Disclosed are a scanner system and a method for recording surface geometry and surface color of an object where both surface geometry information and surface color information for a block of the image sensor pixels at least partly from one 2D image recorded by the color image sensor. A particular application is within dentistry, particularly for intraoral scanning.

Systems for generating in-focus color images are provided. Related methods and devices are also provided.

An apparatus includes a probe sized to be at least partially inserted into an intraoral cavity of a patient and an illumination unit configured to output light. The apparatus includes a light focusing assembly comprising an image space lens, an object space lens and a focus changing assembly between the image space lens and the object space lens and being configured to: overlap a plurality of light beams of the light within the light focusing assembly; and focus the light to a plurality of external focal planes to illuminate the patient's teeth. The apparatus includes a detector to measure one or more characteristics of incident light returning from the illuminated patient's teeth and a processor coupled to the detector and configured to generate data representative of a topography of the patient's teeth based on the one or more measured characteristics of the incident light returning from the illuminated patient's teeth.

A device for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure, such as a teeth segment, includes a scanner for providing depth data for points along a two-dimensional array substantially orthogonal to the depth direction, and an image acquisition means for providing color data for each of the points of the array, while the spatial disposition of the device with respect to the structure is maintained substantially unchanged. A processor combines the color data and depth data for each point in the array, thereby providing a three-dimensional color virtual model of the surface of the structure. A corresponding method for determining the surface topology and associate color of a structure is also provided.

An apparatus for dental confocal imaging comprises an illumination module for generating an array of light beams, an optics system for confocal focusing of the array of light beams and a probe head with a light-guiding part having an entrance face and an exit face. The illumination module, the optics system and the probe head are arranged such that the array of light beams from the illumination module passes through the optics system, enters the light-guiding part via the entrance face and exits the light-guiding part via the exit face. The optics system is configured such that, after having passed through the optics system, the outermost marginal rays of the outermost light beams with respect to the optical axis of the optics system are parallel or divergent to the optical axis.

Embodiments for estimating a surface texture of a tooth are described herein. One method embodiment includes collecting a sequence of images utilizing multiple light conditions using an intra-oral imaging device and estimating the surface texture of the tooth based on the sequence of images.

A method for determining surface characteristics of an intraoral structure may include illuminating an intraoral structure with light of a first light source passing through focusing optics and capturing depth image data during the illumination with the first light source of light from the intraoral structure passing through the focusing optics. The method may also include illuminating the intraoral structure with a second light source and capturing two-dimensional image data during the illumination with the second light source. Depth data of the intraoral structure may be generated using the depth image data and the two-dimensional image data may be mapped to the depth data.

A device, method and system for utilizing an optical array generator, confocal measurement/depth of focus techniques to generate dynamic patterns in a camera for projection onto the surface of an object for three-dimensional (3D) measurement. Projected light patterns are used to generate optical features on the surface of an object to be measured and optical 3D measuring methods which operate according to triangulation, confocal and depth of focus principles are used to measure the object.

A device for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure, such as a teeth segment, includes a scanner for providing depth data for points along a two-dimensional array substantially orthogonal to the depth direction, and an image acquisition means for providing color data for each of the points of the array, while the spatial disposition of the device with respect to the structure is maintained substantially unchanged. A processor combines the color data and depth data for each point in the array, thereby providing a three-dimensional color virtual model of the surface of the structure. A corresponding method for determining the surface topology and associate color of a structure is also provided.

A system for determining the surface topology and associated color of at least a portion of a three-dimensional structure includes a hand-held device. A scanning system may be configured to provide depth data of the portion. An imaging system may be configured to provide two-dimensional color image data of the portion associated with the plurality of data points. A processor may be operably coupled to the hand-held device and configured to associate the depth data with the color image data.