Texture based 3D shape reconstruction from multiple stereo images

Describes a 3D shape reconstruction method including an improved stereo matching technique and a new shape connection technique. To reconstruct the 3D shape for an object, a stereo camera is moved around the object and several stereo images of the object are captured from different view points. Each stereo image is then analyzed to obtain the range data using the improved stereo matching technique. Each obtained range data represents shape for a part of the object. These object part shapes are connected to reconstruct the 3-D shape for the object, using the proposed shape connection technique. The shape connection technique reconstructs the shape for an object using object part shapes themselves and textures on the object part shapes. It is not necessary for this technique to measure camera positions and directions accurately when stereo images are captured