The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 21, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 16, 1998
Wiliam C Greenway, Tully, NY (US);
Thomas L Vogelsong, Jamesville, NY (US);
Andrew W Beardslee, Liverpool, NY (US);
Michael C Stone, Skaneateles, NY (US);
David W Breithaupt, Dewitt, NY (US);
William Bitler, LaFayette, NY (US);
Welch Allyn, Inc., Skaneateles Falls, NY (US);
Abstract
An intraoral dental imaging system employs a service unit having a power supply and a light source, and selectively using a video camera having a plug-in module for releasably connecting the video camera to the power supply, or an x-ray camera having a second plug-in module for releasably connecting the x-ray camera to the power supply. In either case the modules have processing means for producing video output signals. These video output signals may be sent to a wide variety of devices connected to the service unit. For instance, they may be used to display an image on a video monitor, such as a CRT, they may be sent to a printer for printing, and they may be sent to a modem for eventual display at another location. In essence, these video output signals may be sent to any device known in the art. Thus, the plug-in modules are highly portable while allowing for interchangeability within the same service unit, thereby allowing a practitioner to use the modules in multiple operatories. In the intraoral x-ray camera the plug-in module may be connected to a sensing head by an umbilical cord. The sensing head includes a first means for converting x-ray input signals into electrical output signals and forwarding those signals to a video processor within the plug-in module, an x-ray sensor means for detecting x-rays, and a triggering means for triggering x-ray acquisition from a sensor, which enables the first means when x-rays are detected and disabling the first means when x-rays are not detected by the sensor means.