Three dimensional graphical manipulator

• US 20040189724A1
• Filed: 04/12/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dassault Systemes SA
• Original Assignee: Dassault Systemes SA
• Inventors: Golibrodski, Olivier, Pradeau, Pascal
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/782
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/008 Cut plane or projection plane definition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/964 CAD or CAM, e.g. interactive design tools

Abstract

A method and apparatus for manipulating a computer generated model and visualizing a change in projection plane before entering a projection creation commnand. After selection of a projection plane on the 3-D model, a generative drafting document can be created wherein the projection plane becomes the plane of the screen. The system can display a visualization of the projection of the model in plane with the screen, without generating a fully computed projection. Display of the visualization can provide increased efficiency in processing time as compared to a fully computed projection. The system can also display a graphical manipulator including a circular central region with a button in the middle, wherein clicking on the button can be used as a command to the system requesting creation of the projection. The graphical manipulator software tool can also include quadrants, wherein each quadrant is associated with a direction in relation to an orthogonal axis. The four quadrants can be defined as left, right, up and down: Clicking on a quadrant can cause the projection plane to rotate by 90 degrees, or other predetermined amount, around two orthogonal axes of the model in the projection plane. The direction of rotation will correlate with the quadrant selected. In addition, the manipulator tool can include a pin tracking the circumference of a circle displayed on a computer screen. Selection of the pin and rotation can cause the projection plane of a computer generated model to rotate about an axis which is perpendicular to the projection screen.

Claims

1. ) A computer system operation method for facilitating viewing of a computer generated model on a display, the method comprising:

selecting a projection plane for a three dimensional model; and

displaying a two dimensional visualization of a projection of the model in the projection plane, wherein the projection plane is the plane of the display.

2. ) The method of claim 1 wherein the display of the two dimensional visualization is limited to pixel data.

3. ) The method of claim 1 additionally comprising activation of a manipulator tool button to cause the displaying of the two dimensional model.

4. ) The method of claim 1 additionally comprising activation of a manipulator quadrant device to modify the projection plane.

5. ) A software control method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface manipulator comprising quadrants, wherein each quadrant comprises a programmable interactive device;

associating each quadrant with a direction in relation to an orthogonal axis;

activating an interactive device comprising a quadrant; and

rotating a projection plane of a computer generated model a predetermined number of degrees in a predetermined direction around an orthogonal axis associated with a selected quadrant.

6. ) The software control method of claim 5 additionally comprising:

displaying a programmable interactive button;

activating the programmable interactive button; and

displaying a visualization of a computer generated model responsive to activation of the programmable interactive button.

7. ) A graphical manipulator software tool comprising:

a graphical user interface object comprising quadrants, wherein each quadrant is associated with a direction in relation to an orthogonal axis; and

a programmable interactive device corresponding with a quadrant and responsive to activation by a pointing device, wherein activation of the interactive device causes a projection plane of a computer generated model to rotate a predetermined number of degrees in a predetermined direction.

8. ) A projection plane manipulator software tool comprising:

a user interactive device tracking the circumference of a circle displayed on a computer screen with a computer generated model, wherein selecting the interactive device and rotating it in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction will cause a projection plane of the computer generated model to rotate about an axis which is perpendicular to the projection screen.

9. ) The projection plane manipulator software tool of claim 8 additionally comprising:

an interactive menu for selecting a mode of operation governing the rotation of the interactive device about the circumference of the circle.

10. ) The projection manipulator software tool of claim 9 wherein the mode of operation comprises free hand rotation.

11. ) The projection manipulator software tool of claim 9 wherein the mode of operation comprises incremental rotation.

12. ) The projection manipulator software tool of claim 9 wherein the mode of operation comprises entering an angle of rotation.

13. ) A projection creation software tool comprising:

a computer generated model displayed on a computer display;

a programmable user interactive device, wherein activation of the interactive device displays a visualization of the projection of the model with a projection plane equal to the plane of the computer display.

14. ) The projection creation software tool of claim 13 wherein activation of the user interactive device is accomplished by clicking a pointing device controlling a cursor while the cursor is positioned over the interactive device.

15. ) The projection creation software tool of claim 13 wherein the user interactive device is incorporated into a graphical manipulator software tool.

16. ) A method of creating an isometric view of a computer generated model of an object, the method comprising:

selecting an initial projection plane;

activating a user interactive device on a graphical view manipulator causing the projection plane to rotate a first amount not equal to 90°

around an axis that is perpendicular to the current projection plane;

activating a first quadrant on a graphical view manipulator causing the projection plane to rotate by 90°

around one of two orthogonal axis of the model;

activating a second user interactive device on a graphical view manipulator causing the projection plane to rotate a second amount not equal to 90°

around an axis that is perpendicular to the current projection plane; and

activating a second quadrant on a graphical view manipulator causing the projection plane to rotate by 90°

around a second of two orthogonal axis of the model.

