Apparatus for digitizing a three-dimensional surface

Apparatus for enabling a user to digitize the surface of an object, comprising:

• a handle graspable by the user;
• mounting means for mounting the handle with respect to the object;
• a probe connected to and carried by the handle and movable thereby along a plurality of independent axes to contact sample points on the surface of said object;
• positional sensor means for sensing the position of the handle along the plurality of axes and for outputting positional values corresponding thereto;
• said probe including an arm deflectable along first and second ones of said axes during the movement of the probe along the surface by the handle;
• each of said deflection sensor means comprising a strain sensor fixed on a side of said deflector arm in alignment with its respective axis;
• first and second deflection sensor means for sensing the deflection of said arm along said first and second axes, respectively, and for outputting deflection values corresponding thereto;
• and a digital processor including means for processing said positional values only when one of said deflection sensors senses a deflection in its respective arms above a predetermined threshold value, and means for modifying said positional values by said deflection values to output digital surface-location values representing the location of the sample points on said surface during the movement of the probe therealong by said handle.

Apparatus for enabling a user to digitize the surface of an object, comprising:

• a handle graspable by the user;
• mounting means for mounting the handle with respect to the object;
• a probe connected to and carried by the handle and movable thereby along a plurality of independent axes to contact sample points on the surface of said object;
• positional sensor means for sensing the position of the handle along the plurality of axes and for outputting positional values corresponding thereto;
• said probe including an arm deflectable along first and second ones of said axes during the movement of the probe along the surface by the handle;
• said probe arm including a first pair of deflection sensors on opposite sides of the arm, and a second pair of deflection sensors on the remaining opposite sides of the arm;
• first and second deflection sensor means for sensing the deflection of said arm along said first and second axes, respectively, and for outputting deflection values corresponding thereto;
• and a digital processor including means for processing said positional values only when one of said deflection sensors senses a deflection in its respective arms above a predetermined threshold value, and means for modifying said positional values by said deflection values to output digital surface-location values representing the location of the sample points on said surface during the movement of the probe therealong by said handle.

Apparatus for digitizing the contour of a dental surface of a subject, comprising:

• a handle graspable by the user;
• a mounting means including a member to be clamped between the upper and lower teeth of the subject for mounting the handle with respect to the subject;
• a probe connected to and carried by the handle and movable thereby along three independent axes to contact sample points on said dental surface;
• positional sensor means for sensing the position of the handle along the three axes and for outputting positional values corresponding thereto;
• said probe including an arm deflectable along first and second ones of said three axes during the movement of the probe along the dental surface by the handle;
• first and second deflection sensor means for sensing the deflection of said arm along said first and second axes, respectively, and for outputting deflection values corresponding thereto;
• and a digital processor including means for processing said positional values only when one of said deflection sensors senses a deflection in its respective arm above a predetermined threshold value, and means for modifying said positional values by said deflection values to output digital surface-location values representing the location of the sample points on said dental surface during the movement of the probe therealong by said handle.