Parametric interpolation of three-dimensional surfaces

Claim 2

An interpolation system, the combination comprising: a preprocessor having input means for receiving an ordered set of input data which relates to a spacial form to be reproduced, including the coordinate values of selected data points on the spacial form, said preprocessor including means for calculating the elements of an initial state vector which describes said spacial form at one of said selected data points, means for calculating the elements of an initial steering vector, and means for storing the elements of an initial complex state vector which defines the spacial form and which includes the elements of said initial state vector and the elements of said initial steering vector; a mapping interpolator having input means connected to receive the initial complex state vector elements generated by the preprocessor and including adjoint interpolator means for iteratively altering the values of selected elements of said initial state vector, and dynamic interpolator means for iteratively altering selected elements of said initial steering vector, said mapping interpolator thereby performing a state transition on the initial complex state vector; interpolation control means connected to control the iterations of said mapping interpolator; and controlled means for reproducing said spacial form, said controlled means being connected to continuously receive selected elements of said complex state vector which are iteratively generated by said mapping interpolator during said state transition.

Claim 3

The interpolation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said mapping interpolator is a digital differential analyzer having a set of input terminals each connected to receive one element of the initial complex state vector.

Claim 4

altering elements of said complex state vector by performing a linear transformation of said complex state vector in a trajectory direction by iterating said linear transformation means a plurality of times corresponding to said trajectory direction granularity number;

Claim 5

altering elements of said complex state vector by performing a linear transformation of said complex state vector in a trajectory direction by iterating said linear transformation means a plurality of times corresponding to said trajectory direction granularity number;

Claim 6

generating output data that describes a trajectory from said complex state vector by iteratively altering the elements thereof with said mapping interpolator to generate a sequence of output data;

Claim 7

generating output data that describes a trajectory from said complex state vector by iteratively altering the elements thereof with said mapping interpolator to generate a sequence of output data;

Claim 8

calculating and storing in said preprocessor a set of granularity numbers, the values of which are determined by the spacing between data points on said trajectory and the value of said stored chordal error number;

Claim 9

calculating and storing in said preprocessor a set of granularity numbers, the values of which are determined by the spacing between data points on said trajectory and the value of said stored chordal error number;

Claim 10

calculating complex state vectors in said preprocessor from said stored digital input data, said complex state vectors defining said trajectory and each having a set of elements for each axis of the coordinate system;

Claim 11

calculating complex state vectors in said preprocessor from said stored digital input data, said complex state vectors defining said trajectory and each having a set of elements for each axis of the coordinate system;

Claim 12

altering the surface state vector in said storage means by sequentially applying selected groups of elements therein to said mapping interpolator and altering selected elements in each group by iterating said mapping interpolator; and

Claim 13

altering the surface state vector in said storage means by sequentially applying selected groups of elements therein to said mapping interpolator and altering selected elements in each group by iterating said mapping interpolator; and

Claim 14

generating motion command signals by coupling three of said complex state vector elements which are altered during said linear tranformation in the trajectory direction to said output means;

Claim 15

generating motion command signals by coupling three of said complex state vector elements which are altered during said linear tranformation in the trajectory direction to said output means;

Claim 16

The interpolation system as recited in claim 2 wherein said preprocessor includes a granularity computer having an input connected to receive the coordinate values of successive data points on the spacial form and a chordal error number, said granularity computer being operable to calculate a granularity number (n).

Claim 17

The interpolation system as recited in claim 3 in which said ordered set of input data includes an initial coordinate value (x0) and slope ( Delta 1x0) at a first data point in the spacial form, and a final coordinate value (xn) and slope ( Delta 1xn) at a second data point on the spacial form and in which said preprocessor calculates the value of a first variable a xn - n Delta 1xn - x0, and calculates the value of a second variable b Delta 1xn - Delta 1x0, and said initial steering vector calculating means calculates a first element ( theta x0) of the initial steering vector according to the following expression:

Claim 18

altering elements of the surface state vector by performing a linear transformation in a cross section direction by sequentially coupling selected groups of surface state vector elements in said storage means to said linear transformation means, altering surface state vector elements in each coupled group by iterating said linear transformation means once, and storing the elements of each altered group in said storage means to form a transformed surface state vector; and

Claim 19

altering elements of the surface state vector by performing a linear transformation in a cross section direction by sequentially coupling selected groups of surface state vector elements in said storage means to said linear transformation means, altering surface state vector elements in each coupled group by iterating said linear transformation means once, and storing the elements of each altered group in said storage means to form a transformed surface state vector; and

Claim 20

sequentially generating output data that describes additional trajectories by repeating steps 1, 2 and 3 until output data which describes the surface patch has been generated.

Claim 21

sequentially generating output data that describes additional trajectories by repeating steps 1, 2 and 3 until output data which describes the surface patch has been generated.

Claim 22

storing selected elements, in each of said sets of complex state vector elements in a mapping interpolator;

Claim 23

storing selected elements, in each of said sets of complex state vector elements in a mapping interpolator;

Claim 24

The interpolation system as recited in claim 4 in which said mapping interpolator is connected to receive the initial complex state vector elements x0, Delta 1x0, theta x0 and phi x0 from said preprocessor and is operable to iteratively apply the following transition matrix

Claim 25

iteratively altering selected elements stored in said mapping interpolator to perform a state transition which maps a set of output data points that connect a pair of said stored input data points with a smooth trajectory, the number of said iterations being controlled by a selected one of said stored granularity numbers; and

Claim 26

iteratively altering selected elements stored in said mapping interpolator to perform a state transition which maps a set of output data points that connect a pair of said stored input data points with a smooth trajectory, the number of said iterations being controlled by a selected one of said stored granularity numbers; and

Claim 27

repeating steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 using said transformed surface state vector until the number of linear transformations of the surface state vector corresponds to the cross section direction granularity number.

Claim 28

repeating steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 using said transformed surface state vector until the number of linear transformations of the surface state vector corresponds to the cross section direction granularity number.

Claim 29

The interpolation system as recited in claim 3 in which said initial steering vector calculating means includes a theta element computer connected to receive the granularity number (n), the coordinate value Of two successive data points on the spacial form (x01x02), and two initial complex state vector elements ( Delta 1x01, phi x01) at the first of two successive data points, said theta element computer being operable to calculate the value of another initial complex state vector element ( theta x0) be executing the following equations: a n(n-1)(n+1)/6 b n(n-1)/2 theta x0 (x02 - x01 - n Delta 1x01 - b phi x01)/a

Claim 30

repeating steps 4 and 5 until said stored input data points are connected with closely spaced output data points that describe a trajectory.

Claim 31

repeating steps 4 and 5 until said stored input data points are connected with closely spaced output data points that describe a trajectory.

Claim 32

The interpolation system as recited in claim 6 in which said mapping interpolator is connected to receive the initial complex state vector elements x01, Delta 1x01, phi x01, theta x01 from said preprocessor and perform a state transition by iteratively calculating a succession of complex state vector elements (xi1, Delta 1xi1, theta xi1, phi xi1) according to the following expressions: xi 11 xi1 + Delta 1xi1 Delta 1xi 11 Delta 1xi1 - theta xi1 + phi xi1 theta xi 11 theta xi1 phi xi 11 - theta xi1 + phi xi1 wherein i is an iteration index which indicates the number of times the calculations have been made during said state transition and which ranges from zero to (n).

Claim 33

The interpolation system as recited in claim 1 in which said preprocessor includes a granularity computer that calculates a granularity number (n) from the received input data, in which said preprocessor includes means for calculating a pair of variables (a and b) according to the following expressions: a n(n-1)/2 b n(n-1)(n-2)/6 and in which the coordinate values of two successive data points (A and B) along with a pair of complex state vector elements at the first of said data points ( Delta 1A and Delta 2A) are applied to said means for calculating the elements of said initial steering vector to calculate the value of another complex state vector element ( Delta 3A) according to the following expression: Delta 3A (B - A - n Delta 1l A - a Delta 2A)/b

Claim 34

The interpolation system as recited in claim 8 in which said mapping interpolator is connected to receive the Delta 1A, Delta 2A and 3A complex state vector elements from said preprocessor and is operable to calculate therefrom a succession of corresponding elements by repeatedly executing the following expressions: Delta 1A <- Delta 1A + Delta 2A Delta 2A <- Delta 2A + Delta 3A

Claim 35

The interpolation system as recited in claim 1 in which the input data describes the spacial form to be reproduced with respect to a multi-axis coordinate system and the complex state vector generated by said preprocessor includes a set of elements for each axis; in which said mapping interpolator performs said state transition on each set of complex state vector elements by iteratively and concurrently altering the value of selected elements in each set; and in which said controlled means includes drive means for each axis of the coordinate system and each drive means is connected to said mapping interpolator to receive one of said iteratively altered complex state vector elements to the set to which it corresponds.

Claim 36

The interpolation system as recited in claim 10 in which said preprocessor includes a granularity computer which receives selected input data describing the spacial form to be reproduced and calculates a granularity number, and in which the number of iterations made by said mapping interpolator to perform said state transition is determined by said granularity number.

Claim 37

In an electronic system for controlling motion, a method of electrically reproducing a trajectory which is described with respect to the axes of a coordinate system by an ordered set of digital input data points, the steps comprising:

Claim 38

In an electronic system for controlling motion, a method of electrically reproducing a trajectory which is described with respect to the axes of a coordinate system by an ordered set of digital input data points, the steps comprising:

Claim 39

The method as recited in claim 12 in which the iterative alteration of said selected elements in each of said sets of complex state vector elements is performed independently as a function of time.

Claim 40

The method as recited in claim 12 in which one element in each set of said initial complex state vector elements is calculated in said preprocessor by a forward sweep process comprising the steps of: storing a preselected trial value for said one element in each set; calculating the value of said elements in each set at each of said digital input data points using said stored preselected trial value for said one element in each set, said calculations performing a trial state transition on said sets of elements to sweep them through said ordered set of digital input data points; storing the calculated values of the elements of each set at the last digital input data point on a smooth segment of said trajectory to be reproduced; and calculating an optimal value for said one element in each set of complex state vector elements based on the results of said trial state transition.

Claim 41

The method as recited in claim 14 in which the optimal value of said one element in each set of complex state vector elements is calculated by computing the value of a scaler quantity using one of said stored elements which resulted from the trial state transition, and adding said scaler quantity to the stored preselected trial value of said one element.

Claim 42

The method as recited in claim 15 in which a state transition is also performed on the elements of a dummy vector to sweep them through said ordered set of digital input data points, and a selected one of said resulting dummy vector elements is used to calculate the value of said scaler quantity.

Claim 43

The method as recited in claim 12 in which each set of complex state vector elements (x, Delta 1x, Delta 2x, Delta 3x) has an initial value at a first data point (A, Delta 1A, Delta 2A, Delta 3A) and is altered by said state transition to form a resulting set of complex state vector elements at a second data point (B, Delta 1B, Delta 2B, Delta 3B), and in which the alteration of each set of complex state vector elements during the i+1 iteration of said mapping interpolator is defined by the following expressions, xi 1 xi + Delta 1xi Delta 1xi 1 Delta 1xi + Delta 2xi Delta 2xi 1 Delta 2xi + Delta 3xi Delta 3xi 1 Delta 3xi wherein (xi, Delta 1xi, Delta 2xi, Delta 3xi) is the value of each set of complex state vector elements after i iterations of said mapping interpolator.

Claim 44

The method as recited in claim 17 in which the value of said Delta 3A element in each set at said first data point is calculated in said preprocessor according to the following expression: Delta 3A B-A-n Delta 1A - a Delta 2A)/b wherein a n(n-1)/2 and b n(n-1)(n-2)/6

Claim 45

The method as recited in claim 18 in which either said Delta 1A element or said Delta 2A element in each set of complex state vector elements is an unknown element, and the value is calculated using a forward sweep process which includes the steps of: assigning a trial value to said unknown element; performing a trial state transition on said set of complex state vector elements (A, Delta 1A, Delta 2A, Delta 3A) to generate a resulting trial set of complex state vector elements (B, Delta 1B, Delta 2B, Delta 3B) at said second data point; performing a state transition on a dummy vector with said mapping interpolator; calculating a scaler quantity from selected elements of said resulting trial set of vector elements and said final dummy vector; and adding said scaler quantity to said trial value of said unknown element to produce the optimal value thereof.

