PAINT DESIGN TEMPLATE CREATION AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Patent application

Abstract

To provide a system and method for producing paint templates for painting a design on a target surface.SOLUTION: A system includes a processor 210A of a production system including a design module 302 configured to parse the design into a set of paint sub-designs, and a template design module 304 configured to generate a geo-file of paint template designs based on the set of paint sub-designs. The generated geo-file of paint template designs includes a paint template design that corresponds to a paint sub-designs. The system further includes a plotter configured to produce a set of paint templates based on the geo-file of paint template designs. Each paint template design includes paints of each of a set of alignment marks and each paint template is produced with a set of alignment apertures corresponding to the set of alignment marks.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to painting a design onto a target surface of a component, and more particularly to a system and method for fabricating a paint template utilized to facilitate painting a design onto a target surface of a component. [Background technology]

[0002] Designs and / or logos are painted onto target surfaces of many components or structures. For example, aircraft often include designs or logos painted onto target surfaces of the fuselage. Some paint designs include multiple paint layers that blend multiple colors and / or transition from one color to another.

[0003] A plurality of paint templates are utilized to apply multiple paint layers to a target surface. Generally, a set of ordered paint templates is designed and utilized to facilitate painting a paint design onto a target surface. To begin the painting process, an initial paint template is utilized to facilitate application of a first paint layer to the target surface. Subsequent paint templates are then utilized to apply subsequent paint layers onto and / or adjacent to one or more previous paint layers. This process continues until painting of the design is complete.

[0004] Conventional systems and methods for generating paint template designs and / or fabricating paint templates are performed manually. Manually generating paint template designs and / or fabricating paint templates is a relatively time-consuming and / or costly process. In addition, inconsistencies may occur between two different paint template designs and / or paint templates due to human error and / or differences between the individual(s) manually generating the paint template designs and / or paint templates. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The subject matter of the present disclosure provides paint design template production and corresponding systems and methods that overcome the above-noted deficiencies of the prior art. It is desirable to reduce the time it takes to generate a paint template design and / or to produce a paint template. Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop improved systems and methods for generating paint template designs and / or producing such paint templates that reduce the time and costs associated with manufacturing aircraft. Accordingly, the subject matter of the present application was developed in response to the current state of the art, and in particular, in response to deficiencies in conventional paint template designs and paint templates, and conventional methods and systems for producing paint templates used to facilitate painting of designs onto target surfaces of components.

[0006] Disclosed herein is a system for producing paint templates for painting designs on a target surface. The system includes a processor configured to generate a geofile of a paint template design. The processor includes a design module configured to parse the design into a set of paint sub-designs, and a template design module configured to generate a geofile of a paint template design based on the set of paint sub-designs. The generated geofile of the paint template design includes a paint template design corresponding to the paint sub-designs. The system further includes a plotter coupled to the processor and configured to produce a set of paint templates based on the geofile of the paint template design. Each paint template design includes a set of alignment marks for facilitating painting the paint design on the target surface, and each paint template is created with a set of alignment apertures corresponding to the set of alignment marks for each paint template design. The above description of this paragraph characterizes a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0007] The template design module is configured to generate geofiles of the paint template designs for each paint template design in a predetermined order relative to the other paint template designs. The template design module includes an alignment module configured to orient a set of alignment marks for each paint template design. The above description in this paragraph characterizes Example 2 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 1 above.

[0008] The plotter includes a cutting component configured to form a set of alignment apertures from each paint template based on a corresponding set of alignment marks. The preceding statements in this paragraph characterize Example 3 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 2 above.

[0009] The alignment module includes a part geometry module for the set of parts associated with the target surface, the alignment module configured to orient a set of alignment marks on the first paint template design based on a first geometry of one or more parts of the set of parts associated with the target surface. The preceding statements in this paragraph characterize Example 4 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Examples 2 or 3 above.

[0010] The alignment module further includes a template geometry module, the template geometry module including geometry data for each paint template design, the alignment module further configured to orient the set of alignment marks on the second paint template design based on a second geometry for the set of alignment marks on the first paint template design. The preceding statements in this paragraph characterize Example 5 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 4 above.

[0011] The alignment module further includes a template geometry module, the template geometry module including geometry data for each paint template design, the alignment module configured to orient the set of alignment marks on the current paint template design based on geometry for the set of alignment marks on the previous paint template design. The above subject matter of this paragraph characterizes Example 6 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to any one of Examples 2 to 5 above.

[0012] The set of alignment marks on the current paint template design includes a first alignment mark that is different from a second alignment mark on the previous paint template design. The preceding statements in this paragraph characterize Example 7 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 6 above.

[0013] Further disclosed herein is an apparatus for generating a geofile of a paint template design for producing a paint template that facilitates painting the design on a target surface. The apparatus includes a design module configured to parse a paint design into a set of paint sub-designs, and a template design module configured to generate a geofile of a paint template design based on the set of paint sub-designs. The generated geofile of the paint template design includes a paint template design corresponding to the paint sub-designs. Each paint template design includes a set of alignment marks to facilitate painting the paint design on the target surface. The apparatus further includes a communication module that is connectable to a plotter and configured to transmit the generated geofile of the paint template design to the plotter. The above description of this paragraph characterizes an eighth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] The template design module is configured to generate geofiles of the paint template designs in a predetermined order for each paint template design relative to the other paint template designs, and the template design module includes an alignment module configured to orient a set of alignment marks for each paint template design. The preceding statements in this paragraph characterize Example 9 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 8 above.

[0015] The alignment module includes a part geometry module for the set of parts associated with the target surface, the alignment module configured to orient a set of alignment marks on the first paint template design based on a first geometry of one or more parts of the set of parts associated with the target surface. The preceding description in this paragraph characterizes Example 10 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 9 above.

[0016] The alignment module further includes a template geometry module including geometry data for each paint template design, the alignment module further configured to orient the set of alignment marks on the second paint template design based on a second geometry for the set of alignment marks on the first paint template design. The preceding description of this paragraph characterizes an eleventh embodiment of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 10 above.

[0017] The alignment module further includes a template geometry module, the template geometry module including geometry data for each paint template design, the alignment module configured to orient the set of alignment marks on the current paint template design based on geometry for the set of alignment marks on the previous paint template design. The above subject matter of this paragraph characterizes Example 12 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to any one of Examples 9 to 11 above.

[0018] The set of alignment marks on the current paint template design includes a first alignment mark that is different from a second alignment mark on the previous paint template design. The preceding statements in this paragraph characterize Example 13 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 12 above.

[0019] Additionally disclosed herein is a method of producing a paint template for painting a design on a target surface. The method includes generating, by a processor, a geofile of a paint template design based on the set of paint subdesigns. The generated paint template design geofile includes a paint template design corresponding to the paint subdesigns for the design. The method further includes producing, by a plotter, a set of paint templates based on the geofile of the paint template design. Each paint template design includes a set of alignment marks to facilitate painting the design on the target surface, and each paint template is created with a set of alignment apertures corresponding to the set of alignment marks for each paint template design. The above description of this paragraph characterizes a fourteenth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] The step of generating a geofile of the paint template design includes parsing, by the processor, the design into a set of paint sub-designs, orienting a set of alignment marks on each paint template design, and combining the plurality of paint template designs in a predetermined order relative to one another to generate a geofile of the paint template design. The preceding description of this paragraph characterizes Example 15 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 14 above.

[0021] Orienting the set of alignment marks on the first paint template design is based on a first geometry for one or more parts of the set of parts associated with the target surface. The preceding statements in this paragraph characterize Example 16 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 15 above.

[0022] Orienting the set of alignment marks on the second paint template design is based on a second geometry for the set of alignment marks on the first paint template design. The preceding paragraphs characterize Example 17 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 16 above.

[0023] Orienting the set of alignment marks on the current paint template design is based on a geometry for the set of alignment marks on the previous paint template design. The subject matter above in this paragraph characterizes Example 18 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to any one of Examples 15 to 17 above.

[0024] The set of alignment marks on the current paint template design includes a first alignment mark that is different from a second alignment mark on the previous paint template design. The preceding statements in this paragraph characterize Example 19 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to Example 18 above.

[0025] The step of fabricating a set of paint templates includes forming a set of alignment apertures from each paint template based on a corresponding set of alignment marks. The above subject matter of this paragraph characterizes Example 20 of the present disclosure, which also includes subject matter according to any of Examples 14 to 19 above.

[0026] The described features, structures, advantages, and / or characteristics of the subject matter of the present disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more examples and / or embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are presented to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the examples of the subject matter of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the subject matter of the present disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific features, details, components, materials, and / or methods of a particular embodiment and / or implementation. In other instances, certain examples, implementations, and / or implementations may recognize additional features and advantages that are not present in all examples, embodiments, or implementations. Furthermore, in some cases, well-known structures, materials, or operations have not been shown or described in detail so as not to obscure aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure. The features and advantages of the subject matter of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description and the appended claims, or may be learned by practicing the subject matter as set forth below.

[0027] So that the advantages of the present subject matter may be more readily understood, the present subject matter as outlined above will now be described in greater detail by reference to specific embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that these drawings merely illustrate exemplary embodiments of the subject matter, and therefore they should not be considered as limiting its scope. Through the use of the drawings, the subject matter will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a paint template production system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computing device included in the paint template production system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3A] 3 is a block diagram of a processor included in the computing system of FIG. 2 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 3B]3 is a block diagram of another processor included in the computing device of FIG. 2 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 3C is a block diagram of a template design module included in each of the processors of FIGS. 3A and 3B in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a plotter included in the paint template production system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 5B] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another plotter included in the paint template production system of FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an aircraft including a target surface for painting a design in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7A] FIG. 13 is a top view of a first set of paint templates, each including a set of alignment apertures, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7B] 11 is a top view of a second set of paint templates, each including a set of alignment apertures, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7C] FIG. 13 is a top view of a third set of paint templates, each including a set of alignment apertures, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic flow diagram of a method for producing and / or facilitating the production of a set of paint templates, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 9 is a schematic flow diagram of sub-steps of the method of FIG. 8 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 9 is a schematic flow diagram of sub-steps of the method of FIG. 8 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] References to "one example / an example" or similar phrases throughout this specification mean that the detailed features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with the example are included in at least one example of the present disclosure. Appearances of the phrase "n one example / in an example" or similar phrases throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same example. Similarly, use of the term "implementation" means one embodiment having the detailed features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with one or more examples of the present disclosure, but one implementation may be associated with one or more examples unless an explicit correlation is otherwise indicated.

[0030] Disclosed herein is a system and method for producing a paint template that facilitates painting a design on a target surface of a component. The system includes a processor configured to generate a geofile of a paint template design. The processor includes a design module configured to parse a design into a set of paint sub-designs, and a template design module configured to generate a geofile of a paint template design based on the set of paint sub-designs, the generated geofile of the paint template design including a paint template design corresponding to the paint sub-designs for the design. The system further includes a plotter configured to produce a set of paint templates based on the geofile of the paint template design. In some examples, each paint template design includes a paint for each of a set of alignment marks, and each paint template is produced with a set of alignment apertures corresponding to the set of alignment marks.

[0031] 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system 100 for fabricating paint templates used to facilitate painting paint designs and / or logos (also referred to herein, individually or collectively, as paint designs or simply designs) onto a target surface of a component. In at least the illustrated embodiment, system 100 includes a computing device 102 coupled to and / or in communication with a plotter 104, among other components.

[0032] Computing device 102 may include any suitable computing system and / or device capable of designing and / or facilitating the design of a paint template. Referring to Figure 2, a block diagram of one embodiment of computing device 102 is shown. In at least the illustrated embodiment, computing device 102 includes, among other components, a user interface (UI) 202, input devices 204, output devices 206, storage devices 208, and a processor 210 coupled to and / or in communication with each other.

[0033] In some examples, the UI 202 includes any suitable technologies, systems, and / or devices, now known or later developed, that enable a user to interact with the computing device 102 . According to one example, UI 202 includes, but is not limited to, a Graphical User Interface (GUI), among other types of UIs possible and contemplated herein.

[0034] In some examples, input device 204 includes any suitable system and / or device, now known or later developed, that allows a user to interact with UI 202. Examples of input device 204 include, but are not limited to, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, a pointing stick, a joystick, a jog dial (or knob), a touch screen, and / or a microphone, among other types of input devices possible and contemplated herein.

[0035] In some examples, output device(s) 206 may include any suitable system and / or device, now known or later developed, capable of providing data to a user. Exemplary output device(s) 206 may include, but are not limited to, a display or monitor, among other types of output devices possible and contemplated herein.

[0036] According to an example, storage device 208 includes any suitable type of device and / or system, now known or later developed, capable of storing a computer usable system. In various embodiments, storage device 208 includes one or more non-transitory computer usable media (e.g., readable, writeable, readable-writeable, etc.), which may include non-transitory and / or persistent devices or apparatuses capable of storing, conveying, propagating, and / or transferring instructions, data, computer programs, software, code, routines, etc., for processing by or in association with a computer processing device (e.g., processor 210).

[0037] In some embodiments, the storage device 208 stores and / or is configured to store a set of paint sub-designs 212 for a paint design generated by the processor 210, as discussed elsewhere herein. In additional or alternative embodiments, the storage device 208 stores and / or is configured to store a geofile 214 for a paint template design generated by the processor 210, as discussed elsewhere herein.

[0038] In some examples, the processor 210 includes any suitable non-volatile / permanent hardware and / or software capable of designing and / or facilitating the design of a paint template. In some embodiments, the processor 210 includes hardware and / or software configured to execute instructions and / or rules in one or more modules and / or applications capable of designing and / or facilitating the design of a paint template for a paint design and / or logo.

[0039] 3A, a block diagram of one embodiment of a processor 210A that can design and / or facilitate the design of a paint template is shown. The processor 210A is an example of one of the processors 210 of the computing device 102 of FIG. 2. In at least the illustrated embodiment, the processor 210A includes, among other components, a design module 302 that is coupled to and / or in communication with a template design module 304.

[0040] In some examples, the design module 302 includes any suitable hardware and / or software capable of facilitating and / or assisting in the generation of a plurality of paint templates for a paint design. In some embodiments, the design module 302 is configured to receive a paint design (e.g., from a user and / or another computing device (not shown)).

[0041] Additionally, the design module 302 analyzes the paint design and parses the paint design into a number of different paint layers. For example, the design module 302 may be configured to determine that a particular color and / or transitions between two or more colors are a combination of two or more different paint layers, parse the particular color and / or transitions between the colors into the different paint layers, and form a set of paint sub-designs 212 for the paint design. The design module 302 may be further configured to arrange the different paint layers in the set of paint sub-designs 212 such that the paint layers are painted in the correct order on a target surface (e.g., an aircraft fuselage, etc.).

[0042] 2, the set of paint subdesigns 212 may include any suitable amount of paint subdesigns that allows the paint design to be resolved and / or transformed into manageable layers of paint so that the designs can be painted onto a target surface. In various embodiments, the amount of paint subdesigns in the set of paint subdesigns 212 may vary based on the type and / or size of the particular paint design. Thus, various embodiments of the set of paint subdesigns 212 will typically include two or more paint subdesigns.

[0043] In various embodiments, the design module 302 sends the set of paint sub-designs 212 (including the correct order) to the storage device 208 for storage therein. In additional or alternative embodiments, the design module 302 sends the set of paint sub-designs 212 (including the correct order) to the template design module 304 for processing therein.

[0044] In certain examples, the template design module 304 includes any suitable hardware and / or software capable of generating a plurality of paint templates for a paint design. In some embodiments, the template design module 304 is configured to receive the set of paint sub-designs 212 from the design module 302. In additional or alternative embodiments, the template design module 304 is configured to retrieve the set of paint sub-designs 212 from a storage device 208 that stores the set of paint sub-designs.

