Minolta Company, Ltd.

Koichi Shiono

Eiro Fujii

Yuichi Kawakami

Yoshiko Sakagawa

The three-dimensional data input method uses the three-dimensional data input apparatus that includes a monitor screen for confirming an object and is constructed to input the three-dimensional data of the object by shooting the object. In accordance with the three-dimensional data inputted from a part of the object Q, an image of the three-dimensional shape model that corresponds to the shape is generated. The image of the three-dimensional shape model is displayed on the monitor screen as a guide image for framing. The framing is performed so that the guide image is overlapped on the portion of the object image corresponding to the guide image, so that the object is shot after the framing is performed.

Three-dimensional data input method and apparatus

A plurality of partial shape data that are obtained from widely varying viewpoints (potential directions) are registered. Each of the partial shape data is represented by shape vectors, and corresponding shape vectors representing the plurality of partial shape data are merged through vector arithmetic to thereby obtain shape vectors representing shape data that is obtained by merging the plurality of partial shape data.

Method of merging three-dimensional shape data and method of representing three-dimensional shape data

Based on the maximum value of distances between vertexes of polygons in a plurality of polygon meshes, the size of voxel is determined. Next, respective potential values for a plurality of polygon meshes are obtained on the basis of signed respective distances of voxels and a sum of the potential values is obtained as an added potential value. A polygon mesh made of an equivalent: face of the added potential value is defined as a surface mesh. Comparison between the surface mesh and the a plurality of original polygon meshes is performed, to determine respective vertexes (corresponding-vertexes) of a plurality of original meshes corresponding to each vertex of the surface mesh. The polygons of the surface mesh is divided/synthesized to obtain intermediate surface data. Referring to the original polygon meshes, respective vertexes of the intermediate surface data are moved. Composed polygon mesh data can be obtained with stability even if the original three-dimensional data have some errors, within a time of practical level, without unnecessarily high redundancy, while maintaining the accuracy and resolution of the three-dimensional multi-viewpoints data.

Method of composing three-dimensional multi-viewpoints data

Based on maximum value of distances between vertexes of polygons in plurality of polygon meshes, size of voxel is determined. Respective potential values for plurality of polygon meshes are obtained on basis of signed respective distances of voxels. Sum of potential values is obtained as added potential value. Polygon mesh made of equivalent face of added potential value is defined as surface mesh. Comparison between surface mesh and plurality of original polygon meshes is performed, to determine respective vertexes of plurality of original meshes corresponding to each vertex of surface mesh. Polygons of surface mesh are divided/synthesized to obtain intermediate surface data. Referring to original polygon meshes, respective vertexes of intermediate surface data are moved. Composed polygon mesh data are obtained with stability even if original three-dimensional data have errors, within practical time, without unnecessarily high redundancy, while maintaining accuracy and resolution of three-dimensional multi-viewpoints data.

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Osaka, Japan

Koichi Shiono