Spectrometer having optical unit including a randomized fiber optic implement
First Claim
1. A spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of optical sensors;
a plurality of filter elements adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors, wherein the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over one or more spectral bands;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers of the output area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least certain of the plurality of filter elements, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through at least certain of the filter elements and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors;
wherein the sensors comprise sensors that generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light intensity received by the 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 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. Low cost and small form factor spectrometers, and methods for manufacturing the same, also are disclosed.
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Citations
110 Claims
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1. A spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of optical sensors;
a plurality of filter elements adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors, wherein the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over one or more spectral bands;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers of the output area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least certain of the plurality of filter elements, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through at least certain of the filter elements and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors;
wherein the sensors comprise sensors that generate at least one signal having a frequency proportional to the light intensity received by the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of optical sensors;
a plurality of filter elements adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors, wherein the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over one or more spectral bands;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers of the output area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least certain of the plurality of filter elements, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through at least certain of the filter elements and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors;
wherein the filter elements collectively comprise a color gradient filter.
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11. A spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of optical sensors;
a plurality of filter elements adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors, wherein the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over one or more spectral bands;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers of the output area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least certain of the plurality of filter elements, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through at least certain of the filter elements and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors;
wherein the filter elements collectively comprise a filter grid.
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12. A spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of optical sensors;
a plurality of filter elements adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors, wherein the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over one or more spectral bands;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers of the output area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least certain of the plurality of filter elements, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through at least certain of the filter elements and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors;
wherein a probe having one or more light sources provides light to an object or material, wherein light from the one or more light sources is received by one or more light receivers from the object or material. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of optical sensors;
a plurality of filter elements adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors, wherein the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over one or more spectral bands;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers of the output area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least certain of the plurality of filter elements, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through at least certain of the filter elements and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors;
wherein the filter elements comprise one or more interference filters. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of optical sensors;
a plurality of filter elements adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors, wherein the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over one or more spectral bands;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers of the output area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least certain of the plurality of filter elements, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through at least certain of the filter elements and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors;
the apparatus further comprising a bias light source, wherein the bias light source provides bias light to at least certain of the sensors.
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30. A spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of optical sensors;
a plurality of filter elements adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors, wherein the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over one or more spectral bands;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers of the output area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least certain of the plurality of filter elements, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through at least certain of the filter elements and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors;
the apparatus further comprising a probe providing light to a surface of an object or material and receiving light from the object or material, wherein light is provided from the probe by at least one light source and light is received by one or more light receivers, wherein the light source and one or more of the light receivers define a critical height from the surface below which no light from the light source that is specularly reflected from the object or material is received by the one or more of the light receivers. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of optical sensors;
a plurality of filter elements adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors, wherein the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over one or more spectral bands;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein the fibers of the output area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least certain of the plurality of filter elements, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through at least certain of the filter elements and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors;
wherein the at least one input area is substantially circular in shape, wherein the output area is substantially elongated in shape. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of optical sensors;
a color gradient interference filter adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and substantially circular in shape and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers and substantially elongated in shape, wherein the fibers of the output area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least a portion of the color gradient filter, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through the color gradient filter and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A spectrometer apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of optical sensors;
a filter elements adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and substantially circular in shape and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers and substantially elongated in shape, wherein the fibers of the output area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least a portion of the filter elements, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through at least certain of the filter elements and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105)
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106. A spectrometer apparatus. comprising:
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a plurality of optical sensors;
a plurality of filter elements adapted to couple light to at least a first group of the sensors, wherein the plurality of filter elements have spectral transmission characteristics over one or more spectral bands;
an optical unit comprising at least a randomized fiber optic bundle having at least one input area comprising a plurality of fibers and an output area comprising a plurality of fibers wherein the fibers of the outlet area receive light from fibers of the at least one input area in a randomized pattern, wherein at least a portion of the output area is adapted to couple light to at least certain of the plurality of filter elements, wherein light entering the input area is transmitted to the output area, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the output area through at least certain of the filter elements and is sensed by at least certain of the sensors;
wherein light may be coupled to the input area, wherein at least first spectral data indicative of at least spectral characteristics of light coupled to the input area is generated by the sensors; and
further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the at least first spectral data is generated responsive to a temperature measurement made by the temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (107, 108, 109, 110)
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Specification