Claims
- 1. A system for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object or scene, said system comprising:
a plurality of light sources wherein each light source produces a repeating pattern of light which varies spatially in intensity, wherein each light source produces said repeating pattern of light in a different color; a projection system for combining light patterns from each of said light sources and projecting a combined pattern on said object; and an imaging system for imaging said object as illuminated by said combined pattern, wherein said imaging system calculates a range to points on said object.
- 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said imaging system determines a projection angle of light projected onto said points on said object by correlating reflected light color with projection angle.
- 3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said light sources comprises a pattern filter.
- 4. The system of claim 3, wherein each said pattern filter comprises a slotted plate.
- 5. The system of claim 3, wherein each said pattern filter comprises a color filter.
- 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said projection system comprises at least one beam-splitter.
- 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said projection system comprises at least one dichroic filter.
- 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said projection system comprises a lens.
- 9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said light sources comprises a diffuser and a lens.
- 10. The system of claim 1, wherein said projection system comprises at least one mirror.
- 11. The system of claim 1, wherein said projection system comprises at least one polarizer.
- 12. A system for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object or scene, said system comprising:
a plurality of light sources wherein each light source produces light in a different color; a projection system for projecting light from each of said light sources on said object, said projection system comprising a pattern filter for combining said light from said light sources to produce a pattern of light with spatially varying wavelength including multiple iterations of the color spectrum; and an imaging system for imaging said object as illuminated by said pattern of light, wherein said imaging system calculates a range to points on said object.
- 13. The system of claim 12, wherein said projection system comprises at least one lens
- 14. The system of claim 12, wherein said pattern filter comprises a slotted plate.
- 15. The system of claim 12, wherein said imaging system determines a projection angle of light projected onto said points on said object by correlating reflected light color with projection angle.
- 16. A system for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object or scene, said system comprising:
a white light source; a projection system for projecting light from said light source on said object, said projection system comprising a multi-spectrum filter for filtering light from said light source to produce a pattern of light with spatially varying wavelength including multiple iterations of the color spectrum; and an imaging system for imaging said object as illuminated by said pattern of light, wherein said imaging system calculates a range to points on said object.
- 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said multi-spectrum filter comprises a multi-spectrum linear variable wavelength filter.
- 18. The system of claim 16, wherein said multi-spectrum filter comprises a slotted plate.
- 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said projection system comprises an aperture.
- 20. A method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object or scene, said method comprising:
producing a repeating pattern of light which varies spatially in intensity with a plurality of light sources wherein each light source produces said repeating pattern of light in a different color; combining light patterns from each of said light sources and projecting a combined pattern on said object; imaging said object as illuminated by said combined pattern; and calculating a range to points on said object.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein calculating range comprises determining a projection angle of light projected onto said points on said object by correlating reflected light color with projection angle.
- 22. The method of claim 20, wherein producing said repeating pattern comprises using a pattern filter for each of said light sources.
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein each said pattern filter comprises a slotted plate.
- 24. The method of claim 22, wherein each said pattern filter comprises a color filter.
- 25. The method of claim 20, wherein combining said light patterns comprises using at least one dichroic filter.
- 26. The method of claim 20, wherein combining said light patterns comprises using at least one polarizer.
- 27. A method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object or scene, said method comprising:
generating light with a plurality of light sources wherein each light source produces light in a different color; projecting light from each of said light sources on said object through a single pattern filter for combining said light from said light sources to produce a pattern of light with spatially varying wavelength including multiple iterations of the color spectrum; imaging said object as illuminated by said pattern of light; and calculating a range to points on said object.
- 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said pattern filter comprises a slotted plate.
- 29. The method of claim 27, wherein calculating range comprises determining a projection angle of light projected onto said points on said object by correlating reflected light color with projection angle.
- 30. A method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object or scene, said method comprising:
filtering light from a white light source to produce a pattern of light with spatially varying wavelength including multiple iterations of the color spectrum; projecting said pattern of light on said object; imaging said object as illuminated by said pattern of light; and calculating a range to points on said object.
- 31. The method of claim 30, wherein said filtering is performed with a multi-spectrum filter.
- 32. The method of claim 30, wherein said filtering is performed with a slotted plate.
- 33. The method of claim 32, further comprising collimating said light before said filtering.
- 34. A system for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object or scene, said system comprising:
means for producing a repeating pattern of light which varies spatially in intensity with a plurality of light sources wherein each light source produces said repeating pattern of light in a different color; means for combining light patterns from each of said light sources and projecting a combined pattern on said object; means for imaging said object as illuminated by said combined pattern; and means for calculating a range to points on said object.
- 34. The system of claim 34, wherein said means for calculating range comprise means for determining a projection angle of light projected onto said points on said object by correlating reflected light color with projection angle.
- 35. The system of claim 34, wherein said means for producing a repeating pattern comprises using a pattern filter for each of said light sources.
- 36. The system of claim 35, wherein each said pattern filter comprises a slotted plate.
- 37. The system of claim 34, wherein said means for combining said light patterns comprises using at least one dichroic filter.
- 38. The system of claim 34, wherein said means for combining said light patterns comprises using at least one polarizer.
- 39. A system for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object or scene, said system comprising:
means for generating light with a plurality of light sources wherein each light source produces light in a different color; means for projecting light from each of said light sources on said object through a single pattern filter for combining said light from said light sources to produce a pattern of light with spatially varying wavelength including multiple iterations of the color spectrum; means for imaging said object as illuminated by said pattern of light; and means for calculating a range to points on said object.
- 40. The system of claim 39, wherein said pattern filter comprises a slotted plate.
- 41. The system of claim 39, wherein said means for calculating range comprise means for determining a projection angle of light projected onto said points on said object by correlating reflected light color with projection angle.
- 42. A system for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object or scene, said system comprising:
means for filtering light from a white light source to produce a pattern of light with spatially varying wavelength including multiple iterations of the color spectrum; means for projecting said pattern of light on said object; means for imaging said object as illuminated by said pattern of light; and means for calculating a range to points on said object.
- 43. The system of claim 42, wherein said means for filtering comprise a multi-spectrum filter.
- 44. The system of claim 42, wherein said means for filtering comprise a slotted plate.
- 45. The system of claim 44, further comprising means for collimating said light before said filtering.
- 46. A system for producing a custom-fit hearing aid, said system comprising:
a three-dimensional (3D) camera for generating a 3D image of a patient's ear; and a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) system for generating a design for said custom-fit hearing aid from said 3D image.
- 47. The system of claim 46, further comprising a Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) system for producing said custom-fit hearing aid from said CAD design.
- 48. The system of claim 47, wherein said CAM system comprises a rapid-prototyping system.
- 49. The system of claim 46, further comprising an Internet connection for transmitting said 3D image to said CAD system.
- 50. A method for producing a custom-fit hearing aid, said method comprising taking a 3D image of a patient's ear.
- 51. The method of claim 50, further comprising:
electronically transmitting said 3D image to a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) system; and generating a design for said custom-fit hearing aid from said 3D image with said CAD system based on said 3D image.
- 52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:
electronically transmitting said CAD design to a Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) system; and producing said custom-fit hearing aid with said CAM system from said CAD design.
- 53. The method of claim 52, further comprising shipping said custom-fit hearing aid for receipt by and fitting to said patient.
- 54. A system for producing a custom-fit hearing aid, said system comprising:
a three-dimensional (3D) camera for generating a 3D image of an impression of a patient's ear; and a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) system for generating a design for said custom-fit hearing aid from said 3D image.
- 55. The system of claim 54, further comprising a Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) system for producing said custom-fit hearing aid from said CAD design.
- 56. The system of claim 55, wherein said CAM system comprises a rapid-prototyping system.
- 57. The system of claim 54, further comprising an Internet connection for transmitting said 3D image to said CAD system.
- 58. A method for producing a custom-fit hearing aid, said method comprising:
making a physical impression of a patient's ear; and generating a three-dimensional (3D) image of said impression of a patient's ear.
- 59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:
electronically transmitting said 3D image to a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) system; and generating a design for said custom-fit hearing aid from said 3D image with said CAD system.
- 60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:
electronically transmitting said CAD design to a Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) system; and producing said custom-fit hearing aid with said CAM system from said CAD design.
- 61. The method of claim 60, further comprising shipping said custom-fit hearing aid for receipt by and fitting to said patient.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of prior U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/375,934, filed Apr. 26, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application is also a continuation-in-part of previous U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,531, filed Jan. 29, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,531 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Appln. No. 60/178,695, filed Jan. 28, 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60375934 |
Apr 2002 |
US |
|
60178695 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09771531 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
Child |
10426083 |
Apr 2003 |
US |