System and method for finding the distance from a moving query point to the closest point on one or more convex or non-convex shapes
US6285805A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 25, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99933
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is a computer system and method for determining the closest point on a shape (2 dimensional or 3 dimensional surface) to any general query point. The system has one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more memories, and one or more geometric model portions stored in one or more of the memories. The geometric model portions have a plurality of line segments (polygons), each of the line segments (polygons) being between a first and a second endpoint (having a polygon boundary). The line segments and end points (polygons and polygon boundaries) are connected to form a shape (in 3 dimensions, a surface) with one or more parameters. Parameters can include geometric position, time, temperature, pressure, flow, color, texture, or any other descriptive value. A multiresolution process that creates one or more models of the shape (surface). The models having a hierarchy of resolutions. Each model has one or more model line segments (model polygons) that approximate one or more of the line segments (polygons). Each model line segment (model polygons) is associated with an error. A distance process, for every model line segment (polygon), determines a distanc…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.