Patent ID: 8471848

Claim:
A method for creating a 3D representation of a target object in a 3D digital domain, the method comprising: (i) placing a target object within a background space; (ii) directing at least two video cameras at said target object; (iii) acquiring a total image from each of said video cameras directed at the target object; (iv) subtracting said background space from each of said total images to produce a target image of the target object; (v) performing internal calibration of each of said video cameras; (vi) performing relative external calibration of two or more of said video cameras; and (vii) reconstructing a 3D image of said target object via projections of one or more of said target images into said 3D digital domain, wherein said image reconstruction comprises: (a) conceptualizing one or more virtual projectors in said 3D digital domain in a configuration analogous to the direction, and from the position, of said video cameras, and with the lens properties of said video cameras; (b) inserting one or more virtual 2D slices into said 3D digital domain; (c) comparing each of said virtual 2D slices to each of said projected images; (d) incrementing a counter each time one of said projected images intersects one of said virtual 2D slices; (e) comparing said counter to the number of said video cameras; and (f) deciding whether said target object is considered to exist at the location of said virtual 2D slices in said 3D digital domain.