Surface mapping of three-dimensional objects by a planar light scanning technique

An original low cost integrated system using a planar light scanning technique in measuring the surface contour of three-dimensional objects has been investigated and an algorithm of processing the measured bit-map data into a format that could be input readily to a CAD system has been developed. Accuracy enhancement of three-dimensional object measurement is studied and a method is proposed. The method divides the scan-lines into sections and fit the data points with an appropriate curve type. Program-modules for extracting coordinates information from images, light/camera system calibration, curve fitting for scan-lines and coordinates transformation between the image plane and the light plane are also presented.