Abstract: An intra-oral camera (10) includes an imaging system (12), an imaging sensor (16) and an image stabilization apparatus (14) comprising a liquid lens (36), lens driver elements (38), a microprocessor (34) and a motion sensor (32). The motion sensor (32) provides a motion signal indicating camera movement. The adjustable liquid lens (36) has an interface between first and second immiscible liquids and is actuable to change refraction with respect to a first axis in response to a first adjustment signal at a first pair of electrodes and with respect to a second axis in response to a second adjustment signal at a second pair of electrodes. The microprocessor (34) is responsive to stored instructions for obtaining the motion signal from the motion sensor (32) and in communication with lens driver elements (38) for providing the first and second adjustment signals to the adjustable liquid lens (36).

Abstract: The present invention related to an auto focus intraoral camera. The auto focus intraoral camera includes an illumination module for providing illuminating light, an imager, and a lens system for collecting light reflected from an object and focusing the light onto the imager, wherein said lens system further comprises at least one liquid lens including a vessel filled with a first liquid, and a second liquid being in contact with said first liquid, the first and second liquids being immiscible, of different optical indexes, and of substantially same density; wherein the lens system further includes a driver integrated circuit applying variable voltage to control the focal length of said lens. According to the present application, a compact auto focus intraoral camera with a small size and simple structure is provided, which decreases the camera complexity and improve the performance.

Abstract: An auto focus intraoral camera with liquid lens includes: a digital imaging sensor (304) for capturing a digital image of an object; a light source for illuminating the object; an imaging lens assembly (302) for directing the light from the object along an optical path toward the digital imaging sensor; a liquid lens (100) disposed in the optical path between the imaging lens assembly and the digital imaging sensor, where the liquid lens has an adjustable focal length; a driver (306) for applying a variable voltage to the liquid lens to control the focal length of the liquid lens; and a processor (308) for processing the digital image captured by the digital imaging sensor. Meanwhile, a continuously auto focusing method for an intraoral camera is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention related to an auto focus intraoral camera. The auto focus intraoral camera includes an illumination module for providing illuminating light, an imager, and a lens system for collecting light reflected from an object and focusing the light onto the imager, wherein said lens system further comprises at least one liquid lens including a vessel filled with a first liquid, and a second liquid being in contact with said first liquid, the first and second liquids being immiscible, of different optical indexes, and of substantially same density; wherein the lens system further includes a driver integrated circuit applying variable voltage to control the focal length of said lens. According to the present application, a compact auto focus intraoral camera with a small size and simple structure is provided, which decreases the camera complexity and improve the performance.

Abstract: The present invention has disclosed a segmentation algorithm for pulmonary nodule in chest radiograph, which comprises applying ray-casting approach on an image to get cast rays; fitting the intensity profile of each cast ray by using a polynomial curve; smoothing the polynomial curves; and searching two edge pixels in each smoothed curves. With this invention, possible edge of nodules in a chest radiograph can be identified robustly and efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention has disclosed a process of image segmentation, which comprises applying edge detection to an image to obtain an edge image and preprocessing the image; oversegmentating the preprocessed image to obtain the plurality of initial partitions; constructing k-NN Graph for the oversegmented image based on the similarity between the initial partitions; and using k-NN Graph to merge the initial partitions. With the present invention, the merging process can be accelerated and the segmentation accuracy can be improved.

Abstract: The present invention has disclosed a method and apparatus for lung nodule segmentation in a chest radiograph. The method comprises preprocessing the chest radiograph and propagating the segmentation in the image based on the fast marching method. The method further includes design of velocity function. With the present invention, a fast and robust segmentation can be achieved.