Patents by Inventor Douglas M. Johnston
Douglas M. Johnston 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).
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Patent number: 9448061Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 9291565Abstract: Various improvements to inflatable membranes for use in three-dimensional imaging of interior spaces are disclosed. These improvements include, among other things, equipping the inflatable membrane with desirable optical features, such as fiducials, optical coatings, etc., that can be used to improve data acquisition.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Publication number: 20160051348Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein employ a scanning system for capturing highly detailed digital dental models. These models may be used within a dentist's office for a wide array of dental functions including quality control, restoration design, and fitting. These models may also, or instead, be transmitted to dental laboratories that may, alone or in collaboration with the originating dentist or other dental professionals, transform the digital model into a physical realization of a dental hardware item.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2015Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: Joseph Boerjes, Simon K. J. Schiessl, Michael P. Girard, Micah J. Rosenbloom, Eric B. Paley, Edward K. Tekeian, Steven V. Weeks, David E. Altobelli, Douglas M. Johnston, Janos Rohaly
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Patent number: 9208531Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein employ a scanning system for capturing highly detailed digital dental models. These models may be used within a dentist's office for a wide array of dental functions including quality control, restoration design, and fitting. These models may also, or instead, be transmitted to dental laboratories that may, alone or in collaboration with the originating dentist or other dental professionals, transform the digital model into a physical realization of a dental hardware item.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2012Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Joseph Boerjes, Simon K. J. Schiessl, Michael P. Girard, Micah J. Rosenbloom, Eric B. Paley, Edward K. Tekeian, Steven V. Weeks, David E. Altobelli, Douglas M. Johnston, Janos Rohaly
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Patent number: 9175945Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 9170200Abstract: Various improvements to inflatable membranes are disclosed. These improvements include, among other things, features on the membrane that can mitigate hazards such as bubble formation or frictional damage during inflation of the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 9170199Abstract: Various improvements to three dimensional imaging systems having inflatable membranes are disclosed. These improvements include, among other things, a proximity sensor that can be used to warn a user of the device when approaching a feature in a cavity, such as an eardrum in an ear canal; or optical sensors with an optical coating matching the refractive index of the medium in which the optical sensors are deployed, to improve data acquisition.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 9140649Abstract: Various improvements to inflatable membranes are disclosed. These improvements include techniques for advantageously controlling the inflation of a membrane within a cavity, such as a human ear canal.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 9013701Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 8874404Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 8845526Abstract: A multi-purpose device that can be used, as, among other things, an otoscope and a three dimensional scanning system is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 8743377Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2013Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 8493574Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Publication number: 20130152670Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2013Publication date: June 20, 2013Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Patent number: 8454365Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein employ a scanning system for capturing highly detailed digital dental models. These models may be used within a dentist's office for a wide array of dental functions including quality control, restoration design, and fitting. These models may also, or instead, be transmitted to dental laboratories that may, alone or in collaboration with the originating dentist or other dental professionals, transform the digital model into a physical realization of a dental hardware item.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2007Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Joseph Boerjes, Simon K. J. Schiessl, Michael P. Girard, Micah J. Rosenbloom, Eric B. Paley, Edward K. Tekeian, Steven V. Weeks, David E. Altobelli, Douglas M. Johnston, Janos Rohaly
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Patent number: 8384916Abstract: The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain dynamic three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Publication number: 20130027516Abstract: Various configurations of cameras and cameral elements such as CCDs or the like are disclosed for use in three-dimensional imaging of interior spaces based upon distance measurements.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Publication number: 20130002824Abstract: A multi-purpose device that can be used, as, among other things, an otoscope and a three dimensional scanning system is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Publication number: 20130003078Abstract: Various improvements to inflatable membranes for use in three-dimensional imaging of interior spaces are disclosed. These improvements include, among other things, equipping the inflatable membrane with desirable optical features, such as fiducials, optical coatings, etc., that can be used to improve data acquisition.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
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Publication number: 20130002426Abstract: Various improvements to three dimensional imaging systems having inflatable membranes are disclosed. These improvements include, among other things, a proximity sensor that can be used to warn a user of the device when approaching a feature in a cavity, such as an eardrum in an ear canal; or optical sensors with an optical coating matching the refractive index of the medium in which the optical sensors are deployed, to improve data acquisition.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic