JP2012020033A - Intraoral camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase workability relating to an intraoral camera.SOLUTION: The intraoral camera includes: an orally inserted portion 3; an imaging window 3a which is disposed in the orally inserted portion 3; a high-brightness LED 9 which is disposed adjacent to the imaging window 3a; an imaging device 10 having a focal lens optically connected to the imaging window 3a and having an autofocus (AF) driving unit driven the focal lens in the normal AF mode or the root canal AF mode; a body case on which the root canal AF mode switch is provided to set the root canal AF mode; and a controller 17 after receiving signals from the root canal AF mode switch which sets the imaging device to the root canal AF mode and sets a near point position of the driving range of the focal lens to a prescribed position to a far point position direction of the driving range of the focal lens.

Description

  The present invention relates to an intraoral camera.

  The conventional intraoral camera has the following configuration.

  That is, a main body case, an intraoral insertion portion mounted on the front side of the main body case, an imaging window provided on the front lower side of the intraoral insertion portion, and an illumination element provided around the imaging window And an imaging device optically connected to the imaging window and a controller for receiving image data of the imaging device.

  In addition, when imaging the surface of the tooth and when imaging the cavity and root canal, the intraoral imaging lens and the intracanal imaging lens are selectively attached to the distal end of the intraoral insertion part. (For example, the following patent document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-272095

  The problem in the conventional example is that workability is low.

  That is, in the conventional configuration, as described above, the intraoral imaging lens and the root canal are formed at the distal end of the intraoral insertion portion when imaging the tooth surface and when imaging the cavity and root canal. The inner imaging lens had to be selectively mounted for imaging, and the workability was low.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to improve workability.

  And in order to achieve this object, the present invention comprises a main body case, an intraoral insertion portion mounted on the front side of the main body case, an imaging window provided on the front lower side of the intraoral insertion portion, An illumination device provided around the imaging window, an imaging device having a focus lens optically connected to the imaging window, and a controller connected to the imaging device, the imaging device including the focus lens Is provided with an autofocus driving unit for driving in a normal autofocus mode or a root canal autofocus mode, and the main body case is provided with a root canal autofocus mode switch for setting the root canal autofocus mode. The controller that has received a signal from the tube autofocus mode switch sets the imaging device to a root canal autofocus mode, and a focus lens. A near point position of the drive range, and configured to set the predetermined position of the far point position direction of the driving range of the focus lens, thereby is to achieve the intended purpose.

  As described above, the present invention includes a main body case, an intraoral insertion portion mounted on the front side of the main body case, an imaging window provided on the front lower side of the intraoral insertion portion, and the periphery of the imaging window. And an imaging device having a focus lens optically connected to the imaging window, and a controller connected to the imaging device. Mode or a root canal autofocus mode, and the body case is provided with a root canal autofocus mode switch for setting the root canal autofocus mode. The root canal autofocus mode switch The controller that has received the signal from the image pickup device sets the imaging device to a root canal autofocus mode, and a near-point position of a focus lens driving range. Since those where the structure is set to a predetermined position of the far point position direction of the driving range of the focus lens, it is possible to improve the workability.

  That is, in the intraoral camera of the present invention, when imaging the tooth surface state, the normal autofocus mode (hereinafter referred to as the normal AF mode) is used for imaging, and when imaging the root canal in the back of the cavity, the root canal is imaged. Imaging is performed using a tube autofocus mode (hereinafter referred to as a root canal AF mode), and a hill-climbing method for searching for a contrast mountain is used as the autofocus method. Therefore, when imaging is performed using the normal AF mode, imaging can be performed by appropriately focusing the tooth surface.

  On the other hand, when the user wants to image the root canal, the focus is on the surface of the tooth with high contrast as it is, but in the present invention, the root canal AF mode in which the root canal AF mode is set in the main body case. A switch is provided.

