Back to results
US 8,525,830 B2Granted
Point cloud generation system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsPaul Robert Davies, Joseph D. Doyle, Jeremy Glenn Eagan, Robin A. Rongey, Randy Dean Baker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and point cloud generation system for managing a point cloud. Vertices for a model of an object are identified. The object comprises a plurality of parts. Identifiers for the plurality of parts are associated with points in the point cloud using the vertices for the model of the object.
Claims19
A computer implemented method for converting a stereolithographic file into a point cloud file, the method comprising:
- receiving the stereolithographic file describing a part from a first non-transitory computer readable storage medium;
- identifying, using a non-transitory processor, a number of triangles in the stereolithographic file;
- selecting, using the non-transitory processor, a triangle in the number of triangles;
- identifying, using the non-transitory processor, a plurality of vertices for the triangle;
- assigning, using the non-transitory processor, the plurality of vertices to a plurality of points in a point cloud comprising points on a three-dimensional grid;
- identifying, using the non-transitory processor, a volume within the point cloud, wherein the volume encompasses the plurality of vertices;
- identifying, using the non-transitory processor, a first set of points in the point cloud within the volume and within a first selected distance from a plane defined by the plurality of vertices;
- identifying, using the non-transitory processor, a second set of points in the point cloud within a second selected distance from bounds defined by the plurality of vertices;
- identifying, using the non-transitory processor, a third set of points at an intersection of the first set of points and the second set of points to form identified points;
- associating, using the non-transitory processor, an identifier for the part with the identified points and the plurality of points in the point cloud, whereby an association of data is formed;
- and
- storing, on a second non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the association of data as a point cloud file.
9 more elements
An apparatus configured to convert a stereolithographic file into a point cloud file, the apparatus comprising a non-transitory processor configured to:
- receive the stereolithographic file describing a part from a first non-transitory computer readable storage medium;
- identify a number of triangles in the stereolithographic file;
- select a triangle in the number of triangles;
- identify a plurality of vertices for the triangle;
- assign the plurality of vertices to a plurality of points in a point cloud comprising points on a three-dimensional grid;
- identify a volume within the point cloud, wherein the volume encompasses the plurality of vertices;
- identify a first set of points in the point cloud within the volume and within a first selected distance from a plane defined by the plurality of vertices;
- identify a second set of points in the point cloud within a second selected distance from bounds defined by the plurality of vertices;
- identify a third set of points at an intersection of the first set of points and the second set of points to form identified points;
- associate an identifier for the part with the identified points and the plurality of points in the point cloud, whereby an association of data is formed;
- and
- store the association of data as a point cloud file.
9 more elements
A point cloud generation system comprising:
- a storage system storing a sterolithographic file describing a part;
- a computer system in communication with the storage system, the computer system comprising a number of computers and a point cloud generation process, wherein the point cloud generation process is configured to:
- receive the stereolithographic file from the storage system;
- identify a number of triangles in the stereolithographic file;
- select a triangle in the number of triangles;
- identify a plurality of vertices for the triangle;
- assign the plurality of vertices to a plurality of points in a point cloud comprising points on a three-dimensional grid;
- identify a volume within the point cloud, wherein the volume encompasses the plurality of vertices;
- identify a first set of points in the point cloud within the volume and within a first selected distance from a plane defined by the plurality of vertices;
- identify a second set of points in the point cloud within a second selected distance from bounds defined by the plurality of vertices;
- identify a third set of points at an intersection of the first set of points and the second set of points to form identified points;
- associate an identifier for the part with the identified points and the plurality of points in the point cloud, whereby an association of data is formed;
- and
- store the association of data as a point cloud file in the storage system.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.