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Publication Number
US-11543232-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for oral imaging has a light source energizable to generate a light frequency signal ranging from a minimum to a maximum frequency. An image acquisition apparatus scans the generated light frequency signal to successive positions on a sample surface and to combine a returned signal from each successive position with the generated light frequency signal. The image acquisition apparatus has a detector that obtains a beat frequency signal from the combined returned signal and the generated light frequency signal. A processor that is in signal communication with the detector generates a processed beat signal from the combined signals, wherein the processed beat signal is indicative of the distance from the tunable laser source to the sample surface at the corresponding position. A display is in signal communication with the processor and is energizable to display distance data according to the processed beat signal for each scanned position.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for oral imaging that uses frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) interferometry with a tunable laser source. The tunable laser source is energizable to generate a light frequency signal that ranges from a first frequency to a second higher frequency, with each generated frequency in the range having a linewidth of less than 1 MHz. The light frequency signal is scanned to successive positions on a sample surface, and a returned signal from each successive position is combined with the generated light frequency signal.
At each scanned position, the image acquisition apparatus includes a detector that obtains a beat frequency signal corresponding to that scanned successive position from the combination of the returned signal and the generated light frequency signal. A processor generates a processed beat signal from the obtained beat frequency signal. The processed beat signal is indicative of a distance from the image acquisition apparatus to the sample surface at the corresponding scanned position.
A display is in signal communication with the processor and displays distance data according to the processed beat signal for each scanned position. The disclosed system includes image acquisition using FMCW interferometry for intraoral imaging and corresponding distance-data output that supports generation of a point-cloud-based digital impression.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are provided: an apparatus claim and a method claim. The inventive features focus on FMCW interferometric distance ranging using a linewidth-limited tunable laser frequency sweep, scanning across successive sample surface positions, obtaining beat frequency signals, processing those beat signals to generate distance-indicative data, and displaying or representing distance for each scanned position.
Linewidth-limited tunable laser frequency sweep
A tunable laser source energized to generate a light frequency signal ranging from a first frequency to a second higher frequency, wherein each generated frequency in the range has a linewidth of less than 1 MHz.
Scanning successive positions and generating beat frequency signals
An image acquisition apparatus energized to scan the generated light frequency signal to each of a plurality of successive positions on a sample surface and combine a returned signal from each successive position with the generated light frequency signal, with a detector obtaining a beat frequency signal corresponding to each scanned successive position from the combination.
Processing beat frequency signals into distance-indicative processed beat signals
A processor in signal communication with the detector generates a processed beat signal from the obtained beat frequency signal, where the processed beat signal is indicative of a distance from the image acquisition apparatus to the sample surface at the corresponding scanned position.
Displaying distance data per scanned position
A display in signal communication with the processor and energizable to display distance data according to the processed beat signal for each scanned position.
Linewidth-limited tunable laser frequency sweep for oral imaging method
Energizing a tunable laser source to generate a light frequency signal over a range of light frequencies from a first frequency to a second different frequency, wherein each generated frequency in the range has a linewidth of less than 1 MHz.
Scanning successive oral positions and obtaining beat frequency signals
Energizing an image acquisition apparatus to scan the generated light frequency signal to successive positions on a sample surface in the mouth of a patient and to combine a return signal corresponding to each successive position with the generated light frequency signal, obtaining a beat frequency signal from the combined returned signal and generated light frequency signal.
Processing beat frequency signals into distance at corresponding positions
Processing the obtained beat frequency signal to generate a processed beat signal indicative of a distance from the tunable laser source to the sample surface at the corresponding position.
Representing distance for each scanned oral position
Generating a display that represents the distance for each scanned position on the oral sample surface.
The claims cover FMCW interferometric oral imaging in which a linewidth-limited tunable laser frequency range is scanned to successive surface positions, beat frequency signals are obtained by combining returned and generated signals, beat signals are processed into distance-indicative processed beat signals, and distance data are displayed or represented for each scanned position.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Intraoral imaging using an oral imaging apparatus that generates distance data for a scanned sample surface in the mouth of a patient.
Extraoral imaging using scanning outside the mouth of a patient with an extraoral return signal.
Generating a digital impression via distance data displayed in the form of a point cloud or a 3D polygonal mesh (as specified in dependent claim subject matter).
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