Time of flight three-dimensional imaging camera using temporal compressive sampling technique

A new type camera constructed by an active light source and a high frame rate imaging sensor was introduced for recording three-dimensional image of the object. The intensity of the light encoded by the compressive sensing technique and a gigahertz range carrier wave generator was illuminated the object. The imaging sensor with kilo-frame rate range synchronized with the light source was used for sampling the encoded light wave reflected from object. The waveform of the carrier wave can be reconstructed with few frames by the compressive sensing technique. Resultantly, the 3D image of the object was precisely extracted from the phase of the carrier wave in very short time with few frames.