Automatic pointer positioning for 3D computer modeling
US6057827A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 19, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 19, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/04812
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a computer graphics modeling system, a method for accurately positioning a cursor on a geometric point of a three dimensional object (such as an object vertex) shown in a two dimensional projected view. The system monitors the position of a movable pointer on a two dimensional projected view of the three dimensional object. When the user desires to accurately position the cursor on the object, the user signals the system via an input device or other means. The system receives the signal, which indicates that the pointer is preliminarily aligned with a geometric point on the object. In response to the signal, the system determines the position of a nearest geometric point to the pointer and moves the pointer to the spatial coordinates of the point's position. To aid in identifying geometric points, they are visibly different in the projected view from non-geometric points. In another embodiment, the cursor is positioned in three dimensions by computing the coordinates of a three dimensional point on an object surface which coincides in two dimensions with the coordinates of the pointer. The three dimensional coordinates of the pointer are then reset to the three dimensional coord…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.