IP Library Granted Patent US 11,872,768
Granted Patent B2
US 11,872,768 · App. 17/477,371 · Granted Jan 16, 2024

Three dimensional enhancement of two dimensional printed images

Inventors: Stuart A. Schweid (Pittsford, NY); Martin L. Frachioni (Rochester, NY); David A. Vankouwenberg (Avon, NY); Christopher Mieney (Lima, NY)
Assignee: Xerox Corporation
B29C64/393B29C64/165B33Y50/02B33Y10/00B33Y30/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,872,768
App. No.
17/477,371
Granted
Jan 16, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An MFD is disclosed. For example, the MFD includes a color printhead to dispense color printing fluid, an enhancement printhead to dispense a three-dimensional (3D) print material, a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions. The instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations that include printing a two-dimensional (2D) image on a substrate and printing a 3D object on the 2D image printed on the substrate such that colors of the 2D image provide a desired color for a desired portion of the 3D object.

Claims (40)

1. A multi-function device (MFD), comprising:

a color printhead to dispense color printing fluid;

an enhancement printhead to dispense a three-dimensional (3D) print material;

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining colors associated with each portion of a 3D object;

determining an arrangement of the colors for a two-dimensional (2D) image based on the colors associated with each portion of the 3D object that is determined;

printing the 2D image on a substrate in accordance with the arrangement, wherein the substrate comprises paper; and

printing the 3D object on top of the 2D image printed on the substrate such that colors of the 2D image provide a desired color for each portion of the 3D object.

2. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the 3D print material comprises a clear plastic.

3. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the 3D print material comprises a semi-clear plastic.

4. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the desired color of each portion of the 3D object determines a location where the 3D print material is dispensed over each color of the 2D image that is printed on the substrate.

5. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the 3D object comprises a security mark code having a plurality of different heights.

6. The MFD of claim 5 , wherein the 2D image comprises a machine readable code located below the 3D object that is printed.

7. The MFD of claim 6 , wherein the machine readable code comprises a bar code or a quick response code.

8. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the 3D object comprises a braille pattern.

9. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein the 3D object comprises a structure that represents a brushstroke over the 2D image.

10. The MFD of claim 1 , wherein a height of the 3D object that is printed on the 2D images is 2-5 millimeters.

11. A method, comprising:

determining, via a processor, respective colors for different portions of a three-dimensional (3D) object to be printed;

determining, via the processor, an arrangement of the respective colors in a two-dimensional (2D) image based on the respective colors for the different portions of the 3D object that is determined;

controlling, via the processor, a color printhead to print the respective colors for the different portions of the 3D object in the 2D image on a substrate in accordance with the arrangement, wherein the substrate comprises paper; and

controlling, via the processor, an enhancement printhead to dispense a 3D print material on top of the 2D image, such that the respective colors of the 2D image show through the different portions of the 3D object.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the 3D print material comprises a clear plastic.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the 3D print material comprises a semi-clear plastic.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the respective colors of the different portions of the 3D object determine locations where the 3D print material is dispensed over each of the respective colors of the 2D image that is printed on the substrate.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the 3D object comprises a security mark code having a plurality of different heights.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the 2D image comprises a machine readable code located below the 3D object that is printed.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the machine readable code comprises a bar code or a quick response code.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the 3D object comprises a braille pattern.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the 3D object comprises a structure that represents a brushstroke over the 2D image.

20. A multi-function device (MFD), comprising:

a color printhead to dispense color printing fluid;

an enhancement printhead to dispense a semi-clear print material;

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining colors associated with each portion of a three-dimensional (3D) object;

determining an arrangement of the colors for a two-dimensional (2D) image based on the colors associated with each portion of the 3D object that is determined;

printing the 2D image on a substrate in accordance with the arrangement, wherein the substrate comprises paper; and

printing the 3D object on top of the 2D image printed on the substrate such that colors of the 2D image provide respective desired colors for each portion of the 3D object, wherein the 3D object comprises a security mark having different heights, wherein the semi-clear print material that forms the 3D object can be read by a height measuring device.

Assignments (7)
SECOND LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071785/0550 →
FIRST LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070824/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066741/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065628/0019 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT R/F 062740/0214 Recorded May 18, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063694/0122 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2022
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 062740/0214 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2021
From: SCHWEID, STUART A.; FRACHIONI, MARTIN L.; VANKOUWENBERG, DAVID A.; MIENEY, CHRISTOPHER
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057513/0359 →