Method, medium and apparatus for producing three dimensional figure product

Claim 2

A three-dimensional pattern generator comprising: a. a volume of material capable of existing in discernibly different conditions and capable of undergoing a change in properties in response to energy level changes within said volume allowing said material to effect separation corresponding to said discernibly different conditions, b. directional means for generating within said volume said changes in energy level, and c. control means cooperatively associated with said volume of material and said directional means for distributing said changes in energy level within said volume in selected locations.

Claim 3

A pattern generator as defined in claim 1, further comprising: means for receiving input data specifying the coordinate positions of a plurality of points and computing therefrom control signals, said directional means being responsive to said control signals to cause said changes in energy levels to cooperate within said volume of material at selected locations therein corresponding to the coordinate positions of said plurality of points.

Claim 4

A pattern generator as recited in claim 1 wherein said discernibly different conditions are differentially responsive to selected solvent action.

Claim 5

A three-dimensional pattern generator comprising: a. a volume of material which is capable of undergoing a change in properties so as to exhibit at least two discernibly different conditions allowing said material to effect separation corresponding to said conditions, and wherein said material is responsive to radiation having at least two distinct radiation states to produce said change in properties, b. radiation means for generating at least two radiations having respective ones of said radiation states, and c. means for directing the radiations from said radiation means into said volume of material such that said material is caused to undergo a change in properties corresponding to said two discernibly different conditions under the cooperative effect of said two radiations in selected locations.

Claim 6

A three-dimensional pattern generator comprising: a. a volume of material which is capable of undergoing a change in properties so as to exhibit at least two discernibly different conditions allowing said material to effect separation corresponding to said conditions, and wherein said material is responsive to radiation having at least two distinct radiation states to produce said change in properties, b. radiation means for generating at least two radiations having respective ones of said radiation states, and c. means for directing the radiations from said radiation means into said volume of material such that said material is caused to undergo a change in properties corresponding to said two discernibly different conditions under the cooperative effect of said two radiations in selected locations.

Claim 7

A pattern generator as defined in claim 4, further comprising: means for receiving input data specifying the coordinate positions of a plurality of points and computing therefrom direction control signals, said directing means being responsive to said direction signals to direct said two radiations from said radiation means within said volume of material to cooperate at selected locations corresponding to the coordinate positions of said plurality of points.

Claim 8

A three-dimensional pattern generator according to claim 5 wherein said pattern generation means includes means to form and direct a beam of radiation within said first wave-length range to said preselected location within said volume of material.

Claim 9

A pattern generator as defined in claim 4 wherein said two radiations are two rays of a single radiation beam and said two distinct radiation states are two different propagation vectors of the two respective rays.

Claim 10

A pattern generator as defined in claim 4 wherein said two distinct radiation states are two different wavelengths in the light spectrum.

Claim 11

A pattern generator as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of said radiations comprises visible light radiation.

Claim 12

A pattern generator as defined in claim 4 wherein said direction control signals are deflection signals, and wherein said directing means comprises radiation deflection means.

Claim 13

A pattern generator as recited in claim 10 wherein said deflection means comprises Galvanometer-mirror deflectors.

Claim 14

A pattern generator as recited in claim 4 wherein said material includes a first reactive system responsive to a first radiation state such that the reaction product of this first reactive system comprises the in-situ generated second reactive system said second reactive system being responsive to said second radiation state, said first and second reactive systems and said first and second radiation reactions interacting to produce said change in properties.

Claim 15

A pattern generator as recited in claim 4 wherein said material is compounded with a first reactive system, said first reactive system comprising a chemical component responsive to said first radiation state such that there is produced by said response said second reactive system, said second reactive system comprising a second chemical component responsive to said second radiation state, said first and second chemical components and said first and second radiation state reactions interacting to produce said change in properties.

Claim 16

A pattern generator as recited in claim 4, in which the properties of the first and second radiation states and the reactive systems are such as to require the operation of said radiation states in a specific sequence in a given portion of the volume of the medium to produce activation and the desired distribution of conditions.

Claim 17

A pattern generator as recited in claim 4 wherein said radiation means comprises coherent light source means.

Claim 18

A pattern generator as recited in claim 15 wherein said radiation means comprises at least one laser that generates said at least two radiations.

Claim 19

A pattern generator as recited in claim 15 wherein said radiation means comprises two lasers each generating a respective one of said at least two radiations.

Claim 20

A pattern generator as defined in claim 4 wherein said radiation means comprises a thermal light source.

Claim 21

A pattern generator as defined in claim 4 wherein said radiation means comprises a plurality of radiation sources spaced along said volume, and wherein said directing means comprises switch means for selectively turning on and off said sources.

Claim 22

A pattern generator according to claim 4 wherein the pattern generation menas additionally includes means for scanning said radiation of first and second wavelength ranges throughout the volume of material to form a succession of discernible spots.

