Calibration method for composite reflective surface measurement system based on binocular stereo vision

Phase measuring deflectometry (PMD) is a robust, noncoherent technique for the characterization of specular surface. For measuring high specular reflectivity surface, PMD can deliver micron radian range local gradient. However, when the measured surface has low specular reflectivity, the accuracy of the measured gradient is low since the captured fringe pattern shows low signal to noise ratio. The phase error characteristics in PMD system when testing low reflectivity surfaces are analyzed. The analysis illustrates that the random phase error increases rapidly while the nonlinear error drops slowly with the decreasing of the tested surface reflectivity. In order to attain high precision measurement of low reflectivity specular surface, a robust error reduction method based on wavelet de-noising is proposed to reduce the phase error. This error reduction method is compared with several other normally used methods in both simulation and experiment work. The method based on the wavelet de-noising shows better performance when measuring the low reflectivity specular surface.

Line-art illustrations are effective tools for conveying shapes and shading of complex objects. We present a set of new algorithms to render line-art illustrations of dynamic and specular (reflective and refractive) surfaces. We first introduce a real-time principal direction estimation algorithm to determine the line stroke directions on dynamic opaque objects using neighboring normal ray triplets. To render reflections or refractions in a line-art style, we develop a stroke direction propagation algorithm by using multi-perspective projections to propagate the stroke directions from the nearby opaque objects onto specular surfaces. Finally, we present an image-space stroke mapping method to draw line strokes using the computed or propagated stroke directions. We implement these algorithms using a GPU and demonstrate real-time illustrations of scenes with dynamic and specular 3D models in line-art styles.

This paper presents a short review for phase measuring deflectometry (PMD). PMD is a phase calculation based technique for three-dimensional (3D) measurement of specular surfaces. PMD can achieve nano-scale form measurement accuracy with the advantages of high dynamic range, non-contact, full field measurement which makes it a competitive method for specular surface measurement. With the development of computer science, display and imaging technology, there has been an advancement in speed for PMD in recent years. This paper discusses PMD focusing on the difference on its system configuration. Measurement principles, progress, advantages and problems are discussed for each category. The challenges and future development of PMD are also discussed.

In phase measuring deflectometry (PMD), the fringe pattern deformed according to slope deviation of a specular surface is digitized employing a phase-shift technique. Without height-angle ambiguity, carrier-removal process is adopted to evaluate the variation of surface slope from phase distribution when a quasi-plane is measured. This paper investigates nonlinear carrier components introduced by the generalized imaging process in PMD and the nonlinear carrier removal methods. To remove the nonlinear carrier components in PMD, the reference subtraction technique, series-expansion technique and Zernike polynomials which are normally used in fringe projection profilometry are analyzed on accuracy, processing time and experimental simplicity. What’s more, a new nonlinear carrier removal technique is proposed according to the analytical expression of carrier phase. The theoretical analysis and the experiment results show that the new technique is accurate, simple and time-saving.

