US6958752B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and methods for three-dimensional modeling
Assignee: 3D Systems Inc
•
Filing: 2001-12-14
•
Granted: 2005-10-25
•
Expires: 2021-12-14
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods for modifying a virtual object stored within a computer. The systems and methods allow virtual object modifications that are otherwise computationally inconvenient. The virtual object is represented as a volumetric representation. A portion of the volumetric model is converted into an alternative representation. The alternative representation can be a representation having a different number of dimensions from the volumetric representations. A stimulus is applied to the alternative representation, for example by a user employing a force-feedback haptic interface. The response of the alternative representation to the stimulus is calculated. The change in shape of the virtual object is determined from the response of the alternative representation. The representations of the virtual object can be displayed at any time for the user. The user can be provided a force-feedback response. Multiple stimuli can be applied in succession. Multiple alternative representations can be employed in the system and method.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph E. Jennings, Jr.
- 👤 Thomas Harold Massie
- 👤 Bradley A. Payne
- 👤 Walter C. Shannon, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T17/00; G06T19/00; G06T19/20; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06T2210/00; G06T2210/28; G06T2219/00; G06T2219/20; G06T2219/2021; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S345/00; Y10S345/949; Y10S345/952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of modifying a virtual object stored within a computer, the method comprising the steps of: representing a virtual object as a volumetric model; converting a subset of volumetric model into a non-volumetric representation; modifying the non-volumetric representation according to stimulus, thereby simulating, a deformation of the virtual object while preserving surface detail; and modifying the volumetric model so as to substantially represent the modified non-volumetric representation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of modifying a virtual object stored within a computer, the method comprising the steps of: representing a virtual object as a volumetric model; converting a subset of volumetric model into a non-volumetric representation; modifying the non-volumetric representation according to stimulus, thereby simulating, a deformation of the virtual object while preserving surface detail; and modifying the volumetric model so as to substantially represent the modified non-volumetric representation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the non-volumetric representation according to a stimulus comprises modifying the non-volumetric representation according to a first stimulus and further modifying the non-volumetric representation according to a second succeeding stimulus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the volumetric model comprises a change in shape of the volumetric model.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the volumetric model comprises converting a response of the non-volumetric representation to the stimulus into a response of the volumetric model to the stimulus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the subset of the volumetric model is the entire volumetric model.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the subset of the volumetric model is a portion of the volumetric model.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the volumetric model comprises voxels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the volumetric model comprises values spaced in a three-dimensional grid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-volumetric representation comprises a surface representation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-volumetric representation comprises a set-of-triangles representation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the stimulus comprises a weighted displacement function defined on vertices of the set-of-triangles representation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-volumetric representation comprises a selected one of a polygon set, a bezier surface, a b-spline surface, a procedural surface, and a NURBS representation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus is a stimulus from a user using a haptic interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the haptic interface is a force feedback interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the haptic interface has at least three degrees of force feedback.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying the virtual object on a computer display.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the volumetric model and the non-volumetric representation comprise representations having different number of dimensions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus comprises at least one of a displacement function, a smoothing function, a warping function, a volumetric interference, an areal interference, a result of a simulation, a control point modification, a data re-fitting, and a force.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus is applied to the object in real time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: transforming the non-volumetric representation into a third representation; modifying the third representation in response to an applied stimulus; and transforming the modified third representation to a modified volumetric representation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein transforming the modified third representation to the modified volumetric representation comprises generating an intermediate modified representation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus comprises a user motion in at least three-dimensional space.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a feedback force to a user, the feedback force being generally consistent with a geometric shape of a modified virtual object.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the method comprising the steps of: transforming at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a polygonal set representation; modifying the polygonal set representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail; and modifying the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the polygonal set representation.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the method comprising the steps of: transforming at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a polygonal set representation; modifying the polygonal set representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail; and modifying the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the polygonal set representation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the modification comprises selected one of a displacement function, a smoothing function, a warping function, a volumetric interference, an areal interference, a result of a simulation, a control point modification, a data re-fitting, and a force.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the method comprising the steps of: transforming at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a surface-based representation; modifying the surface-based representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail; and modifying the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the surface based representation.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the method comprising the steps of: transforming at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a surface-based representation; modifying the surface-based representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail; and modifying the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the surface based representation.