Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- moving a probe in proximity to an object through relative movement between the probe and the object, wherein the probe provides light to the object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through a plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture;
determining the intensity of light received by more than one of the light receivers; and
measuring the optical characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object and includes at least first and second measurements with the probe at first and second distances from the object;
wherein light from the one or more of the first or second light receivers is coupled to one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light intensity received by the one or more sensors.
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Accused Products
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 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.
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Citations
134 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe in proximity to an object through relative movement between the probe and the object, wherein the probe provides light to the object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through a plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture;
determining the intensity of light received by more than one of the light receivers; and
measuring the optical characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object and includes at least first and second measurements with the probe at first and second distances from the object;
wherein light from the one or more of the first or second light receivers is coupled to one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light intensity received by the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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7. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards an object through relative movement between the probe and the object, wherein light is emitted by the probe onto the object, and light is received from the object by the probe;
during the step of moving the probe towards the object, taking one or more first measurements;
when the probe is near the object, taking one or more second measurements;
based on the first and second measurements, determining optical characteristics of the object including one or more of the characteristics of the group consisting of reflected surface color spectrum, bulk material color spectrum, gloss, translucency, fluorescence, and surface texture;
wherein, as part of the first and/or second measurements, light is coupled to one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light intensity received by the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
generating first data corresponding to characteristics of the type of object being measured;
comparing the first data with the determined optical characteristics; and
assessing a condition of the object based on the comparison.
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12. The method of claim 11, wherein the condition comprises a condition relating to a subsurface feature of the object.
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13. The method of claim 7, wherein color spectrum data is adjusted based on determined gloss data.
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14. The method of claim 7, wherein color spectrum data is adjusted based on determined translucency data.
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15. The method of claim 7, wherein color spectrum data is adjusted based on determined gloss and translucency data.
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59. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second measurements include measurements with the probe at first and second distances from the object.
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60. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one signal comprises a digital signal.
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61. The method of claim 60, wherein the digital signal comprises a TTL or CMOS digital signal.
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62. The method of claim 7, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the optical characteristics are determined based on measuring a period of a plurality of digital signals produced by a plurality of sensors.
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63. The method of claim 7, wherein the signal comprises an asynchronous signal of a frequency dependent upon the intensity of the received light.
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64. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a plurality of light to frequency converter sensing elements.
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65. The method of claim 7, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of filter portions having a wavelength dependent optical transmission property.
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66. The method of claim 7, wherein the optical characteristics comprise a spectral analysis based on light received from the object.
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67. The method of claim 7, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of cut-off filter elements.
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68. The method of claim 7, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the filter comprises a filter grid.
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69. The method of claim 7, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the received light is spectrally analyzed without using a diffraction grating.
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16. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards an object through relative movement between the probe and the object, wherein light from one or more light sources is directed from the probe to the object;
during the step of moving the probe towards the object, taking first measurements;
when the probe is near the object, taking second measurements;
based on the first and second measurements, determining optical characteristics of the object including one or more of the characteristics of the group consisting of reflected surface color spectrum, bulk material color spectrum, gloss, translucency, fluorescence, and surface texture; and
storing data indicative of the determined optical characteristics in a data base;
wherein, as part of the first and/or second measurements, light is coupled to one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light intensity received by the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
capturing an image of the object with a camera; and
storing the captured image in the data base.
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18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of correlating the data indicative of the determined optical characteristics with the captured image, wherein the captured image includes indicia of the location at which the optical characteristics were determined.
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19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
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postureizing the object into at least first and second regions;
determining optical characteristics of the object in the first and second regions;
correlating data indicative of the determined optical characteristics in the first and second regions with the captured image, wherein the captured image includes indicia of the first and second regions.
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20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of preparing a second object based on the determined optical characteristics.
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21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of transmitting data indicative of the determined optical characteristics to a remote location, and preparing a second object based on the determined optical characteristics at the remote location.
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22. The method of claim 17, wherein the camera is positioned in the probe.
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23. The method of claim 17, wherein the light source and light receivers comprise fiber optics.
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24. The method of claim 16, wherein the object comprises a dental object.
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25. The method of claim 16, wherein the probe is coupled to a dental chair adapted to hold the probe during a time when the probe is not taking measurements.
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26. The method of claim 16, wherein the probe includes a removable tip.
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27. The method of claim 16, wherein the probe is covered by a removable shield.
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28. The method of claim 27, wherein the shield is disposable.
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29. The method of claim 16, wherein data indicative of the determined optical characteristics is coupled to a material preparation device, wherein the material preparation device prepares materials based on the determined optical characteristics.
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30. The method of claim 16, wherein the determined optical characteristics include a specular-included spectrum and a specular-excluded spectrum, wherein the specular-included spectrum substantially includes light specularly reflected from the object, and wherein the specular-excluded substantially excludes light specularly reflected from the object.
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70. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second measurements include measurements with the probe at first and second distances from the object.
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71. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one signal comprises a digital signal.