  Therefore, when the dentist presses the root canal AF mode switch, the controller that receives the signal from the root canal AF mode switch sets the imaging device to the root canal AF mode, and at the near position of the driving range of the focus lens. Is set at a predetermined position in the direction of the far point position of the driving range of the focus lens, the focus is not on the tooth surface but on the far side (root canal side), and the object field at this focus position is Using the depth, the root canal can be appropriately imaged.

  As a result, the dentist can easily perform root canal imaging simply by operating the root canal AF mode switch, thereby improving workability.

The perspective view of one Embodiment of this invention Same as above, sectional view Same as above, exploded perspective view The bottom view of the intraoral insertion part Figure showing usage example Same as above, electrical block diagram (A) Same as above, enlarged view of main part when viewed from the side (b) Same as above, diagram showing autofocus evaluation value during operation Figure showing display during operation (A) Same as above, enlarged view of main part when viewed from the side (b) Same as above, diagram showing autofocus evaluation value during operation Same operation flowchart Same as above, enlarged view of the main part as seen from the front Figure showing display during operation The figure showing the relationship between the aperture value during operation and the focal position The figure showing the relationship between the aperture value during operation and the focal position The figure showing the relationship between the aperture value and the focal position during the operation Same part, enlarged view of the optical system

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a substantially cylindrical main body case, and a power source and signal cord 2 is connected to the rear end side of the main body case 1. Further, an intraoral insertion portion 3 is attached to the front side of the main body case 1, and a brass barrel 4 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is provided in the intraoral insertion portion 3. In the lens barrel 4, four groups of lenses G1 to G4 are arranged with spacer cylinders 5, 6, and 7 interposed therebetween.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the front opening 4a of the lens barrel 4 is provided with an imaging window 3a on the lower surface portion of the intraoral insertion portion 3 that corresponds optically, and the imaging window 3a and the lens barrel 4 are provided. A prism 8 is provided between the front openings 4a.

  Further, the imaging window 3a has a quadrangular shape as shown in FIG. 4, and two high-intensity LEDs 9 are arranged on the front and rear sides of the imaging window 3a as two examples as illumination elements. Yes. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the high-intensity LED 9 is arranged in the intraoral insertion portion 3, and the outer side of the imaging window at the center of the imaging window 3a (outside the intraoral insertion portion 3). It is inclined towards the lower side).

  The high-intensity LED 9 emits light having directivity as compared with, for example, a halogen lamp.

  Further, one high-intensity LED 9 has a brightness of 0.1 W, and when illuminated, teeth can be illuminated with a total of four, that is, a brightness of 0.4 W. It is possible to illuminate to the back of (a) 22).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the imaging device 10 is optically connected and disposed in the rear opening 4 b of the lens barrel 4. In the imaging apparatus 10, lens groups G5 and G6 are arranged, and the lens groups G5 and G6 are a focal lens 11 which is a pair of two lenses. Then, the video image that has passed through the focus lens 11 is sent to the imaging unit 13 further rearward in the imaging device 10.

  The focus lens 11 is held by an autofocus drive unit (hereinafter referred to as an AF drive unit) 12, and two AF drive units 12 holding the focus lens 11 are arranged in the optical axis direction by a drive motor 12A. By sliding on the guide pole 11A, the focus lens 11 can automatically adjust the focus position with respect to the distance to the subject, and can perform autofocus.

  The two guide poles 11A are sandwiched and fixed between the focus lens front cover 11B and the focus lens rear cover 11C together with the aperture driving unit 14 for adjusting the brightness, and an image passing through the focus lens 11 is displayed. In addition, it is sent to the rear imaging unit 13.

  And when acquiring the image in the oral cavity, as shown in FIG. 5, when the dentist presses the power switch 1A, the imaging device 10 is in the normal AF mode, and can be imaged with appropriate focus on the upper surface of the tooth. Become.

  The normal AF mode will be described later in detail.

