Patents by Inventor Bjorn Popilka

Bjorn Popilka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10531072
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a calibration device for calibrating a dental camera (1), which is based on a fringe projection method for optically measuring a dental object (10) in three dimensions, comprising a projection grid (2) for generating a projection pattern (3) that consists of a plurality of fringes (5), and an optical system (4) that projects the generated projection pattern (3) onto the object (10) to be measured. In a first step, a reference surface (74) with known dimensions is measured by the dental camera (1) using the fringe projection method. Actual coordinates (33, 36) of a plurality of measurement points (11) are determined on the reference surface (74), and the determined actual coordinates (33, 36) are compared to target coordinates (34) of the measurement points (11) on the reference surface (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Bjorn Popilka, Frank Thiel, Frank Forster
  • Patent number: 9881193
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reading a two-dimensional code (17) by means of a camera (1) used for the three-dimensional optical measurement of an object using triangulation. Said method comprises the steps of placing the camera (1) above the two-dimensional code (17), having a white light source (5) of the camera (1) illuminate the code (17), having the camera (1) capture an image (18) of the code (17), and having an arithmetic unit (6) read data encrypted in the code (17) from the image (18) of the code (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Dentsply International Inc.
    Inventors: Bjorn Popilka, Gerrit Kocherscheidt
  • Publication number: 20160307016
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reading a two-dimensional code (17) by means of a camera (1) used for the three-dimensional optical measurement of an object using triangulation. Said method comprises the steps of placing the camera (1) above the two-dimensional code (17), having a white light source (5) of the camera (1) illuminate the code (17), having the camera (1) capture an image (18) of the code (17), and having an arithmetic unit (6) read data encrypted in the code (17) from the image (18) of the code (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Bjorn POPILKA, Gerrit KOCHERSCHEIDT
  • Patent number: 9462993
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reference object (3) and a method for checking a measuring system (1), wherein a plurality of three-dimensional recordings (4, 8) of a reference object are recorded from different recording directions (5) by means of the measuring system (1). The reference object (3) has a closed shape, wherein each of the three-dimensional recordings (4) is registered with at least the preceding recording (4). In the case of a faulty calibration and/or in the case of a faulty registration, the individual recordings (4, 8) are deformed compared to the actual shape of the reference object (3), so that the deformation continues when assembling the individual three-dimensional recordings (4) to form an overall recording (54) and the generated overall recording (54) deviates in its dimensions from the dimensions of the reference object (3) as a result thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Björn Popilka, Volker Wedler, Anders Adamson, Frank Thiel
  • Patent number: 9456754
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an overall image of an object from a plurality of images. Each image includes three-dimensional data and color data and is segmented based on the color data to identify a first region with hard tissue and a second region with soft tissue. For each image, first and second weighting factors may be assigned. Points in the second region with a larger distance to a corresponding proximate part of the first region may have a smaller second weighting factor than a point with a smaller distance to a corresponding proximate part of the first region. The second weighting factor may be variable, with its value dependent upon a value of a first area section corresponding to the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Gerrit Kocherscheidt, Anders Adamson, Björn Popilka, Frank Thiel
  • Publication number: 20150288952
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a calibration device for calibrating a dental camera (1), which is based on a fringe projection method for optically measuring a dental object (10) in three dimensions, comprising a projection grid (2) for generating a projection pattern (3) that consists of a plurality of fringes (5), and an optical system (4) that projects the generated projection pattern (3) onto the object (10) to be measured. In a first step, a reference surface (74) with known dimensions is measured by the dental camera (1) using the fringe projection method. Actual coordinates (33, 36) of a plurality of measurement points (11) are determined on the reference surface (74), and the determined actual coordinates (33, 36) are compared to target coordinates (34) of the measurement points (11) on the reference surface (74).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Bjorn Popilka, Frank Thiel, Frank Forster
  • Publication number: 20140365140
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reference object (3) and a method for checking a measuring system (1), wherein a plurality of three-dimensional recordings (4, 8) of a reference object are recorded from different recording directions (5) by means of the measuring system (1). The reference object (3) has a closed shape, wherein each of the three-dimensional recordings (4) is registered with at least the preceding recording (4). In the case of a faulty calibration and/or in the case of a faulty registration, the individual recordings (4, 8) are deformed compared to the actual shape of the reference object (3), so that the deformation continues when assembling the individual three-dimensional recordings (4) to form an overall recording (54) and the generated overall recording (54) deviates in its dimensions from the dimensions of the reference object (3) as a result thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Björn Popilka, Volker Wedler, Anders Adamson, Frank Thiel
  • Publication number: 20140177931
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recording several three-dimensional recordings of a dental object, wherein each of the three-dimensional images comprises 3D measured data and color data of a measured surface of the object, wherein the individual images are combined to form an overall image using a computer-assisted recording algorithm, wherein first regions with hard tissue and second regions with soft tissue are identified in each of the images using a segmentation method that depends on the color data. In applying the recording algorithm, the first regions and the second regions are weighted with different weighting factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Gerrit Kocherscheidt, Anders Adamson, Björn Popilka, Frank Thiel
  • Patent number: 8290240
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, method, and computer program product for evaluating an object disposed on an upper surface of an object holder. At least one first frame representing a captured portion of the object is acquired, while the object holder is positioned at each of multiple locations. At least one second frame representing a captured portion of at least one other surface of the object holder is acquired, while the object holder is positioned at each of the locations. At least one spatial characteristic associated with the captured portion of the object is determined based on at least one of the acquired frames. Values of multiple optical markers captured in each second frame are determined, where at least two of the optical markers have different characteristics. At least one of coordinates associated with the values and an orientation of the captured portion of the at least one other surface are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Björn Popilka, Gerrit Kocherscheidt
  • Publication number: 20090310869
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, method, and computer program product for evaluating an object disposed on an upper surface of an object holder. At least one first frame representing a captured portion of the object is acquired, while the object holder is positioned at each of multiple locations. At least one second frame representing a captured portion of at least one other surface of the object holder is acquired, while the object holder is positioned at each of the locations. At least one spatial characteristic associated with the captured portion of the object is determined based on at least one of the acquired frames. Values of multiple optical markers captured in each second frame are determined, where at least two of the optical markers have different characteristics. At least one of coordinates associated with the values and an orientation of the captured portion of the at least one other surface are determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Bjorn Popilka, Gerrit Kocherscheidt