3d Systems, Inc.

Other

Dfr2000, Inc.

Stuart T Spence

Charles W Lewis

Dennis R Smalley

Charles W Hull

Hop D Nguyen

Harry L Tarnoff

Thomas A Almquist

Borzo Modrek

Richard A Harlow

David Z Remba

Tom J Vorgitch

David J Albert

Raymond S Freed

Phil Stinebaugh

Mark Anthony Lewis

Wayne A Vinson

Adam L Cohen

Paul F Jacobs

Brent Parker

Abraham Liran

Frank F Little

Robert T Pitlak

Yehoram Uziel

Wolfgang Schwarzinger

Wayne S Vinson

Phil Steinbaugh

Wayne B Vinson

Warren Juran

William Charles Hull

Wayne A Vision

An illumination subsystem, a film guide subsystem, and an imaging subsystem are combined to form an optical system for a film conversion device which projects an image recorded on film onto the at least one optical sensor. The illumination subsystem comprises a lamp. The film guide subsystem comprises a film guide wide enough to support film moving thereover and having an aperture that permits passage of light from the lamp through the film. The imaging subsystem comprises an imaging lens and an optical sensor situated so as to receive the light passing through the aperture and the film. The three subsystems together have an optical path that is folded substantially into the shape of a 'U'. This folded arrangement is achieved by placing optical beam bending elements in the optical path of the film conversion device between the illumination subsystem and the film guide subsystem, and between the film guide subsystem and the imaging subsystem. This folded arrangement of the components of the optical system permits the components of the illumination subsystem and the imaging subsystem to be mounted back-to-back on the same support structure within the film-to-video module. Consequently, the optical system requires less space than is required without the folding of the optical path.

Optical design for film conversion device

A reconfigurable digital processor to improve efficiency and flexibility in film conversion applications is described. Analog signals corresponding to film images are digitized and provided to the reconfigurable digital processor. The reconfigurable digital processor uses programmable circuit elements, such as field programmable gate arrays and digital signal processors, to perform film conversion functions. The number of programmable circuit elements can be scaled in proportion to cost or desired throughput rates, thereby offering a variety of cost-efficient film conversion devices for varying needs. The reconfigurable digital processor provides one or more outputs which are formatted to produce one or more digital motion picture files in parallel. The reconfigurable digital processor can be altered using software codes at any time to perform different film conversion functions and adapt to changes in format of digital motion picture files.

Method and apparatus for a reconfigurable digital processor for film conversion

A cost-efficient digital parallel processor to improve throughput and offer a variety of output formats in film conversion is described. Image pixels on film are translated into electrical signals by photosensitive detectors. The electrical signals are digitized by analog-to-digital converters and thereafter provided to a digital parallel processor for film conversion functions. The digital parallel processor includes two or more groups of circuit elements to facilitate parallel processing. Each group of circuit elements can process a different set of image pixels simultaneously. In addition, image pixels belonging to the same set can be processed in parallel. This two-dimensional parallel processing structure facilitates faster than real-time film conversion sessions. A supervisor control circuit monitors and controls the sequence of film conversion functions. The output of the digital parallel processor is provided to a formatter which manipulates the data to conform to one or more standard formats. The data in different standard formats can be provided in parallel, thereby eliminated the need for additional film conversion sessions. The data in standard formats can be stored in local memory, written to a storage medium, provided to another device for further processing, or converted by a digital-to-analog converter for display on a video monitor.

Method and apparatus for a digital parallel processor for film conversion

A lamp, a film guide, and a photosensitive detector are combined into an optical system contained in a portable device that generates electrical signals representing images recorded on motion picture film. The film guide has a surface proximate to the motion picture with an aperture therein through which light from the lamp passes to image the film on the photosensitive detector. A digital processor, which is electrically connected to the photosensitive detector processes an electronic signal output by the photosensitive detector. To provide compactness, the optical system has a folded path comprising three segments each separately mounted on a different surface. The first segment includes the lamp, the second includes the film guide, and the third includes the photosensitive detector. An optical detector positioned so as to receive light from the lamp enables adjusting the device when the device is moved to a location where the temperature and other environmental conditions change. This configuration also finds use when the device is located in an environment whose temperature remains consistently hot.

