초록 ▼

Apparatus for digitizing the contour of a three-dimensional surface of an object includes a handle, a probe carried by the handle and movable along three independent axes to contact sample points on the three-dimensional surface, and a positional sensor for sensing the position of the handle along t

Apparatus for digitizing the contour of a three-dimensional surface of an object includes a handle, a probe carried by the handle and movable along three independent axes to contact sample points on the three-dimensional surface, and a positional sensor for sensing the position of the handle along the three axes and for outputting positional values. The probe includes an arm deflectable during the movement of the probe, which deflections are sensed by a sensor. A digital processor processes the positional values only when one of the deflection sensors senses a deflection in its respective arm above a predetermined threshold value, and modifies the positional values by the deflection values.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for digitizing a dental surface of a subject, comprising: a handle graspable by the user; mounting means for mounting the handle with respect to the subject comprising a mounting member to be clamped between upper and lower teeth of the subject; a probe connected to and carried by the hand

Apparatus for digitizing a dental surface of a subject, comprising: a handle graspable by the user; mounting means for mounting the handle with respect to the subject comprising a mounting member to be clamped between upper and lower teeth of the subject; a probe connected to and carried by the handle and movable thereby along three independent axes to contact sample points on said three-dimensional surface; positional sensor means for sensing the position of the handle along the three axes and for outputting positional values corresponding thereto; said probe including an arm deflectable along first and second ones of said three axes during the movement of the probe along the three-dimensional surface by the handle; first and second deflection sensor means for sensing the deflection of said arm along said first and second axes, respectively, and for outputting deflection values corresponding thereto; and a digital processor including means for processing said positional values only when one of said deflection sensors senses a deflection in its respective arm above a predetermined threshold value, and means for modifying said positional values by said deflection values to output digital surface-location values representing the location of the sample points on said three-dimensional surface during the movement of the probe therealong by said handle.