[0045] According to one example, the set of paint sub-designs 212 are arranged in the correct order for painting the design on the target surface. In some embodiments, the template design module 304 is configured to arrange the set of paint sub-designs 212 in the correct order for painting the design on the target surface in response to determining that the set of paint sub-designs 212 are not arranged in the correct order.

[0046] The template design module 304, in various embodiments, is configured to generate a plurality of paint template designs based on the set of paint sub-designs 212 generated by the design module 302. Thus, the quantity of the paint template designs may correspond to the quantity of the paint sub-designs in the set of paint sub-designs 212.

[0047] Multiple paint template designs can be combined to generate a paint template design geofile 214. In various embodiments, each paint template design in the generated paint template design geofile 214 corresponds to a paint subdesign in the set of paint subdesigns 212. Thus, the paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214 can include the same amount of paint template designs as the amount of paint subdesigns in the set of paint subdesigns 212. Furthermore, the paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214 can be arranged in the same order as their corresponding paint subdesigns in the set of paint subdesigns 212 such that the paint layers that form the paint design on the target surface can be painted in the appropriate / correct order.

[0048] The paint template design (and corresponding paint template based thereon) may include any suitable shape that is paintable and / or effective on the target surface. Exemplary shapes include, but are not limited to, circles, ellipses, triangles, quadrilaterals, shapes having five or more sides, among other regular or irregular geometric shapes possible and contemplated herein. In some embodiments, the paint template design (and its corresponding paint template) may include a rectangle, among other shapes possible and contemplated herein.

[0049] The paint template design (and corresponding paint template based thereon) may include any suitable dimensions that make the target surface paintable and / or effective. In various embodiments, the dimensions correspond to the entire target surface and / or the entire design to be painted on the target surface. In other embodiments, the one or more dimensions correspond to one or more portions of the target surface and / or one or more portions of the design to be painted on the target surface. In some embodiments, the paint template design (and its corresponding paint template) includes a rectangular shape, two sides of the rectangle include a length of about one meter (1 m) or about three feet (3 ft.) and the remaining two sides include a length that corresponds to the dimensions of the design to be painted on the target surface, among other lengths possible and contemplated herein. For example, for a large design (e.g., a design that includes a height and length greater than about two meters (2 m) or six feet (6 ft.) to be painted on a particular target surface (e.g., an aircraft fuselage), the rectangular paint template design may include a height of about one meter (1 m) or three feet (3 ft.) and a length that matches and / or corresponds to the entire length of the design. It should now be apparent that painting designs (and / or logos) onto the fuselage of an aircraft requires a geofile 214 of paint template designs to include multiple paint template designs.

[0050] In some embodiments, the paint template design (and, based thereon, the corresponding paint template) includes a set of alignment marks (e.g., one or more alignment marks that are generally similar to actual alignment marks or alignment apertures 702A and 702B (see, e.g., FIG. 7 )) to facilitate alignment of the paint template corresponding to the paint template design on a target surface (see, e.g., aircraft fuselage 604 (see, e.g., FIG. 6 )) and / or one or more previous paint layers. That is, the set of alignment marks are utilized to properly and / or correctly orient the paint template on the target surface and / or previous paint layer(s).

[0051] 4, there is shown a block diagram of one embodiment of the template design module 304. In at least the illustrated embodiment, the template design module 304 includes, among other components, an alignment mark module 402 coupled to and / or in communication with an alignment module 404.

[0052] In some examples, the alignment mark module 402 includes any suitable hardware and / or software that can include and / or facilitate the inclusion of a set of alignment marks on the paint template design. According to certain examples, the alignment marks include any suitable marks, indications, and / or identifiers, now known or later developed, that can be utilized to align and / or orient the paint template on the target surface to be painted and / or one or more previous paint layers. In some embodiments, the alignment marks represent apertures (e.g., alignment apertures). In additional or alternative embodiments, the alignment marks can include transparent and / or translucent areas within a particular material that includes and / or forms at least a portion of the paint template.

[0053] In some embodiments, all of the alignment marks in the paint template design 214 (and its corresponding paint template 514 (see, e.g., FIG. 5A )) are alignment apertures. In other embodiments, at least two alignment marks in the paint template design 214 (and its corresponding paint template 514) are different alignment marks. For example, at least one alignment mark includes an alignment aperture and at least one other alignment mark includes a transparent and / or translucent area, among other combinations possible and contemplated herein.

[0054] In some examples, the alignment marks include any suitable shape, now known or developed in the future. Exemplary shapes include, but are not limited to, regular or irregular geometric shapes (e.g., circles, ellipses, triangles, quadrilaterals, shapes having five or more sides, etc.), biological shapes (e.g., eyes, teardrops, eyebrows, hands, fingers, feet, toes, ears, noses, mouths, heads, torsos, arms, legs, tails, fingernails, toenails, etc.), and / or natural shapes (e.g., trees, leaves, fruits, plants, rocks, mountains, hills, promontory, peninsulas, diamonds, prisms, cylinders, pyramids, stars, waterfalls, snowflakes, raindrops, bodies of water (e.g., rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, oceans, seas, bays, etc.)), among other regular and / or irregular shapes possible and contemplated herein.

[0055] In some embodiments, all of the alignment marks in a paint template design (and its corresponding paint template) include the same shape. In other embodiments, at least two alignment marks in a paint template design 214 (and its corresponding paint template 514) include different shapes. With reference to FIG. 7, for example, alignment mark 702A includes a different shape than alignment mark 702B. The different shapes may have different means, indications, and / or indications, as discussed elsewhere herein.

[0056] Further, the alignment mark may include any suitable size and / or area that may include and / or form the alignment mark. In various examples, the alignment mark is an alignment aperture.

[0057] In some embodiments, all of the alignment marks in the paint template design (and its corresponding paint template) have the same size. In other embodiments, at least two of the alignment marks in the paint template design (and its corresponding paint template) include different sizes.

[0058] In an additional example, the paint template design (and, based thereon, the paint template) includes any suitable amount of alignment marks that allow and / or enable proper alignment of the paint template relative to the target surface and / or one or more previous paint layers.

[0059] In certain instances, the paint template design (and paint template based thereon) includes any suitable amount of alignment marks per unit length that allows and / or enables proper alignment of the paint template with respect to the target surface and / or one or more previous paint layers. In various embodiments, the paint template design (and paint template) includes an amount of alignment marks per unit length ranging from about 1 alignment mark per centimeter (1 cm) to about 1 alignment mark per ten centimeters (10 cm), among other amounts per unit length and / or amounts per unit length possible and contemplated herein. In some embodiments, the paint template design (and paint template) includes an amount of alignment marks per unit length ranging from about 1 alignment mark per five centimeters (5 cm), or one alignment mark every two inches, among other amounts per unit length possible and contemplated herein.

[0060] In some embodiments, different portions of the paint template design (and therefore the paint template) include two or more portions that include different registration marks per unit length and / or different registration marks. That is, in some instances, different registration marks are utilized to indicate different directions and / or orientations of the paint design on the surface. For example, a first registration mark may indicate a continuity of color or features in the paint design, while a second registration mark may indicate a color transition, a color crossover, a design feature transition, and / or a design feature crossover, among other purposes possible and contemplated herein. In another non-limiting example, some of the paint template designs (and paint templates) may include more alignment marks per unit length at locations where the design intersects multiple colors, transitions from one color to another, intersects a color and a location (or part) on the paint target surface, intersects multiple parts and colors, intersects a location (or part) with multiple colors, intersects multiple parts and colors, and / or intersects / transitions from one shape / feature to another, among other purposes possible and contemplated herein, than parts of the paint template design (and paint template) that do not include intersections / transitions of colors, locations, parts, shapes and / or features.

[0061] In additional or alternative embodiments, the paint template design includes a set of symbols (e.g., one or more of symbols 704A and 704B) included thereon. The symbols include any suitable symbols, known or developed in the future, that can be understood and / or interpreted by personnel and / or computing devices. Exemplary symbols include, but are not limited to, alphanumeric symbols, words, shapes, lines, and / or icons, among other symbols possible and contemplated herein. In some embodiments, one or more of the symbols can include / form instructions or notes and / or represent instructions or notes for using and / or aligning a paint template generated from the paint template design.

