A 3D-Sensor for intraoral metrology

We introduce a miniaturized optical 3D-sensor. One of its potentials is intraoral measurement of teeth. Several challenges have to be met: a) relative motion between the patient and the sensor is unavoidable. We solve this by a novel principle we call "Flying Triangulation". b) dental applications require a measuring uncertainty of less than 20 µm in x, y, z, and a depth of field of about 15mm. Both requirements contradict each other. We solve this by a novel kind of pattern generation and encoding. We demonstrate a working model of the sensor that fully satisfies the specifications for dental applications.