IP Library Granted Patent US 7,907,781
Granted Patent B2
US 7,907,781 · App. 11/766,174 · Granted Mar 15, 2011

System and method for determining geometries of scenes

Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboraties, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,907,781
App. No.
11/766,174
Granted
Mar 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and an apparatus determines a geometry of a scene by projecting one or more output image into the scene, in which a time to project the output image is t 1 . Input images are acquired of the scene, in which a time to acquire each input image is t 2 , and in which t 1 >t 2 and in which the input image includes a distinguishable stripe of pixels with an edge due to t 1 >t 2 . An amount of distortion of the edge is measured from a straight line to determine a geometry of the scene.

Claims (24)

1. A method for determining a geometry of a scene, comprising:

projecting an output image into a scene, in which a time to project the output image is t 1 ;

acquiring, while projecting the output image, an input image of the scene, in which a time to acquire the input image is t 2 , and in which t 1 >t 2 , and in which the input image includes a distinguishable stripe of pixels with an edge due to t 1 >t 2 ; and

measuring, in the input image, an amount of distortion d of the edge of the stripe from a straight line to determine a geometry of the scene, wherein the steps are performed in a processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

projecting a sequence of output image while acquiring a sequence of input images.

3. The method of claim 2 , in which a rate of projecting is different than a rate of acquiring so that the stripe appears to move in the sequence of input images.

4. The method of claim 2 , in which a speed at which the stripe moves is adjustable.

5. The method of claim 1 , in which the output image is arbitrary.

6. The method of claim 1 , in which the output image is unstructured.

7. The method of claim 1 , in which the scene includes a hand of a user interacting with the output image.

8. The method of claim 1 , in which the amount of distorting corresponds to the 3D geometry of the scene.

9. The method of claim 1 , in which the acquiring is subject to a duty cycle of a camera, in which a shutter of the camera is open for a discrete amount of time that is smaller than a time required to project the output image.

10. The method of claim 1 , in which the input image includes multiple stripes.

11. The method of claim 10 , in which the stripes are dynamically positioned to preferentially measure distortion in parts of the scene.

12. The method of claim 1 , in which a width of the stripe is adjustable.

13. The method of claim 1 , in which the geometry is a 2D profile of the scene.

14. The method of claim 1 , in which the geometry is a 3D structure of the scene.

15. The method of claim 1 , in which the projection uses a rasterization technique.

16. The method of claim 1 , in which an integration of the input image is intermittent while acquiring the input image.

17. The method of claim 1 , in which the projecting and acquiring are performed by a projector and camera arranged in a handheld device.

18. The method of claim 17 , in which the handheld device is a mobile telephone.

19. The method of claim 1 , in which the output images are part of a computer graphic presentation.

20. The method of claim 1 , in which the output images are part of a computer game.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2009
From: ULTRA SHIELD, INC.
To: LEARMONT, HENRY SAXON
Reel/Frame 022732/0223 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2007
From: IVANOV, YURI A.; THORNTON, JAY E.; WREN, CHRISTOPHER R.
To: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC RESEARCH LABORATORIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 019636/0395 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080317332A1 · Dec 25, 2008