Patent Application
20080294272
This disclosure relates to an automated system for generating large numbers of digitally-defined patterns suitable for printing on textiles wherein each pattern shares one or more unifying design motifs with all other patterns. In the general case, each pattern is a composite comprised of at least two components in the form of separate, electronically-defined pattern “layers” that are digitally superimposed. Where a series of such patterns share at least one pattern layer, all patterns in the series will appear visually related to all other patterns in the series. In one embodiment, this patterning system may be used to generate a related series of patterns for use on individual floor tiles or carpet tiles (which, collectively, shall be referred to as carpet tiles), with no two carpet tiles in a series carrying exactly the same composite pattern, yet with all carpet tiles carrying a background pattern or motif, or a series of background patterns or motifs, that serve to unify the overall pattern appearance when such carpet tiles are installed together. In some preferred embodiments, the carpet tiles, when installed, result in a pattern arrangement that appears random. In accordance with the teachings herein, the generation of such patterns can be largely automated and can be carried out as a set of algorithms associated with the patterning machine control system.
Floor coverings comprise important interior design elements that are frequently relied upon to unify and enhance a specific interior design concept. Over the last decade, modular carpeting—i.e., the use of carpet tiles or panels—has become a favorite of interior designers, particularly in commercial spaces, due to its potential to mimic the appearance of conventional broadloom carpeting while, at the same time, provide a practical means by which localized portions of the carpeting can be easily removed to access under-floor wiring or can be easily replaced in the event of damage, excessive wear, staining, and the like. One specific application of the techniques disclosed herein is to automate the creation of a large number of individual carpet tiles that, when installed, produce a non-repeating, multiple-tile pattern sufficient to generate high visual interest and that disguise, to a large degree, any patterning artifacts that would otherwise be visually objectionable, yet provide one or more common design elements that visually unify the multiple tile pattern.
One of the generally acknowledged key attributes of a successful modular carpet tile installation, and one that may be helpful in achieving the look of broadloom carpet, is the inconspicuousness of the seams between contiguous carpet tiles. Where design elements within a single tile are duplicated in adjacent tiles and/or extend into adjacent tiles, and those design elements are not perfectly duplicated within each tile, the region around the seam can become visually obtrusive due to pattern discontinuities between adjacent tiles and can draw attention to any imperfections in the form of mismatched color or misaligned design elements. This condition, which shall be referred to as “seam discontinuity,” occurs frequently when there are design elements—for example, a simple band of color—that extend across the boundary separating adjacent tiles and that tend to emphasize the transition from one tile to a contiguous tile. Somewhat counter-intuitively, one way to make such transitions as unobtrusive as possible is to apply a pattern to the individual carpet tiles that provides such visual variety across the installation as a whole that the transition between individual adjacent tiles becomes relatively less important. To the viewer, the non-regular nature of the overall pattern formed by multiple tiles visually overwhelms the discontinuities at the boundaries, with each tile in a series (but not necessarily in a collection, or installation) having a unique pattern but one that is aesthetically consistent, in terms of color and individual pattern elements, with all other tiles in the installation.
Another key attribute of a successful modular carpet installation, or any carpet installation, for that matter, is the ability of the selected pattern to provide an unobtrusive complement to the overall interior design. Floor covering patterns are frequently based on a relatively small pattern, i.e., one in which at least one complete pattern repeat may be defined completely within the area of a single carpet tile. Such patterns, however, carry a significant potential disadvantage. In many cases, otherwise well-placed design elements appear to align into rows when viewed along relatively shallow viewing angles, resulting in large-scale pattern anomalies that involve multiple carpet tiles and that extend over large areas of installed carpet. Such pattern anomalies (which are sometimes referred to as “design lines”) can be sufficiently severe as to become visually prominent and overwhelm the intended overall pattern.
Added to such inherent design-based problems is the fact that the patterning process can occasionally cause slight periodic non-uniformities to occur within the pattern, such as the uneven application of dye within a pattern element or background area, resulting in a localized streak or band. When viewed as individual tiles, such periodic non-uniformities can be relatively unobtrusive, but when a series of such tiles carrying the same non-uniformity are installed over a larger area, such non-uniformities can become aligned, thereby emphasizing these manufacturing artifacts and forming visually conspicuous streaks or bands that extend over many carpet tiles. For purposes herein, these pattern anomalies, design lines, and manufacturing artifacts shall be collectively referred to as “patterning artifacts.”
