Patents by Inventor Frank Thiel

Frank Thiel 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: 11903780
    Abstract: A method for designing a dental component, specifically a restoration, a bite guard or an impression tray, comprising the steps of: measuring a dental situation; generating a 3D model of the dental situation; applying an artificial neural network for machine learning (convolutional neural network; CNN) to the 3D model of the dental situation and/or an initial 3D model of the dental component, and automatically generating a fully designed 3D model of the dental component, specifically the restoration, the bite guard or the impression tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Sascha Schneider, Frank Thiel
  • Patent number: 11830186
    Abstract: A method for designing a drilling template, wherein a dental situation is measured by means of a 3D surface measuring device and a 3D surface model of the dental situation is produced and/or measured by means of an X-ray device or an MRI device, wherein the dental situation is measured and a volume model of the dental situation is produced, the method comprising the steps of: applying an artificial neural network for machine learning (convolutional neural network; CNN) to the 3D surface model of the dental situation and/or the volume model of the dental situation and/or to an initial 3D model of the drilling template; and automatically producing a ready made 3D model of the drilling template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Sascha Schneider, Frank Thiel, Axel Schwotzer
  • Patent number: 11129522
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement system for optically measuring an object, comprising a dental camera and an optical attachment. In this case the optical attachment comprises at least one lens, which is shaped and arranged in such a way that the optical attachment has a negative focal length so that a measurement field or a measurement volume of the dental camera is enlarged by the optical attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Anders Adamson, Frank Thiel, Ulf Willers
  • Patent number: 11129697
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring system for measuring an implant-implant situation for planning an implant-supported tooth replacement part supported on at least two implants, comprising a scanning template and the at least two set implants. The scanning template has cut-outs for the individual implants, wherein first markings are arranged on surface regions around the cut-outs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Joachim Pfeiffer, Frank Thiel
  • Patent number: 11122180
    Abstract: A method of performing a three-dimensional (3D) scan of an object includes applying an optical contrast powder to the object and illuminating the object with light. First and second two-dimensional (2D) color image data corresponding to the object is generated. First and second 2D monochrome image data corresponding to the object is generated using the first and second 2D color image data. 3D data corresponding to the object is generated using the first and second monochrome 2D image data. Color 3D image data corresponding to the object is generated by adding color information to the 3D data. The color 3D image data is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Joachim Pfeiffer, Jian Lu, Alexei Harvard, Bjoern Voss, Frank Thiel
  • Publication number: 20210256696
    Abstract: A method for designing a drilling template, wherein a dental situation is measured by means of a 3D surface measuring device and a 3D surface model of the dental situation is produced and/or measured by means of an X-ray device or an MRI device, wherein the dental situation is measured and a volume model of the dental situation is produced, the method comprising the steps of: applying an artificial neural network for machine learning (convolutional neural network; CNN) to the 3D surface model of the dental situation and/or the volume model of the dental situation and/or to an initial 3D model of the drilling template: and automatically producing a ready made 3D model of the drilling template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Sascha SCHNEIDER, Frank THIEL, Axel SCHWOTZER
  • Publication number: 20210251729
    Abstract: A method for designing a dental component, specifically a restoration, a bite guard or an impression tray, comprising the steps of measuring a dental situation; generating a 3D model of the dental situation; applying an artificial neural network for machine learning (convolutional neural network; CNN) to the 3D model of the dental situation and/or an initial 3D model of the dental component, and automatically generating a fully designed 3D model of the dental component, specifically the restoration, the bite guard or the impression tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Sascha SCHNEIDER, Frank THIEL
  • Patent number: 10588494
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a camera for the three-dimensional measurement of a dental object, comprising at least one light source that emits an illumination beam, at least one projection mask that produces a projection pattern, focusing optics that display the projection pattern in a plane of sharp focus at a defined focal distance relative to the dental camera. The projection pattern projected onto the object is reflected by the object as an observation beam and is acquired by means of a sensor. During the measurement of the object, the focusing optics are controlled in such a way that the focal distance of the plane of sharp focus relative to the camera is adjusted incrementally between a number of defined scan positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Joachim Pfeiffer
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20190328222
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement system for optically measuring an object, comprising a dental camera and an optical attachment. In this case the optical attachment comprises at least one lens, which is shaped and arranged in such a way that the optical attachment has a negative focal length so that a measurement field or a measurement volume of the dental camera is enlarged by the optical attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Anders ADAMSON, Frank THIEL, Ulf WILLERS
  • Publication number: 20190282343
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring system for measuring an implant-implant situation for planning an implant-supported tooth replacement part supported on at least two implants, comprising a scanning template and the at least two set implants. The scanning template has cut-outs for the individual implants, wherein first markings are arranged on surface regions around the cut-outs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA inc.
    Inventors: Joachim PFEIFFER, Frank THIEL
  • Patent number: 10390693
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measurement system for optically measuring an object, comprising a dental camera and an optical attachment. In this case the optical attachment comprises at least one lens, which is shaped and arranged in such a way that the optical attachment has a negative focal length so that a measurement field or a measurement volume of the dental camera is enlarged by the optical attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Anders Adamson, Frank Thiel, Ulf Willers
  • Patent number: 10254111
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for optical 3D measurement of an object using an optical depth-scanning measurement method, comprising at least two light sources, at least two optical means for producing textured patterns and at least one recording means. A first pattern is produced with the aid of a first optical means and projected onto the object to be recorded as a first projection beam. A second pattern is produced with the aid of a second optical means and projected onto the object to be recorded as a second projection beam. The imaging optics is controlled and adjusted in such a way that a sharp focal plane is incrementally varied along an optical axis of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Gerrit Kocherscheidt
  • Patent number: 10206558
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a camera for the three-dimensional measurement of a dental object, comprising at least one light source, which emits an illumination beam, at least one projection means, which produces a projection pattern, focusing optics, which display the projection pattern in a plane of sharp focus at a defined focal distance relative to the dental camera. The projection pattern projected onto the object is reflected by the object as an observation beam and is acquired by means of a sensor. In the measurement of the object, the focusing optics are controlled in such a way that the focal distance of the plane of sharp focus relative to the camera is varied incrementally between a plurality of defined scan positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Joachim Pfeiffer, Frank Thiel
  • Publication number: 20180299262
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for optical 3D measurement of an object using an optical depth-scanning measurement method, comprising at least two light sources, at least two optical means for producing textured patterns and at least one recording means. A first pattern is produced with the aid of a first optical means and projected onto the object to be recorded as a first projection beam. A second pattern is produced with the aid of a second optical means and projected onto the object to be recorded as a second projection beam. The imaging optics is controlled and adjusted in such a way that a sharp focal plane is incrementally varied along an optical axis of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Frank THIEL, Gerrit KOCHERSCHEIDT
  • Patent number: 10080636
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring a dental situation comprising a plurality of implants and/or preparations for inserting dental restorations. Using a first measuring method, a first region of the dental situation is initially recorded while first measurement data are generated. The first region is selected to comprise at least two implants and/or preparations. Subsequently, object regions surrounding the implants and/or the preparations are established, and, while using a second measuring method, the established object regions are detected, and second measurement data are generated. The second measuring method is more precise than the first measuring method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Sascha Schneider
  • Publication number: 20180240270
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recording individual three-dimensional optical images to form a global image of a tooth situation comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw. A first 3D model of a first subsection of the upper jaw and a second 3D model of a second subsection of the lower jaw are produced from the individual images. Subsequently, a geometric positional relationship between the first 3D model and the second 3D model is determined, said positional relationship being determined by using a lateral image and/or using a contact pattern. Said lateral image comprises an image area which comprises at least part of the first subsection of the upper jaw and at least part of the second subsection of the lower jaw. Said contact pattern comprises several contact areas between the upper jaw and the lower jaw. Said contact pattern is measured by means of an occlusion paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Anders ADAMSON, Burkhard LEHNER, Joost SATTLER, Tom BOBACH, Frank THIEL
  • Patent number: 10057560
    Abstract: The method for optical three-dimensional surveying using an intraoral camera (2), wherein the intraoral camera (2) provides that a 3D image is created from at least one of the 2D recorded images or from at least one of the sequences, and wherein a plurality of all the 2D recorded images and/or sequences created in a first operating mode (M1) are used to create at least one overall 3D image. In addition, the method provides that a selection is made between the first operating mode (M1) and a second operating mode (M2), wherein a plurality of all 2D recorded images and/or sequences created during an interval of time (T) are used in the second operating mode (M2) to create at least one 3D image immediately before and/or after a triggering command (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Frank Thiel, Joachim Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 9980651
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the optical three-dimensional measurement of a dental object, wherein a first region of the dental object is measured using a first optical three-dimensional measurement method, wherein the first optical three-dimensional measurement method is based on a triangulation method and on a fringe projection method. According to the invention, a powdering occurs at least on the first region, wherein first image data are generated. Using a less precise, second optical three-dimensional measurement method, a second region of the dental object is subsequently measured without previous powdering, wherein second image data are generated. Afterwards, the first image data are combined with the second image data to form an overlapping three-dimensional exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Pfeiffer, Frank Thiel
  • Patent number: 9978172
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recording individual three-dimensional optical images (1) to form a global image (50) of a tooth situation comprising an upper jaw (2) and a lower jaw (3). A first 3D model (6) of a first subsection of the upper jaw and a second 3D model (8) of a second subsection of the lower jaw are produced from the individual images. Subsequently, a geometric positional relationship between the first 3D model (6) and the second 3D model (8) is determined, said positional relationship being determined by using a lateral image (20, 21, 22) and/or using a contact pattern (31, 32). Said lateral image (20, 21, 22) comprises an image area which comprises at least part of the first subsection of the upper jaw (2) and at least part of the second subsection of the lower jaw (3). Said contact pattern comprises several contact areas (31, 32) between the upper jaw and the lower jaw. Said contact pattern (30, 31, 32) is measured by means of an occlusion paper (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Anders Adamson, Burkhard Lehner, Joost Sattler, Tom Bobach, Frank Thiel