Christian L Boes

6867864, Mar 15, 2005

Sep 6, 2002

10/236529

James L. Overbeck - Ada MI, US
Richard J. Van Andel - Grand Rapids MI, US
Michael A. Galen - Grand Rapids MI, US
Christian L. Boes - Grandville MI, US

X-Rite, Incorporated - Grandville MI

G01J003/46
A61C003/00

356402, 433 29

An instrument and related process for measuring color, shade, gloss, shape and/or translucence of a tooth. First, the instrument uses searchlight illumination to illuminate a tooth with constant irradiance. Second, the instrument uses colorimetric imaging to collect time-separated frames of different wavelengths of light reflected from a tooth and to combine those frames into a color image. Third, the instrument includes a sanitary shield to establish a reference color and a predetermined distance to a target tooth. Fourth, the instrument provides line-of-sight viewing so an operator may simultaneously view a display of the image on the instrument and the object being measured. Fifth, the instrument is impervious to pollutants because it incorporates a sealed measurement window. Sixth, optical measurements of a tooth taken by a dentist are compared to optical measurements of a prosthetic restoration for that tooth to confirm satisfactory matching of optical characteristics of the tooth and restoration.

7030986, Apr 18, 2006

Nov 18, 2004

10/991453

James L. Overbeck - Ada MI, US
Michael A. Galen - Grand Rapids MI, US
Richard J. Van Andel - Grand Rapids MI, US
Christian L. Boes - Grandville MI, US

X-Rite Incorporated - Grandville MI

G01N 21/25

356405, 433 29

An instrument and related process for measuring color, shade, gloss, shape and/or translucence of a tooth. First, the instrument uses searchlight illumination to illuminate a tooth with constant irradiance. Second, the instrument uses colorimetric imaging to collect time-separated frames of different wavelengths of light reflected from a tooth and to combine those frames into a color image. Third, the instrument includes a sanitary shield to establish a reference color and a predetermined distance to a target tooth. Fourth, the instrument provides line-of-sight viewing so an operator may simultaneously view a display of the image on the instrument and the object being measured. Fifth, the instrument is impervious to pollutants because it incorporates a sealed measurement window. Sixth, optical measurements of a tooth taken by a dentist are compared to optical measurements of a prosthetic restoration for that tooth to confirm satisfactory matching of optical characteristics of the tooth and restoration.

20030035107, Feb 20, 2003

Sep 6, 2002

10/236305

James Overbeck - Ada MI, US
Richard Van Andel - Grand Rapids MI, US
Michael Galen - Grand Rapids MI, US
Christian Boes - Grandville MI, US

X-Rite, Incorporated - Grandville MI

G01N021/25

356/405000

An instrument and related process for measuring color, shade, gloss, shape and/or translucence of a tooth. First, the instrument uses searchlight illumination to illuminate a tooth with constant irradiance. Second, the instrument uses colorimetric imaging to collect time-separated frames of different wavelengths of light reflected from a tooth and to combine those frames into a color image. Third, the instrument includes a sanitary shield to establish a reference color and a predetermined distance to a target tooth. Fourth, the instrument provides line-of-sight viewing so an operator may simultaneously view a display of the image on the instrument and the object being measured. Fifth, the instrument is impervious to pollutants because it incorporates a sealed measurement window. Sixth, optical measurements of a tooth taken by a dentist are compared to optical measurements of a prosthetic restoration for that tooth to confirm satisfactory matching of optical characteristics of the tooth and restoration.

20030189706, Oct 9, 2003

Dec 8, 2000

09/733162

James Overbeck - Ada MI, US
Richard Van Andel - Grand Rapids MI, US
Michael Galen - Grand Rapids MI, US
Christian Boes - Grandville MI, US

G01N021/25

356/405000

An instrument and related process for measuring color, shade, gloss, shape and/or translucence of a tooth. First, the instrument uses searchlight illumination to illuminate a tooth with constant irradiance. Second, the instrument uses calorimetric imaging to collect time-separated frames of different wavelengths of light reflected from a tooth and to combine those frames into a color image. Third, the instrument includes a sanitary shield to establish a reference color and a predetermined distance to a target tooth. Fourth, the instrument provides line-of-sight viewing so an operator may simultaneously view a display of the image on the instrument and the object being measured. Fifth, the instrument is impervious to pollutants because it incorporates a sealed measurement window. Sixth, optical measurements of a tooth taken by a dentist are compared to optical measurements of a prosthetic restoration for that tooth to confirm satisfactory matching of optical characteristics of the tooth and restoration.

20060244806, Nov 2, 2006

Apr 12, 2006

11/403114

James Overbeck - Ada MI, US
Christian Boes - Grandville MI, US

G03G 15/01

347116000

A method for measuring a like-color region of an object. The method includes defining a first region of a colorimetric image of the object, determining a statistical representation of the first region based on a color metric, and defining a second region of the calorimetric image such that the second region comprises at least a portion of the first region.