Point Cloud Array Storage Structure for Additive Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for storing large amounts of geometric data in point clouds, such as those used in additive manufacturing, require disproportionately large storage spaces due to their tabular format, which is inefficient despite advancements in storage and processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Storing point cloud data using an array structure where physical coordinate indices are multiplied by a scalar factor to generate array indices, allowing data to be stored in a digital memory with cells addressable by these indices, thereby reducing storage requirements without data loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If point cloud data is stored in a tabular format with separate columns for X position, Y position, and data values, then data organization is simple and accessible, but storage space required is disproportionately large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the X position, Y position, and data value columns into a single array structure. Instead of storing coordinates and values separately in a tabular format, the invention combines them into a compact array where each element contains both spatial information and measurement data, thereby reducing storage requirements while maintaining data accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the tabular data structure into a different dimensional organization by using array indices to represent spatial coordinates. Instead of storing explicit X and Y coordinate values, the invention uses array position indices to implicitly encode spatial information, changing the data organization from a multi-column table to a indexed array structure that requires less storage space.
2Quantity of substance
If computer storage and processing power are increased to handle large point cloud datasets, then data capacity and speed improve, but cost and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of data representation by transitioning from a tabular format with explicit coordinate storage to an array format with implicit coordinate encoding through indices. This parameter change reduces the amount of data that needs to be stored and processed, thereby decreasing resource consumption while maintaining the same data capacity and analytical capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of storing a set of data representing a point cloud, comprising: creating an array in a digital memory having cells addressable by reference to at least one index, wherein each of the at least one indices has a predetermined correspondence to a geometric location within the point cloud; and storing a value of the data set in each of the cells.