It is believed that both seam discontinuities and patterning artifacts can be emphasized by the incorrect choice of the size of the pattern repeat, coupled with a subconscious expectation of uniformity or symmetry that is generated by seeing a relatively large expanse of carpet tiles, all having the same pattern. Accordingly, in order to minimize or eliminate such discontinuities and artifacts, the use of a non-repeating design, but one which shares common colors and design elements among adjacent tiles, has been found to be effective in eliminating the subconscious expectation of uniformity or symmetry, thereby minimizing the visual impact of patterning artifacts as well as seam discontinuities.
A challenge in implementing this technique is developing a system by which a series of such composite patterns can be generated and printed at the time of manufacture. It is possible to achieve a pseudo-random appearance using a relatively small number of different design elements on individual carpet tiles, and then rotating the tiles during installation to produce a more random-appearing overall pattern. However, because this involves turning the tiles to orient them in different directions during installation, the pile orientation of the individual tiles is also turned, which may result in a variety of problems, including watermarking or sheen (difference in light reflectivity from tile to tile) and seam problems (dramatic pile lay changes at boundaries). Accordingly, the techniques disclosed herein are believed superior, as these problems are generally avoided.
At least one of the techniques described herein provides a series of carpet tiles, each of which carries a unique pattern that is pre-defined, using design elements that preferably coordinate with a base layer and with other patterns in the series. Optionally, the orientation of the overlay pattern may also be altered before printing on the carpet tile, thereby introducing a greater number of unique composite patterns while allowing for an installation that preserves a single direction for pile lay (i.e., a “unidirectional” installation). Additionally, this technique allows for certain geometric operations to be performed on the pattern to enhance the appearance of pattern randomness, if desired.
As an additional advantage of the pattern generation system disclosed herein, in at least one embodiment, at least one common design element or motif (for example, the background) is incorporated into the composite pattern to serve as a visually unifying element across all tiles in the installation. Accordingly, the composite patterns generated in accordance with the teachings herein and carried by the carpet tiles exhibit a distinct “random” or “pseudo-random” appearance when installed, although these patterns have at least one integrating design motif that is coordinated across all generated patterns, thus imparting an underlying visual uniformity to the carpet tile installation. As an additional benefit, the random or pseudo-random elements incorporated into the design tend to mask any visually obtrusive, large-scale design lines that can appear as the unintended artifacts of the design or manufacturing process, as well as any unintended mis-matching of patterns or colors at the boundaries of the individual tiles.
By use of the design systems described herein, the designer has at his or her disposal automated techniques that, with minimal designer input, can generate a series of patterns that share a common artistic theme or motif and that are suitable for use in patterning carpet tiles or other floor coverings, as well as other textile products. In particular, the systems disclosed herein are especially suited for use in patterning carpet tiles or other textiles using the application of interruptible dye streams and electronically-controlled dye applicators that are actuated in accordance with digitally-defined patterns. In such applications in which electronically-defined patterns are accessed and processed as part of the patterning process, the system disclosed herein effectively re-locates a portion of the design process to the actual patterning step in the manufacturing process, where it can proceed without designer intervention.
While the techniques and systems described herein are especially well-suited for printing or dyeing carpet tiles, it is contemplated that similar designs may be computer generated using pre-dyed yarns on graphic tufted machines.
To facilitate the discussion that follows, the explanations will assume that the substrates to be patterned are carpet tiles of uniform size, but not necessarily of uniform pile height. It should be understood, however, that the concepts may be applied to patterning other substrates, and particularly other textile substrates (including broadloom carpets), with appropriate modifications with respect to the size and nature of the substrate and the pattern effect to be desired. Additionally, it should be understood that the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. These definitions will serve as an introduction to some of the concepts explained in more detail further below.
The term “layer” refers to a separately configurable virtual data space which stores a pattern or design that is intended to be superimposed upon (or be superimposed by) other patterns or designs (each of which would constitute a separate layer) to form a composite pattern. The pattern for each layer is capable of being independently selected and, optionally, independently oriented (that is, rotated or mirrored). For example, a first layer could be comprised of a set of spaced vertical parallel lines and a second layer could be comprised of a pattern of geometric shapes. Inhabiting separate data files within the design software, the first layer, for example, may act as the background layer, while the second layer's geometric shapes could be positioned over the background stripes as the superimposed layer to form a new composite pattern. Optionally, the superimposed pattern may be rotated (for example, 90 degrees), mirror-imaged, rotated and mirror-imaged, or repositioned (that is, “translated”), to create additional composite patterns. Also optionally, the background layer may similarly be geometrically altered (for example, by rotating, mirror-imaging, etc.).
