ITLI20110002A1

ITLI20110002A1 - SCANNING INSTRUMENT AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL SURFACE SURVEY, PORTABLE AND LOW COST, MADE UP OF A RIGID SUPPORT WITH AT LEAST THREE SMALL DIGITAL CAMERAS ITS WEBCAMS, EACH WITH AN AREA OF SPACE FILMED INTO COMMON WITH AT LEAST OTHER TWO

Info

Publication number: ITLI20110002A1
Application number: IT000002A
Authority: IT
Inventors: Nigris Ferdinando De
Original assignee: Nigris Ferdinando De
Priority date: 2011-02-23
Filing date: 2011-02-23
Publication date: 2011-05-25

Description

visualizzare, correggere, comporre, editare i segnali afferenti dalle fotocamere montate come qui descritto. display, correct, compose, edit the signals afferent from the cameras mounted as described here.

Il trovato prescinde dalla particolare programmazione colla quale tali flussi di dati sono trasformati per ottenere i dati equivalenti ad un rilievo tridimensionale di superfici in quanto l'autore stesso, grazie alla caratteristica disposizione delle webcam in modo che ognuna riprenda una zona di spazio filmata anche da almeno altre due webcam ha reso possibile un nuovo modo per concepire l'analisi dei dati per una ricostruzione spaziale delle superfici di oggetti che sono stati filmati in tale zona di spazio col presente strumento; questo nuovo modo ha coinvolto le conoscenze dell’autore della topografia, della fotogrammetria, della geometria proiettiva algebrica e grafica nonché della geometria epipolare solo in seconda battuta in quanto troppo precise e costose dal punto di vista del calcolo elettronico, l’autore si è avvalso con successo invece in prima battuta di un semplice confronto tra fotogrammi nitidi e successivi di ogni webcam, ricavando la variazione di posizione dei bordi degli oggetti che ricadono nella zona di spazio ripresa in comune da almeno tre webcam contemporaneamente e quindi con una loro opportuna analisi matematico-statistico-geometrica basata su dei parametri di taratura del supporto impiegato ha ottenuto i desiderati dati per una ricostruzione spaziale delle superfici così filmate; grazie al presente strumento è stato così possibile riconoscere la forma e la posizione spaziale delle superfici riprese nella zona di spazio ripresa in comune da almeno tre webcam e la posizione spaziale delle webcam stesse nel momento in cui ogni fotogramma era ripreso, è stato quindi poi possibile tracciare la storia delle variazioni di posizione dei bordi degli oggetti e anche della posizione del supporto stesso durante tutta una serie di fotogrammi nitidi e successivi; questo rende il trovato innovatore anche nel campo dei metodi per la programmazione dei computer per i presenti fini di rilievo tridimensionale e da cui si intende qui prescindere; al presente trovato non si lega alcun tipo di programmazione per elaboratori personali; si intende qui prescindere anche dalla succitata fase di taratura in cui sono determinati i parametri matematico-geometrici fondamentali e caratteristici di ogni diverso supporto funzionante per la prima volta; durante tale fase il supporto va inclinato e mosso su una traiettoria nota geometricamente e non piana, di fronte a uno sfondo di colore uniforme e ad oggetti immobili di forma, dimensioni e posizioni note geometricamente, ciò permette di ricavare quei parametri che durante il normale uso successivo rendono il funzionamento particolarmente semplice, la riconoscibilità delle superfici così ricostruite netta e impressionante e la loro misurazione di non elevata precisione . The invention disregards the particular programming with which these data flows are transformed to obtain the data equivalent to a three-dimensional survey of surfaces since the author himself, thanks to the characteristic arrangement of the webcams so that each takes up an area of space also filmed by at least two other webcams made possible a new way to conceive data analysis for a spatial reconstruction of the surfaces of objects that have been filmed in that area of space with this instrument; this new way involved the author's knowledge of topography, photogrammetry, algebraic and graphic projective geometry as well as epipolar geometry only secondarily as they are too precise and expensive from the point of view of electronic calculation, the author used instead, in the first instance, a simple comparison between clear and successive frames of each webcam is successful, obtaining the variation in the position of the edges of the objects that fall within the area of space recorded in common by at least three webcams simultaneously and then with their appropriate mathematical analysis -statistic-geometric based on calibration parameters of the support used, it obtained the desired data for a spatial reconstruction of the surfaces thus filmed; thanks to this tool it was thus possible to recognize the shape and spatial position of the surfaces recorded in the area of space recorded in common by at least three webcams and the spatial position of the webcams themselves at the moment in which each frame was recorded, it was then possible trace the history of the variations in the position of the edges of objects and also of the position of the support itself during a series of clear and successive frames; this makes the invention innovative also in the field of methods for programming computers for the present purposes of three-dimensional survey and from which it is hereby intended to disregard; no type of programming for personal computers is connected to the present invention; here it is also intended to disregard the aforementioned calibration phase in which the fundamental and characteristic mathematical-geometric parameters of each different support functioning for the first time are determined; during this phase the support must be inclined and moved on a geometrically known and not flat trajectory, in front of a background of uniform color and motionless objects of geometrically known shape, size and position, this allows to obtain those parameters that during normal use subsequent make the operation particularly simple, the recognition of the surfaces thus reconstructed clear and impressive and their measurement of not high precision.