Claim 46

The method as recited in claim 19 in which the trial state transition in said forward sweep process is performed according to the following expressions: B A + n Delta 1A + a Delta 2A + b Delta 3A Delta 1B Delta 1A + n Delta 2A + a Delta 3A Delta 2B Delta 2A + n Delta 3A Delta 3B Delta 3A

Claim 47

In a numerical control system having a preprocessor for receiving digital input data and performing arithmetic calculations thereon to generate digital output data, means for storing said preprocessor output data for subsequent use, and a function generator operable to generate analog output signals responsive to said stored preprocessor output data, a method of reproducing a spacial form, the steps comprising: selecting a limited set of data points lying on said spacial form and entering digital data into said preprocessor which describes the spacial form at these data points; calculating a complex state vector in said preprocessor and storing it in said storage means, said calculation being performed by calculating a steering vector from said input data which is based on a prescribed smoothness criteria and calculating an initial state vector which describes the spacial form at one of these selected data points; generating as a function of time in said function generator a steering function from said calculated steering vector; dynamically applying said generated steering function to said calculated initial state vector in said function generator to perform a state transition which generates as a function of time an ordered set of digital output data; and converting the ordered set of digital output data to analog output signals, which signals are employed to reproduce the spacial form.

Claim 48

In a numerical control system having a preprocessor for receiving digital input data and performing arithmetic calculations thereon to generate digital output data, means for storing said preprocessor output data for subsequent use, and a function generator operable to generate analog output signals responsive to said stored preprocessor output data, a method of reproducing a spacial form, the steps comprising: selecting a limited set of data points lying on said spacial form and entering digital data into said preprocessor which describes the spacial form at these data points; calculating a complex state vector in said preprocessor and storing it in said storage means, said calculation being performed by calculating a steering vector from said input data which is based on a prescribed smoothness criteria and calculating an initial state vector which describes the spacial form at one of these selected data points; generating as a function of time in said function generator a steering function from said calculated steering vector; dynamically applying said generated steering function to said calculated initial state vector in said function generator to perform a state transition which generates as a function of time an ordered set of digital output data; and converting the ordered set of digital output data to analog output signals, which signals are employed to reproduce the spacial form.

Claim 49

The method as recited in claim 21 in which said steering function is generated concurrently with its dynamic application to said state vector in a digital differential analyzer.

Claim 50

A method as recited in claim 22 in which said preselected smoothness criteria is a minimum energy smoothness criteria and said state transition is a lInear transformation of said initial state vector to a final state vector which describes the spacial form at another of said selected data points.

Claim 51

In a numerical control system having means for storing digital input data comprising a surface state vector having a plurality of elements, a mapping interpolator for receiving selected elements of said surface state vector and iteratively altering their value, and interpolation control means for applying selected elements of said surface state vector to said mapping interpolator and for controlling the iteration of said mapping interpolator, a method of generating a surface patch from a stored surface state vector, the steps comprising:

Claim 52

In a numerical control system having means for storing digital input data comprising a surface state vector having a plurality of elements, a mapping interpolator for receiving selected elements of said surface state vector and iteratively altering their value, and interpolation control means for applying selected elements of said surface state vector to said mapping interpolator and for controlling the iteration of said mapping interpolator, a method of generating a surface patch from a stored surface state vector, the steps comprising:

Claim 53

The method as recited in claim 24 in which said mapping interpolator is iterated once when each of said groups of elements is applied thereto, and each trajectory is generated from a complex state vector by iterating said mapping interpolator a plurality of times.

Claim 54

The method as recited in claim 25 in which said surface state vector defines a three-dimensional surface with respect to three orthogonal axes and it contains forty-eight elements, sixteen of which are associated exclusively with each of the three axes, wherein said complex state vector is formed by selecting twelve of said surface state vector elements, four of which are associated with each of said axes, and wherein each of said groups includes four elements, one of which is also in said complex state vector.

