Patents by Inventor James C. Culp
James C. Culp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240066628Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. Systems may include a laser, an optical component, a fixture for holding a dental appliance, and a controller. A cut path for trimming excess material from the dental appliance may be derived from a virtual cut path in a virtual version of the dental appliance. The excess material may be trimmed from the dental appliance along the cut path with the laser while adjusting a laser energy applied to the dental appliance to reduce a brittleness at an edge of the cut path. Adjusting the applied laser energy may include adjusting one or more of: a power of the laser, an optical component of the laser to adjust a focal length of the laser, and a relative orientation of the laser with respect to the dental appliance in at least three axes of movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventor: James C. CULP
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Patent number: 11911929Abstract: Systems for thermal forming an object are provided. In some embodiments, a system for thermal forming an object using a mold includes one or more processors, and memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform the following operations: receiving a mold identifier identifying the mold; determining mold process information for forming the object based on the mold identifier; inserting a material into a heating area, the material having a geometry selected based on the mold process information; heating the material using one or more independently controllable heat sources; and forming the object by disposing the heated material over or into at least a portion of the mold.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Yevgeniy Sirovskiy, James C. Culp
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Patent number: 11850680Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify a cut path for trimming excess material from a dental appliance, determine adjustment instructions for adjusting a focal length of the laser to cut along the cut path, and trim the excess material from the dental appliance along the cut path with the laser. The focal length is adjusted by adjusting at least one of: the laser, the optical component, and the fixture, and while moving the fixture at a constant speed relative to the laser to avoid increasing a brittleness of a polymer material of the dental appliance along the cut path.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventor: James C. Culp
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Publication number: 20230219260Abstract: Methods for manufacturing thermoformed objects are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes controlling a material transport system to move a material to a first location proximate to one or more heat sources. The method can include controlling the one or more heat sources to heat a first region of the material to a first temperature and heat a second region of the material to a second temperature. The method can also include controlling the material transport system to move the material to a second location proximate to an object forming element, and controlling the object forming element to form a dental appliance from the material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventors: Yevgeniy Sirovskiy, James C. Culp
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Publication number: 20230129002Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventor: James C. CULP
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Patent number: 11633877Abstract: A method and system for thermal forming an object. A mold is provided, a shape of which corresponds to a desired shape of the object. A material is inserted into a heating area, and the material is heated using a plurality of independently controllable heat sources that heat different areas of the material. The heated material is then disposed over or into at least a portion of the mold so as to deform the material. The deformed material may then be trimmed so as to form the object.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Yevgeniy Sirovskiy, James C. Culp
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Publication number: 20230122748Abstract: Systems for thermal forming an object are provided. In some embodiments, a system for thermal forming an object using a mold includes one or more processors, and memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform the following operations: receiving a mold identifier identifying the mold; determining mold process information for forming the object based on the mold identifier; inserting a material into a heating area, the material having a geometry selected based on the mold process information; heating the material using one or more independently controllable heat sources; and forming the object by disposing the heated material over or into at least a portion of the mold.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Yevgeniy Sirovskiy, James C. Culp
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Patent number: 11623368Abstract: Methods for thermal forming an object are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes reading a mold identifier located on or in a mold, and determining mold process information from the mold identifier, the mold process information including heating information. The method can include heating a thermoformable material according to the heating information by adjusting power of one or more independently controllable heat sources. The method can also include monitoring one or more temperatures from a plurality of temperature sensing elements operably coupled to different areas of the thermoformable material. The thermoformable material can be heated according to the heating information and in response to the one or more monitored temperatures such that each of the different areas of the thermoformable material reach a respective desired temperature. The method can further include disposing the heated thermoformable material over at least a portion of the mold to form the object.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Yevgeniy Sirovskiy, James C. Culp
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Patent number: 11565441Abstract: A method and system for thermal forming an object. A mold is provided, a shape of which corresponds to a desired shape of the object. A material is inserted into a heating area, and the material is heated using a plurality of independently controllable heat sources that heat different areas of the material. The heated material is then disposed over or into at least a portion of the mold so as to deform the material. The deformed material may then be trimmed so as to form the object.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Yevgeniy Sirovskiy, James C. Culp
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Patent number: 11534861Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventor: James C. Culp
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Patent number: 11383322Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2021Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventor: James C. Culp
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Patent number: 11241758Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventor: James C. Culp
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Publication number: 20210170522Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: June 10, 2021Inventor: James C. CULP
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Publication number: 20210154766Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventor: James C. CULP
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Publication number: 20210001514Abstract: A method and system for thermal forming an object. A mold is provided, a shape of which corresponds to a desired shape of the object. A material is inserted into a heating area, and the material is heated using a plurality of independently controllable heat sources that heat different areas of the material. The heated material is then disposed over or into at least a portion of the mold so as to deform the material. The deformed material may then be trimmed so as to form the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Yevgeniy SIROVSKIY, James C. CULP
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Patent number: 10828719Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventor: James C. Culp
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Publication number: 20200338666Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2020Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventor: James C. CULP
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Patent number: 10773337Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventor: James C. Culp
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Publication number: 20200114546Abstract: A method and system for thermal forming an object. A mold is provided, a shape of which corresponds to a desired shape of the object. A material is inserted into a heating area, and the material is heated using a plurality of independently controllable heat sources that heat different areas of the material. The heated material is then disposed over or into at least a portion of the mold so as to deform the material. The deformed material may then be trimmed so as to form the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Yevgeniy Sirovskiy, James C. Culp
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Publication number: 20190337091Abstract: Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser generating component, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a control mechanism for adjusting at least one of the laser generating component, the optical component, and the fixture such that a ratio of a laser energy applied to the part and a part material thickness is maintained within a predetermined acceptable range at each point along a cut path to cut through the part while maintaining the integrity of the support. Other systems and methods are disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventor: James C. CULP