Shape reconstruction using electronic light diffusing layers (e-glass)

An apparatus comprising a camera and a background, wherein the apparatus is constructed to extract a silhouette of a foreground object placed between the camera and the background, wherein the background comprises:

• first and second transparency-controllable layers, the first and second layers being positioned in spaced-apart relation relative to each other, wherein both of the first and second layers are controllably switchable between a transparent mode in which the layer is transparent, and a diffuse mode in which the layer diffuses light;
• a projector positioned and configured to project background patterns toward the first and second layers so as to illuminate the background with patterned light;
• and
• a controller configured to control transparency of the first and second layers and to control projection of background patterns by the projector, and configured to extract a silhouette of the foreground object by calculations using images of the foreground object captured by the camera.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first projector and a first set of first and second transparency-controllable layers positioned along a first optical axis across an inspection station opposite the first projector, such first and second layers being positioned in spaced-apart relation relative to each other, wherein both of the first and second layers are controllably switchable between a transparent mode in which the layer is transparent, and a diffuse mode in which the layer diffuses light;
• a second projector and a second set of first and second transparency-controllable layers positioned along a second optical axis across the inspection station opposite the second projector, such first and second layers being positioned in spaced-apart relation relative to each other, wherein both of the first and second layers are controllably switchable between a transparent mode in which the layer is transparent, and a diffuse mode in which the layer diffuses light;
• a first camera positioned along the first optical axis for projecting patterned light in a direction towards the first set of transparency-controllable layers and the inspection station;
• and
• a second camera positioned along the second optical axis for projecting patterned light in a direction towards the second set of transparency-controllable layers and the inspection station;
• wherein the first optical axis is oblique to the second optical axis.

An apparatus comprising:

• first and second transparency-controllable layers, the first and second layers being positioned in spaced-apart relation relative to each other, wherein both of the first and second layers are controllably switchable between a transparent mode in which the layer is transparent, and a diffuse mode in which the layer diffuses light;
• a first projector positioned along a first optical axis across an inspection station opposite the first and second transparency-controllable layers;
• a second projector positioned along a second optical axis oblique to the first optical axis;
• a camera positioned along the first optical axis for capturing images formed on the first and second transparency-controllable layers by reflection from the object of projections of patterns from the first projector, and for capturing shadows of the object formed on the first and second transparency-controllable layers by projection from the second projector;
• and
• a controller configured to capture images of the shadows and coded light patterns caused by the projectors, and to reconstruct the 3D shape of an object positioned at the inspection station by using the captured images.