3D Surface Profile Generation from Filtered Binary Volumes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods struggle to generate a smooth surface profile from binary volumes obtained through shape-from-silhouette methods, particularly when dealing with complex or rapidly changing shapes.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that converts binary volumes into multivalued volumes using filter processing, such as weighted average or adaptive Gaussian filtering, followed by surface profile generation using methods like marching cubes, to create a smooth and stable surface model.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If binary volume data is directly used for surface profile generation, then the process is simple and fast, but the resulting surface profile is rough and lacks smoothness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface profile smoothnessVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary smoothing action by convolving the binary volume data with a Gaussian kernel before surface profile generation. This preprocessing step smooths the volume data in advance, eliminating surface roughness issues that would otherwise require complex post-processing corrections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the binary volume data (with discrete 0/1 values) into continuous probability values through Gaussian convolution. This parameter transformation from discrete binary values to continuous probability distributions enables smooth surface profile generation while maintaining processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If complex filtering operations are applied to smooth the surface profile, then the surface quality improves, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface profile qualityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the data representation from discrete binary values to continuous probability values through Gaussian convolution. This parameter transformation enables efficient computation using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)-based convolution algorithms, achieving smooth surface profiles without excessive processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional iterative smoothing algorithms with Gaussian kernel convolution implemented via FFT. This substitution of computational mechanics reduces the algorithmic complexity from O(n³) to O(n³ log n), significantly reducing processing time while maintaining surface quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4336457B1Image processing apparatus for generating surface profile of three-dimensional geometric model, control method therefor, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.04.01 CANON KK

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AI summary

An image processing apparatus (0100) includes at least one memory (0204) configured to store instructions, and at least one processor (0201) configured to execute the stored instructions to obtain a binary volume, generate a multivalued volume (S0305) by performing filter processing on the obtained binary volume, and generate a surface profile of a three-dimensional geometric model based on the generated multivalued volume (S0306).