Camera calibration using time-coded planar patterns

In this paper a novel pattern design for camera calibration using planar patterns with the Zhang calibration method is presented. In contrast to other work related to this calibration technique, which deals with the design and extraction of spatial image features, our focus lies on the precise and fully automated extraction of corresponding points by temporal image features using a sequence of planar patterns, which are displayed by a flat screen. The extraction of correspondences in our approach does not utilize areal properties of the images and therefore is hardly influenced by projective distortion, image distortion, or inhomogeneous illumination. Furthermore, not the whole pattern but only parts of it need to be visible in an individual view. In addition, the planarity as well as the physical precision of the control points of the pattern are ensured by the very nature of the flat screen. The overall calibration time may be reduced, as no human interaction is necessary. We compare the results gained from this novel temporal pattern design with those gained from commonly used checkerboard patterns. The proposed approach resulted in an increased precision for the calibration.