Method And Apparatus For Optically Digitizing A Three-dimensional Object

Abstract

An apparatus and method for digitizing an object for creating a three-dimensional digital model of the object comprises a turntable for rotating the object about a rotation axis, at least first and second light sources positioned and oriented for directing a thin sheet of light toward the object along an illumination plane substantially parallel to and substantially intersecting with the rotation axis, a first detector positioned to one side of the illumination plane and oriented for detecting light reflected along a first detection plane from the object for creating a plurality of first side contours as the object rotates, a second detector positioned to a side of the illumination plane, opposite the one side, for detecting light reflected along a second detection plane from the object for creating a plurality of second side contours as the object rotates, a third detector for capturing illumination on-axis contours in the form of a vertical straight line to derive an instantaneous color of the object's surface as a function of the height of the object, and a combining and evaluating computer for combining the first side contours, the second side contours, and the illumination on-axis contours for generating a plurality of composite contours and for evaluating the composite contours for creating a three-dimensional digital model of the object.