Oral Scanner Spacer Attachment for Sharp Imaging and Easy Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral scanner systems lack reliability in maintaining a consistent distance between the camera and the object being scanned, leading to potential issues with image sharpness and the need for regular cleaning of the spacer attachment.
Innovation Solution
An oral scanner system with a detachable spacer attachment that maintains a constant distance and includes a processor to determine the attachment state, using interacting elements to ensure proper attachment and provide visual, acoustic, or tactile feedback if the spacer is not correctly attached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a spacer attachment is used to maintain constant distance, then image sharpness is improved, but the spacer attachment requires regular cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer attachment is designed as a separate, detachable component from the camera housing. This segmentation allows the spacer to be easily removed and cleaned independently without disassembling the entire camera unit, addressing the cleaning frequency issue while maintaining the constant distance function for image sharpness
2Ease of operation
If the spacer attachment is detachable, then cleaning is easier, but attachment reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer attachment includes a marker that is positioned in advance to indicate the correct attachment state. This preliminary visual indicator ensures that users can quickly verify proper attachment without complex mechanisms, maintaining reliability while preserving ease of cleaning through detachability
Solution Approach 2:
The marker on the spacer attachment provides visual feedback to the user about the attachment state. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable attachment by allowing users to confirm correct positioning, while the detachable design remains easy to clean
3Ease of operation
If a marker is added to indicate attachment state, then user feedback is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The marker is implemented as a simple visual indicator that changes its appearance or position to indicate attachment state. This uses basic visual principles rather than complex electronic or mechanical feedback systems, providing user feedback while minimizing added device complexity
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
Ensures sharp imaging by maintaining a consistent distance and allows for easy cleaning of the spacer attachment, while providing reliable attachment feedback to the user.
Implementation Method 1
a light-sensitive sensor element array arranged for outputting at least one signal indicative of light intensity on at least one of a plurality of light-sensitive sensor elements of the light-sensitive sensor element array
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~4B
AI summary
The present disclosure is concerned with an oral scanner system having an oral scanner having a handle, a head, a camera having a light inlet provided at the head, the camera having a light-sensitive sensor element array arranged for outputting at least one signal indicative of light intensity on at least one of a plurality of light-sensitive sensor elements of the light-sensitive sensor element array, a spacer attachment being detachably attached to the head, the spacer attachment enabling a constant distance between a scanned object and the light inlet of the camera, and a user-operable input element for initiating a scanning procedure by the oral scanner, and a processor being arranged to receive the at least one signal from the camera in response to an operation of the user-operable input element and/or automatically at least once during operation of the oral scanner and further being arranged to determine, based on an analysis of the at least one signal, an attachment state of the spacer attachment.