Claim 23

A pattern generator as recited in claim 4 wherein said discernibly different conditions are differentially responsive to selected solvent action.

Claim 26

A pattern generating method as recited in claim 22 further including the step of effecting separation by differential response to selected solvent action.

Claim 29

A pattern generating method as recited in claim 24 further including the step of effecting separation by differential response to selected solvent action.

Claim 30

A three-dimensional pattern generator comprising: a. a medium which is capable of undergoing a change in properties in response to energy level changes within said medium; b. means for generating within said volume said changes in energy levels; and c. means for receiving input data specifying the coordinate positions of a plurality of points of a three-dimensional pattern and for providing control signals from said data, said generating means being responsive to said control signals to cause said changes in energy levels to cooperate within said medium to produce therein a pattern allowing said medium to effect separation at said plurality of points.

Claim 31

A three-dimensional pattern generator comprising: a. a medium which is capable of undergoing a change in properties in response to energy level changes within said medium; b. means for generating within said volume said changes in energy levels; and c. means for receiving input data specifying the coordinate positions of a plurality of points of a three-dimensional pattern and for providing control signals from said data, said generating means being responsive to said control signals to cause said changes in energy levels to cooperate within said medium to produce therein a pattern allowing said medium to effect separation at said plurality of points.

Claim 32

A three-dimensional pattern generator as defined in claim 26 wherein: a. said change in properties causes said medium to exhibit at least two discernibly different conditions and wherein said medium is responsive to radiation having at least two distinct radiation states to produce said change in properties; and b. said generating means comprises: 1. radiation means for generating at least two radiations having respective ones of said radiation states; and 2. means for directing the radiations from said radiation means into said medium wherein said medium is caused to pass between said two discernibly different conditions under the cooperative effect of said two radiations; and c. said directing means is responsive to said control signals to direct said two radiations from said radiation means into said medium to cooperate therein and produce therein said pattern of discernibly different conditions, said pattern of discernible conditions representing a three-dimensional array of said plurality of points.

Claim 33

A pattern generator as recited in claim 26 wherein said discernibly different conditions are differentially responsive to selected solvent action.

Claim 36

A method as defined in claim 29 wherein said generating step further comprises: a. generating first and second radiations having at least two different radiation states; and b. directing said radiations onto said medium so that they cooperate therein to produce said pattern.

Claim 37

A pattern generating method as recited in claim 29 further including the step of effecting separation by differential response to selected solvent action.

Claim 38

A three-dimensional pattern generator comprising: a. a volume of material capable of existing in discernibly different conditions and capable of undergoing a change in properties in response to energy level changes within said volume allowing said discernibly different conditions to be rendered permanent, b. directional means for generating within said volume said changes in energy level, and c. control means cooperatively associated with said volume of material and said directional means for distributing said changes in energy level within said volume in selected locations.

Claim 39

A three-dimensional pattern generator comprising: a. a volume of material capable of existing in discernibly different conditions and capable of undergoing a change in properties in response to energy level changes within said volume allowing said discernibly different conditions to be rendered permanent, b. directional means for generating within said volume said changes in energy level, and c. control means cooperatively associated with said volume of material and said directional means for distributing said changes in energy level within said volume in selected locations.

Claim 40

A pattern generator as recited in claim 32 wherein said discernibly different conditions are differentially responsive to selected solvent action.

Claim 41

A three-dimensional non-radiation emissive pattern generator comprising: a. a volume of material which is capable of undergoing a permanent change in properties so as to exhibit at least two discernibly different conditions allowing said conditions to be rendered permanent, and wherein said material is responsive to radiation having at least two distinct radiation states to produce said change in properties, b. radiation means for generating at least two radiations having respective ones of said radiation states, and c. means for directing the radiations from said radiation means into said volume of material wherein said material is caused to pass between said two discernibly different conditions under the cooperative effect of said two radiations in selected locations.

Claim 42

A three-dimensional non-radiation emissive pattern generator comprising: a. a volume of material which is capable of undergoing a permanent change in properties so as to exhibit at least two discernibly different conditions allowing said conditions to be rendered permanent, and wherein said material is responsive to radiation having at least two distinct radiation states to produce said change in properties, b. radiation means for generating at least two radiations having respective ones of said radiation states, and c. means for directing the radiations from said radiation means into said volume of material wherein said material is caused to pass between said two discernibly different conditions under the cooperative effect of said two radiations in selected locations.

Claim 43

A pattern generator as recited in claim 34 wherein said discernibly different conditions are differentially responsive to selected solvent action.

Claim 46

A pattern generating method as recited in claim 36 wherein said discernibly different conditions are differentially responsive to selected solvent action.

Claim 49

A pattern generating method as recited in claim 38, wherein said discernibly different conditions are differentially responsive to selected solvent action.