Patent ID: 7860340

Claim:
A 3D shape estimation system comprising: a storage device configured to store a first learning data and a second learning data which represent illumination bases and 3D shapes of a plurality of objects, respectively; a relative shape analysis module configured to calculate an illumination basis of an object based on a 2D image of said object and said first learning data, to calculate a relative shape function that is partial differential of a shape function representing a 3D shape of said object from said calculated illumination basis, and to output a relative shape data representing said relative shape function; a feature point location search module configured to extract a plurality of feature points from said 2D image based on said 2D image and said relative shape data, and to output a feature point location data representing locations of said plurality of feature points; and an absolute shape analysis module configured to receive said relative shape data and said feature point location data, to convert said relative shape function into said shape function by referring to said second learning data and said locations of said plurality of feature points, and to output a 3D absolute shape data representing said shape function.