A high-speed 3-D image measurement method

Abstract

With the recent popularization of digital cameras and projectors, practical applications of three-dimensional (3-D) image measurements based on intensity-modulation pattern projection are eagerly anticipated. Such an approach would permit a projection pattern to contain more measurement data, allowing 3-D data to be calculated with greater accuracy. However, to achieve a high level of accuracy using this approach, it is essential that an ideal observation pattern image should be obtained with a certain minimum number of stripes and a certain intensity distribution. To satisfy these requirements, an intensity correction method with two observation pattern images has previously been used. It is difficult to measure a fast-moving object in such calculations because the correspondence relation of the measured object is not established between the two photographic images, and consequently the pattern intensity is not corrected accurately. This study proposes an image analysis method for correcting intensity using an image synthesis technique that extracts precise stripes from a single observation pattern image. This analysis method allows 3-D shape measurements to be performed from a single projection pattern and a single image capture.