IP Library Granted Patent US 12674664
Granted Patent B2
US 12674664 · App. 18/914,005 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Method and device for a photogrammetric measurement

Inventors: Tim Winter (Braunschweig, DE); Eric Oertel (Braunschweig, DE)
Assignee: Carl Zeiss GOM Metrology GmbH
G01C11/30G01C11/025G06T7/73G06T2207/30204
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12674664
App. No.
18/914,005
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and a device for a photogrammetric measurement of measurement features are provided. The device has a multi-camera with at least two individual cameras. A field of vision of at least two of the individual cameras partly overlaps. The method includes capturing images of the measurement features with at least two individual cameras of the multi-camera at different measurement positions, analyzing the captured images of one measurement position and determining 3D identification features of measurement features in the three-dimensional space, the measurement features being located in the overlap region of the individual cameras, using the plurality of captured images for the overlap region and the respective location of each measurement feature in the captured images, identifying the measurement features in the captured images captured from different measurement positions with matching 3D identification features, and calculating the 3D coordinates of the identified measurement features using the plurality of captured images.

Claims (40)

1 . A method for photogrammetrically measuring measurement features with a device having a multi-camera, the multi-camera having at least two individual cameras securely connected to one another, with a field of view of at least two of the individual cameras at least partially overlapping, the method comprising:

(a) recording images of the measurement features with at least two individual cameras of the multi-camera in different measurement positions;

(b) evaluating the image recordings of a measurement position and, in three-dimensional space, determining three-dimensional (3-D) identification features of measurement features located within a region of overlap of the individual cameras with an aid of a plurality of image recordings for an overlap region and a respective pose of the measurement features in the plurality of image recordings, wherein the measurement features are uncoded markers that are not unambiguously identifiable based on their configuration, wherein the 3-D identification features are calculated between the measurement features, and wherein the measurement features in the measurement images are unambiguously identified based on the calculated 3-D identification features;

(c) identifying the measurement features present in the plurality of image recordings with corresponding 3-D identification features recorded from various measurement positions; and

(d) calculating the 3-D coordinates of the measurement features with the aid of the plurality of image recordings, wherein the 3-D coordinates are determined in a mathematical fitting using the 2-D image coordinates of the measurement features and their unambiguous identification.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the measurement features are uncoded markers, such that the measurement features are not identifiable unambiguously or not identified unambiguously based on their configuration but instead 3-D identification features between the measurement features are calculated for the measurement features in an overlapping field of view based on the measurement images and a known configuration of recording units,

wherein the measurement features can be identified unambiguously in the measurement images based on the 3-D identification features, and

wherein the 3-D coordinates of the measurement features are determined with mathematical fitting using 2-D image coordinates of the measurement features in a respective image recording and their unambiguous identification.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the 3-D identification features that are determined are at least one of distances, angles, and enclosed areas between the measurement features.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein coded markers are additionally used for the identification of the measurement features.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a bundle adjustment is implemented in step (d) when the 3-D coordinates of the measurement features are calculated.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein additionally at least one scale-providing element is introduced, at least one dimension of which is known sufficiently accurately and at least one dimension of which is taken into account by an evaluation apparatus within the scope of a bundle adjustment in order to determine the scaling of resultant 3-D positions of markers more accurately.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the scale-providing element is an element having at least two uncoded markers, and the sufficiently known dimension is at least one spacing of these uncoded markers,

wherein the uncoded markers are configured such that the uncoded markers cannot be identified unambiguously and cannot be distinguished unambiguously from other markers on an object, and

wherein the dimensions taken into account by the evaluation apparatus within the scope of the bundle adjustment are identified by virtue of being known.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the scale-providing element is an element having at least two markers, or coded markers, and the sufficiently known dimension is at least one spacing of the markers, and

wherein the markers are configured such that the markers can be identified unambiguously.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein not only identified measurement features from an overlapping field of view of the cameras are taken into account in a bundle adjustment, but the measurement features which were recorded outside of the overlapping field of view in measurement images are also taken into account in the bundle adjustment, and their 3-D positions are calculated.

10 . A device for three-dimensional optical measurement of measurement features, the device comprising:

a multi-camera with at least two cameras securely connected to one another; and

an evaluation unit,

wherein a configuration with respect to one another is sufficiently accurately known for at least two of the cameras,

wherein at least two of the cameras are configured to record measurement images of measurement features,

wherein the measurement features are uncoded markers that are not unambiguously identifiable based on their configuration,

wherein the 3-D identification features are calculated between the measurement features,

wherein the measurement features in the measurement images are unambiguously identified based on the calculated 3-D identification features,

wherein the fields of view of the cameras used for image recording of the measurement features overlap,

wherein the evaluation unit is configured to calculate the 3-D coordinates of the measurement features with the method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the 3-D coordinates are determined in a mathematical fitting using the 2-D image coordinates of the measurement features and their unambiguous identification, and wherein a bundle adjustment is performed.

11 . The device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the multi-camera is rigidly connected to a 3-D scanner.

12 . The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the 3-D scanner is configured to capture three-dimensional measurement data and at least partly uses the measurement features, and

wherein the 3-D positions of the said measurement features are calculated by the evaluation unit.

13 . The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the 3-D scanner and the multi-camera jointly use at least one individual camera.

14 . The device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the 3-D scanner and the multi-camera use different working distances in the jointly used individual cameras.

15 . The device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the 3-D scanner uses a shorter working distance than the multi-camera.

16 . The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the 3-D scanner and the multi-camera use light at different wavelengths in their illuminations or projections.

17 . The device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the 3-D scanner uses a projection with a blue wavelength, and the multi-camera uses an illumination with a red or infrared wavelength.

18 . The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the 3-D scanner is a topometric sensor.

19 . The device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the topometric sensor is a structured-light scanner or a laser line scanner.

20 . The device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein at least one camera is equipped with an illumination unit configured to illuminate the measurement features in an immediate vicinity of the optics of the camera, and

wherein the measurement features are markers made of a retroreflective material.