L’autore del presente trovato, usando sia un prototipo a tre che uno a quattro webcam come nelle figure 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 e 6, grazie ad un programma per elaboratori di dati di sua creazione e da cui il presente trovato prescinde riesce a ricostruire con buona approssimazione la tridimensionalità della scena così ripresa da una o più serie di fotogrammi sufficientemente nitidi e continui, riesce a ottenere quindi dei dati rappresentativi della tridimensionalità delle superfici così riprese per poi poterli visualizzare in tempo reale, manipolare o misurare a piacimento con ulteriori programmi di elaborazione “tipo cad”; il trovato risulta perciò nuovo e innovatore delle capacità multimediali tridimensionali degl’attuali computer commerciali. The author of the present invention, using both a three-and one-four webcam prototype as in figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, thanks to a data processing program of his own creation and from which the present invention regardless, he succeeds in reconstructing with good approximation the three-dimensionality of the scene thus shot by one or more series of sufficiently clear and continuous frames, he is therefore able to obtain representative data of the three-dimensionality of the surfaces thus shot in order to then be able to view them in real time, manipulate or measure them pleasure with additional “cad-like” processing programs; the invention is therefore new and innovative in the three-dimensional multimedia capabilities of current commercial computers.

La natura innovativa del presente trovato porta a costruire un supporto con almeno tre webcam disposte come descritto e si estende all’impiego multiplo, cioè con più di un supporto portatile che contemporaneamente inviano flussi di dati visivi da tutte le loro webcam allo stesso elaboratore personale, solo se le webcam sono montate su supporti a gruppi di non meno di tre webcam per supporto e disposte in modo che ognuna riprenda una zona di spazio in comune con almeno altre due dello stesso supporto. The innovative nature of the present invention leads to the construction of a support with at least three webcams arranged as described and extends to multiple use, i.e. with more than one portable support which simultaneously send streams of visual data from all their webcams to the same personal computer, only if the webcams are mounted on supports in groups of no less than three webcams per support and arranged in such a way that each takes up an area of space in common with at least two others of the same support.

L’oggetto del presente trovato è quindi un supporto rigido strumentato come sopra e di basso costo, ingombro e peso e si intende qui che questo supporto abbia in parte la forma di un elmetto, di un pezzo di occhiali o di qualunque altro oggetto già esistente su cui le webcam non fossero montate su supporti a gruppi di non meno di tre webcam per supporto come già descritto sopra. The object of the present invention is therefore a rigid support instrumented as above and of low cost, bulk and weight and it is hereby intended that this support has the shape of a helmet, a piece of glasses or any other already existing object. on which the webcams were not mounted on supports in groups of no less than three webcams per support as already described above.

Il trovato è basato al minimo da tre fotocamere digitali a basso costo dette webcam, ciascuna con una zona di ripresa in comune con almeno altre due, installate in un supporto che ne vincola rigidamente la posizione relativa e che ne permette sia la modalità d’uso dinamico “tipo video-camera a mano” come nelle figure 5 e 6 sia la modalità d’uso statica “tipo video-chiamata/video-chat” come in figura 4. The invention is based on at least three low-cost digital cameras called webcams, each with a shooting area in common with at least two others, installed in a support that rigidly constrains their relative position and allows both the mode of use. dynamic “video-hand-held camera type” as in figures 5 and 6 and the static use mode “video-call / video-chat type” as in figure 4.

L’uso di fotocamere digitali di basso costo porta anche ad una bassa fluidità dei filmati visto che queste acquisiscono mediamente meno di dieci fotogrammi al secondo , questo equivale ad avere una bassissima qualità del funzionamento quando il presente supporto viene mosso rapidamente o è montato solidale ad un corpo in movimento ad alta velocità o forti accelerazioni, in ragione di questo fatto oggi l’autore ritiene non efficace lo sfruttamento del presente su mezzi di trasporto o persone che non si muovano con la lentezza tipica di chi sta compiendo un rilievo architettonico con uno strumento di basso costo. The use of low-cost digital cameras also leads to a low fluidity of the films since they acquire on average less than ten frames per second, this is equivalent to having a very low quality of operation when the present support is moved quickly or is mounted integral with a body in motion at high speed or strong accelerations, due to this fact today the author considers ineffective the exploitation of the present on means of transport or people who do not move with the typical slowness of someone who is making an architectural survey with a low cost tool.

