Abstract: An imaging system for creating a three dimensional image of an object. The imaging system includes a housing and three sets of light sources mounted to the housing. The light sources are selectively illuminated for projecting light on the object. A camera is spaced from the housing for capturing projected light reflecting from the object. A lens and a diffuser are mounted to the housing and are spaced from the light sources for focusing and blurring the projected light to define an image projected upon the object. A controller is connected to the light sources for sequentially illuminating the light sources to produce at least three different images on the object. The controller is also connected to the camera for controlling the camera to capture the different images for creating the three dimensional image of the object.

Abstract: A 3-D camera system (10) includes a light source (12) and a grating (14) spaced at a predetermined distance from the light source (12). The light source (12) and grating (14) project a shadow of the grating (14) on an object (16). Images of the object (16) with the grating (14) shadows projected thereon are captured by a sensor (18) in a video camera (17). A processor (19) converts the images to a three dimensional bit map of the object (16). The light source (12) includes a plurality of at least three rows of light sources (20) defining a matrix (22) whereby different rows of the matrix (22) may be illuminated to produce different grating (14) shadows on the object (16).