Method and apparatus for a color scannerless range image system

Abstract

A color scannerless range imaging system comprises four component systems, including an illumination system, an image capture device, an optical assembly and a controller for interconnecting and controlling the component systems. The illumination system separately illuminates a scene with modulated and unmodulated illumination, while the image capture device is positioned in an optical path of the reflected illumination from the scene for capturing a plurality of images thereof, including (a) at least one image of the reflected modulated illumination, whereby the modulation of the reflected modulated illumination incorporates a phase delay corresponding to the distance of objects in the scene from the range imaging system, and (b) at least one color image of the reflected unmodulated illumination. The optical assembly includes a first optical system for imaging a color image of unmodulated illumination from the scene and a second optical system including a modulating stage for modulating the reflected modulated illumination from the scene and generating an interference image representative of range information of the scene. The controller selectively places each of the optical systems in the optical path of the image capture device whereby both range information and color information of the scene are captured.