US Patent 6947582 Three-dimensional shape detection by means of camera images

A method of detecting the shape of an object comprises the following steps: a) producing a camera image of the object; b) mapping an outline of the object, which appears sharp in the camera image, in a first plane by means of an analyzer connected to the camera; c) altering the focusing distance of the camera; d) mapping a sharp outline of the object in a second plane by means of the analyzer; e) repeating steps b) to d) until a sufficient number of outlines has been mapped so that the three-dimensional shape of the object can be established. Also disclosed is an apparatus for implementing the method.