Claim 55

In the numerical control system as recited in claim 24 which includes a preprocessor having means for receiving and storing digital input data which describes a surface, means for performing arithmetic calculations on said stored digital input data for generating said digital data comprising said surface state vector, a method of generating said surface state vector which concisely defines a surface which is described by a grid of digital data points, the steps comprising: storing said digital data points which describe the surface in a preselected order in said preprocessor storage means; calculating the elements of a first complex state vector from selected digital data points lying on one boundary of the surface, said first complex state vector including a plurality of elements which define a boundary trajectory passing through said selected digital data points; calculating the elements of a second complex state vector from selected digital data points lying on an opposing boundary of the surface, said second complex state vector including a plurality of elements which define an opposing boundary trajectory passing through said second selected digital data points; calculating a set of three surface state vector elements from each pair of corresponding elements in said calculated first and second complex state vectors; and combining said calculated surface state vector elements with the calculated elements of one of said complex state vectors to form a surface state vector.

Claim 56

In the numerical control as recited in claim 27 the method further including calculating the elements of a third complex state vector from selected digital data points lying between the boundaRies of the surface, said third complex state vector including a plurality of elements which define a trajectory passing through said third selected digital data points, and in which each of said sets of three surface state vector elements are calculated from corresponding elements in said first, second and third complex state vectors.

Claim 57

In the numerical control system as recited in claim 28 the method further including calculating the value of one of said elements in each of said sets of three surface state vector elements using a forward sweep process.

Claim 58

In the numerical control system as recited in claim 28 the method further including calculating the value of one unknown surface state vector element in each of said sets of three calculated surface state vector elements using a forward sweep process which includes the steps of: storing a selected trial value for said one unknown element, combining said trial value with the remaining two calculated surface state vector elements and one element of said first complex state vector; performing a trial state transition on said combined elements to generate three resulting surface state vector elements and the element of said second complex state vector which corresponds to said one element of said first complex state vector; and calculating an optimal value for said one unknown surface state vector using the value of one of said surface state vector elements which resulted from said trial state transition.

Claim 59

A numerical control system for a machine tool, the combination comprising: data input means operable to receive an ordered set of digital data which includes the coordinate values of data points lying on a spacial form to be machined; a preprocessor connected to said data input means to receive said digital data and in response thereto generate and store the elements of a complex state vector which concisely defines a smooth cut to be made through a set of data points on said spacial form; a mapping interpolator coupled to said preprocessor to receive said stored complex state vector elements, and in response thereto, iteratively generate a sequence of position command signals at an output terminal; and a servo mechanism connected to said mapping interpolator output terminal and connected to drive a movable member on the machine tool in response to said position command signals.

Claim 60

A numerical control system for a machine tool, the combination comprising: data input means operable to receive an ordered set of digital data which includes the coordinate values of data points lying on a spacial form to be machined; a preprocessor connected to said data input means to receive said digital data and in response thereto generate and store the elements of a complex state vector which concisely defines a smooth cut to be made through a set of data points on said spacial form; a mapping interpolator coupled to said preprocessor to receive said stored complex state vector elements, and in response thereto, iteratively generate a sequence of position command signals at an output terminal; and a servo mechanism connected to said mapping interpolator output terminal and connected to drive a movable member on the machine tool in response to said position command signals.

Claim 61

The numerical control system as recited in claim 31 in which said mapping interpolator is comprised of a plurality of sections, one section for each axis of motion of said machine tool, and selected sets of elements of the complex state vector generated by said preprocessor are applied to each of said mapping interpolator sections, and in which there are a plurality of servomechanisms, one connected to each of said mapping interpolator sections.

Claim 62

The numerical control system as recited in claim 32 in which said preprocessor includes a granularity computer connected to receive digital input data and in response thereto calculate a granularity number, and in which said mapping interpolator is a digital differential analyzer which iteratively generates said position command signal and in which the number of iterations are determined by said granularity number

Claim 63

The numerical control system as recited in claim 33 in which each section of said mapping interpolator is comprised of an adjoint interpolator having an output terminal and an input terminal connected to receive selected complex state vector elements from said preprocessor, and a dynamic interpolator having a first input terminal connected to receive selected complex state vector elements from said preprocessor, a second input terminal connected to said adjoint interpolator output terminal, and an output terminal connected to one of said servomechanisms.

