US5139338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for volumetric digitization of 3-dimensional objects
Assignee: CUMP GROUP Inc
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Filing: 1989-11-08
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Granted: 1992-08-18
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Expires: 2009-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A system for volumetric digitization of three dimensional objects including apparatus for filling any cavities in a three dimensional object and volumes on the outside of the object with a generally opaque support material and solidifying the support material to a solid block having generally uniform hardness before digitizing is undertaken, apparatus for digitizing a first exposed surface of the object, apparatus operative following digitizing of the first exposed surface for removing a layer of predetermined thickness of the object to expose a second exposed surface and apparatus operative to digitize the second exposed surface of the object.
Inventors
- 👤 Itzchak Pomerantz
- 👤 Barry Ben-Ezra
- 👤 Gil Shamir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/36; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/24; G01N1/02; G01N1/04; G01N1/06; G01N2001/061; G01N2001/063; G01N2001/068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A system for volumetric digitization of a three-dimensional object having cavities, the system comprising: means for filling said cavities in the three-dimensional object and volumes on the outside of the object with a generally opaque support material, said support material, when solidified having generally the same hardness as that of said object and solidifying said support material to a solid block having generally uniform hardness before digitizing is undertaken; means for digitizing a first exposed surface of the object; machining means including a fly cutter, operative following digitizing of the first exposed surface for removing a layer of predetermined thickness from the object, without substantially distorting the remainder of the object, to expose a second exposed surface of the object; and means for digitizing the second exposed surface of the object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A system for volumetric digitization of a three-dimensional object having cavities, the system comprising: means for filling said cavities in the three-dimensional object and volumes on the outside of the object with a generally opaque support material, said support material, when solidified having generally the same hardness as that of said object and solidifying said support material to a solid block having generally uniform hardness before digitizing is undertaken; means for digitizing a first exposed surface of the object; machining means including a fly cutter, operative following digitizing of the first exposed surface for removing a layer of predetermined thickness from the object, without substantially distorting the remainder of the object, to expose a second exposed surface of the object; and means for digitizing the second exposed surface of the object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 1 and wherein the color of said support material differs from that of the object, thereby to provide contrast.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 1 also comprising means for merging a plurality of two dimensional surface digitizations into a three dimensional representation.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for volumetric digitization of three-dimensional objects having cavities, said system comprising: means for filling said cavities in a three-dimensional object and volumes on the outside of the object with a generally opaque support material, said support material, when solidified having generally the same hardness as that of said object and solidifying said support material to a solid block having generally uniform hardness before digitizing is undertaken; means for digitizing an exposed generally two-dimensional surface of an object; machining means including a fly cutter for selective removal of a layer of predetermined thickness from an object, to expose a generally two-dimensional surface thereof; and control means operative to cause the means for digitizing to digitize a first exposed surface of the object, to cause the means for selective removal to be operative following digitizing of the first exposed surface to remove a layer of predetermined thickness of the object to expose a second exposed surface and to cause the means for digitizing to digitize the second exposed surface of the object.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
172 words
A system for volumetric digitization of three-dimensional objects having cavities, said system comprising: means for filling said cavities in a three-dimensional object and volumes on the outside of the object with a generally opaque support material, said support material, when solidified having generally the same hardness as that of said object and solidifying said support material to a solid block having generally uniform hardness before digitizing is undertaken; means for digitizing an exposed generally two-dimensional surface of an object; machining means including a fly cutter for selective removal of a layer of predetermined thickness from an object, to expose a generally two-dimensional surface thereof; and control means operative to cause the means for digitizing to digitize a first exposed surface of the object, to cause the means for selective removal to be operative following digitizing of the first exposed surface to remove a layer of predetermined thickness of the object to expose a second exposed surface and to cause the means for digitizing to digitize the second exposed surface of the object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 4 and wherein the color of said support material differs from that of the object, thereby to provide contrast.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 4 also comprising means for merging a plurality of two dimensional surface digitizations into a three dimensional representation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 6 and wherein said three dimensional representation is a CAD representation.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for digitizing a three-dimensional object including cavities, the method comprising the steps of: filling said cavities in the three-dimensional object and volumes on the outside of the object with generally opaque support material, said support material, when solidified having generally the same hardness as that of said object and solidifying said support material to a solid block having generally uniform hardness before digitizing is undertaken; digitizing a first exposed surface of the object; following digitizing of the first exposed surface machining, using a fly cutter, a layer of predetermined thickness from the object to provide a second exposed surface of the object; and digitizing the second exposed surface of the object.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for digitizing a three-dimensional object including cavities, the method comprising the steps of: filling said cavities in the three-dimensional object and volumes on the outside of the object with generally opaque support material, said support material, when solidified having generally the same hardness as that of said object and solidifying said support material to a solid block having generally uniform hardness before digitizing is undertaken; digitizing a first exposed surface of the object; following digitizing of the first exposed surface machining, using a fly cutter, a layer of predetermined thickness from the object to provide a second exposed surface of the object; and digitizing the second exposed surface of the object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 8 and wherein the steps of digitizing a surface followed by machining of an additional layer to expose an additional surface and digitizing of the additional surface continue until the entire volume of the object has been digitized.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9 and wherein the color of said support material differs from that of the object, thereby to provide contrast.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 9 and also comprising the step of merging a plurality of two dimensional surface digitizations into a three dimensional representation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 8 and wherein the color of said support material differs from that of the object, thereby to provide contrast.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 8 and also comprising the step of merging a plurality of two dimensional surface digitizations into a three dimensional representation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 13 and wherein said three dimensional representation is a CAD representation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for volumetric digitization of a hollow three-dimensional object comprising: means for filling with a material, which when harened, has generally the same hardness as that of said object and solidifying a hollow three dimensional object to a solid block having generally uniform hardness before digitizing is undertaken; means for digitizing a first exposed surface of the object; fly cutter means operative following digitizing of the first exposed surface for removing a layer of predetermined thickness of the object, without substantially distorting the remainder of the object, to expose a second exposed surface of the object; and means for digitizing the second exposed surface of the object.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for volumetric digitization of a hollow three-dimensional object comprising: means for filling with a material, which when harened, has generally the same hardness as that of said object and solidifying a hollow three dimensional object to a solid block having generally uniform hardness before digitizing is undertaken; means for digitizing a first exposed surface of the object; fly cutter means operative following digitizing of the first exposed surface for removing a layer of predetermined thickness of the object, without substantially distorting the remainder of the object, to expose a second exposed surface of the object; and means for digitizing the second exposed surface of the object.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for digitizing a hollow three-dimensional object comprising the steps of: filling said hollow three-dimensional object with a material, which when harened, has generally the same hardness as that of said object; solidifying said hollow three dimensional object in a solid block having generally uniform hardness before digitizing is undertaken; digitizing a first exposed surface of the object; following digitizing of the first exposed surface fly cutting a layer of predetermined thickness from the object to provide a second exposed surface of the object; and digitizing the second exposed surface of the object.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for digitizing a hollow three-dimensional object comprising the steps of: filling said hollow three-dimensional object with a material, which when harened, has generally the same hardness as that of said object; solidifying said hollow three dimensional object in a solid block having generally uniform hardness before digitizing is undertaken; digitizing a first exposed surface of the object; following digitizing of the first exposed surface fly cutting a layer of predetermined thickness from the object to provide a second exposed surface of the object; and digitizing the second exposed surface of the object.
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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) | 1995-08-18 | 1996-02-17 | 1996-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-18 | 2000-02-17 | 2000-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-18 | 2004-02-17 | 2004-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |