3D Scanning Space Carving for Transient Obstruction Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-dimensional scanning techniques face challenges in accurately and efficiently processing data when transient obstructions, such as soft tissues or instruments, obstruct the scanning volume, leading to inaccuracies and slowed computation in reconstructing models.
Innovation Solution
The method employs space carving techniques by maintaining a spatial matrix to identify and exclude unoccupied voxels, allowing for modified processing of outlier data, which improves both the accuracy and speed of three-dimensional reconstruction and real-time display by omitting or modifying points in prohibited volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous scanning is used to acquire three-dimensional data, then complete coverage of the scanned surface is achieved, but transient obstructions (tongue, instruments, fingers) obstruct the scanner's view and create inaccurate data points
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining a spatial matrix that records known empty voxels before processing new scan data. This pre-established knowledge base allows the system to quickly identify and exclude outlier data points from transient obstructions, improving measurement precision without requiring complete re-scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and separates problematic outlier data points from the main three-dimensional dataset by comparing new scan data against the pre-established spatial matrix of known empty regions. This extraction process removes harmful obstruction data while preserving valid scan information, directly addressing the transient obstruction problem.
2Productivity
If all three-dimensional scan data is processed to ensure complete model coverage, then comprehensive model reconstruction is achieved, but processing time increases due to inclusion of outlier data from obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
By pre-establishing the spatial matrix containing information about empty voxels before processing scan data, the system performs the preparatory work of identifying prohibited volumes in advance. This preliminary action significantly reduces the computation time required during actual data processing, as the system can quickly reference the pre-stored spatial information to filter outliers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the three-dimensional scan space into discrete voxels and organizes them in a spatial matrix structure. This segmentation allows for efficient processing by enabling the system to selectively process only relevant data regions while quickly excluding known empty spaces, thereby improving reconstruction speed without sacrificing completeness.
3Measurement precision
If a fine spatial grid is used to maintain high resolution in the three-dimensional model, then model detail is improved, but memory requirements and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spatial matrix allows different regions of the three-dimensional space to have different processing characteristics. Known empty voxels are marked and handled differently from potential object regions, enabling the system to maintain high resolution where needed while simplifying processing in known empty spaces. This local differentiation reduces overall processing complexity while preserving model detail.
Data Source
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AI summary
Three-dimensional scanning is improved with the use of space carving to exclude certain scan results from processing and display. Using space carving techniques, a spatial matrix is maintained to store data on volumetric regions (or voxels) known to be empty. By excluding or modifying processing of outlier data from within these unoccupied voxels, a three-dimensional reconstruction process can achieve concurrent improvements in accuracy and speed. In addition, a real time display of scan results can be improved by modifying how such outliers are rendered.