US5778177A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive scanning device or system
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1997-09-18
•
Granted: 1998-07-07
•
Expires: 2017-09-18
Abstract
Abstract An interactive scanning device or system having one or more single or multi-dimensional scanners, an input device, an image processor, and a communication interface, for scanning an object or surface and interactively displaying and manipulating a threedimensional image of the object or surface from the geometrical dimensions of the object or topology of the surface captured during scanning. The communication interface enables the geometrical dimensions of the object, the topology of the surface, or the image of the object, to be transmitted over a wire or wireless communication medium to an end user station having an interactive scanning device or a computer station, or both, for initial or further display and manipulation. A further embodiment of the present invention incorporates a photosensitive or photographic recording device to capture an optical image of the object or surface to superimpose with the scanned image.
Inventors
- 👤 Kaveh Azar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T19/00; H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/002; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/142; G06T2219/00; G06T2219/024; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/916
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
An interactive scanning device, comprising: means for scanning an object or surface to obtain information about the object or surface; means for interactively displaying and changing the physical characteristics of a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information; and means for interfacing with and transmitting the changed image and/or information about the changed image over a communication medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
An interactive scanning device, comprising: means for scanning an object or surface to obtain information about the object or surface; means for interactively displaying and changing the physical characteristics of a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information; and means for interfacing with and transmitting the changed image and/or information about the changed image over a communication medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the information is the geometrical dimensions of the object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the information is the topology of the surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning comprises first means for scanning an object and second means for scanning the surfaces of the object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 4, wherein the information comprises the geometrical dimensions of the object and the topology of the surface or surfaces of the object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning is a three-dimensional scanner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning is a two-dimensional scanner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning is a one-dimensional scanner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning comprises a plurality of scanners.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning is an infrared scanner.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning is a laser scanner.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning is a radar scanner.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning is a radio wave scanner.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning is an ultra-sound scanner.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning is a low level radiation scanner.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for scanning is an electron scanning microscope.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for interactively displaying and manipulating a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information comprises an image processor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 17, wherein the image processor includes an input device and an image display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 18, wherein the input device is a touch screen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 18, wherein the input device is a keyboard.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 18, wherein the input device is a mouse.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 18, wherein the image display is a color monitor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for interactively displaying and manipulating a three-dimensional image of the object or surface comprises a personal computer using a CAD program.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for interactively displaying and manipulating a three-dimensional image of the object or surface comprises a computer workstation using a solid modeling software program.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for interactively displaying and manipulating a three-dimensional image of the object or surface comprises a microprocessor using a solid modeling software program.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for interactively displaying and manipulating a three-dimensional image of the object or surface comprises a minicomputer using a solid modeling software program.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for interactively displaying and manipulating a three-dimensional image of the object or surface comprises a mainframe computer using a solid modeling software program.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the communication medium is a wire medium.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 28, wherein the wire medium is a telephone line.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 28, wherein the wire medium is a coaxial cable.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 28, wherein the wire medium is a fiber optic cable.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 28, wherein the wire medium is an IEEE-488 bus.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the communication medium is a wireless medium.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless medium is a light wave.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless medium is a radio wave.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for interfacing and transmitting comprises a modem.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for interfacing and transmitting comprises a radio wave transmitter.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for interfacing and transmitting comprises a light wave transmitter.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for interfacing and transmitting comprises a network interface card.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the means for interfacing and transmitting includes means for compressing the information before transmission.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1, further comprising means for capturing an optical image of the object or surface and superimposing the optical image with the three-dimensional image of the object or surface.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 41, wherein the further means comprises a video camera.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 41, wherein the further means comprises a still photography camera.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
127 words
A communication system for interactively displaying and altering a three-dimensional image of an object or surface, comprising: a first end user station including at least one interactive scanning device operably coupled to a communication medium, said scanning device capable of capturing information about the object or surface, interactively displaying and manipulating a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information, and interfacing with and transmitting the information or image over the communication medium; and a second end user station operably coupled to the communication medium including at least one computer station capable of receiving the information or image over the communication medium from the interactive scanning device and interactively displaying and altering the image and transmitting the altered image to the first end user station.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
