3D Printing Cross-Sectional Image Data Compression via Region Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 3D printing technologies face challenges in efficiently transmitting and storing high-resolution 2D cross-sectional images, leading to significant resource requirements and potential transmission delays or failures due to large image data sizes.
Innovation Solution
A system that identifies and compresses only the changed regions between adjacent cross-sectional images, reducing the data to be transmitted and stored by retaining information about position, pixel values, and color consistency within these regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If bitmap format is used to represent cross-sectional images with color and material information, then the image can represent additional information such as color and material, but the image resolution becomes very high and the size of image data becomes very large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transmits only the changed regions between adjacent cross-sectional images rather than transmitting complete images. By identifying and isolating the specific pixel regions that differ between layers, the system removes redundant data while preserving all necessary color and material information in the changed areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cross-sectional images by dividing them into changed and unchanged regions. Instead of treating each image as a complete unit, the system divides the image data into discrete changed regions that need transmission, separating necessary information from redundant information that can be reconstructed at the receiving end.
2Reliability
If all generated 2D cross-sectional images are transmitted to the 3D printer, then complete image data is available, but a large amount of resource for computing, memory, and storage is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential changed region information needed for accurate 3D printing, removing unnecessary complete image data. This extraction approach maintains the reliability needed for printing by preserving all changed pixel information while eliminating redundant unchanged region data that would consume computing and storage resources.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transmitting complete images (excessive action), the patent transmits only the partial information necessary for reconstruction - specifically the changed regions. This partial action approach provides exactly enough data for reliable printing without the excessive resource consumption of complete image transmission.
3Manufacturing precision
If a large number of high-resolution cross-sectional images are stored and transmitted, then accurate 3D output is achieved, but transmission delay or error may occur depending on network environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transmits only the changed region data necessary for maintaining 3D output accuracy. By removing unnecessary unchanged region data, the transmission size is dramatically reduced, preventing network-induced delays and errors while preserving the precision needed for accurate manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the image transmission into small changed region units rather than transmitting complete large images. This segmentation reduces transmission time and minimizes network delay impacts while maintaining the manufacturing precision required for accurate 3D printing through selective transmission of only necessary pixel data.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a system and method for transmitting cross-sectional images of a three-dimensional (3D) object and a transmitting apparatus for executing the same. A system for transmitting cross-sectional images of a 3D object includes a transmitting apparatus configured to search for a changed region between cross-sectional images of adjacent layers among a plurality of cross-sectional images generated by slicing the 3D object in a horizontal direction, and compress the cross-sectional images using information about the changed region and a receiving apparatus configured to receive the compressed cross-sectional images from the transmitting apparatus and restore the compressed cross-sectional images using the information about the changed region and cross-sectional image information of a layer lower than the layers desired to be restored.