Patent ID: 6600168
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
A system for generating three-dimensional (3D) images of a scene, comprising:a light source for projecting a first light pattern and then a second light pattern onto the scene, wherein each of said light patterns vary in intensity across the scene; a camera for capturing an image of the scene illuminated by said light source, said image being composed of lines of pixels, wherein said camera captures a first field of said image including even-numbered lines of pixels while the scene is illuminated by said first light pattern and captures a second field of said image including odd-numbered lines of pixels while the scene is illuminated by said second light pattern; and a processor for interlacing said first and second fields to form said image and for calculating a distance to points on the scene corresponding to pixels in said image, said processor calculating the distance based on projection angles of light from said light source as determined by matching intensities with the projection angles.