Compact confocal dental scanning apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A handheld apparatus for scanning, the handheld apparatus comprising:
- a light source;
a transparency having a spatial pattern disposed thereon and configured to be illuminated by the light source;
a beam splitter having a first surface and a second surface and an image sensor on the second surface, wherein the transparency is bonded onto the first surface of the beam splitter and the image sensor is bonded to the second surface of the beam splitter perpendicular to the first surface to maintain stable relative position between the image sensor and the spatial pattern;
a projection/imaging optics system that is non-telecentric, comprising focusing optics and an exit pupil, the projection/imaging optics system having an optical axis;
a front tip extending from the projection/imaging optics system in the optical axis and comprising a fold mirror at a distal end of the front tip, wherein the projection/imaging optics provide a deviation from telecentricity of a chief ray between the projection/imaging optics system and the fold mirror relative to a scan field size of 3 degrees or more; and
an axial actuator coupled to the projection/imaging optics system and configured to move the projection/imaging optics system in the optical axis relative to the fold mirror.
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Abstract
Described herein are apparatuses and methods for confocal 3D scanning. The apparatus can comprise a spatial pattern disposed on a transparent base and a light source configured to provide illumination to the spatial pattern and an optical system comprising projection/imaging optics having one or more lenses and an optical axis. The projecting/imaging optics may be scanned to provide depth scanning by moving along the optical axis.
526 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A handheld apparatus for scanning, the handheld apparatus comprising:
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a light source; a transparency having a spatial pattern disposed thereon and configured to be illuminated by the light source; a beam splitter having a first surface and a second surface and an image sensor on the second surface, wherein the transparency is bonded onto the first surface of the beam splitter and the image sensor is bonded to the second surface of the beam splitter perpendicular to the first surface to maintain stable relative position between the image sensor and the spatial pattern; a projection/imaging optics system that is non-telecentric, comprising focusing optics and an exit pupil, the projection/imaging optics system having an optical axis; a front tip extending from the projection/imaging optics system in the optical axis and comprising a fold mirror at a distal end of the front tip, wherein the projection/imaging optics provide a deviation from telecentricity of a chief ray between the projection/imaging optics system and the fold mirror relative to a scan field size of 3 degrees or more; and an axial actuator coupled to the projection/imaging optics system and configured to move the projection/imaging optics system in the optical axis relative to the fold mirror. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A handheld apparatus for intraoral scanning, the handheld apparatus comprising:
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a light source; a transparency having a spatial pattern disposed thereon and configured to be illuminated by the light source; a beam splitter having a first outer surface to which the transparency is attached and a second outer surface and an image sensor on the second outer surface; a single moveable opto-mechanical module comprising an integrated projection/imaging optics system comprising focusing optics and an exit pupil, the projection/imaging optics system having an optical axis, wherein the projection/imaging optics system of the handheld apparatus is entirely integrated into the single moveable opto-mechanical module; a hollow front tip extending from the projection/imaging optics system in the optical axis and comprising a fold mirror at a distal end of the hollow front tip, wherein there is no optical surface between the exit pupil and the fold mirror in the optical axis; and an axial scanner coupled to the projection/imaging optics system and configured to move the single moveable opto-mechanical module comprising an entirety of the projection/imaging optics system in the optical axis relative to the fold mirror; wherein the projection/imaging optics system is configured to provide a deviation from telecentricity of a chief ray between the projection/imaging optics system and the fold mirror relative to a scan field size of between 3 and 10 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for three-dimensional scanning, the method comprising:
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illuminating a spatial pattern on a first side of a beam splitter and projecting the spatial pattern down an optical axis, through the beam splitter, through a projection/imaging optics system comprising focusing optics and an exit pupil, out of the exit pupil and though a hollow front tip extending from the projection/imaging optics system to a fold mirror at a distal end of the hollow front tip, without passing through an optical surface between the exit pupil and the fold mirror in the optical axis, wherein illuminating the spatial pattern comprises illuminating at least a part of a transparency that is bonded onto a first side of the beam splitter; projecting the spatial pattern on a target; transmitting reflected light from the target back through the hollow tip, into the projection/imaging optics system, through the beam splitter and into an image sensor on a second side of the beam splitter, wherein the image sensor is bonded to a second side of the beam splitter perpendicular to the first side to maintain stable relative position between the image sensor and the spatial pattern; and scanning the target by axially moving at least a portion of the projection/imaging optics system in the optical axis relative to the fold mirror. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for three-dimensional scanning of teeth in a patient'"'"'s mouth, the method comprising:
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illuminating a spatial pattern on a first side of a beam splitter and projecting the spatial pattern down an optical axis, through the beam splitter, through an integrated projection/imaging optics system comprising focusing optics and an exit pupil, out of the exit pupil and though a hollow front tip extending from the projection/imaging optics system to a fold mirror at a distal end of the hollow front tip, without passing through an optical surface between the exit pupil and the fold mirror in the optical axis, wherein the projection/imaging optics system is entirely integrated into a single moveable opto-mechanical module; projecting the spatial pattern on a target; transmitting reflected light from the target back through the hollow tip, into the projection/imaging optics system, through the beam splitter and into an image sensor on a second side of the beam splitter; and scanning the target by axially moving the single moveable opto-mechanical module comprising an entirety of the projection/imaging optics system in the optical axis relative to the fold mirror; wherein the projection/imaging optics system is configured to provide a deviation from telecentricity of a chief ray between the projection/imaging optics system and the fold mirror relative to a scan field size of between 3 and 10 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification