Method and apparatus for dynamic space-time imaging system
View Patent ↗A method for creating a 3D map of the surface contours of an object includes projecting a variety of patterns onto the object, and imaging the patterns as they fall on the object to encode the topographic features of the object. The images are processed in a computer program in a manner such that a complete 3D map of the surface of the object is obtained in digital form. Reiteration of the method can detect motional variation such as a breathing human, flexure of a complex mechanical structure, or a stress-strain testing of an airplane, vehicle, beam, bridge, or other structure.
1. A method for creating a three dimensional map of the surface of an object, including the step of:
selectively projecting at least one pattern of lines on at least one portion of the surface of the object;
digitally capturing the image of said at least one pattern on the object;
calculating the distance of each incremental portion of the image to the object, and storing the distance data to comprise the three dimensional map;
rendering a three dimensional image of the at least one portion of the surface of the object using the data from the three dimensional map;
further including the step of establishing a fiducial distance from said image to said object, and scaling said distance data according to said fiducial distance;
said step of establishing the fiducial distance including projecting a pair of parallel light rays onto said object, said pair of rays having a known spacing, said light rays forming point images on the object having the same known spacing.
2. A method for creating a three dimensional map of the surface of an object, including the step of:
selectively projecting at least one pattern of lines on at least one portion of the surface of the object;
digitally capturing the image of said at least one pattern on the object;
calculating the distance of each incremental portion of the image to the object, and storing the distance data to comprise the three dimensional map;
rendering a three dimensional image of the at least one portion of the surface of the object using the data from the thee dimensional map;
further including the step of establishing a fiducial distance from said image to said object, and scaling said distance data according to said fiducial distance;
wherein said step of establishing the fiducial distance includes placing an object of known size adjacent to the object before projecting the at least one pattern and capturing the image.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selectively projecting includes projecting a plurality of patterns using different, respective wavelengths for each pattern, and the step of digitally capturing includes recording a plurality of images, each image being recorded in the different, respective wavelengths of said plurality of patterns.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said steps of selectively projecting and digitally capturing occur simultaneously at all the different, respective wavelengths.
5. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of comparing the three dimensional map with a data set describing the surface of the object to determine variations in the surface of the object over time.
6. The method of claim 5 , where the data set comprises a previously acquired three dimensional map of the object to determine variations in the surface of the object in the time interval between the previously acquired three dimensional map and the most recent three dimensional map.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selectively projecting includes the step of providing a plurality of projectors, each projecting a pattern of lines on a respective portion of the surface of the object.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of digitally capturing the image includes providing a plurality of cameras, each capturing an image of a respective portion of the surface of the object.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of digitally capturing the image, calculating the distance, and rendering a three dimensional image are performed reiteratively and sufficiently rapidly to generate a movie comprised of the three dimensional images.
10. The method of claim 9 , further including providing a plurality of linked digital processors to perform the steps of calculating the distance and rendering the image.
11. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of providing a computer to control the steps of selectively projecting, digitally capturing, calculating the distance, and rendering a three dimensional image.
12. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of providing a computer to control the steps of selectively projecting, digitally capturing, calculating the distance, and rendering a three dimensional image, and applying the fiducial distance data to focus the at least one pattern of lines on the at least one portion of the surface of the object.
13. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of reiterating the steps of digitally capturing, calculating the distance, and rendering the three dimensional object to generate a plurality of 3D renderings in sequential order.
14. The method of claim 13 , further including the step of comparing each three dimensional map with a previous three dimensional map in the sequential order to determine if portions of the surface of the object have undergone movement, and if the movement does not exceed a predetermined threshold, to thereafter perform the steps of calculating the distance and rendering the three dimensional image only for those portions that have undergone movement.
15. The method of claim 13 , further including the step of applying stress to the object to determine changes in the object under the stress.
16. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of providing an automated machining system, and providing the three dimensional map to the automated machining system to fabricate a three-dimensional copy of the object.
17. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of using a human body as the object, and applying the resulting three dimensional map to medical studies.
18. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of using a human body as the object to acquire a three dimensional map of the body, comparing the three dimensional map to a database describing a garment pattern, scaling the garment pattern to provide optimal fit to the body, and cutting and assembling the scaled garment
19. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of comparing the three dimensional map to a database describing the object, and determining any dimensional changes that may indicate possible structural failure of the object.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the object is selected from a group consisting of aircraft, vehicles, ships, structures, mechanical devices, and tools.
21. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of comparing the three dimensional map to a database describing the object, and determining any dimensional changes that may indicate possible security breaches.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the object comprises the surface of an interior space.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the object is selected from a group consisting of aircraft, motor vehicles, warehouses, ships, trains, and buildings.