Improvements of the 3D images captured with Time-of-Flight cameras

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to improve 3D images from Time-of-Flight cameras by using contrast tags to correct distance errors caused by indirect and flare light, enhancing accuracy for dark surfaces.

Contribution

The paper proposes a novel correction technique using contrast tags at different distances to reduce distance measurement errors in ToF camera images.

Findings

Significant reduction in distance errors for dark surfaces.

Effective correction of indirect and flare light effects.

Improved 3D image accuracy demonstrated.

Abstract

3D Time-of-Flight camera's images are affected by errors due to the diffuse (indirect) light and to the flare light. The presented method improves the 3D image reducing the distance's errors to dark surface objects. This is achieved by placing one or two contrast tags in the scene at different distances from the ToF camera. The white and black parts of the tags are situated at the same distance to the camera but the distances measured by the camera are different. This difference is used to compute a correction vector. The distance to black surfaces is corrected by subtracting this vector from the captured vector image.