Intraoral X-ray Sensor High-bit to Low-bit Data Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital intraoral x-ray sensors face high financial and technical costs due to the need for high pixel and grayscale resolution, and the complexity of producing CCD-array sensors capable of capturing occlusal views, leading to limited availability of digital occlusal images.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a digital high-bit generator within the intraoral x-ray imaging device to convert high-bit depth grayscale sensor data into low-bit depth data, allowing wireless communication to a network without the need for a direct cable connection, enabling efficient image processing and transmission in virtualized/cloud environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high pixel and grayscale resolution is used to capture dental images, then image quality is improved, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex high-bit depth processing functionality from the sensor device itself and relocates it to external computing resources (cloud/virtualized environments). The sensor captures images at high resolution, but the computationally intensive tasks of processing and rendering are performed externally, reducing the sensor's internal complexity while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer between the sensor and the final display. Instead of directly processing high-bit depth data within the sensor, the system uses external servers or cloud-based processing units as intermediaries to handle the computationally demanding tasks, allowing the sensor to remain simpler while still delivering high-quality images.
2Reliability
If direct cable connection is used for image data transmission, then data transfer reliability is improved, but system adaptability and ease of deployment in virtualized environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the system universal by enabling it to operate in multiple environments (traditional connected systems and cloud/virtualized systems). The sensor can function with direct cable connections for reliability when needed, while also supporting wireless and network-based connections for adaptability in virtualized deployments, making the system versatile across different operational contexts.
3Measurement precision
If high bit depth grayscale data is processed locally, then image quality is maintained, but processing speed and network transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing workflow into two parts: local capture of high-bit depth data by the sensor (maintaining image quality) and remote processing/rendering of that data in cloud environments (improving processing speed and network efficiency). This division allows each component to operate optimally without the constraints of local processing limitations.
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 solution enables the use of intraoral x-ray sensors in cloud and virtualized environments without sacrificing image quality or workflow, allowing for real-time image processing and transmission, and overcoming the limitations of traditional systems by eliminating the need for direct connection to a display device for image processing.
Implementation Method 1
Traditional digital intraoral x-ray sensors contain a CCD, CMOS, or other type of imager and a means for converting X-rays into visible light, most commonly via a scintillator
Implementation Method 2
via a photo sensor to detect the source
Data Source
AI summary
An intraoral x-ray imaging device produces and transfers intraoral images of a patient to a network and which includes intraoral housing, an x-ray image sensor which is disposed in the intraoral housing, a digital high-bit generator which generates digital high bit depth grayscale sensor data and which is disposed inside the intraoral housing, a digital low-bit generator which converts the digital high bit depth grayscale sensor data to low bit depth grayscale sensor data and which is disposed inside the intraoral housing and a communication device which couples the digital low-bit generator to the network.