Physical limits of 3D sensing

A fundamental limit for the distance uncertainty of coherent 3D-sensors is presented. The minimum distance uncertainty is given by (delta) z equals 1/2(pi) (DOT) (lambda) /sin2u, with the aperture of observation sinu and wavelength (lambda) . This distance uncertainty can be derived via speckle statistics for different sensing principles, and surprisingly the same result can be obtained directly from Heisenberg's uncertainty, principle for a single photon. Because speckles are the main reason for distance uncertainty, possibilities to overcome the speckle problem are discussed. This leads to an uncertainty principle between lateral resolution and longitudinal distance uncertainty. A way to improve the distance uncertainty without sacrificing lateral resolution is the use of temporally incoherent light.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.