[0062] In some embodiments, all of the set of paint template designs 214 (and their corresponding paint template(s) 514) include the same symbol 704. In other embodiments, at least two different paint template designs 214 (and their corresponding paint templates 514) include different symbols 704.

[0063] As discussed elsewhere herein, the paint template design geofile 214 includes a plurality of paint template designs. In various embodiments, at least two paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214 include different amounts of alignment marks (e.g., alignment apertures, etc.). In additional or alternative embodiments, the at least two paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214 include one or more different alignment marks included therein (e.g., alignment apertures and transparent and / or semi-transparent areas, etc.). In further additional or alternative embodiments, the at least two paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214 include one or more differently shaped alignment marks included therein. In further additional or alternative embodiments, the at least two paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214 include one or more differently shaped and / or sized alignment marks included therein. In further additional or alternative embodiments, the at least two paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214 include one or more portions with different amounts of alignment marks per unit length included therein. In other additional or alternative embodiments, at least two paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214 include one or more different symbols contained within each.

[0064] In one example, the alignment module 404 of the template design module 304 includes any suitable hardware and / or software that can include and / or facilitate the inclusion of a set of alignment marks on a paint template design. In at least the illustrated embodiment, the alignment module 404 includes, among other components, a part geometry module 406 and a template geometry module 408.

[0065] The part geometry module 406 includes any suitable hardware and / or software that may include data about a target surface, in some examples. In one example, the target surface is a surface of a component (e.g., an aircraft (see, e.g., FIG. 6), a spacecraft, an automobile, a truck, a train, a sign, a building, etc.) that includes one or more parts of the component contained and / or formed thereon. Here, the part geometry module 406 includes data (e.g., schematics, etc.) about one or more parts and / or portions of the component. That is, the data may include an enumeration of the component parts, characteristics of one or more portions of the target surface (e.g., size, plane(s), curvature, taper, intersection(s) of the component parts, intersection(s) of the component parts located adjacent to the target surface, etc.), as well as an enumeration of the component parts located adjacent to the target surface and their orientation and / or position relative to one another. Further, the part geometry module 406 is configured to determine the relative positions and / or orientations of the component parts, characteristics of one or more portions of the target surface, and the component parts located adjacent to the target surface relative to the locations on the target surface where the paint design will be painted.

[0066] In a non-limiting example, where the component surface is an aircraft fuselage 604 (see, e.g., FIG. 6 ), the part geometry module 406 may include an enumeration and schematic diagram of parts of the fuselage 604 (e.g., nose, tail, landing gear, lights, window(s), door(s), hatch(s), etc.), characteristics of one or more portions of the fuselage (e.g., size, length, curvature, taper, intersections of parts and / or portions of the fuselage, intersection(s) of the fuselage and aircraft part(s) adjacent to the fuselage, etc.), and / or parts adjacent to the fuselage 604 (e.g., wings, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, etc.). Further, part geometry module 406 is configured to determine the relative position(s) and / or orientation of various fuselage parts, part characteristic(s) of fuselage 604, and / or parts of aircraft 600 located adjacent to fuselage 604 with respect to where paint design 602 (e.g., a company logo and / or name (see, e.g., FIG. 6 )) will be painted on fuselage 604.

[0067] In various embodiments, the template geometry module 408 includes any suitable hardware and / or software that may include data about one or more paint templates and / or one or more layers of paint that have already been applied to the target surface. For example, the target surface may already include one or more layers of a painted design. Here, the template geometry module 408 includes data (e.g., schematic diagrams, etc.) about one or more portions of the design already painted on the target surface. That is, the data includes an enumeration of the portions of the design, properties of the one or more portions of the design, and an enumeration of component parts located adjacent to the target surface and their orientations and / or positions relative to one another. In one example, the template geometry module 408 is configured to determine the relative positions and / or orientations of the completed portions of the design, properties of the one or more portions of the design, and component parts located adjacent to the completed portion(s) of the design relative to the positions on the target surface at which one or more subsequent portions of the design will be painted.

[0068] For the above non-limiting aircraft example, according to one embodiment, template geometry module 408 includes an enumeration and schematic of the completed portion(s) of the design of fuselage 604, one or more characteristics of the completed portion(s) of the design 602, and / or an enumeration and schematic of parts of aircraft 600 adjacent to fuselage 604. Additionally, template geometry module 408 is configured to determine a relative position(s) and / or orientation of the completed portion(s), characteristic(s) of the completed portion(s), and / or parts of aircraft 600 adjacent to the completed portion(s) of paint design 602 with respect to a location where one or more subsequent portions and / or paint layers of paint design 602 will be painted on fuselage 604.

[0069] In various embodiments, the alignment module 404 is configured to utilize the part geometry module 406 and / or the template geometry module 408 to determine a location on the paint template design to orient each alignment mark of the set of alignment marks. In a non-limiting example of a first paint layer of a design, the alignment module 404 utilizes data from the part geometry module 406 to determine where to orient the alignment mark(s) of the paint template design relative to the target surface, one or more portions of the target surface, one or more characteristics of the target surface, and / or one or more parts of the component, including one or more parts of the component adjacent to the target surface. In some examples, the alignment mark(s), when included on the paint template based on the paint template design, can be utilized to properly and / or correctly align the paint template on the target surface relative to the part(s) of the component on the target surface, the portion(s) of the target surface, the characteristic(s) of the target surface, and / or the part(s) of the component adjacent to the target surface, so that the first layer of the design can be painted onto the target surface in the intended and / or correct location.

[0070] In an additional or alternative non-limiting example of a second paint layer of a design and / or a subsequent paint layer of a design, the alignment module 404 utilizes data in the template geometry module 408 to determine where to orient the alignment mark(s) of the paint template design relative to one or more portions of the design already painted on the target surface. Here, the alignment mark(s) when included on the paint template based on the paint template design are utilized to properly and / or correctly align the paint template on the target surface relative to the portion(s) of the design already painted on the target surface (e.g., one or more previous paint layers). Thus, the second or subsequent layer of the design may be painted on the target surface in the intended and / or correct position relative to the first or previous layer.

[0071] In a further additional or alternative, non-limiting example of the second paint layer of the design and / or subsequent paint layers of the design, the alignment module 404 utilizes the data in the part geometry module 406 and the data in the template geometry module 408 to determine where to orient the alignment mark(s) of the paint template design relative to the target surface, one or more portions of the target surface, one or more characteristics of the target surface, and / or one or more parts of the component, including one or more parts of the component adjacent to the target surface, and relative to one or more portions of the design already painted on the target surface. Here, the alignment mark(s), when included on the paint template based on the paint template design, can be used to properly and / or correctly align the paint template on the target surface relative to the component part(s) on the target surface, the portion(s) of the target surface, the feature(s) of the target surface, and / or the component part(s) adjacent to the target surface, and relative to portions of the design already painted on the target surface, so that a second or subsequent layer of design can be painted onto the target surface in the intended and / or correct location.

[0072] 3B, a block diagram of another embodiment of a processor 210B for designing and / or facilitating the design of a paint template is shown. The processor 210B is an example of one of the processors 210 of the computing device 102 of FIG. 2. The processor 210B includes a design module 302 coupled to and / or in communication with a template design module 304 similar to the processor 210A discussed elsewhere herein. In at least the illustrated embodiment, the processor 210B further includes a communication module 306 coupled to and / or in communication with the template design module 304 and the storage device 208, among other components.

[0073] The communications module 306 includes any suitable communications hardware and / or software that enables and / or enables communications between the processor 210B (e.g., see template design module 304 (FIG. 3)) and the storage device 208, and / or between the processor 210B (e.g., see template design module 304 (FIG. 3)) and the plotter 104.

[0074] In various embodiments, the communications module 306 transmits and / or facilitates the transmission of the geofiles 214 of the paint template design from the template design module 304 to the storage device 208 (including the correct order) and stores the geofiles 214 in the storage device 208. In additional or alternative embodiments, the template design module 304 transmits the geofiles 214 of the paint template design (including the correct order) from the template design module 304 to the plotter 104 for processing therein.

