Intraoral scanner and computing system for capturing images and generating three-dimensional models

Abstract

An intraoral scanner and computing system for capturing images and generating three-dimensional models. The intraoral scanner includes a handle, a mouthpiece extending from the handle, a flood illuminator projecting light from the mouthpiece, a structured light projector projecting a light pattern from the mouthpiece, and stereo camera capturing images through the mouthpiece. An optimal image of each of different materials within the captured images are combined to create a high dynamic range image. The structured light pattern in the high dynamic range image is used to determine three-dimensional measurements and create a three-dimensional model.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intraoral scanner comprising:
 a handle;   a mouthpiece extending from the handle;   a structured light projector projecting a light pattern from the mouthpiece; and   a stereo camera capturing images through the mouthpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The intraoral scanner of  claim 1 , further comprising a flood illuminator projecting light from the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         3 . The intraoral scanner of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a mounting dock and the mouthpiece comprises a mounting receiver releasably coupled to the mounting dock. 
     
     
         4 . The intraoral scanner of  claim 2 , wherein the mouthpiece is rotatable relative to the handle about the mounting dock along a longitudinal axis of the intraoral scanner. 
     
     
         5 . The intraoral scanner of  claim 1 , wherein the light pattern is at least one of spatial modulation and temporal modulation. 
     
     
         6 . A system of capturing and processing image data comprising:
 an intraoral scanner comprising a structured light projector and a stereo camera;   a computing system operable to receive data from the intraoral scanner, the computing system comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor
 receives image data from the intraoral scanner, wherein the image data comprises a plurality of images of a scene having a plurality of different materials; 
 identifies, within the plurality of images, an optimal image of each of the plurality of different materials; and 
 generates a high dynamic range image of the scene by combining the optimal images of each of the plurality of different materials. 
   
     
     
         7 . A method of capturing and processing image data from within a patient's mouth comprising the steps of:
 illuminating a plurality of materials within a patient's mouth with a structured light projector;   capturing a plurality of images of the plurality of materials with a stereo camera;   identifying, within the plurality of images, an optimal image of each of the plurality of different materials; and   generating, by a computing system, a high dynamic range image of an inside of the patient's mouth by combining the optimal images of each of the plurality of different materials.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the high dynamic range image comprises an overlaid pattern projected by the structured light projector and captured by the stereo camera. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining three-dimensional measurements of the inside of the patient's mouth using the overlaid pattern of the high dynamic range image; and   generating, by the computing system, a digital three-dimensional model of the inside of the patient's mouth using the three-dimensional measurement.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step illuminating the plurality of materials within the patient's mouth with a flood illuminator. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the steps of illuminating the plurality of materials within the patient's mouth with the flood illuminator and the structured light projector, and capturing the plurality of images of the plurality of materials with a stereo camera are performed simultaneously using an intraoral scanner.