Patent ID: 7564571
Filing Date: 2009-07-21
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. A method for calibrating a camera-laser-unit with respect to at least one calibration-object disposed at a given position and orientation in three-dimensional space, the camera-laser-unit having at least one laser and at least one camera, wherein the laser and the camera are disposed at a given distance with respect to one another, and an optical axis of the laser and an optical axis of the camera subtend a given angle (α), the camera-laser-unit being adapted to record a location, shape and/or dimensions of a measurement-object, the method comprising the steps of: a) selecting a calibration-object having at least two planes disposed at a given angle (β) with respect to each other, each plane having a given, non-coplanar calibration-pattern; b) disposing the calibration-object at a given position and orientation in three-dimensional space with respect to the camera-laser-unit, wherein an orientation of the calibration-object is such that light emitted by the laser is visible to the camera on the at least two planes of the calibration-object; c) determining a location of the camera with respect to the calibration-object using a Tsai algorithm; d) calibrating the camera in three-dimensional space using the results of steps b) and c); e) activating the laser to emit light visible on the at least two planes of the calibration-object; f) the light on the two planes with the camera; g) determining the laser-properties from the light recorded by the camera; h) determining a location of the laser relative to the camera; and i) calibrating the laser in three-dimensional space using the results of steps d) and h).