An all-solid-state optical range camera for 3D real-time imaging with sub-centimeter depth resolution (SwissRanger)

Thierry Oggier; Michael Lehmann; Rolf Kaufmann; Matthias Schweizer; Michael Richter; Peter Metzler; Graham Lang; Felix Lustenberger; Nicolas Blanc

doi:10.1117/12.513307

18 February 2004 An all-solid-state optical range camera for 3D real-time imaging with sub-centimeter depth resolution (SwissRanger)

Thierry Oggier, Michael Lehmann, Rolf Kaufmann, Matthias Schweizer, Michael Richter, Peter Metzler, Graham Lang, Felix Lustenberger, Nicolas Blanc

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5249, Optical Design and Engineering; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.513307
Event: Optical Systems Design, 2003, St. Etienne, France

Abstract

A new miniaturized camera system that is capable of 3-dimensional imaging in real-time is presented. The compact imaging device is able to entirely capture its environment in all three spatial dimensions. It reliably and simultaneously delivers intensity data as well as range information on the objects and persons in the scene. The depth measurement is based on the time-of-flight (TOF) principle. A custom solid-state image sensor allows the parallel measurement of the phase, offset and amplitude of a radio frequency (RF) modulated light field that is emitted by the system and reflected back by the camera surroundings without requiring any mechanical scanning parts. In this paper, the theoretical background of the implemented TOF principle is presented, together with the technological requirements and detailed practical implementation issues of such a distance measuring system. Furthermore, the schematic overview of the complete 3D-camera system is provided. The experimental test results are presented and discussed. The present camera system can achieve sub-centimeter depth resolution for a wide range of operating conditions. A miniaturized version of such a 3D-solid-state camera, the SwissRanger 2, is presented as an example, illustrating the possibility of manufacturing compact, robust and cost effective ranging camera products for 3D imaging in real-time.

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Thierry Oggier, Michael Lehmann, Rolf Kaufmann, Matthias Schweizer, Michael Richter, Peter Metzler, Graham Lang, Felix Lustenberger, and Nicolas Blanc "An all-solid-state optical range camera for 3D real-time imaging with sub-centimeter depth resolution (SwissRanger)", Proc. SPIE 5249, Optical Design and Engineering, (18 February 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.513307

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