  When the imaging apparatus 10 is in the normal AF mode, the control unit (18 in FIG. 6) turns on the high-intensity LED 9 in FIG. 4 provided on the lower front side of the intraoral insertion unit 3. Thereafter, the dentist enters the intraoral insertion part 3 into the patient's oral cavity, and in this state, the imaging part is illuminated with the high-intensity LED 9 to perform imaging.

  At this time, the image obtained from the imaging window 3a is sent to the imaging unit 13 in the imaging device 10 via the prism 8, the lens groups G1, G2, G3, and G4 and the focus lens 11 of FIG. Thereafter, the image data picked up by the image pickup unit 13 is displayed on the display unit 16 via the code 2 and the power supply unit 15 as shown in FIG.

  When the desired imaging region is found by looking at the display unit 16 and the imaging button 1B is pressed, the image at that time is recorded as a still image in the memory in the display unit 16.

  Here, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of the present embodiment. The power switch 1A, the aperture drive unit 14, the AF drive unit 12, the imaging unit 13, and the high-intensity LED 9 are included in the controller 17. The control unit 18 is connected to a display unit 16 and an autofocus control unit (hereinafter referred to as an AF control unit) 19 for controlling the AF drive unit 12. The drive motor 12A shown in FIG. 3 is configured to drive the focus lens 11 and perform focusing in accordance with an instruction from the AF control unit 19.

  A program executed by the control unit 18 is stored in the ROM 20.

  When the imaging is completed, the power switch 1A is pressed again to turn off the high-intensity LED 9.

  In the present embodiment, when imaging the tooth surface state, the normal AF mode is used for imaging, and the root canal (24 in FIG. 7 (a)) is located behind the cavity (22 in FIG. 7 (a)). ) Is imaged using the root canal AF mode.

  Here, the normal AF mode suitable for imaging of the tooth surface will be described first, and then the root canal AF suitable for imaging the root canal (24 in FIG. 7A) will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the normal AF mode, and a case where the upper surface of the back tooth 21 is imaged as an example of the tooth surface will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows an imaging state when the distance from the imaging window 3a to the upper surface of the back teeth 21 is 10 mm, and FIG. 7A is a diagram when the imaging is viewed from the side. The pulp cavity 23 and the root canal 24 are in a state of being hollowed by a dentist for treatment.

  FIG. 7B is a diagram showing the evaluation value of the autofocus, and the horizontal axis indicates the subject distance (the distance from the imaging window 3a to the focus position), and the autofocus evaluation value at that time is on the vertical axis. It is shown.

  As can be understood from FIG. 7A, at the time of imaging, the high-intensity LED 9 provided around the imaging window 3a irradiates light toward the back teeth 21, and this light is directly below. The back teeth 21 are illuminated brightly.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the peak of the autofocus evaluation value comes to the upper surface of the back tooth 21, more specifically, to the cavity entrance A of the cavity 22.

  Note that the autofocus control of the present embodiment is configured by a general hill climbing method for searching for a contrast mountain. Therefore, although detailed description is omitted, a peak of contrast (the cavity entrance A of the back tooth 21 in FIG. 7B) is found and focused there.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the focus is on the cavity entrance A of the cavity 22 on the upper surface of the back tooth 21, and the groove portion 25 on the upper surface of the back tooth 21 is clearly imaged.

  As a result, when imaging is performed using the normal AF mode, the autofocus can be appropriately performed on the upper surface of the back teeth 21.

  On the other hand, inside the cavity 22, the bottom B of the pulp cavity 23 and the root canal 24 shown in FIG. The state near the entrance of the root canal 24 at the bottom B of the dental pulp cavity 23, more specifically, as shown in FIG. 7A, the far side of the optical axis from the bottom B (the lower side of FIG. 7A) There is a desire in the dentist to observe the root canal entrance area 26 in the) direction.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the main body case 1 is provided with a root canal AF mode switch 1C (FIG. 5) for setting the root canal AF mode, and as shown in FIG. It is assumed that the section 27 is provided, and the dentist presses the root canal AF mode switch 1C to switch to the root canal AF mode suitable for imaging the root canal entrance area 26.

