Infrared Visible Light Dual Imaging for 3D Customization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems struggle to capture images quickly and accurately enough to render a 3D model of customized products, failing to accurately represent customized patterns, images, or text in a three-dimensional format for real-time customer viewing.

Innovation Solution

The use of infrared and visible light photographs of a product with an imprinted markup allows for the determination of luminance and design geometry information, enabling the generation of a customization image rendering asset that automatically renders a customization image depicting the product with accurate shading and contouring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple photographs are taken from different angles to create a 3D model, then the accuracy of the 3D representation is improved, but the time required to capture and process images increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve3D model accuracyVSAvoidimage capture and processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing both infrared and visible light photographs simultaneously before the customization design is applied. This pre-capture of luminance information and product geometry allows the system to quickly generate accurate 3D models without requiring multiple sequential shots from different angles, thus reducing time loss while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension by utilizing infrared imaging in addition to visible light photography. This dual-dimensional approach captures both the luminance information (from infrared) and the visual design information (from visible light) in a single capture phase, enabling accurate 3D model generation without increasing the number of photographs taken from different angles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If a flat image is overlaid on a product image, then the customization process is simplified, but the accuracy of the customization depiction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization process simplicityVSAvoidcustomization image accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of image representation by capturing infrared photographs that reveal the luminance characteristics and three-dimensional contours of the product. This luminance information is then integrated with the visible light photograph, transforming the flat 2D overlay approach into a 3D-aware customization process that maintains both simplicity and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces luminance information as an intermediary element between the flat customization design and the product image. This luminance data, derived from infrared imaging, acts as a mediator that maps the two-dimensional design onto the three-dimensional product surface, preserving contour accuracy while maintaining the simplicity of the overlay process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If infrared and visible light photographs are captured and processed to generate luminance and design geometry information, then the accuracy of customization image rendering is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization image rendering accuracyVSAvoidimaging and processing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the infrared imaging function and visible light photography into a unified capture system. By combining these two imaging modalities and processing them together to generate both luminance and design geometry information simultaneously, the system achieves high rendering accuracy while avoiding the need for separate, complex imaging setups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The imaging system is designed with multi-functionality, where the same capture mechanism processes both infrared and visible light photographs. This universal approach allows a single system to perform multiple functions (capturing luminance information and design geometry information) without requiring separate specialized devices, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high rendering accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables real-time generation of accurate 3D customization images, allowing customers to visualize customized products from different angles, thereby enhancing customer service and reducing time and costs associated with image rendering.

Implementation Method 1

An infrared photograph of a tangible product having an imprinted markup on the product is received

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a visible light photograph of the same product with the same imprinted markup is received, wherein the markup is visible in the visible light photograph

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVisible light reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3866454B1Using infrared imaging to create digital images for use in product customization
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 ZAZZLE INC
  • EP3866454B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3866454B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3866454B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A computer-implemented method is described, the method including receiving an infrared photograph of a tangible product having an imprinted markup on the tangible product and a visible light photograph of the same product with the same imprinted markup. The imprinted markup is imprinted upon the tangible product using a dye that is visible only in a visible light spectrum and therefore visible only in the visible light photograph, and not visible when imaged using a spectral sampling in the infrared photograph. The method further includes determining based, in part, on the infrared photograph and visible light photograph, instructions for rendering a customization image of the tangible product depicting a particular customization. The instructions for rendering the customization image of the tangible product depicting the particular customization indicate modifying a color of the particular location in the visible light photograph using a luminance value that is associated with the particular location in the infrared photograph and that indicates luminance of a respective pixel located at a particular location in the infrared photograph. The particular customization is not in the infrared photograph or the visible light photograph.