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for modifying a virtual object stored within a computer, the system comprising: a representation module that represents a virtual object as a volumetric model; a conversion module that converts a subset of the volumetric model into non-volumetric representation; an analytic module that modifies the non-volumetric representation according to a stimulus, thereby simulating a deformation of the virtual object while preserving surface detail; and a modification module that modifies the volumetric model so as to substantially represent the modified non-volumetric representation.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for modifying a virtual object stored within a computer, the system comprising: a representation module that represents a virtual object as a volumetric model; a conversion module that converts a subset of the volumetric model into non-volumetric representation; an analytic module that modifies the non-volumetric representation according to a stimulus, thereby simulating a deformation of the virtual object while preserving surface detail; and a modification module that modifies the volumetric model so as to substantially represent the modified non-volumetric representation.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the analytic module that modifies the non-volumetric representation according to a stimulus comprises an analytic module that modifies the non-volumetric representation according to a first stimulus and further modifies the non-volumetric representation according to a second succeeding stimulus.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the modification module that modifies the volumetric model comprises a modification module that changes a shape of the volumetric model.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the modification module that modifies the volumetric model comprises a modification module that converts a response of the non-volumetric representation to the stimulus into a response of the volumetric model to the stimulus.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the subset of the volumetric model is the entire volumetric model.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the subset of the volumetric model is a portion of the volumetric model.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the volumetric model comprises voxels.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the volumetric model comprises values spaced in a three-dimensional grid.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the non-volumetric representation comprises a surface representation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the non-volumetric representation comprises a set-of-triangles representation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 36 , wherein the stimulus comprises a weighted displacement function defined on vertices of the set-of-triangles representation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the non-volumetric representation comprises a selected one of a polygon set, bezier surface, a b-spline surface, a procedural surface, and a NURBS representation.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
19 words
The system of clam 27 , wherein the stimulus is a stimulus from a user using a haptic interface.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
19 words
The system of clam 27 , wherein the stimulus is a stimulus from a user using a haptic interface.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the haptic interface is a force feedback interface.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 39 , wherein the haptic interface has at least three degrees of force feedback.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 27 , further comprising a display module that displays the virtual object on a computer display.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the volumetric model and the non-volumetric representation comprise representations having different numbers of dimensions.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the stimulus comprises at least one of a displacement function, a smoothing function, a warping function, a volumetric interference, an areal interference, a result of a simulation, a control point modification, a data re-fitting and a force.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the stimulus si applied to the object in real time.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 27 , further comprising: a second transformation module that transforms the non-volumetric representation into a third representation; a third modification module that modifies the third representation in response to an applied stimulus; and a third information module that transforms the modified third representation to a modified volumetric representation.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 46 , wherein the third transformation module that transforms the modified third representation to the modified volumetric representation comprises a transformation module that generates an intermediate modified representation.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 46 , wherein at least two of the first, second and third modification modules are the same module.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 46 , wherein at least two of the first, second and third transformation modules are the same module.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 27 , wherein the stimulus comprises a user motion in at least three-dimensional space.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 27 , further comprising a force feedback module that applies a feedback force to a user, the feedback force being generally consistent with a geometric shape of a modified virtual object.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
73 words
A system of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the system comprising: a transformation module that transforms at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a polygonal set representation; a first modification module that modifies the polygonal set representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail; and a second modification module that modifies the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the polygonal set representation.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
73 words
A system of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the system comprising: a transformation module that transforms at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a polygonal set representation; a first modification module that modifies the polygonal set representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail; and a second modification module that modifies the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the polygonal set representation.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 52 , wherein a selected one of the modification of the polygonal set representation and the modification of the volumetric representation comprises a selected one of a displacement function, a smoothing function, a warping function, a volumetric interference, an areal interference, a result of a simulation, a control point modification, a data re-fitting, and a force.
Claim 60
Independent Claim
71 words
A system of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the system comprising: a transformation module that transforms at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a surface-based representation; a first modification module that modifies the surface-based representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail; and a second modification module that modifies the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the surface based representation.
Claim 61
Independent Claim
71 words
A system of modifying a volumetric representation of an object, the system comprising: a transformation module that transforms at least a portion of the volumetric representation into a surface-based representation; a first modification module that modifies the surface-based representation, thereby simulating a deformation of the object while preserving surface detail; and a second modification module that modifies the volumetric representation to substantially represent the modification made to the surface based representation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-10-24 | 2009-04-25 | 2009-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-10-24 | 2013-04-25 | 2013-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-10-24 | 2017-04-25 | 2017-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |