Abstract: A method for color shade matching obtains a 3D tooth surface representation using an intraoral scanner wherein the 3D tooth surface representation comprises surface data and a spatially resolved angular distribution of color vectors, wherein the spatially resolved angular distribution of color vectors associates one or more point positions from the surface data to the corresponding angular distribution of color vectors. The method identifies one or more shade values, where each shade value is associated with one angular distribution of color vectors from the spatially resolved angular distribution of color vectors, by comparing the angular distribution of color vectors to a set of reference angular distributions of color vectors, wherein each reference angular distribution in the set is associated with a corresponding shade value. The method displays, stores, or transmits the surface data with an indication of the one or more shade values.

Abstract: An apparatus for intraoral imaging has an illumination source that directs light to an object. An imaging apparatus forms an image at an image sensor array from reflected light from the object, the imaging apparatus having an optical stop along an optical axis. A phase modulator is disposed at or near the optical stop. An image processor conditions data from the image sensor array and provides processed image data of the object.

Abstract: A method for registering an imaging detector to a surface projects and records a sequence having a first sparse pattern of lines followed by a second sparse pattern of lines. A first subset of positions receives lines from both first and second sparse patterns corresponding to a first label. A second subset of positions receives only lines from the first sparse pattern corresponding to a second label. A third subset of positions receives only lines from the second sparse pattern corresponding to a third label. The first, second, and third labels are decoded and each member element of the first, second, and third subsets of positions registered to the imaging detector according to the decoded labels. One or more dense patterns of lines positionally correlated with registered member elements of the decoded labels are projected and recorded. An image of the surface contour is formed according to the recorded pattern.

Abstract: A method for registering an imaging detector to a surface projects and records a sequence having a first sparse pattern of lines followed by a second sparse pattern of lines. A first subset of positions receives lines from both first and second sparse patterns corresponding to a first label. A second subset of positions receives only lines from the first sparse pattern corresponding to a second label. A third subset of positions receives only lines from the second sparse pattern corresponding to a third label. The first, second, and third labels are decoded and each member element of the first, second, and third subsets of positions registered to the imaging detector according to the decoded labels. One or more dense patterns of lines positionally correlated with registered member elements of the decoded labels are projected and recorded. An image of the surface contour is formed according to the recorded pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for intraoral imaging has an illumination source that directs light to an object. An imaging apparatus forms an image at an image sensor array from reflected light from the object, the imaging apparatus having an optical stop along an optical axis. A phase modulator is disposed at or near the optical stop. An image processor conditions data from the image sensor array and provides processed image data of the object.

Abstract: A method for registering an imaging detector to a surface projects and records a sequence having a first sparse pattern of lines followed by a second sparse pattern of lines. A first subset of positions receives lines from both first and second sparse patterns corresponding to a first label. A second subset of positions receives only lines from the first sparse pattern corresponding to a second label. A third subset of positions receives only lines from the second sparse pattern corresponding to a third label. The first, second, and third labels are decoded and each member element of the first, second, and third subsets of positions registered to the imaging detector according to the decoded labels. One or more dense patterns of lines positionally correlated with registered member elements of the decoded labels are projected and recorded. An image of the surface contour is formed according to the recorded pattern.

Abstract: A method for registering an imaging detector to a surface projects and records a sequence having a first sparse pattern of lines followed by a second sparse pattern of lines. A first subset of positions receives lines from both first and second sparse patterns corresponding to a first label. A second subset of positions receives only lines from the first sparse pattern corresponding to a second label. A third subset of positions receives only lines from the second sparse pattern corresponding to a third label. The first, second, and third labels are decoded and each member element of the first, second, and third subsets of positions registered to the imaging detector according to the decoded labels. One or more dense patterns of lines positionally correlated with registered member elements of the decoded labels are projected and recorded. An image of the surface contour is formed according to the recorded pattern.

Abstract: A method for registering an imaging detector to a surface projects and records a sequence having a first sparse pattern of lines followed by a second sparse pattern of lines. A first subset of positions receives lines from both first and second sparse patterns corresponding to a first label. A second subset of positions receives only lines from the first sparse pattern corresponding to a second label. A third subset of positions receives only lines from the second sparse pattern corresponding to a third label. The first, second, and third labels are decoded and each member element of the first, second, and third subsets of positions registered to the imaging detector according to the decoded labels. One or more dense patterns of lines positionally correlated with registered member elements of the decoded labels are projected and recorded. An image of the surface contour is formed according to the recorded pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for intraoral imaging has an illumination source that directs light to an object. An imaging apparatus forms an image at an image sensor array from reflected light from the object, the imaging apparatus having an optical stop along an optical axis. A phase modulator is disposed at or near the optical stop. An image processor conditions data from the image sensor array and provides processed image data of the object.

Abstract: A method for mapping a sensor pixel array to an illumination pixel array according to a surface forms a group mapping by assigning each pixel in a on the sensor array to a group that has a group width defined by p adjacent pixels on the illumination pixel array by projecting and recording a first and a second multiple group index image with a first and second pattern of lines. Lines appearing in both first and second pattern are spaced by a first distance that is a first multiple of group width p, and lines that appear only in either pattern are evenly spaced by a second distance that exceeds the first distance. A subset of p multiline images are projected, each projecting a line within each group. Lines in one of the multiline images are correlated with lines from the group index images to generate the group mapping.

Abstract: A method for mapping a sensor pixel array to an illumination pixel array according to a surface forms a group mapping by assigning each pixel in a on the sensor array to a group that has a group width defined by p adjacent pixels on the illumination pixel array by projecting and recording a first and a second multiple group index image with a first and second pattern of lines. Lines appearing in both first and second pattern are spaced by a first distance that is a first multiple of group width p, and lines that appear only in either pattern are evenly spaced by a second distance that exceeds the first distance. A subset of p multiline images are projected, each projecting a line within each group. Lines in one of the multiline images are correlated with lines from the group index images to generate the group mapping.

