# US 10,299,742 B2 · Multiple-dimension imaging sensor with fault condition detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,299,742 B2 - Document ID: US10299742B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/627,245 - Filed: 2017-06-19 - Published: 2018-03-15 - Granted: 2019-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-14 - Assignees: Dental Imaging Technologies Corporation - Applicants: Dental Imaging Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Scott David Kravis; Leonid Khatutskiy; James Paul Frerichs; Adrian David French; Kyle Alan Pixton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10299742B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/512: {Intraoral means} - A61B 6/4233: {using matrix detectors} - A61B 6/4405: {the apparatus being movable or portable, e.g. handheld or mounted on a trolley} - A61B 6/463: {characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display} - A61B 6/467: {characterised by special input means} - A61B 6/547: {involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device} - A61B 6/586: {Detection of faults or malfunction of the device} - A61B 6/587: {Alignment of source unit to detector unit} - G01R 31/44: Testing lamps - G01R 33/02: Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux (G01R33/20 takes precedence) - G06F 1/3215: Monitoring of peripheral devices - G06F 1/325: {Power saving in peripheral device} - G06F 3/0304: {Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means (constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042)} - G06F 11/00: Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring (error detection, correction or monitoring in information storage based on relative movement between record carrier and transducer G11B20/18; monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing G11B27/36; in static stores G11C29/00) - G06F 11/0754: {by exceeding limits} - G06F 11/0757: {by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs} - G06F 11/0766: {Error or fault reporting or storing} - G06F 11/0793: {Remedial or corrective actions (recovery from an exception in an instruction pipeline G06F9/3861; by retry G06F11/1402; for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity H04L69/40)} - G06F 11/3013: {where the computing system is an embedded system, i.e. a combination of hardware and software dedicated to perform a certain function in mobile devices, printers, automotive or aircraft systems (testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof G05B23/02)} - G06F 11/3058: {Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations (thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206)} - G06F 11/327: {Alarm or error message display} - H02S 40/44: Means to utilise heat energy, e.g. hybrid systems producing warm water and electricity at the same time (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/67) - A61B 2560/0204: of power management - A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches - A61B 2562/0223: Magnetic field sensors - A61B 2562/0247: Pressure sensors - G01L 7/00: Measuring the steady or quasi-steady pressure of a fluid or a fluent solid material by mechanical or fluid pressure-sensitive elements ({G01L11/004 takes precedence;} transmitting or indicating the displacement of mechanical pressure-sensitive elements by electric {, e.g., photoelectric} or magnetic means G01L9/00; measuring differences of two or more pressure values G01L13/00; measuring two or more pressure values simultaneously G01L15/00) - G01T 1/16: Measuring radiation intensity (G01T1/29 takes precedence {; self-powered detectors G01T3/006; using an ionisation chamber filled with a liquid or solid, e.g. frozen liquid, dielectric G01T3/008}) - H01H 35/14: Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch {(wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002)} - H10F 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - Y02E 10/60: Thermal-PV hybrids - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Methods and systems are described for operating an imaging system that includes an intra-oral imaging sensor, an image sensing component, a multi-dimensional sensor, and an electronic processor. The intra-oral imaging sensor includes a housing and the image sensor component and the multi-dimensional sensor are at least partially housed within the housing. The multi-dimensional sensor includes a three-dimensional accelerometer, a three-dimensional gyroscope, and a three-dimensional magnetometer. The electronic processor is configured to execute one or more error condition check routines to determine whether an error condition is present based on an output received from the multi-dimensional sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging system comprising: an intra-oral imaging sensor including a housing, an image sensing component at least partially housed within the housing, and a multi-dimensional sensor at least partially housed within the housing, the multi-dimensional sensor including a three-dimensional accelerometer, a three-dimensional gyroscope, and a three-dimensional magnetometer; and an electronic processor configured to execute one or more error condition check routines to determine whether an error condition is present based on an output received from the multi-dimensional sensor, wherein the electronic processor is configured to execute the one or more error condition check routines by detecting a voltage of the intra-oral imaging sensor based on an output from a voltage monitoring circuit of the multi-dimensional sensor, and determining that an error condition is present when the detected voltage exceeds a first voltage threshold or is below a second voltage threshold, the second voltage threshold being lower than the first voltage threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is further configured to cause the imaging system to output, through a user interface, a notice indicative of the error condition detected by the electronic processor, wherein the notice includes an instruction for mitigation of the detected error condition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the electronic processor is configured to cause the imaging system to output the notice indicative of the error condition by displaying a text-based notice on a graphical user interface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to execute the one or more error condition check routines by determining whether a voltage error condition is present based on an output from a voltage/current monitoring circuit of the multi-dimensional sensor; determining whether a current error condition is present based on an output from the voltage/current monitoring circuit of the multi-dimensional sensor; and determining whether a temperature error condition is present based on an output from a temperature sensor of the multi-dimensional sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The imaging system of claim 4, wherein the electronic processor is further configured to execute the one or more error condition check routines by performing sequentially the acts of determining whether the voltage error condition is present, determining whether the current error condition is present, and determining whether the temperature error condition is present, wherein the electronic processor performs the act of determining whether the current error condition is present only after determining that the voltage error condition is not present, and wherein the electronic processor performs the act of determining whether the temperature error condition is present only after determining that both the voltage error condition and the current error condition are not present. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to execute the one or more error condition check routines in response to the intra-oral imaging sensor being selectively coupled to an imaging system controller computer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is further configured to capture a plurality of images using the image sensing component and execute the one or more error condition check routines in response to a defined number of images being captured by the image sensing component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to execute the one or more error condition check routines by determining a magnitude of acceleration based on an output from the three-dimensional accelerometer of the multi-dimensional sensor, determining that a possible damaging impact has occurred when the magnitude of the acceleration exceeds an acceleration threshold, and causing the imaging system to output a potential damaging impact notice on a graphical user interface instructing a user to visually inspect the imaging sensor in response to determining that the possible damaging impact has occurred. