Apparatus and method for producing a personalized 3D object

Abstract

The present invention relates to method and apparatus for producing a personalized 3D object. The method comprises steps of detecting whether a payment has been received, inviting a user to select parameters by means of a user input device and a display, capturing at least two images of a subject, calculating a 3D image with the images captured, producing and delivering the personalized 3D object to the user. In addition, a receipt comprising a web site address, a password and a set of instructions for ordering additional products are delivered to the user and the 3D image and data are transferred to a server via a network connection. The apparatus, or kiosk, comprises a payment detector, a user input device and a display, an image acquisition system, calculators for calculating a 3D image, a manufacturing device and an exit for delivering the personalized 3D object to the user.

1 . A method for producing a personalized 3D object, comprising: 
 detecting whether a payment has been received, and if a payment is received:    i) inviting a user to select parameters within a bank of parameters by means of a user input device and a display;    ii) capturing at least two images of a subject in view of the parameters selected in i);    iii) calculating a 3D image with said at least two images captured in ii);    iv) extracting a set of 3D data from the 3D image;    v) producing the personalized 3D object in view of the set of 3D data extracted in iv) and the parameters selected in i); and    vi) delivering the personalized 3D object to the user.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 performing at least two iterations of ii), iii) and iv) before v) to obtain additional sets of 3D data;    displaying to the user proposed 3D images corresponding to the sets of 3D data; and    inviting the user to select one of the proposed 3D images;    wherein, in v), the personalized 3D object is produced in view of the set of 3D data corresponding to the 3D image selected by the user.    
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein iv) comprises 
 localizing a background in the 3D image;    clipping the background to produce a foreground 3D image;    applying a predetermined cropping shape to the foreground 3D image to produce a cropped 3D image; and    producing a set of 3D data, consisting of a 3D points cloud, from the cropped 3D image.    
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein v) comprises: 
 loading a blank 3D object onto a platform; and    altering the blank 3D object with an altering device in view of the 3D data and the parameters selected by the user, to produce the personalized 3D object.    
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the blank 3D object is made of optical glass.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the altering device is a sub surface laser engraver.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, after vi): 
 delivering a receipt to the user comprising a web site address, a password and a set of instructions for ordering additional products; and    transferring the set of 3D data to a server via a network connection.    
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising calibrating the image acquisition system at predetermined time intervals.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for producing a personalized 3D object, comprising 
 a payment detector for detecting whether a payment has been received;    a user input device and a display for allowing a user to select parameters within a bank of parameters when a payment is received;    an image acquisition system for capturing at least two images of a subject in view of the parameters selected by the user;    a first calculator for calculating a 3D image with said at least two images captured;    a second calculator for extracting a set of 3D data from the 3D image;    a manufacturing device for producing the personalized 3D object in view of the set of 3D data and the parameters selected by the user; and p 1  an exit for delivering the personalized 3D object to the user.    
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the manufacturing device comprises 
 a platform;    a loading device for loading a blank 3D object onto the platform;    an altering device for altering the blank 3D object in view of the set of 3D data and the parameters selected by the user, and to produce the personalized 3D object; and    a delivering device for delivering the personalized 3D object to the user via the exit.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the blank 3D object is made of optical glass.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the altering device is a sub surface laser engraver.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the image acquisition system has a projector for projecting a pattern unto the subject and a camera to acquire said at least two images, and said at least two images comprise four images.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the projector and the camera are set up in such a way as to offer an extended non-ambiguity zone.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising 
 a panel of a uniform color facing the image acquisition system.