Patent ID: 6788210
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A method of three dimensional surface contouring of an object having a surface defining a geometry, said method comprising the steps of:(a) generating a plurality of phase shifted digitally-interpretable fringe pattern signals, each of said signals being generated at a separate phase angle; (b) converting said signals into optical phase shifted fringe patterns; (c) projecting said fringe patterns onto said surface, said fringe patterns being distorted by said geometry of said object; (d) retrieving a reflection of each of said distorted fringe patterns individually; (e) generating a phase-wrapped image by combining said distorted fringe patterns; (f) generating a relative phase map of said surface of said object by unwrapping said phase-wrapped image; (g) projecting an absolute-phase mark onto said surface; (h) retrieving a reflection of said absolute-phase mark; (i) generating an absolute phase map of said surface by translating said relative phase map.