Synthonics Gets Patent for 3-D Digital Process

Synthonics Technologies in Westlake Village has been issued a patent for a process used to create 3-D digital replicas by wrapping photographs around computer-generated wire-frame structures.

The process is an integral part of Synthonics’ 3-D technology, Rapid Virtual Reality. Using two or more digitized photographs of an object, the technology builds a wire-frame “skeleton” structure of that object on the computer screen.

As the wire frame is constructed, photographic textures are wrapped around the outer surface, creating a 3-D replica in digital form, company officials said.

“Conventional computer-aided design techniques could take days, weeks or months to build the same object,” said Michael Budd, Synthonics president and chief executive officer. “(Our) process can be carried out in a matter of minutes to hours, depending upon the size and complexity of the image.”

Once completed, users can manipulate the 3-D replica on-screen and look at the back, top, front or underside from any perspective, just as they would in real life, officials said.

In the past year, Synthonics has received six patent awards that focus on creating 3-D images quickly and inexpensively for a variety of applications.