  The root canal AF mode will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 9A shows an imaging state when the distance from the imaging window 3a to the upper surface of the back tooth 21 is 0 mm, that is, when the imaging window 3a is in contact with the upper surface of the back tooth 21. It is the figure which looked at from the side.

  When the dentist wants to observe the root canal entrance area 26, for example, the imaging window 3a is brought into contact with the upper surface of the back tooth 21 as shown in FIG. Then, the root canal entrance area 26 can be imaged large, and a still image can be stably imaged by this contact at the time of still image imaging.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 9B, the peak of the autofocus evaluation value comes to the cavity entrance A of the cavity 22. In this embodiment, the focus lens drive range setting unit of FIG. 27 is a predetermined position in the direction of the near point of the drive range of the focus lens 11 from the 0 mm position in the direction of the far point of the drive range of the focus lens 11 (the position where the subject distance in FIG. 9B is infinite). Specifically, the focal position C is set, and the depth of field at the focal position C covers the root canal entrance area 26.

  In other words, in this state, the driving range of the focal lens 11 is set to a position corresponding to an infinite distance from the focal position C, and the depth of field at the focal position C is from the bottom B of the dental pulp cavity 23. The depth of field reaches up to the far field D, and this depth of field covers the root canal entrance area 26 located farther from the bottom B.

  From this state, the AF control unit 19 searches for the peak of contrast (the cavity entrance A in FIG. 9B) and moves the focus lens 11 to the near point side. Since the point position is set to the focal position C, the focal lens 11 does not move closer to this position, and the root canal entrance area 26 is changed depending on the depth of field at the focal position C as shown in FIG. Can be appropriately imaged.

  The operation in the root canal AF mode will be described in more detail using the flowchart of FIG. 10 and the block diagram of FIG.

  First, in FIG. 6, when the dentist wants to image the root canal 24, the root canal AF mode is started by pressing the root canal AF mode switch 1C (S1 in FIG. 10).

  Upon receiving the signal from the root canal AF mode switch 1C, the controller 17 puts the imaging device 10 into the root canal AF mode and turns on the high-intensity LED 9 (S2 in FIG. 10).

  In this state, the dentist enters the intraoral insertion portion 3 into the patient's oral cavity and, for example, images the back teeth 21 on the lower side of the patient.

  Next, the control unit 18 in FIG. 6 starts monitoring the aperture value of the aperture drive unit 14 (S3 in FIG. 10). This monitoring is performed in order to determine the focal position C in FIG. 9 from the aperture value of the aperture drive unit 14.

  This is an important point and will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 11 is a view of the imaging state of FIG. 9 (imaging state when the distance from the imaging window 3a to the upper surface of the back teeth 21 is 0 mm) from the front side of the intraoral insertion portion 3.

  As shown in FIG. 11, convex portions are formed on the left and right ends of the upper surface of the back teeth 21, respectively, and are in contact with the imaging window 3a.

  Therefore, at the time of imaging, the light of the plurality of high-intensity LEDs 9 provided on the rear side and the front side of the imaging window 3 a is directed toward the cavity 22 from the gap formed between the left and right convex portions of the back tooth 21. As shown in FIG. 12, the root canal entrance is formed on the upper surface of the back tooth 21 in a state in which the pubic part 28 due to the convex part of the back tooth 21 is formed so as to approach the vicinity of the central cavity 22. The area 26 is imaged.

  The shadow portion 28 is formed by the high-intensity LED 9 illuminating the convex portion of the back tooth 21, but the size and shape of the convex portion of the back tooth 21 are different depending on the person, so that the size and shape of the shadow portion 28 are different. Become. Further, the size and shape of the shadow 28 are also different depending on the distance and the positional relationship between the high luminance LED 9 and the convex portion of the back tooth 21.

  Therefore, since the aperture value of the aperture drive unit 14 changes every time the imaging window 3a moves even during imaging, monitoring is performed and the aperture value of the aperture drive unit 14 is obtained each time. .

