Total Station Scanning with Adaptive SPAD Receiver

The patent applies local quality by making different regions of the detector surface serve different functions. The active acquisition region is dynamically adjusted to match the beam position, ensuring that only the necessary local area is active while other regions remain inactive to minimize background light noise. This is achieved through the control unit that sets the active acquisition region based on beam position feedback.

The patent replaces the mechanical alignment system with an optical/electronic solution. Instead of moving sluggish mechanical components for two-dimensional alignment, the system uses a rapidly deflectable beam and dynamically adjusts the active acquisition region on the detector surface through electronic control. This substitution of mechanical movement with electronic beam deflection and region adjustment maintains alignment accuracy while dramatically increasing scanning speed.

The control unit serves multiple functions: it manages the active acquisition region settings, tracks beam position, coordinates with the rapid deflection device, and optimizes the signal-to-noise ratio. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional control unit, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to dynamically adjust the active acquisition region for optimal performance.