Abstract:
A self-contained dental camera uses white diodes to provide sufficient illumination for dental imaging without unduly depleting battery power. The illuminated dental work is imaged by a camera, preferably a CCD, and the resulting video signal is transmitted to a base station for display on a monitor. The camera unit may be disposed in a holder on a base station to recharge the battery.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of dental examinations. Specifically, the present invention relates to a lighted camera for oral examinations and a method of using the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Detailed dental examinations are frequently conducted using a small camera connected to a monitor. The camera, typically a charged coupled device (“CCD”), photographs the dental work of the patient. The enlarged images from the camera are displayed on a connected monitor. The images can then be reviewed by the dentist, orthodontist, oral surgeon or other dental care provider to better diagnose the condition of the patient for purposes of treating that patient. 
     Conventionally, the light source for the CCD camera consists of a fiber optic cable tethered to a standard light bulb. The fiber optic cable delivers the light of the light bulb to the site in the patient&#39;s mouth being imaged by the CCD camera. 
     An electrical connection between the CCD camera and a display monitor can be conveniently provided in conjunction with the fiber optic cable. For example, the fiber optic cable and the electrical connection between camera and monitor may be commonly sheathed as a single cable or tether. 
     The principal problem with this arrangement is the unwieldy cable that results between the camera unit and the base unit where the light bulb is located. The user must at all times be concerned with the length restriction of the cable and the placement of the cable with regard to both the patient and other dental equipment in the area. 
     Clearly it would be a tremendous advantage in this field if the cable between the camera unit and the base unit could be eliminated. However, this would require that a relatively powerful light source be disposed on the camera unit itself. The problem with such an arrangement is the power consumption requirement of the light source. Heretofore, no arrangement has been proposed for a self-contained camera unit capable of providing power for both the camera and a light source which is capable of properly illuminating the patient&#39;s dental work for a sufficient and reasonable length of time. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a tether-less camera unit for dental examinations which includes a light source with power sufficient to illuminate the patient&#39;s dental work as needed for imaging during a dental examination. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to meet the above-described needs and others. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tether-less, wireless camera unit which includes a light source with power sufficient to illuminate the patient&#39;s dental work throughout the course of a dental examination. 
     Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows or may be learned by those skilled in the art through reading these materials or practicing the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be achieved through the means recited in the attached claims. 
     To achieve these stated and other objects, the present invention may be as embodied and described as a dental imaging system including at least one white diode for illuminating a portion of dental work to be imaged; and a camera for imaging the illuminated portion of dental work. Preferably, the system includes a plurality of white diodes arranged in a ring around a lens of the camera. The camera may be, for example, a CCD, and the system may include an optical coupler for guiding light from the lens to the camera. 
     The system may transmit video signals to a monitor over a wire connection to the monitor. Alternatively, the system of the present invention may include a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a video signal from the camera to the monitor. The transmitter may be a radio signal transmitter, but is preferably an infra-red optical signal transmitter. A base unit of the system includes a receiver for receiving the video signal from the camera and communicating the video signal to the monitor where it can be used by a dental practitioner. 
     A battery is used for powering the white diode (or diodes), the camera and, if present, the transmitter. Preferably, the white diode(s), the camera and the battery are mounted to a common housing as a camera unit. 
     Terminals may be provided on the exterior of the housing which are electrically connected to the battery. The base unit may then include a holder for the camera unit. Within the holder are electrical pads which contact the terminals when the camera unit is held in the holder allowing the base unit to recharge the battery. 
     The present invention also encompasses the method inherent in constructing and using the dental imaging system described above. Specifically, the present invention includes a method of providing dental imaging by the steps of illuminating a portion of dental work to be imaged with at least one white diode; and imaging the illuminated portion of dental work with a camera. 
     As before, the step of illuminating is preferably accomplished with a plurality of white diodes arranged in a ring around a lens of the camera. The method includes the step of powering the at least one white diode and the camera with a battery. 
     In order to realize the advantages of the present invention by eliminating the conventional tether between a dental camera and a base unit, the method of the present invention may include the steps of wirelessly transmitting a video signal from the camera with a transmitter; receiving the video signal from the transmitter with a receiver disposed in a base unit; and communicating the video signal to a monitor. 
     As above, the method of the present invention includes powering the at least one white diode, the camera and the transmitter with a battery. In order to maintain battery power, the method includes the steps of mounting the at least one white diode, the camera and the battery to a common housing as a camera unit; providing terminals on the housing which are electrically connected to the battery; holding the camera unit in a holder of a base unit; electrically contacting the terminals with electrical pads in the holder; and recharging the battery through the contact between the terminals and the pads. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, the drawings demonstrate and explain the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 is diagram of a self-contained, tether-less dental camera unit according to the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a diagram of a base unit according to the principles of the present invention for the camera unit of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Using the drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained. FIG. 1 illustrates a self-contained camera unit according to the principles of the present invention. 
     Some of the principal problems of the prior art discussed above are overcome in the present invention by the use of white diodes  103 . It has been discovered that these diodes  103  are able to provide sufficient light for conducting dental examinations with a CCD camera  107 , but have sufficiently low power requirements that a battery  101  can provide the required power for a sufficient and reasonable period of time. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of white diodes  103  are preferably arranged in a ring on the head of a self-contained dental camera  100 . At the center of the ring of diodes  103  is a lens  104 . The ring of white diodes  103  provide the required light at the site of a patient&#39;s dental work that is to be examined. Once the site is illuminated by the diodes  103 , the site is imaged through lens  104 . 
     The lens  104  is optically coupled with a light guide element  106  which directs the light  108  from the lens  104  to the CCD camera  107 . The light guide  106  may be any of a number of equivalent elements including, but not limited to, a mirror, an optical fiber or a wave guide. Any element capable of guiding the light  108  from the lens  104  to the CCD camera  107  is equivalent for purposes of the present invention. Alternatively, if the light path between the lens  104  and the CCD camera  107  is not bent or angled, the lens  104  may directly focus light on the CCD camera  107 . 
     The CCD camera  107  may be connected to a base system (not shown) by a conventional wire tether in order to provide the video signal output by the camera  107  to a monitor (not shown) on which the video is displayed for used by a dental practitioner. However, the video signal output by the camera  107  may also be wirelessly transmitted by a wireless transmitter  109 . 
     The transmitter  109  transmits the video signal to a receiver  201  (FIG. 2) so that the image from the camera  107  can be displayed on a monitor (not shown) for inspection by the dental practitioner using the camera unit  100 . The transmitter  109  can be any of a number of wireless transmitters including, but not limited to, a radio frequency transmitter or an infrared optical transmitter. Any transmitter that can wirelessly send the video signal from the camera  107  to a base unit for display is equivalent for purposes of the present invention. 
     The white diodes  103 , the CCD camera  107 , and the transmitter  109  are powered by a battery  101  as shown in FIG.  1 . The battery  101  is also connected to two electrical terminals  102  provided on the exterior of the camera unit  100 . The terminals  102  can be used to connect the battery  101  to an outside power source to recharge the battery  101 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a base station for use with the camera unit  100  of FIG.  1 . The base unit of FIG. 2 includes a power regulator and charger  202 . The power regulator  202  is powered by a conventional wall outlet (not shown) through a 120 V plug  203 . The voltage rating of the plug  203  may be other than 120 V to accommodate the local standard voltage provided to wall outlets. 
     The power regulator  202  powers a receiver  201  that receives the video signal transmitted by the transmitter  109  of the camera unit  100 . The receiver  201  will correspond to the type of transmitter  109  used in the camera unit  100 . For example, the receiver  201  may be a radio receiver or an infra-red receiver. 
     While one purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a physical connection between the camera unit and the base unit, it is not beyond the scope of the invention to include a physical wire connection between the camera unit  100  and the receiver  201  as described above. Accordingly, receiver  201  may have a port  207  to which a cable may be connected between a similar port  110  of the transmitter  109  and the receiver  201 . 
     The receiver  201  also has a connection to a terminal  204  that is connected to a monitor (not shown). Through this connection, the receiver can display the video signal received from receiver  109  for the inspection of the dental practitioner using the camera unit  100 . 
     The base unit of FIG. 2 also includes a holder  205  for the wireless camera unit  100  of FIG.  1 . The holder  205  may receive and hold the camera unit  100 . Moreover, the holder  205  includes two electrical contact pads  206  that correspond to the terminals  102  on the camera unit. When the camera unit  100  is placed in the holder  205 , the terminals  102  are brought into contact with the pads  206  making an electrical connection. Through this connection, the power regulator  202  can recharge the battery  101  in the camera unit  100 . 
     The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe the invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 
     The preferred embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application. The preceding description is intended to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims.