# US 7,611,058 B2 · Identification of units in customized production

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- Number: US 7,611,058 B2
- Document ID: US7611058B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/687,509
- Filed: 2007-03-16
- Published: 2007-07-19
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2004-11-12
- Assignees: Align Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: James C. Culp; Kwan Ho; Shiva Prasad Sambu; Srinivas Kaza; Craig E. Farren; Samuel J. Kass; Sergey Nikolsky
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611058B2

## CPC

- G06K 19/06037: {multi-dimensional coding}
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- G06K 7/10: by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
- G06K 7/1097: {Optical sensing of electronic memory record carriers, such as interrogation of RFIDs with an additional optical interface}
- G06K 19/06028: {using bar codes}
- B29C 64/135: the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources
- G06K 2019/06225: {using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code}
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)

## Abstract

Mass-customized parts are identified by encoding part identification information into a multi-dimensional bar code, wherein mass-customization machinery, such as stereolithography apparatus, is used to make the parts with the multi-dimensional bar code embedded therein.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An identification system, comprising:
means for encoding a part identification into a multi-dimensional bar code data set;
means for providing three dimensional (3D) part shape data;
means for combining the multi-dimensional bar code data set with the three dimensional (3D) part shape data into a composite 3D shape data set; and
mass customization machinery operable to receive the composite 3D shape data set and to make, in accordance with the composite 3D shape data set, a mass-customized part with a multi-dimensional bar code embedded therein.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-dimensional bar code is a three-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-dimensional bar code comprises a plurality of layers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising an ink dispenser operable to paint the multi-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a lamp arranged and operable to illuminate the multi-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the lamp emits red light.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, comprising a bar code reader operable to capture the multi-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-dimensional bar code is elevated above the surface of the part.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-dimensional bar code is below the surface of the part.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a top of the bar code comprises a two-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a machine vision module operable to perform data acquisition from the multi-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the vision module comprises a camera and a light ring.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the part is a first part, the system further comprising a laser marking system, operably associated with the machine vision module, and operable to mark a second part with data acquired from the multi-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the bar code is an elevated 2D data matrix code.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the elevated 2D data matrix code is of substantially uniform elevation.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the elevated 2D data matrix code is of varying elevation.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A set of mass-customized parts, each having a multi-dimensional bar code embedded therein, manufactured by the system of claim 1.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The set of mass-customized parts of claim 17, wherein the set of mass-customized parts is a series of molds configured to form a sequential succession of dental aligners.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The set of mass-customized parts of claim 18, wherein each of the dental aligners is marked with data acquired from the multi-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 20

A method for manufacturing a mass-customized part, comprising:
encoding a part identification into a multi-dimensional bar code data set;
providing three dimensional (3D) part shape data;
combining the multi-dimensional bar code data set with the three dimensional (3D) part shape data into a composite 3D shape data set; and
using mass-customization machinery to make the mass-customized part with a multi-dimensional bar code embedded therein in accordance with the composite 3D shape data set.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the multi-dimensional bar code is a three-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein using the mass-customization machinery comprises repetitively building each layer of the multi-dimensional bar code on the part.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising using an ink dispenser to paint the multi-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising illuminating the multi-dimensional bar code with a colored light.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, wherein the colored light is red.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further comprising capturing data encoded in the multi-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the part is a first part, the method further comprising marking a second part with the data captured from the multi-dimensional bar code.

### Claim 28 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the bar code is an elevated 2D data matrix code.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the elevated 2D data matrix code is of substantially uniform elevation.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the elevated 2D data matrix code is of varying elevation.

### Claim 31 (depends on 20)

A set of mass-customized parts, each having a multi-dimensional bar code embedded therein, manufactured by the method of claim 20.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The set of mass-customized parts of claim 31, wherein the set of mass-customized parts is a series of molds configured to form a sequential succession of dental aligners.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The set of mass-customized parts of claim 32, wherein each of the dental aligners is marked with data acquired from the multi-dimensional bar code.