Dynamic 3D imaging based on acousto-optic heterodyne fringe interferometry

An acoustic-optics heterodyne fringe interferometry coupled with a three-camera system is developed for dynamic 3D imaging. In this system, first-order beams with a slight frequency difference diffracted from two acousto-optic deflectors (AODs) form a beat intensity fringe pattern. Setting the frequency of the trigger signal for the CCD cameras into four times the beat frequency, four-step phase-shifting fringe patterns can be obtained, and the wrapped phase map (WPM) can be calculated. Under the epipolar constraint among three cameras, the homologous points can be determined unambiguously with the assistant of a WPM; thus the 3D shape can be reconstructed while skipping the phase unwrapping step. Experimental results are presented to validate this approach. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America