VISUAL FEEDBACK OF 3D SCAN PARAMETERS

Abstract
The systems and methods disclosed herein provide visual feedback concerning one or more scanning parameters to a user during acquisition of a three dimensional scan.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention and the following detailed description of certain embodiments thereof may be understood by reference to the following figures.



FIG. 1 shows a dental image capture system.



FIG. 2 depicts a view of a user interface for an image capture system.



FIG. 3 depicts a view of a user interface for an image capture system.



FIG. 4 depicts a view of a user interface for an image capture system during an acquisition of three-dimensional data.



FIG. 5 depicts a view of a user interface for an image capture system during an evaluation.



FIG. 6 depicts a dental model in digital form.



FIG. 7 depicts a cross-section of a digital dental model.



FIG. 8 depicts a visualization technique for locating holes in a digital surface representation of dental subject matter.



FIG. 9 depicts a visualization technique using a simulated external illumination.


Claims
  • 1. A method for operating a scanning system that includes a scanning device and a display, the scanning device adapted for continuous acquisition of surface data from a subject, the scanning device having one or more scanning parameters, and the display adapted for displaying a digital surface reconstruction containing a plurality of three-dimensional points recovered from the surface data, the method comprising: rendering the digital surface reconstruction in the display; andproviding a visual cue within the display that relates to the one or more scanning parameters.
  • 2. The method of claim 1 wherein rendering the digital surface reconstruction includes rendering the digital surface reconstruction from a current point of view of the scanning device.
  • 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising superimposing the digital surface reconstruction and a video image of the subject from the current point of view in the display.
  • 4. The method of claim 1 wherein rendering the digital surface reconstruction includes rendering the digital surface reconstruction in real time.
  • 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more parameters includes an optimal distance from the scanning device to a subject.
  • 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more scanning parameters includes a field of view for data capture within the display, the visual cue including a box bounding the field of view.
  • 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the one or more scanning parameters includes a range of distances for data capture within the display, the visual cue including a three-dimensional box bounding the field of view and the range of distances.
  • 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more scanning parameters includes a range of distances for data capture, providing a visual cue further including color coding a plurality of rendered points of the digital surface reconstruction according to a current distance of each one of the plurality of rendered points relative to the range of distances for data capture.
  • 9. The method of claim 8 wherein color coding includes rendering points more distant than the range of distances in a first color.
  • 10. The method of claim 8 wherein color coding includes rendering points nearer than the range of distances in a second color.
  • 11. The method of claim 8 wherein color coding includes rendering points within the range of distances in a third color.
  • 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the visual cue includes a dynamic object within the display, the dynamic object adapted to convey information relating to a distance between the scanning device and a subject of the surface data.
  • 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the dynamic object includes an animated bullseye.
  • 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the dynamic object relates to a most recent frame of surface data.
  • 15. The method of claim 12 wherein the dynamic object provides a relative distance indicator for visual feedback to a user concerning whether the scanning device is at least one of too close, too far, or properly distanced from the subject.
  • 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the relative distance indicator provides graduated feedback to assist a user in maintaining a proper scan distance.
  • 17. The method of claim 1 wherein the distance between the scanning device and the subject is calculated as a mean distance from a plurality of points within a field of view of the scanning device.
  • 18. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing a two-dimensional video image with the scanning device and rendering the video image on the display.
  • 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising superimposing the digital surface reconstruction on the video image in the display.
  • 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the visual cue is updated at a video rate of the two-dimensional video image.
  • 21. The method of claim 1 wherein the visual cue is updated in real time.
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60761078 Jan 2006 US