[0075] 1, the plotter 104 includes any suitable systems and / or devices capable of producing and / or facilitating the production of the set of paint templates 514 (see, e.g., FIGS. 5A and 5B). In various embodiments, the set of paint templates 514 is based on the set of paint template designs included in the paint template design geofile 214 generated by the computing device 102.

[0076] In various examples, the paint template(s) in the set of paint templates 514 are utilized to paint a design onto a target surface. In certain examples, the target surface is any suitable surface and / or component, known or developed in the future. Examples of target surfaces include, but are not limited to, surfaces such as a spacecraft, an automobile, a truck, a train, a sign, or a building, among other surfaces possible and contemplated herein. In some embodiments, the target surface is an aircraft fuselage, as discussed elsewhere herein.

[0077] The paint template may include and / or be formed from any suitable material that may enable and / or effect a design to be painted onto the target surface and / or component. In various embodiments, the paint template may include: It may include and / or be formed from polyester or plastic films, among other similar materials possible and contemplated herein. In some embodiments, the polyester film may include biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET) or other oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET), including Mylar®, among other materials possible and contemplated herein.

[0078] 5A, a block diagram of one embodiment of plotter 104A is shown. In at least the illustrated embodiment, plotter 104A includes, among other components, an input / output (I / O) module 502, a storage device 504, a processor 506A that includes a template module 508A, and cutting components 510 coupled to and / or in communication with each other.

[0079] The I / O module 502 includes any suitable hardware and / or software capable of communicating with the computing device 102 and / or facilitating communication of the plotter 104 with the computing device 102. In various embodiments, the I / O module 502 is configured to receive the geofile 214 of the paint template design from the computing device 102. In additional or alternative embodiments, the I / O module 502 is configured to retrieve the geofile 214 of the paint template design from the storage device 208 of the computing device 102.

[0080] In one example, the paint template designs in each paint template design geofile 214 are arranged in the correct order to paint the design on the target surface. In some embodiments, in response to determining that the paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214 are not arranged in the correct order, the plotter 104 is configured to arrange the paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214 in the correct order to paint the design on the target surface.

[0081] Storage device 504, in various embodiments, includes any suitable type of device and / or system, now known or later developed, capable of storing a computer usable system. In various embodiments, storage device 504 includes one or more non-transitory computer usable media (e.g., readable, writeable, readable-writeable, etc.), which include non-transitory and / or persistent devices or devices capable of storing, conveying, propagating, and / or transferring instructions, data, computer programs, software, code, routines, etc., for processing by or in association with a computer processing device (e.g., processors 506A and 506B).

[0082] In some embodiments, the storage device 504 stores and / or is configured to store a set of paint templates 514 of paint designs generated by the processors 506A and 506B, as discussed elsewhere herein. In additional or alternative embodiments, the storage device 504 stores and / or is configured to store received / retrieved geofiles 214 of paint template designs generated by the processor 210, as discussed elsewhere herein.

[0083] The processor 506A, in various embodiments, includes any suitable non-volatile / permanent hardware and / or software capable of producing and / or facilitating the production of a paint template(s). In various embodiments, the processor 506A includes hardware and / or software configured to execute instructions and / or rules within one or more modules and / or applications that can produce and / or facilitate the production of a set of paint templates 514 and / or logos for paint designs based on the geofiles 214 of the paint template designs.

[0084] In various embodiments, the processor 506A includes a template module 508A that may include any suitable hardware and / or software capable of generating a paint template of a paint design. The template module 508A, in various embodiments, is configured to generate a plurality of paint templates based on the paint template design geofile 214 generated by the template design module 304. In one example, the amount of paint templates corresponds to the amount of paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214.

[0085] In various embodiments, multiple paint templates are combined to generate a set of paint templates 514. In some embodiments, each paint template in the generated set of paint templates 514 corresponds to a paint template design in the paint template design geofile 214, where the paint templates in the set of paint templates 514 include an amount of paint templates equal to the amount of paint template designs in the paint template design geofile 214. Furthermore, the paint templates in the set of paint templates 514 can be arranged in the same order as the paint template designs in their corresponding paint template design geofile 214, such that the paint layers of the paint designs on the target surface are painted in the appropriate / correct order.

[0086] In various examples, the paint template(s) include any suitable shape that allows and / or enables painting of the target surface. Exemplary shapes include, but are not limited to, circles, ellipses, triangles, quadrilaterals, shapes having five or more sides, and the like, among other regular or irregular geometric shapes possible and contemplated herein. In some embodiments, the paint template includes a rectangle, among other shapes possible and contemplated herein.

[0087] The paint template, in various examples, includes any suitable dimensions that allow and / or enable painting of the target surface. In various embodiments, the dimensions correspond to the entire target surface and / or the entire design to be painted on the target surface. In other embodiments, the one or more dimensions correspond to one or more portions of the target surface and / or one or more portions of the design to be painted on the target surface. In some embodiments, where the paint template includes a rectangle, two sides of the rectangle include a length of about one meter (1 m) or about three feet (3 ft.) and the remaining two sides include a length that corresponds to the dimensions of the design to be painted on the target surface, among other lengths possible and contemplated herein. For example, for a large design (e.g., a design that includes a height and length greater than about two meters (2 m) or six feet (6 ft.) to be painted on a particular target surface (e.g., an aircraft fuselage), the rectangular paint template design includes a height of one meter (1 m) or three feet (3 ft.) and a length that matches and / or corresponds to the entire length of the design. It should now be apparent that painting a design (and / or logo) onto the fuselage of an aircraft requires a set of paint templates 514 that includes a plurality of paint templates.

[0088] In some embodiments, the paint template includes a set of alignment marks (e.g., one or more alignment marks) that align the paint template on the target surface and / or align the paint template to one or more previous paint layers, i.e., the set of alignment marks are utilized to properly and / or correctly orient the paint template on the target surface and / or previous paint layer(s).

[0089] In various embodiments, the paint template includes any of the various embodiments of an alignment mark or set of alignment marks discussed elsewhere herein. In certain examples, the alignment mark and / or set of alignment marks on the paint template include any one or more of the alignment mark characteristics (e.g., shape(s), size(s), dimension(s), area(s), quantity / quality, quantity / quality per unit length(s), type(s), etc.) discussed elsewhere herein for the alignment mark and / or paint template design, among other characteristics possible and contemplated herein. In some embodiments, the set of paint templates includes one or more alignment apertures that are utilized to align / orient the paint template(s) over the target surface and / or previous paint layer.

[0090] In some examples, the set of paint templates 514 includes a plurality of paint templates. In various embodiments, at least two paint templates in the set of paint templates 514 include different amounts of alignment marks (e.g., alignment apertures, etc.). In additional or alternative embodiments, the paint templates include two or more different alignment marks (e.g., alignment apertures having different shapes and / or sizes, etc.) included therein. In further additional or alternative embodiments, at least two paint templates in the set of paint templates 514 include two or more different alignment marks (e.g., alignment apertures having different shapes and / or sizes, etc.) included therein. In further additional or alternative embodiments, at least two paint templates in the set of paint templates 514 include two or more different shapes and / or sizes of alignment marks included therein. In further additional or alternative embodiments, at least two paint templates in the set of paint templates 514 include two or more portions with different amounts of alignment marks per unit length included therein.

[0091] In various embodiments, the cutting component 510 includes any suitable system, device, and / or apparatus that can produce one or more paint templates and / or facilitate the production of one or more paint templates. In some embodiments, the cutting component 510 includes a sharp blade, knife blade, and / or other cutting device that can remove one or more portions from a material (e.g., BoPET material (Mylar®)) to create the paint template. In some embodiments, the cutting component 510 is configured to remove material from various areas / portions of the material to form a set of registration marks on the paint template. The set of registration marks formed on the paint template(s) (e.g., removed material) corresponds to the registration mark(s) in the paint template design in some examples and includes one or more characteristics of the various registration marks.

