Three- and two-dimensional images formed by suspended or...

Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Controller

Reexamination Certificate

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C347S002000, C347S006000, C347S009000, C347S012000, C040S406000, C239S693000, C239S695000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06644768

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to machines and procedures for forming a three-dimensional or two-dimensional image as actual physical shapes of colorant in an image space. The image is not merely an optical projection, and also not colorant deposited on a hardcopy medium, but rather is formed as colorant passing through or suspended in an atmospheric environment or void.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many systems and procedures for forming an image are known. These include images formed on surfaces as by engraving or sculpturing—whether in stone, plaster, metal, wood, plastic or other media—or by depositing colorant on surfaces, as for example in penciling or painting, or in printing by photographic, letterpress, offset, or incremental (e.g. inkjet or laser) techniques.
Modernly such systems and procedures also include optical projections that are two-dimensional—such as slide transparencies and overhead projections, cinematographic moving pictures, and video displays. Other such optical-projection systems and procedures are three-dimensional—particularly holograms, and laser light shows—or seemingly so, as in the case of 3D movies that rely on special eyeglasses to direct different components of a scene to an observer's eyes.
Such three-dimensional optical effects generally either require complementary devices (such as the 3D glasses) or require viewing from a narrow range of angles about the optimal viewpoint. In any event, none of these systems and procedures is meaningfully pertinent to the technology introduced in this document.
Other image-forming technologies, more relevant to the present invention, either pass colorant through or suspend colorant in some sort of atmosphere. Such technologies may be said to form an image that is “mechanical”—i.e. that exists in physical substance, in the manner of the above-mentioned images on surfaces.
These technologies include airplane skywriting, and water fountains controlled in various ways to generate patterns in the moving water. Skywriting is generally limited to rather coarsely formed images that are subject to disruption by winds in the sky.
Some elaborate water fountains and falling-water displays make pleasing images which are, however, characteristically only abstract patterns—that is, patterns available through a limited range of variation in control of the water-ejecting nozzles. Such liquid-element displays generally lack means for selectively erasing or refreshing portions of the patterns, as well as means for fine control and timing of the liquid ejection; and accordingly are unable to form arbitrary shapes such as people or other creatures, or objects or landscapes, etc.
These fountains or falling-water displays therefore lack the capacity to create and modify image features on a generally continuous basis. They also thus lack the ability to create moving three-dimensional images of arbitrary shapes.
Thus important elements of the technology used in the field of the invention—although esthetically pleasing, entertaining and otherwise certainly worthwhile—are relatively primitive and susceptible to useful refinement.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention introduces such refinement. In its preferred embodiments, the present invention has several aspects or facets that can be used independently, although they are preferably employed together to optimize their benefits. In preferred embodiments of a first of its facets or aspects, the invention is apparatus for forming an arbitrary three-dimensional shape in a volume, by construction from colorant disposed in the volume.
The apparatus includes a two-dimensionally extended array of colorant-ejecting nozzles. The array is disposed substantially in one particular linear direction relative to the volume.
The apparatus further includes a programmed processor for controlling ejection of colorant from the nozzles to pass through the volume, forming the arbitrary three-dimensional shape therein. In addition the apparatus includes a two-dimensional colorant-retrieving frame—disposed substantially in a second linear direction opposite to the one particular direction, from the array.
Several understandings will be helpful for purposes of this document (and not only this facet of the invention). The term “colorant” encompasses a great variety of materials. As one extreme case, some of the colorant may be transparent, i.e. without color as such; “colorant” of this sort can be used to help form part of a three-dimensional image structure.
As will later be seen, some fluids (particularly, but not necessarily, transparent fluids) employed in certain forms of the invention may be conceptualized either as colorant or as an image-supporting matrix or substrate. This distinction is to a large extent only semantic.
Some or all of the colorant may also be slightly colored but partially transparent or translucent, or may be opaque, or partway between these conditions. It may, but need not, be fluid; thus grains or granules of solid material may be used. If fluid, it may be ejected either as streams or as individually controlled colorant quanta.
The foregoing may represent a description or definition of the first aspect or facet of the invention in its broadest or most general form. Even as couched in these broad terms, however, it can be seen that this facet of the invention importantly advances the art.
In particular, this aspect of the invention is first to provide a three-dimensional stage-like volume—with multiple, potentially independent colorant flows generally through the volume from one face to another. The invention thus establishes a unique dynamic colorant-sculpturing environment, which is amenable to introduction of extremely fine and versatile effects—far surpassing any prior three-dimensional shape phenomena available heretofore.
In particular, this environment enables the formation of virtually any shape—i.e., arbitrary shapes, as recited above—rather than merely abstract patterns such as generally characteristic of the prior art. Prior material-forming systems such as skywriting or water fountains are incapable of this degree of finesse. On the other hand inkjet and other printing systems heretofore are limited to two dimensions.
Although the first major aspect of the invention thus significantly advances the art, nevertheless to optimize enjoyment of its benefits preferably the invention is practiced in conjunction with certain additional features or characteristics. In particular, preferably the invention includes some means for defining the volume between the array and the frame.
For purposes of generality and breadth in discussing the invention, these means may be called simply the “defining means”. In case the invention does include such defining means, the apparatus preferably further includes some means for providing relative motion of the colorant through the volume from the array to the frame.
Again for purposes of breadth and generality these means are advantageously called the “relative-motion providing means” or more simply the “providing means”. A still further preference is that the providing means include orientation of the array and frame respectively above and below the volume—whereby gravity induces the relative motion.
In this case it is yet further preferable that the frame be a substantially passive sump for recovering the colorant. An alternative preference is that the frame include a pump for redirecting colorant to the array for reuse.
In the latter case it is also preferred that the array eject colorant of plural characteristics; and that the apparatus of the invention also include filters for separating the retrieved colorant by those characteristics. In this situation it is particularly advantageous that the characteristics include both colors and associated physical characteristics for facilitating the separating by the filters.
Reverting to the earlier-mentioned preference for relative-motion providing means, it is also preferable for some kinds of shows that the invention include stroboscopic lighting for illu

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