Image processing system and camera

• US 20060251408A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Konno, Osamu, Komiya, Yasuhiro, Wada, Toru, Sato, Nobumasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,826,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0224 using polarising or depolarising elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0272 Handheld
• 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 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/501 Colorimeters using spectrally-selective light sources, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/508 measuring the colour of teeth
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/51 using colour filters

Abstract

The image processing system is applied to dentistry, for example, and performs photography of the teeth of a patient while causing a plurality of illumination light LEDs of different wavelengths to emit light by means of a photography device when producing a crown repair or denture of the patient, whereby image data are acquired. The image data are transmitted to a dental filing system constituting a processing device where color reproduction data are determined through computation. In addition, color reproduction data are transmitted to the dental technician'"'"'s office via a public switched network. Therefore, a repair material compound ratio calculation database is searched and the compound data for a material that matches the hue of the patient'"'"'s teeth are found, whereby a crown repair or denture or the like that very closely matches the color of the patient'"'"'s teeth is produced.

Claims

1. An image processing system that comprises an image photography section including a photography optical system for forming an object image, an image pickup element section for outputting an image signal by picking up the object image formed by the photography optical system, and a photography operation section for performing an image photography-related operation, the image photography section being constituted capable of acquiring a spectroscopic image,

the system further comprising:

mode display means for displaying mode-related information each corresponding to a plurality of modes that the image processing system can adopt.

2. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes that the image processing system can adopt include a monitor mode for monitoring the object image and a capture mode for capturing the object image.

3. The image processing system according to claim 2, wherein the capture mode is a spectroscopic image capture mode for capturing the object image as a spectroscopic image.

4. The image processing system according to claim 2, wherein the capture mode is an RGB capture mode for capturing the object image as an RGB image.

5. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an illumination light source for illuminating an object,

wherein the plurality of modes that the image processing system can adopt include an illumination light lit mode that illuminates the object by turning on the illumination light source and an illumination light unlit mode in which the illumination light source is not lit.

6. The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the spectroscopic image capture mode further comprises a high-speed reading mode that reads a spectroscopic image more rapidly than normal reading.

7. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an illumination light source for illuminating an object that comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements that perform light emission of a plurality of different spectroscopic distribution characteristics that are mutually independent in at least the range of visible light, and mode selection means for selecting a desired mode from among a plurality of modes that the image processing system can adopt,

wherein the plurality of modes include a plurality of LED light emission modes that cause the plurality of light-emitting elements to emit light in a plurality of different aspects, and a plurality of capture modes that capture a spectroscopic image in a plurality of different aspects each corresponding to the plurality of LED light emission modes; and

when any of the plurality of LED light emission modes is selected by the mode selection means, the capture mode that corresponds to the selected LED light emission mode is automatically selected.

8. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes that the image processing system can adopt include a full capture mode that captures the whole of the object and a partial capture mode that captures a portion of the object.

9. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination unit that can be attached to and detached from the image photography section,

wherein the mode display means is capable of displaying the attached/detached state of the illumination unit.

10. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination unit that can be attached to and detached from the image photography section,

wherein the mode display means is able to display the type of the illumination unit when the illumination unit is mounted.

11. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an external operation section that can be connected to the image photography section constituted to allow an operation related to the image photography section to be performed from outside the image photography section,

wherein the mode display means is capable of displaying a state to indicate whether the external operation section is connected and operable.

12. The image processing system according to claim 11, wherein the external operation section is a foot switch constituted to be able to be operated by foot.

13. The image processing system according to claim 11, wherein the external operation section is connected via a network.

14. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes that the image processing system can adopt include a measurement mode that performs temperature detection, a measurement mode that performs pulse detection, a measurement mode that performs auscultation, and a measurement mode that performs ranging;

and

the mode display means is constituted capable of displaying, by means of icons that correspond to the respective measurement modes, whether the respective measurement modes for temperature detection, pulse detection, auscultation, and ranging are effective.

15. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination light source for illuminating an object that comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements that perform light emission of a plurality of different spectroscopic distribution characteristics that are mutually independent,

wherein the plurality of modes that the image processing system can adopt include LED light emission modes of a plurality of types that cause the plurality of light-emitting elements to emit light in a plurality of different aspects;

and

the mode display means is constituted capable of displaying the types of selectable LED light emission mode and wavelength information for each of the LED light emission mode types.

