Device, method and system for generating dynamic projection patterns in a confocal camera
AssigneeDENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
InventorsMichael TEWES, Markus BERNER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device, method and system for utilizing an optical array generator, confocal measurement/depth of focus techniques to generate dynamic patterns in a camera for projection onto the surface of an object for three-dimensional (3D) measurement. Projected light patterns are used to generate optical features on the surface of an object to be measured and optical 3D measuring methods which operate according to triangulation, confocal and depth of focus principles are used to measure the object.
Claims14
A camera, comprising:
- an optical array generator for generating a plurality of dynamic patterns for projection, the optical array generator further comprising:
- a light source including a plurality of discrete regions wherein a luminous intensity of each of the plurality of discrete regions is controlled independently,
- a lens array comprising a plurality of lenses, each lens being constructed to image light from the light source onto an image plane to form the plurality of dynamic patterns and,
- a collimator constructed to direct light of the light source onto the lens array;
- an imaging sensor arranged within the camera to record a plurality of reflected images from a surface of an object to be measured;
- a variable imaging optics arranged within the camera to focus the plurality of dynamic patterns onto the surface of the object and to image the plurality of reflected images onto the imaging sensor;
- wherein the variable imaging optics is constructed such that a depth of focus of the variable imaging optics is controlled during projection and/or imaging so that features of the plurality of dynamic patterns are projected onto the object with maximum contrast at the depth of focus and/or features of the plurality of reflected images are imaged onto the sensor with maximum contrast at the depth of focus.
A method for generating a plurality of dynamic patterns for measuring an object, the method comprising:
- electronically controlling the luminous intensities of each of a plurality of discrete regions of a light source to generate structured light for a collimator;
- directing the structured light from the light source onto a lens array using the collimator;
- producing sub-images of the structured light using a plurality of lenses of the lens array wherein the sub-images are formed in an image plane of the lens array to form the plurality of dynamic patterns;
- controlling a depth of focus of the variable imaging optics during projection and/or imaging so that features of the plurality of dynamic patterns are projected onto the object with maximum contrast at the depth of focus and/or features of a plurality of reflected images are imaged onto an imaging sensor with maximum contrast at the depth of focus.
A system for generating a plurality of dynamic patterns for measuring an object, the system comprising:
- at least one processor operable to:
- electronically control the luminous intensities of each of a plurality of discrete regions of a light source to generate structured light for a collimator;
- direct the structured light from the light source onto a lens array using the collimator;
- produce sub-images of the structured light using a plurality of lenses of the lens array wherein the sub-images are formed in an image plane of the lens array to form the plurality of dynamic patterns;
- controlling a depth of focus of the variable imaging optics during projection and/or imaging so that features of the plurality of dynamic patterns are projected onto the object with maximum contrast at the depth of focus and/or features of a plurality of reflected images are imaged onto an imaging sensor with maximum contrast at the depth of focus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.