Patent US6104036A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6288385B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6288385B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for scanning three-dimensional objects
Assignee: Wave Worx Inc
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Filing: 1999-01-25
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Granted: 2001-09-11
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Expires: 2019-01-25
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a three dimensional digital scanner which includes a multiple view detector which is responsive to a broad spectrum of visible light. The multiple view detector is operative to develop a plurality of images of a three dimensional object which is being scanned. The plurality of images are taken from a plurality of relative angles with respect to the object, and the plurality of images depict a plurality of surface portions of the object. A digital processor including a computational unit is coupled to the detector and is responsive to the plurality of images so that it develops 3-D coordinate positions and related image information for the plurality of surface portions of the object. A three dimensional image of the object to be scanned is thus developed by the digital processor. The data developed includes both shape and surface image color information.
Inventors
- 👤 John L. Miramonti
- 👤 Frederick E. Mueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/50; G06T7/55; G06T7/579; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G06T1/00; G06T1/0007; G06T7/80; H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/20; H04N13/204; H04N13/207; H04N13/221; H04N13/246; H04N13/254; G06T2200/00; G06T2200/08; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10004; G06T2207/10012; H04N13/10; H04N13/189; H04N13/194; H04N13/239; H04N13/243; H04N2013/0074; H04N2013/0081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A three dimensional digital scanner comprising: multiple view detector means responsive to a broad spectrum of visible light, said multiple view detector means being operative to develop a plurality of images of a three dimensional object to be scanned, said plurality of images being taken from a plurality of relative angles with respect to said object, said plurality of images depicting a plurality of surface portions of said object to be scanned; and a digital processor including a computational unit, said digital processor being coupled to said detector means, said digital processor being responsive to said plurality of images and operative to develop with said computational unit 3-D coordinate positions and related image information of said plurality of surface portions of said object; whereby a three dimensional image of said object to be scanned can be developed by said digital processor that includes both shape and surface image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A three dimensional digital scanner comprising: multiple view detector means responsive to a broad spectrum of visible light, said multiple view detector means being operative to develop a plurality of images of a three dimensional object to be scanned, said plurality of images being taken from a plurality of relative angles with respect to said object, said plurality of images depicting a plurality of surface portions of said object to be scanned; and a digital processor including a computational unit, said digital processor being coupled to said detector means, said digital processor being responsive to said plurality of images and operative to develop with said computational unit 3-D coordinate positions and related image information of said plurality of surface portions of said object; whereby a three dimensional image of said object to be scanned can be developed by said digital processor that includes both shape and surface image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said multiple view detector means includes at least one detector and means for rotating said object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said digital processor is operative to determine the boundary of the object in at least one of said plurality of images.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said digital processor is operative to determine the boundary of the object in at least one of said plurality of images using a mathematical function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said mathematical function is a correlation function of said image information with a predetermined kernel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said digital processor is operative to identify a trackable surface feature within at least one of said plurality of images.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said digital processor is operative to determine two-dimensional positions of said trackable surface features within at least two of said plurality of images.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said digital processor is operative to determine a three dimensional position of said trackable surface feature from a difference between said two dimensional positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said detector means includes a color detector, and wherein said related image information includes color.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said digital processor is operative to determine a radius from a trackable surface feature to an axis of rotation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
A three dimensional color digital scanner comprising: a color detector responsive to a broad spectrum of visible light to develop a plurality of images of a three dimensional object to be scanned; a rotary object support having an axis of rotation, said object support allowing said detector to develop a plurality of images of a three dimensional object supported by said object support, where said plurality of images depict a plurality of surface portions of said object; a digital computer coupled to said detector and responsive to said plurality of images, said digital computer tracking patches of said surface portions of said object to determine coordinates of said patches as a function of the rotation of said rotary object support, said digital computer further determining radii of said patches from said axis of rotation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
134 words