Phase measuring deflectometry (PMD) is a well-established method for determining the topography of specular freeform surfaces. A disadvantage of the classical PMD method, however, is the sequential measurement process - it requires at least six camera images of phase-shifted sinusoidal fringe patterns for one measurement. Therefore, for moving objects in industrial production, as well as for non-fixable objects such as the human cornea, the classical PMD evaluation is not suitable anymore. To overcome this problem, single-shot methods using single-side-band demodulation have been presented, which allow for a deflectometric measurement based on just one single image capture. However, this kind of evaluation does not work for complex surface geometries that result in broadband fringe patterns, since the phase is only considered globally in the Fourier space. A new single-shot evaluation method for the phase determination using the Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) is presented. The advantage of the wavelet transform is that the signal can be evaluated locally in both spatial and frequency space, making it possible to measure even complex reflective surfaces in motion. First measurement results are shown and compared to the classic phase-shifting evaluation for a non-moving object. Furthermore, limits and possible enhancements of this new method are discussed. Phase measuring deflectometry (PMD) is a well-established method for determining the topography of specular freeform surfaces. A disadvantage of the classical PMD method, however, is the sequential measurement process - it requires at least six camera images of phase-shifted sinusoidal fringe patterns for one measurement. Therefore, for moving objects in industrial production, as well as for non-fixable objects such as the human cornea, the classical PMD evaluation is not suitable anymore. To overcome this problem, single-shot methods using single-side-band demodulation have been presented, which allow for a deflectometric measurement based on just one single image capture. However, this kind of evaluation does not work for complex surface geometries that result in broadband fringe patterns, since the phase is only considered globally in the Fourier space. A new single-shot evaluation method for the phase determination using the Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) is presented. The advantage of the wavelet transform is that the signal can be evaluated locally in both spatial and frequency space, making it possible to measure even complex reflective surfaces in motion. First measurement results are shown and compared to the classic phase-shifting evaluation for a non-moving object. Furthermore, limits and possible enhancements of this new method are discussed.

We study the pressure-driven steady gas flow, imposed by temperature or density gradients, over a backward-facing step in a two-dimensional microchannel. Focusing on the near-free-molecular regime of high Knudsen (Kn) numbers, the problem is analyzed asymptotically based on the Bhatnagar, Gross and Krook kinetic model, and supported by numerical Discrete Velocity Method and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo calculations. The wall conditions are formulated using the Maxwell model, superposing specular and diffuse surface conditions. The asymptotic solution contains the leading-order free-molecular description and a first-order integral representation of the near-free-molecular correction. Our results indicate that flow separation at the step can occur at arbitrarily large (yet finite) Knudsen numbers in channels with specular surfaces (i.e., having an accommodation coefficient of α=0), driven by temperature differences between the inlet and outlet reservoirs. It is then shown that detachment is significantly suppressed by density variations between reservoirs and partially diffuse surfaces (with α≳0.3). While the mass flow rate in a specular channel decreases with decreasing Kn≫1 in a density-driven setup (in line with the Knudsen Paradox), it increases in a temperature-driven flow. The results are obtained for arbitrary differences between the inlet and outlet reservoir equilibrium properties, and are rationalized using the linearized problem formulation.

Two practical computer-aided optical techniques for full-field surface shape measurement are presented, one for diffuse surfaces and the other for specularly reflective surfaces. The former technique is based on projecting a computer-generated fringe pattern onto a diffuse surface, and the latter is based on reflecting the fringe pattern from a specularly reflective surface. The fringe pattern is perturbed in accordance with the object surface with the fringe phase bearing information on the depth/slope of the object surface. The computer-generated fringe pattern conveniently enables the fringe phase to be manipulated, and hence the determination of the phase distribution using a phase extraction algorithm. Instead of deriving the mathematical relationship between the fringe phase distribution and the surface depth/slope, this relationship is obtained by calibration. The techniques described can be easily implemented for rapid measurement of 3-D surface shapes in an industrial setting.

Fringe projection profilometry (FPP) is one of the most widely used optical three-dimensional (3-D) perceiving techniques. However, when applied to cluttered scenes, acquiring accurate 3-D shapes is difficult because of the influences of indirect light caused by non-diffuse surfaces. In this paper, we first theoretically analyze and model the influences of indirect light in FPP, and then propose a scene-adaptive pattern coding-based method, which can design projection patterns based on the reflective properties of the scene's surfaces, to achieve accurate 3-D perceiving in cluttered scenes. Specifically, the scene confidence analysis method is first proposed to identify the reflective properties of various surfaces and localize the camera pixels of the diffuse surface. The illumination status (i.e., "0" or "1") of each projector pixel can be determined according to the camera-projection coordinate mapping and spatial pattern coding, where only diffuse surfaces can be illuminated, thus fundamentally preventing the influences of indirect light from the point of view of the light source. The 3-D shapes of diffuse surfaces can be accurately reconstructed in cluttered scenes. Different from traditional reflective properties change or light separation solutions, the proposed method can achieve accurate 3-D perceiving of cluttered scenes without additional hardware or expensive calculation. Extensive experiments verify that the proposed method outperforms the traditional methods in terms of accuracy and robustness.