17. ) The method of claim 16 wherein the first interactive device is a rotational arrow interactive device.

18. ) The method of claim 16 wherein the first interactive device is a manipulator pin.

19. ) An interactive software tool comprising:

a graphical user interface object comprising quadrants, wherein each quadrant is associated with a direction in relation to an orthogonal axis;

a first programmable interactive device corresponding with a quadrant and responsive to activation by a pointing device, wherein activation of the first interactive programmable interactive device causes a projection plane of a computer generated model to rotate a predetermined number of degrees in a predetermined direction;

a second programmable interactive device tracking the circumference of a circle displayed on a computer screen with a computer generated model, wherein selecting the second interactive device and rotationally moving the second interactive device will cause a projection plane of the computer generated model to rotate about an axis which is perpendicular to the projection screen;

an interactive menu for selecting a mode of operation governing the rotation of the interactive device about the circumference of the circle; and

a third interactive device displayed on the computer display, wherein activation of the third interactive device displays a visualization of the projection of the model with a projection plane equal to the plane of the computer display.

20. ) Computer executable code stored on a computer readable medium, the code causing a computer to take steps comprising:

selecting a projection plane for a three dimensional model; and

displaying a two dimensional visualization of a projection of the model in the projection plane, wherein the projection plane is the plane of the display.

21. ) Computer executable code stored on a computer readable medium, the code causing a computer to take steps comprising:

selecting an initial projection plane of a three-dimensional model;

activating a user interactive device on a graphical view manipulator causing the projection plane to rotate a first amount not equal to 90°

around an axis that is perpendicular to the current projection plane;

activating a first quadrant on a graphical view manipulator causing the projection plane to rotate by 90°

around one of two orthogonal axis of the model;

activating a second user interactive device on a graphical view manipulator causing the projection plane to rotate a second amount not equal to 90°

around an axis that is perpendicular to the current projection plane; and

activating a second quadrant on a graphical view manipulator causing the projection plane to rotate by 90°

around a second of two orthogonal axis of the model.

22. A computer system operation method for displaying a three-dimensional model on a display, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a two dimensional visualization of the three-dimensional model, said three-dimensional model in a first projection plane;

receiving a second projection plane associated with said two-dimensional visualization;

displaying said two-dimensional visualization in said second projection plane; and

generating the projection of said three-dimensional model in said second projection plane.

23. ) The method of claim 22 wherein the display of the two dimensional visualization is limited to pixel data.

24. ) The method of claim 22 additionally comprising activation of a manipulator tool button to cause the displaying of the two dimensional model.

25. ) The method of claim 22 additionally comprising activation of a manipulator quadrant device to modify the projection plane.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein said steps of receiving a projection plane and

displaying said two-dimensional visualization in said projection plane are iteratively repeated, and wherein the step of generating the projection of said three-dimensional model in said projection plane includes the step of:

receiving an approval for said projection plane; and

displaying said three-dimensional model in said projection plane after receiving said approval.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of receiving a selected projection plane includes the step of:

providing a manipulator tool button for selecting said projection plane.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said manipulator tool includes a plurality of quadrants, each of said plurality of quadrants representing a predetermined number of degrees of rotation in a predetermined direction around an orthogonal axis, wherein the step of receiving a selected projection plane includes the step of:

receiving a selected one of said plurality of quadrants; and

rotating said projection plane said predetermined number of degrees and in said predetermined direction around said orthogonal axis associated with said selected quadrant.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said manipulator tool includes a programmable interactive button and wherein the step of displaying said two-dimensional visualization in said projection plane includes the step of:

displaying said two-dimensional visualization in said projection plane in response to an activation of the programmable interactive button.

30. A projection plane manipulator tool for manipulating a projection plane wherein a two-dimensional visualization of a three-dimensional model is generated and displayed on a computer screen in a first projection plane, said first projection plane associated with said two-dimensional visualization being manipulated to a second projection plane and wherein said three-dimensional model is thereafter projected in said second projection plane, said projection plane manipulator tool comprising:

a user interactive device tracking the circumference of a circle displayed on said computer screen, wherein selecting the interactive device and rotating it in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction will cause said projection plane to rotate about an axis which is perpendicular to the computer screen.

31-41. -41 (cancelled)