As used herein, one layer—the background layer—will be referred to as the “base” layer (which is comprised of the base pattern, as defined below), and all other layers—the superimposed layers—will be referred to as “overlay” layers (comprised of one or more overlay patterns, as defined below), although this nomenclature does not necessarily imply any specific number of layers or any order in which the layers are placed on the substrate. In fact, as contemplated herein, these terms are merely used to describe the pattern generation process, and not the process or sequence through which the pattern is actually applied to the substrate. This distinction may be important in certain printing operations where, for example, the application of yellow and blue in the same area of the substrate, in that order, yields a different shade of green than the corresponding application of blue and yellow, due to “masking,” dye saturation, and other effects. Typically, it is believed the designer will choose the base layer to be that layer that most nearly covers the surface of the substrate to be patterned and onto which one or more overlay patterns are applied, in order to maximize the visually unifying aspect of the base layer, but this is not required by the processes described herein.
The term “host” refers to a master pattern, preferably in virtual form and preferably non-repeating in nature, from which small, template-sized pattern subsets or samples may be defined. If applied to a floor covering context, in one embodiment the host could be thought of as a non-repeating pattern on a virtual large substrate (say, for example, a virtual substrate dimensioned to be twenty feet square), onto which may be superimposed a tile-sized virtual template (for example, eighteen or thirty-six inches square) at various locations randomly (or non-randomly) positioned within the large virtual substrate. At each position, the template defines a tile-sized pattern “sample” of the master host. If the host pattern is non-repeating and sufficiently large, and each template position within the host is unique (i.e., the template position is not exactly repeated within a given tile series), then every host pattern sample defined by the template for a given tile series will also be unique. Conversely, if the position of the template within the host is repeated, then the resulting host pattern sample will also be repeated. In one embodiment, hosts may be used to define infinite, unique base patterns. Alternately, the position of the template within the host may be repeated to produce composite patterns having the same base pattern for all tiles in the series. In yet another embodiment, the position of the template within the host may be repeated, but the host pattern sample may subsequently be manipulated (e.g., by rotating, mirror imaging, stretching, shrinking and repeating, etc.) before being incorporated into the composite pattern, thereby defining unique, but related, base pattern layers.
The term “template” refers to a closed geometric shape that defines the borders of the pattern sample to be extracted from the host pattern to form a base pattern. The template may be any shape or size, depending upon the desired design effect, although templates having the dimensions of the tile to be printed are most often contemplated herein. It is also contemplated (but not required) that separate templates may be defined for use as base layers.
The term “base layer pattern” or “base pattern” refers to a pattern layer that acts as the background onto which design overlays are superimposed. In one embodiment described herein, the base pattern remains consistent for all of the tiles in a given collection. Alternately, the base pattern may be manipulated before being digitally combined with the overlay pattern to form a composite pattern. It is contemplated, in one embodiment, that the base layer host pattern will be sized to match, or nearly match, the size of the substrate to be patterned (e.g., a 36-inch square for patterning a 36-inch carpet tile), and the base pattern template will simply be the same size as the base layer host pattern. This means that, in this embodiment, every base pattern will be identical—the same pattern element(s) expressed in the same location(s)—for each composite pattern, and therefore every composite pattern will have the same unifying design element(s) in the same location(s), whereas the overlay pattern will vary for each composite pattern within the design series.
In yet another embodiment contemplated herein, each base pattern is selected from a host pattern using a template (the “base pattern template”), such that the base patterns of a collection of tiles are unique but related by the same design motifs and elements. In this instance, unique base patterns are individually printed on a single substrate (e.g., a single carpet tile), resulting in a series of printed substrates that are uniquely patterned (although all substrates will share whatever design similarities that exist within the host pattern that was used, after any pattern manipulation is accounted for).
