Method and apparatus for quantitative 3-D imaging

• US 20080278804A1
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Gharib, Morteza, Pereira, Francisco, Gran, Emilio
• Granted Patent: US 8,576,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/462
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/24 for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2509 Color coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/204 using stereoscopic image cameras stereoscopic photography G03B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof

Abstract

Described is a method and apparatus for obtaining additional information from an object and a method for surface imaging and three-dimensional imaging. Single lens, single aperture, single sensor system and stereo optic systems may be modified in order to successfully generate surface maps of objects or three-dimensional representations of target objects. A variety of the aspects of the present invention provide examples of the use of an addressable pattern in order to overcome mismatching common to standard defocusing techniques.

Claims

1. A method for using a single-lens device for three-dimensional imaging of a surface of an object, comprising acts of:

providing an imaging lens, an aperture configured to generate distinguishable images, a sensor, and a processor;

transmitting light containing object information through the imaging lens and the aperture such that the transmitted light produces distinguishable images on the sensor;

generating a plurality of distinguishable images, each of the plurality of distinguishable images including point information of the surface of the object;

calculating distance information from the point information between the distinguishable images; and

using the processor and distance information to generate a representation of the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the act of providing the imaging lens, the imaging lens includes an aperture plane, and further comprises an act of placing the aperture in the aperture plane of the imaging lens.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein in the act of providing an aperture configured to generate distinguishable images, the aperture is configured to generate distinguishable images by selectively transmitting light containing object information according to light characteristics.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein in the act of providing an aperture configured to generate distinguishable images, the aperture is configured to generate distinguishable images that change as a function of time such that the distinguishable images are allowed to pass through the aperture as a function of time.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein in the act of providing an aperture configured to generate distinguishable images, the aperture includes a series of different shapes such that the transmitted light through the aperture produces distinguishable, shape-based images.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising an act of placing the aperture in a location selected from a group consisting of being in front of the imaging lens and being behind the imaging lens.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein in the act of providing an aperture configured to generate distinguishable images, the aperture is configured to generate distinguishable images by selectively transmitting light containing object information according to light characteristics.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein in the act of providing an aperture configured to generate distinguishable images, the aperture is configured to generate distinguishable images that change as a function of time such that the distinguishable images are allowed to pass through the aperture as a function of time.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein in the act of providing an aperture configured to generate distinguishable images, the aperture includes a series of different shapes such that the transmitted light through the aperture produces distinguishable, shape-based images.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein in the act of providing the imaging lens, the imaging lens includes an aperture plane, and further comprising an act of providing a relay lens system such that the aperture is positioned at the aperture plane.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein in the act of providing an aperture configured to generate distinguishable images, the aperture is configured to generate distinguishable images by selectively transmitting light containing object information according to light characteristics.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein in the act of providing an aperture configured to generate distinguishable images, the aperture is configured to generate distinguishable images that change as a function of time such that the distinguishable images are allowed to pass through the aperture as a function of time.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein in the act of providing an aperture configured to generate distinguishable images, the aperture includes a series of different shapes such that the transmitted light through the aperture produces distinguishable, shape-based images.

14. A method for constructing a representation of a surface of a target object by using an addressable pattern, comprising acts of:

acquiring a plurality of images of an addressable pattern from different viewpoints, each of the plurality of images comprising addressable pattern information and at least one point representing at least one aspect of a target object;

processing the plurality of images to assign an address to each point in each of the plurality of images;

developing an addressed list of points using the address of each point in each of the plurality of images;

returning the addressed list of points to an imaging system processor for conversion into a three-dimensional measurement; and

causing the imaging system processor to generate a representation of a surface of a target object based on the three-dimensional measurement.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising an act of projecting the addressable pattern image onto the surface of the target object to generate a plurality of images of an addressable pattern.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein in the act of projecting the addressable pattern image onto the surface of the target object, the projected addressable pattern image is a pattern selected from a group consisting of a color sequence pattern and a shape sequence pattern.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein in the act of projecting the addressable pattern image onto the surface of the target object, the projected addressable pattern image is a position sequence pattern.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising an act of physically placing an addressable pattern image onto the surface of the target object.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein in the act of projecting the addressable pattern image onto the surface of the target object, the projected addressable pattern image is a pattern selected from a group consisting of a color sequence pattern and a shape sequence pattern.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein in the act of projecting the addressable pattern image onto the surface of the target object, the projected addressable pattern image is a position sequence pattern.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising an act of providing a target object such that the addressable pattern is inherent in the target object being imaged.