Mobile device accessory for three-dimensional scanning

Abstract

A variety of techniques are disclosed for enabling three-dimensional scanning with mobile devices. In general, an accessory provides additional optics, image sensors, lighting and/or processing to complement preexisting device hardware in support of a variety of three-dimensional imaging techniques.

1 . A system for three-dimensional imaging with a mobile device, the system comprising:
 a housing with a mechanical interface configured to removably and replaceably attach to a predetermined mobile computing device in a predetermined orientation; and   an optical train in the housing that optically couples a camera of the predetermined mobile computing device to a field of view from a predetermined pose relative to the mobile computing device when positioned in the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a communication interface in the housing configured for data communications between the housing and the predetermined mobile computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the communication interface includes a wired communication interface that couples to a data port of the predetermined mobile computing device when the housing is attached to the predetermined mobile computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the communication interface includes a wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the communication interface includes a sensor to detect an action of the predetermined mobile computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the action includes one or more of a sound, a vibration, and an illumination by the predetermined mobile computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising processing circuitry to obtain three-dimensional data from one or more images acquired by the camera. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the processing circuitry is within the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the processing circuitry is within the predetermined mobile computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the housing includes a power source independent from the predetermined mobile computing device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the optical train includes a first optical path for the camera and a second optical path that optically couples a second camera of the predetermined mobile computing device to a second field of view from a different pose than the field of view. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising processing circuitry on the predetermined mobile computing device configured to obtain substantially concurrent images from the camera and the second camera. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising processing circuitry on the predetermined mobile computing device configured to process the substantially concurrent images to obtain three-dimensional data from an overlapping region of the field of view and the second field of view. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the optical train includes a first optical path for the camera and a second optical path that optically couples the camera to a second field of view, the optical train further including an optical switch that selectively couples the camera to the first optical path and the second optical path. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising processing circuitry on the predetermined mobile computing device configured to control the camera and the optical switch to capture temporally adjacent images from the field of view and the second field of view with the camera. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising processing circuitry on the predetermined mobile computing device configured to process the temporally adjacent images to obtain three-dimensional data from an overlapping region of the field of view and the second field of view. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a supplemental light source in the housing positioned to illuminate the field of view. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the supplemental light source is a structured light source. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a second camera within the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the housing includes processing circuitry to control the second camera in response to a control signal received through a communication interface to the predetermined mobile computing device. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the predetermined mobile computing device includes processing circuitry configured to receive a first image from the camera and a second image through the communication interface from the second camera, and further configured to process the first image and the second image to obtain three-dimensional data from an overlapping field of view of the camera and the second camera. 
     
     
         22 . A method comprising:
 attaching an accessory to a mobile device, the accessory removably and replaceably attachable to the mobile device, and the accessory including a camera and a communication interface for communications with the mobile device;   capturing a first image with the camera;   capturing a second image substantially concurrently with the first image using a second camera of the mobile device, wherein the second camera has an overlapping field of view with the camera;   transmitting the first image to the mobile device through the communication interface; and   processing the first image and the second image on the mobile device to obtain three-dimensional data from the overlapping field of view.   
     
     
         23 . A method comprising:
 attaching an accessory to a mobile device having a camera, the accessory removably and replaceably attachable to the mobile device, and the accessory including an optical train with a first optical path for the camera to a first field of view and a second optical path for the camera to a second field of view having an overlapping field of view with the first field of view, wherein the accessory further includes an optical switch configured to selectively switch between the respective optical paths;   selecting the first optical path;   capturing a first image with the camera;   selecting the second optical path;   capturing a second image with the camera; and   processing the first image and the second image on the mobile device to obtain three-dimensional data from the overlapping field of view.   
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 attaching an accessory to a mobile device, the accessory removably and replaceably attachable to the mobile device, and the accessory including an optical train with a first optical path from a first camera of the mobile device to a first field of view and a second optical path from a second camera of the mobile device to a second field of view having an overlapping field of view with the first field of view;   capturing a first image with the first camera;   capturing a second image with the second camera substantially concurrently with the first image; and   processing the first image and the second image on the mobile device to obtain three-dimensional data from the overlapping field of view.   
     
     
         25 - 44 . (canceled)