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to execute the one or more error condition check routines by determining an air pressure within the housing based on an output from an air pressure sensor, determining that possible damage due to biting pressure on the housing has occurred when the detected air pressure exceeds an air pressure threshold, and causing the imaging system to output a possible biting damage notice on a graphical user interface instructing a user to visually inspect the intra-oral imaging sensor in response to determining that the possible damage due to biting pressure has occurred. ### Claim 10 An imaging system comprising: an intra-oral imaging sensor including a housing, an image sensing component at least partially housed within the housing, and a multi-dimensional sensor at least partially housed within the housing, the multi-dimensional sensor including a three-dimensional accelerometer, a three-dimensional gyroscope, and a three-dimensional magnetometer; and an electronic processor configured to execute one or more error condition check routines to determine whether an error condition is present based on an output received from the multi-dimensional sensor, wherein the electronic processor is configured to execute the one or more error condition check routines by detecting a current of the intra-oral imaging sensor based on an output from a current monitoring circuit of the multi-dimensional sensor, and determining that an error condition is present when the current exceeds a first current threshold or is below a second current threshold, the second current threshold being lower than the first current threshold. ### Claim 11 A method operating an imaging system including an intra-oral imaging sensor, an intra-oral imaging sensor housing, an image sensing component at least partially housed within the intra-oral imaging sensor housing, and a multi-dimensional sensor at least partially housed within the intra-oral imaging sensor housing, the multi-dimensional sensor including a three-dimensional accelerometer, a three-dimensional gyroscope, and a three-dimensional magnetometer, the method comprising: receiving an output from the multi-dimensional sensor; and executing one or more error condition check routines to determine whether an error condition is present based on the output received from the multi-dimensional sensor, wherein executing the one or more error condition check routines includes detecting a voltage of the intra-oral imaging sensor based on an output from a voltage monitoring circuit of the multi-dimensional sensor, and determining that an error condition is present when the detected voltage exceeds a first voltage threshold or is below a second voltage threshold, the second voltage threshold being lower than the first voltage threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising outputting, through a user interface, a notice indicative of the error condition detected by the electronic processor, wherein the notice includes an instruction for mitigation of the detected error condition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein outputting the notice indicative of the error condition includes displaying a text-based notice on a graphical user interface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein executing the one or more error condition check routines includes determining whether a voltage error condition is present based on an output from a voltage/current monitoring circuit of the multi-dimensional sensor, determining whether a current error condition is present based on an output from the voltage/current monitoring circuit of the multi-dimensional sensor, and determining whether a temperature error condition is present based on an output from a temperature sensor of the multi-dimensional sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein executing the one or more error condition check routines further includes performing sequentially the acts of determining whether the voltage error condition is present, determining whether the current error condition is present, and determining whether the temperature error condition is present, wherein the electronic processor performs the act of determining whether the current error condition is present only after determining that the voltage error condition is not present, and wherein the electronic processor performs the act of determining whether the temperature error condition is present only after determining that both the voltage error condition and the current error condition are not present. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising executing the one or more error condition check routines in response to the intra-oral imaging sensor being selectively coupled to an imaging system controller computer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising capturing a plurality of images using the image sensing component and executing the one or more error condition check routines in response to a defined number of images being captured by the image sensing component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein executing the one or more error condition check routines includes determining a magnitude of acceleration based on an output from the three-dimensional accelerometer of the multi-dimensional sensor, determining that a possible damaging impact has occurred when the magnitude of the acceleration exceeds an acceleration threshold, and causing the imaging system to output a potential damaging impact notice in response to determining that the possible damaging impact has occurred. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein causing the imaging system to output the potential damaging impact notice includes causing the imaging system to output the potential damaging impact notice on a graphical user interface instructing a user to visually inspect the imaging sensor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein executing the one or more error condition check routines includes determining an air pressure within the housing based on an output from an air pressure sensor, determining that possible damage due to biting pressure on the housing has occurred when the detected air pressure exceeds an air pressure threshold, and causing the imaging system to output a possible biting damage notice in response to determining that the possible damage due to biting pressure has occurred. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein causing the imaging system to output the possible biting damage notice includes causing the imaging system to output the possible biting damage notice on a graphical user interface instructing a user to visually inspect the intra-oral imaging sensor. ### Claim 22 A method of operating an imaging system including an intra-oral imaging sensor, an intra-oral imaging sensor housing, an image sensing component at least partially housed within the intra-oral imaging sensor housing, and a multi-dimensional sensor at least partially housed within the intra-oral imaging sensor housing, the multi-dimensional sensor including a three-dimensional accelerometer, a three-dimensional gyroscope, and a three-dimensional magnetometer, the method comprising: receiving an output from the multi-dimensional sensor, and executing one or more error condition check routines to determine whether an error condition is present based on the output received from the multi-dimensional sensor, wherein executing the one or more error condition check routines includes detecting a current of the intra-oral imaging sensor based on an output from a current monitoring circuit of the multi-dimensional sensor, and determining that an error condition is present when the current exceeds a first current threshold or is below a second current threshold, the second current threshold being lower than the first current threshold.