Claim 64

The numerical control system as recited in claim 33 in which said preprocessor includes addressable storage means and said preprocessor operates to generate the elements of a Plurality of complex state vectors, to calculate a plurality of associated granularity numbers, and to store said complex state vector elements and associated granularity numbers in said addressable storage means, wherein said stored complex state vector elements and associated granularity numbers are generated in sequence to said mapping interpolator.

Claim 65

The numerical control system as recited in claim 1 which includes a feedrate computer connected to said mapping interpolator and connected to said data input means to receive a feedrate number, wherein said feedrate computer is operable to control the rate at which said mapping interpolator generates position command signals.

Claim 66

The numerical control system as recited in claim 31 in which said preprocessor calculates the elements of a plurality of complex state vectors, and in which there is an interpolation control coupled to said preprocessor and connected to said mapping interpolator, which operates to sequentially apply the elements of said complex state vectors to said mapping interpolator.

Claim 67

The numerical control system as recited in claim 37 in which said preprocessor includes: output means for coupling said complex state vector elements to said mapping interpolator; memory means which stores the elements of said complex state vectors and which is responsive to an address to read out one of said stored complex state vectors at said preprocessor output means; and a memory address generator coupled to said memory means and said interpolation control.

Claim 68

An interpolation system for controlling the motion of a movable member to drive it through a set of points lying on a path, the combination comprising: preprocessor means connected to receive input data which includes the coordinate values of said set of points lying on the path and being operable in response thereto to calculate the elements of initial complex state vectors which concisely define smooth trajectories that connect said set of points; a digital computer having a random access memory, input means, output means, and control means; means coupling the initial complex state vector elements calculated by said preprocessor with the input means on said digital computer; said digital computer being responsive to a program stored in said random access memory to dedicate said digital computer as a numerical control processor which stores elements of selected initial complex state vectors coupled to its input in said random access memory, calculates a sequence of digital command signals, and couples the command signals through said output means to control the motion of said movable member, said stored program including: a mapping interpolator routine which operates on a selected complex state vector to arithmetically alter selected elements thereof, an interpolation control routine which initiates execution of the mapping interpolator routine and controls the number of times the mapping interpolator routine is executed for each selected complex state vector; and a linear interpolator routine which is periodically executed to generate a sequence of position command signals to said computer output means, each of which command signals is responsive to the value of one of said altered elements of said selected complex state vector.

Claim 69

An interpolation system for controlling the motion of a movable member to drive it through a set of points lying on a path, the combination comprising: preprocessor means connected to receive input data which includes the coordinate values of said set of points lying on the path and being operable in response thereto to calculate the elements of initial complex state vectors which concisely define smooth trajectories that connect said set of points; a digital computer having a random access memory, input means, output means, and control means; means coupling the initial complex state vector elements calculated by said preprocessor with the input means on said digital computer; said digital computer being responsive to a program stored in said random access memory to dedicate said digital computer as a numerical control processor which stores elements of selected initial complex state vectors coupled to its input in said random access memory, calculates a sequence of digital command signals, and couples the command signals through said output means to control the motion of said movable member, said stored program including: a mapping interpolator routine which operates on a selected complex state vector to arithmetically alter selected elements thereof, an interpolation control routine which initiates execution of the mapping interpolator routine and controls the number of times the mapping interpolator routine is executed for each selected complex state vector; and a linear interpolator routine which is periodically executed to generate a sequence of position command signals to said computer output means, each of which command signals is responsive to the value of one of said altered elements of said selected complex state vector.

Claim 70

The system as recited in claim 39 in which granularity numbers are calculated by said preprocessor and stored in said random access memory with said complex state vectors, and said interpolation control routine is responsive to each received granularity number to initiate execution of said mapping interpolator routine a corresponding number of times.

