HI-RESOLUTION THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING APPARATUS FOR TOPOGRAPHIC AND 3D MODELS

摘要

The present invention is directed to an automated system that includes a hi-resolution three-dimensional imaging apparatus that is electronically coupled whith a computer (Fig. 1). The system incorporates algorithms for converting the contours found in natural terrain (Fig. 7) into a series of adjacent and parallel coloring-agent imaging paths or swaths (Fig. 10) and applying color indicia onto the model surface. The swaths are defined in simplified 2-axis surface contour-following printer-head movements by the system's CPU, printer driver software and circuitry and seamlessly rendered next to one another.