Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure

Device for determining the surface topology and associated color of at least a portion of a three dimensional structure, comprising:

• (a) scanning means adapted for providing depth data of said portion corresponding to a two-dimensional reference array substantially orthogonal to a depth direction;
• (b) imaging means adapted for providing two-dimensional color image data of said portion associated with said reference array;
• wherein the device is adapted for maintaining a spatial disposition with respect to said portion that is substantially fixed during operation of said scanning means and said imaging means,
• wherein said operation of said scanning means is based on confocal imaging techniques,
• wherein said scanning means comprise:
• a probing unit with a sensing face;
• first illumination means for providing a first array of incident light beams transmitted towards the structure along an optical path through said probing unit to generate illuminated spots on said portion along said depth direction, wherein said first array is defined within said reference array;
• a light focusing optics defining one or more focal planes forward said probing face at a position changeable by said optics, each light beam having its focus on one of said one or more focal plane;
• a translation mechanism for displacing said focal plane relative to the structure along an axis defined by the propagation of the incident light beams;
• a first detector having an array of sensing elements for measuring intensity of each of a plurality of light beams returning from said spots propagating through an optical path opposite to that of the incident light beams;
• and
• a processor coupled to said detector for determining for each light beam a spot-specific position, being the position of the respective focal plane of said one or more focal planes yielding maximum measured intensity of the returned light beam, and based on the determined spot-specific positions, generating data representative of the topology of said portion, and
• wherein said first array is arranged to provide depth data at a plurality of predetermined spatial coordinates substantially corresponding to the spatial disposition of said incident light beams.

Method for determining the surface topology and associated color of at least a portion of a three dimensional structure, comprising:

• (a) providing depth data of said portion corresponding to a two-dimensional reference array substantially orthogonal to a depth direction;
• (b) providing two-dimensional image data of said portion associated with said reference array;
• (c) ensuring that a spatial disposition with respect to said portion during steps (a) and (b) is substantially fixed;
• and
• (d) conformally mapping said color data to said depth data for said reference array,
• wherein in step (c), a minimum time interval is allowed between acquisition of said depth data and acquisition of said image data.

Method for determining the surface topology and associated color of at least a portion of a three dimensional structure, comprising:

• (a) providing depth data of said portion corresponding to a two-dimensional reference array substantially orthogonal to a depth direction;
• (b) providing two-dimensional image data of said portion associated with said reference array;
• (c) ensuring that a spatial disposition with respect to said portion during steps (a) and (b) is substantially fixed;
• and
• (d) conformally mapping said color data to said depth data for said reference array,
• the method further comprising:
• (i) providing a first array of incident light beams defined within said reference array propagating in an optical path leading through a focusing optics and through a probing unit;
• the focusing optics defining one or more focal planes forward said probing face in a position changeable by said optics, each light beam having its focus on one of said one or more focal plane;
• the beams generating a plurality of illuminated spots on the structure;
• (ii) detecting intensity of returned light beams propagating from each of these spots along an optical path opposite to that of the incident light;
• (iii) repeating steps (i) and (ii) a plurality of times, each time changing position of the focal plane relative to the structure;
• (iv) for each of the illuminated spots, determining a spot-specific position, being the position of the respective focal plane yielding a maximum measured intensity of a respective returned light beam;
• and
• (v) generating data representative of the topology of said portion.