A three dimensional color digital scanner comprising: a color detector responsive to a broad spectrum of visible light to develop a plurality of images of a three dimensional object to be scanned; a rotary object support having an axis of rotation, said object support allowing said detector to develop a plurality of images of a three dimensional object supported by said object support, where said plurality of images depict a plurality of surface portions of said object; a digital computer coupled to said detector and responsive to said plurality of images, said digital computer tracking patches of said surface portions of said object to determine coordinates of said patches as a function of the rotation of said rotary object support, said digital computer further determining radii of said patches from said axis of rotation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The three dimensional color digital scanner of claim 11 wherein said digital computer is operative to determine the two dimensional boundary of said object within at least one of said plurality of images.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The three dimensional color digital scanner of claim 11 wherein determining the radii of said patches includes determining a first derivative.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for scanning a three dimensional object comprising: developing a plurality of images of a three dimensional object to be scanned, said plurality of images being taken from a plurality of relative angles with respect to said object, said plurality of images depicting a plurality of surface portions of said object to be scanned; and computing 3-D coordinate positions and related image information of said plurality of surface portions of said object from said plurality of images such that a three dimensional image of said object to be scanned can be developed that includes both shape and surface image information.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for scanning a three dimensional object comprising: developing a plurality of images of a three dimensional object to be scanned, said plurality of images being taken from a plurality of relative angles with respect to said object, said plurality of images depicting a plurality of surface portions of said object to be scanned; and computing 3-D coordinate positions and related image information of said plurality of surface portions of said object from said plurality of images such that a three dimensional image of said object to be scanned can be developed that includes both shape and surface image information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 14 wherein computing 3-D coordinate positions and related image information of said plurality of surface portions includes determining a radius of at least one of said surface portions from an axis of rotation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14 wherein computing 3-D coordinate positions and related image information of said plurality of surface portions includes determining a tracking limit for the tracking of said plurality of surface portions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 14 wherein computing 3-D coordinate positions and related image information of said plurality of surface portions includes correlating a kernel representing an image of at least one surface portion in at least one image with an image of said surface portion in at least one other image.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for determining three dimensional coordinates of a surface portion of an object comprising: obtaining a plurality of images of said surface portion of said object; identifying a trackable patch of said surface portion in an initial image of said plurality of images; determining an initial set of two dimensional coordinates of said trackable patch in said initial image; analyzing said plurality of images to determine at least one additional set of two dimensional coordinates of said trackable patch in at least one other of said plurality of images; determining a radial coordinate of said trackable patch based on said sets of two dimensional coordinates; and determining a set of three dimensional coordinates of said trackable patch from said radial coordinate of said trackable patch.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for determining three dimensional coordinates of a surface portion of an object comprising: obtaining a plurality of images of said surface portion of said object; identifying a trackable patch of said surface portion in an initial image of said plurality of images; determining an initial set of two dimensional coordinates of said trackable patch in said initial image; analyzing said plurality of images to determine at least one additional set of two dimensional coordinates of said trackable patch in at least one other of said plurality of images; determining a radial coordinate of said trackable patch based on said sets of two dimensional coordinates; and determining a set of three dimensional coordinates of said trackable patch from said radial coordinate of said trackable patch.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 18 wherein analyzing said plurality of images to determine at least one additional set of two dimensional coordinates of said trackable patch in at least one other of said plurality of images includes a correlation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 18 wherein determining a radial coordinate of said trackable patch based on said sets of two dimensional coordinates includes determining a radial speed of said trackable patch across said plurality of images.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for determining three dimensional coordinates of a surface portion of an object comprising: rotating said object about an axis of rotation; obtaining a plurality of images of said surface portion of said object as said object is rotated about said axis of rotation; identifying a trackable patch within said surface portion of said object; determining the two dimensional coordinates of said trackable patch within said images; tracking the movement of said trackable patch as a function of the rotation of said object; determining a radial distance of said trackable patch from said axis of rotation based on the movement of said trackable patch as a function of said rotation of said object; and determining said three dimensional coordinates of said surface portion of said object from said coordinates of said trackable patch and said radial distance of said trackable patch from said axis of rotation.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for determining three dimensional coordinates of a surface portion of an object comprising: rotating said object about an axis of rotation; obtaining a plurality of images of said surface portion of said object as said object is rotated about said axis of rotation; identifying a trackable patch within said surface portion of said object; determining the two dimensional coordinates of said trackable patch within said images; tracking the movement of said trackable patch as a function of the rotation of said object; determining a radial distance of said trackable patch from said axis of rotation based on the movement of said trackable patch as a function of said rotation of said object; and determining said three dimensional coordinates of said surface portion of said object from said coordinates of said trackable patch and said radial distance of said trackable patch from said axis of rotation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 21 wherein tracking the movement of said trackable patch as a function of the rotation of said object includes correlating an image of said trackable patch with portions of an image of said object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 21 wherein determining a radial distance of said trackable patch from said axis of rotation based on the movement of said trackable patch includes determining the radial speed of said trackable patch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5737084A
Cited
US5864640A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-09-10 | 2005-03-12 | 2005-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-10 | 2009-03-12 | 2009-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-10 | 2013-03-12 | 2013-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |