3D Virtual Objects From Archival Images With Accurate Dimensions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cultural heritage institutions lack physical dimensions of digitized objects, hindering the creation of dimensionally accurate virtual objects for augmented and virtual reality environments.

Innovation Solution

A system and method to determine physical dimensions from digital images by leveraging metadata and conversion ratios, generating dimensionally accurate 3D virtual objects using pixel dimensions and institution-specific reference tables.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If institutions digitize physical objects without capturing physical dimensions, then digitization productivity increases, but manufacturing precision of virtual objects deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedigitization productivityVSAvoiddimensional accuracy of virtual objects

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary dimension estimation by analyzing digital images and metadata before virtual object creation. It calculates physical dimensions from image attributes and conversion ratios, preparing dimensional data in advance to enable accurate 3D modeling without requiring separate physical measurement steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical measurement systems with computational image analysis. Instead of using physical measuring tools during digitization, the system uses algorithms to estimate dimensions from digital images, metadata, and conversion ratios, substituting automated computation for manual measurement processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If physical dimensions are manually measured for each object, then manufacturing precision of virtual objects improves, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedimensional accuracy of virtual objectsVSAvoiddigitization productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service dimension estimation by automatically analyzing digital images and metadata to calculate physical dimensions. The algorithm independently determines conversion ratios and estimates dimensions without requiring external measurement input, allowing bulk processing of objects while maintaining dimensional accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters from physical measurements to digital image attributes for dimension determination. By using pixel dimensions, metadata, and conversion ratios instead of physical measurements, the system maintains dimensional accuracy while enabling automated batch processing of digitized objects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If conversion ratios are institution-specific and object-type-specific, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephysical dimension estimation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments conversion ratios by institution and object type, creating specialized lookup tables for different contexts. This segmentation allows precise dimension estimation for each category while organizing complexity into manageable, modular components that can be independently maintained and updated

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260017879A1Transforming digital images of archival materials into dimensionally accurate virtual objects

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 UNIV OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

AI summary

Aspects of this technical solution can determine, according to an attribute of a digital image and a type of a physical object depicted in the digital image, a physical dimension of the physical object, and generate a three-dimensional virtual object corresponding to the physical object, the virtual object having a virtual dimension in a virtual environment corresponding to the physical dimension.