Range camera controller for acquiring 3D models

• US 6,519,359 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1999
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Nafis, Christopher Allen, Corby, Nelson Raymond Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Brian Q
• Application Number:
  US09/428,567
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 356/2-32, 348/46, 348/50, 348/211.9, 382/154, 382/106
• US Class Current: 382/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects

Abstract

A method of acquiring a three-dimensional surface image of an object using a range camera automatically calculates an optimal number of scans. The optimal number of scans is calculated in accordance with operator-defined and camera optical parameters. Scan data acquired for each scan is merged with a preference for higher resolution data over lower resolution data for any given scanned area, such that the merged scan data forms the three-dimensional surface image of the object.

Claims

1. A method of acquiring a three-dimensional surface image of at least one object using a range camera, comprising the steps of:

receiving operator defined parameters;

calculating a number of scans required for the range camera to scan the at least one object in accordance with optical parameters for the range camera and the operator defined parameters;

controlling the range camera to perform the calculated number of scans, the scans generating scan data for each of the calculated number of scans; and

,

merging the generated scan data to form the three-dimensional surface image of the at least one object.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the optical parameters for the range camera are stored for a plurality of settings of a lens for the range camera.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the operator defined parameters comprise view area, a focal length for a lens of the range camera, and a volume to be scanned by the range camera.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein resolution corresponds to a measure of points per scan in two dimensions.

5. A method of acquiring a three-dimensional surface image of at least one object using a range camera, comprising the steps of:

receiving operator defined parameters;

calculating a number of scans required for the range camera to scan the at least one object in accordance with optical parameters for the range camera and the operator defined parameters;

controlling the range camera to perform the calculated number of scans at a plurality of settings for a lens of the range camera, each scan generating respective scan datum at each of the plurality of settings for the lens;

selecting data from the generated scan data according to resolution parameters for a given scanned area, the resolution corresponding to a number of points per scan in two dimensions; and

,

merging the selected data to form the three-dimensional surface image of the at least one object.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the optical parameters for the range camera are stored for a plurality of settings of a lens for the range camera.

7. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the operator defined parameters comprise view area and a range of focal lengths of a lens of the range camera.

8. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the range camera is controlled to perform scans of multiple objects for generating scan data for each of the multiple objects, the generated_scan data being selected according to resolution and merged to form a three-dimensional surface image of the multiple objects.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the position of the range camera is controlled to perform scans for multiple objects.

10. A system for acquiring a three-dimensional surface image of at least one object using a range camera, comprising:

a range camera configured to generate scan data during scanning of the object;

a display device; and

,

an interface coupled to the range camera and the display device, the interface being configured for controlling the range camera to perform a calculated number of scans of at least one object in accordance with optical parameters for the range camera and operator defined parameters, the interface storing and selecting scan data to be displayed as a three-dimensional surface image of the at least one object by the display device.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a positioning device coupled to the interface and the range camera for controlling position of the range camera during the scanning by the range camera.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a target designator for displaying the operator defined view area on the object.