An image matching algorithm for variable mesh surfaces

For measuring an object that has a large surface or a local steeper profile, a variable resolution optical profile measurement system that combined two CCD cameras with zoom lenses, one line laser and a three-axis motion stage are sufficient to implement. The measurement system can flexibly zoom in or out the zoom lens to measure the object profile according to the slope distribution of the object. However, one can acquire only one set of sectional measurement points in each measurement. To reconstruct the entire object, every set of sectional measurement points acquired at different positions must be matched with one another.In this paper, an efficient and accurate image matching algorithm of two measured sectional images that has variable mesh surfaces is proposed. Using this image matching algorithm and the variable resolution optical profile measurement system, a larger profile or complicated object can be efficiently and flexibly measured and matched in reverse engineering. Two experimental results obtained from different mesh images matching are sufficient to demonstrate the validity and applicability of this system.