Intraoral Camera Feedback for Complete Tooth Image Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intraoral camera systems face challenges in accurately capturing images of teeth due to deviations from the intended operation trajectory, leading to incomplete or inaccurate images and a decrease in user experience.

Innovation Solution

An intraoral camera system with an imaging unit, position coordinate extractor, and image determination unit that identifies when a tooth extends beyond the effective imaging area, notifying the user to correct the trajectory and improve image capturing accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the intraoral camera is manually operated to capture tooth images, then the operation is simple and portable, but the image capturing accuracy decreases due to trajectory deviation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual operation simplicityVSAvoidimage capturing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the camera's imaging trajectory and provides real-time feedback to the user when deviations are detected. The trajectory determination unit compares the actual camera path against the intended imaging path, and when deviations exceed a threshold, the system notifies the user to correct their positioning, enabling self-correction through feedback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with automated detection systems. Instead of relying on user skill to maintain precise manual positioning, the system uses sensors and processing units to automatically detect and report trajectory deviations, substituting human precision with automated measurement and feedback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If the effective imaging area is reduced to ensure complete tooth capture, then the image completeness improves, but the field of view decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetooth image completenessVSAvoideffective imaging area

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the effective imaging area based on real-time trajectory accuracy. When the camera follows the correct imaging path, a larger imaging area can be utilized. When deviations are detected, the system dynamically reduces the effective imaging area to ensure that only images captured within acceptable trajectory parameters are processed, maintaining tooth completeness while maximizing field of view when possible

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12521006B2Intraoral camera system and image capturing operation determination method

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

An intraoral camera system includes an imaging unit and an image determination unit. The imaging unit generates an image data item showing a target tooth for image capturing inside a mouth. The image determination unit defines two-dimensional plane coordinates for the image data item generated by the imaging unit and extracts the position coordinates of the outline of the target tooth from the entire imaging area of the imaging unit. When a part of the outline of the target tooth is outside an effective area set inside the entire imaging area of the imaging unit, the image determination unit determines that the target tooth extends beyond the effective area.