Traditional camera calibration is based on the pinhole model, which is an approximation algorithm using untrue geometrical assumptions and giving a single lumped result for the multiple optical elements in a camera. To provide an alternative method of camera calibration, we extend the traditional 2×2 matrix-based paraxial raytracing method to 6×6 in order to trace paraxial rays by using the first-order Taylor series expansion of Snell’s laws. Then we establish the geometric relationship between images and objects. Compared with the Snell’s Law camera calibration model of our previous work, the paraxial model offers explicit analytical sensitivity analysis for the mathematical manipulation of problematical conditions. Compared with the existing pinhole model, the proposed method, in addition to five intrinsic and six extrinsic parameters, gives the position parameters of each optical element of the camera system.
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