Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data embedded into the surface of a 3D printed object
AssigneeAdobe Systems Incorporated
InventorsAbhishek Kumar, Naveen Prakash Goel, Mayur Hemani
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Abstract
A computer implemented method and apparatus for storing and retrieving data embedded into the surface of a 3D printed object is described. The method and apparatus develops an electronic file used for printing a 3D object which embeds as structure into the 3D object, a 3D symbol matrix representative of data to be printed concurrently with the 3D object, such as a 3D barcode. A selected symbology is used for making the symbol matrix in accordance with the type of printing process to be used to print the 3D object.
Claims18
A computer implemented method comprising:
- receiving a first electronic file that includes computer-readable instructions that cause a 3D printer to print a 3D object;
- receiving data to be printed as part of the 3D object;
- selecting, by at least one processor, a set of symbols to use to represent the data, wherein the selected set of symbols comprises one of:
- a first group of symbols, wherein each symbol of the first group of symbols comprises parallel lines having a unique orientation;
- and
- a second group of symbols, wherein each symbol of the second group of symbols comprises a slanted surface having a unique orientation;
- developing, by at least one processor, a 3D symbol matrix representative of the data, the 3D symbol matrix comprising a plurality of sub-regions, wherein each sub-region comprises a symbol from the selected set of symbols;
- and
- generating, by the at least one processor, a second electronic file to be used for printing the 3D object, where the second electronic file comprises additional computer-readable instructions that cause the 3D printer to embed the 3D symbol matrix into the 3D object during printing of the 3D object.
A system for embedding a 3D symbol into a 3D printable object, comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
- receive a first electronic file that includes computer-readable instructions that cause a 3D printer to print a 3D object;
- receive data to be printed as part of the 3D object;
- select a set of symbols to use to represent the data, wherein the selected set of symbols comprises one of:
- a first group of symbols, wherein each symbol of the first group of symbols comprises parallel lines having a unique orientation;
- and
- a second group of symbols, wherein each symbol of the second group of symbols comprises a slanted surface having a unique orientation;
- develop a 3D symbol matrix representative of the data, the 3D symbol matrix comprising a plurality of sub-regions, wherein each sub-region comprises a symbol from the selected set of symbols;
- and
- generate a second electronic file to be used for printing the 3D object, where the second electronic file comprises additional computer-readable instructions that cause the 3D printer to embed the 3D symbol matrix into the 3D object during printing of the 3D object.
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to:
- receive a first electronic file that includes computer-readable instructions that cause a 3D printer to print a 3D object;
- receive data to be printed as part of the 3D object;
- select a set of symbols to use to represent the data, wherein the selected set of symbols comprises one of:
- a first group of symbols, wherein each symbol of the first group of symbols comprises parallel lines having a unique orientation;
- and
- a second group of symbols, wherein each symbol of the second group of symbols comprises a slanted surface having a unique orientation;
- develop a 3D symbol matrix representative of the data, the 3D symbol matrix comprising a plurality of sub-regions, wherein each sub-region comprises a symbol from the selected set of symbols;
- and
- generate a second electronic file to be used for printing the 3D object, where the second electronic file comprises additional computer-readable instructions that cause the 3D printer to embed the 3D symbol matrix into the 3D object during printing of the 3D object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.