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72. The method of claim 71, wherein the digital signal comprises a TTL or CMOS digital signal.
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73. The method of claim 16, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the optical characteristics are determined based on measuring a period of a plurality of digital signals produced by a plurality of sensors.
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74. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal comprises an asynchronous signal of a frequency dependent upon the intensity of the received light.
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75. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a plurality of light to frequency converter sensing elements.
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76. The method of claim 16, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of filter portions having a wavelength dependent optical transmission property.
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77. The method of claim 16, wherein the optical characteristics comprise a spectral analysis based on light received from the object.
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78. The method of claim 16, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of cut-off filter elements.
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79. The method of claim 16, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the filter comprises a filter grid.
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80. The method of claim 16, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the received light is spectrally analyzed without using a diffraction grating.
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31. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards an object through relative movement between the probe and the object, wherein light from one or more light sources is emitted from the probe to the object;
receiving light from the object with a plurality of light receivers on the probe, wherein the receivers have numerical apertures and sizes sufficient to receive light indicative of a specular-included spectrum and a specular-excluded spectrum, wherein the specular-included spectrum substantially includes light specularly reflected from the object, and wherein the specular-excluded substantially excludes light specularly reflected from the object;
wherein light from one or more of the light receivers is coupled to one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light intensity received by the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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32. An apparatus for measuring optical characteristics of an object with a probe as the probe is moved towards the object through relative movement between the probe and the object, comprising:
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a probe having one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers, wherein the probe provides light to the surface of the object from the one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through the plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture;
sensors coupled to receive light from the light receivers, wherein one or more sensors of the sensors generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light intensity received by the one or more sensors;
a processor coupled to receive data from the sensors;
wherein the processor makes a plurality of measurements and determines data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object based on the data received from the sensors, wherein the measurements include at least first and second measurements with the probe at first and second distances from the object. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101)
wherein, based on the first and second measurements, the processor determines data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object including one or more of the characteristics of the group consisting of reflected surface color spectrum, bulk material color spectrum, gloss, translucency, fluorescence, and surface texture.
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40. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object are coupled to a device for preparing a second object based on the determined optical characteristics.
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41. The apparatus of claim 32, further means for transmitting data indicative of the determined optical characteristics to a remote location, wherein a second object based on the determined optical characteristics is prepared at the remote location.
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42. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the processor compares the determined optical characteristics with first data corresponding to characteristics of the type of object being measured, and the processor assesses a condition of the object based on the comparison.
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43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the condition comprises a condition relating to a subsurface feature of the object.
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44. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising an audio circuit for providing audio information, wherein the audio information provides information regarding the operation or status of the probe.
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45. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising an audio circuit for providing audio information, wherein the audio information provides information regarding the status of the optical characteristics determination process.
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92. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least one signal comprises a digital signal.
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93. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the digital signal comprises a TTL or CMOS digital signal.
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94. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the optical characteristics are measured based on measuring a period of a plurality of digital signals produced by a plurality of sensors.
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95. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the signal comprises an asynchronous signal of a frequency dependent upon the intensity of the received light.
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96. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a plurality of light to frequency converter sensing elements.
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97. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of filter portions having a wavelength dependent optical transmission property.
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98. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the optical characteristics comprise a spectral analysis based on light received from the object.
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99. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the filter comprises a plurality of cut-off filter elements.
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100. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the filter comprises a filter grid.
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101. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the light passes through a filter prior to being coupled to one or more of the sensors, wherein the received light is spectrally analyzed without using a diffraction grating.
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46. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards an object through relative movement between the probe and the object, wherein light from one or more light sources is emitted from the probe to the object;
receiving light from the object with a plurality of light receivers on the probe, wherein the receivers have numerical apertures and sizes to receive light indicative of a specular-included spectrum and a specular-only spectrum, wherein the specular-included spectrum substantially includes light specularly and diffusely reflected from the object, and wherein the specular-only spectrum substantially consists of light specularly reflected from the object;
wherein light from one or more of the light receivers is coupled to one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light intensity received by the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112)
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47. A method of quantifying the color of an object comprising the steps of positioning a probe near the object, wherein light from one or more light sources is emitted from the probe to the object, and receiving light from the object with a plurality of light receivers on the probe of at least two different numerical apertures, wherein a reflected color spectrum of the object is measured and translucency and gloss of the object are measured, wherein the translucency and gloss measurement are used to adjust the color spectrum measurement to compensate for translucency and gloss of the object;
wherein light from one or more of the light receivers is coupled to one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light intensity received by the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123)
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48. A method of quantifying the color of an object comprising the steps of positioning a probe near the object, wherein light from one or more light sources is emitted from the probe to the object, and receiving light from the object with a plurality of light receivers on the probe of at least two different numerical apertures, wherein a reflected color spectrum of the object is measured and gloss of the object is measured, wherein the gloss measurement is used to adjust the color spectrum measurement to compensate for gloss of the object;
wherein light from one or more of the light receivers is coupled to one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light intensity received by the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134)
Specification