Distance Field Compression for Digital Object Representation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for compressing digital representations of objects, such as those generated by computer tomography, face challenges in managing large data sizes while maintaining lossless compression, which is crucial for reliable analysis in workpiece testing and archiving.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that represents an object as a distance field, where data points outside a defined close range around the material interface are deleted, allowing for lossless compression by focusing on the essential information near the material interfaces, with the option to adjust grid density based on object geometry for optimal compression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the complete distance field is stored to maintain lossless compression, then information completeness is preserved, but data volume remains large and storage efficiency is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and retains only the essential data points from the complete distance field - specifically those located within a defined range of the material interface. Data points outside this range are removed as they do not contribute to accurate object representation. This selective extraction achieves significant data volume reduction while preserving all information necessary for lossless compression and accurate object reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If a fixed grid density is used for the distance field, then implementation is simple, but compression efficiency cannot be optimized for different object geometries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidcompression efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by allowing the grid density and data point distribution to vary based on the specific object geometry being compressed. The system automatically adjusts the distance field parameters to match the characteristics of each object, optimizing compression efficiency for different geometries while maintaining ease of implementation through standardized processing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3622482B1Computer-implemented method for compressing a digital representation of an object
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 VOLUME GRAPHICS
  • EP3622482B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3622482B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3622482B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for compressing a digital representation of an object, wherein the object representation comprises a plurality of image information items for the object. An image information item specifies a value of a measurand for the object at a defined position of the object. The method comprises the steps of determining the object representation, determining a distance field from the image information items of the object representation, wherein the distance field comprises a plurality of data points (102) arranged in a grid, wherein the distance field assigns at least one distance value to each of the data points (102), wherein the distance values in each case indicate the shortest distance of the data point (102) from a closest material boundary (100) of the object, determining a near region around a material boundary (100) of the object, determining a sub-set of data points (102) of the distance field which lie outside the near region of the material boundary (100), deleting the sub-set of data points (102) from the distance field, and saving the distance field in the form of a compressed object representation.