Use of structured light in 3D reconstruction of transparent objects

Abstract

A simple non-interferometric incoherent light ray propagation model is introduced to perform three-dimensional profiling of transparent objects with typical thicknesses of the order of mm to cm by analyzing the distorted captured image behind the object. A two-dimensional cosine fringe is used as the incident reference image, whose periodicity is markedly altered by the shape of the object. By monitoring the local change in the period, the surface profile is simulated and optimized to achieve minimal error with experimental data and thus determine the final morphology. Our proposed method is simple, robust, straightforward, and single-shot, and can be used with coherent or incoherent illumination. Its feasibility for more complex applications is verified experimentally through rigorous error calculation. Moreover, the application of this technique for arbitrary transparent objects is theoretically attainable and promising.