Patent ID: 7627197

Claim:
A method for measuring a position of an object according to an image of the object captured by a camera unit wherein the object is contained within the image captured by the camera unit, the method comprising the steps of: capturing an image containing an object using a camera unit with a lens system; calculating a discrepancy of an incident beam of light penetrating the lens system of the camera unit relative to an optical center of the lens system; and compensating a position of the object contained in the captured image according to the calculated discrepancy; wherein the camera unit is adapted to be positioned on one of an automobile and a movable robot, and the method includes the further step of outputting the compensated position of the object to the automobile or the movable robot; wherein a distance between the object and the camera unit is not known prior to measuring the position of the object; wherein the incident beam of light is directly projected from the object to the lens system; and wherein said discrepancy is a minimum distance between the optical center and said incident beam of light.