In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) imaging technique based on the structured light illumination has been studied deeply and applied widely. Most commonly, in the technique proposal, a fringe pattern with a carrier frequency component is projected onto the imaged object, then the deformed fringe patterns caused by the height distribution of the tested object′s surface are recorded by a imaging device from the other direction. By demodulating the deformed fringe patterns, the 3D digitized reconstruction of the object can be retrived. Comparing with 3D holographic imaging, such 3D imaging process based on the structured light projection can also be divided into two imaging steps. The two-dimensional (2D) fringe image modulated by the imaged object is captured by a camera. Then, the 3D digitized image of the object can be reconstructed by demodulating the deformed fringe patterns. The progress in this 3D imaging techniques based on the structured light illumination made by author′s research group is reviewed. Different 3D imaging methods based on the Fourier fringe analysis, phase-shifting fringe analysis and dynamic 3D imaging are deeply discussed and some related experimental results are also demonstrated to readers. In addition, the characteristics of the 3D imaging based on structured light imaging and their developing trends in the future are pointed out as well.