As made clear above, an objective of the processes disclosed herein is the automated generation of a series of patterns to be randomly placed on a respective series of carpet tiles, with the resulting carpet tiles exhibiting a random or pseudo-random pattern when installed, but also exhibiting one or more unifying pattern elements (typically, from the base pattern host) that visually integrate the various tiles and provide overall pattern coherence to the floor covering installation. To facilitate the discussion below, it will be assumed that the random or pseudo-random component of the composite pattern is assigned to one or more overlay patterns, and the unifying pattern elements are assigned to the base pattern layers, either of which may be manipulated before being combined into composite patterns.
A primary purpose of the base pattern is to provide common pattern elements or colors that are shared by all carpet tiles (or at least the suggestion of such elements or colors), thereby providing a unifying pattern motif across multiple carpet tiles that may carry dramatically different overlay patterns and thereby form a visually integrated or coherent interior space despite the “random” appearance of the overall pattern when installed. In one embodiment, the base pattern host is larger than the base pattern template and can, through varying the placement of the template at different locations within the host and/or the geometric manipulation (e.g., rotating, mirror-imagining, etc.) of the resulting host “sample”, generate base patterns that are themselves unique. It is also contemplated that, where the base pattern template is not larger than the base pattern host, the template can be positioned at the same location within the host, thereby generating a repeating pattern that can be placed at different locations within the composite pattern.
The term “overlay pattern” refers to a pattern layer, separate from the base pattern layer, which is selected from a collection of pre-defined overlay patterns (“the overlay pattern collection”). The overlay pattern collection is a set of pre-defined patterns that visually coordinate with a particular base pattern and with other overlay patterns within the set. In one embodiment, each overlay pattern in a tile series incorporates design elements and colors of the base pattern, with no two overlay patterns in a series being identical. In the embodiments described herein, it will be assumed (as a simplifying, non-limiting example) that all of the overlay patterns from a particular overlay pattern collection (including desired manipulations to the overlay patterns) are printed in random order to create a first tile series before randomized printing of the overlay patterns (and their desired manipulations) begins again to create subsequent tile series. While it is contemplated that multiple overlay layers may be used on a single tile, with each layer representing a different pattern from the series, it is anticipated that, in many cases, a single overlay layer will be sufficient, if the corresponding pattern series available for use as an overlay layer is sufficiently varied.
Among the design elements contemplated for use as overlay pattern components are letters, words, trademarks, logos (for instance, commercial or school logos), and the like, which may be proprietary to the users of such patterned carpet tiles. In instances where such proprietary design elements are used, the manipulation algorithms described herein are modified to prevent the design element (e.g., the logo) from being mirror-imaged, or otherwise distorted, or from being truncated by being placed too close to a tile edge. Thus, the integrity of the proprietary design element is preserved.
The term “composite pattern” refers to the superposition of a base pattern and at least one overlay pattern, as created prior to any actual patterning step.
The term “tile series” refers to a plurality of tiles, each of which has been printed with a base pattern and one of the pre-defined overlay patterns from the overlay pattern collection. The tile series contains at least the same number of tiles as there are overlay patterns (that is, if there are twelve unique overlay patterns, then the tile series has a minimum of twelve tiles). If each of the twelve unique overlay patterns is manipulated, for example, in one of eight ways, as will be discussed further herein, then the tile series may contain 96 tiles. Using computer algorithms, the order in which the tiles within a tile series are printed varies from one tile series to the next, creating a random order for printing and installation. It should be understood that where the base pattern is randomly selected from a much larger base pattern host, thereby resulting in unique base pattern layers, the tile series may be, as a practical matter, infinitely large, particularly if the base pattern is subject to geometric manipulation prior to printing.
The term “tile collection” refers to sets of tiles that share a unifying base pattern, but that have overlay layers that are derived from a given tile series intended for use with that base pattern. Because the tiles in each tile series are produced with overlay patterns that are randomly ordered, the tile collection will similarly contain tiles whose patterns are randomly ordered. In at least one embodiment, it is potentially preferred that the tiles of a collection are installed so that no two identical tiles are positioned adjacent to one another, in the same row with one another, in the same column with one another, in the same diagonal with one another, or the like, to maintain the random appearance of the installation.