[0092] 5B, a block diagram of one embodiment of plotter 104B is shown. In at least the illustrated embodiment, plotter 104B includes an I / O module 502, a storage device 504, and a cutting component 510 similar to plotter 104A described above. In various embodiments, plotter 104B further includes a processor 506B that includes a template module 508B, and a scribing component 512 coupled to and / or in communication with each other, among other components.

[0093] Processor 506B, in various embodiments, is configured to be similar to and / or include all of the functionality of processor 506A discussed elsewhere herein. Additionally, template module 508B is configured to be similar to and / or include all of the functionality of template module 508A discussed elsewhere herein.

[0094] In various embodiments, the template module 508B (and the processor 506B) is configured to generate a paint template that includes a set of symbols (e.g., any of one or more of the symbols described above). The symbols, in some examples, include any suitable symbols, known or developed in the future, that can be understood and / or interpreted by personnel and / or computing devices. Exemplary symbols include, but are not limited to, alphanumeric symbols, words, shapes, lines, and / or icons, among other symbols possible and contemplated herein. In some embodiments, one or more of the symbols include / form instructions or notes and / or represent instructions or notes for using and / or aligning the paint template generated from the paint template design.

[0095] In some embodiments, all of the symbols in a paint template include the same symbol. In other embodiments, at least two symbols in a paint template include different symbols. In additional or alternative embodiments, at least two paint templates in the set of paint templates 514 include two or more different symbols.

[0096] The scribing component 512 includes any suitable system, device, and / or apparatus capable of producing one or more symbols on a paint template. In various embodiments, the scribing component 512 includes a pen, pencil, marker, scratch awl, and / or other creation device capable of producing one or more symbols on a material (e.g., BoPET material (Mylar®)). In one example, the set of symbols formed on the paint template(s) correspond to the symbol(s) in the paint template design and include one or more characteristics of the various symbol(s) described herein.

[0097] As described in various examples above, design module 302, in various embodiments, is configured to analyze an entire design including multiple paint sub-designs 212. Paint sub-designs 212 are used by a plotter (see, e.g., plotter 104A (FIG. 5A) and plotter 104B (FIG. 5B)) to create a paint template or Mylar part that is placed on a component (e.g., a vehicle (aircraft)) to paint stripes, patterns, or logos on a portion of the vehicle. For a long aircraft fuselage, as an example, the paint template design geofile 214 includes multiple paint sub-designs 212 for creating multiple paint templates 514 for various sections of the fuselage.

[0098] In some examples, the design module 302 is configured to parse the design into a set of paint sub-designs 212, one of which corresponds to the select paint sub-design 212B (used in creating the paint template 514), as shown in FIG. 7B. The template design module 304 is configured in some examples to generate a geofile 214 of the paint template design using the set of paint sub-designs 212, where the template design module 304 selectively removes geometry and / or artifacts that are not associated with the select paint sub-design 212B (corresponding to the select paint template or mylar part), such that the template design module 304 generates a geofile for only the select paint sub-design 212B.

[0099] The alignment module 404, in various examples, is configured to create an alignment mark (e.g., scribed) and an alignment aperture 702 (e.g., cut), where the alignment aperture 702 has a geometry or artifact that is oriented relative to the select paint subdesign 212B. The alignment module 404, in some examples, is configured to utilize part geometry and / or template geometry information to determine a location to orient the alignment aperture 702A, such as along one of the paint lines 706A (where the paint lines are used in positioning the manufactured paint template 514 or Mylar part relative to the moving body, with the paint lines aligned to a paint layer on the moving body). The alignment module 404, in further examples, is configured to determine another location to orient additional alignment apertures 702D and 702E, such as along the paint line 706B, where the alignment aperture 702D is on the other side of the paint line 706B. In a further example, the alignment module 404 is configured to determine a position to orient the alignment aperture 702A out of a set of alignment apertures 702B, 702C, 702D, and 702E, etc., where the alignment apertures are included in a geometry subset associated with a portion of the fabricated paint template 514 that the plotter 104A or 104B will cut out with the cutting component 510 to fabricate the paint template 514, and other geometry features such as text, lines, or alignment marks that are only to be scribed / marked are included in another separate geometry subset associated with a portion of the fabricated paint template 514 that the plotter 104B will scribe with the scribing component 512.

[0100] In some embodiments, the template design module 304 is configured to generate a design geofile 214 of the paint template design including alignment apertures 702 in a subset associated with the portion of the paint template that the plotter 104 will cut out and scribe-only lines and alignment marks in a second subset associated with the portion of the paint template that the plotter 104 will scribe, where the template design module 304 is in communication with a communications module 306 coupled to the plotter 104. The template design module 304 is further configured to send the generated geofile 214 of the paint template design to the plotter 104, thereby producing a paint template and / or mylar part with alignment apertures 702 that are cut and separately scribed lines, symbols, and / or alignment marks.

[0101] 8-10, which are flow diagrams illustrating various embodiments of methods 800, 802, and 804 for fabricating and / or facilitating fabrication of paint templates for painting a design onto a target surface of a component. Methods 800 through 1000 enable and / or facilitate more efficient fabrication of a set of paint templates and / or application of paint designs to a target surface because the amount of time used to generate alignment marks on the paint template(s) is reduced.

[0102] The method 800 (see, e.g., FIG. 8) begins by the processor 210 generating (block 802) a paint template design geofile 214 based on a set of paint subdesigns 212. The generated paint template design geofile 214, in various embodiments, includes a paint template design that corresponds to the paint subdesigns for a design (see, e.g., design 602 (FIG. 6)).

[0103] The plotter 104 produces a set of paint templates 514 for the design (block 804). In various embodiments, each paint template in the set of paint templates is based on a corresponding paint template design in the paint template design geofile 214, as discussed elsewhere herein.

[0104] In some embodiments, each paint template design includes a set of alignment marks for painting the design onto the target surface, and each paint template is fabricated with a set of alignment apertures 702 that correspond to the set of alignment marks on the respective paint template design.

[0105] In various embodiments, the method 802 (see, e.g., FIG. 9 ) begins by the processor 210 parsing the design into a set of paint sub-designs 212 (block 902), as discussed elsewhere herein. The processor 210, in some embodiments, orients a set of alignment marks onto each paint template design in the set of paint template designs (block 904), as discussed elsewhere herein.

[0106] In various embodiments, the orienting of the set of alignment marks relative to the first paint template design is based on a first geometry for one or more parts in the set of parts relative to the target surface, as discussed elsewhere herein. In additional or alternative embodiments, the orienting of the set of alignment marks relative to the second paint template design is based on a second geometry for the set of alignment marks on the first paint template design, as further discussed elsewhere herein.

[0107] In other embodiments, orienting the set of alignment marks on the current paint template design is based on a geometry for the set of alignment marks on the previous paint template design. In various embodiments, the set of alignment marks on the current paint template design includes a first alignment mark that is different from a second alignment mark on the previous paint template design.

[0108] The method 804 (see, e.g., FIG. 10 ), in various embodiments, begins by the processor 506 receiving and / or retrieving (block 1002) the paint template design geofile 214. The processor 506, in some embodiments, creates (block 1004) a number of paint templates 514 based on the paint template design geofile 214. In various embodiments, each paint template 514 corresponds to a paint template design in the paint template design geofile.

[0109] The processor 506, in various embodiments, forms a number of alignment apertures on each paint template (block 1006), each of which, in some embodiments, corresponds to an alignment mark included in the corresponding paint template design.

[0110] In one embodiment, the processor 506 combines the paint templates to produce a set of paint templates for painting the design onto the target surface (block 1008). The processor 506, in some examples, arranges the set of paint templates in the proper / correct order to ensure that the design is accurately painted onto the target surface.

