Patent · US Expired

Drawing system using design guides

US6377240B1 · kind B1 · utility

25Cited by
2References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 15, 1999
Grant dateApr 23, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 15, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T11/001
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electronic design guide, such as a french curve, can be placed in the geometry layer of a drawing program. This allows the design guide and a drawing tool, such as an electronic paint brush, to be moved about with in the drawing simultaneously using two different input control devices, such as a mouse and an electronic stylus/tablet. The design guide can then be used block or mask paint from being applied to the drawing by comparing the coordinates of the cursor with the area of the guide and setting pixels of the drawing accordingly. The masking can be performed even as the guide is moved. The system also can be set to constrain the path of the ink applied by the drawing tool to the edge of the drawing guide even as the guide is moved. As the cursor is moved the position of the cursor is matched with the closest next line segment of the guide and that portion painted.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.