  Now, when the aperture value of the aperture drive unit 14 is obtained in S3 of FIG. 10, the focal position C corresponding to this aperture value is set, and the drive range of the focus lens 11 is set (S4 of FIG. 10).

  This setting will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 13 shows the relationship between the aperture value, the focal position C, and the depth of field when the imaging window 3a is in contact with the upper surface of the back teeth 21 (the state shown in FIG. 9A). The thick horizontal line in the middle represents the position where the imaging window 3a and the upper surface of the back tooth 21 are in contact.

  The thick line is divided for each aperture value of the aperture drive unit 14, and the focal position C corresponding to each aperture value is indicated by a diamond point, and the depth of field at this focal position C is indicated by arrows at both ends. It is represented by a thick line.

  That is, the lower side from the thick horizontal line in the middle part corresponds to the part in the lower direction (the lower direction in FIG. 9) from the upper surface of the back tooth 21.

  In the present embodiment, the distance in the depth direction from the upper surface of the back teeth 21 to the bottom B of FIG. 9 is obtained from an average value obtained by actual measurement, and the value is fixed at, for example, 8 mm.

  Furthermore, the upper end portion of the root canal entrance area 26 is fixed to 8 mm so as to coincide with the bottom portion B, and the lower end portion is 2 mm in the depth direction, that is, 10 mm from the upper surface of the back teeth 21.

  Further, as understood from FIG. 13, the focal positions C are set such that the depth of field at the focal positions C covers the root canal entrance area 26, and the focal point C is focused from the imaging window 3a. The distance to the position C is represented by a broken line.

  The optical axis position on the lower surface of the imaging window 3a is set to the focal point origin, that is, 0 mm.

  Now, a specific example will be described. For example, when the aperture value of the aperture drive unit 14 is F6.8, the focal position C whose depth of field covers the root canal entrance area 26 is imaged. The distance from the window 3a is 12 mm away from the optical axis.

  As described above, when the respective focus positions C are determined so that the depth of field covers the root canal entrance area 26 for each aperture value, as shown in FIG. A table 28 showing the relationship of the position C is obtained.

  The table 28 is obtained in advance prior to imaging, and is held by the focus lens drive range setting unit 27 in FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 10 again, the description of the root canal AF mode will be continued. In S3, the aperture value of the aperture drive unit 14 monitored by the control unit 18 in the controller 17, for example, F6.8, is focused. The lens driving range setting unit 27 receives it. Thereafter, the focus lens drive range setting unit 27 obtains the focus focal position C, that is, 12 mm from the aperture value of the aperture drive unit 14 as described above based on the table 28 of FIG.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, the focal lens driving range setting unit 27 sets the focal position C to a near point position of the focal lens 11 driving range. Therefore, the focus lens 11 moves in a range from the near point position 12 mm to the far point position infinity.

  When the setting of the near point position is completed in S4, the AF control unit 19 then moves the focus lens 11 via the AF driving unit 12 toward the set near point position. Then, it reaches the near point position (12 mm position) of the driving range.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 9B, the depth of field at the near point position of 12 mm covers the root canal entrance area 26 firmly, so that the root canal entrance area 26 is appropriately set. An image can be taken (S5).

  Thereafter, the process returns to S3, and monitoring of the aperture value of the aperture drive unit 14 is resumed. When the aperture value fluctuates, the processing proceeds to S4 and S5 as described above, and imaging is continued appropriately.

  Therefore, when imaging is performed using the root canal AF mode, the root canal entrance area 26 can be appropriately auto-focused.

  As a result, the dentist can perform this root canal imaging simply by operating the root canal AF mode switch 1C, and does not need to replace the lens as in the prior art, thus improving workability. You can do things.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the position of the start point on the near side of the depth of field at the focal position C is set to the position (8 mm) on the near side of the root canal entrance area 26 to be imaged. And almost the same.