[0111] In the above description, certain terms may be used, such as "up", "down", "upper", "lower", "horizontal", "vertical", "left", "right", "over", "under", etc. These terms are used to bring some clarity to the description, where necessary, when referring to interrelationships. However, these terms are not intended to imply absolute relationships, positions, and / or orientations. For example, with respect to an object, an "upper" target surface may become a "lower" target surface by simply flipping the object over. It is still the same object. Furthermore, the terms "including", "comprising", "having", and variations thereof mean "including, but not limited to" (unless expressly stated otherwise). Listed items do not imply that any or all of these items are mutually exclusive and / or mutually inclusive (unless expressly stated otherwise). The words "a / an" and "the" also denote "one or more" (unless expressly stated to the contrary). Additionally, the word "plurality" may be defined as "at least two."

[0112] In addition, in this specification, an instance where an element is "coupled" to another element may include direct and indirect coupling. A direct coupling may be defined as an element being coupled to another element and having some contact with the other element. An indirect coupling may be defined as a coupling between two elements that are not in direct contact with each other, but have one or more additional elements between the coupled elements. Furthermore, in this specification, fixing one element to another element may include direct fixing and indirect fixing. In addition, as used in this specification, "adjacent" does not necessarily mean contact. For example, one element may be adjacent to another element without contacting it.

[0113] As used herein, the phrase "at least one of" used in conjunction with enumerated items means that various combinations of one or more of the enumerated items can be used and only one of the enumerated items may be required. An item may refer to a particular object, article, or category. In other words, "at least one of" means that any combination of items or any number of items from the enumeration may be used, but not all of the enumerated items are required. For example, "at least one of item A, item B, and item C" may mean, for example, "item A," "item A and item B," "item B," "item A, item B, and item C," or "item B and item C." In some cases, "at least one of item A, item B, and item C" may mean, for example, but not by way of limitation, "2 items A, 1 item B, and 10 items C," "4 items B, and 7 items C," or any other suitable combination.

[0114] Additionally, as used herein, the term "set" may mean "one or more," unless otherwise noted. The term "set" may mean multiples or plurals of "one or mores, ones or more, and / or ones or mores," consistent with set theory, unless otherwise noted.

[0115] Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "first," "second," etc. are used herein merely as labels and are not intended to impose any sequential, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items they refer to. Furthermore, reference to, e.g., a "second" item does not require or preclude the presence of, e.g., a "first" or lower numbered item and / or, e.g., a "third" or higher numbered item.

[0116] In this specification, a system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware that is "configured to" perform a particular function is not in fact capable of performing that particular function without any modification, but rather may perform that particular function after further modification. In other words, a system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware that is "configured to" perform a particular function is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and / or designed for the purpose of performing that particular function. As used herein, the phrase "configured to" means that there are characteristics of the system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware that enable the system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware to perform the particular function without further modification. In this disclosure, a system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware that is described as being "configured to" perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being "adapted to" and / or "operative to" perform that function.

[0117] The present technology may be a system, a method, and / or a computer program product that may include computer-readable storage medium(s) having computer-readable program instructions stored thereon for causing a processor to perform aspects of the present technology.

[0118] A computer-readable storage medium may be a tangible device capable of holding and storing instructions used by an instruction execution device. A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination thereof. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of computer-readable storage media includes portable computer diskettes, hard disks, random access memories (RAMs), read-only memories (ROMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs or flash memories), static random access memories (SRAMs), portable compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROMs), digital versatile disks (DVDs), memory sticks, floppy disks, punch cards, or mechanically encoded devices such as ridge-in-groove structures having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination thereof. In this specification, a computer-readable storage medium should not be construed as being, per se, a transitory signal such as an electric wave or other freely propagating electromagnetic wave, an electromagnetic wave propagating through a waveguide or another transmission medium (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber optic cable), or an electrical signal transmitted through a wire.

[0119] The computer-readable program instructions described herein may be downloaded from a computer-readable storage medium to each computing / processing device or to an external computer or storage device via a network, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, and / or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical conductive fiber, wireless transmissions, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers, and / or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing / processing device receives the computer-readable program instructions from the network and transfers the computer-readable program instructions for storage in a computer-readable storage medium in the respective computing / processing device.

[0120] The computer readable program instructions for carrying out the processes of the present disclosure may be assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or may be written in one or more programming languages, such as SmartTalk or C. ++The computer readable program instructions may be either source code or object code written in any combination of programming languages ​​(including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as .NET, .NET Framework, etc., and traditional procedural programming languages ​​such as the "C" programming language or similar). The computer readable program instructions may be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer as a stand-alone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter case, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). To carry out aspects of the present technology, in some embodiments, an electronic circuit, including, for example, a programmable logic circuit, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a programmable logic array (PLA), may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to customize the electronic circuit.

[0121] Aspects of the present technology are described herein with reference to flow diagrams and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

[0122] The computer readable program instructions may be provided to a general purpose or special purpose computer processor or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, whereby the instructions, executed via the computer processor or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions / acts specified in the block(s) of the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams. The computer readable program instructions may also be stored on a computer readable storage medium capable of instructing a computer, programmable data processing apparatus, and / or other device to function in a particular manner, whereby the computer readable storage medium on which the instructions are stored includes an article of manufacture including instructions that implement aspects of the functions / acts specified in the block(s) of the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams.

[0123] The computer readable program instructions may further be loaded into a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device to execute a series of process steps to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions executed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions / acts identified in the block(s) of the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams.

[0124] The flow diagrams and block diagrams in the drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present technology. As such, each block in the flow diagrams and block diagrams may represent a module of instructions, a segment of instructions, or a portion of instructions, including one or more executable instructions for implementing a particular logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions described in the blocks may occur out of the order described in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially simultaneously or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending on the functionality involved. It should also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and / or flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flow diagrams, may be implemented by a special-purpose hardware-based system that performs a particular function or function, or may execute a combination of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0125] To emphasize implementation independence, many of the functional units described herein are labeled as modules. For example, a module may be implemented as hardware circuitry including custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, or off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, or the like.

[0126] Modules may also be implemented in software for execution on various types of processors. An identified module of program instructions comprises, for example, one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions, which may be organized as, for example, an object, a procedure, or a function. However, an executable of an identified module need not be physically located together and may comprise disparate instructions stored in separate locations. Such disparate instructions, when logically combined, comprise the module and achieve the specified purpose of the module.

[0127] Furthermore, the features, structures, or characteristics of the described embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to facilitate a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or processes are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments.

[0128] The schematic flow charts contained herein are generally described as logical flow charts. As such, the order of description and labeled steps represent one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be envisioned that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps or portions thereof of the illustrated method. In addition, it is understood that the format and symbols used are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and do not limit the scope of the method. Although various types of arrows and lines may be used in the flow diagrams, these are not intended to limit the scope of the corresponding method. In fact, some arrows or other connectors may be used only to indicate the logical flow of the method. For example, arrows may indicate an unspecified amount of waiting or monitoring time between the listed steps of the illustrated method. In addition, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly follow the order of the corresponding steps illustrated.

[0129] Additionally, the present disclosure includes embodiments according to the following clauses:

[0130] Article 1. 1. A system (100) for fabricating a paint template (514) for painting a design on a target surface, comprising: A processor (210) configured to generate a geofile (214) of a paint template design, comprising: a design module (302) configured to parse a design into a set of paint sub-designs; and a template design module (304) configured to generate a geofile of a paint template design based on a set of paint sub-designs, the generated geofile of the paint template design including a paint template design corresponding to the set of paint sub-designs; A processor (210) comprising: a plotter (104) coupled to the processor (210) and configured to generate a set of paint templates based on the geofiles of the paint template designs; Equipped with each paint template design includes a set of alignment marks to facilitate painting the paint design onto a target surface; A system (100) in which each paint template is fabricated with a set of alignment apertures that correspond to a set of alignment marks for each paint template design.

[0131] Article 2. a template design module (304) configured to generate geofiles of the paint template designs for each paint template design in a predetermined order relative to other paint template designs; 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the template design module (304) comprises an alignment module (404) configured to orient a set of alignment marks for each paint template design.

[0132] Article 3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plotter (104) comprises a cutting component (510) configured to form a set of alignment apertures from each paint template based on a corresponding set of alignment marks.