The term “geometrically manipulated” or “geometric manipulation” refers to processes of altering the appearance of a pattern by techniques such as rotating, mirror-imaging (either along an edge or some selected axis), rotating and mirror-imaging, re-scaling (that is, expansions or contractions of all or portions of a pattern), shifting or translating (that is, moving a design element from one location to another), and the use of more complex, multi-step techniques. In the case of overlay patterns, the preferred manipulation steps are rotation (preferably in 90-degree increments), mirror-imaging along an edge, rotation and mirror-imaging, and translating. In terms of multi-step techniques, which are typically more suitable for use with base patterns, multiple patterns may be extracted, or otherwise generated, either from the original extracted pattern or in combination with one or more other pattern(s) extracted from the host pattern. In the latter case, where multiple patterns are to be used, the various patterns may be electronically “stitched,” collaged, or otherwise combined to form a pattern that is aesthetically pleasing for use on the face of the carpet tile.
Provided herein is a process for randomly patterning a textile substrate, or a plurality of textile substrates—for example, carpet tiles—in which each tile has a composite pattern containing at least a base pattern and an overlay pattern. When installed, the random order of patterning results in random tile placement and an overall random appearance. The overlay patterns are randomly chosen from a library of patterns until each individual pattern has been used to create a tile series. The overlay patterns may be manipulated by rotating, mirror-imaging, rotating and mirror-imaging, and/or changing their position on the tile (by translating the position of the template) to produce additional variations and increase the number of tiles in the series that are chosen before the series begins to repeat. The base pattern optionally may be manipulated before being incorporated into the composite pattern. A tile collection containing such randomly ordered patterns is also described.
In a first embodiment, the base pattern host is the same size as the base pattern template, thereby ensuring that the base pattern is the same for all of the tiles of a collection. Alternately, the base pattern layer may be manipulated before combination into the composite pattern, increasing the number of different composite patterns that may be produced. In both such cases, an aesthetically appropriate overlay pattern is selected randomly, preferably using a computer algorithm, from a series of different pre-designed and coordinating overlay patterns. Each pattern in the series is produced by randomly selecting one of the overlay patterns for combination with a base pattern, superimposing the selected overlay pattern onto the base pattern to form a composite pattern, and then applying the composite pattern to sequential carpet tiles during the manufacturing process. This process, including the selection of overlay patterns in random order, is repeated, as necessary, until composite patterns having each of the overlay patterns are created. If necessary, the process of random selection of overlay layers for combination into composite patterns is repeated until a collection having the desired number of tiles is created.
In a second embodiment, a base pattern host is the same size as the base pattern template, thereby ensuring that the base pattern is the same for all of the tiles of a collection. An aesthetically pleasing overlay pattern is selected randomly, preferably using a computer algorithm, from a series of different pre-designed and coordinating overlay patterns. In this embodiment, the selected overlay pattern is manipulated by changing the pattern's geometric orientation (e.g., by rotating it, mirroring it, rotating and mirroring it) or changing its position on the tile (e.g., geometric translation), thus increasing the potential number of overlay patterns that may be used in the series. Again, each pattern in the series is produced by randomly selecting one of the overlay patterns (or one of its manipulated versions) for combination with a base pattern, superimposing the selected overlay pattern or its manipulated version onto the base pattern to form a composite pattern, and then applying the composite pattern to sequential carpet tiles during the manufacturing process. This process, including the selection of overlay patterns (and their manipulated versions) in random order, is repeated, as necessary, until composite patterns having each of the overlay patterns (and their manipulated versions) are created. If necessary, the process of random selection of overlay layers for combination into composite patterns is repeated until a collection having the desired number of tiles is created.
In a third embodiment, a base pattern host is larger than the base pattern template, thereby virtually ensuring that the base pattern is different for all of the tiles of a collection. Because the base pattern host is significantly larger than the base pattern template, a considerably larger number of base patterns may be created, particularly if the base pattern is geometrically manipulated before being combined into the composite pattern. The overlay pattern is chosen randomly, preferably using a computer algorithm, from a series of different pre-designed and coordinating overlay patterns. In this embodiment, the overlay pattern optionally may be geometrically manipulated by changing the pattern's orientation by rotating it, mirroring it, rotating and mirroring it, or by changing its position on the tile, thus increasing the number of overlay patterns that may be used in the series. Each pattern in the series is produced by randomly selecting one of the overlay patterns (or one of its manipulated versions) for combination with a base pattern (randomly selected from the base pattern host), superimposing the selected overlay pattern onto the selected base pattern to form a composite pattern, and then applying the composite pattern to sequential carpet tiles during the manufacturing process.
This process, including the selection of overlay patterns (and their manipulated versions) in random order, is repeated, as necessary, until composite patterns having each of the overlay patterns (and their manipulated versions) are created. If necessary, the process of random selection of overlay layers (and their manipulated versions) for combination into composite patterns is repeated until a collection having the desired number of tiles is created.
This disclosure can be best understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, as briefly described below.
A schematic representation of a base layer host pattern 100 is shown in
The concept of the host pattern is straightforward—it is a relatively large virtual pattern within which a smaller virtual template (e.g., conceptually analogous to a “cookie cutter”) can be positioned to define a subset or sample of the host pattern. Where, as here, the host is preferably comprised of a pattern having a non-repeating nature, the composition of the pattern defined within the boundaries of the template is entirely a function of the location (and rotational orientation) of the template within the host. So long as the location and orientation of the host is seldom repeated exactly, the resulting pattern defined within the template will seldom be duplicated exactly.
For purposes of the first and second embodiments that will be discussed herein, the base host pattern has the same size and shape as the substrate onto which the base pattern will be printed (that is, the host pattern and the tile are of the same dimensions). In a first embodiment, the base pattern may optionally be manipulated before being superimposed by the overlay pattern. In a second embodiment, the tiles in the series share the same underlying base, or background, pattern, which serves to unify the tile series. In yet another variation, it is contemplated that the base pattern template may be the same size as a carpet tile or may be larger or smaller than a carpet tile (as determined by the designer), with appropriate adjustments made for processing the extracted pattern defined within such a template so that the resulting pattern, when placed in a layer, will have the desired scale relative to the size of the carpet tile. For example, if the template is smaller than the carpet tile, then that pattern may be used in connection with a border or similar artistic device to fill the face of the carpet tile. Alternately, the desired pattern may be electronically enlarged to fit the face of the carpet tile to be patterned, or multiple patterns may be extracted or otherwise generated, either from the original extracted pattern or in combination with one or more other pattern(s) extracted from the host pattern. In the latter case, where multiple patterns are to be used, the various patterns may be electronically “stitched,” collaged, or otherwise combined to form a pattern that is aesthetically pleasing for use on the face of the carpet tile.
In the third embodiment, the host pattern may be significantly larger than the individual tile dimensions, thus enabling the selection of a large variety of different, but coordinating, tiles, as will be discussed below. By way of illustration only, the base layer host pattern 100 of
Assuming that a base layer host pattern has been generated and stored in the base layer host pattern library (Block 24 of
At this point, the design of the base pattern may be accomplished in one of several ways. In a first approach, the base layer host pattern and the base layer template are the size of the substrate (that is, the tile) to be printed. Thus, all of the tiles produced for a given series are unified by a common base layer, or background. To produce a tile series where all of the tiles have the same base layer, the process shown in
Finally, in an embodiment in which unique base layers are desired, the process proceeds essentially as described below. Block 28 represents a primary opportunity for completely automated activity by the software. Provided some point associated with the template has been designated as the “location” of the template (e.g., a center point or a specified corner), that point can then be assigned anywhere within the host design, thereby specifying a proposed placement location within the host for the (pre-defined, virtual) base layer template. The generation of a location for placement of this virtual template is preferably done through the use of software algorithms using random or pseudo-random numbers, but can also be done through other more deterministic means (e.g., use of a pre-determined list of designer-specified location co-ordinates). Any selected location, however, must be subject to certain constraints that prevent any part of the template, if positioned at the selected location, from falling outside the boundaries of the host. This can be accomplished through appropriate software tests and subroutines that are included in Block 30 and that provide for repositioning and re-testing of the template or the “wrapping” of the template to the opposite edge of the host. Alternatively, the software can perform a predetermined geometric manipulation on that portion of the pattern that is within the host boundary (e.g., fill in the area outside the host boundary with a mirror image of the portion of the pattern closest to the host boundary) to prevent any part of the pattern within the template from being blank.
Once the template location has met the above tests, the base pattern template can be positioned within the virtual host (Block 30), and the portion of the host pattern falling within the boundaries of the template can be defined or “extracted,” thereby forming the base pattern (Block 32).
