Three-dimensional imaging using a single camera
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsDouglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Davide M. Marini
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Abstract
The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.
Claims17
A device comprising:
- a luminescent layer of a material adapted to form a conforming layer when placed over a target surface of an object, the luminescent layer configured to emit light at a first wavelength and a second wavelength;
- a sensor positioned to capture an intensity of the first wavelength and an intensity of the second wavelength in a direction of a location on the target surface;
- an absorbing medium, the medium positioned between the sensor and the luminescent layer and the medium absorbing the first wavelength more than the second wavelength;
- and
- a processor programmed to calculate a thickness of the medium in the direction of the location based upon a function of the intensity of the first wavelength and the intensity of the second wavelength.
A device comprising:
- a layer including a luminescent substance configured to emit light at a first wavelength and a second wavelength from a surface of the layer;
- and
- a medium in contact with the layer, the medium absorbing the first wavelength more than the second wavelength such that a ratio of an intensity of the first wavelength to an intensity the second wavelength varies according to a distance from the layer through the medium.
A device for measuring a three-dimensional surface structure of a target surface, the device comprising:
- a supporting member;
- a medium at an end of the supporting member, the medium including a gel and a dye uniformly distributed within the gel, the dye selectively absorbing a first wavelength of light more than a second wavelength of light;
- and
- a luminescent layer disposed on the medium for placement against the target surface, the luminescent layer configured to conform to the target surface and to emit light at the first wavelength and the second wavelength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.