  For this reason, a large range where appropriate imaging can be performed from the near position (8 mm) of the root canal entrance area 26 toward the far side is ensured, and the imaging window 3a is directed upward from the upper surface of the back teeth 21. Even when they are separated, the root canal entrance area 26 can be appropriately imaged.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining this. In FIG. 13, the depth of field when the imaging window 3 a is separated from the upper surface of the back tooth 21 is added.

  Specifically, as an example, in F6.8, the imaging window 3a is moved away from the upper surface of the back tooth 21 to a position of 8 mm (P1). Then, the focal position C follows the movement of the imaging window 3a, and the depth of field also follows (P2).

  However, even when the imaging window 3 a is 8 mm away from the upper surface of the back tooth 21, the root canal entrance area 26 is firmly covered at the position of the end point on the far side of the depth of field, and imaging is appropriately performed. It keeps the state that can be done.

  In the present embodiment, the maximum value in the height direction in the oral cavity is assumed to be 20 mm, and the height of the oral cavity insertion portion 3 itself is 12 mm. The maximum distance from the top surface is 8 mm.

  That is, in F6.8, the root canal entrance area 26 can be appropriately imaged regardless of whether the imaging window 3a is in contact with the upper surface of the back teeth 21 or not.

  For this reason, in actual tooth treatment, for example, there is a case where a treatment fitting or an auxiliary tool is installed above the back teeth 21 to be imaged, and imaging is performed because of interference with these devices. Although the window 3a may not be as close to the back teeth 21 as expected, even in such a state, the intraoral camera of this embodiment appropriately captures the root canal entrance area 26 by imaging in the root canal AF mode. It is possible to take an image.

  On the other hand, for example, in the state of F5.2, if the imaging window 3a is separated from the upper surface of the back tooth 21 by 3.4 mm or more, the depth of field cannot cover the root canal entrance area 26 and blur occurs. Usually judged.

  However, in this embodiment, as the imaging window 3a is moved away from the upper surface of the back teeth 21, the irradiation range of the upper surface of the back teeth 21 by the high-intensity LED 9 is increased, and the depth of field is increased. .

  That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the high-intensity LEDs 9 are arranged to be inclined toward the back teeth 21 on the front and rear sides of the imaging window 3a facing each other, and the back teeth 21 immediately below are illuminated. It is configured to do.

  For this reason, at a position of 1 mm, for example, directly below the imaging window 3a, the light from the high-intensity LED 9 hits the side wall 29 surrounding the imaging window 3a and directly on the upper surface of the back teeth 21 in the imaging area 30 of the imaging device 10. To reach a little. Therefore, the irradiation range 31a on the upper surface of the back teeth 21 in the imaging area 30 is in a small state, and the aperture value of the aperture driving unit 14 is also in a small state.

  From here, when the imaging window 3a is gradually separated from the upper surface of the back tooth 21 by 2 mm and 3 mm, the high-intensity LED 9 is directly on the upper surface of the back tooth 21 in the imaging area 30 as understood from FIG. The irradiation range applied to is gradually increased to the irradiation range 31b and the irradiation range 31c.

  For this reason, the aperture value of the aperture drive unit 14 also gradually increases, so that the depth of field also gradually increases and the root canal entrance area 26 is appropriately covered, thereby enabling appropriate autofocusing. It becomes.

  As a result, the dentist can easily perform root canal imaging simply by operating the root canal AF mode switch, so that workability can be improved.

  In the description of the present embodiment, the case where the back teeth 21 on the lower side of the patient are imaged has been described. However, in the case where the back teeth on the upper side of the patient are imaged, as a matter of course, The relationship is reversed.

  As described above, the present invention includes a main body case, an intraoral insertion portion mounted on the front side of the main body case, an imaging window provided on the front lower side of the intraoral insertion portion, and the periphery of the imaging window. And an imaging device having a focus lens optically connected to the imaging window, and a controller connected to the imaging device. Mode or a root canal autofocus mode, and the body case is provided with a root canal autofocus mode switch for setting the root canal autofocus mode. The root canal autofocus mode switch The controller that has received the signal from the image pickup device sets the imaging device to a root canal autofocus mode, and a near-point position of a focus lens driving range. Since those where the structure is set to a predetermined position of the far point position direction of the driving range of the focus lens, it is possible to improve the workability.

