1. A method for repairing data in which clipping has occurred, to restore data that were lost due to the clipping, comprising the steps of:
(a) for each frame of the data in which clipping has occurred, iteratively carrying out the following steps:
(i) estimating an auto-covariance for the data in the frame;
(ii) determining a least-squares solution for the frame or a sub-frame of data that was clipped;
(iii) based upon the least-squares solution, producing restored data in which the clipped data are estimated by interpolation from samples of the data in frames or sub-frames that were not clipped;
(iv) for all but a last iteration, applying peak rectification to correct errors in the restored data, producing current repaired data for the frame; and
(v) repeating steps (i)-(iv) using the current repaired data that were just produced, until the last iteration has been completed, the last iteration producing final repaired data for the frame; and
(b) repeating step (a) until successive frames of the data in which clipping has occurred have been repaired.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein successive frames of the data overlap.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting a duration of successive frames of data that do not overlap, so that a boundary between successive frames of the data does not coincide with a clipped portion of the data, to avoid interpolation discontinuities at the boundary.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically detecting clipped samples in the data.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of automatically detecting the clipped samples comprises the step of identifying a vector of the data containing clipped samples, based upon a set of indices at which the vector exceeds a defined maximum value or is less than a defined minimum value.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein for each frame, the step of estimating the covariance comprises the steps of:
(a) determining a sample mean for a vector of samples of data that are clipped in the frame; and
(b) determining an estimate of the covariance based upon the sample mean and the vector of the samples.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the iteration of the step of estimating the covariance tends to reduce an error in the estimate of the covariance with each iteration.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using interpolation for recombining the successive frames of final repaired data to produce a complete set of repaired data.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data that are clipped comprise audio data, and wherein the complete set of the repaired data comprises repaired audio data, further comprising at least one step selected from the group of steps consisting of:
(a) storing at least a portion of the complete set of the repaired audio data;
(b) enabling a person to listen to at least a portion of the complete set of the repaired audio data; and
(c) recording at least a portion of the complete set of the repaired audio data on a medium.
10. A memory medium on which are stored machine executable and readable instructions, for carrying out the steps of claim 1.
11. A system for repairing data in which clipping has occurred, to restore data that were lost due to the clipping, comprising:
(a) a memory in which machine instructions are stored;
(b) a processor coupled to the memory, for executing the machine instructions, execution of the machine instructions causing the processor to carry out a plurality of functions, including:
(i) for each frame of the data in which clipping has occurred, iteratively carrying out the following functions:
(A) estimating an auto-covariance for the data in the frame;
(B) determining a least-squares solution for the frame or a sub-frame of data that was clipped;
(C) based upon the least-squares solution, producing restored data in which the clipped data are estimated by interpolation from samples of the data in the frames or sub-frames that were not clipped;
(D) for all but a last iteration, applying peak rectification to correct errors in the restored data, producing current repaired data for the frame; and
(E) repeating the functions in subparagraphs (A)-(D) using the current repaired data that were just produced, until the last iteration has been completed, the last iteration producing final repaired data for the frame; and
(ii) repeating the function of subparagraph (i) until successive frames of the data in which clipping has occurred have been repaired.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to process successive frames of the data that overlap.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to adjust a duration applied to successive frames of data that do not overlap, so that a boundary between successive frames of the data does not coincide with a clipped portion of the data, to avoid interpolation discontinuities at the boundary.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to automatically detect clipped samples in the data.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to detect the clipped samples by identifying a vector of the data containing clipped samples, based upon a set of indices at which the vector exceeds a defined maximum value or is less than a defined minimum value.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to estimate the covariance for each frame of the data by:
(a) determining a sample mean for a vector of samples of data that are clipped in the frame; and
(b) determining an estimate of the covariance based upon the sample mean and the vector of the samples.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to estimate the covariance so as to reduce an error in the estimate of the covariance with each iteration.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to use interpolation to recombine the successive frames of final repaired data to produce a complete set of repaired data.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data that were clipped comprise audio data, and the complete set of repaired data comprises a complete set of repaired audio data, and wherein the machine instructions cause the processor to carry out at least one function selected from the group of functions consisting of:
