Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object

• US 6,381,017 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: LJ Laboratories L.L.C.
• Inventors: Jung, Wayne D., Jung, Russell W., Loudermilk, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, F. L
• Application Number:
  US09/968,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20020018209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• Field of Search: 356/402, 356/405, 356/406, 356/407, 356/243.1, 356/243.5, 433/26, 433/29, 433/203.1
• US Class Current: 356/419
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0003 Making bridge-work, inlays, implants or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/0004 Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1234 Continuously variable IF [CVIF]; Wedge type
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1239 and separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0278 Control or determination of height or angle information for sensors or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• 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 2021/6463 Optics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6484 Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/251 Colorimeters; Construction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/474 Details of optical heads therefor, e.g. using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6486 Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 : the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture

Abstract

Color/optical characteristics measuring systems and methods are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics/elements are spaced apart from a central source fiber optic/element and received light reflected from the surface of the object is 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 being measured. Under processor control, the color measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence 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.

Claims

1. A method of quantifying the optical properties of an object or material using a protective implement, comprising the steps of:

applying the protective implement to a tip of a probe, wherein the tip of the probe having the protective implement is directable to come into contact or near contact with the object or material;

directing the tip of the probe having the protective implement towards a calibration standard, wherein at least one calibration measurement is made of the calibration standard, wherein, as part of the calibration measurement, light from at least one light source is provided to the calibration standard via the protective implement and light returned from the calibration standard is provided to a color measuring system via the protective implement;

directing the tip of the probe having the protective implement towards the object or material, wherein at least one optical measurement is made of the object or material, wherein, as part of the optical measurement, light from the at least one light source is provided to the object or material via the protective implement and light returned from the object or material is provided to the color measuring system via the protective implement;

generating optical measurement output data indicative of the optical properties of the object or material based on the calibration measurement and the optical measurement, wherein the protective implement provides an optical effect during the optical measurement, wherein the calibration measurement is utilized to calibrate out the optical effect provided by the protective implement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the color measuring system comprises a tri-stimulus color measuring system or a spectrometer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the color measuring system comprises a spectrometer, wherein the spectrometer comprises a plurality of filter elements positioned over a plurality of sensors.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a plurality of light to frequency converter elements.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of filter elements comprise a plurality of bandpass or cut-off filter elements.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of other elements comprises a color gradient filter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein light is provided to the object or material via one or more light source fiber optics.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein light is provided to the color measurement system via one or more light receiver fiber optics.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the protective implement comprises a shield.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the shield comprises plastic or paper.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the shield is disposable.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the shield is cleanable or reusable.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein light returned from the object or material is provided to the color measuring system via a window in the protective implement.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the window comprises a window of an optically transparent material.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the window comprises a hole.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical effect comprises distortion.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical effect is a function of manufacturing reproducibility of the protective implement.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the calibration measurement is used to calibrate out distortion introduced by the protective implement.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the protective implement serves to prevent contamination.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the object or material comprises part of a human body.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the object or material comprises a dental object.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the protective implement is removably secured to the probe tip, wherein the protective implement is removable for disposal or cleaning.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein audio information is generated, wherein the audio information is indicative of the status of the calibration measurement or the optical measurement.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical characteristics output data are output in the form of a closest match or matches to one or a plurality of sets of stored shade guide values.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the object or material comprises a dental object, wherein the one or a plurality of sets of stored shade guide values comprise Vita shade guide values.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or a plurality of sets of stored shade guide values comprise Pantone color reference values.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein a memory stores data corresponding to a plurality of shade guide systems, each of the plurality of shade guide systems having a plurality of shade guide values, wherein the optical characteristics output data are output in the form of a closest match or matches to one or more of the shade guide values in the plurality of shade guide systems.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the optical characteristics data are output in the form of the closest match to one of the shade guide values in the plurality of shade guide systems.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical characteristics output data are used to electronically output a proposed recipe of materials for preparing a second object or material.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the optical characteristics output data are used to electronically output a proposed recipe of materials and instruction information for preparing a second object or material.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of optical measurements are made, wherein the color measurement system includes at least a processor and a memory, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

storing data resulting from the plurality of optical measurements in the memory;

analyzing the stored data resulting from the plurality of optical measurements with the processor, whereat the processor analyzes whether the probe was moved with respect to the object or material between one or more of the plurality of optical measurements; and

based on the analysis of whether the probe was moved with respect to the object or material, selectively generating the optical characteristics output data or rejecting the plurality of optical measurements.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the processor analyzes whether probe was held perpendicular to the object or material.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the processor analyzes whether the probe was moved angularly or laterally with respect to the object or material.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of optical measurements are made, wherein the color measurement system includes at least a processor and a memory, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

storing data resulting from the plurality of optical measurements in the memory;

defining an acceptance range for values resulting from the optical measurements;

analyzing the stored data resulting from the plurality of optical measurements with the processor, wherein the processor produces measurement values from the stored data and analyzes whether the values resulting from the optical measurements are within the acceptance range; and

based on the analysis of whether the values resulting from the optical measurements are within the acceptance range, selectively generating optical characteristics output data or rejecting the plurality of optical measurements.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the processor analyzes whether probe was held perpendicular to the object or material.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the processor analyzes whether the probe was moved angularly or laterally with respect to the object or material.