Handpiece 3D Geometry Detection Energy Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for detecting three-dimensional geometry, such as teeth, face challenges in minimizing power consumption to enable operation with a small energy store within the handpiece, particularly in applications like dental and industrial endoscopy where energy efficiency is crucial.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a handpiece with a rigidly attached optical device and a light source, where the light generation means is integrated within the handpiece, avoiding long optical paths and synchronizing the energy supply of the light source and camera to achieve energy savings through optimized aperture settings and pulsing light, along with sensors to adjust frame rate and image capture based on spatial movement and energy levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If long optical paths with fiber optic cables or deflecting mirrors are used to transmit light, then the optical device can be separated from the handpiece, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is integrated directly into the handpiece together with the camera and evaluation unit, eliminating the need for separate optical transmission paths. This merging of components reduces energy consumption while maintaining functional separability through wireless data transmission.
2Measurement precision
If the aperture is made smaller to increase depth of field, then measurement range improves, but illumination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light source operates in pulsed mode synchronized with the camera shutter, providing intense illumination only when needed for each exposure. This allows the use of smaller apertures for greater depth of field while meeting illumination requirements through temporal concentration of light energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts illumination parameters including pulse duration, pulse frequency, and aperture size based on measurement conditions. This enables optimization of both depth of field and illumination requirements by changing operational parameters rather than fixed structural design.
3Reliability
If continuous recording is performed to capture all movements, then complete geometry data is obtained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The position sensor continuously monitors handpiece movement and provides feedback to the control unit, which then triggers camera recording only when movement exceeds a threshold. This feedback mechanism ensures complete geometry data is captured during active movement while avoiding unnecessary recording during stationary periods, significantly reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The recording system transitions from static continuous recording to dynamic event-triggered recording based on detected movement. The frame rate and recording activation are dynamically adjusted according to actual measurement needs, optimizing both data completeness and energy efficiency.
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
This approach results in significant energy savings, efficient data capture, and reduced processing requirements, allowing for reliable operation with a small energy store and enabling wireless, cable-free operation while maintaining high-quality 3D geometry recordings.
Implementation Method 1
an optical device with at least one camera for recording images and having at least one light source for a projector
Implementation Method 2
a handpiece that has at least one position sensor for detecting the change in the spatial position of the handpiece
Implementation Method 3
an optical device with at least one camera for recording images
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for detecting the three-dimensional geometry of objects (9), in particular teeth, comprising a handpiece (1) which is provided with at least one position sensor (12) for detecting the change of the spatial position of the handpiece (1), and an optical device (2) having at least one camera (5, 6) for capturing images and at least one light source (3) for at least one projector (4). The position sensor (12) in the handpiece (1) initially determines the size of the change of the spatial position of the device. It is determined therefrom, how many pictures the camera (5, 6) can take in a defined time unit.