IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND CAMERA

• US 20080292295A1
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: WADA, Toru, SATO, Nobumasa, KOMIYA, Yasuhiro, KONNO, Osamu
• Granted Patent: US 7,711,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/16
• 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

An image processing system which 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. A repair material compound ratio calculation database is searched and compound data for a material that matches the hue of the patient'"'"'s teeth is retrieved, so that a crown repair or denture or the like that very closely matches the color of the patient'"'"'s teeth can be produced.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

a photography optical system which forms an object image;

an image pickup element section which outputs an image signal by picking up the object image formed by the photography optical system; and

a photography operation section which performs an image photography-related operation;

wherein the camera is operable in a plurality of image capture modes that capture an image of the object in a plurality of different aspects;

wherein the plurality of image capture modes includes a spectroscopic image mode in which a spectroscopic image of the object is captured; and

wherein the photography operation section comprises a photographic range setting section which sets a photographic range of the object.

2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of image capture modes includes 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.

3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the photographic range setting section comprises a manual setting section which manually sets the photographic range.

4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the photographic range setting section comprises an automatic setting section which automatically sets the photographic range.

5. The camera according to claim 4, further comprising a measurement procedure instruction section which instructs a measurement procedure employing the camera;

and

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

6. The camera according to claim 4, further comprising an autofocus section which measures the range to the object and outputs AF information;

and

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

7. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a remote instruction section which inputs remote instructions and which is mountable on the camera;

and

wherein the photographic range setting section sets the photographic range based on instruction information relating to the photographic range which is input via the remote instruction section.

8. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the image capture mode is set in accordance with the photographic range set by the photographic range setting section.

9. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the photographic range setting section sets, as the photographic range, at least two of:

dental enlargement photography, full jaw photography, complexion photography, and full body photography.

10. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the spectroscopic image mode is set when the photographic range set by the photographic range setting section is dental enlargement photography, and a normal photographic image mode is set when the photographic range set by the photographic range setting section is a photographic range other than dental enlargement photography.

11. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the photography operation section comprises a guide section which positions the photographic range.

12. The camera according to claim 11, wherein the guide section comprises a guide display section which displays the photographic range using at least one of text and marks.

13. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a photographic range display section which displays the photographic range set by the photographic range setting section.

14. The camera according to claim 13, wherein the photographic range display section displays a plurality of photographic ranges that can be set by the photographic range setting section.

15. The camera according to claim 13, wherein the photographic range display section displays the photographic range set by the photographic range setting section using at least one of text and marks.

16. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination light source for illuminating the object;

and

wherein ON/OFF operation of the illumination light source is performed in accordance with the photographic range set by the photographic range setting section.