Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object

• US 20010038453A1
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alan R. Loudermilk, Russell W. Jung, Wayne D. Jung
• Inventors: Jung, Russell W., Loudermilk, Alan R., Jung, Wayne D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,519,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/06 Restricting the angle of incident light
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0251 Colorimeters making use of an integrating sphere
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2803 using photoelectric array detector
• 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

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.

Claims

1. An integrated, unitary spectrometer assembly, comprising:

. a substrate having thereon a plurality of optical sensors and one or more processing elements;

a plurality of filters fixedly positioned over at least a first group of the optical sensors fixedly and fixedly positioned with respect to the substrate, wherein the plurality of filters have spectral transmission characteristics over a predetermined spectrum;

an optical manifold fixedly positioned over at least certain of the plurality of filters and fixedly positioned with respect to the substrate, wherein the optical manifold has a plurality of exit windows and at least one entrance port, wherein light entering the entrance port is transmitted to an interior portion of the optical manifold, wherein at least a portion of the light is transmitted from the exit ports through at least certain of the filters for sensors by at least certain of the optical sensors;

wherein light may be coupled to the entrance port, wherein at least first spectral data corresponding to the light is generated by the one or more processing elements, wherein the spectrometer assembly is fabricate in a unitary manner on the substrate.