THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATING THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING DEVICE

• US 20110018973A1
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Takayama, Jun
• Application Number:
  US12/933,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018973A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/06 Use of electric means to obtain final indication
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10021 Stereoscopic video; Stereoscopic image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30248 Vehicle exterior or interior
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/85 Stereo camera calibration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/671 in combination with active ranging signals, e.g. using light or sound signals emitted toward objects

Abstract

A three-dimensional imaging device (10) comprises a plurality of imaging devices (11a and 11b), each equipped with imaging elements for converting incident light into electrical signals, and a light emitting device (14) for emitting a laser beam, in which a laser beam (B) from the light emitting device forms a light emission point (A) by plasma in space in front of the imaging device, and the difference in positional relationship with regard to the plurality of imaging devices is calibrated based on the emission point (A) as a base point. Consequently, calibration can be always performed at a required timing regardless of the conditions of an object, and can be performed while keeping a constant accuracy.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional imaging device comprising:

plural imaging devices, each includes an imaging element that converts incident light into electrical signals; and

a light emitting device that emits laser beams,

wherein the laser beams from the light emitting device are configured to form a light emission point by plasma in a air in front of the imaging devices, and

wherein a difference in positional relationship with regard to the plural imaging devices is calibrated based on the light emission point serving as a reference point.

2. The three-dimensional imaging device of claim 1,

wherein the imaging device and the light emitting device are integrally structured.

3. The three-dimensional imaging device of claim 1,

wherein the laser beams are configured to form plural light emission points in space, whereby calibrations are conducted based on the plural light emission points.

4. The three-dimensional imaging device of claim 1, wherein the laser beams are configured to form a light emission pattern in space, whereby the calibration is conducted based on the light emission pattern.

5. The three-dimensional imaging device of claim 1, wherein when the device is to be activated, the laser beams are emitted so that the calibration is conducted.

6. The three-dimensional imaging device of claim 1, wherein the laser beams are emitted at a predetermined time interval, so that the calibration is conducted at the predetermined time interval.

7. The three-dimensional imaging device of claim 1, wherein invisible light is used as the laser beams.

8. The three-dimensional imaging device of claim 4, wherein the light emission pattern is configured to display information to a vehicle driver.

9. A method for calibrating a three-dimensional imaging device including plural imaging devices, each having imaging element to convert incident light to electrical signals, comprising the steps of:

emitting laser beams from a light emitting device to space in front of an imaging device;

forming a light emission point by plasma in space in front of the imaging device by the laser beams; and

calibrating difference in positional relationship with regard to the plural imaging devices based on the emission point as a reference point.