Updating calibration of a three-dimensional measurement system

1. A method of calibrating a three-dimensional measurement system having a plurality of cameras and at least one projector, the method comprising:

performing a full calibration for each camera/projector pair, the full calibration generating at least two sets of correction matrices;

subsequently performing an updated calibration for each camera/projector pair, wherein the updated calibration changes less than all of the sets of correction matrices; and

wherein the full calibration generates a first set of correction matrices and a second set of correction matrices, and wherein the updated calibration changes the first set of correction matrices while leaving the second set of correction matrices unchanged.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updated calibration is performed more frequently than the full calibration.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of correction matrices includes calibration corrections that drift over relatively short time intervals.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the short time intervals are less than two days.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of correction matrices includes calibration corrections that drift over periods of at least several months.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a set of correction matrices includes corrections in three orthogonal directions.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing a full calibration includes performing a camera calibration where each of the cameras acquires images of a well-characterized calibration target at a number of different, known elevations.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the images acquired by the cameras are analyzed to establish a geometrical transformation between camera pixel space and physical space.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the full calibration includes performing a projector calibration where a pattern is projected onto a target and each camera acquires images of the projected pattern as the target is positioned at a plurality of different heights.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the images acquired during the projector calibration are analyzed to establish a geometrical transformation between camera pixel space and source-pattern space.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the full calibration includes a combination of camera and projector transformations to produce an overall calibration for each camera/projector pair.

12. A method of calibrating a three-dimensional measurement system having a plurality of projectors and at least one camera, the method comprising:

performing a full calibration for each camera/projector pair, the full calibration having at least two sets of correction matrices;

subsequently performing an updated calibration for each camera/projector pair, wherein the updated calibration changes less than all of the sets of correction matrices; and

wherein performing a full calibration includes performing a projector calibration where a pattern is projected onto a target and each camera acquires images of the protected pattern as the target is positioned at a plurality of different heights.

13. A three-dimensional optical image acquisition system comprising:

a plurality of cameras each configured to view a measurement space from a different point of view;

at least one projector configured to project a pattern onto the measurement space;

a controller configured to perform a full calibration of the plurality of cameras and the at least one projector to generate a first set of correction matrices and a second set of correction matrices; and

wherein the controller is configured to perform a calibration update, conducted after the full calibration, wherein the calibration update is conducted relative to each camera/projector pair, and wherein the calibration update affects the first set of correction matrices while leaving the second set of correction matrices unchanged.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first and second sets of correction matrices are stored in system memory.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first and second sets of correction matrices are accessed to correct a three-dimensional measurement obtained after completion of the calibration update.

16. The system of claim 13 . wherein performing a full calibration includes performing a projector calibration where a pattern is projected onto a target and each camera acquires images of the projected pattern as the target is positioned at a plurality of different heights.

17. A three-dimensional optical image acquisition system comprising:

a plurality of cameras each configured to view a measurement space from a different point of view;

at least one projector configured to project a pattern onto the measurement space;

a controller configured to perform a full calibration of the plurality of cameras and the at least one projector to generate at least a first set of correction matrices and a second set of correction matrices;

wherein the controller is configured to perform a calibration update relative to each camera/projector pair, wherein the calibration update affects the first set of correction matrices while leaving the second set of correction values unchanged; and

wherein performing the full calibration includes performing a projector calibration where a pattern is projected onto a target and each camera acquires images of the projected pattern as the target is positioned at a plurality of different heights.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the images acquired during the projector calibration are analyzed to establish a geometrical transformation between camera pixel space and source-pattern space.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first set of correction matrices includes calibration corrections that drift over relatively short time intervals.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second set of correction matrices includes calibration corrections that drift over periods of at least several months.