La caratteristica del basso costo garantisce che il trovato è industrializzatale; l’impiego del presente strumento da parte di un grande numero di utenti per il rilievo di persone, ambienti e paesaggi porterà alla creazione di molte banche dati digitali che rappresenteranno con buona approssimazione , in modo tridimensionale ed in scala uno a uno ciò che ad oggi sta nel raggio di ripresa ottimale dagli utenti stessi. The low cost feature guarantees that the invention is industrialized; the use of this tool by a large number of users for surveying people, environments and landscapes will lead to the creation of many digital databases that will represent with good approximation, in a three-dimensional and one-to-one scale, what is currently lies within the optimal shooting range from the users themselves.

L’uso del presente trovato permette quindi di abbassare enormemente il costo di un rilievo fotogrammetrico di bassa precisione tanto da poter permettere a un grande numero di persone di registrare, visualizzare e condividere ambienti e situazioni nella realtà virtuale tridimensionale ma riprese col trovato qui descritto nella realtà di tutti i giorni. The use of the present invention therefore allows to enormously lower the cost of a photogrammetric survey of low precision so as to be able to allow a large number of people to record, view and share environments and situations in three-dimensional virtual reality but taken with the invention described here in everyday reality.

Claims

Patent claims entitled: Portable and low-cost three-dimensional scanning and surface survey tool, consisting of a rigid support with at least three small digital cameras called webcams, each with a filmed space area in common with at least two others. " 1. Low cost portable three-dimensional scanning and survey instrument of surfaces, consisting of a minimum number of three and no less than three small digital cameras today called webcams, each positioned in such a way as to film an area of space in common with at least two others webcam, mounted in a portable rigid support that rigidly constrains the relative positions, characterized by the fact that said original instrument connected to a personal computer allows the latter to acquire visual data from the cameras and perform their processing with great simplicity to obtain a three-dimensional representation of the framed surfaces in the space area filmed simultaneously by at least three webcams and obtain all the positions assumed by this support during the shooting of all the frames useful for the survey regardless of the particular shape of the support itself, regardless of whether this support is equipped of support or constraint points, on p rescind that such support rigidly carries with it also a light or a lighting system, regardless of the type of plug with which the digital cameras are to be connected to the personal computer, regardless of the type of personal computer used, regardless of the presence of electronic devices between the webcams and the personal computer designed to make the signals of the cameras flow into the personal computer, regardless of the software used to acquire, process, record, send, share, display, correct, compose, edit the signals afferent from cameras mounted as described here.

2. Low-cost portable three-dimensional scanning and survey instrument, consisting of a mobile rigid support that integrates at least three small digital cameras called webcams arranged so that each films an area of space in common with at least two others according to the preceding claim and used in more than one support simultaneously connected to the same personal processing device regardless of the particular number, shape and arrangement of the supports used as long as each of these supports is rigid and fixes the position of a minimum number of three small digital cameras so that each takes up an area of space in common with at least two others of the same support, regardless of the particular relative positions in which all these supports are to function, regardless of the particular personal computer used and its programming, regardless of the electronic devices to be interpose between the webca m of all the media used and the personal computer to bring together the signals of all the cameras used.

3. Low-cost portable three-dimensional scanning and surface survey tool consisting of a minimum number of three small digital cameras, arranged so that each films an area of space in common with at least two others, mounted in a rigid support or integrated into the case of a portable personal computer that rigidly constrains its relative positions, according to the previous claims and characterized by the fact that said original instrument is made up of low-cost elements such as a support that is not very valuable, if not for its rigidity and of digital cameras today usually called webcams, lacking the ability to autonomously focus and of poor technical value such as the number of pixels per frame and the number of frames per second of insufficient photographic or amateur video quality and typical instead of image acquisition devices for its transmission on the net in real time as the well-known skype video call program or others and is independent of expensive systems typical of niche markets such as cine cameras, lasers, x-rays, Doppler ultrasounds, radio waves, radar, ultrasounds, sonar or a combination thereof, therefore the easy industrialization character of the present invention is also claimed.

4. Low-cost portable three-dimensional scanning and survey instrument of surfaces, consisting of a mobile rigid support that integrates at least three small digital cameras called webcams positioned so that each films an area of space in common with at least two others according to the preceding claims and such that the rigid support is in the shape of an existing object such as a helmet, a pair of glasses, the case of a personal computer, the case of a portable telephone, the face of a watch, a part of a purse or a backpack or anything else that may be of a single piece, rigid and such as to rigidly fix the position of all the webcams integrated into it so that each webcam resumes an area of space in common with at least two other webcams regardless of color, material, from the shape of the support, from its handling and constraint methods or its additional functions to the execution of three-dimensional surveys of what is rip rendered simultaneously by at least three of his webcams.

5. Low-cost portable three-dimensional scanning and survey instrument, consisting of a mobile rigid support that integrates at least three small digital cameras called webcams so that each takes up an area of space in common with at least two others according to the preceding claims and with such rigid support also equipped with an integrated lighting system with lights of any type and color.