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United States Patent
Methods and systems for real-time structured light depth extraction and endoscope using real-time structured light depth extraction

Patent Number: 6,503,195
Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
Inventors: Keller; Kurtis P. (Chapel Hill, NC); Ackerman; Jeremy D. (Chapel Hill, NC); Rosenthal; Michael H. (Chapel Hill, NC); Fuchs; Henry (Chapel Hill, NC); State; Andrei (Chapel Hill, NC)
Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Appl. No.: 317932
Filed: May 24, 1999
Int. Cl.: A61B 001/04
U.S. Cl.: 600/160; 600/109; 600/111; 600/166; 348/45
15 Claims

Abstract
A real-time structured light depth extraction system includes a projector for projecting structured light patterns onto an object of interest. A camera positioned off-axis from the projector samples light reflected from the object synchronously with the projection of structured light patterns and outputs digital signals indicative of the reflected light. An image processor/controller receives the digital signals from the camera and processes the digital signals to extract depth information of the object in real time.