US3692406A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Relief shading apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-11
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Granted: 1972-09-19
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Expires: 1989-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is described for placing shading on a map representation of a three dimensional surface. The shading is developed by scanning a three dimensional representation of the surface and following the instantaneous height of the part of the representation being scanned. A signal is generated from the rate of change of such height and caused to affect a sensitive surface to place shading on it in those areas which represent the sides of features on the map facing away from a chosen direction of supposed illumination of the surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore J Blachut
- 👤 Zbynek Marsik
- 👤 David M Makow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C11/00; G01C11/04; G01C11/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
In combination with apparatus for the production of an orthographic image of a three dimensional featured surface which includes means for providing a three dimensional representation of the featured surface, an index means, means for continuously producing a scanning movement of said index means in a datum plane across said representation, means for continuously moving said index perpendicularly to said datum plane into conjunction with the surface of said representation, the vertical separation of said datum plane and said index being representative of the height of the surface of said representation at the conjunction and means for deriving said orthographic image from said representation, the improvement comprising: apparatus for providing shading for application to said orthographic image which comprises, means for supporting a material having a sensitive surface, exposure means for said sensitive surface for exposing that part of said sensitive surface adjacent to said exposure means, said surface being shadable upon exposure to said exposure means, means for continuously moving said exposure means in a scanning movement across said sensitive surface, at a rate proportional to the first mentioned scanning movement of said index, means connected to said perpendicular moving means for said index for generating an output proportional to the rate of change of vertical position of said index, and means connecting said output generating means to said exposure means for exposing said sensitive surface for shading said surface in an intensity which varies in accordance with said output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
In combination with apparatus for the production of an orthographic image of a three dimensional featured surface which includes means for providing a three dimensional representation of the featured surface, an index means, means for continuously producing a scanning movement of said index means in a datum plane across said representation, means for continuously moving said index perpendicularly to said datum plane into conjunction with the surface of said representation, the vertical separation of said datum plane and said index being representative of the height of the surface of said representation at the conjunction and means for deriving said orthographic image from said representation, the improvement comprising: apparatus for providing shading for application to said orthographic image which comprises, means for supporting a material having a sensitive surface, exposure means for said sensitive surface for exposing that part of said sensitive surface adjacent to said exposure means, said surface being shadable upon exposure to said exposure means, means for continuously moving said exposure means in a scanning movement across said sensitive surface, at a rate proportional to the first mentioned scanning movement of said index, means connected to said perpendicular moving means for said index for generating an output proportional to the rate of change of vertical position of said index, and means connecting said output generating means to said exposure means for exposing said sensitive surface for shading said surface in an intensity which varies in accordance with said output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 said representation comprising a three dimensional optical model, and means for forming said optical model in a chosen space, said index being scanned through saiD space by relative movement between said model and said index.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, said sensitive surface comprising a photographic emulsion, means shielding said emulsion from light, said exposure means comprising transparent slit means for scanning across the emulsion, and means for passing illumination through said slit in accordance with the output of said generation means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 comprising, screw drive means for vertical movement of said index, a tachometer on said screw drive means deriving a voltage signal proportional to the rate of turning of said screw drive, means for varying the intensity of said illumination in accordance with said voltage signal, and means for interrupting said signal when the signal is of such polarity to represent scanning across a side of an image feature on said model not intended to shaded.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 comprising means for deriving the first derivative signal of the tachometer voltage signal, and means feeding said first derivative signal to said illumination means in a sense to increase said illumination as said first derivative increases.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 4 said illuminating means comprising, a lamp and a shading disc interposed between said lamp and said emulsion, said disc being a light opacity wedge wherein rotation of said disc progressively decreases the amount of light transmitted from said lamp to said emulsion, and means for positioning said disc in accordance with the signal from said tachometer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 said disc positioning means comprising a servo-motor, an amplifier and a servo-motor feedback loop, said motor being connected to the disc.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3486820A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-19 | 1976-03-20 | 1976-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-19 | 1980-03-20 | 1980-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-19 | 1984-03-20 | 1984-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |