Systems for hybrid geometric/volumetric representation of 3D objects
View Patent ↗The invention provides a system for modeling three-dimensional objects using hybrid geometric/volumetric representation, wherein sharp edges are created by a geometric representation that is connected to the volumetric representation. The system creates, maintains, and updates the hybrid representation according to user input. The system also provides for conversion of the hybrid representation into either a wholly geometric representation or a wholly volumetric representation, as may be needed for output to a given device, such as a display device, a printer, and/or a fabricating device.
1. A system for creating a hybrid representation of a three-dimensional object having one or more sharp edges, the system comprising:
a user-controlled haptic interface device adapted to provide a user input to a computer and to transmit force to a user according to a user interface location in a virtual environment; and
coded instructions that, when operating with said computer and said user input, are configured to:
(a) generate a haptic representation of the three-dimensional object in said virtual environment, wherein said haptic representation is a hybrid representation comprising a volumetric portion and a geometric portion distinct from said volumetric portion, wherein said geometric portion defines at least one edge of said hybrid representation, and wherein the user can feel both the volumetric portion and the geometric portion; and
(b) determine force transmitted to said user via said haptic interface device according to an interaction by said user with said three-dimensional object in said virtual environment.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said volumetric representation comprises a voxel-based representation.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said geometric representation comprises a resolution-independent geometric representation.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said resolution-independent geometric representation comprises a NURBS representation.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said geometric representation comprises a resolution-dependent geometric representation.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said resolution-dependent geometric representation comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polyline representation, a mesh representation, a polygon representation, and a polyhedral representation.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said hybrid representation comprises polygons connected to a voxel representation to provide at least one sharp edge.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said interaction comprises at least one of the following: creation of said three-dimensional object, manipulation of said three-dimensional object, interaction with said three-dimensional object, and editing of said three-dimensional object.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said coded instructions are configured to:
(c) convert said hybrid representation into a wholly geometric representation for output to one or more members selected from the group consisting of a display device, a printer, and a fabricating device.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein said coded instructions are configured to:
(c) convert said hybrid representation into a wholly volumetric representation for output to one or more members selected from the group consisting of a display device, a printer, and a fabricating device.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein said coded instructions are further configured to:
(c) display said hybrid representation; and/or
(d) provide output data for printing and/or fabrication of said hybrid representation.
12. An apparatus for creating a hybrid representation of a three-dimensional object, the apparatus comprising:
a haptic interface device;
a memory upon which machine-readable code is stored, the code defining a set of instructions for:
(a) generating a haptic representation of the three-dimensional object in a virtual environment, wherein said haptic representation is a hybrid representation comprising a volumetric portion and a geometric portion distinct from said volumetric portion, wherein said geometric portion defines at least one edge of said hybrid representation, and wherein a user can feel both the volumetric portion and the geometric portion; and
(b) determining force transmitted to a user via said haptic interface device according to an interaction by said user with said three-dimensional object in said virtual environment.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said volumetric representation comprises a voxel-based representation.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said geometric representation comprises a resolution-independent geometric representation.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said resolution-independent geometric representation comprises a NURBS representation.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said geometric representation comprises a resolution-dependent geometric representation.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said resolution-dependent geometric representation comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polyline representation, a mesh representation, a polygon representation, and a polyhedral representation.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said hybrid representation comprises polygons connected to a voxel representation to provide at least one sharp edge.
19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said interaction comprises at least one of the following: creation of said three-dimensional object, manipulation of said three-dimensional object, interaction with said three-dimensional object, and editing of said three-dimensional object.
20. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said code defines a set of instructions for:
(c) converting said hybrid representation into a wholly geometric representation for output to one or more members selected from the group consisting of a display device, a printer, and a fabricating device.
21. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said code defines a set of instructions for:
(c) converting said hybrid representation into a wholly volumetric representation for output to one or more members selected from the group consisting of a display device, a printer, and a fabricating device.
22. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said code defines a set of instructions for:
(c) displaying said hybrid representation; and/or
(d) providing output data for printing and/or fabrication of said hybrid representation.