Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object
First Claim
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
- moving a probe towards an object, wherein the probe provides light to an object from at least one light source, and receives light from the object through at least one light receiver, wherein the light source has a first numerical aperture during at least a portion of the movement of the probe towards the object;
moving the probe away from the object, wherein the probe provides light to the object from the at least one light source, and receives light from the object through the at least one light receiver, wherein the light source has a second numerical aperture during at least a portion of the movement of the probe away from the object;
determining the intensity of light received by the at least one light receiver during the movement of the probe towards the object and during the movement away from the object; and
measuring the optical characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object.
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Abstract
Optical characteristic measuring systems and methods for determining the color or other optical characteristics of teeth comprising a probe body (2) wherein the probe provides light to the surface of the object (20). Perimeter receiver fiber optics (102) are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light from the surface of the object (20) being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics passes 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 wherein the numerical apertures of the receiver fiber optics are different.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards an object, wherein the probe provides light to an object from at least one light source, and receives light from the object through at least one light receiver, wherein the light source has a first numerical aperture during at least a portion of the movement of the probe towards the object;
moving the probe away from the object, wherein the probe provides light to the object from the at least one light source, and receives light from the object through the at least one light receiver, wherein the light source has a second numerical aperture during at least a portion of the movement of the probe away from the object;
determining the intensity of light received by the at least one light receiver during the movement of the probe towards the object and during the movement away from the object; and
measuring the optical characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object. - 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)
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24. A method comprising the steps of:
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providing with a probe first light having a plurality of wavelengths to an object, wherein the first light is provided from a source that has a first numerical aperture;
receiving with the probe first light from the object and taking a first measurement that includes a spectral analysis of the received first light;
providing with a probe second light having a plurality of wavelengths to the object, wherein the second light is provided from a source that has a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture;
receiving with the probe second light from the object and taking a second measurement that includes a spectral analysis of the received second light; and
quantifying the optical properties of the object based on the first and second measurements. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method comprising the steps of:
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providing first light having a plurality of wavelengths to an object, wherein the first light is provided from a source that has a first numerical aperture;
receiving first light from the object and taking a first measurement that includes a spectral analysis of the received first light;
providing second light having a plurality of wavelengths to the object, wherein the second light is provided from a source that has a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture;
receiving second light from the object and taking a second measurement that includes a spectral analysis of the received second light; and
quantifying the optical properties of the object based on the first and second measurements. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification