Patent Application
20150298497
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates generally to lithophanes, and more specifically, to lithophanes and the making of lithophanes that include a 3-dimensional representation of a 2-dimensional image.
Generally, lithophanes include an image (similar to a photographic negative) and light passes through the lithophane to reveal the image. In some embodiments the lithophane includes a 3-dimensional image that is illuminated by a light source positioned behind the lithophane. Traditional lithophanes were made such that the thinner portions of the lithophane appeared lighter than the thicker portions, as more light would transmit through the thinner portions of the lithophane material than the thicker portions. While lithophanes may be produced by carving an image out of a porcelain or wax material, a more automated process is desired than can create a high-fidelity 3-dimensional representation of a 2-dimensional image.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for forming a 3-dimensional lithophane based on a 2-dimensional image is provided. The method includes receiving a digital representation of a 2-dimensional image, the 2-dimensional image including at least one visibly light portion and at least one visibly dark portion, with the at least one visibly dark portion being visibly darker than the at least one visibly light portion. The method further includes creating a 3-dimensional lithophane based on the digital representation. The lithophane includes opposing front and back sides, the front side including at least a first portion and a second portion. The second portion has a thickness dimension that is greater than a thickness dimension of the first portion. The first portion of the lithophane corresponds to the at least one visibly dark portion of the 2-dimensional image, and the second portion of the lithophane corresponds to the at least one visibly light portion of the 2-dimensional image.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for forming a 3-dimensional lithophane based on a 2-dimensional image is provided. The method includes receiving a digital representation of a 2-dimensional image. The 2-dimensional image includes a first area having a first level of shading and a second area having a second level of shading, with the first level of shading being visibly lighter than the second level of shading. The first and second areas define at least a portion of the 2-dimensional image. The method further includes using the digital representation in an automated additive manufacturing process to form a lithophane. The lithophane includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first thickness and the second portion having a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness. The first thickness corresponds to the first area of the 2-dimensional image and the second thickness corresponds to the second area of the 2-dimensional image.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a 3-dimensional lithophane based on a 2-dimensional image is provided. The lithophane includes a front side and an opposing back side. The front side includes a 3-dimensional representation of a 2-dimensional image, where the 2 dimensional image includes a first area and a second area that define at least a portion of the 2-dimensional image. The first area has a first level of shading and the second area has a second level of shading, with the first level of shading being visibly lighter than the second level of shading. The 3-dimensional representation includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first thickness and the second portion having a second thickness, with the first thickness being greater than the second thickness. The first portion of the lithophane corresponds to the first area of the 2-dimensional image and the second portion of the lithophane corresponds to the second area of the 2-dimensional image.
The present invention is explained in more detail with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the attached drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, in which:
Referring now to the drawings in more detail, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the different views of
The lithophane 100 can include any type of material, such as a thermoplastic, plastic, rubber, or silicon material. In certain embodiments, the lithophane 100 does not include a porcelain material. In the same or alternative embodiments, the lithophane 100 does not include a wax material. In one or more embodiments, the lithophane 100 can include more than one type of material, such as a thermoplastic material and a silicon material.
In one embodiment, the lithophane 100 can include a translucent material, such as a translucent thermoplastic material. Any type of translucent thermoplastic material can be used in the present invention, and a particular material can be chosen by one skilled in the art for a specific purpose. A non-limiting list of thermoplastic materials that may be present in the lithophanes of the present invention includes acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate-acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polylactic acid, and polystyrene. In one or more embodiments, the lithophane 100 may include more than one type of a thermoplastic material.
In certain embodiments, the lithophane 100 has a maximum thickness dimension that is measured between an outermost surface of a front side 112 of the lithophane 100 (which in the embodiment in
The lithophane 100 has the front side 112 and the opposing back side 114. As depicted in
In certain embodiments, such as that depicted in
In the embodiment depicted in
As discussed further below, in embodiments not depicted in the figures, lithophanes of the present invention (e.g., lithophane 100) can include a frame that is integral with the lithophane 100 and surrounds the outer perimeter of the lithophane 100. As further discussed below, in alternative embodiments, the lithophane 100 may include a frame attachment member that is integral with and surrounding an outer perimeter of the lithophane 100 so that a frame can be coupled thereto.
In one or more embodiments, the varying levels of shading or darkness defined by the 3-dimensional image on the front side 112 of the lithophane 100 can be visible in ambient light. In the same or alternative embodiments, the varying levels of shading or darkness defined by the 3-dimensional image of the lithophane 100 can be visible when the lithophane 100 is not backlit. Backlit means having a light source positioned behind and in close proximity to the lithophane 100.
In the presence of ambient light, one or more portions of the lithophane 100 can appear visibly darker than other portions of the lithophane 100. In embodiments where the lithophane 100 includes a translucent material, the thickness of the translucent material can be proportional to the opacity of the lithophane 100. That is, the thicker a portion of the lithophane 100, the more opaque that thicker portion appears. In various embodiments, ambient light can cause the thinner portions of the lithophane 100 to appear visibly darker than the thicker portions of the lithophane 100, when the lithophane 100 includes a dark-colored backing 116, or is in front of any object(s) that is darker than the material of the lithophane 100.
In embodiments where the lithophane 100 has a dark-colored backing 116, a thinner portion of the lithophane 100 can appear visibly darker relative to thicker portions of the lithophane 100, as a thinner portion would have a reduced opacity relative to the thicker portions and will reveal more of the dark-colored backing 116. Likewise, the thicker the portion of the lithophane 100, the visibly lighter that portion appears to the viewer relative to the thinner portions of the lithophane 100, as the thicker portions of the lithophane 100 have an increased opacity and will not reveal as much of the dark-colored backing 116. This is opposite to the construction and functioning of prior art lithophanes where thinner portions appear lighter because they let more light through.
As seen in the lithophane 100 of
As discussed above, the dark-colored backing 116 of the lithophane 100 need not be present to observe varying levels of darkness or shading in the portions of the lithophane 100 having varying thicknesses. For example, when the lithophane 100 of
Turning now to
In one or more embodiments, the digital representation can be a digital file of the 2-dimensional image in any image file format commonly used in the art, such as a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), TIFF (Tagged Image File Formation), EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format), RAW (Raw Image Formats), GIF (Graphic Interchange Format), or PNG (Portable Network Graphics) file format.
In certain embodiments, the digital representation of the 2-dimensional image may include a digital file format that is suitable for use in an automated additive manufacturing process, such as a 3-D printing process.
The step 410 of receiving a digital representation of a 2-dimensional image may include receiving the digital representation via a server, to which the digital representation has been uploaded. Alternatively, the step 410 of receiving a digital representation may include receiving the digital representation on a computer, to which the digital representation was transferred from a portable computer-readable media storage device, such as, a USB drive, SD memory card, or other portable computer-readable media.
In certain embodiments not depicted in the figures, the method 400 may include converting a digital representation into a digital file format that is compatible for use in an automated additive manufacturing process. Such conversion process may use any software readily available in the industry. The converting step may include converting the 2-dimensional image into grayscale image and then converting the grayscale image into a suitable digital file format that can be used in an automated additive manufacturing process.
The method 400 of
Any 3-D printing machine readily available in the industry may be used to create the lithophanes of the present invention and a particular machine can be chosen by one skilled in the art for a specific purpose. In certain embodiments, an automated additive manufacturing device (e.g., a 3-D printing machine) may have a Z-resolution (layer thickness) of at least about 1 nanometer (nm), 10 nm, or 100 nm, and/or not more than about 500 micrometers (μm), 250 μm, or 100 μm. In the same or alternative embodiments, an automated additive manufacturing device (e.g., a 3-D printing machine) may have an X-Y resolution of at least about 1 μm, 5 μm, or 10 μm, and/or not more than about 500 μm, 300 μm, or 200 μm.
Utilizing an automated additive manufacturing process to create a lithophane can allow, in certain embodiments, for the method 400 to include creating a plurality of lithophanes. In such embodiments, each of the plurality of lithophanes may be distinct 3-dimensional representations of different 2-dimensional images.
The lithophanes produced as a result of the method 400 of
As discussed above with reference to
In certain embodiments, the method 400 of
In one or more embodiments, the method 400 of
Turning now to
The method 500 further includes a step 512 of using a digital representation in an automated additive manufacturing process to form a lithophane. The automated manufacturing process can include the use of an automated additive manufacturing device, such as one or more of the devices discussed above with reference to the step 412 of
As discussed above, the digital representation can be a digital file suitable for use in an automated additive manufacturing process. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the step 512 of using a digital representation in an automated additive manufacturing process to form a lithophane may include transmitting, uploading, or downloading the digital representation onto a computing device that controls an automated additive manufacturing device or directly transmitting, uploading, or downloading the digital representation onto an automated additive manufacturing device itself. Such a digital representation may include information necessary to form a 3-dimensional representation of a 2-dimensional image.
Like the method 400 of
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are clear following the complete disclosure above and which are inherent to the methods and apparatuses described herein. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the invention and claims.
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention, and not in a limiting sense.
