DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHODOLOGY FOR MANIPULATING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS

• US 20130090895A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dassault Systemes SA
• Original Assignee: Dassault Systemes SA
• Inventors: ZIGHMI, Bryan Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/270,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20130090895A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

A system and associated methodology for manipulating three-dimensional objects that includes displaying at least one three-dimensional object in a scene on a display screen. One or more icons are then displayed on the display screen based on the location of the at least one three-dimensional object within the scene. Each icon corresponds to a different manipulating feature such that an icon selection is received and a corresponding manipulating feature is activated in response to the icon selection. The three-dimensional object is then manipulated based on the activated manipulating feature and the one or more manipulation icons are not displayed while the at least one three-dimensional object is being manipulated. The system and associated methodology provides a fast and efficient way of manipulating three-dimensional objects.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a computer aided design station for manipulating three-dimensional objects, comprising:

displaying, on a display screen,

at least one three-dimensional object in a scene, and

one or more manipulation icons based on a location of the at least one three-dimensional object in the scene, each manipulation icon corresponding to a different manipulating feature;

receiving a manipulation icon selection;

activating a manipulating feature corresponding to the selected manipulation icon; and

manipulating the at least one three-dimensional object based on the activated manipulating feature,

wherein the one or more manipulation icons are two-dimensional icons that always remain accessible after the manipulating step.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the activated manipulating feature manipulates the at least one three-dimensional object based on a two-dimensional interaction in a plane of the display screen.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manipulating feature is a translational feature that provides movement of the at least one three-dimensional object from one location to another location within the scene.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the translational feature is performed with respect to a floor plane of the scene.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manipulating feature is a rotational feature that provides rotation of the at least one three-dimensional object.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the rotational feature is performed with respect to an axis perpendicular to a floor plane of the scene.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manipulating feature is a scaling feature that provides a change in a size of the at least one three-dimensional object.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manipulating feature deletes the at least one three-dimensional object from the scene.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the displaying further includes displaying a two-dimensional frame surrounding the at least one three-dimensional object.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the two-dimensional frame is a rectangle.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein a size of the two-dimensional frame is minimized based on a size of the three-dimensional object.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the two-dimensional frame and the one or more manipulation icons are not displayed while the at least one three-dimensional object is being manipulated.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the one or more manipulation icons are displayed within the two-dimensional frame.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more manipulation icons are displayed in close proximity to the three-dimensional object or over the at least one three-dimensional object.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein after manipulating the at least one three-dimensional object, the two-dimensional frame is redisplayed such that a size of the redisplayed two-dimensional frame is based on the manipulating.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein after manipulating the at least one three-dimensional object, the one or more manipulation icons are redisplayed such that a size and arrangement of the redisplayed one or more manipulation icons is based on the manipulating.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, while the at least one three-dimensional object is being manipulated, the at least one three-dimensional object is prevented from being manipulated such that the at least one three-dimensional object is displayed at a position outside of a display portion of the display screen where the one or more redisplayed manipulation icons would not be visible.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the one or more redisplayed manipulation icons are rearranged in the scene such that the one or more redisplayed manipulation icons remain within the display portion of the display screen in response to the at least one three-dimensional object being manipulated such that the at least one three-dimensional object is displayed at a position outside of a display portion of the display screen.

19. A computer aided design station for manipulating three-dimensional objects, comprising:

a processor configured to

display, on a display screen,

at least one three-dimensional object in a scene, and

one or more manipulation icons based on a location of the at least one three-dimensional object in the scene, each manipulation icon corresponding to a different manipulating feature;

receive a manipulation icon selection;

activate a manipulating feature corresponding to the selected manipulation icon; and

manipulate the at least one three-dimensional object based on the activated manipulating feature,

wherein the one or more manipulation icons are two-dimensional icons that always remain accessible after the manipulating.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer readable instructions thereon that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method for manipulating three-dimensional objects, comprising:

displaying

at least one three-dimensional object in a scene, and

one or more manipulation icons based on a location of the at least one three-dimensional object in the scene, each manipulation icon corresponding to a different manipulating feature;

receiving a manipulation icon selection;

activating a manipulating feature corresponding to the selected manipulation icon; and

manipulating the at least one three-dimensional object based on the activated manipulating feature,

wherein the one or more manipulation icons are two-dimensional icons that always remain accessible after the manipulating step.