Image processing apparatus
US6647146B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 5, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 11, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 5, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01B11/24
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an apparatus and method for creating a three-dimensional model of an object, images of the object taken from different, unknown positions are processed to identify the points in the images which correspond to the same point on the actual object (that is “matching” points), the matching points are used to determine the relative positions from which the images were taken, and the matching points and calculated positions are used to calculate points in a three-dimensional space representing points on the object. A number of different techniques are used to identify the matching points, and a number of solutions are calculated and tested for the relative positions. Edges in an image are identified by first identifying corner points in the image and then identifying edges between the corner points on the basis of edge orientation values of pixels, the edges are processed in strength order to remove cross-overs, the images sub-divided into regions by connecting points at the ends of the edges on the basis of the edge strengths, and matching points within corresponding regions in two or more images are identified.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.