Granted Patent B2

US 10,239,264 · App. 14/617,364 · Granted Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A method of producing a three-dimensional object with an anti-counterfeiting measure, the method comprising:

by a processor, accessing a data file comprising a plurality of parameters for producing a three-dimensional object, wherein the parameters comprise a plurality of structural parameters; and

by the processor, causing a three dimensional printing device to form the three dimensional object that exhibits the structural parameters by:

identifying a build material,

identifying a concealment material, wherein the concealment material prevents creation of a digital model of the three-dimensional object by obstructing 3D scanning of the three-dimensional object,

causing the three dimensional printing device to deposit a mixture of the build material and the concealment material in a plurality of layers, and

causing the three dimensional printing device to cure the build material and concealment material to form the three-dimensional object with the anti-counterfeiting measure.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, by the processor:

identifying one or more concealment parameters; and

using the one or more concealment parameters to select the concealment material from a plurality of possible materials so that the concealment material satisfies the one or more concealment parameters.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein identifying the one or more concealment parameters comprises:

identifying an anti-counterfeiting measure; and

automatically identifying at least one concealment parameter that cause the object to exhibit the anti-counterfeiting measure.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the anti-counterfeiting measure comprises:

identifying a possible 3D scanning method based on at least one of the following:

the structural parameters,

the build material,

a complexity value of the three-dimensional object, or

a monetary value of the three-dimensional object; and

automatically identifying at least one anti-counterfeiting measure that when included in the three-dimensional object causes the object to obstruct the identified 3D scanning method.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the possible 3D scanning method is selected from at least one of the following:

x-ray 3D scanning;

laser 3D scanning;

ultrasound 3D scanning;

magnetic resonance imaging 3D scanning; and

contact 3D scanning.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein identifying the possible 3D scanning method based on the build material comprises:

identifying a density value of the build material;

comparing the density value with a threshold value; and

identifying a deep penetrating scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method if the density value is greater than the threshold value, else identifying a surface scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein identifying the possible 3D scanning method based on the complexity value comprises:

retrieving a complexity value of the three-dimensional object from a database;

comparing the complexity value with a threshold value; and

identifying a deep penetrating scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method if the complexity value is greater than the threshold value, else identifying a surface scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein identifying the possible 3D scanning method based on the complexity value comprises:

retrieving a monetary value of the three-dimensional object from a database;

comparing the monetary value with a threshold value; and

identifying an expensive scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method if the monetary value is greater than the threshold value, else identifying a non-expensive scanning method as the possible 3D scanning method.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concealment material comprises an ultrasound-shielding or ultrasound-absorbing material.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concealment material comprises a laser-shielding or laser-absorbing material.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concealment material comprises an x-ray shielding or x-ray absorbing material.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concealment material comprises gamma-ray shielding or gamma-ray absorbing material.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concealment material comprises a ferromagnetic material that, when exposed to a magnetic field from a magnetic resonance imaging system, will cause the object to alter its shape.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concealment material comprises a cantilevered mirror.

Assignments (10)