Method and apparatus for reconstructing three-dimensional surfaces from two-dimensional images
First Claim
1. A method of reconstructing the third dimension of an object comprising:
- disposing said object in a fixed position relative to a reference surface;
projecting substantially parallel rays of radiant energy at said object at a plurality of different angles relative to said reference surface;
recording the relative locations and lengths of each of the shadows cast by the object at each of said angles, said shadows including portions thereof formed on the reference surface; and
determining from the length and relative location of each of said shadows cast and from the angle, relative to the reference surface, of the radiant energy at which said shadow is cast, the position of at least one point on a surface of said object relative to another point on said object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reconstructing the surface, i.e the third dimension, of a three-dimensional object from two-dimemsional information includes projecting radiant energy, such as light, from a substantially parallel ray source at said object at a number of different angles relative to a reference surface with respect to which the object is placed. The lengths and locations of shadows cast by the object are measured as a function of the angle of the light rays. The location of the surface of the object relative to the reference surface is determined from the shadow lengths and locations from the angles at which the respective shadow lengths are created. Preferably, the shadow lengths and locations are measured by an electronic camera that generates electrical signals indicative of the shadow image. These signals are preferably received by a computer that determines the location of the surface of the object relative to the reference surface. Preferably, the computer also controls the position of the energy source. The method is relatively insensitive to variations in measurement and signal processing conditions. The position information produced in applying the method may be used in many applications, for example, for positioning a robot gripper to retrieve a part from a bin.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of reconstructing the third dimension of an object comprising:
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disposing said object in a fixed position relative to a reference surface; projecting substantially parallel rays of radiant energy at said object at a plurality of different angles relative to said reference surface; recording the relative locations and lengths of each of the shadows cast by the object at each of said angles, said shadows including portions thereof formed on the reference surface; and determining from the length and relative location of each of said shadows cast and from the angle, relative to the reference surface, of the radiant energy at which said shadow is cast, the position of at least one point on a surface of said object relative to another point on said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 26)
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18. An apparatus for reconstructing the third dimension of an object comprising:
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a reference surface with respect to which an object may be disposed; radiant energy source means for projecting substantially parallel rays of radiant energy from a plurality of different angles relative to said reference surface at a said object disposed relative to said reference surface; means for recording the relative locations and lengths of each of the shadows cast by said object at each of said plurality of different angles, said shadows including portions thereby formed on said reference surface; and means for determining the location of at least one point on a surface of said object relative to another point on said surface from the respective lengths and locations of said shadows cast and from the respective angles. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of reconstructing the third dimension of an object comprising:
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disposing said object in a fixed position relative to a reference surface; projecting substantially parallel rays of radiant energy at said object from a plurality of different equatorial positions relative to said reference surface; recording the shadows cast by the object from each of said positions; and determining from the recorded shadows the position of a plurality of points on a surface of said object. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification