Patent ID: 7639372

Claim:
A scanning system for detecting an anomaly on a surface of an object ( 40 ) when the object is placed within a three-dimensional room ( 26 ), the system comprising: a calibrated stereo camera set ( 10 ) including a pair of cameras ( 12 , 14 ), each camera ( 12 , 14 ) being calibrated for distortion following a calibration process comprising measuring a position of each dot ( 20 ) of a dot matrix reference system ( 18 ) within a field of view ( 22 ) of each camera ( 12 , 14 ), and calibrating the stereo camera set ( 10 ) by moving the dot matrix reference system ( 18 ) in two-dimensions while the stereo camera set ( 10 ) is located at a plurality of selected elevations, thereby defining the three-dimensional room ( 26 ); and a projector ( 16 ) having a medium with absolute encoded pattern ( 32 ) thereon, and a light source ( 38 ) for projecting the absolute encoded pattern ( 32 ) on the surface of the object ( 40 ).