3-D camera for recording surface structures, in particular for dental purposes

A method for recording surface structures on an object of interest by means of triangulation, for dental purposes, comprising:

• measuring at least two 3-D measurements of the object of interest in close chronological succession;
• and
• altering the triangulation angle between a centroid beam of the projection optical path and a centroid beam of the observation optical path between two of the at least two measurements;
• wherein the step of measuring comprises measuring with a 3-D camera for recording surface structures on an object which comprises
• a light source to illuminate the object, wherein a light beam emitted from said light source defines a projection optical path;
• an image sensor for receiving light back-scattered by the object, the back-scattered light emanating from the object defining an observation optical path;
• a reference pattern projector for producing a pattern projected onto the object;
• and
• a diaphragm disposed in one of said paths for altering a triangulation angle, which is defined by the angle between a centroid beam of the projection optical path and a centroid beam of the observation optical path.

A 3-D camera for recording surface structures on an object of interest by means of triangulation, comprising:

• means for producing one or more light beams to illuminate the object of interest via a projection optical path;
• an image sensor for receiving light back-scattered by the object of interest via an observation optical path;
• means in the projection optical path for producing a pattern projected onto the object of interest;
• and
• means in the projection optical path or the observation optical path for altering a triangulation angle, which is defined by the angle between a centroid beam of the projection optical path and a centroid beam of the observation optical path.