Method and system for rendering data for addressable dispensing

Abstract

A method of rendering data for addressable dispensing of material over a working surface, comprises: receiving input image data arranged grid-wise over a plurality of picture-elements; generating an initial map describing a distance field and having a plurality of map-elements each storing distance information corresponding to one picture-element; for each picture-element of at least a portion of the picture-elements: linearly scanning the map independently along a first axis and along a second axis, and updating a respective map-element based on values of map-elements visited during the scan. The distance field can include distances defined perpendicularly to the working surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of rendering data for addressable dispensing of material over a working surface, the method comprising:
 receiving input image data arranged grid-wise over a grid of a plurality of picture-elements;   generating an initial map describing a distance field perpendicular to the working surface and having a plurality of map-elements each storing distance information corresponding to one picture-element;   for each picture-element of at least a portion of said picture-elements:   linearly scanning said map independently along a first axis and along a second axis, and updating a respective map-element based on values of map-elements visited during said scan.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said generating said initial map is by a first processor, and said scanning and said updating is by a second processor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first processor is a graphics processing unit (GPU) and said wherein said second processor is a central processing unit (CPU) of the same computer system. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second axes are orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said distance information is according to a taxicab metric. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said distance information is according to a Euclidian metric. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said grid is a two-dimensional grid describing coordinates of picture-elements of a two-dimensional image. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said generating said initial map comprises setting one of two predetermined values for each map-element, wherein a first value of said two predetermined values is set when a respective picture-element is on a boundary of an object in said image, and a second value of said two predetermined values is set otherwise. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, for each picture-element of at least a portion of said picture-elements, designating a material to be dispensed based at least in part on a respective map-element, generating dispensing instructions readable by a controller of a printer based on said designation and transmitting said dispensing instructions to said controller. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said grid is a three-dimensional grid describing coordinates of picture-elements of a three-dimensional image. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said generating said initial map comprises setting, for each map-element, a value corresponding to a height of a respective picture-element in said image, said height being along a third axis perpendicular to both said first and said second axes. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising, for each picture-element of at least a portion of said picture-elements, designating a material to be dispensed based at least in part on a respective map-element, generating dispensing instructions readable by a controller of a printer, based on said designation, and transmitting said dispensing instructions to said controller. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising slicing said input image data, wherein said generating, said scanning and said updating are executed separately for each slice, to form a sub-map corresponding only to picture-element of said slice. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising, for at least one sub-map, designating, for each picture-element of at least a portion of picture-elements corresponding to said sub-map, a material to be dispensed based at least in part on a respective map-element of said sub-map, generating dispensing instructions readable by a controller of a printer based on said designation, and transmitting said dispensing instructions to said controller. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said dispensing instructions comprise a material bitmap having a plurality of bitmap-elements, each storing information pertaining to a material to be dispensed, and the method further comprises purging said sub-map from a memory following said generation of said material bitmap. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said designating is according to a modulating function. 
     
     
         17 . A method of additive manufacturing an object, the method comprising:
 executing the method according to  claim 12 ; and   dispensing and solidifying a plurality of materials based on said dispensing instructions to sequentially form a plurality of hardened layers in a configured pattern corresponding to a shape of an object.   
     
     
         18 . A system for rendering data for addressable dispensing of material over a working surface, the system comprising:
 an input circuit for receiving input image data arranged grid-wise over a plurality of picture-elements;   a first processor configured for generating an initial map describing a distance field perpendicular to the working surface and having a plurality of map-elements each storing distance information corresponding to one picture-element; and   a second processor configured for linearly scanning said map, independently along a first axis and along a second axis, for each picture-element of at least a portion of said picture-elements, and for updating a respective map-element based on values of map-elements visited during said scan.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said first processor is a graphics processing unit (GPU) and said wherein said second processor is a central processing unit (CPU) of the same computer system. 
     
     
         20 . A system for three-dimensional printing of an object, comprising:
 the system according to  claim 18 ;   a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus having a plurality of dispensing heads configured to dispense building materials;   a controller designed and constructed to receive said dispensing instructions and to operate said dispensing heads according to said dispensing instructions.