Stereo Camera Assembly for Dental 3D Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental imaging technologies face challenges in capturing highly precise three-dimensional images of small objects like teeth due to bulky sensor components and the need for high resolution, particularly in areas difficult to access, such as the oral cavity.
Innovation Solution
A method and assembly involving pre-calibrated cameras with overlapping image areas, where a random image with distinct neighborhoods is projected onto the object, allowing for the determination of consistent neighborhoods and transformation of image positions into three-dimensional space, enabling efficient and precise three-dimensional image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensor components are used to achieve high resolution three-dimensional imaging, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor components into a single integrated sensor unit that captures both intensity and color information simultaneously. This merging approach maintains high measurement precision by preserving all necessary sensing capabilities while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for separate components for different types of measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit is designed to perform multiple functions - capturing intensity data for three-dimensional shape reconstruction and capturing color data for surface characterization. This multi-functional sensor eliminates the need for separate specialized sensors, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive measurement precision.
2Ease of operation
If miniaturization of the capturing unit is implemented to access difficult areas, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the sensor unit, projection unit, and illumination sources are integrated within a compact handheld probe. This nesting allows the capturing unit to be miniaturized for easy access to difficult areas while maintaining precise relative positioning of components through integrated manufacturing, thereby meeting stringent manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calibration of the sensor unit to establish precise spatial relationships between the sensor, projection unit, and illumination sources. This pre-calibration compensates for minor manufacturing variations and ensures high dimensional accuracy is achieved even with miniaturized components, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while improving ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If pre-calibration and epipolar line determination are performed to improve three-dimensional reconstruction accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs pre-calibration of the camera system to determine intrinsic parameters and establishes epipolar line relationships between multiple cameras in advance. These preliminary computations are stored for reuse during actual three-dimensional reconstruction, thereby improving measurement precision through accurate geometric modeling while reducing time loss by avoiding repeated calculations during image processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex real-time geometric calculations with pre-computed lookup tables and simplified correlation algorithms. By substituting intensive mechanical computation with pre-prepared data structures and optimized search procedures, the system achieves high three-dimensional reconstruction accuracy while significantly reducing calculation time during actual operation.
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 allows for the simple and cost-effective capture of highly detailed three-dimensional images with improved precision and handling, facilitating the creation of larger images from smaller partial images and enabling realistic color representation.
Implementation Method 1
a predetermined random image is projected onto the object to be imaged, the individual picture points of the random image having at least one of two different color values and/or intensity values
Implementation Method 2
two cameras which have overlapping image areas... an image captured by one of the two cameras and to an image position of an image captured by the other camera
Data Source
AI summary
A method for acquiring three-dimensional images of objects uses two cameras having acquisition areas that overlap each other. In the course of a calibration method, a group of epipolar lines associated with each other is determined for each of the cameras. A specified random image is projected onto the object to be imaged. For each pixel of the camera, a first environment is determined, an associated first epipolar line is determined, and for the first epipolar line an associated second epipolar line of the second camera is determined. For all pixels of the image of the second camera that are located on the second epipolar line, a second environment congruent to the first environment is determined. The intensity values of the first and the second environments are compared with each other and a measure of agreement is calculated. A spatial position is determined by use of the previously determined transformation.