[0133] Article 4. an alignment module (404) comprising a part geometry module (406) for a set of parts associated with the target surface; The system described in clause 2, wherein the alignment module (404) is configured to orient a set of alignment marks on a first paint template design based on a first geometry of one or more parts of the set of parts associated with the target surface.

[0134] Article 5. the alignment module (404) further comprises a template geometry module (408) containing geometry data for each paint template design; The system of claim 4, wherein the alignment module (404) is further configured to orient a set of alignment marks on a second paint template design based on a second geometry for the set of alignment marks on the first paint template design.

[0135] Article 6. the alignment module (404) further comprises a template geometry module (408) containing geometry data for each paint template design; 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the alignment module (404) is configured to orient a set of alignment marks on a current paint template design based on a geometry for the set of alignment marks on a previous paint template design.

[0136] Article 7. 7. The system of clause 6, wherein the set of alignment marks on the current paint template design includes a first alignment mark that is different from a second alignment mark on the previous paint template design.

[0137] Article 8. 1. An apparatus for generating a geofile (214) of a paint template design for producing a paint template (514) that facilitates painting the design onto a target surface, comprising: a design module (302) configured to parse a paint design into a set of paint sub-designs; a template design module (304) configured to generate a geofile of a paint template design based on a set of paint sub-designs, the generated geofile of the paint template design including paint template designs corresponding to the paint sub-designs, each of the paint template designs including a set of alignment marks for facilitating painting the paint design on a target surface; a communications module (306) coupleable to the plotter (104) and configured to transmit the generated geofile of the paint template design to the plotter; An apparatus comprising:

[0138] Article 9. a template design module (304) configured to generate geofiles of the paint template designs for each paint template design in a predetermined order relative to other paint template designs; 9. The apparatus of clause 8, wherein the template design module (304) comprises an alignment module (404) configured to orient a set of alignment marks for each paint template design.

[0139] Article 10. an alignment module (404) comprising a part geometry module (406) for a set of parts associated with the target surface; The apparatus of clause 9, wherein the alignment module (404) is configured to orient a set of alignment marks on the first paint template design based on a first geometry of one or more parts of the set of parts associated with the target surface.

[0140] Article 11. the alignment module (404) further comprises a template geometry module (408) containing geometry data for each paint template design; The apparatus of clause 10, wherein the alignment module (404) is further configured to orient a set of alignment marks on a second paint template design based on a second geometry for the set of alignment marks on the first paint template design.

[0141] Article 12. the alignment module (404) further comprises a template geometry module (408) containing geometry data for each paint template design; 10. The apparatus of clause 9, wherein the alignment module (404) is configured to orient a set of alignment marks on a current paint template design based on a geometry for the set of alignment marks on a previous paint template design.

[0142] Article 13. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the set of alignment marks on the current paint template design includes a first alignment mark that is different from a second alignment mark on the previous paint template design.

[0143] Article 14. 1. A method (800) for fabricating a paint template (514) for painting a design (602) on a target surface (604), comprising: generating (802), by a processor (210), a paint template design geofile (214) based on the set of paint sub-designs (212), where the generated paint template design geofile (214) includes a paint template design that corresponds to the paint sub-designs for the design (602) on the target surface (604); producing (804) a set of paint templates (514) based on the geofile (214) of paint template designs by the plotter (104); Including, each paint template design includes a set of alignment marks to facilitate painting the design onto a target surface; A method (800) in which each paint template is fabricated with a set of alignment apertures (702) that correspond to a set of alignment marks for each paint template design.

[0144] Article 15. generating a geofile (214) of the paint template design, Parsing (902) the design into a set of paint sub-designs by a processor (210); orienting a set of registration marks on each paint template design (904); combining (906) the plurality of paint template designs relative to one another in a predetermined order to generate a geofile of the paint template designs; 15. The method according to claim 14, comprising:

[0145] Article 16. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of orienting the set of alignment marks on the first paint template design is based on a first geometry for one or more parts of the set of parts associated with the target surface.

[0146] Article 17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of orienting the set of alignment marks on the second paint template design is based on a second geometry for the set of alignment marks on the first paint template design.

[0147] Article 18. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of orienting the set of alignment marks on the current paint template design is based on a geometry for the set of alignment marks on a previous paint template design.

[0148] Article 19. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the set of alignment marks on the current paint template design includes a first alignment mark that is different from a second alignment mark on the previous paint template design.

[0149] Article 20. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of fabricating a set of paint templates includes forming (1004) a set of alignment apertures from each paint template based on a corresponding set of alignment marks.

[0150] The subject matter may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The above-described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as merely illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. 1. A system (100) for producing a paint template (514) for painting a design on a target surface, comprising: A processor (210) configured to generate a geofile (214) of a paint template design, comprising: a design module (302) configured to parse the design into a set of paint sub-designs; and a template design module (304) configured to generate a geofile of the paint template design based on the set of paint sub-designs, the generated geofile of the paint template design including a paint template design corresponding to the paint sub-designs; A processor (210) comprising: a plotter (104) coupled to the processor (210) and configured to generate a set of paint templates based on the paint template design geofiles; Equipped with each paint template design includes a set of alignment marks to facilitate painting the paint design onto the target surface; A system (100) in which each paint template is fabricated with a set of alignment apertures corresponding to the set of alignment marks for each paint template design.

2. the template design module (304) is configured to generate geofiles of the paint template designs in a predetermined order for each paint template design relative to other paint template designs; The system of claim 1 , wherein the template design module (304) comprises an alignment module (404) configured to orient the set of alignment marks for each paint template design.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the plotter (104) comprises a cutting component (510) configured to form the set of alignment apertures from each paint template based on a corresponding set of alignment marks.

4. the registration module (404) comprising a part geometry module (406) for a set of parts associated with the target surface; 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the alignment module (404) is configured to orient the set of alignment marks on a first paint template design based on a first geometry of one or more parts of the set of parts relative to the target surface.

5. the alignment module (404) further comprising a template geometry module (408) containing geometry data for each paint template design; 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the alignment module (404) is further configured to orient the set of alignment marks on a second paint template design based on a second geometry for the set of alignment marks on the first paint template design.

6. the alignment module (404) further comprising a template geometry module (408) containing geometry data for each paint template design; 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the alignment module (404) is configured to orient the set of alignment marks on a current paint template design based on a geometry for the set of alignment marks on a previous paint template design.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the set of alignment marks on the current paint template design includes a first alignment mark that is different from a second alignment mark on the previous paint template design.

8. a communications module (306) connectable to the plotter (104) and configured to transmit the generated geofile of the paint template design to the plotter; The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

9. 1. A method (800) for fabricating a paint template (514) for painting a design (602) on a target surface (604), comprising: generating (802), by a processor (210), a paint template design geofile (214) based on a set of paint sub-designs (212), the generated paint template design geofile (214) including paint template designs corresponding to paint sub-designs for the design (602) on the target surface (604); producing (804) a set of paint templates (514) based on the geofiles (214) of the paint template designs by a plotter (104); Including, each paint template design includes a set of alignment marks to facilitate painting the design onto the target surface; A method (800) in which each paint template is fabricated with a set of alignment apertures (702) that correspond to the set of alignment marks for each paint template design.

10. generating a geofile (214) of the paint template design, Parsing (902) the design into the set of paint sub-designs by the processor (210); Orienting the set of alignment marks on a respective paint template design (904); combining (906) a plurality of paint template designs relative to one another in a predetermined order to generate a geofile of said paint template designs; 10. The method of claim 9, comprising:

11. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein orienting the set of alignment marks on a first paint template design is based on a first geometry for one or more parts of a set of parts associated with the target surface.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein orienting the set of alignment marks on a second paint template design is based on a second geometry for the set of alignment marks on the first paint template design.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein orienting the set of alignment marks on a current paint template design is based on a geometry for the set of alignment marks on a previous paint template design.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the set of alignment marks on the current paint template design includes a first alignment mark that is different from a second alignment mark on the previous paint template design.

15. 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of fabricating a set of paint templates comprises forming (1004) the set of alignment apertures from respective paint templates based on the corresponding set of alignment marks.

Images