Information processing apparatus, three-dimensional fabrication apparatus, and three-dimensional fabrication system

• US 10,591,895 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2016
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Haida, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jonathan S
• Application Number:
  US15/390,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20170185069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 382154
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49023 3-D printing, layer of powder, add drops of binder in layer, new powder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/46 Colour picture communication systems

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a display control unit, a receiving unit, a selecting unit, and a height-information setting unit. The display control unit displays image data on a display unit. The receiving unit receives specification of an arbitrary point on the displayed image data and specification of a color range in a three-dimensional color space that is based on the arbitrary point. The selecting unit selects a region having color included in the specified color range on the image data. The height-information setting unit sets height information to the selected region.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor, configured to

control display of image data on a display;

receive specification of an arbitrary point on the image data displayed and specification of a color range in a three-dimensional color space based on the arbitrary point specified;

automatically select a region having color information included in the color range specified on the image data; and

set height information to the region automatically selected, wherein the height information is expressed relative to the color information, such that as the height information is relatively higher, the color information is relatively darker, and such that as the height information is relatively lower, the color information is relatively lighter; and

generate layer information, including the height information in a relatively middle area of the layer information generated and including the color information in a relatively peripheral area of the layer information generated.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to

control display of the color information, corresponding to the arbitrary point specified, on the display, and

wherein the color range is a range in the three-dimensional color space, adjusted based on the color information displayed on the display.

3. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein

each time the specification of the color range is received, the region on the image data is selected, and

each time the region is selected, the height information is set to the region selected.

4. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to

receive specification of a partial region in the image data displayed,

display the specified partial region on the display,

receive specification of the arbitrary point on the partial region displayed and receives specification of the color range, and

select the region on the partial region displayed.

5. The information processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein

each time the specification of the color range is received, the region on the image data is selected, and

each time the region is selected, the height information is set to the region selected.

6. The information processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein

each time the specification of the partial region is received, the partial region specified is displayed on the display,

each time the partial region is displayed, specification of the arbitrary point is received and specification of the color range, on the partial region displayed, is received,

each time the specification of the color range is received, the region on the partial region is selected, and

each time the region on the partial region is selected, the height information is set to the region selected.

7. The information processing apparatus of claim 6, wherein upon the partial region, including the region set with the height information, being present in plural, pieces of the height information set to the partial regions are integrated.

8. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to

convert gradation of the image data so that a gradation value in the region selected becomes relatively higher, so as to generate gradation-converted image data, wherein

control display of the gradation-converted image data on the display,

receive specification of an apex in the region selected on the gradation-converted image data displayed and receive specification of a height of the apex, and

set the height information to the region selected based on a first height-deciding logic for deciding a height around the apex based on the height of the apex.

9. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to

convert gradation of the image data so that a gradation value in region selected becomes relatively higher, so as to generate gradation-converted image data, and

set the height information to the region selected based on a second height-deciding logic for deciding a height corresponding to an arbitrary gradation value.

10. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to

receive specification of a height with respect to the region selected, and

set height information indicating the height specified to a whole of the region selected.

13. The information processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein an inclination of the image data in the three-dimensional color space becomes relatively steeper as the height of the apex becomes relatively higher.

14. The information processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein an inclination of the image data in the three-dimensional color space becomes relatively gentler as the height of the apex becomes relatively lower.

11. A three-dimensional fabrication apparatus comprising:

at least one processor, configured to

control display of image data on a display;

receive specification of an arbitrary point on the image data displayed and specification of a color range in a three-dimensional color space based on the arbitrary point specified;

automatically select a region having color information included in the color range specified on the image data;

set height information to the region automatically selected; and

generate layer information including the height information in a relatively middle area of the layer information and the color information in a relatively

peripheral area of the layer information; and

a three-dimensional fabricator, configured to fabricate a three-dimensional image by three-dimensionally forming an image indicated by the image data based on the height information, the color information and the image data, wherein the height information is expressed relative to the color information, as the height information is relatively higher as the color information is relatively darker, and the height information is relatively lower as the color information is relatively lighter.

15. The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is configured to

control display of the color information, corresponding to the arbitrary point specified, on the display, and

wherein the color range is a range in the three-dimensional color space, adjusted based on the color information displayed on the display.

16. The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus of claim 11, wherein

each time the specification of the color range is received, the region on the image data is selected, and

each time the region is selected, the height information is set to the region selected.

17. The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to

convert gradation of the image data so that a gradation value in the region selected becomes relatively higher, so as to generate gradation-converted image data, wherein

control display of the gradation-converted image data on the display,

receive specification of an apex in the region selected on the gradation-converted image data displayed and receive specification of a height of the apex, and

set the height information to the region selected based on a first height-deciding logic for deciding a height around the apex based on the height of the apex.

12. A three-dimensional fabrication system comprising:

an information processing apparatus; and

a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus, wherein

the information processing apparatus includes

at least one processor, configured to

control display of image data on a display,

receive specification of an arbitrary point on the image data displayed and specification of a color range in a three-dimensional color space based on the arbitrary point specified,

automatically select a region having color information included in the color range specified on the image data,

set height information to the region automatically selected, and

generate layer information including the height information in a relatively middle area of the layer information and the color information in a relatively peripheral area of the layer information; and

the three-dimensional fabrication apparatus includes

a three-dimensional fabricator, configured to fabricate a three-dimensional image by three-dimensionally forming an image indicated by the image data based on the height information, the color information and the image data, wherein the height information is expressed relative to the color information, as the height information is relatively higher as the color information is relatively darker, and the height information is relatively lower as the color information is relatively lighter.

18. The three-dimensional fabrication system of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is configured to

control display of the color information, corresponding to the arbitrary point specified, on the display, and

wherein the color range is a range in the three-dimensional color space, adjusted based on the color information displayed on the display.

19. The three-dimensional fabrication system of claim 12, wherein

each time the specification of the color range is received, the region on the image data is selected, and

each time the region is selected, the height information is set to the region selected.

20. The three-dimensional fabrication system of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to

convert gradation of the image data so that a gradation value in the region selected becomes relatively higher, so as to generate gradation-converted image data, wherein

control display of the gradation-converted image data on the display,

receive specification of an apex in the region selected on the gradation-converted image data displayed and receive specification of a height of the apex, and

set the height information to the region selected based on a first height-deciding logic for deciding a height around the apex based on the height of the apex.