Patents by Inventor Timothy I. Fillion

Timothy I. Fillion 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).

  • Publication number: 20220142750
    Abstract: Provided are a system, method, and computer readable storage medium for generating an intra-oral scan of a dentition. A contiguous scan of an occlusal surface of at least a part of one arch of the dentition is generated. At least one additional surface is associated to the contiguous scan of the occlusal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Craig A. Andreiko, Andrew F. Vesper, Neil H.K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion
  • Patent number: 11234798
    Abstract: Provided are a system, method, and computer readable storage medium for generating an intra-oral scan of a dentition. A contiguous scan of an occlusal surface of at least a part of one arch of the dentition is generated. At least one additional surface is associated to the contiguous scan of the occlusal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: ORMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Craig A. Andreiko, Andrew F. Vesper, Neil H. K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion
  • Publication number: 20190046304
    Abstract: Provided are a system, method, and computer readable storage medium for generating an intra-oral scan of a dentition. A contiguous scan of an occlusal surface of at least a part of one arch of the dentition is generated. At least one additional surface is associated to the contiguous scan of the occlusal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Craig A. Andreiko, Andrew F. Vesper, Neil H.K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion
  • Patent number: 10098713
    Abstract: Provided are a system, method, and computer readable storage medium for generating an intra-oral scan of a dentition. A contiguous scan of an occlusal surface of at least a part of one arch of the dentition is generated. At least one additional surface is associated to the contiguous scan of the occlusal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ORMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Craig A. Andreiko, Andrew F. Vesper, Neil H. K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion
  • Patent number: 9955872
    Abstract: Described are embodiments of methods of obtaining three-dimensional (3D) surface data of an object scene such as an intra-oral cavity. For example, measured surfaces may include the enamel surface of teeth, the dentin substructure of teeth, gum tissue and various dental structures. The methods can also be applied in medical applications and other applications in which 3D measurement data are acquired with maneuverable 3D measurement devices. In certain embodiments, the measurement device is positioned and translated to enable 3D data to be acquired for a backbone 3D data set. Subsequent controlled motion of the measurement device enables additional 3D data to be acquired and accurately joined to the backbone 3D data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: DENTAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Andrew F. Vesper, Timothy I. Fillion
  • Publication number: 20150366457
    Abstract: Described are embodiments of methods of obtaining three-dimensional (3D) surface data of an object scene such as an intra-oral cavity. For example, measured surfaces may include the enamel surface of teeth, the dentin substructure of teeth, gum tissue and various dental structures. The methods can also be applied in medical applications and other applications in which 3D measurement data are acquired with maneuverable 3D measurement devices. In certain embodiments, the measurement device is positioned and translated to enable 3D data to be acquired for a backbone 3D data set. Subsequent controlled motion of the measurement device enables additional 3D data to be acquired and accurately joined to the backbone 3D data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Andrew F. Vesper, Timothy I. Fillion
  • Patent number: 9217859
    Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for high-speed phase shifting of an optical beam. A transparent plate having regions of different optical thickness is illuminated by an optical beam along a path of incidence that extends through the regions. The transparent plate can be moved or the optical beam can be steered to generate the path of incidence. The optical beam exiting the transparent plate has an instantaneous phase value according to the region in which the optical beam is incident. Advantageously, the phase values are repeatable and stable regardless of the location of incidence of the optical beam within the respective regions, and phase changes at high modulation rates are possible. The method and apparatus can be used to modulate a phase difference of a pair of coherent optical beams such as in an interferometric fringe projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Dimensional Photonics International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Neil H. K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion, Gurpreet Singh, Nathan E. Wallace
  • Patent number: 9157733
    Abstract: Described are embodiments of methods of obtaining three-dimensional (3D) surface data of an object scene such as an intra-oral cavity. For example, measured surfaces may include the enamel surface of teeth, the dentin substructure of teeth, gum tissue and various dental structures. The methods can also be applied in medical applications and other applications in which 3D measurement data are acquired with maneuverable 3D measurement devices. In certain embodiments, the measurement device is positioned and translated to enable 3D data to be acquired for a backbone 3D data set. Subsequent controlled motion of the measurement device enables additional 3D data to be acquired and accurately joined to the backbone 3D data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Dimensional Photonics International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Andrew F. Vesper, Timothy I. Fillion
  • Publication number: 20140340733
    Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for high-speed phase shifting of an optical beam. A transparent plate having regions of different optical thickness is illuminated by an optical beam along a path of incidence that extends through the regions. The transparent plate can be moved or the optical beam can be steered to generate the path of incidence. The optical beam exiting the transparent plate has an instantaneous phase value according to the region in which the optical beam is incident. Advantageously, the phase values are repeatable and stable regardless of the location of incidence of the optical beam within the respective regions, and phase changes at high modulation rates are possible. The method and apparatus can be used to modulate a phase difference of a pair of coherent optical beams such as in an interferometric fringe projection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Neil H.K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion, Gurpreet Singh, Nathan E. Wallace
  • Patent number: 8848271
    Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for high-speed phase shifting of an optical beam. A transparent plate having regions of different optical thickness is illuminated by an optical beam along a path of incidence that extends through the regions. The transparent plate can be moved or the optical beam can be steered to generate the path of incidence. The optical beam exiting the transparent plate has an instantaneous phase value according to the region in which the optical beam is incident. Advantageously, the phase values are repeatable and stable regardless of the location of incidence of the optical beam within the respective regions, and phase changes at high modulation rates are possible. The method and apparatus can be used to modulate a phase difference of a pair of coherent optical beams such as in an interferometric fringe projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Dimensional Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Neil H. K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion, Gurpreet Singh, Nathan E. Wallace
  • Publication number: 20140272774
    Abstract: Provided are a system, method, and computer readable storage medium for generating an intra-oral scan of a dentition. A contiguous scan of an occlusal surface of at least a part of one arch of the dentition is generated. At least one additional surface is associated to the contiguous scan of the occlusal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Robert F. DILLON, Craig A. ANDREIKO, Andrew F. VESPER, Neil H.K. JUDELL, Timothy I. FILLION
  • Publication number: 20140177030
    Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for high-speed phase shifting of an optical beam. A transparent plate having regions of different optical thickness is illuminated by an optical beam along a path of incidence that extends through the regions. The transparent plate can be moved or the optical beam can be steered to generate the path of incidence. The optical beam exiting the transparent plate has an instantaneous phase value according to the region in which the optical beam is incident. Advantageously, the phase values are repeatable and stable regardless of the location of incidence of the optical beam within the respective regions, and phase changes at high modulation rates are possible. The method and apparatus can be used to modulate a phase difference of a pair of coherent optical beams such as in an interferometric fringe projection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Dimensional Photonics International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Neil H.K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion, Gurpreet Singh, Nathan E. Wallace
  • Patent number: 8699111
    Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for high-speed phase shifting of an optical beam. A transparent plate having regions of different optical thickness is illuminated by an optical beam along a path of incidence that extends through the regions. The transparent plate can be moved or the optical beam can be steered to generate the path of incidence. The optical beam exiting the transparent plate has an instantaneous phase value according to the region in which the optical beam is incident. Advantageously, the phase values are repeatable and stable regardless of the location of incidence of the optical beam within the respective regions, and phase changes at high modulation rates are possible. The method and apparatus can be used to modulate a phase difference of a pair of coherent optical beams such as in an interferometric fringe projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Neil H. K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion, Gurpreet Singh, Nathan E. Wallace
  • Publication number: 20120062557
    Abstract: Provided are a system and method for generating and displaying intra-oral measurement data. A measurement field of view of an intra-oral scanning device is directed at a first region of an object scene to acquire image data related to the first region. The intra-oral scanning device is moved from the first region along a path proximal to one or more surfaces of the object scene to a second region of the object scene. The intra-oral scanning device acquires image data corresponding to the object scene along the path. A set of 3D data is presented in a display. 3D data are generated from the image data acquired for the first region of the object scene to the second region of the object scene. Presented in a window of the display is a current video image of acquired image data of the object scene in the measurement field of view. The current video image overlays a respective portion of a graphical representation of accumulated data of the set of 3D data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: DIMENSIONAL PHOTONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Olaf N. Krohg, Andrew F. Vesper, Timothy I. Fillion
  • Publication number: 20120062701
    Abstract: Described are embodiments of methods of obtaining three-dimensional (3D) surface data of an object scene such as an intra-oral cavity. For example, measured surfaces may include the enamel surface of teeth, the dentin substructure of teeth, gum tissue and various dental structures. The methods can also be applied in medical applications and other applications in which 3D measurement data are acquired with maneuverable 3D measurement devices. In certain embodiments, the measurement device is positioned and translated to enable 3D data to be acquired for a backbone 3D data set. Subsequent controlled motion of the measurement device enables additional 3D data to be acquired and accurately joined to the backbone 3D data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: DIMENSIONAL PHOTONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Andrew F. Vesper, Timothy I. Fillion
  • Publication number: 20110316978
    Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for generating a display of a three-dimensional (ā€œ3Dā€) metrology surface. The method includes determining a 3D point cloud representation of a surface of an object in a point cloud coordinate space. An image of the object is acquired in a camera coordinate space and then transformed from the camera coordinate space to the point cloud coordinate space. The transformed image is mapped onto the 3D point cloud representation to generate a realistic display of the surface of the object. In one embodiment, a metrology camera used to acquire images for determination of the 3D point cloud is also used to acquire the image of the object so that the transformation between coordinate spaces is not performed. The display includes a grayscale or color shading for the pixels or surface elements in the representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: DIMENSIONAL PHOTONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Timothy I. Fillion, Olaf N. Krohg, Neil H. K. Judell
  • Publication number: 20110298896
    Abstract: Described are methods and apparatus for reducing speckle noise in images, such as images of objects illuminated by coherent light sources and images of objects illuminated by interferometric fringe patterns. According to one method, an object is illuminated with a structured illumination pattern of coherent radiation projected along a projection axis. An angular orientation of the projection axis is modulated over an angular range during an image acquisition interval. Advantageously, shape features of the structured illumination pattern projected onto the surface of the object remain unchanged during image acquisition and the acquired images exhibit reduced speckle noise. The structured illumination pattern can be a fringe pattern such as an interferometric fringe pattern generated by a 3D metrology system used to determine surface information for the illuminated object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: DIMENSIONAL PHOTONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Neil H. K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion, Ran Yi
  • Publication number: 20110299094
    Abstract: Described are a method and apparatus for high-speed phase shifting of an optical beam. A transparent plate having regions of different optical thickness is illuminated by an optical beam along a path of incidence that extends through the regions. The transparent plate can be moved or the optical beam can be steered to generate the path of incidence. The optical beam exiting the transparent plate has an instantaneous phase value according to the region in which the optical beam is incident. Advantageously, the phase values are repeatable and stable regardless of the location of incidence of the optical beam within the respective regions, and phase changes at high modulation rates are possible. The method and apparatus can be used to modulate a phase difference of a pair of coherent optical beams such as in an interferometric fringe projection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: DIMENSIONAL PHOTONICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Robert F. Dillon, Neil H. K. Judell, Timothy I. Fillion, Gurpreet Singh, Nathan E. Wallace
  • Patent number: 7244029
    Abstract: A laser projector including a cooling system having an internal wall dividing the housing into a first compartment containing the optical components and a second compartment containing the electrical components, wherein the internal wall has a first face receiving the optical components and a second face receiving the electrical components thermally isolated from the first face. The internal wall includes a cooling channel and a fan directs air through the channel to maintain the optical components below a maximum operating temperature. The internal wall in one disclosed embodiment includes two parallel wall members each having a plurality of parallel channels, a thermoelectric cooling element located on the wall adjacent the first compartment, a sensor is located in the first compartment and a control maintains a temperature below ambient in the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Virtek Vision International Inc.
    Inventors: Krystian Goik, Timothy I. Fillion
  • Patent number: 4718019
    Abstract: In an electron beam system in which the beam is exposed in selected prescribed patterns on a target surface, stored pattern data specifies the location of the pattern as coordinates on the target plane of a reference point in the pattern, specifies the shape of the pattern as a code identifying one of several permissible shapes, and specifies the size of the pattern as dimensions of first and second pattern dimensions in the target plane. In exposing each pattern, the data is: modified to provide the selected pattern in the desired size; modified to determine the maximum beam size for the selected pattern; dynamically fragmented into individual beam flashes; and examined to determine the beam spot size, shape and position for each flash. All patterns are generally designated as trapezoids, with a triangle considered as a trapezoid having one side of zero length, a rectangle considered as a trapezoid having four right angles, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Control Data Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy I. Fillion, Marc L. Bergeron, Andrey Varpahovsky