The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 04, 2000
Filed:
May. 13, 1997
Hop D Nguyen, Quartz Hill, CA (US);
Dennis R Smalley, Newhall, CA (US);
3D Systems, Inc., Valencia, CA (US);
Abstract
A rapid prototyping and manufacturing apparatus and method (e.g. stereolithographic apparatus and a method) for layer-by-layer formation of a three-dimensional object represented by cross-sectional data including a method and apparatus for deriving data for at least a portion of a region intermediate to two successive cross-sections of data for use in forming the three-dimensional object with improved surface resolution. Outward-facing regions on two or more successive cross-sectional layers of the object are compared to determine whether the outward-facing region(s) associated with one of the layers represents what was originally intended to be a smooth transitional region (i.e. a sloping region) between two cross-sections or a discontinuous region (i.e. vertical transitional region) between two cross-sections. The comparison may involve utilization of common boundaries between outward facing regions on the cross-sections. The comparison may further involve the utilization of widths of the outward-facing regions on adjacent cross-sections.