the intensity changes with transverse distance in the respective energy projections.