Miniaturized Dental Scanner Array for Hard-to-Reach 3D Coordinates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scanners for determining 3D coordinates of teeth or dental casts face challenges in effectively scanning hard-to-reach areas, such as the oral cavity, due to limited spatial arrangement and resolution, especially when preparing or measuring prepared teeth.
Innovation Solution
A miniaturized scanner with an array of projectors and cameras arranged alternately on a carrier, allowing for efficient projection and imaging of patterns to calculate 3D coordinates from multiple 2D images, suitable for cramped spaces and hard-to-reach areas, which can be adapted for endoscopic digitization and other applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single projector and camera are used, then the device structure is simple, but the scanning coverage and resolution in hard-to-reach areas are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The scanner is divided into multiple independent projector-camera units arranged in arrays. Each unit contributes to capturing a portion of the object surface, enabling comprehensive coverage of complex geometries and hard-to-reach areas while maintaining manageable individual component complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple projectors and cameras are arranged in two-dimensional arrays on the carrier, transitioning from a single-point measurement approach to a multi-point simultaneous measurement system. This dimensional expansion enables parallel capture of multiple object regions, significantly improving scanning resolution and coverage
2Area of stationary object
If multiple projectors and cameras are arranged in an array, then the scanning coverage and data quality improve, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple projectors and cameras are integrated onto a single common carrier structure, merging what would otherwise be separate measurement devices into one unified scanner. This consolidation achieves comprehensive scanning coverage while controlling overall device volume through shared structural support and coordinated operation
Solution Approach 2:
The projectors and cameras are arranged in a two-dimensional array configuration on the carrier, maximizing the utilization of the carrier surface area. This spatial arrangement enables extensive scanning coverage without proportionally increasing the device volume, as the components are distributed across the carrier plane rather than extending in three dimensions
3Ease of operation
If the scanner is miniaturized for oral cavity use, then the ease of operation in cramped spaces improves, but the measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement function is segmented across multiple projector-camera units, where each unit captures local geometric information with high precision. The collective data from these segmented measurement points reconstructs the complete 3D object geometry, maintaining measurement precision while enabling access to confined spaces through the compact carrier design
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple projectors and cameras are deployed to capture more measurement data points than a single unit would provide. This excessive action of using multiple components ensures that sufficient high-precision 3D coordinate data is obtained even when the scanner is miniaturized for use in cramped oral cavity environments
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise 3D point cloud generation and object representation by correlating features across multiple images, allowing for comprehensive scanning of teeth and other hard-to-reach objects without the need for a tracking system, improving data quality and coverage in constrained environments.
Implementation Method 1
a projector for projecting a pattern onto the object and a camera, which comprises a recording optics with a first image optics and a second image optics and an image sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A scanner is used for scanning an object, in particular one or more teeth (13, 14, 15) or a dental cast. An improved scanner comprises a carrier (2) on which a plurality of projectors (4) for projecting a pattern onto the object and a plurality of cameras (5) for recording the object are provided one beside the other in an array.