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:
Sep. 15, 2009
Filed:
Dec. 10, 2003
Koen Vande Velde, Duffel, BE;
Paul Delabastita, Antwerp, BE;
Luc Minnebo, Brasschaat, BE;
Erik Van Geel, Hove, BE;
Wim Helsen, Herentals, BE;
Kris Vangeel, Geel, BE;
Koen Vande Velde, Duffel, BE;
Paul Delabastita, Antwerp, BE;
Luc Minnebo, Brasschaat, BE;
Erik Van geel, Hove, BE;
Wim Helsen, Herentals, BE;
Kris Vangeel, Geel, BE;
Agfa Graphics NV, Mortsel, BE;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for creating a print file for printing a 3-D print using a 3-D printing system is described, the 3-D print comprising a plurality of 3-D structures printed on a substrate, each 3-D print structure having a height with respect to the substrate. A two-dimensional source image is input comprising a plurality of image pixel areas. A filtered image is obtained by applying a topographic operator to the source image to generate for every image pixel a representation of a pixel height profile, the pixel height profile corresponding to cross-sections through a 3-D print structure which is to be formed by 3-D printing. Thereby definitions of a plurality of image layers are generated from the filtered image for printing using the 3-D printing system. The print file is output based on the plurality of image layers. The topographic operator has the following property: any cross-section through a solid section of a 3-D structure at a second level in the 3-D print structure which is closer to the substrate than a first level has an area which is equal to or larger than the area of the cross-section of the 3-D structure at the first level.