(a) storing at least a portion of the complete set of the repaired audio data in a storage;
(b) enabling a person to listen to at least a portion of the complete set of the repaired audio data with a playback device; and
(c) recording at least a portion of the complete set of the repaired audio data on a medium.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein machine instructions cause the processor to process the clipped data in frames that are sufficiently short in duration that the data in the frame are locally stationary.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object configured to model a three-dimensional object by a lamination modeling method, the apparatus comprising:
a head for coloring, which is an inkjet head configured to form an area of the three-dimensional object, which is to be colored with a predetermined color, by an ink for coloring;
a head for modeling, which is an inkjet head configured to form at least an inner area of the three-dimensional object;
at least a pair of flattening rollers configured to flatten the three-dimensional object being modeled, and
a main scanning driving unit configured to enable the head for coloring and the head for modeling to perform a main scanning operation of ejecting ink droplets while moving in a preset main scanning direction,
wherein the main scanning driving unit is configured to enable:
at least the head for modeling to perform the main scanning operation in a first direction, which is one side direction of the main scanning direction, and
at least the head for coloring to perform the main scanning operation in a second direction, which is the other side direction of the main scanning direction, and
wherein the one flattening roller of the pair of flattening rollers flattens the three-dimensional object being modeled when the main scanning operation in the first direction is performed, and
the other flattening roller of the pair of flattening rollers flattens the three-dimensional object being modeled when the main scanning operation in the second direction is performed.
2. The apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object according to claim 1, wherein
the head for coloring and the head for modeling are configured to eject ink droplets of an ultraviolet curable ink, which is to be cured by ultraviolet irradiation.
3. The apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object according to claim 1, further comprising:
a roller advanceretreat driving unit configured to advance and retreat each of the pair of flattening rollers in a direction facing towards the three-dimensional object,
wherein the roller advanceretreat driving unit is configured:
to arrange the one flattening roller of the pair of flattening rollers at an advanced position and to arrange the other flattening roller at a retreated position while the main scanning operation in the first direction is performed, and
to arrange the other flattening roller at an advanced position and to arrange the one flattening roller at a retreated position while the main scanning operation in the second direction is performed.
4. The apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object according to claim 3, wherein
the roller advanceretreat driving unit is configured:
to advance the flattening roller, thereby bringing the flattening roller close to the three-dimensional object being modeled, and
to retreat the flattening roller, thereby separating the flattening roller from the three-dimensional object being modeled.
5. The apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object according to claim 1, wherein
during the main scanning operation in the first direction, the main scanning driving unit is configured to enable only the head for modeling of the head for modeling and the head for coloring to eject the ink droplets and the one flattening roller is configured to flatten an ink layer formed by the head for modeling, and
wherein during the main scanning operation in the second direction, the main scanning driving unit is configured to enable only the head for coloring of the head for modeling and the head for coloring to eject the ink droplets and the other flattening roller is configured to flatten an ink layer formed by the head for coloring.
6. The apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object according to claim 1, wherein
during the main scanning operations in the first direction and the second direction, the main scanning driving unit is configured to enable both the head for modeling and the head for coloring to eject the ink droplets.
7. The apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object according to claim 1, wherein
the one flattening roller and the other flattening roller are configured to rotate in different rotating directions during the flattening.
8. The apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object according to claim 1, wherein
the one flattening roller and the other flattening roller are configured to rotate at different rotating speeds during the flattening.
9. The apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object according to claim 1, wherein
the one flattening roller is arranged at one side in the main scanning direction with respect to the head for coloring and the head for modeling,
wherein the other flattening roller is arranged at the other side in the main scanning direction with respect to the head for coloring and the head for modeling, and
wherein during each of the main scanning operations in the first direction and the main scanning operation in the second direction, the flattening roller positioned at the rear with respect to the head for coloring and the head for modeling is configured to flatten the three-dimensional object being modeled.
