Samsung Receives 3D Scanner Patent
Samsung has patented the concept of using a movable mirror to direct light beams in a scanner to retrieve spatial data and scan an object in three dimensions.
The patent, filed in September of 2009, is rather general and aimed towards "mobile robots" and "mobile devices" that are designed to identify "surrounding objects." I may be wrong, but my first guess would be that this technology is targeted at automotive technology that could be a stepping stone toward autonomous driving systems.
According to Samsung, the 3D scanner integrates a "rotating drive generating a rotating force; a mirror holder tiltably supporting a reflecting mirror and rotated by the rotating force of the rotating drive; a cam having a guide groove in an outer circumferential surface thereof and rotatably disposed above the mirror holder; and a tilting drive connected with the guide groove, wherein the tilting drive vertically reciprocates along a path of the guide groove and tilts the reflecting mirror connected via a rod."
Besides the mechanical description, there is no information how image data would be generated and recorded.

Samsung makes just about everything in the ROK, goes with being a chaebol business.
You are correct. Apple already patented "A thing that looks like something, and when something is done, something happens". I expect a court hearing within a few days.
Could this maybe be used in Job's dream of an iCar ?