Method and device for displaying an indication of the quality of the three-dimensional data for a surface of a viewed object

A method for displaying an indication of the quality of the three-dimensional data for a surface of a viewed object comprising the steps of:

• obtaining and displaying an image of the surface of the viewed object, wherein a plurality of pixels of the image correspond to a plurality of surface points on the viewed object;
• determining for each of the plurality of pixels corresponding to the plurality of surface points whether the three-dimensional coordinates for the surface point corresponding to the pixel are available;
• and
• displaying a first overlay for each pixel where the three-dimensional coordinates for the surface point corresponding to the pixel are not available.

A device for displaying an indication of the quality of the three-dimensional data for a surface of a viewed object comprising:

• an imager for obtaining an image of the surface of the viewed object;
• wherein a plurality of pixels of the image correspond to a plurality of surface points on the viewed object;
• a central processor unit for:
• determining the three-dimensional coordinates of the plurality of surface points;
• determining an accuracy value for each of the plurality of pixels corresponding to the plurality of surface points, wherein the accuracy value is based on the predicted accuracy of the three-dimensional coordinates of the surface point corresponding to the pixel;
• and
• determining for each of the plurality of pixels having an accuracy value whether the accuracy value is outside of a range of acceptable accuracy values;
• and
• a monitor for displaying an image of the surface of the viewed object and an overlay for each of the plurality of pixels whose accuracy value is outside of the range of acceptable accuracy values.