Reshaping of paths without respect to control points
US6459439B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 1, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T11/203
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The inventive mechanisms convert a path, which represents a graphical object, into a plurality of line segments. Thus, the path can be reshaped without respect to existing Bezier control points. The first mechanism allows a user to ‘pull’ a segment of a path. A user selects a specific place on the path, pulls the selected place along with a portion of the path on either side of the place to a desired location. The second mechanism allows a user to ‘push’ a segment of a path, by using an arbitrary shape and sculpting the path. The arbitrary shape is used in a manner similar in which a sculptor would use a putty knife and sculpts away part of the path, by pushing that shape into the path. The path is being repelled from the shape, as the shape is being pushed. The third mechanism allows a user to reshape an area or region of the path. The user selects a specific point in space and modify any parts of the path that lie within that region of space.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.