Claim 71

The system as recited in claim 39 in which said selected complex state vector elements are stored in said random access memory at addresses (x, Delta 1x, Delta 2x, Delta 3x, y, Delta 1y, Delta 2y, Delta 3y), said selected elements which are altered by said mapping interpolator routine are aT addresses (x, Delta 1x, Delta 2x, y, Delta 1y, Delta 2y), and said other selected elements which alter said selected elements are at the respective addresses ( Delta 1x, Delta 2x, Delta 3x, Delta 1y, Delta 2y, Delta 3y).

Claim 72

The system as recited in claim 39 in which a feedrate number is applied to said input means and stored in said random access memory, and said stored program includes a feedrate computer routine operable when executed to calculate a pair of sample numbers responsive to the value of said feedrate number and the values of said complex state vector elements stored at Delta 1x and Delta 1y, and in which said linear interpolator routine operates to store the value of each of said complex state vector elements at Delta 1x and Delta 1y at random access memory addresses Delta 1xx and Delta 1yy, to generate a pair of position command signals to said output means which are each responsive to the value of one of said sample numbers, and to diminish the value of each of said complex state vector elements at Delta 1xx and Delta 1yy by the value of one of said sample numbers, wherein when the value of one of said complex state vector elements at Delta 1xx and Delta 1yy is diminished to zero, said interpolation control routine causes said mapping interpolator routine to be executed and to thereby generate new values for the complex state vector elements at Delta 1x and Delta 1y.

Claim 73

An interpolation system for controlling the motion of the x, y and z axis servo mechanisms of a machine tool to reproduce a three-dimensional surface, the combination comprising: storage means; input means for entering an interpolation constant and the coordinate values of an ordered set of points on the surface into said storage means; preprocessor means connected to receive the coordinate values and interpolation constant from said storage means, said preprocessor means being operable to generate a 48-element surface state vector which includes sixteen x axis elements, sixteen y axis elements and sixteen z axis elements that concisely define a three-dimensional surface patch which smoothly connects four or more points on the surface; and a numerical control processor coupled to receive the elements of a surface state vector and in response thereto generate a sequence of digital command signals to each of the x, y and z axis servo mechanisms on said machine tool to produce a three-dimensional surface patch by reproducing a series of closely spaced smooth trajectories which lie on said three-dimensional surface.

Claim 74

An interpolation system for controlling the motion of the x, y and z axis servo mechanisms of a machine tool to reproduce a three-dimensional surface, the combination comprising: storage means; input means for entering an interpolation constant and the coordinate values of an ordered set of points on the surface into said storage means; preprocessor means connected to receive the coordinate values and interpolation constant from said storage means, said preprocessor means being operable to generate a 48-element surface state vector which includes sixteen x axis elements, sixteen y axis elements and sixteen z axis elements that concisely define a three-dimensional surface patch which smoothly connects four or more points on the surface; and a numerical control processor coupled to receive the elements of a surface state vector and in response thereto generate a sequence of digital command signals to each of the x, y and z axis servo mechanisms on said machine tool to produce a three-dimensional surface patch by reproducing a series of closely spaced smooth trajectories which lie on said three-dimensional surface.

Claim 75

The interpolation system as recited in claim 43 in which said numerical control processor includes a mapping interpolator and an interpolation control which operates sequentially to select twelve elements from said surface state vector to form an inital complex state vector which defines one of said smooth trajectories on said three-dimensional surface, to apply said complex state vector elements to said mapping interpolator, to iterate said mapping interpolator a plurality of times to reproduce said one smooth trajectory, and to divide the elements of said surface state vector into groups, sequentially apply each group to said mapping interpolator, and iterate said mapping interpolator once for each group to generate an altered 48-element surface state vector which includes an altered initial complex state vector.

Claim 76

The interpolation system as recited in claim 44 in which said mapping interpolator is a digital differential analyzer which alters selected elements of said complex state vector with other selected elements of said complex state vector during each iteration, and said digital command signals for each axis of motion are derived from one of said altered complex state vector elements.

Claim 77

The interpolation system as recited in claim 45 in which said numerical control processor includes a linear interpolator which for each axis of motion receives said one altered complex state vector element from said mapping interpolator after each iteration thereof and said linear interpolator generates at a preselected rate a plurality of sample numbers from which said digital command signals are derived.

