Method and system for selecting surface finishes
Inventors
Suttin, Zachary B. • Towse, Ross W
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11687683-B2
Publication Date
2023-06-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method and system of selecting a surface finish for a computer designed component associated with an anatomical area of a specific patient. A computer designed component is created. The component includes at least one surface. An interface of finishing software displays an image of the component and the at least one surface. A plurality of finishes available for the at least one surface is displayed. A selection of one of the plurality of finishes for the at least one surface is input by a user. The component data and finishing data may then be sent to a computer aided manufacturing system to manufacture the computer designed component.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a digital dentistry system for designing a surface finish for a dental component associated with an anatomical area of a specific patient. The system configures a processor to display a three-dimensional image of the dental component, where the three-dimensional image includes a plurality of outer surface portions that are selectable by a user. After a user selects a first outer surface portion, the system displays a first plurality of surface finishes available for that outer surface portion.
The available surface finishes for the selected outer surface portion are differentiated by different one or more of a surface area roughness value and a finishing process used to apply a respective surface finish. In related embodiments, the system further supports accepting input selecting an additional outer surface portion and displaying a corresponding different set of available surface finishes for the second outer surface portion. The system can also determine the displayed pluralities of surface finishes based on the dental component material and/or the location and size of corresponding outer surface portions.
The invention further includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a method that implement the same user-interaction workflow for designing a surface finish for a computer designed component associated with an anatomical area of a specific patient. In one method embodiment, each outer surface portion has an assigned default surface finish, the user selects one surface finish option from the first plurality, and the system changes the assigned default surface finish for the first outer surface portion to the selected option.
Claims Coverage
The disclosed claim set includes three independent claims: clm-00001 (system), clm-00008 (non-transitory computer-readable storage medium), and clm-00014 (method). Each independent claim centers on displaying selectable outer surface portions of a dental component in a three-dimensional image and presenting available surface finishes for a user-selected portion, with finish options characterized by surface area roughness value and finishing process.
Selectable outer surface portions in a three-dimensional dental component image
Displaying a three-dimensional image of a dental component including a plurality of outer surface portions that are selectable by a user, and accepting input from a user selecting a first outer surface portion.
Surface finishes characterized by surface area roughness value and finishing process
Displaying, based on the first outer surface portion, a first plurality of surface finishes available for the first outer surface portion, each surface finish having a different one or more of surface area roughness value and finishing process used to apply a respective surface finish.
Finish attributes include surface finishing techniques and corresponding surface finishing values
Displaying a first plurality of surface finishes available for the first outer surface portion, wherein the first plurality of surface finishes include a first plurality of surface finishing techniques and a plurality of surface finishing values corresponding to one or more of the first plurality of surface finishing techniques.
Assigned default surface finish update based on user selection
Displaying a three-dimensional image of a dental component where each outer surface portion has an assigned default surface finish, accepting a selection of one of the first plurality of surface finishes for the first outer surface portion, and changing the assigned default surface finish of the first outer surface portion to the selected one.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is a user-driven interface that selects outer surface portions from a three-dimensional dental component image and presents surface finish options specific to the selected portion. The finish options are characterized by surface area roughness value and finishing process, and additional claim coverage specifies technique/value representations and updating an assigned default surface finish based on user selection.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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