16. The image processing system according to claim 15, wherein the selectable LED light emission modes include at least one of an infrared mode in which infrared light is emitted and an ultraviolet mode in which ultraviolet light is emitted.

17. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an illumination light source for illuminating an object;

a first polarizing plate that can be inserted in the light path from the illumination light source to the object; and

a second polarizing plate that can be inserted in the light path from the object to the image pickup element section,

wherein the mode display means is constituted capable of displaying whether the first polarizing plate and second polarizing plate are inserted in the respective light paths.

18. The image processing system according to claim 17, wherein the first polarizing plate and second polarizing plate are constituted capable of relative rotation;

and

the mode display means is constituted capable of displaying the relative rotation angle between the first polarizing plate and the second polarizing plate.

19. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the mode display means is constituted capable of displaying the next operating procedure of a serial operation of the image processing system.

20. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising operation instruction means for instructing the next operating procedure of the serial operation of the image processing system.

21. The image processing system according to claim 20, wherein the operation instruction means instructs the next operating procedure by causing the mode display means to display the next operating procedure.

22. The image processing system according to claim 20, wherein the operation instruction means is constituted comprising progress status display means for displaying which operation of which stage in the serial operation of the image processing system is being performed.

23. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the mode display means is constituted capable of displaying the progress status with respect to which operation of which stage in the serial operation of the image processing system is being performed.

24. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising set state display means for displaying the set state of the image processing system.

25. The image processing system according to claim 24, wherein the mode display means also serve as the set state display means.

26. The image processing system according to claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the information displayed on the mode display means and the information displayed on the set state display means can be transferred to an external device as image-data additional data.

27. The image processing system according to claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the information displayed on the mode display means and the information displayed on the set state display means can be transferred to an external device as image-data additional data.

28. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising warning reporting means for issuing a warning with respect to the image processing system.

29. The image processing system according to claim 24, further comprising warning reporting means for issuing a warning with respect to the image processing system.

30. The image processing system according to claim 28, wherein the warning reporting means issues at least one of a warning report when leaked light is detected, a warning report when there is a positional shift during photography, and a warning report when the photography optical system is dim.

31. The image processing system according to claim 29, wherein the warning reporting means issues at least one of a warning report when leaked light is detected, a warning report when there is a positional shift during photography, and a warning report when the photography optical system is dim

32. The image processing system according to claim 28, wherein the warning reporting means issues the warning report by displaying a warning on the mode display means.

33. The image processing system according to claim 29, wherein the warning reporting means issues the warning report by displaying a warning on the mode display means.

34. The image processing system according to claim 28, wherein the warning reporting means issues the warning report by displaying a warning on the set state display means.

35. The image processing system according to claim 29, wherein the warning reporting means issues the warning report by displaying a warning on the set state display means.

36. A camera that comprises an image photography section comprising a photography optical system for forming an object image, an image pickup element section for outputting an image signal by picking up the object image formed by the photography optical system, and a photography operation section for performing an image photography-related operation, the image photography section being constituted capable of acquiring a spectroscopic image,

wherein the camera is constituted capable of adopting a plurality of capture modes for capturing an object image in a plurality of aspects;

and

the photography operation section is constituted comprising photographic range setting means for setting the photographic range of the object.

37. The camera according to claim 36, wherein the plurality of capture modes include at least one of a spectroscopic image capture mode for capturing an object image as a spectroscopic image, and an RGB capture mode for capturing the object image as an RGB image.

38. The camera according to claim 36, wherein the photographic range setting means is constituted comprising manual setting means for manually setting the photographic range.

39. The camera according to claim 36, wherein the photographic range setting means is constituted comprising automatic setting means for automatically setting the photographic range.

40. The camera according to claim 36, further comprising remote instruction means which is constituted capable of issuing an instruction with respect to the image photography section from outside the image photography section and which can be mounted on the image photography section,

wherein the photographic range setting means sets the photographic range on the basis of instruction information relating to the photographic range from the remote instruction means.

41. The camera according to claim 39, further comprising measurement procedure instruction means for instructing a measurement procedure employing the camera,

wherein the automatic setting means automatically sets the photographic range in accordance with the measurement procedure instructed by the measurement procedure instruction means.

42. The camera according to claim 39, further comprising autofocus means for measuring the range to the object and outputting AF information,

wherein the automatic setting means automatically set the photographic range in accordance with the AF information that is output by the autofocus means.

