Method of and apparatus for deriving data intermediate to cross-sectional data descriptive of a three-dimensional object
First Claim
1. A method of deriving intermediate data representing a region, for at least a portion of a three-dimensional object, intermediate to spaced cross-sectional data descriptive of the three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:
- supplying first data representative of a first cross-section;
supplying second data representative of a second cross-section adjacent to said first cross-section;
supplying third data representative of a third cross-section adjacent to said second cross-section;
deriving first outward-facing data including comparing the first and second data;
deriving second outward-facing data including comparing the second and third data;
determining which portions of the first outward-facing data have a common boundary with the second outward facing data; and
deriving intermediate data for a region between the first and second cross-sections or between the second and third cross-sections using said portions of at least one of said first or second outward-facing data having a common boundary.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rapid prototyping and manufacturing apparatus and method (e.g. stereolithographic apparatus and a method) for layer-by-layer formation of a three-dimensional object represented by cross-sectional data including a method and apparatus for deriving data for at least a portion of a region intermediate to two successive cross-sections of data for use in forming the three-dimensional object with improved surface resolution. Outward-facing regions on two or more successive cross-sectional layers of the object are compared to determine whether the outward-facing region(s) associated with one of the layers represents what was originally intended to be a smooth transitional region (i.e. a sloping region) between two cross-sections or a discontinuous region (i.e. vertical transitional region) between two cross-sections. The comparison may involve utilization of common boundaries between outward facing regions on the cross-sections. The comparison may further involve the utilization of widths of the outward-facing regions on adjacent cross-sections.
72 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of deriving intermediate data representing a region, for at least a portion of a three-dimensional object, intermediate to spaced cross-sectional data descriptive of the three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:
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supplying first data representative of a first cross-section; supplying second data representative of a second cross-section adjacent to said first cross-section; supplying third data representative of a third cross-section adjacent to said second cross-section; deriving first outward-facing data including comparing the first and second data; deriving second outward-facing data including comparing the second and third data; determining which portions of the first outward-facing data have a common boundary with the second outward facing data; and deriving intermediate data for a region between the first and second cross-sections or between the second and third cross-sections using said portions of at least one of said first or second outward-facing data having a common boundary. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for deriving intermediate data representing a region, for at least a portion of a three-dimensional object, intermediate to spaced cross-sectional data descriptive of the three-dimensional object, comprising:
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a first memory for receiving first data representative of a first cross-section; a second memory for receiving second data representative of a second cross-section adjacent to said first cross-section; a third memory for receiving third data representative of a third cross-section adjacent to said second cross-section; a first processor operating under control of a first algorithm for deriving first outward-facing data by comparing the first and second data; a fourth memory for storing the first outward facing data; a second processor operating under control of a second algorithm for deriving second outward-facing data by comparing the second and third data; a fifth memory for storing the second outward facing data; a third processor operating under control of a third algorithm for determining which portions of the first outward-facing data have a common boundary with the second outward facing data; and a fourth processor operating under control of a fourth algorithm for deriving intermediate data for a region between the first and second cross-sections or between the second and third cross-sections using said portions of at least one of said first or second outward-facing data having a common boundary. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for converting a first set of cross-sectional data representing a three-dimensional object to be formed into a second set of cross-sectional data, different from the first set, representing the three-dimensional object to be formed, comprising the steps of:
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a. supplying data representing a first group of cross-sections of the first set of cross-sectional data, including supplying first, second and third data representing three consecutive cross-sections, respectively; b. deriving first outward-facing data including comparing the first and second data; c. deriving second outward-facing data including comparing the second and third data; d. determining which portions of the first outward-facing data have a common boundary with the second outward facing data; and e. deriving intermediate data for the region between the first and second cross-sections or between the second and third cross-sections using said portions of at least one of said first or second outward-facing data having a common boundary; f. repeating steps (a)-(e) until all intermediate data is derived; g. supplying data representing desired placement levels and/or orientation information for cross-sections making up the second set of cross-sectional data; h. using the intermediate data and possibly the first set of cross-sectional data in combination with the data representing placement levels for the second set of cross-sectional data, to derive data representing the cross-sections of the second set. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for converting a cross-sectional representation of a three-dimensional object into a surface or solid representation of the three-dimensional object, comprising the steps of:
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a. supplying the cross-sectional data, including data representing a first group of consecutive cross-sections including first, second and third data representing three consecutive cross-sections, respectively; b. deriving first outward-facing data including comparing the first and second data; c. deriving second outward-facing data by including comparing the second and third data; d. determining which portions of the first outward-facing data have a common boundary with the second outward facing data; and e. deriving intermediate data for the region between the first and second cross-sections or between the second and third cross-sections using said portions of at least one of said first or second outward-facing data having a common boundary; f. repeating steps (a)-(e) until all intermediate data is derived; g. forming a surface or solid data representation using the cross-sectional data and intermediate data.
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Specification