Apparatus for determining multi-bit data via light received by a light receiver and coupled to spectral sensors that measure light in spectral bands

• US 6,915,955 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: JJL Technologies, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Jung, Wayne D., Jung, Russell W., Loudermilk, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US10/039,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.04, 235/462.06, 235/462.16, 235/462.17, 356/451
• US Class Current: 235/462.06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0233 Optical standards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1034 by means of colour cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/10 Supports for artificial teeth for transport or for comparison of the colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1213 Filters in general, e.g. dichroic, band
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/2869 Background correcting
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0205 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0229 using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators or spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0251 Colorimeters making use of an integrating sphere
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0262 Constructional arrangements for removing stray light
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/04 Slit arrangements slit adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2803 using photoelectric array detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/46 Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters measuring colour temperature G01J5/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 : using electric radiation detectors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/524 : Calibration of colorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6484 : Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 : Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/474 : Details of optical heads therefor, e.g. using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/57 : Measuring gloss
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6486 : Measuring fluorescence of biological material, e.g. DNA, RNA, cells G01N21/6428 takes precedence

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. Spectrometers and spectrophotometers embedded in printing and scanning and other type devices, as well as computer companion devices, scope-type devices and the like, also are disclosed. Data encoding based on such devices also may be implemented.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring spectral characteristics of received light, comprising:

one or more light receivers, wherein the received light is received by the one or more lights receivers;

one or more spectral sensors coupled to receive at least a portion of the received light, wherein the one or more spectral sensors measure the intensity of the received light in one or more predetermined spectral bands; and

a processor, wherein the processor receives data corresponding to one or more light intensities measured by the one or more spectral sensors;

wherein the processor determines a data value of at least two bits based on the received light measured in each of the one or more predetermined spectral bands, wherein the data value for each spectral band is determined based on the measured light intensity level of the received light in each spectral band.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two bits of the data value are determined based on a comparison of a measured intensity value with a plurality of threshold values.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein intensities of received light are measured in N spectral bands, wherein M bits of data value are determined for each spectral band, wherein M times N total bits of data value are determined.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein N and M are each greater than one.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one spectral band comprises a reference band.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor determines the data value for each of the one or more predetermined spectral bands based on a measured intensity value of the reference band.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more light receivers is/are moved relative to an object or material, wherein a plurality of data values are determined as the one or more light receivers is/are moved relative to the object or material.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one measured intensity value of the reference band is used to determine a position of the one or more light receivers relative to the object or material.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein measured intensity values of the reference band are used to calculate a speed of movement value corresponding to a speed of movement of the one or more light receivers relative to the object or material.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more light receivers is/are moved relative to an object or material, wherein a plurality of data values are determined as the one or more light receivers is/are moved relative to the object or material.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one data value is determined as a function of a measured intensity in one spectral band and a measured intensity in a second spectral band.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one data value is determined as a function of a measured intensity in a first predetermined spectral band in a first area of an object or material and a measured intensity in a second predetermined spectral band in a second area of the object or material, wherein the first area is different from the second area.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first predetermined spectral band comprises a different spectral band from the second predetermined spectral band.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a color bar code reader.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the received light passes through one or more interference filter elements prior to being measured by the one or more spectral sensors.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the received light passes through a plurality of interference filter elements prior to being measured by a plurality of spectral sensors.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of interference filter elements comprise a color gradient filter.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more spectral sensors comprise one or more light to frequency converter sensing elements.

19. An apparatus for measuring spectral characteristics of received light, comprising:

one or more light receivers, wherein the received light is received by the one or more lights receivers, wherein the received light comprises light in a plurality of predetermined spectral bands;

a plurality of spectral sensors coupled to receive at least a portion of the received light, wherein the plurality of spectral sensors measure the intensity of the received light in the plurality of predetermined spectral bands; and

a processor, wherein the processor receives data corresponding to a plurality of light intensities measured by the plurality of spectral sensors;

wherein the processor determines at least one data value as a function of a measured intensity in one spectral band and a measured intensity in a second spectral band.

20. An apparatus for measuring spectral characteristics of received light, comprising:

one or more light receivers, wherein the received light is received by the one or more lights receivers, wherein the received light comprises light in a plurality of predetermined spectral bands;

a plurality of spectral sensors coupled to receive at least a portion of the received light, wherein the plurality of spectral sensors measure the intensity of the received light in the plurality of predetermined spectral bands; and

a processor, wherein the processor receives data corresponding to the plurality of light intensities measured by the plurality of spectral sensors;

wherein the processor determines at least one data value as a function of a measured intensity in a first predetermined spectral band in a first area of an object or material and a measured intensity in a second predetermined spectral band in a second area of the object or material, wherein the first area is different from the second area.