Desktop three-dimensional scanner for dental use provided with two-axis motion unit in which camera and projector are coupled to unit for changing horizontal axis of rotation of stage

• US 9,737,381 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DOF Inc.
• Original Assignee: DOF Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Youngjong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): MESA, JOSE M
• Application Number:
  US14/404,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20150109424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 348 50
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 9/006 projecting one or more stripes or patterns on the teeth
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/24 for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2545 with one projection direction and several detection directions, e.g. stereo
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/54 Revolving an optical measuring instrument around a body
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0004 Supports G01B5/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/275 from 3D object models, e.g. computer-generated stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

In a desktop three-dimensional scanner for dental use of the related art, a two-axis rotation motion unit, on which a target object can be placed and rotated in order to image the entire shape of the target object, is coupled to the scanner, and thus, when a subject is placed on the imaging stage and is rotated along the horizontal axis of rotation of the stage, the subject is dropped from the stage by gravity after being inclined, and accordingly, additional fixing means or a receiving jig should be placed on the stage together with the subject to prevent same. In such a case, inconvenience is caused because the target objects to be scanned have various shapes and the fixing means or receiving jigs should fit the shapes thereof. According to one embodiment of the desktop three-dimensional scanner for dental user of the present invention, a camera and a projector are provided on the unit for changing the horizontal axis of rotation of the imaging stage, and thus a target object does not have to be inclined during the scanning process and dental prostheses of various shapes can be three-dimensionally scanned even without additional fixing means or a receiving jig.

Claims

1. A desktop three-dimensional scanner for dental use, comprising:

a camera;

a projector;

a mounting base on which the camera and the projector are mounted;

a stage;

a control operator;

a first axis motion driver driving the mounting base to rotate about a horizontal rotation axis; and

a second axis motion driver driving the stage to rotate about a vertical rotation axis,

wherein the mounting base is installed to be rotatable around the horizontal rotation axis which is parallel to an upper surface of the stage,

wherein the first axis motion driver is independently provided from the second axis motion driver, thereby the rotation about the vertical rotation axis of the stage capable of being simultaneously performed with the rotation about the horizontal rotation axis of the mounting base, and

wherein the control operator is configured to

control the camera, the projector, the first axis motion driver and the second axis motion driver to rotate the mounting base while irradiating scanning pattern light onto a target object to be scanned which is provided on the stage, through the projector and to implement a three-dimensional digital model of the target object.

2. The desktop three-dimensional scanner for dental use of claim 1, wherein the projector is configured to irradiate visible rays.

3. The desktop three-dimensional scanner for dental use of claim 1, wherein the projector is configured to irradiate laser beams.