43. The camera according to claim 36, wherein one capture mode is set from the plurality of capture modes with relation to the photographic range set by the photographic range setting means.

44. The camera according to claim 36, wherein the photographic range setting means is constituted capable of setting, as the photographic range, two or more of dental enlargement photography, full jaw photography, complexion photography, and full body photography.

45. The camera according to claim 44, wherein the image photography section is constituted to acquire a spectroscopic image when the photographic range set by the photographic range setting means is dental enlargement photography and to acquire a normal photographic image when the photographic range set by the photographic range setting means is a photographic range other than dental enlargement photography.

46. The camera according to claim 36, wherein the photography operation section is constituted comprising guide means for positioning the photographic range.

47. The camera according to claim 46, wherein the guide means is constituted comprising guide display means for clearly displaying the position of the photographic range by using text or marks.

48. The camera according to claim 36, further comprising photographic range display means for displaying the photographic range set by the photographic range setting means.

49. The camera according to claim 48, wherein the photographic range display means is constituted capable of displaying the photographic ranges that can be set by the photographic range setting means.

50. The camera according to claim 48, wherein the photographic range display means is constituted capable of clearly displaying the photographic range set by the photographic range setting means by using text or marks.

51. The camera according to claim 36, further comprising an illumination light source for illuminating the object,

wherein ON/OFF operation of the illumination light source is constituted to be performed with relation to the photographic range set by the photographic range setting means.

52. A camera that comprises an image photography section comprising an illumination light source for illuminating an object, a photography optical system for forming an object image, an image pickup element section for outputting an image signal by picking up the object image formed by the photography optical system, and a photography operation section for performing an image photography-related operation, the image photography section being constituted capable of acquiring a spectroscopic image,

wherein the photography operation performed by the image photography section is constituted capable of performing an ON/OFF operation of the illumination light source in the event of a photography operation in which a spectroscopic image is not acquired.

53. The camera according to claim 52, wherein the photography operation section is constituted comprising photographic range setting means for setting the photographic range of the object;

and

the ON/OFF operation of the illumination light source is constituted to be performed with relation to the photographic range set by the photographic range setting means.

54. The camera according to claim 52, further comprising an external light source, for illuminating an object, which can be detachably mounted on the image photography section,

wherein the ON/OFF operation of the illumination light source is constituted to be performed upon the attachment/detachment of the external light source.

55. A camera that comprises an image photography section comprising an illumination light source for illuminating an object, a photography optical system for forming an object image, an image pickup element section for outputting an image signal by picking up the object image formed by the photography optical system, and a photography operation section for performing an image photography-related operation, the image photography section being constituted capable of acquiring a spectroscopic image,

wherein at least one of the illumination light source, the photography optical system, the image pickup element section, and the photography operation section is constituted as a detachable unit.

56. The camera according to claim 55, wherein the detachable unit is constituted comprising at least one of at least a portion of the illumination light source, at least a portion of the photography optical system, and at least a portion of the image pickup element section.

57. The camera according to claim 55, further comprising temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the illumination light source.

58. The camera according to claim 56, further comprising:

an attachment adapter one end of which is attached to the object and which is constituted to be able to be mounted on the detachable unit.

59. The camera according to claim 58, wherein the attachment adapter is constituted comprising a light-shielding function that prevents external light from being irradiated onto the object.

60. The camera according to claim 56, wherein the detachable unit is constituted further comprising spectroscopic detection means.

61. A camera that comprises:

an image photography section comprising an illumination light source for illuminating an object, a photography optical system for forming an object image, an image pickup element section for outputting an image signal by picking up the object image formed by the photography optical system, and a photography operation section for performing an image photography-related operation, the image photography section being constituted capable of acquiring a spectroscopic image; and

an external operation section, for performing a photography-related operation from outside the image photography section, that can be connected to the image photography section.

62. The camera according to claim 61, wherein the external operation section is a foot switch constituted to be able to be operated by foot.

63. The camera according to claim 61, wherein the external operation section is speech instruction means for issuing an instruction to perform an operation by means of speech.

64. The camera according to claim 61, wherein the external operation section is connected via a network.

65. The camera according to claim 61, wherein the external operation section is constituted comprising operation confirmation means for confirming the operation of the camera.

66. The camera according to claim 61, wherein the external operation section is constituted comprising photographic data confirmation means for confirming photographic data of the camera.