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:
Feb. 18, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 27, 2001
Scott M. Burgett, Overland Park, KS (US);
Brent P. Ragsdale, Shawnee, KS (US);
Vanessa Redshaw, Bradford, GB;
David Sowden, Yorkshire, GB;
John B. Watkins, Independence, MO (US);
Hallmark Cards Incorporated, Kansas City, MO (US);
Abstract
A method of copying a three-dimensional surface having X, Y, and Z dimensions forms a translucent impression of the surface to be copied and then captures a two-dimensional image of the translucent impression. The captured image has X and Y dimensions and a grayscale value for each X, Y coordinate of the image. Then, the method converts each grayscale value of the image to a Z height value, thereby generating a digital file of X, Y, and Z values. The digital file may then be provided as an input to a numerically controlled machine, which can be operated to reproduce the surface to be copied. The method of the present invention finds particular application in digitizing handcrafted emboss dies and the like.