Patent ID: 8848035

Claim:
A method for generating a three dimensional surface model of an object comprising: projecting, by an imaging device, a pattern onto an object, wherein the imaging device is located at a first location, and the imaging device is at a first relative distance to the object; obtaining, by the imaging device at the first location, a first image of the object having the pattern superimposed on the object, wherein the imaging device is capable of being moved around the object to capture images from different perspectives; transmitting the first image to a computer; detecting pattern features in the image; projecting, by the imaging device, the pattern onto a different portion of the object, wherein the imaging device is located at a second location different from the first location, and the imaging device is a second relative distance to the object different from the first relative distance; obtaining, by the imaging device at the second location, a second image of the object having the pattern superimposed on the different portion of the object, wherein the camera changes zoom and focus between the first and second locations; corresponding the pattern features in the first image with pattern features in the second image; calculating the coordinates of points on the pattern features; and generating a three dimensional model from the coordinates.