Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object
First Claim
1. A spectrometer apparatus for determining a characteristic of an object or material comprising:
- one or more sensors receiving light from the object or material, wherein the one or more sensors generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light received from the object or material;
a bias light source, wherein the bias light source controllably provides light to one or more of the sensors that is not received from the object or material; and
a processor coupled to receive the at least one signal, wherein the processor determines the characteristic based on the at least one signal.
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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 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.
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Citations
82 Claims
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1. A spectrometer apparatus for determining a characteristic of an object or material comprising:
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one or more sensors receiving light from the object or material, wherein the one or more sensors generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light received from the object or material;
a bias light source, wherein the bias light source controllably provides light to one or more of the sensors that is not received from the object or material; and
a processor coupled to receive the at least one signal, wherein the processor determines the characteristic based on the at least one signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A spectrometer apparatus for determining a characteristic of an object or material comprising:
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one or more sensors receiving light from the object or material, wherein the one or more sensors generate at least one output signal based on the light received from the object or material;
a bias light source, wherein the bias light source controllably provides light to one or more of the sensors that is not received from the object or material; and
a processor coupled to receive the at least one signal, wherein the processor determines the characteristic based on the at least one signal. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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62. The apparatus of claim 0, wherein the photo detector comprises a photo diode array.
Specification