US 9,857,167 B2 · Dual-projector three-dimensional scanner

Abstract

A current problem with 3D scanners using structured light patterns is choosing a single light pattern to accommodate all possible object/range conditions. Objects far from the 3D scanner often require different patterns than objects that located close to the 3D scanner. In addition, large objects often require different patterns than small objects. To automatically sense and adapt to a wide variety of size/range conditions, the present invention embraces a 3D scanner for dimensioning that has two projectors for projecting two different light patterns. Based on the scanning requirements for a particular object, one of the two projected patterns may be used to obtain information regarding the shape of an object. In one possible embodiment, this shape information is used to obtain the object's dimensions.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A dual-projector three-dimensional (3D) scanner, comprising:

a structured-light projection subsystem, comprising a first projector configured for projecting a first light pattern onto an object, and a second projector configured for projecting a second light pattern onto the object;
a camera for capturing pattern images of the first light pattern reflected from the object or the second light pattern reflected from the object;
and
a computing-and-control subsystem communicatively coupled to the structured-light projection subsystem and the camera, the computing-and-control subsystem configured to:
(i) obtain the object's scanning requirements,
(ii) activate, depending on the object's scanning requirements, either the first projector or the second projector,
(iii) capture, using the camera, a pattern image, and
(iv) process the pattern image to produce a range image.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dual-projector three-dimensional scanner

Life of this patent

Dual-projector three-dimensional scanner

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18