Methods and apparatuses for printing three dimensional images

• US 8,693,056 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Virginia Venture Industries, LLC
• Original Assignee: Virginia Venture Industries, LLC
• Inventors: Abeloe, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brinich, Stephen M
• Application Number:
  US13/941,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20130301082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/2.1, 358/468, 382/131, 345419-424
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/00 Shaping techniques not covered by groups B29C39/00 - B29C65/00, B29C70/00 or B29C73/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/002 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/772 Articles characterised by their shape and not otherwise provided for closed loop B29L2031/709; ring-like B29L2031/7096; corrugated B29L2016/00, flat B29L2007/00; hollow B29L2022/00; screw-threaded B29L2001/00; toothed B29L2031/775; corrugated tubes B29L2023/18
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/00 Stereoscopic photography
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4099 Surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49019 Machine 3-D slices, to build 3-D model, stratified object manufacturing SOM
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1849 using an intermediate representation, e.g. a list of graphical primitives
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/20 Finite element generation, e.g. wire-frame surface description, tesselation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/60 Colour correction or control H04N1/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02

Abstract

Systems and methods for printing a 3D object on a three-dimensional (3D) printer are described. The methods semi-automatically or automatically delineate an item in an image, receive a 3D model of the item, matches said item to said 3D model, and send the matched 3D model to a 3D printer.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of three-dimensional (3D) printing of a three-dimensional object, the method comprising:

delineating, using a processor, an object of interest in an image;

generating, using a processor, a wire-frame 3D model for the object of interest using a stereoscopic set of images, wherein the wire-frame 3D model includes shape information of the object of interest;

breaking the 3D wire-frame model into 3D components using a processor; and

generating, using a processor, mapped information by mapping information from a portion of the image that depicts the object of interest to the 3D components of the wire-frame 3D model.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the mapped information to a 3D printer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising printing the mapped information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the position of the 3D components with respect to the image that depicts the object of interest.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapped information is a 3D model for printing the object of interest as a raised-contoured surface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the object of interest is a person depicted in the image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information from a portion of the image that depicts the object of interest comprises color information and texture information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising compensating for color imbalances of the object of interest.

9. A computer-implemented method of three-dimensional (3D) printing of a three-dimensional object, the method comprising:

delineating, using a processor, an object of interest in an image;

selecting, using a processor, a wire-frame 3D model for the object of interest, wherein the wire-frame 3D model includes shape information of the object of interest;

breaking the 3D wire-frame model into 3D components using a processor;

generating, using a processor, mapped information by mapping information from a portion of the image that depicts the object of interest to the 3D components of the wire-frame 3D model; and

storing, using a processor, the 3D wire-frame in a database with a copyright protection.

10. A system for three-dimensional (3D) printing, comprising:

at least one processor configured to

delineate an object of interest in an image;

calculate a 3D wire-frame model for the object of interest from a stereoscopic set of images, wherein the wire-frame 3D model includes shape information of the object of interest;

break the 3D wire-frame model into 3D components; and

generate mapped information by mapping information from a portion of the image that depicts the object of interest to the 3D components of the wire-frame 3D model.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit the mapped information to a 3D printer.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the position of the 3D components with respect to the image that depicts the object of interest.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the mapped information is a 3D model for printing the object of interest as a raised-contoured surface.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the object of interest is a person depicted in the image.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the information from a portion of the image that depicts the object of interest comprises color information and texture information.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to compensate for color imbalances of the object of interest.

17. A system for three-dimensional (3D) printing, comprising:

at least one processor configured to

delineate an object of interest in an image;

select a wire-frame 3D model for the object of interest, wherein the wire-frame 3D model includes shape information of the object of interest;

break the 3D wire-frame model into 3D components;

generate mapped information by mapping information from a portion of the image that depicts the object of interest to the 3D components of the wire-frame 3D model; and

store the 3D wire-frame in a database with a copyright protection.

18. A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that cause an apparatus to perform a method comprising:

delineating an object of interest in an image;

generating a wire-frame 3D model for the object of interest using a stereoscopic set of images, wherein the wire-frame 3D model includes shape information of the object of interest;

breaking the 3D wire-frame model into 3D components; and

generating mapped information by mapping information from a portion of the image that depicts the object of interest to the 3D components of the wire-frame 3D model.