Apparatus and method for measuring optical characteristics of an object
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- moving a probe in proximity to an object, wherein the probe provides light to a surface of the object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through a plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture;
determining the intensity of light received by more than one of the light receivers; and
measuring the optical characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object and includes at least first and second measurements taken with the probe at first and second distances from the surface of the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Optical characteristic measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other optical characteristics of an object are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light from the surface of the object 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 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 prostheses based on measured data also is disclosed. Measured data also may be stored and/or organized as part of a data base.
155 Citations
86 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe in proximity to an object, wherein the probe provides light to a surface of the object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through a plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture; determining the intensity of light received by more than one of the light receivers; and measuring the optical characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object and includes at least first and second measurements taken with the probe at first and second distances from the surface of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards a surface of an object, wherein light is emitted by the probe onto the object, and light is received from the object by the probe; during the movement of the probe towards the surface of the object, taking one or more first measurements; when the probe is near the surface of the object, taking one or more second measurements; based on the first and second measurements, determining optical characteristics of the object including one or more of the characteristics of the group consisting of reflected surface color spectrum, bulk material color spectrum, gloss, translucency, fluorescence, and surface texture. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards a surface of an object, wherein light from one or more light sources is directed from the probe to the object; during the movement of the probe towards the surface of the object, taking one or more first measurements; when the probe is near the surface of the object, taking one or more second measurements; based on the first and second measurements, determining optical characteristics of the object including one or more of the characteristics of the group consisting of reflected surface color spectrum, bulk material color spectrum, gloss, translucency, fluorescence, and surface texture; and storing data indicative of the determined optical characteristics in a data base. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards an object, wherein light from one or more light sources is emitted from the probe to the object; receiving light from the object with a plurality of light receivers on the probe, wherein the receivers have numerical apertures and sizes to receive light indicative of a specular-included spectrum and a specular-excluded spectrum, wherein the specular-included spectrum substantially includes light specularly reflected from the object, and wherein the specular-excluded substantially excludes light specularly reflected from the object.
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32. An apparatus for measuring optical characteristics of an object with a probe as the probe is moved towards a surface of the object, comprising:
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a probe having one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers, wherein the probe provides light to the surface of the object from the one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through the plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture; sensors coupled to receive light from the light receivers; a processor coupled to receive data from the sensors; wherein the processor makes a plurality of measurements and determines data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object based on the data received from the sensors wherein the plurality of measurements include at least first and second measurements taken with the probe at first and second distances from the surface of the object. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe in proximity to an object, wherein the probe provides light to a surface of the object from one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through a plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture; determining the intensity of light received by more than one of the light receivers; and measuring the optical characteristics of the object, wherein the measurement produces data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object; wherein the probe includes at least one source that emits light on a first area of the object, wherein the probe includes at least one receiver that receives light reflected from a second area of the object, wherein the measurement includes at least a first measurement taken when the first area does not intersect with the second area. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards a surface of an object, wherein light is emitted by the probe onto the object, and light is received from the object by the probe; during the movement of the probe towards the surface of the object, taking one or more first measurements; when the probe is near the surface of the object, taking one or more second measurements; and based on the first and second measurements, determining optical characteristics of the object including one or more of the characteristics of the group consisting of reflected surface color spectrum, bulk material color spectrum, gloss, translucency, fluorescence, and surface texture; wherein the probe includes at least one source that emits light on a first area of the object, wherein the probe includes at least one receiver that receives light reflected from a second area of the object, wherein the one or more second measurements include at least one measurement taken when the first area does not intersect with the second area. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards a surface of an object, wherein light from one or more light sources is directed from the probe to the object; during the movement of the probe towards the surface of the object, taking one or more first measurements; when the probe is near the surface of the object, taking one or more second measurements; based on the first and second measurements, determining optical characteristics of the object including one or more of the characteristics of the group consisting of reflected surface color spectrum, bulk material color spectrum, gloss, translucency, fluorescence, and surface texture; and storing data indicative of the determined optical characteristics in a data base; wherein the probe includes at least one source that emits light on a first area of the object, wherein the probe includes at least one receiver that receives light reflected from a second area of the object, wherein the one or more second measurements include at least one measurement taken when the first area does not intersect with the second area. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A method comprising the steps of:
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moving a probe towards an object, wherein light from one or more light sources is emitted from the probe to the object; receiving light from the object with a plurality of light receivers on the probe, wherein the receivers have numerical apertures and sizes to receive light indicative of a specular-included spectrum and a specular-excluded spectrum, wherein the specular-included spectrum substantially includes light specularly reflected from the object, and wherein the specular-excluded substantially excludes light specularly reflected from the object; wherein the probe includes at least one source that emits light on a first area of the object, wherein the probe includes at least one receiver that receives light reflected from a second area of the object, wherein the method includes at least one measurement taken when the first area does not intersect with the second area.
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75. An apparatus for measuring optical characteristics of an object with a probe as the probe is moved towards a surface of the object, comprising:
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a probe having one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers, wherein the probe provides light to the surface of the object from the one or more light sources, and receives light from the object through the plurality of light receivers, wherein the plurality of light receivers comprise one or more first light receivers and one or more second light receivers, wherein the one or more first light receivers have a first numerical aperture and the one or more second light receivers have a second numerical aperture different from the first numerical aperture; sensors coupled to receive light from the light receivers; a processor coupled to receive data from the sensors; wherein the processor makes a plurality of measurements and determines data indicative of the optical characteristics of the object based on the data received from the sensors, wherein the probe includes at least one source that emits light on a first area of the object, wherein the probe includes at least one receiver that receives light reflected from a second area of the object, wherein the measurements include at least one measurement taken when the first area does not intersect with the second area. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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Specification