Method and apparatus for creating three-dimensional objects by cross-sectional lithography
AssigneeEOM Technologies, L.L.C.
InventorJeffrey M. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for creating a three-dimensional object by generating a cross-sectional pattern of energy of an object to be formed at a selected surface of a medium capable of altering its physical state in response to the energy projected or transmitted onto the selected layer. By impinging radiation, particle bombardment, or chemical reaction by a method controlled by a spatial light modulator, successive adjacent cross-sections of the object are rapidly formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar build-up of the desired object creating a three dimensional manifestation from bitmap images of a series of cross-sections of a computer generated model.
Claims51
A method, comprising:
- (a) providing an array of controllable pixel elements;
- (b) providing a container having a medium therein capable of selective curing upon application of a stimulus;
- (c) providing a window coupled with the container, such that the medium is operatively
- (d) providing a source of the stimulus;
- (e) directing the stimulus and the array of pixel elements, such that a portion of the stimulus travels through the window of the container, wherein select regions of the medium are cured;
- (f) displacing the cured select regions of the layer with respect to the surface of the window, such that a gap is formed between the window and the cured layer, and wherein additional uncured medium fills the gap;
- (g) repeating (e) and (f) until a final layer is to be formed;
- and
- (f) repeating (e) to form the final layer.
A method, comprising:
- providing at least one spatial light modulator, having a plurality of controlled pixel elements;
- providing a container having a medium therein and a window within the container, wherein the medium is operatively positioned with respect to at least one surface of the window;
- providing a source of stimulus;
- iterating for i=1, 2, . . . , M, wherein M is the maximum number of layers to be formed, and wherein iteration I comprises:
- if i≦M, directing the stimulus and the pixel elements of the spatial light modulator, such that select pixel elements reflect the stimulus, directing the stimulus into an ith layer of the medium, wherein select regions of the ith layer are cured;
- if i<M, moving the cured ith layer with respect to the window, such that a gap is formed between the window and the cured ith layer, wherein the uncured medium fills the gap;
- and ending iteration i.
An apparatus for forming a three dimensional object, comprising:
- a container having a selectively curable medium therein;
- a window coupled with the container, wherein the selectively curable medium is operatively positioned with respect to at least one surface of the window;
- a source of stimulus, such that the stimulus is capable of curing the selectively curable medium;
- a controllable array of pixel elements capable of selectively projecting the stimulus through the window to a layer of the selectively curable medium;
- and
- a device capable of displacing a cured quantity of the selectively curable medium with respect to the window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.