`International Application PCT/EP2017/070173
`Docket No. 2450.014US1
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`Abstract
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`The invention relates to an optical device, preferably according to the light time-
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`of—flight principle, in particular for obtaining items of 3D spatial information
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`and/or for detecting polarization-changing materials, comprising: — a light
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`generating unit (102), which has at least one light emitter (103) for emitting light
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`into a spatial region; — a light receiving unit (110), comprising at least one light
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`detector, which can be aligned or is aligned on the spatial region; — a polarization
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`manipulator (108), comprising at least one first optical modulator (106) for
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`influencing a polarization of light traversing the modulator (106) and at least one
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`polarization filter (111), which is connected optically downstream of the
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`modulator (106), wherein the first optical modulator (106) is designed to
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`generate at least three different polarization states and/or wherein a superposition
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`unit is provided and is designed in such a way that at least three polarization
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`states can be generated, in particular by time multiplexing; and — an analysis unit
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`for analysis, which is successive in particular, of the at least three polarization
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`states of the light passing through the polarization manipulator.
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