This paper analyzes the phase error for a three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement system that utilizes our recently proposed projector defocusing technique. This technique generates seemingly sinusoidal structured patterns by defocusing binary structured patterns and then uses these patterns to perform 3D shape measurement by fringe analysis. However, significant errors may still exist if an object is within a certain depth range, where the defocused fringe patterns retain binary structure. In this research, we experimentally studied a large depth range of defocused fringe patterns, from near-binary to near-sinusoidal, and analyzed the associated phase errors. We established a mathematical phase error function in terms of the wrapped phase and the depth z. Finally, we calibrated and used the mathematical function to compensate for the phase error at arbitrary depth ranges within the calibration volume. Experimental results will be presented to demonstrate the success of this proposed technique. Disciplines Computer-Aided Engineering and Design | Mechanical Engineering CommentsThis article is from Applied Optics 50 (2011) This paper analyzes the phase error for a three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement system that utilizes our recently proposed projector defocusing technique. This technique generates seemingly sinusoidal structured patterns by defocusing binary structured patterns and then uses these patterns to perform 3D shape measurement by fringe analysis. However, significant errors may still exist if an object is within a certain depth range, where the defocused fringe patterns retain binary structure. In this research, we experimentally studied a large depth range of defocused fringe patterns, from near-binary to near-sinusoidal, and analyzed the associated phase errors. We established a mathematical phase error function in terms of the wrapped phase and the depth z. Finally, we calibrated and used the mathematical function to compensate for the phase error at arbitrary depth ranges within the calibration volume. Experimental results will be presented to demonstrate the success of this proposed technique.

Automatically adapting the camera exposure time is crucial for industrial applications where minimum human intervention is usually desirable. However, it is very challenging to realize such a capability for a conventional fringe projection system where only a finite increment of the exposure time is allowed due to its digital fringe generation nature. We study the generation of sinusoidal fringe patterns by properly defocusing binary ones, which permits the use of an arbitrary exposure time. This provides the potential to adapt the exposure time automatically. We present the principle of an automatic exposure technique and show some experimental results. Disciplines Computer-Aided Engineering and Design | Graphics and Human Computer Interfaces CommentsThis article is from Optical Engineering 50 (2011) Abstract. Automatically adapting the camera exposure time is crucial for industrial applications where minimum human intervention is usually desirable. However, it is very challenging to realize such a capability for a conventional fringe projection system where only a finite increment of the exposure time is allowed due to its digital fringe generation nature. We study the generation of sinusoidal fringe patterns by properly defocusing binary ones, which permits the use of an arbitrary exposure time. This provides the potential to adapt the exposure time automatically. We present the principle of an automatic exposure technique and show some experimental results. C 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

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Due to historical legal challenges, there is a driving force for the development of objective methods of forensic toolmark identification. This study utilizes an algorithm to separate matching and nonmatching shear cut toolmarks created using fifty sequentially manufactured pliers. Unlike previously analyzed striated screwdriver marks, shear cut marks contain discontinuous groups of striations, posing a more difficult test of algorithm applicability. The algorithm compares correlation between optical 3D toolmark topography data, producing a Wilcoxon rank sum test statistic. Relative magnitude of this metric separates the matching and nonmatching toolmarks. Results show a high degree of statistical separation between matching and nonmatching distributions. Further separation is achieved with optimized input parameters and implementation of a "leash" preventing a previous source of outliers--however complete statistical separation was not achieved. This paper represents further development of objective methods of toolmark identification and further validation of the assumption that toolmarks are identifiably unique.

Often, the 3-D raw data coming from an optical profilometer contains spiky noises and irregular grid, which make it difficult to analyze and difficult to store because of the enormously large size. This paper is to address these two issues for an optical profilometer by substantially reducing the spiky noise of the 3-D raw data from an optical profilometer, and by rapidly re-sampling the raw data into regular grids at any pixel size and any orientation with advanced computer graphics tools. Experimental results will be presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. ABSTRACT Often, the 3-D raw data coming from an optical profilometer contains spiky noises and irregular grid, which make it difficult to analyze and difficult to store because of the enormously large size. This paper is to address these two issues for an optical profilometer by substantially reducing the spiky noise of the 3-D raw data from an optical profilometer, and by rapidly re-sampling the raw data into regular grids at any pixel size and any orientation with advanced computer graphics tools. Experimental results will be presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Digital fringe projection (DFP) techniques provide dense 3D measurements of dynamically changing surfaces. Like the human eyes and brain, DFP uses triangulation between matching points in two views of the same scene at different angles to compute depth. However, unlike a stereobased method, DFP uses a digital video projector to replace one of the cameras 1 . The projector rapidly projects a known sinusoidal pattern onto the subject, and the surface of the subject distorts these patterns in the camera's field of view. Three distorted patterns (fringe images) from the camera can be used to compute the depth using triangulation.Unlike other 3D measurement methods, DFP techniques lead to systems that tend to be faster, lower in equipment cost, more flexible, and easier to develop. DFP systems can also achieve the same measurement resolution as the camera. For this reason, DFP and other digital structured light techniques have recently been the focus of intense research (as summarized in [1][2][3][4][5] ). Taking advantage of DFP, the graphics processing unit, and optimized algorithms, we have developed a system capable of 30 Hz 3D video data acquisition, reconstruction, and display for over 300,000 measurement points per frame 6,7 . Binary defocusing DFP methods can achieve even greater speeds , and fluid surface measurements, but many other potential applications exist. This video will teach the fundamentals of DFP techniques and illustrate the design and operation of a binary defocusing DFP system.

Measuring three-dimensional (3D) surfaces with extremely high contrast (e.g., partially shiny surfaces) is extremely difficult with optical metrology methods. Conventional techniques, which involve measurement from multiple angles or camera aperture adjustments, pose issues for high accuracy measurement in the manufacturing industry because they are difficult to automate and often induce undesirable vibrations in the calibrated measurement system. This paper presents a framework for optically capturing high-contrast 3D surfaces via flexible exposure time variation. This technique leverages the binary defocusing technique that was recently developed at Iowa State University to allow digital fringe projection with a camera exposure time far shorter than the projector’s projection period. Since the camera exposure time can be rapidly adjusted in software, the proposed technique could be automated without mechanical adjustments to the measurement system. Moreover, the exposure times are sufficiently short as to be efficiently packed into a projection period, giving this technique the potential for high speed applications. Experimental results will be presented to demonstrate the success of the proposed method.

This study introduces a tool mark analysis approach based upon 3D scans of screwdriver tip and marked plate surfaces at the micrometer scale from an optical microscope. An open-source 3D graphics software package is utilized to simulate the marking process as the projection of the tip's geometry in the direction of tool travel. The edge of this projection becomes a virtual tool mark that is compared to cross-sections of the marked plate geometry using the statistical likelihood algorithm introduced by Chumbley et al. In a study with both sides of six screwdriver tips and 34 corresponding marks, the method distinguished known matches from known nonmatches with zero false-positive matches and two false-negative matches. For matches, it could predict the correct marking angle within ±5-10°. Individual comparisons could be made in seconds on a desktop computer, suggesting that the method could save time for examiners.