Apparatus and method for inputting measurements into a software product to construct software models of architectural structures

• US 20050091007A1
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eflection, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eflection, Inc.
• Inventors: Lindenbaum, Michael Neil
• Granted Patent: US 7,181,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/10 Constructive solid geometry [CSG] using solid primitives, e.g. cylinders, cubes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus and method for creating a model, including the third dimension (3D), in a CAD program directly from a laser or sonar measuring device. As the measurements of an architectural structure are taken and as numeric codes are entered into the keypad of the laser or sonar measuring device, the invention receives the data on a laptop, PC, or other computing device, interprets the data, and consequently engages commands in the CAD program to create a 3D file reflecting the architectural space being measured by the user.

Claims

1. A method of creating a computer model comprising the steps of:

Step 1;

The user launches the Eflection software program on a computing device, such as a laptop, PC, PDA, or similar device.

Step 2;

The user clicks the ‘

Create StandAlone Wall’

button on the main Eflection dialog box by either (a) using the mouse, or (b) entering the designated number on the keypad of the laser measuring device. This launches the ‘

Add Wall’

dialog box.

Step 3;

The user measures the length of a wall using the laser measuring device and when the measurement is taken, the program receives the measurement and populates the ‘

length’

field with the measurement. The user advances the cursor to the next field either using the mouse, keyboard, or by entering the designated number of the next field into the keypad of the laser measuring device.

Step 4;

The user repeats the (above) procedure to measure the height of the wall.

Step 5;

The user uses a tape measure (or similar device) to measure the thickness of the wall, generally at a doorway, window, or other opening where the thickness is visible. This measurement is entered into the program using either the keyboard or the keypad of the laser measuring device.

Step 6;

The user clicks the ‘

OK’

button on the ‘

Add Wall’

dialog box either using the mouse cursor or using the keypad of the laser.

Step 7;

The user observes the computer screen to ensure that the computer generated wall has been created properly.

Step 8;

The user then moves around the interior of the room in which he/she currently is operating. As the user encounters architectural objects (wall, window, door, stairs, etc. . . . ) he/she launches the corresponding dialog box from the main Eflection dialog box and takes measurements to populate each field in the dialog box (see FIGS. 1-14).

Step 9;

The user repeats the above steps moving from room to room throughout the architectural structure until the entire structure has been measured and a 3D file has been created.