Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090033098 | Controlling power extraction for wind power generation - A power generation system is disclosed. The power generation system comprises a kite connected to a line. The line is alternatively let out during a traction phase and recovered during a recovery phase. A power extractor connected to the line to extract power during the traction phase. And, a power extraction controller configured to target a preferred traction phase line velocity and a preferred recovery phase line velocity. | 02-05-2009 |
20090072092 | Bimodal kite system - A kite is disclosed. The kite comprises a first control element coupled to the kite in a first tether-force configuration, wherein the first control element is used to maintain controlled flight of the kite in the first tether-force configuration during a power generating phase. The kite further comprises a second control element coupled to the kite in a second tether-force configuration, wherein the second control element is used to maintain controlled flight of the kite in the second tether-force configuration during a recovery phase, and wherein during the recovery phase a tether force associated with the second tether-force configuration is reduced as compared to the tether force associated with the first tether-force configuration during the power generating phase | 03-19-2009 |
20090289148 | Faired tether for wind power generation systems - A tether for a kite wind power system is disclosed. The tether has a cross-section that is designed to have less aerodynamic drag than a tether with a circular-shaped cross-section. | 11-26-2009 |
20120158369 | SURFACING ALGORITHM FOR DESIGNING AND MANUFACTURING 3D MODELS - Techniques are described for decomposing three-dimensional (3D) geometry into an assemblable collection of two-dimensional (2D) panels. Importantly, the 3D geometry is automatically encoded into the 2D panels, allowing the 3D geometry to be recreated simply by joining the 2D panels at the appropriate seams and creating the appropriate bends/folds in each panel. Further, each panel has edges, vertices, and faces which can be encoded in the panelization, allowing assembly instructions to be algorithmically generated, Doing so allows users to be provided with a step-by-step instructions carried out to realize the 3D geometry encoded in the 2D panels. | 06-21-2012 |
20130191083 | TECHNIQUES FOR CREATING POP-UP CARDS FROM 3D MODELS - One embodiment of the invention is a pop-up engine that generates a pop-up card from a sliced 3D graphics model. In operation, the pop-up engine processes a sliced 3D model to identify locations where the sliced 3D model is to attach to a plane surface of a pop-up card. For a given set of slices associated with a sliced 3D model, the pop-up engine identifies at least two slices that intersect at a folding line of the plane surface. The pop-up engine then identifies locations on the slices that are the farthest from the folding line. The pop-up engine marks the identified locations as connection points, where the 3D model is to attach to the plane surface. | 07-25-2013 |
20130197872 | TECHNIQUES FOR CREATING POP-UP CARDS FROM 3D MODELS - One embodiment of the invention is a pop-up engine that generates a pop-up card from a sliced 3D graphics model. In operation, a pop-up engine processes a sliced 3D model to identify locations where each slice of the 3D model is to attach to the pop-up card or to other slices of the 3D model. The pop-up engine traverses the boundary of each slice and, at intervals along the boundary, projects a ray toward the upper portion of the card. If the ray intersects a neighboring slice, then the slice attaches to the neighboring slice at that location. If, however, the ray does not intersect a neighboring slice, then the slice attaches to the upper portion of the card at that location. The pop-up engine then modifies the slice to include a hinge portion that connects the slice to either a neighboring slice or the upper portion at that location. | 08-01-2013 |
20130297058 | DECOMPOSITION OF 3D GEOMETRY INTO DEVELOPABLE SURFACE PATCHES AND 2D CUT PATTERNS - Embodiments disclosed herein provide techniques for decomposing 3D geometry into developable surface patches and cut patterns. In one embodiment, a decomposition application receives a triangulated 3D surface as input and determines approximately developable surface patches from the 3D surface using a variant of k-means clustering. Such approximately developable surface patches may have undesirable jagged boundaries, which the decomposition application may eliminate by generating a data structure separate from the mesh that contains patch boundaries and optimizing the patch boundaries or, alternatively, remeshing the mesh such that patch boundaries fall on mesh edges. The decomposition application may then flatten the patches into truly developable surfaces by re-triangulating the patches as ruled surfaces. The decomposition application may further flatten the ruled surfaces into 2D shapes and lay those shapes out on virtual sheets of material. A person, or machinery, may cut out those shapes from physical sheets of material based on the layout. | 11-07-2013 |
20130299503 | CONFORMABLE NATURAL GAS STORAGE - A system for storing natural gas comprises a plurality of straight sections of tube. The plurality of straight sections of tube are dense packed. The plurality of straight sections of tube are configured to fill a designated volume. | 11-14-2013 |
