System for making custom prototypes

• US 20060004476A1
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Secure3Dp+ Pte. Ltd. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Secure3Dp+ Pte. Ltd. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Tegreene, Clarence T., Jung, Edward K.Y., Ferren, Bran
• Application Number:
  US10/884,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004476A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/117
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4099 Surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing

Abstract

A system for making custom prototypes including devices for making the prototype, logic, software, firmware, hardware, circuitry or other components and responsive to user input.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a device fabricator responsive to input data to make a prototype;

one or more image capture devices alignable to said device fabricator;

a database including data representing one or more forms in communication with said device fabricator; and

a positioning device coupled to said one or more image capture devices and responsive to user commands to move said one or more image capture devices to capture user selected views of said prototype.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said device fabricator for making said prototype further comprises:

a virtual prototype maker.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said virtual prototype maker comprises:

a computer simulator, a 3D projector, or a holographic projector.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said device fabricator comprises:

a non-virtual prototype maker.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said prototype comprises:

a physical body of glass, polymer, plastic, wood, paper, laminate, metal, or composite.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said prototype further comprises:

a structure.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said structure further comprises:

a structure at least partially enclosing at least one space.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said structure at least partially encloses enclosing at least one space comprises:

a building construction, an interior of a room, a vehicle, or a product body.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said prototype further comprises:

a plurality of parts surrounding at least one cavity.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said plurality of parts surrounding at least one cavity comprises:

a building construction, an interior of a room, a vehicle, or a product body.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said making a prototype further comprises:

a plurality of parts.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said making a prototype comprises:

a city, a landscape, an area, or a product body.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said making a prototype further comprises:

at least one user provided specification for influencing said prototype.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said at least one user provided specification for influencing said prototype further comprises:

at least one parameter of size, shape, texture, color, or type of material.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said database a database including data representing one or more forms further comprises:

at least one user provided specification for influencing, said one or more forms.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one user provided specification for influencing, said one or more forms comprises:

at least one parameter of size, shape, texture, color, or type of material.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

software operable to configure said system for selecting, moving, or placing said one or more forms from said database comprising one or more forms to a location in proximity to said prototype or to a new location in proximity to said prototype.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said database comprising one or more forms further comprises:

a magnetic piece coupled to said one or more forms or to a subset of said forms and a magnetic manipulator coupled to said magnetic piece to locate, select, or move said forms or said subset of said forms.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said database including data representing one or more forms further comprises:

a tag coupled to said forms operable for indexing, detecting, locating, selecting, or moving said one or more forms.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said tag comprises:

an RFID tag.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said database including data representing one or more forms further comprises:

a selection of plants, trees, furniture, art, household items, office items, or animals.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more image capture devices further comprises:

a motor or an actuator coupled to said one or more image capture devices cooperative with said processor and operable for moving said image capture devices.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more image capture devices comprises:

an analog camera, a digital camera, an analog video camera, or a digital video camera.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

a wireless communication interface operably-coupled with said one or more image capture devices and said processor.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said wireless communication interface comprises:

an antenna.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

a user interface to display a plurality of parameters for manipulating said system.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of parameters for manipulating said system further comprises:

a parameter of size, shape, texture, color, or type of material.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of parameters for manipulating said system comprises:

one or more instructions stored in a memory in communication with a processor for transferring user selected views of said prototype to a computer readable medium.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

a storage medium to store a prototype formed by said user.

30. A method for forming a prototyping system, comprising:

providing a device operable for forming an arrangement of one or more parts;

providing one or more image capture device for providing at least one representation of said arrangement of one or more parts;

providing a positioning system operative to align one or more image capture devices to said arrangement of one or more parts;

providing a user access to said at least one representation; and

providing said user access to a database comprising forms for placing in proximity to said arrangement of parts.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing a device operable for forming an arrangement of one or more parts further comprises:

forming a virtual arrangement of one or more parts.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said forming a virtual arrangement of one or more parts comprises:

coupling a computer simulator, a 3D projector, or a holographic projector.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing a device operable for forming an arrangement of one or more parts further comprises:

forming a non-virtual arrangement of one or more parts.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said forming a non-virtual arrangement of one or more parts comprises:

including a physical body of glass, polymer, plastic, wood, paper, laminate, metal, or composite.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing a user access to said device operable for forming an arrangement of one or more parts further comprises:

forming said arrangement of one or more parts according to said user specifications.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing a user access to said device operable for forming an arrangement of one or more parts further comprises:

forming a structure.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing a user access to said device operable for forming an arrangement of one or more parts further comprises:

forming a structure enclosing at least one space or a plurality of parts surrounding at least one cavity.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said providing a user access to said device operable for forming an arrangement of one or more parts comprises:

a building construction, an interior of a room, a vehicle, or a product body.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing a user access to said device operable for forming an arrangement of one or more parts further comprises:

sizing or resizing said arrangement of one or more parts.

40. The method of claim 30, wherein said one or more objects operable for capturing at least one representation of said arrangement of one or more parts further comprises:

configuring said one or more objects operable for capturing at least one representation of said arrangement of one or more parts for manipulation by said user.

41. The method of claim 30, wherein said one or more objects operable for providing at least one representation of said arrangement of one or more parts comprises:

coupling an analog camera, a digital camera, an analog video camera, or a digital video camera.

42. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing a user access to a database comprising forms for placing in proximity to said arrangement of parts further comprises:

sizing, shaping, coloring, or texturing said forms according to said user provided specification.

43. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing a user access to a database comprising forms comprises:

including a selection of plants, trees, furniture, art, household items, office items, or animals in said database comprising forms.

44. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing a user access to a database comprising forms for placing in proximity to said arrangement of parts further comprises:

including a magnetic part coupled to said one or more forms or to a subset of said forms and a magnetic manipulator coupled to said one or more forms or to a subset of said forms operable for locating, selecting, or moving said forms.

45. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing said user access to a database comprising forms for placing in proximity to said arrangement of parts further comprises:

coupling a tag to said forms operable for indexing, detecting, locating, selecting, or moving said forms.

46. The method of claim 30, wherein said coupling a tag to said forms operable for indexing, detecting, locating, selecting, or moving said forms comprises:

coupling a RFID tag to said forms.

47. The method of claim 30, wherein said placing one or more objects operable for capturing at least one representation of said arrangement of one or more parts further comprises:

coupling a motor or an actuator to said one or more objects operable for capturing at least one representation of said arrangement of one or more parts for moving said one or more objects and obtaining a new representation.

48. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing a device operable for forming an arrangement of one or more parts further comprises:

coupling a memory in communication with a processor for storing said forming an arrangement of one or more parts.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said coupling a memory in communication with a processor operable for storing said forming an arrangement of one or more parts further comprises:

storing one or more instructions in said memory for transferring information to a computer readable medium.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said providing a device operable for forming an arrangement of one or more parts comprises:

including a logic or a processor operably coupled to said memory.

51. The method of claim 30, wherein said method for forming a prototyping system further comprises:

coupling a wireless communication interface to said one or more objects operable for capturing at least one representation of said arrangement of one or more parts.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said method for forming a prototyping system comprises:

including an antenna coupled to said wireless communication interface.

53. A method for prototyping, comprising:

making an arrangement of one or more pieces;

positioning one or more objects operable for providing at least one representation of said arrangement of one or more pieces;

capturing said at least one representations of said arrangement of one or more pieces; and

placing one or more forms from a database comprising forms in proximity to said arrangement of one or more pieces.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said making an arrangement of one or more pieces further comprises:

moving, sizing, resizing, shaping, coloring, or texturing said making an arrangement of one or more pieces.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein said making an arrangement of one or more pieces further comprises:

selecting a virtual image of said making an arrangement of one or more pieces.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein said making an arrangement of one or more pieces further comprises:

selecting a non-virtual image of said making an arrangement of one or more pieces.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein said selecting said non-virtual image of said making an arrangement of one or more pieces comprises:

selecting a non-virtual image of glass, polymer, plastic, wood, paper, laminate, metal, or composite.

58. The method of claim 53, wherein said making an arrangement of one or more pieces further comprises:

storing said making an arrangement of one or more pieces.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein said positioning one or more objects operable for providing at least one representation of said arrangement of one or more pieces further comprises:

moving, or guiding said one or more objects operable for providing at least one representation of said arrangement of one or more pieces.

60. The method of claim 53, wherein said placing one or more forms from a database comprising forms in proximity to said arrangement of one or more pieces further comprises:

detecting, locating, selecting, or moving said forms from said database comprising forms.

61. The method of claim 53, wherein said placing one or more forms from said database comprising forms in proximity to said arrangement of one or more pieces further comprises:

employing a magnet and a magnetic manipulator coupled to said forms for detecting, locating, selecting, or moving said forms from said database comprising forms.

62. The method of claim 53, wherein said placing one or more forms from said database comprising forms in proximity to said arrangement of one or more pieces further comprises:

sizing, resizing, shaping, or moving said forms from said database comprising forms.

63. A system, comprising:

a pattern forming tool generating an archetype;

a device for capturing at least one representation of said archetype said device communicable with said pattern forming tool;

a user interface in connection with said pattern forming tool and with said device for capturing at least one representation of said archetype and displaying said view of said archetype;

a storage medium operably linked to said user interface available for arranging an object from said storage medium in proximity to said archetype; and

a software, a logic, or a processing unit in communication with said user interface operable for influencing said pattern comprising a plurality of members and said device for capturing at least one representation.

64. The system according to claim 63, wherein said pattern forming tool further comprises a virtual or a non-virtual archetype generator.

65. The system according to claim 63, wherein said archetype further comprises a plurality of members.

66. The system according to claim 65, wherein said plurality of members comprises a physical body of glass, polymer, plastic, wood, paper, laminate, metal, composite, projection, 3 dimensional image, computer simulation, or hologram.

67. The system according to claim 63, wherein said archetype is a structure.

68. The system according to claim 63, wherein said archetype is a structure surrounding at least one cavity.

69. The system according to claim 63, wherein said archetype is a building construction, an interior of a room, a vehicle, or a product body.

70. The system according to claim 63, wherein said archetype includes at least one parameter of size, shape, texture, color, or type of material specified by a user.

71. The system according to claim 63, wherein said object from said storage medium includes at least one parameter of size, shape, texture, color, or type of material specified by a user.

72. The system according to claim 63, further comprising a tag coupled to said object from said storage medium.

73. The system according to claim 63, further comprising a magnetic tag and a magnetic manipulator coupled to said object.

74. The system according to claim 63, further comprising a wireless interface coupled to said software, logic, or processing unit.

75. The system according to claim 74, wherein said wireless interface includes an antenna.