Head-Mounted Camera Tracking for Dental Imaging Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dental professionals using Google Glass loupes face challenges in maintaining the magnified field of view when changing head positions, leading to distraction and inefficiency as they need to hunt for the prior view, which is not clearly related to the new scale or view, requiring practice to switch between scales and views effortlessly.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that automatically compensates for head movements by using a tracking program to keep the dental area of interest centered in the display, employing a micro-pan and tilt mechanism for larger movements, and image recognition to display directional cues when the area is out of frame, allowing for quick reacquisition of the view without user interruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the user moves their head to change line of sight, then the user can view different fields of view, but the magnified field of view shifts and the user must hunt for the prior view

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield of view coverageVSAvoidview stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses image recognition to detect the dental area of interest in the captured image feed, continuously tracks its position, and provides feedback by automatically panning and tilting the camera to keep the identified area centered in the magnified view, eliminating the need for manual head hunting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting the dental area of interest and repositioning the camera view without requiring user intervention, making the view stabilization function autonomous and responsive to head movements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the user returns to the loupes field of view after looking away, then the user can resume magnified viewing, but a completely different location is seen requiring head adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveview continuityVSAvoidtime to reacquire view
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection and tracking of the dental area of interest continuously, so when the user returns to the loupes view, the system has already prepared the corrected view position and can immediately present the correct magnified location without requiring the user to spend time hunting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If a telescopic camera is mounted in Google Glass for dental imaging, then magnified viewing is enabled, but the camera position must be manually adjusted to track the area of interest

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnification qualityVSAvoidmanual adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an automated image recognition and computer control system that detects the dental area of interest and automatically positions the camera, eliminating the need for manual pan and tilt adjustments while maintaining precise magnified viewing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If the camera field of view is fixed relative to the user's head, then the system is simple to operate, but the area of interest cannot be kept centered when the user moves their head

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidarea of interest positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static fixed camera orientation to a dynamic adaptive system that continuously adjusts the camera position based on real-time image recognition of the dental area of interest, allowing the field of view to dynamically track and maintain the area of interest centered regardless of user head movements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3304173B1Apparatus and method for image capture of dental images using a head mounted camera and computer system
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 LEMCHEN MARC
  • EP3304173B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3304173B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A head mounted magnifying camera is communicated with a computer system with a head-mounted display having a center of a field of view. A magnified view of a live dental area of interest is provided, image capture of the live dental area of interest is performed and downloaded into the computer system, or an image of a stored dental area of interest is uploaded from the computer system and matched to the live dental area of interest. The image of the live dental area of interest is automatically tracked in the computer system, and the image of the live dental area of interest is kept in the center of the field of view of the head-mounted display.