초록 ▼

The method provides a means for a dentist to record the shape in situ of teeth prepared for repair. During a search mode, a high resolution grey scale image is presented on a monitor. The scan head is positioned over the prepared cavity, using this visual feedback. A trigger initiates actual 3D data

The method provides a means for a dentist to record the shape in situ of teeth prepared for repair. During a search mode, a high resolution grey scale image is presented on a monitor. The scan head is positioned over the prepared cavity, using this visual feedback. A trigger initiates actual 3D data acquisition, which is accomplished in a fraction of a second using an active triangulation principle. The result is stored in congruent memory banks in the form of a 3D profile and a pseudoplastic grey scale image representing the back-scattered contrast. The pseudoplastic contrast image is displayed instantaneously on the monitor. The point to point relationship between the pseudoplastic grey scale image and the 3D profile allows use of the grey scale display as a drawing plane for operator data verification and editing. The contour lines defining the desired restorative implant appear as an overlay to the grey scale image, while the actual positional values of points on the contour lines are stored in and retrieved from the 3D profile. The contrast-derived pseudoplastic image not only provides higher intelligibility for the operator; but data processing algorithms can also make use for each image point of both sets of data, that is the 3D profile and the contrast image.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of facilitating acquisition of data defining the three-dimensional shaped of prepared teeth and their immediate vicinity, comprising the steps of: displaying on a video display a live image from a scan head, manually orienting the scan head relative to the prepared teeth while observing the

A method of facilitating acquisition of data defining the three-dimensional shaped of prepared teeth and their immediate vicinity, comprising the steps of: displaying on a video display a live image from a scan head, manually orienting the scan head relative to the prepared teeth while observing the image of the teeth on said video display, thereafter generating from data produced by said scan head in a selected orientation corresponding depth and contrast images, and thereafter processing said depth image based on said contrast image. An apparatus, comprising manually positionable scan head means for utilizing active triangulation to generate data representing a running sequence of images of a prepared tooth and its immediate neighborhood, means operable during a search mode when said scan head means is being manually positioned for cancelling from said data artifacts generated by said triangulation so each of said images in said sequence is an uncluttered high resolution image, and means operable during an acquisition mode immediately following said search mode for acquiring and storing a subset of said data corresponding to a selected said image of said sequence occurring at a given point in time. In a method for noncontact topographic scanning of a three-dimensional contour on an object, including the steps of: directing a predetermined intensity pattern of light onto the contour so that a corresponding intensity pattern of light will be backscattered therefrom, the varying intensity pattern of said backscattered light being a measure of the three-dimensional contour on the object; directing said pattern of said backscattered light onto electro-optical light sensing means; periodically reading from said light sensor means electrical data representative of the image directed onto said sensor and displaying said electrical data on a video display; thereafter successively moving said intensity pattern relative to the object to at least two different positions and reading from said light sensor means for each said position of said pattern a respective set of electrical data, and storing each said set of electrical data; and calculating from said stored sets of electrical data a digital three-dimensional image of the contour; the improvement comprising the step of calculating from said stored sets of electrical data a digital two-dimensional contrast image of the contour and the step of continuously displaying on said video display said two-dimensional contrast image, said contrast image being for each point on the contour the difference between the respective backscattered light intensities detected by said light sensing means for illumination of said point with maximum and minimum light intensities of said pattern. In an apparatus for noncontact topographic scanning of a three-dimensional contour on an object, including: light source means for generating light and means for directing light from said light source means onto the contour; pattern generating means disposed in the path of the light from said light source for imparting to said light a predefined pattern of intensity; light sensor mans at a predetermined location; and means for directing light backscattered from said contour onto said light sensing means; the improvement comprising wherein said pattern generating means includes a liquid crystal cell having therein a liquid crystal material through which light traveling from said light source means to said object passes, said liquid crystal cell having electrode means responsive to electric stimulation for generating transparent regions and opaque regions in said liquid crystal material in the form of said predefined pattern. In an apparatus for noncontact topographic scanning of a three-dimensional contour on an object, including: light source means for generating light and means for directing light from said light source means onto the contour; pattern generating means disposed in the path of light from said light source means for imparting to said light a predefined intensity pattern; electro-optical light sensor means at a predetermined location and means for periodically reading from said sensor means at a frame rate respective sets of electrical data which each represent a respective image of light intensity impinging on said sensor means; and means for directing light reflected from the contour onto said light sensing means; the improvement comprising wherein said pattern generating means includes means for selectively effecting oscillatory movement of said intensity pattern in a direction substantially perpendicular to a path of travel of light through said pattern generating means, said oscillatory movement being effected at a frequency which is an integer multiple of said frame rate of said sensor means.