  That is, in the intraoral camera of the present invention, when imaging the tooth surface state, the normal autofocus mode (hereinafter referred to as the normal AF mode) is used for imaging, and when imaging the root canal in the back of the cavity, the root canal is imaged. Imaging is performed using a tube autofocus mode (hereinafter referred to as a root canal AF mode), and a hill-climbing method for searching for a contrast mountain is used as the autofocus method. Therefore, when imaging is performed using the normal AF mode, imaging can be performed by appropriately focusing the tooth surface.

  On the other hand, when the user wants to image the root canal, the focus is on the surface of the tooth with high contrast as it is, but in the present invention, the root canal AF mode in which the root canal AF mode is set in the main body case. A switch is provided.

  Therefore, when the dentist presses the root canal AF mode switch, the controller that receives the signal from the root canal AF mode switch sets the imaging device to the root canal AF mode, and at the near position of the driving range of the focus lens. Is set at a predetermined position in the direction of the far point position of the driving range of the focus lens, the focus is not on the tooth surface but on the far side (root canal side), and the object field at this focus position is Using the depth, the root canal can be appropriately imaged.

  As a result, the dentist can easily perform root canal imaging simply by operating the root canal AF mode switch, thereby improving workability.

  Therefore, it is expected to be widely used as an intraoral camera.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body case 1A Power switch 1B Imaging button 1C Root canal AF mode switch 2 Code 3 Intraoral insertion part 3a Imaging window 4 Lens barrel 4a Front side opening 4b Rear side opening 5, 6, 7 Spacer cylinder 8 Prism 9 High brightness LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Imaging device 11 Focus lens 11A Guide pole 11B Focus lens front cover 11C Focus lens rear cover 12 AF drive part 12A Drive motor 13 Imaging part 14 Aperture drive part 15 Power supply part 16 Display part 16A AF frame 17 Controller 18 Control part 19 AF Control unit 20 ROM
21 Back tooth 22 Cavity 23 Dental pulp cavity 24 Root canal 25 Groove part 26 Root canal entrance area 27 Focus lens drive range setting part 28 Shadow part 29 Side wall 30 Imaging area 31a, 31b, 31c Irradiation range G1 lens group G2 lens group G3 lens group G4 lens group G5 lens group G6 lens group A cavity entrance B bottom C focal position D depth of field far field

Claims (5)

A main body case, an intraoral insertion portion mounted on the front side of the main body case, an imaging window provided on the front lower side of the intraoral insertion portion, an illumination element provided around the imaging window, and An imaging device having a focus lens optically connected to the imaging window, and a controller connected to the imaging device;
The imaging apparatus includes an autofocus driving unit that drives the focus lens in a normal autofocus mode or a root canal autofocus mode, and the main body case has a root canal autofocus mode that sets the root canal autofocus mode. A focus mode switch is provided, and the controller that receives a signal from the root canal autofocus mode switch sets the imaging device to a root canal autofocus mode, and sets the near-point position of the focus lens driving range to the focus position. An intraoral camera configured to be set to a predetermined position in the direction of the far point of the lens driving range. The intraoral camera according to claim 1, wherein the focus lens drive range setting unit reads the aperture value of the aperture drive unit and sets the drive range of the focus lens according to the aperture value. The depth of field when the focus lens is moved to the near point position of the drive range is set so that the start point on the near side of the depth of field is substantially the same as the position on the near side of the predetermined range to be imaged. Item 3. The intraoral camera according to Item 1 or 2. The intraoral camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the illumination element is inclined toward the outside of the imaging window at the center of the imaging window. The intraoral camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of illumination elements are provided on the front and rear sides of the imaging window 3a facing each other.

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