Axi-vision camera: a three-dimensional camera

A novel 3D camera named Axi-vision camera was developed. IT can acquire both color and distance information of objects. An intensity-modulated light illuminates objects and the camera with an ultra-fast shutter captures the light reflected from the scene. The distance information is obtained from two images of the same scene taken under linearly increasing and decreasing illuminations. The camera does not require scanning, multiple camera units, or complicated computations. It is possible to acquire distance information for each pixel of a TV image at real time. The operational features and technical specifications of the camera were investigated. The application to TV program production, such as replacing the image of an object at a particular distance by another, was demonstrated. A new 3D display system is also proposed, developed and demonstrated.