IP Library Granted Patent US 12,678,117
Granted Patent B2
US 12,678,117 · App. 18/823,709 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Three-dimensional scanner and scanning method using same

Inventors: Hyunsoo Park (Seoul, KR); Heungsik Sim (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: DOF INC.
A61B6/512A61B5/0062A61B5/0088A61C9/0053A61C9/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,678,117
App. No.
18/823,709
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional intraoral scanner and an intraoral scanning method using same, the scanner being capable of reducing a matching error generated during a three-dimensional model data generation process for all the teeth in an oral cavity, and the three-dimensional intraoral scanner and the intraoral scanning method using same, according to one embodiment of the present invention, generate three-dimensional model data for all the teeth in an oral cavity by using a large-area scan image, thereby enabling the minimization of cumulative errors generated when the three-dimensional scan data is matched, and match, with the three-dimensional model data, three-dimensional scan data generated by using a narrow-area two-dimensional scan image, thereby enabling improved precision of the three-dimensional model data.

Claims (36)

1 . A 3D intraoral scanner comprising:

a case having a front portion having a light outlet and a light inlet;

a light output unit disposed in the case to output a light through the light outlet;

an image sensing unit disposed in the case to receive a light through the light inlet; and

a processor disposed in the case,

wherein the image sensing unit is configured to:

acquire 2D wide scan images of teeth in an oral cavity in a wide scan mode; and

acquire 2D narrow scan images of the teeth in a narrow scan mode; and

wherein the processor is configured to:

generate 3D wide scan data of the teeth using the 2D wide scan images;

generate 3D narrow scan data of the teeth using the 2D narrow scan images;

generate 3D model data for all of the teeth by registering the 3D wide scan data; and

register the 3D narrow scan data into the 3D model data.

2 . The 3D intraoral scanner of claim 1 , wherein the image sensing unit operates in the wide scan mode when a wide reflector member is detachably installed on the case to reflect the light output through the light outlet into the oral cavity.

3 . The 3D intraoral scanner of claim 2 , wherein the wide reflector member comprises:

a wide reflector configured to reflect the light output through the light outlet into the oral cavity;

a coupler detachably coupled to the front portion of the case; and

an extension connecting the wide reflector with the coupler.

4 . The 3D intraoral scanner of claim 2 , further comprising a detector configured to detect whether the wide reflector member is installed on the case.

5 . The 3D intraoral scanner of claim 1 , wherein the image sensing unit operates in the narrow scan mode when a narrow reflector member is detachably installed on the case to reflect the light output through the light outlet into the oral cavity.

6 . The 3D intraoral scanner of claim 5 , wherein the narrow reflector member comprises:

a narrow reflector configured to reflect the light output through the light outlet into the oral cavity;

a coupler detachably coupled to the front portion of the case; and

an extension connecting the narrow reflector with the coupler.

7 . The 3D intraoral scanner of claim 5 , further comprising a detector configured to detect whether the narrow reflector member is installed on the case.

8 . An oral cavity scanning method using a 3D intraoral scanner comprising a case, a light output unit, an image sensing unit, and a processor, the method comprising:

acquiring, by the image sensing unit, 2D wide scan images of teeth in an oral cavity in a wide scan mode;

acquiring, by the processor, 3D wide scan data of the teeth using the 2D wide scan images;

generating, by the processor, 3D model data for all of the teeth by registering the 3D wide scan data;

acquiring, by the image sensing unit, 2D narrow scan images of the teeth in a narrow scan mode;

generating, by the processor, 3D narrow scan data of the teeth using the 2D narrow scan images; and

registering, by the processor, the 3D narrow scan data to the 3D model data.

9 . The oral scanning method of claim 8 , wherein the image sensing unit operates in the wide scan mode when a wide reflector member is detachably installed on the case.

10 . The oral scanning method of claim 9 , further comprising detecting, by a detector, whether the wide reflector member is installed on the case.

11 . The oral scanning method of claim 8 , wherein the image sensing unit operates in the narrow scan mode when a narrow reflector member is detachably installed on the case.

12 . The oral scanning method of claim 11 , further comprising detecting, by a detector, whether the wide reflector member is installed on the case.