Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object

• US 20030011768A1
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alan R. Loudermilk, Russell W. Jung, Wayne D. Jung
• Inventors: Jung, Russell W., Loudermilk, Alan R., Jung, Wayne D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,870,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/326
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0233 Optical standards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/247 Hygienic covers, i.e. for covering the sensor or apparatus during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/10 Supports for artificial teeth for transport or for comparison of the colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/04 Optical or mechanical part supplementary adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0411 using focussing or collimating elements, i.e. lenses or mirrors; Aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0437 using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators, spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0474 Diffusers cavities G01J2001/0481
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/06 Restricting the angle of incident light
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0205 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0208 using focussing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or mirrors; performing aberration correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0216 using light concentrators or collectors or condensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0227 using notch filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0229 using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators or spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0251 Colorimeters making use of an integrating sphere
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0259 Monolithic
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0278 Control or determination of height or angle information for sensors or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0283 : using a charging unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 : Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 : Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/508 : measuring the colour of teeth
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/51 : using colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/513 : having fixed filter-detector pairs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/474 : Details of optical heads therefor, e.g. using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/57 : Measuring gloss
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/1205 : Testing spectral properties
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/17 : Apparatus characterised by positioning means or by means responsive to positioning

Abstract

Optical characteristic measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other optical characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics preferably are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light from the surface of the object/tooth being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object/tooth being measured. Under processor control, the optical characteristics measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence, gloss and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention. A method of producing dental prostheses based on measured data also is disclosed. Measured data also may be stored and/or organized as part of a patient data base. Such methods and implements may be desirably utilized for purposes of detecting and preventing counterfeiting or the like.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

moving a probe in proximity to an object, wherein the probe provides light to a surface of the object and receives light from the object, wherein light is provided from the probe by a light source and light is received by one or more light receivers, wherein the light source and each of the one or more light receivers define a critical height from the surface below which no specularly reflected light from the light source is received by the one or more light receivers;

determining the intensity of light received by the one or more light receivers;

measuring the optical characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object; and

determining data indicative of whether a cable coupled between the probe and a unit for measuring the optical characteristics is under a condition of flex, wherein the data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object is adjusted based on the determined data.