Portable film conversion device

A digital processor to synchronize ancillary information with film images during a film conversion session is described. The ancillary information includes metadata information and audio information. The digital processor advantageously processes the ancillary information at a speed to support faster than real-time film conversion. The ancillary information can come from various sources and in various forms. Information from analog sources is digitized for processing using digital technology. A pitch adjuster frequency shifts digitized analog signals and digital input signals to achieve a selected data rate that matches the rate of film conversion. Digitally encoded input data can be decoded and re-encoded to achieve the selected data rate. A formatter manipulates the ancillary information at the selected data rate to conform to a standard format and combines the formatted ancillary information with film images conforming to a standard motion picture format.

Method and apparatus for synchronization of ancillary information in film conversion

An improved stereolithography system for generating a three-dimensional object by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed at a selected surface of a fluid medium capable of altering its physical state in response to appropriate synergistic stimulation by impinging radiation, particle bombardment or chemical reaction, information defining the object being specially processed to reduce curl and distortion, and increase resolution, strength, accuracy, speed and economy of reproduction even for rather difficult object shapes, the successive adjacent laminae, representing corresponding successive adjacent cross-sections of the object, being automatically formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar buildup of the desired object, whereby a three-dimensional object is formed and drawn from a substantially planar surface of the fluid medium during the forming process.

Method and apparatus for production of high resolution three-dimensional objects by stereolithography

Improved apparatus and methods for forming a layer of material over a surface of a previously-formed cross-section of a three-dimensional object in anticipation of forming a next cross-section of the object out of the layer. A volume of material, including at least some excess material, is placed over the surface, and the excess material is swept off by placing the excess material in the predetermined path of a sweeping member, the path being substantially in a plane spaced from a working surface of material. The member may be directed to sweep the excess material away through a successive number of sweeps, which may vary for each cross-section, at least a velocity which may vary for each sweep. Additionally, the clearance between the member and the surface of the previous cross-section may vary for each sweep. A 'winged' member is also provided, comprising two legs extending from a base, and a 'Trident' embodiment is also provided, comprising three legs extending from a base.

Recoating stereolithographic layers

An improved stereolithography system for generating a three-dimensional object by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to formed at a selected surface of a fluid medium capable of altering its physical state in response to appropriate synergistic stimulation by impinging radiation, particle bombardment or chemical reaction, information defining the object being structurally specified to reduce curl, stress and distortion in the ultimately formed object, the successive adjacent laminae, representing corresponding successive adjacent cross-sections of the object, being automatically formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar buildup of the desired object, whereby a three-dimensional object is formed and drawn from a substantially planar surface of the fluid medium during the forming process. A stereolithographic distortion known as curl is defined, and several techniques to eliminate or reduce curl are described, including dashed line, bent line, secondary structure, rivets, and multi-pass techniques. In addition, a quantitative measurement of curl known as the curl factor, and a test part known as a quarter cylinder are described, which together can be used to measure the effectiveness of the above techniques in reducing curl.

Stereolithographic curl reduction

Recoating of stereolithographic layers

Method and apparatus for production of high resolution three-dimensional

Apparatus and method for stereolithographically forming a three-dimensional object includes a vessel for holding a building material and a smoothing member for forming a uniform coating over a previously formed layer of the object. The smoothing member has a plurality of blades. The smoothing member is swept over a previously formed layer of the object, in at least two directions. Different clearances between the lower surface of the smoothing member and the upper surface of the previously formed layer are used to provide a uniform coating for a subsequent layer over the previously formed layer. The sweeping velocity of the smoothing member can be varied. Retractable needles are attached to the smoothing member for adjusting a blade gap between a lower surface of the smoothing member and the surface of the building material.

A stereolithography system employing a more powerful laser and faster dynamic mirrors to speed up part building without sacrificing accuracy is described, especially large or complex parts. A controllable shutter is placed in the beam path of the laser to selectably block the passage of the beam and prevent unwanted solidification. A suitable servo controlled feedback loop is provided to accurately position the mirrors at the higher velocity. Also described is a means to reduce data flow by distributing tasks in a multiple processor environment, and to improve user interaction by the use of a spreadsheet model. These also improve the speed of part building, especially for large or complex parts.

Rapid and accurate production of stereolithographic parts

An apparatus and a method for calibrating and normalizing a stereolithographic apparatus so that a reaction means directed by a positioning means supplied with positioning means information may be positioned accurately on a designated surface of a working medium. One or more sensors fixed in location with respect to the designated surface of the working medium are utilized to correlate positioning means information with specific locations on the designated surface of the working medium. Other locations intermediate the specific locations may then be determined by the technique of linear interpolation.

Apparatus and method for calibrating and normalizing a

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So. Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Stuart T Spence