Scan module of intraoral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection

Abstract

Disclosed is a scan module of an intraoral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection. The scan module of an intraoral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection is disposed on the inner front of an intraoral scanner, and comprises: a projector unit provided inside a main body of the intraoral scanner to emit light to a mirror side; a camera unit that is positioned adjacent to the projector unit and captures an intraoral image reflected by the mirror; a tip holder disposed at the front of the projector unit and the camera unit and including a partition wall that separates a frontal space of the projector unit and a frontal space of the camera unit; and a protecting glass provided inside the tip holder to protect the projector unit and the camera unit.

Description

Scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection

[0001] The present invention relates to a scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection, and more specifically, to a scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection that can improve the scan quality of the oral scanner by preventing diffuse reflection inside the oral scanner.

[0002] Recently, 3D oral scanners are widely used to acquire accurate 3D information about damaged teeth without using separate impression materials, which allows for the fabrication of prosthetics with accurate dimensions.

[0003] An oral scanner is a device that scans the oral cavity by having the user hold the main body and insert a probe tip, which extends from the main body, into the subject's mouth. To gradually improve usability, the development of lightweight and compact products is actively underway.

[0004] These oral scanners basically acquire 3D modeling images through a projector unit and a camera unit.

[0005] The projector unit irradiates patterned or structural light onto surfaces such as teeth; for example, a DLP (Digital Light Processing) projector can be used. DLP employs a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device), and since the DMD chip is a chip with countless micro-mirrors arranged on its surface, and each mirror corresponds to a single pixel, the DLP method has advantages over conventional cathode ray tube, liquid crystal, and plasma methods.

[0006] Light irradiated through this projector unit is reflected by a mirror inside the probe tip and irradiated into the oral cavity, and the light reflected back through the mirror is captured by an optical camera to finally obtain a 3D modeling image.

[0007] Meanwhile, the projector unit and the camera unit are installed at the rear of the tip holder where the probe tip is installed, and a protective glass is installed at the front end of the tip holder to protect the camera lens.

[0008] However, when light emitted from the projector unit passes through the tip holder and is emitted onto the mirror, some of the light that does not pass through is reflected by the protective glass, causing diffuse reflection in the space between the projector unit and the protective glass, and eventually, the diffusely reflected light enters the camera unit, causing a problem that degrades the scan quality.

[0009] Conventionally, to prevent such diffuse reflection, methods are applied such as arranging the protective glass at an angle or extending the length of the tip holder so that the protective glass is as far as possible from the projector unit, but this results in a problem where the volume of the oral scanner increases.

[0010] The objective of the present invention is to solve these problems by providing a scan module of an oral scanner that prevents diffuse reflection inside the oral scanner by blocking the reflected light from entering the camera unit even if the light emitted from the projector unit is reflected by the protective glass.

[0011] A scan module for an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection according to one embodiment of the technical concept of the present invention for achieving the above objective may include: a projector unit provided inside the main body of the oral scanner and irradiating light toward a mirror; a camera unit located adjacent to the projector unit and capturing an image inside the oral cavity reflected through the mirror; a tip holder provided in front of the projector unit and the camera unit and including a partition separating the front space of the projector unit and the camera unit; and a protective glass provided inside the tip holder and protecting the projector unit and the camera unit.

[0012] In addition, the tip holder may be provided with two independent separation spaces so that the light path spaces of the projector unit and the camera unit are separated.

[0013] In addition, the separated space may be a separated space between the projector unit and the camera unit and the protective glass.

[0014] Additionally, the tip holder may include: a holder portion having a front end and a rear end open and a probe tip mounted on the outside; a glass mounting portion provided inside the holder portion and having the protective glass installed therein; and a partition separating the space between the glass mounting portion and the rear end of the holder portion.

[0015] In addition, the glass installation part may be provided inside the holder part so that a single space is provided on the front inside the tip holder.

[0016] In addition, the protective glass may be positioned vertically at a right angle to the optical axis direction of the projector unit.

[0017] In addition, the protective glass may be independently provided in the glass installation portion based on the respective optical axis center points of the projector unit and the camera unit.

[0018] Additionally, the protective glass may include a first glass through which light irradiated from the projector unit passes; and a second glass through which light incident on the camera unit passes.

[0019] In addition, the glass installation portion may have a hole drilled to correspond to the outer periphery of the protective glass, and a stepped portion may be formed so that the protective glass can be seated.

[0020] In addition, an adhesive tape for fixing the protective glass may be attached to the stepped portion or an adhesive may be applied.

[0021] The scan module of the oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection according to the present invention has the effect of improving the scan quality of the oral scanner by preventing diffuse reflection inside the oral scanner by separating the space between the projector unit and the camera unit and the protective glass with a partition and blocking the reflected light from entering the camera unit even if the light emitted from the projector unit is reflected by the protective glass.

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an oral scanner with the prop tip separated.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view along line A-A' of Figure 2.

[0026] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view along line B-B' of Figure 2.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] In order to fully understand the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objectives achieved by the implementation of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention and the contents described therein.

[0029] The present invention will be described in detail below by explaining preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawings. Identical reference numerals in each drawing indicate identical components.

[0030] The scan module of the oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection according to the present invention relates to a scan module of the oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection that can improve the scan quality of the oral scanner by preventing diffuse reflection inside the oral scanner by blocking the reflected light from entering the camera unit even if the light emitted from the projector unit is reflected by the protective glass.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an oral scanner with a prop tip separated, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view along line A-A' of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view along line B-B' of FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a plan cross-sectional view of a scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection according to one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the 'scan module') may largely include a projector unit (100), a camera unit (200), a tip holder (300), and a protective glass (400).

[0033] Basically, the wireless oral scanner (10) is intended to be inserted into the oral cavity of a dental patient to obtain 3D image information, and is made of a rod-shaped main body (11) so that it is easy for the user to hold with their hand. Various components including a PCB for 3D scanning are embedded inside the main body (11), a battery is mounted on the rear side of the main body (11), and a button for operating the oral scanner (10) may be provided on one side of the main body (11).

[0034] In addition, a probe tip (not shown), which is a part inserted into the oral cavity of a dental patient, is mounted on the front side of the oral scanner (10).

[0035] The inner front of the oral scanner (10) may be equipped with a scan module for acquiring a three-dimensional modeling image of the patient's oral cavity.

[0036] The present invention relates to a scan module of an oral scanner, and will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0037] First, the projector unit (100) is a part that is provided inside the main body (11) of the oral scanner (10) and irradiates light toward the mirror side inside the probe tip.

[0038] The above projector unit (100) outputs light to irradiate patterned light or structural light onto the inner surface of a tooth or the like. For example, a DLP (digital light processing) type projector may be used, but it is not limited thereto, and a beam projector of various types of light output means may be applied.

[0039] Additionally, the projector unit (100) may include a DLP (digital light processing) or LED light source module.

[0040] Light irradiated through this projector unit (100) is reflected by a mirror inside the probe tip and irradiated into the inside of the oral cavity, and the light reflected back through the mirror is captured by a camera unit (200) to finally obtain a 3D modeling image.

[0041] Next, the camera unit (200) is positioned adjacent to the projector unit (100) and is a part that captures an image of the inside of the oral cavity reflected through a mirror.

[0042] The above camera unit (200) may include all components constituting the camera, such as a lens, an image sensor, and a PCB.

[0043] Meanwhile, the scan module of the oral scanner of the present invention may include a camera housing (500) in which the projector unit (100) and the camera unit (200) are installed and which is assembled at the rear end (312) of the tip holder (300).

[0044] In detail, the projector unit (100) and the camera unit (200) are configured in an assembly form in the camera housing (500), and the camera housing (500) can be assembled to the rear end (312) of the tip holder (300).

[0045] At this time, the PCB (600) among the components of the camera unit (200) may be assembled to the camera housing (500), and the PCB (600) may include an image sensor (e.g., CCD) that forms the operating circuit of the camera unit (200) and converts light incident through the lens into an electrical signal.

[0046] In this way, light output through the projector unit (100) is irradiated toward a mirror and reflected, then irradiated toward the surface of the oral cavity, and the light reflected from the surface of the oral cavity is reflected again through the mirror and then incident through the lens of the camera unit (200), and an electrical signal is received by the PCB (600) and undergoes image processing to finally generate a 3D modeling image of the inside of the oral cavity.

[0047] Next, the tip holder (300) is positioned in front of the projector unit (100) and the camera unit (200), includes a partition (330) that separates the front space of the projector unit (100) and the camera unit (200), and is a part on which a probe tip is mounted on the outside.

[0048] A probe tip (not shown) can be fitted into the tip holder (300), and a plurality of fastening protrusions (313) are provided on the outer surface of the tip holder (300).

[0049] A fastening groove (not shown) is formed on the inner surface of the probe tip to correspond to the fastening projection (313), so that when the probe tip is inserted into the tip holder (300), the fastening projection (313) is fastened to the fastening groove, thereby allowing the tip holder (300) and the probe tip to be fixed in a fastened state.

[0050] Meanwhile, the tip holder (300) may be provided with two independent separation spaces (331) so that the light path spaces of the projector unit (100) and the camera unit (200) are separated.

[0051] That is, in order to prevent light output from the projector unit (100) from being reflected by the protective glass (400) and causing unintended diffuse reflection, and to prevent unnecessary light caused by diffuse reflection from being directly incident on the camera unit (200), the internal space of the tip holder (300) is designed so that the light path space of the projector unit (100) and the light path space of the camera unit (200) are separated.

[0052] Here, the separation space (331) may be a separated space between the projector unit (100), the camera unit (200), and the protective glass (400).

[0053] Below, the tip holder (300) is described in detail.

[0054] The tip holder (300) may include a holder portion (310) in which a probe tip is mounted on the outside and the front portion (311) and rear portion (312) are open, a glass installation portion (320) provided inside the holder portion (310) and in which the protective glass (400) is installed, and a partition (330) separating the space between the glass installation portion (320) and the rear portion (312) of the holder portion (310).

[0055] The holder portion (310) is in a form in which the front end (311) and the rear end (312) are open so that a space is provided inside, and an assembly in which the projector unit (100) and camera unit (200) described above are assembled in a form integrated with the camera housing (500) can be assembled at the rear end (312).

[0056] The glass installation part (320) may be provided inside the holder part (310) so that a single space is provided on the inner front surface of the tip holder (300).

[0057] That is, the glass installation part (320) is provided along the inner surface of the internal space of the holder part (310) to partition the space, thereby providing a single space in front of the glass installation part (320).

[0058] The protective glass (400) may be independently provided in the glass installation part (320) based on the respective optical axis center points of the projector unit (100) and the camera unit (200).

[0059] For example, the protective glass (400) may be configured to distinguish between light output from the projector unit (100) passing through and light incident on the camera unit (200) passing through.

[0060] Meanwhile, the tip holder (300) is configured such that the path through which light is output and irradiated from the projector unit (100) and the path through which light is introduced into the camera unit (200) are separated from each other, and the light path space (separation space, 331) between the projector unit (100), the camera unit (200), and the protective glass (400) can be separated by a partition (330).

[0061] The light output and moved by the projector unit (100) may pass through in part and be reflected by the protective glass (400), causing internal diffuse reflection, and thus unnecessary light may be introduced into the camera unit (200). As the light from the diffuse reflection is reflected by the lens, ghosting or flare may occur.

[0062] In order to fundamentally block this problem, the scan module of the oral scanner of the present invention separates the front space of the projector unit (100) and the camera unit (200) with a partition (330), so that even if light irradiated from the projector unit (100) is reflected by the protective glass (400) as shown in FIG. 6, the reflected light is blocked from entering the camera unit (200), thereby preventing diffuse reflection inside the oral scanner (10).

[0063] Next, the protective glass (400) is provided on the front of the projector unit (100) and the camera unit (200) inside the tip holder (300) and is a part for protecting the projector unit (100) and the camera unit (200).

[0064] The above protective glass (400) can be placed between the front end (311) and the rear end (312) of the tip holder (300).

[0065] At this time, it is preferable that the protective glass (400) be positioned vertically at a right angle to the optical axis direction of the projector unit (100).

[0066] As described above, the above-described protective glass (400) may include a first glass (410) through which light irradiated from the projector unit (100) passes, and a second glass (420) having a smaller diameter than the first glass (410) through which light incident on the camera unit (200) passes.

[0067] In addition, the diameters of the first glass (410) and the second glass (420) can be varied, and the diameter can be determined, for example, according to the diameter of the lens, by considering the cross-sectional size of the light path.

[0068] Meanwhile, the glass installation part (320) may have a hole (321) drilled to correspond to the outer circumference of the protect glass (400), and a stepped portion (322) may be formed so that the protect glass (400) can be seated.

[0069] The above protective glass (400) can be inserted into the hole (321) and stably seated and fixed through the stepped portion (322).

[0070] In addition, the protect glass (400) is fixedly seated on the stepped portion (322), so that when the protect glass (400) is contaminated by external foreign matter, the protect glass (400) may not be pushed toward the rear end (312) of the tip holder (300) even if a cleaning process is performed, thereby preventing the protect glass (400) from being removed.

[0071] Additionally, an adhesive tape for fixing the protect glass (400) may be attached to the step portion (322) or an adhesive may be applied.

[0072] For example, in the above-mentioned step portion (322), the fixing force of the protective glass (400) can be increased by attaching an adhesive tape or applying an adhesive to one surface on which the protective glass (400) is seated.

[0073] The scan module of the oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection according to the technical concept of the present invention has the effect of improving the scan quality of the oral scanner by preventing diffuse reflection inside the oral scanner, by separating the space between the projector unit and the camera unit and the protective glass with a partition and blocking the reflected light from entering the camera unit even if the light emitted from the projector unit is reflected by the protective glass.

[0074] As explained above, the best embodiments are disclosed in the drawings and specification. Specific terms have been used herein, but they are used only for the purpose of describing the invention and are not intended to limit the meaning or the scope of the invention as described in the claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible therefrom. Accordingly, the true technical scope of protection of the invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In a scan module disposed on the inner front of an oral scanner, A projector unit provided inside the main body of the oral scanner and irradiating light toward the mirror; A camera unit positioned adjacent to the above-mentioned projector unit and capturing an image of the oral cavity reflected through a mirror; A tip holder disposed in front of the projector unit and the camera unit and including a partition separating the front space of the projector unit and the camera unit; and A scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection, comprising a protective glass provided inside the tip holder and for protecting the projector unit and the camera unit.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above tip holder is, A scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection, characterized by having two independent separation spaces provided so that the light path spaces of the projector unit and the camera unit are each separated.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above separation space is, A scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection, characterized by being a separated space between the projector unit, the camera unit, and the protective glass.

4. In Paragraph 1, The above tip holder is, A holder part with the front and rear ends open and a probe tip mounted on the outside; A glass installation part provided inside the holder part and on which the protective glass is installed; and A scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection, characterized by including a partition separating the space between the glass installation part and the rear end of the holder part.

5. In Paragraph 4, The above glass installation part is, A scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection, characterized by being provided inside the holder portion such that a single space is provided on the inner front surface of the tip holder.

6. In Paragraph 4, The above protective glass is, A scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection, characterized by being positioned perpendicularly to the optical axis direction of the projector unit.

7. In Paragraph 4, In the above glass installation part, A scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection, characterized in that the protective glass is independently provided based on the respective optical axis center points of the projector unit and the camera unit.

8. In Paragraph 7, The above protective glass is, A first glass through which light irradiated from the projector unit passes; and A scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection, characterized by including a second glass through which light incident on the camera unit passes.

9. In Paragraph 4, The above glass installation part is, A scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection, characterized in that a hole is drilled corresponding to the outer periphery of the protective glass, and a stepped portion is formed so that the protective glass can be seated.

10. In Paragraph 9, At the above-mentioned stepped portion, A scan module of an oral scanner for preventing diffuse reflection, characterized by having an adhesive tape attached or an adhesive applied to fix the above-mentioned protective glass.

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