Patent ID: 6525303
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for generating an image of a diffusely illuminated object, the apparatus comprising:a light pattern generation system that controllably generates a pattern of light over a period of time, the pattern of light usable to illuminate the object and having at least one illumination area, each illumination area having an angle of incidence controlled independently of the illumination area for the corresponding light illuminating the object; a camera that has at least a first camera field having a first integration period for accumulating received light signals and a second camera field having a second integration period for accumulating received light signals; and a controller that synchronizes the pattern of light generated by the light pattern generation system and the at least first and second integration periods such that each camera field accumulates received light signals which correspond to a substantially identical spatial distribution and amount of the light illuminating the object.