Table 1 Distinctive aspects of three representing techniques for 3D surface imaging [13,14,15,16,17,18]
From: Optical MEMS devices for compact 3D surface imaging cameras
| Â | Stereoscopic vision | Structured light | ToF (time-of-flight) |
|---|---|---|---|
Principle | Compare disparities of stereo images from two 2D sensors | Detect distortions of illuminated patterns by 3D surface | Measure the transit time of reflected light from the target object |
Depth accuracy | mm to cm (difficulty with smooth and non-textured surface) | μm to mm (depends on the pattern density) | mm to cm (depends on resolution of ToF sensor) |
Image resolution | High (camera dependent) | High (camera dependent) | Low/medium (ToF sensor size dependent) |
Scanning speed | Medium (limited by software complexity) | Medium/Fast (limited by SW complexity and camera speed) | Fast (limited by sensor speed) |
Low light performance | Weak | Good | Good |
Bright light performance | Good | Weak/medium (depends on illumination power) | Medium |
Distance range | Mid range (depends on the distance between two cameras) | Very short to mid range (depends on illumination power) | Short to long range (depends on laser power and modulation) |
Software complexity | High | Low/middle/high (depends on pattern density and variability) | Low |
Material cost | Low | Middle/high | Middle |