Claim 78

The interpolation system as recited in claim 46 in which said numerical control processor includes a feedrate computer which is responsive to both a preselected feedrate number and a plurality of said altered complex state vector elements to calculate the value of a sample number for each axis of motion and apply said sample numbers to said linear interpolator.

Claim 79

The interpolation system as recited in claim 45 in which said digitizing means, processor means and storage means are remote from said numerical control processor and said numerical control processor includes receiver means which is operable to fetch the elements of said surface state vector in said storage means.

Claim 80

The interpolation system as recited in claim 43 in which said preprocessor includes a granularity computer which calculates the square root of the sum of the squares of the differences in x, y and z coordinate values of a pair of successive points on the three-dimensional surface and divides the result by said interpolation constant.

Claim 81

The interpolation system as recited in claim 49 in which the surface state vector generated by said preprocessor defines a three-dimensional surface patch which connects the ordered set of data points with a set of closely spaced minimum energy trajectories.

Claim 82

In a numerical control processor which includes: means storing a 48-element surface state vector which defines a three-dimensional surface, a trajectory direction granularity number and a cross section direction granularity number; linear transformation means for finitely altering the value of one or more vector elements coupled to its input when iterated; interpolation control means for coupling selected surface state vector elements in said storage means to said linear transformation means and for controlling the iteration of said linear transformation means; and output means for generating digital motion command signals to each of three digital-to-analog converters on a controlled device in response to the value of surface state vector elements coupled to its input, a method of reproducing said defined three-dimensional surface from said surface state vector the steps comprising:

Claim 83

In a numerical control processor which includes: means storing a 48-element surface state vector which defines a three-dimensional surface, a trajectory direction granularity number and a cross section direction granularity number; linear transformation means for finitely altering the value of one or more vector elements coupled to its input when iterated; interpolation control means for coupling selected surface state vector elements in said storage means to said linear transformation means and for controlling the iteration of said linear transformation means; and output means for generating digital motion command signals to each of three digital-to-analog converters on a controlled device in response to the value of surface state vector elements coupled to its input, a method of reproducing said defined three-dimensional surface from said surface state vector the steps comprising:

Claim 84

In the numerical control process as recited in claim 51 in which Each of said groups of surface state vector elements includes one of said complex state vector elements.

Claim 85

In the numerical control process as recited in claim 51 in which said output means includes a linear interpolator which generates as a function of time a series of digital motion command signals to each of said digital-to-anlog converters in response to each of said sets of three altered complex state vector elements coupled to the input of said output means, and wherein said linear transformation of said complex state vector in the trajectory direction by said linear transformation means is inhibited after each iteration until the linear interpolator has generated said series of digital motion command signals.

Claim 86

A machine for reproducing a spacial form which is described by an ordered set of digital input data, the combination comprising: means for calculating data representative of a concise definition of the spacial form including means for calculating the elements of an ordered set of complex state vectors from said digital input data and a selected linear transformation matrix; means for generating output data as a function of time from said calculated data representative of a concise definition of the spacial form, including means for iteratively applying each of said complex state vectors to said selected linear transformation matrix to perform a linear transformation thereon which generates output data; and means coupled to said last named means for employing said output data to reproduce said spacial form.

Claim 87

A machine for reproducing a spacial form which is described by an ordered set of digital input data, the combination comprising: means for calculating data representative of a concise definition of the spacial form including means for calculating the elements of an ordered set of complex state vectors from said digital input data and a selected linear transformation matrix; means for generating output data as a function of time from said calculated data representative of a concise definition of the spacial form, including means for iteratively applying each of said complex state vectors to said selected linear transformation matrix to perform a linear transformation thereon which generates output data; and means coupled to said last named means for employing said output data to reproduce said spacial form.

Claim 88

The machine as recited in claim 54 in which said means for calculating data representative of a concise definition of the spacial form includes means for calculating an ordered set of granularity numbers which are associated with said set of complex state vectors and wherein said means for iteratively applying each of said complex state vectors to said selected linear transformation matrix is responsive to the granularity number associated with the complex state vector being linearly transformed.