Intra-oral scanning device with active delete of unwanted scanned items
AssigneeD4D Technologies, LLC
InventorsJessica Hawkins, Justin Graham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An intra-oral scanning device and system are augmented to provide an active delete (or filter) tool. The tool automatically detects and deletes unwanted items and artifacts capturing as the scan is being done. The technique provides a better user experience by automatically removing items the deletion of which that may otherwise be time-consuming, frustrating, or impossible for the user to delete any other way.
Claims53
A method for performing a surface scanning operation by an intra-oral scanning device of an object having a true surface geometry, comprising:
- obtaining sample data during the surface scanning operation, wherein at least some of the sample data is erroneous;
- assigning weights to the sample data according to a density of data collection;
- adjusting the assigned weights of the sample data according to an algorithm based on the sample data that is newly obtained in the obtaining step as the surface scanning operation continues;
- determining the sample data that is erroneous based at least in part on the adjusting step;
- and
- actively deleting the sample data determined to be erroneous.
The method of claim, 1 wherein the line-of-sight deletion algorithm performs operations comprising:
- finding line-of-sight sample data, wherein there is a line-of-sight from a camera of the intra-oral scanning device to one or more scan points, and wherein the line-of-sight sample data comprises one or more points in a point cloud that are along the line-of-sight;
- and
- decreasing the assigned weight of the line-of-sight sample data in the adjusting step;
- wherein the one or more scan points comprise the sample data that is newly obtained in the obtaining step as the surface scanning operation continues, and
- wherein the one or more points in the point cloud comprise sample data that was previously obtained in the obtaining step.
A method for performing a surface scanning operation by an intra-oral scanning device of an object having a true surface geometry, comprising:
- obtaining sample data during the scanning operation, wherein at least some of the sample data is erroneous;
- marking the sample data that is determined to be erroneous according to an algorithm;
- actively deleting in the sample data marked in the marking step;
- and
- wherein the algorithm comprises two or more of the following:
- (1) a line-of-sight deletion algorithm, (2) a scanner intersection algorithm, or (3) a disconnected components algorithm.
A system for performing a surface scanning operation by an intra-oral scanning device of an object having a true surface geometry, comprising:
- means for obtaining sample data during the surface scanning operation, wherein at least some of the sample data is erroneous;
- means for assigning weights to the sample data according to a density of data collection;
- means for adjusting the assigned weights of the sample data according to an algorithm based on the sample data that is newly obtained in the obtaining step as the surface scanning operation continues;
- means for determining the sample data that is erroneous based at least in part on the adjusting step;
- and
- means for actively deleting the sample data determined to be erroneous.
The system of claim, 17 wherein the line-of-sight deletion algorithm performs operations comprising:
- finding line-of-sight sample data, wherein there is a line-of-sight from a camera of the intra-oral scanning device to one or more scan points, and wherein the line-of-sight sample data comprises one or more points in a point cloud that are along the line-of-sight;
- and
- decreasing the assigned weight of the line-of-sight sample data in the adjusting step;
- wherein the one or more scan points comprise the sample data that is newly obtained in the obtaining step as the surface scanning operation continues, and
- wherein the one or more points in the point cloud comprise sample data that was previously obtained in the obtaining step.
A system for performing a surface scanning operation by an intra-oral scanning device of an object having a true surface geometry, comprising:
- means for obtaining sample data during the scanning operation, wherein at least some of the sample data is erroneous;
- means for marking the sample data that is determined to be erroneous according to an algorithm;
- means for actively deleting in the sample data marked in the marking step;
- and wherein the algorithm comprises two or more of the following:
- (1) a line-of-sight deletion algorithm, (2) a scanner intersection algorithm, or (3) a disconnected components algorithm.
An apparatus configured in association with an intra-oral scanning device for performing a surface scanning operation of an object having a true surface geometry, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- computer memory holding computer program code executed by the processor and configured to perform operations comprising:
- obtaining sample data during the surface scanning operation, wherein at least some of the sample data is erroneous;
- assigning weights to the sample data according to a density of data collection;
- adjusting the assigned weights of the sample data according to an algorithm based on the sample data that is newly obtained in the obtaining step as the surface scanning operation continues;
- determining the sample data that is erroneous based at least in part on the adjusting step;
- and
- actively deleting the sample data determined to be erroneous.
The apparatus of claim, 33 wherein the line-of-sight deletion algorithm performs operations comprising:
- finding line-of-sight sample data, wherein there is a line-of-sight from a camera of the intra-oral scanning device to one or more scan points, and wherein the line-of-sight sample data comprises one or more points in a point cloud that are along the line-of-sight;
- and
- decreasing the assigned weight of the line-of-sight sample data in the adjusting step;
- wherein the one or more scan points comprise the sample data that is newly obtained in the obtaining step as the surface scanning operation continues, and
- wherein the one or more points in the point cloud comprise sample data that was previously obtained in the obtaining step.
An apparatus configured in association with an intra-oral scanning device for performing a surface scanning operation of an object having a true surface geometry, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- computer memory holding computer program code executed by the processor and configured to perform operations comprising:
- obtaining sample data during the scanning operation, wherein at least some of the sample data is erroneous;
- marking the sample data that is determined to be erroneous according to an algorithm;
- actively deleting in the sample data marked in the marking step;
- and
- wherein the algorithm comprises two or more of the following:
- (1) a line-of-sight deletion algorithm, (2) a scanner intersection algorithm, or (3) a disconnected components algorithm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.