Calibration of Lens Distortion Based on Plane Constraints

This paper discusses the constraints of coplanar points in perspective projection, based on which a new method to calibrate lens distortion is presented. Stem from the concept of center line related to Ponceletpsilas theorem on projective geometry, an equation of the center line is derived algebraically, from which some useful properties of the center line are deduced. These properties constitute the plane constraints, which are exploited to calibrate lens distortion of a camera. This method needs only knowing coordinates of some points on a plane, sparing the process of straight lines extraction. In addition, distortion parameters and the principal point of camera are obtained simultaneously in this method. Consequently, it can be used to verify whether the center of lens distortion is coincident with the principal point of the camera. Experiments with real images validate the method.