In
At this point, the software checks to determine if any manipulation of the extracted base pattern has been requested by the designer (or as the result of a software algorithm using a random or pseudo-random number generator). The basic operations for the manipulation process are shown in Blocks 36 through 42 of
In carrying out such manipulations, it is foreseen that situations will arise in which certain artifacts of the manipulation process must be addressed. Among such situations, which are offered as examples only, and are not intended to be exhaustive, comprehensive, or limiting in any way, are the following:
It should also be noted that, when digital patterns formed by discrete square or rectangular pixels are rotated, the rotation causes the individual pixels to collectively change their orientation, with the border defining each pixel changing from having a horizontal/vertical orientation with respect to the viewer to having an oblique or diagonal orientation with respect to the viewer. This change causes, among other effects, a “stair step” effect for lines directed along diagonals in the pattern.
In both Situations 1 and 2 above, the software necessary to perform these operations is well known and can be configured to perform these steps without designer intervention.
If no manipulation has been requested, the generation of the base pattern is complete for an individual carpet tile, and the base pattern may be stored for use in Block 16 of
Examples of base patterns following such manipulations are shown at 15A, 25A, 35A, and 45A in
When all desired manipulation algorithms have been run, it may be necessary to adjust the manipulated pattern, via appropriate software, to remove patterning artifacts such as those discussed above, as well as excessive “stair-stepping” in diagonal line segments, etc, as shown in Block 46. The adjusted base pattern, symbolized at Block 48 of
Representative steps for the formation of an overlay pattern for an individual carpet tile are depicted in
As set forth in
Optionally, the overlay pattern may be manipulated (Block 54) before being superimposed on the base pattern. In the interest of simplicity, the manipulation process library (Block 56) may contain only a few manipulation operations to be performed. For example, the manipulation operations to be performed on the overlay pattern can be limited to rotations (most preferably, in 90-degree increments), mirror-imaging (most preferably, along an edge), and rotations combined with mirror-imaging. Using these simpler manipulation techniques (as compared with those optionally used to manipulate the base pattern), eight variations of a given overlay pattern may be created, as shown in
If manipulation is desired, then Blocks 54 through 62 of
As with the base pattern, it may be necessary to adjust the manipulated overlay pattern, via appropriate software, to remove patterning artifacts such as those discussed above, as well as excessive “stair-stepping” in diagonal line segments, etc, as shown in Block 64. The adjusted overlay pattern, symbolized at Block 66 of
Turning now to
Subsequent series would be similarly produced, using overlay patterns in an order that is randomly selected.
In one embodiment, to increase the number of possible overlay patterns, each of the patterns may be manipulated in one of eight ways, as previously described, resulting in the production of a series of 192 tiles. Using a computer algorithm, each of the 192 overlay layer variations is chosen before the series begins to repeat.
Alternately, the base layers 15, 25, 35, and 45, for example, may be chosen and/or manipulated, using a wide array of manipulation techniques, to create a vast number of possible base layers. Each of these base patterns, which are randomly chosen from a base layer pattern host and which may or may not be manipulated, may then be combined with each of the previously described overlay patterns. Examples of the resulting composite patterns are shown in
From these representative examples, it is apparent that the possible combinations of base patterns and overlay patterns (both of which may be manipulated) is vast, thereby ensuring the randomness of the appearance of the installation, even where thousands of tiles might be involved. As shown above, one or both of the base pattern and the overlay pattern may be manipulated separately. Alternately, neither may be manipulated. In yet other embodiments, two manipulations may be used on a single layer, as in the fourth composite pattern of Row 3 where the base pattern has been manipulated twice.
Yet another possibility for manipulating the overlay pattern is shown in
Returning again to
It is contemplated that the carpet tile blanks to be patterned by, for example, a Millitron® textile patterning machine, may be of any suitable construction (e.g., hardback, cushion back, etc.). It is assumed that the face may be constructed of any appropriate textile materials in yarn or pile form that are suitable for dyeing or patterning, and may have a face height or pile height that is uniform or non-uniform (e.g., may be textured, as found in a multi-level loop pile) created by tufting, needling, flocking, bonding, etc., or the use of woven or non-woven substrates.
It should be understood that, while the FIGURES and discussion above are directed to the patterning of individual carpet tiles, the techniques disclosed above are not necessarily restricted to carpet tiles, but may also be used, with appropriate adaptation as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, to pattern broadloom carpeting or other substrates.