Abstract: A method for mapping a sensor pixel array to an illumination pixel array according to a surface forms a group mapping by assigning each pixel to a corresponding group, each group with p adjacent pixels on the illumination array and each ordered set having k groups, by projecting and recording a sequence of group index images. Each group index image has, in at least two of the groups, no illuminated pixels and in fewer than (k?1) groups, from 2 to (p?1) adjacent illuminated pixels. The sequence of group index images uses pixels from each of the k groups. At least p multiline images are projected and recorded, wherein each multiline image projects a line within each group. Lines in the multiline images are correlated according to the group mapping and the correlation stored in memory. Integers k and p are greater than or equal to 3.

Abstract: A method for mapping a sensor pixel array to an illumination pixel array according to a surface forms a group map by assigning each pixel on the sensor array to a corresponding group of an ordered set of groups, each group defined by a set of p adjacent pixels on the illumination pixel array by projecting and recording at least n projected images from a first set of n binary patterns, with transitions between pixels in each of the n binary patterns only at group boundaries. At least m images from a second set of m binary patterns are projected and recorded, with one or more transitions between pixels in each of the m binary pattern offset from group boundaries. At least p multiline images are projected and recorded. Lines in the recorded multiline images are correlated with lines in the multiline images according to the group map.

Abstract: An intra-oral camera has a projector that is energizable to emit patterned illumination and an imaging sensor that is energizable to obtain image content. An inertial motion sensing element provides signals indicative of acceleration of the intra-oral imaging apparatus along at least one axis. A processor is in signal communication with the projector, the imaging sensor, and the inertial motion sensing element and is configured to initiate image acquisition according to signals obtained from the inertial motion sensing element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a color mapping for a dental object. The method includes generating a transformation matrix according to a set of spectral reflectance data for a statistically valid sampling of teeth. Illumination is directed toward the dental object over at least a first, a second, and a third wavelength band, one wavelength band at a time. For each of a plurality of pixels in an imaging array, an image data value is obtained, corresponding to each of the at least first, second, and third wavelength bands. The transformation matrix is applied to form the color mapping by generating a set of visual color values for each of the plurality of pixels according to the obtained image data values and according to image data values obtained from a reference object at the at least first, second, and third wavelength bands. The color mapping can be stored in an electronic memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a color mapping for a dental object. The method includes generating a transformation matrix according to a set of spectral reflectance data for a statistically valid sampling of teeth. Illumination is directed toward the dental object over at least a first, a second, and a third wavelength band, one wavelength band at a time. For each of a plurality of pixels in an imaging array, an image data value is obtained, corresponding to each of the at least first, second, and third wavelength bands. The transformation matrix is applied to form the color mapping by generating a set of visual color values for each of the plurality of pixels according to the obtained image data values and according to image data values obtained from a reference object at the at least first, second, and third wavelength bands. The color mapping can be stored in an electronic memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a color mapping for a dental object. The method includes generating a transformation matrix according to a set of spectral reflectance data for a statistically valid sampling of teeth. Illumination is directed toward the dental object over at least a first, a second, and a third wavelength band, one wavelength band at a time. For each of a plurality of pixels in an imaging array, an image data value is obtained, corresponding to each of the at least first, second, and third wavelength bands. The transformation matrix is applied to form the color mapping by generating a set of visual color values for each of the plurality of pixels according to the obtained image data values and according to image data values obtained from a reference object at the at least first, second, and third wavelength bands. The color mapping can be stored in an electronic memory.

Abstract: A patterned scintillator panel including an extruded scintillator layer comprising a thermoplastic polyolefin and a scintillator material, wherein the scintillator layer comprises a pattern. Also disclosed is a method of making a patterned scintillator panel including forming a scintillator layer by melt extrusion, the scintillator layer comprising thermoplastic particles comprising a thermoplastic polyolefin and a scintillator material; and patterning the scintillator layer. Further disclosed is a method of making a patterned scintillator panel including forming a scintillator layer by injection molding, the scintillator layer comprising thermoplastic particles comprising a thermoplastic polyolefin and a scintillator material; and patterning the scintillator layer.

Abstract: A method for mapping a sensor pixel array to an illumination pixel array according to a surface forms a group map by assigning each pixel on the sensor array to a corresponding group of an ordered set of groups, each group defined by a set of p adjacent pixels on the illumination pixel array by projecting and recording at least n projected images from a first set of n binary patterns, with transitions between pixels in each of the n binary patterns only at group boundaries. At least m images from a second set of m binary patterns are projected and recorded, with one or more transitions between pixels in each of the m binary pattern offset from group boundaries. At least p multiline images are projected and recorded. Lines in the recorded multiline images are correlated with lines in the multiline images according to the group map.

Abstract: A method for mapping a sensor pixel array to an illumination pixel array according to a surface forms a group mapping by assigning each pixel to a corresponding group, each group with p adjacent pixels on the illumination array and each ordered set having k groups, by projecting and recording a sequence of group index images. Each group index image has, in at least two of the groups, no illuminated pixels and in fewer than (k?1) groups, from 2 to (p?1) adjacent illuminated pixels. The sequence of group index images uses pixels from each of the k groups. At least p multiline images are projected and recorded, wherein each multiline image projects a line within each group. Lines in the multiline images are correlated according to the group mapping and the correlation stored in memory. Integers k and p are greater than or equal to 3.