Laser inspection is a specific application of camera and lighting technology assigned to a specific task:

• Sensing distance

Laser inspection systems utilize a laser as a light source, and use a camera sensor to find the position of the laser as it strikes an object in front of the sensor. The camera is attached to a processing system that measures the position of the laser dot or line in the image and then produces a position value indicating the distance to the surface. Laser sensors can be very accurate, with ability to sense surface position down to a few microns or even less. Laser sensors produce measurements at relatively high rates, well into the kilohertz range. This capability can be leveraged to produce highly accurate characterizations of the shapes, and even the surface texture, of objects.