Handheld three dimensional scanner with an autoaperture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11350077-B2
Application number	US-202117237547-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2021
Priority date	Jul 3, 2018
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

A three-dimension scanning apparatus and method of use is disclosed. The system includes a light intensity meter for measuring a level of light intensity at a first camera of the 3D scanning apparatus. The first camera has an adjustable aperture. A processor is provided that is configured to adjust the adjustable aperture of the first camera automatically based on the measured light level.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of scanning an object with a three-dimensional (3D) scanner, comprising:
measuring a level of light intensity at a first camera of the 3D scanner; and
automatically adjusting an aperture of the first camera of the 3D scanner to a first aperture size based on the measured level of light intensity.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising calibrating a plurality of aperture sizes to a plurality of aperture voltage levels and selecting an aperture voltage level to adjust the aperture to the first aperture size.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using interpolation and at least two calibrated aperture sizes to determine a voltage value that produces an uncalibrated aperture size.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising calculating depth of fields for the plurality of aperture sizes and automatically selecting an aperture size based on both a measured light intensity and a depth of field.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adjusting an aperture of a second camera of the 3D scanner to a second aperture size based on the first aperture size of the first camera; and
scanning the object using the first camera and the second camera.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining a first voltage applied to the first camera to obtain the first aperture size, determining an equivalent voltage from the first voltage that obtains the second aperture size at the second camera, and applying the equivalent voltage as a second voltage at the second camera.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising calibrating a parameter of a lens system selected from the group consisting of: (i) principal point; (ii) lens distortion; (iii) focal length; (iv) first camera orientation; and (v) first camera position to a plurality of aperture voltages.

8. A three-dimensional (3D) scanning apparatus, comprising:
a light intensity meter for measuring a level of light intensity at a first camera of the 3D scanning apparatus;
the first camera having an adjustable aperture; and
a processor configured to adjust the adjustable aperture of the first camera automatically based on the measured light level.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to calibrate a plurality of aperture sizes to a plurality of aperture voltage levels and select an aperture voltage level to adjust the aperture to the first aperture size.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to use interpolation and at least two calibrated aperture sizes to determine a voltage value that produces an uncalibrated aperture size.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to calculate depth of fields for the plurality of aperture sizes and automatically select an aperture size based on both a measured light intensity and a depth of field.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
adjust an aperture of a second camera of the 3D scanner to a second aperture size based on the first aperture size of the first camera; and
scan the object using the first camera and the second camera.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a first voltage applied to the first camera to obtain the first aperture size, determine an equivalent voltage from the first voltage that obtains the second aperture size at the second camera, and apply the equivalent voltage as a second voltage at the second camera.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to calibrate a parameter of a lens system selected from the group consisting of: (i) principal point; (ii) lens distortion; (iii) focal length; (iv) first camera orientation; and (v) first camera position to a plurality of aperture voltages.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the light intensity meter comprises a photodetector array of the first camera.

Assignees

• Faro Tech Inc

Inventors

• Döring Daniel
• Ossig Martin
• Hillebrand Gerrit

Classifications

• H04N13/246 Primary

  Calibration of cameras · CPC title

• G03B13/36 Primary

  Autofocus systems · CPC title

• G02B7/09

  adapted for automatic focusing or varying magnification · CPC title

• G01C25/00

  Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass (testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38) · CPC title

• G02B7/36

  using image sharpness techniques {, e.g. image processing techniques for generating autofocus signals (image data processing per se G06T; in cameras having a solid state image sensor H04N23/67)} · CPC title