Automated 3-D modeling of shoe parts
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for analyzing scans of a shoe part to generate dimension data, which is useable to model three-dimensional (3-D) features of the shoe part, the method comprising:
- projecting a first laser beam onto a shoe-part surface of the shoe part that is comprised of a surface topography, such that a first projected laser line extends across a section of the shoe-part surface;
recording a first image of the first projected laser line using both a first camera having a black-shoe-part exposure setting and a second camera having a white-shoe-part exposure setting, wherein the first image comprises a representation of the first projected laser line and comprises an extraneous depiction of light;
determining coordinate points that define the representation of the first projected laser line as depicted in the first image, wherein a filtering method is applied to the coordinate points to remove one or more noisy coordinate points defining the light that is extraneously depicted;
combining the coordinate points that define the representation of the first projected laser line with a first plurality of other coordinate points, which are derived from first additional images recorded when the first laser beam is projected onto other sections of the shoe-part surface, thereby compiling a first set of coordinate points that represent the surface topography; and
converting the first set of coordinate points into geometric coordinate points that represent a 3-D model of the surface topography.
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Abstract
Manufacturing of a shoe is enhanced by creating 3-D models of shoe parts. For example, a laser beam may be projected onto a shoe-part surface, such that a projected laser line appears on the shoe part. An image of the projected laser line may be analyzed to determine coordinate information, which may be converted into geometric coordinate values usable to create a 3-D model of the shoe part. Once a 3-D model is known and is converted to a coordinate system recognized by shoe-manufacturing tools, certain manufacturing steps may be automated.
78 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for analyzing scans of a shoe part to generate dimension data, which is useable to model three-dimensional (3-D) features of the shoe part, the method comprising:
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projecting a first laser beam onto a shoe-part surface of the shoe part that is comprised of a surface topography, such that a first projected laser line extends across a section of the shoe-part surface; recording a first image of the first projected laser line using both a first camera having a black-shoe-part exposure setting and a second camera having a white-shoe-part exposure setting, wherein the first image comprises a representation of the first projected laser line and comprises an extraneous depiction of light; determining coordinate points that define the representation of the first projected laser line as depicted in the first image, wherein a filtering method is applied to the coordinate points to remove one or more noisy coordinate points defining the light that is extraneously depicted; combining the coordinate points that define the representation of the first projected laser line with a first plurality of other coordinate points, which are derived from first additional images recorded when the first laser beam is projected onto other sections of the shoe-part surface, thereby compiling a first set of coordinate points that represent the surface topography; and converting the first set of coordinate points into geometric coordinate points that represent a 3-D model of the surface topography. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for analyzing scans of a shoe part to generate dimension data, which is useable to model three-dimensional (3-D) features of the shoe part, the method comprising:
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attaching a shoe bottom onto a lasted shoe upper, such that a terminal edge of the shoe bottom encircles the lasted shoe upper; projecting a laser beam onto the shoe bottom and the lasted shoe upper, such that a first segment of a projected laser line extends on the shoe bottom and a second segment of the projected laser line extends on the lasted shoe upper; recording an image of the projected laser line that depicts a first-segment representation and a second-segment representation, wherein an interface region between the first-segment representation and the second-segment representation represents a position of the terminal edge; identifying a coordinate point of the interface region that defines a position of the interface region as depicted in the image; and converting the coordinate point to a geometric coordinate point of the lasted shoe upper, wherein the geometric coordinate point is deemed a bite point that represents a position on the lasted shoe upper that is aligned with a portion of the terminal edge. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system that analyzes scans of a shoe part to generate dimension data, which is useable to model three-dimensional (3-D) features of the shoe part, the system comprising:
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a shoe-part moving apparatus that retains the shoe part and moves the shoe part through a range of positions, wherein the shoe part comprises a surface topography; a laser that projects a first laser beam onto a section of the shoe part as the shoe part is moved to a position of the range of positions, such that a first projected laser line extends across the section; a first camera having a black-shoe-part exposure setting that records a first image of the first projected laser line, wherein the first image depicts a representation of the first projected laser line extending across the section; a second camera having a white-shoe-part exposure setting that records a second image of the first projected laser line, wherein the second image depicts the representation of the first projected laser line extending across the section; and computer storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to; (1) derive coordinate points from the first image and the second image that define the representation of the first projected laser line as depicted in the first image and the second image; (2) combine the coordinate points with a plurality of other coordinate points, which are derived from additional images recorded when the first laser beam is projected onto other sections of the shoe part, thereby compiling a combination of coordinate points that represent the surface topography; and (3) convert the combination of coordinate points into geometric coordinate points that represent a 3-D model of the surface topography. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification