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.

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.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predefining at least one support structure for at least one three-dimensional object for printing thereof using a three-dimensional printing system are disclosed. Default support structures are replaced by improved support structures or not depending on the result of an assessment, based on predefined rules of the body region in the slice that needs support.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating a time duration and an amount of material consumption required for printing a tray of one or more three-dimensional objects using a three-dimensional printing system are disclosed.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the shape of a gemstone, including irregularities on its surface, is provided, The apparatus comprises a platform adapted to support the gemstone, a scanning system adapted to provide geometrical information concerning the three-dimensional convex envelope of the gemstone, an illumination system adapted to project on the gemstone a plurality of laser beams, an imaging system adapted to capture reflections of at least a part of said laser beams from the surface of the gemstone, and a processor. The processor is adapted to calculate, based on said geometrical information, a predicted reflection of each laser beam, to compare the captured reflections with said predicted reflections and to relate each captured reflection to its corresponding predicted reflection, to determine said shape of the gemstone based on the comparison and said geometrical information.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the shape of a gemstone, including irregularities on its surface, is provided, The apparatus comprises a platform adapted to support the gemstone, a scanning system adapted to provide geometrical information concerning the three-dimensional convex envelope of the gemstone, an illumination system adapted to project on the gemstone a plurality of laser beams, an imaging system adapted to capture reflections of at least a part of said laser beams from the surface of the gemstone, and a processor. The processor is adapted to calculate, based on said geometrical information, a predicted reflection of each laser beam, to compare the captured reflections with said predicted reflections and to relate each captured reflection to its corresponding predicted reflection, to determine said shape of the gemstone based on the comparison and said geometrical information.

Abstract: A method for automatically optically inspecting an electrical circuit, comprising: acquiring at least one optical image of an electrical circuit; generating at least one first inspection image from the at least one image and determining regions of candidate defects therefrom; generating at least one additional inspection image for regions surrounding candidate defects, said at least one additional inspection image at least partially including optical information not included in the at least one first inspection image; and determining whether the candidate defect is a specious defect by inspecting the at least one additional inspection image.

Abstract: A method for automatically optically inspecting an electrical circuit (12), comprising: acquiring at least one optical image of an electrical circuit (12); generating at least one first inspection image from the at least one image and determining regions of candidate defects (236) therefrom; generating at least one additional inspection image for regions surrounding candidate defects (236), said at least one additional inspection image at least partially including optical information not included in the at least one first inspection image; and determining whether the candidate defect (236) is a specious defect by inspecting the at least one additional inspection image.

Abstract: A pixel color in an image can be represented by a dot color in a dot pattern as follows. A subset of a limited set of display colors is selected. The subset has N display colors that can render a solid color patch of the pixel color. The colors of the subset correspond to vertices of a simplex in the color space. The simplex has (N−1) dimensions. A point operation is then performed to select one of the vertices of the simplex and thereby select the dot color of the subset color corresponding to the selected vertex. Consequently, a solid patch of the pixel color can be rendered by a dot pattern having no more than N different colors. The dot pattern can be displayed by an imaging device such as an inkjet printer, which has a limited set of display colors.

Abstract: Current methodologies for color image halftoning produce prominent halftoning noise. Brightness variations between color dots placed at neighboring locations are a primary cause of color halftone noise. To correct this flaw, an Ink Relocation Postprocess to halftoning algorithms relocates ink drops between neighboring drop locations in order to reduce local brightness variations. Due to the intrinsic blurring side-effect of ink relocation, some enhancement may be desired. Two application-specific enhancement procedures are presented. In the first enhancement, ink relocation is suppressed in areas of fine detail. In the second enhancement, edge sharpening is performed after ink relocation.

Abstract: Error diffusion algorithms such as the celebrated Floyd Steinberg error-diffusion algorithm are high-performance halftoning methods in which quantization errors are diffused to "future" pixels. Originally intended for grayscale images, they are traditionally extended to color images by error-diffusing each of the three color planes independently (separable error-diffusion). Adding a design rule which is based on certain characteristics of human color perception to the error-diffusion paradigm results in a color halftoning algorithm having output of considerably higher quality when compared to separable error-diffusion. These benefits are achieved by adding the Minimum Brightness Variation Criterion (MBVC) to the design rules of color error-diffusion halftoning methods. Halftone values are constrained to be vertices of a Minimum Brightness Variation Quadruple (MBVQ) associated with each pixel of the color image being processed.