Custom prototyping

• US 20060012081A1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• 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:
  US10/892,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012081A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/401
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4205 in which a drawing is traced or scanned and corresponding data recorded
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37042 Photographic, picture on film, photogrammetry
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/4717 Machine 3-D model by tracing two 2-D models

Abstract

A method for producing an item data set representing the three-dimensional configuration of an item includes accepting a first input data set, the first input data set including first data representing at least a first three-dimensional configuration of a first three-dimensional object; accepting a second input data set, the second input data set including second data representing at least a second three-dimensional configuration of a second three-dimensional object; adapting one or both of the first data input set and the second data input set to be combined to obtain an item data set representing a three-dimensional configuration of the item; and combining the first input data set and the second input data set to obtain the item data set. Other methods and systems for producing item data sets and items.

Claims

1. A method for producing an item data set representing a three-dimensional configuration of an item, the method comprising:

accepting a first input data set, the first input data set including first data representing at least a first three-dimensional configuration of a first three-dimensional object;

accepting a second input data set, the second input data set including second data representing at least a second three-dimensional configuration of a second three-dimensional object;

adapting one or both of the first data input set and the second data input set to be combined to obtain an item data set representing the three-dimensional configuration of the item; and

combining the first input data set and the second input data set to obtain the item data set.

2. A method for producing an item, the method comprising:

the method of claim 1 and further comprising producing the item using the item data set.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the producing the item uses rapid prototyping.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first data directly represents the first three-dimensional configuration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first data includes at least one parameter representing at least one attribute of the first three-dimensional configuration and further comprising deriving at least a portion of the first three-dimensional configuration from the at least one attribute.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first data includes at least one datum representing a storage location for at least one parameter representing at least one attribute of the first three-dimensional configuration and further comprising retrieving the at least one parameter from the storage location using the at least one datum.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising deriving at least a portion of the first three-dimensional configuration from the at least one attribute.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporation the first input data set into a computer model.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input data set includes transaction data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transaction data includes billing information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input data set includes identification data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input data set includes authorization data.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a set of preselected objects to a user;

and

wherein accepting the first input data set includes accepting a user selection from the set of preselected objects.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting an identifier input data set including data representing at least one three-dimensional identifier configuration corresponding to an embedded identifier.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an identifier input data set including data representing at least one three-dimensional identifier configuration corresponding to an embedded identifier.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input data set includes first identification data and the second input data set includes second identification data, the method further comprising forming from the first identification data and the second identification data an identifier input data set including data representing at least one three-dimensional identifier configuration corresponding to an embedded identifier.

17. A method for producing an item data set representing the three-dimensional configuration of an item, the method comprising:

providing a first input data set from a first provider, the first input data set including first data representing at least a first three-dimensional configuration of a first three-dimensional object;

accepting the first input data set;

providing a second input data set from a second provider, the second input data set including second data representing at least a second three-dimensional configuration of a second three-dimensional object;

accepting the second input data set;

adapting the first data input set and the second data input set to be combined to obtain an item data set representing at least a three-dimensional configuration of the item; and

combining the first input data set and the second input data set to obtain the item data set.

18. A method for producing an item, the method comprising:

the method of claim 17 and further comprising using rapid prototyping to produce the item using the item data set.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the first data directly represents the first three-dimensional configuration.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the first data includes at least one parameter representing at least one attribute of the first three-dimensional configuration and further comprising deriving at least a portion of the first three-dimensional configuration from the at least one attribute.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the first data includes at least one datum representing a storage location for at least one parameter representing at least one attribute of the first three-dimensional configuration and further comprising retrieving the at least one parameter from the storage location using the at least one datum and deriving at least a portion of the first three-dimensional configuration from the at least one attribute.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising incorporation the first input data set into a computer model.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the first input data set includes transaction data, wherein the transaction data includes billing information.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the first input data set includes identification data.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the first input data set includes authorization data.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising presenting a set of preselected objects to a user;

and

wherein accepting the first input data set includes accepting a user selection from the set of preselected objects.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising accepting an identifier input data set including data representing at least one three-dimensional identifier configuration corresponding to an embedded identifier.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming an identifier input data set including data representing at least one three-dimensional identifier configuration corresponding to an embedded identifier.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the first input data set includes first identification data and the second input data set includes second identification data, the method further comprising forming from the first identification data and the second identification data an identifier input data set including data representing at least one three-dimensional identifier configuration corresponding to an embedded identifier.

30. A system for producing an item data set representing the three-dimensional configuration of an item, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory operably coupled to the processor; and

software stored in the memory and adapted

to accept a first input data set, the first input data set including data representing a first three-dimensional configuration of a first three-dimensional object;

to accept a second input data set, the second input data set including data representing a second three-dimensional configuration of a second three-dimensional object;

to adapt one or both of the first data input set and the second data input set to be combined to obtain an item data set representing a three-dimensional configuration of an item, the item including at least one first feature of the first three-dimensional object and at least one second feature of the second three-dimensional object; and

to combine the first input data set and the second input data set to obtain the item data set.

31. A system for producing an item data set representing the three-dimensional configuration of an item, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory operably coupled to the processor; and

software stored in the memory and adapted

to provide a first input data set from a first provider, the first input data set including first data representing at least a first three-dimensional configuration of a first three-dimensional object;

to accept the first input data set;

to provide a second input data set from a second provider, the second input data set including second data representing at least a second three-dimensional configuration of a second three-dimensional object;

to accept the second input data set;

to adapt the first data input set and the second data input set to be combined to obtain an item data set representing at least a three-dimensional configuration of the item; and

to combine the first input data set and the second input data set to obtain the item data set.

32. A system for producing an item, the system comprising:

a computer including a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor, the computer programmed

to accept a first input data set, the first input data set including data representing a first three-dimensional configuration of a first three-dimensional object;

to accept a second input data set, the second input data set including data representing a second three-dimensional configuration of a second three-dimensional object;

to adapt one or both of the first data input set and the second data input set to be combined to obtain an item data set representing a three-dimensional configuration of an item, the item including at least one first feature of the first three-dimensional object and at least one second feature of the second three-dimensional object; and

to combine the first input data set and the second input data set to obtain the item data set; and

a fabrication apparatus operably coupled to the computer and programmed to use the item data set to produce the item.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the fabrication apparatus is a rapid prototyping apparatus.

34. A system for producing an item, the system comprising:

a computer including a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor, the computer programmed

to provide a first input data set from a first provider, the first input data set including first data representing at least a first three-dimensional configuration of a first three-dimensional object;

to accept the first input data set;

to provide a second input data set from a second provider, the second input data set including second data representing at least a second three-dimensional configuration of a second three-dimensional object;

to accept the second input data set;

to adapt the first data input set and the second data input set to be combined to obtain an item data set representing at least a three-dimensional configuration of the item; and

to combine the first input data set and the second input data set to obtain the item data set; and

a fabrication apparatus operably coupled to the computer and programmed to use the combined data set to produce the item.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the fabrication apparatus is a rapid prototyping apparatus.