Patent US 5,081,530

A three dimensional camera system in which a precisely timed beam of energy is emitted from a single source with the beam illuminating the scene. The reflected energy from the beam is detected with a camera whose sensitivity is precisely timed and synchronized with the emitted beam. The reflected energy is separated and segregated according to the time of arrival at the camera. One or more cycles of energy are emitted, the camera segregates reflected energy during each cycle by separately storing the energy detected before and after a given time. The ratio of two consecutive separately detected energies conveys depth or third dimension. Signals can be displayed to a viewer to create a stereoscopic image or used by a machine for automatic response to a three dimensional environment.