Surface Orientation From Polarization Images

Lawrence B. Wolff

doi:10.1117/12.942866

12 March 1988 Surface Orientation From Polarization Images

Lawrence B. Wolff

Proceedings Volume 0850, Optics, Illumination, and Image Sensing for Machine Vision II; (1988) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.942866
Event: Advances in Intelligent Robotics Systems, 1987, Cambridge, CA, United States

Abstract

It is demonstrated that measurement of local surface orientation for a wide variety of isotropically rough material surfaces can be achieved from knowledge of the polarization states of both incident and reflected light radiation upon and from the surface respectively. The reflection model used is the Torrance-Sparrow model assuming combined specular and diffuse reflection. The specular and diffuse reflection components have distinct polarization states which makes it possible to resolve intersecting specular and diffuse equireflection curves in gradient space thereby measuring surface orientation. The light source incident orientation and the viewer orientation are assumed to be known along with the complex index of refraction of the material surface and the root mean square slope of planar microfacets characterizing surface roughness. The theoretical development is very comprehensive with respect to the nature of the incident and reflected light radiation which is assumed to be quasi-monochromatic having arbitrary degree of polarization. Thus determination of surface orientation is feasible using incident incoherent natural sunlight which is completely unpolarized, using incident partially polarized light such as specularly reflected natural sunlight, or using completely polarized incident light such as light which is elliptically polarized including circular and linear polarizations.

Citation Download Citation

Lawrence B. Wolff "Surface Orientation From Polarization Images", Proc. SPIE 0850, Optics, Illumination, and Image Sensing for Machine Vision II, (12 March 1988); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.942866

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