10. The apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object according to claim 1, wherein
the apparatus is configured to form a layer comprising a coloring layer, which is an ink layer to be formed by the head for coloring, and a modeling layer, which is an ink layer to be formed by the head for modeling, as each layer to be formed by the lamination modeling method, and
wherein upon the formation of each layer, the apparatus is configured to perform:
a first layer forming operation of forming one layer of the coloring layer and the modeling layer by using one of the head for coloring and the head for modeling, and
a second layer forming operation of forming the other layer of the coloring layer and the modeling layer to be adjacent to a wall part of the one layer by using the other of the head for coloring and the head for modeling after curing the one layer.
11. The apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object according to claim 1, further comprising:
a head for support layer, which is an inkjet head configured to form a support layer configured to support a periphery of the three-dimensional object being modeled,
wherein the apparatus is configured to form a layer comprising a coloring layer, which is an ink layer to be formed by the head for coloring, a modeling layer, which is an ink layer to be formed by the head for modeling, and the support layer, which is an ink layer to be formed by the head for support layer, as each layer to be formed by the lamination modeling method,
wherein upon the formation of each layer, the apparatus is configured to perform:
a first layer forming operation of forming the modeling layer and the support layer by using the head for modeling and the head for support layer, and
a second layer forming operation of forming the coloring layer by using the head for coloring after the first layer forming operation,
wherein during the first layer forming operation, the modeling layer and the support layer are formed so as to sandwich an area, in which the coloring layer is later to be formed, between the modeling layer and the support layer, so that a wall part of the modeling layer is formed at one side of the area in which the coloring layer is to be forming and a wall part of the support layer is formed at the other side of the area in which the coloring layer is to be formed, and
wherein during the second layer forming operation, the coloring layer is formed between the wall part of the modeling layer and the wall part of the support layer.
12. An apparatus for modeling a three-dimensional object configured to model a three-dimensional object by a lamination modeling method, the apparatus comprising:
a head for coloring, which is an inkjet head configured to form an area of the three-dimensional object, which is to be colored with a predetermined color, by an ink for coloring;
a head for modeling, which is an inkjet head configured to form at least an inner area of the three-dimensional object;
at least a pair of flattening rollers configured to flatten the three-dimensional object being modeled, and
a main scanning driving unit configured to enable the head for coloring and the head for modeling to perform a main scanning operation of ejecting ink droplets while moving in a preset main scanning direction,
wherein one flattening roller of the pair of flattening rollers is arranged at one side in the main scanning direction with respect to the head for coloring and the head for modeling,
wherein the other flattening roller of the pair of flattening rollers is arranged at the other side in the main scanning direction with respect to the head for coloring and the head for modeling,
wherein the main scanning driving unit is configured to enable:
at least the head for modeling to perform the main scanning operation in a first direction, which is one side direction of the main scanning direction, and
at least the head for coloring to perform the main scanning operation in a second direction, which is the other side direction of the main scanning direction, and
wherein during each of the main scanning operations in the first direction and the main scanning operation in the second direction, the flattening roller positioned at the rear with respect to the head for coloring and the head for modeling is configured to flatten the three-dimensional object being modeled.
13. A method for modeling a three-dimensional object by a lamination modeling method, the method using:
a head for coloring, which is an inkjet head configured to form an area of the three-dimensional object, which is to be colored with a predetermined color, by an ink for coloring;
a head for modeling, which is an inkjet head configured to form at least an inner area of the three-dimensional object, and
at least a pair of flattening rollers configured to flatten the three-dimensional object being modeled,
the method comprising enabling the head for coloring and the head for modeling to perform a main scanning operation of ejecting ink droplets while moving in a preset main scanning direction,
wherein when controlling the main scanning operation, the method comprises enabling:
at least the head for modeling to perform the main scanning operation in a first direction, which is one side direction of the main scanning direction, and
at least the head for coloring to perform the main scanning operation in a second direction, which is the other side direction of the main scanning direction, and
wherein the method comprises flattening the three-dimensional object being modeled by the one flattening roller of the pair of flattening rollers when the main scanning operation in the first direction is performed, and flattening the three-dimensional object being modeled by the other flattening roller of the pair of flattening rollers when the main scanning operation in the second direction is performed.