20140081603 | NESTING USING RIGID BODY SIMULATION - Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for nesting objects in 2D sheets and 3D volumes. In one embodiment, a nesting application simplifies the shapes of parts and performs a rigid body simulation of the parts dropping into a 2D sheet or 3D volume. In the rigid body simulation, parts begin from random initial positions on one or more sides and drop under the force of gravity into the 2D sheet or 3D volume until coming into contact with another part, a boundary, or the origin of the gravity. The parts may be dropped according to a particular order, such as alternating large and small parts. Further, the simulation may be translation- and/or position-only, meaning the parts do not rotate and/or do not have momentum, respectively. Tighter packing may be achieved by incorporating user inputs and simulating jittering of the parts using random forces. | 03-20-2014 |
20140194174 | 3D PUZZLE GENERATION, ALGORITHMS FOR GENERATION, AND PHYSICAL INSTANTIATIONS - A system for generating a three-dimensional puzzle comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to generate a three dimensional mesh representation. The processor is further configured to convert polygons comprising the three-dimensional mesh representation to one or more puzzle piece representations. The processor is further configured to add attachment points and receiving points to the one or more puzzle piece representations. The processor is further configured to provide the one of more puzzle piece representations with attachment points and receiving points. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured, to provide the processor with instructions. | 07-10-2014 |
20140253549 | TECHNIQUES FOR SLICING A 3D MODEL FOR MANUFACTURING - One embodiment of the invention is a slicing engine that generates two or more slices of a virtual 3D model given a slice plane. The slicing engine then determines connection points on each of the slices that indicate how the 3D model is to be reconnected by the user when the 3D model is fabricated. The slicing engine also determines an optimized layout for the various slices of the 3D model on fabrication material for minimal use of the material. The user is then able to “print” the layout on the fabrication material via 3D printers, and connect the various printed slices according to the connection points to build a physical representation of the 3D model. | 09-11-2014 |
20140253550 | TECHNIQUES FOR SLICING A 3D MODEL FOR MANUFACTURING - One embodiment of the invention is a slicing engine that generates two or more slices of a virtual 3D model given a slice plane. The slicing engine then determines connection points on each of the slices that indicate how the 3D model is to be reconnected by the user when the 3D model is fabricated. The slicing engine also determines an optimized layout for the various slices of the 3D model on fabrication material for minimal use of the material. The user is then able to “print” the layout on the fabrication material via 3D printers, and connect the various printed slices according to the connection points to build a physical representation of the 3D model. | 09-11-2014 |
20140257547 | TECHNIQUES FOR SLICING A 3D MODEL FOR MANUFACTURING - One embodiment of the invention is a slicing engine that generates two or more slices of a virtual 3D model given a slice plane. The slicing engine then determines connection points on each of the slices that indicate how the 3D model is to be reconnected by the user when the 3D model is fabricated. The slicing engine also determines an optimized layout for the various slices of the 3D model on fabrication material for minimal use of the material. The user is then able to “print” the layout on the fabrication material via 3D printers, and connect the various printed slices according to the connection points to build a physical representation of the 3D model. | 09-11-2014 |
20140257548 | TECHNIQUES FOR SLICING A 3D MODEL FOR MANUFACTURING - One embodiment of the invention is a slicing engine that generates two or more slices of a virtual 3D model given a slice plane. The slicing engine then determines connection points on each of the slices that indicate how the 3D model is to be reconnected by the user when the 3D model is fabricated. The slicing engine also determines an optimized layout for the various slices of the 3D model on fabrication material for minimal use of the material. The user is then able to “print” the layout on the fabrication material via 3D printers, and connect the various printed slices according to the connection points to build a physical representation of the 3D model. | 09-11-2014 |
20140305951 | NATURAL GAS INTESTINE PACKED STORAGE TANK - A high-pressure pressure vessel for storing natural gas comprises a plurality of first vessel regions of first diameters, a plurality of couplers, and a fiber layer. A three dimensional volume is filled using at least in part the plurality of first vessel regions. Each coupler of the plurality of couplers couples each pair of first vessel regions of the plurality of first vessel regions. Each coupler of the plurality of couplers comprises a second vessel region of a second diameter and two third vessel regions that transition diameters between the first diameter and the second diameter. The three dimensional volume is filled using at least in part the plurality of couplers. The first vessel regions and the couplers comprise a material with low permeability to natural gas. The fiber layer surrounds the plurality of first vessel regions and the plurality of couplers. | 10-16-2014 |