127 words
A communication system for interactively displaying and altering a three-dimensional image of an object or surface, comprising: a first end user station including at least one interactive scanning device operably coupled to a communication medium, said scanning device capable of capturing information about the object or surface, interactively displaying and manipulating a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information, and interfacing with and transmitting the information or image over the communication medium; and a second end user station operably coupled to the communication medium including at least one computer station capable of receiving the information or image over the communication medium from the interactive scanning device and interactively displaying and altering the image and transmitting the altered image to the first end user station.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communication system of claim 44, wherein the first end user station further includes at least one computer station.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communication system of claim 44, wherein the second end user station further includes at least one interactive scanning device.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
76 words
An interactive scanning device, comprising: at least one scanner for scanning an object or surface to obtain information about the object or surface; an image processor having an input device and an image display for interactively displaying and changing the physical characteristics of a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information; and a communication interface for interfacing with and transmitting the changed image and/or information about the changed image over a communication medium.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
76 words
An interactive scanning device, comprising: at least one scanner for scanning an object or surface to obtain information about the object or surface; an image processor having an input device and an image display for interactively displaying and changing the physical characteristics of a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information; and a communication interface for interfacing with and transmitting the changed image and/or information about the changed image over a communication medium.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
76 words
An interactive scanning system, comprising: a plurality of scanners for scanning an object or surface to obtain information about the object or surface; an image processor having an input device and an image display for interactively displaying and changing the physical characteristics of a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information; and a communication interface for interfacing with and transmitting the changed image and/or information about the changed image over a communication medium.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
76 words
An interactive scanning system, comprising: a plurality of scanners for scanning an object or surface to obtain information about the object or surface; an image processor having an input device and an image display for interactively displaying and changing the physical characteristics of a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information; and a communication interface for interfacing with and transmitting the changed image and/or information about the changed image over a communication medium.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
126 words
A communication system for interactively displaying and altering a three-dimensional image of an object or surface, comprising: a first end user station operably coupled to a communication medium including at least one interactive scanning system, said scanning system capable of capturing information about the object or surface, interactively displaying and manipulating a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information, and interfacing with and transmitting the information or image over the medium; and a second end user station operably coupled to the communication medium including at least one computer station for receiving the information or image over the communication medium from the scanning system and capable of interactively displaying and altering the image and transmitting the altered image to the first end user station.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
126 words
A communication system for interactively displaying and altering a three-dimensional image of an object or surface, comprising: a first end user station operably coupled to a communication medium including at least one interactive scanning system, said scanning system capable of capturing information about the object or surface, interactively displaying and manipulating a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information, and interfacing with and transmitting the information or image over the medium; and a second end user station operably coupled to the communication medium including at least one computer station for receiving the information or image over the communication medium from the scanning system and capable of interactively displaying and altering the image and transmitting the altered image to the first end user station.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 49, wherein the medium is a telecommunication medium.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of interactively displaying and changing a three-dimensional image of an object or surface, comprising: scanning an object to obtain information about the object or surface; interactively displaying and changing the physical characteristics of a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information; and interfacing with and transmitting the changed image and/or information about the changed image over a communication medium.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of interactively displaying and changing a three-dimensional image of an object or surface, comprising: scanning an object to obtain information about the object or surface; interactively displaying and changing the physical characteristics of a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information; and interfacing with and transmitting the changed image and/or information about the changed image over a communication medium.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 51, wherein the information or image is first transmitted over the communication medium and then the three-dimensional image of the object or surface is interactively displayed and manipulated.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
106 words
An interactive scanning system, comprising: at least one three-dimensional scanner for scanning an object or surface to obtain information about the object or surface; at least one video camera for capturing an optical image of the object or surface; and a computer processor, having a CAD program, an input device and an image display, for interactively displaying and changing the physical characteristics of a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information and for super-imposing the optical image with the three-dimensional image; and a communication interface for interfacing with and transmitting the changed image and/or information about the changed image over a communication medium.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
106 words
An interactive scanning system, comprising: at least one three-dimensional scanner for scanning an object or surface to obtain information about the object or surface; at least one video camera for capturing an optical image of the object or surface; and a computer processor, having a CAD program, an input device and an image display, for interactively displaying and changing the physical characteristics of a three-dimensional image of the object or surface from the information and for super-imposing the optical image with the three-dimensional image; and a communication interface for interfacing with and transmitting the changed image and/or information about the changed image over a communication medium.
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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) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |