A polarization bearing detection type two-dimensional light reception
timing detecting device for implementing a fast surface shape measurement
that can accommodate an animal body measurement, and a surface shape
measuring device using it. The polarization bearing of a detection light
is turned in synchronization with slit light scanning, and the
polarization bearing is two-dimensionally recorded by two sets of
analyzers and storage type image detectors in a crossed Nicols
arrangement, and thereby it is possible to determine, with only one-time
imaging, timing at which a slit light is beamed into respected pixels in
the storage type image detectors.