Patent ID: 6930704

Claim:
A camera for getting information about a three-dimensional shape, comprising: an image capturing device for capturing an image of an object within a region to be photographed; a projector for projecting a light spreading on the region, the light having a predetermined pattern within a spreading area thereof; and a monitor for displaying the image of the object, the monitor having a memory for storing the image of the object that the image capturing device captures when the projector does not project the pattern light on the region; wherein the image capturing device captures a projection pattern formed on the object by the pattern light; and wherein, when the image capturing device captures the image of the object with the pattern light projected by the projector on the region, the monitor displays the image of the object captured without the pattern light and stored in the memory instead of the image of the object the image capturing device captures with the projector projecting the pattern light on the region so that the image of the object without the pattern can be observed although the object is being lightened by the pattern light.