Basically, there are two ways of measuring the spectral emissivity of the surface of an opaque body. One widely used method involves the direct measurement of the spectral radiance of the surface along with a determination of its temperature. Combination of these data with the blackbody radiation laws yields the spectral emissivity. Another method measures the spectral reflectance of the surface. From this, the spectral absorptance is calculated and, by application of Kirchhoff’s law, is equated to the spectral emissivity. Both of these methods, which we shall designate respectively as the “radiation” and “reflection” methods, have their limitations, which will receive attention in this paper.

This work investigates intermediate materials deposited between silver (Ag) thin-film mirrors and an aluminum oxide (AlOx) barrier overlayer and compares the effects on mirror durability to environmental stresses. Physical vapor deposition of various fluorides, oxides, and nitrides in combination with AlOx by atomic layer deposition (ALD) is used to develop several coating recipes. Ag-AlOx samples with different intermediate materials undergo aggressive high-temperature (80°C), high-humidity (80%) (HTHH) testing for 10 days. Reflectivity of mirror samples is measured before and after HTHH testing, and image processing techniques are used to analyze the specular surface of the samples after HTHH testing. Among the seven intermediate materials used in this work, TiN, MgAl2O4, NiO, and Al2O3 intermediate layers offer more robust protection against chemical corrosion and moisture when compared with samples with no intermediate layer. In addition, results show that the performance of the ALD-AlOx barrier overlayer depends significantly on the ALD-growth process temperature. Because higher durability is observed in samples with less transparent TiN and NiO layers, we propose a figure of merit based on post-HTHH testing reflectivity change and specular reflective mirror surface area remaining after HTHH testing to judge overall barrier performance.

Phase measuring deflectometry (PMD) is a competitive method for specular surface measurement that offers the advantages of a high dynamic range, non-contact process, and full field measurement; furthermore, it can also achieve high accuracy. Camera calibration is a crucial step for PMD. As a result, a method based on the calibration of the entrance pupil center is introduced in this paper. Then, our proposed approach is compared with the most popular photogrammetric method based on Zhang’s technique (PM) and Huang’s modal phase measuring deflectometry (MPMD). The calibration procedures of these three methods are described, and the measurement errors introduced by the perturbations of degrees of freedom in the PMD system are analyzed using a ray tracing technique. In the experiment, a planar window glass and an optical planar element are separately measured, and the measurement results of the use of the three methods are compared. The experimental results for the optical planar element (removing the first 6 terms of the Zernike polynomial) show that our method’s measurement accuracy reached 13.71 nm RMS and 80.50 nm PV, which is comparable to accuracy values for the interferometer.

We describe a new algorithm for occupancy grid mapping using LIDAR in the presence of glass and other non-diffuse surfaces. This is a major problem for robot navigation in many indoor environments due to the prevalence of glass paned doors, windows, and even glass walls, as well as mirrors and polished metal surfaces. Current formulations of occupancy grid mapping make the assumption that objects in the environment are detectable from all angles. However, glass and other specular surfaces are invisible to LIDAR at most angles and so become washed out as “noise”. We modify the standard occupancy grid algorithm to allow for mapping objects that are only visible from certain view angles, by tracking the subset of angles from which objects are reliably visible. We show that these angles can be determined reliably with a single pass through the environment, and that the information can be used to map both diffuse and specular surfaces.

Combined heat transfer in floating zone growth of large silicon crystals with radiation on diffuse and specular surfaces

Reverse Monte Carlo coupled with Runge-Kutta ray tracing method for radiative heat transfer in graded-index media

Frequency changes observed with the EQCM resulting from hydrophilic/hydrophobic transitions