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).

  • Patent number: 9448061
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 9291565
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Publication number: 20160051348
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 9208531
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 9175945
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 9170200
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 9170199
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 9140649
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 9013701
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 8874404
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 8845526
    Abstract: A multi-purpose device that can be used, as, among other things, an otoscope and a three dimensional scanning system is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 8743377
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 8493574
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Publication number: 20130152670
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Patent number: 8454365
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 8384916
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Publication number: 20130027516
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Publication number: 20130002824
    Abstract: A multi-purpose device that can be used, as, among other things, an otoscope and a three dimensional scanning system is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Publication number: 20130003078
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic
  • Publication number: 20130002426
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas P. Hart, Federico Frigerio, Douglas M. Johnston, Manas C. Menon, Daniel Vlasic