3d astigmatic depth sensing camera

Three-dimensional displays have become increasingly present in consumer markets. However, the ability to capture threedimensional images inexpensively and without major modifications to current cameras is uncommon. Our goal is to create a modification to a common commercial camera that allows a three dimensional reconstruction. We desire such an imaging system to be inexpensive and easy to use. Furthermore, we require that any three-dimensional modification to a camera does not reduce its resolution. Here we present a possible solution to this problem. A commercial digital camera is used with a projector system with astigmatic focus to capture images of a scene. By using an astigmatic projected pattern we can create two different focus depths for horizontal and vertical features of the projected pattern, thereby encoding depth. This projector could be integrated into the flash unit of the camera. By carefully choosing a pattern we are able to exploit this differential focus in image processing. Wavelet transforms are performed on the image that pick out the projected pattern. By taking ratios of certain wavelet coefficients we are able to correlate the distance an object at a particular transverse position is from the camera to the contrast ratios. We present our information regarding construction, calibration, and images produced by this system. The nature of linking a projected pattern design and image processing algorithms will be discussed.