Structured light generation for intraoral 3D camera using 1D MEMS scanning

1. An apparatus for intraoral imaging comprising:

a) an intraoral camera that defines a field of view with a first dimension and a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension;

b) a projector having:

(i) a laser diode energizable to emit a light beam;

(ii) a collimator in the path of the emitted light beam;

(iii) first beam-shaping optics disposed to shape the collimated beam in the second dimension to form a linear light pattern;

(iv) focusing optics disposed to focus the shaped collimated beam at a focal plane;

(v) a scanner that is disposed substantially at the focal plane and that is energizable to scan the formed linear light pattern along the second dimension to successive positions of the field of view; and

c) a control logic processor that coordinates energizing the laser diode and scanner with image capture by the intraoral camera, wherein a line width of the linear light pattern in the second dimension is less than 100 microns.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first beam-shaping optics comprise at least a first cylindrical lens.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the focusing optics comprise a curved mirror or a lens.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first beam-shaping optics comprise a Powell lens.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first beam-shaping optics comprise a GRIN lens.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising second beam-shaping optics disposed to shape the formed linear light pattern in the first dimension to extend fully across the field of view with respect to the first dimension.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the second beam-shaping optics comprise a second cylindrical lens.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the formed linear light pattern has a length that is no more than 10% longer than the first dimension, and wherein the camera is a video camera.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the camera exposure time corresponds to the timing of a full scan across the FOV in the second dimension.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an operator control for adjusting one or both of the line length in the first dimension and scan length in a second dimension of the projected linear light pattern.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a line width of the linear light pattern in the second dimension is less than 70 microns.

12. An apparatus for intraoral imaging comprising:

a) an intraoral camera that defines a field of view with a first dimension and a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension;

b) a projector having:

(i) a laser diode energizable to emit a light beam;

(ii) a collimator in the path of the emitted light beam;

(iii) a first cylindrical lens in the path of the light beam from the collimator to shape the collimated light beam in the second dimension to form a linear light pattern;

(iv) a curved mirror in the path of the light beam from the collimator to focus the formed linear light pattern at a focal plane;

(v) a scanner that is disposed substantially at the focal plane and that is energizable to scan the formed linear light pattern along the second dimension to successive positions of the field of view;

(vi) a second cylindrical lens to shape the formed linear light pattern in the first dimension to extend fully across the field of view; and

c) a control logic processor that coordinates energizing the laser diode and scanner with image capture by the intraoral camera.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the shaped linear light pattern has a length that is no more than 10% longer than the first dimension.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the camera exposure time corresponds to the timing of a full scan across the field of view in the second dimension, wherein a line width of the linear light pattern is less than 70 microns.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an operator control for adjusting one or both of the line length in the first dimension and scan length in a second dimension of the projected linear light pattern.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a line width of the linear light pattern is less than 100 microns.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an adjustable aperture for adjusting the height of the linear light pattern.

18. A method for intraoral imaging, the method executed at least in part by a computer and comprising:

a) defining a field of view of an intraoral camera having a first dimension and a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension;

b) energizing a laser diode energizable to emit a light beam;

c) collimating the emitted light beam;

d) shaping the collimated light beam in the second dimension to form a linear light pattern;

e) focusing the linear light pattern;

f) scanning the focused light pattern along the second dimension to successive positions of the field of view;

g) recording one or more images of the scanned linear light pattern on the intraoral camera;

and

h) generating and displaying a contour image formed according to the recorded one or more images, wherein a line width of the linear light pattern in the second dimension is less than 100 microns.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein shaping the collimated light beam comprises directing the collimated light beam to a first cylindrical lens, further comprising shaping the formed linear light pattern in the first dimension to extend fully across the defined field of view, with respect to the first dimension of the intraoral camera, and wherein shaping the formed linear light pattern further comprises directing the formed linear light pattern to a second cylindrical lens.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein a line width of the linear light pattern is less than 70 microns.