Adaptive imaging system with spatial light modulator for robust shape measurement of partially specular objects.

In imaging systems, when specular surfaces responding sensitively to varying illumination conditions are imaged on groups of CCD pixels using imaging optics, the obtained image usually suffers from pixel saturation, resulting in smearing or blooming phenomena. These problems are then serious obstacles when applying structured light-based optical profiling methods to the shape measurement of general objects with partially specular surfaces. Therefore, this paper combines a phase-based profiling system with an with an adaptive spatial light modulator in the imaging part for measuring the three-dimensional shapes of objects with an advanced dynamic range. The use of a spatial light modulator in front of a CCD camera prevents the image sensor from being saturated, as the pixel transmittance is controlled by monitoring the input images and providing modulator feedback signals over time and space. When using the proposed system, since the projected fringes are effectively imaged on the CCD without any pixel saturation, phase information according to the object's shape can be correctly extracted from non-saturated images. The configuration of the proposed system and transmittance control scheme are explained in detail, plus the performance is verified through a series of experiments, in which phase information was successfully extracted from areas that are not normally measurable due to saturation. Based on the results, the proposed shape measurement system showed a more advanced adaptive dynamic range when compared with a conventional system.