Automatic alignment of objects in two-dimensional and three-dimensional display space using an alignment field gradient
First Claim
1. A method for aligning a first object to a second object in a computer system comprising a processor, memory, display and graphic object controller, the method comprising:
- a) displaying the first object and the second object on the computer display;
b) displaying a cursor on the computer display, said cursor coupled to the graphic object controller;
c) selecting with the cursor coupled to the graphic object controller the first object displayed on the computer display;
d) manipulating with the graphic object controller the first object displayed on the computer display towards the second object displayed on the computer display;
e) providing an alignment field gradient emanating from the second object; and
f) aligning the first object to the second object in accordance with the alignment field gradient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatic alignment of manipulated objects in two-dimensional and three-dimensional graphic space. The present invention provides an alignment field gradient which emanates from objects surrounding the manipulated object(s). As a user manipulates an object, the present invention attracts the manipulated object into an aligned position and orientation with another object(s) in the displayed three-dimensional display space. The present invention provides alignment of all combinations of vertices, edges and planar faces for three-dimensional polyhedral objects and for all combinations of vertices and edges for two-dimensional polygonal objects.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for aligning a first object to a second object in a computer system comprising a processor, memory, display and graphic object controller, the method comprising:
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a) displaying the first object and the second object on the computer display; b) displaying a cursor on the computer display, said cursor coupled to the graphic object controller; c) selecting with the cursor coupled to the graphic object controller the first object displayed on the computer display; d) manipulating with the graphic object controller the first object displayed on the computer display towards the second object displayed on the computer display; e) providing an alignment field gradient emanating from the second object; and f) aligning the first object to the second object in accordance with the alignment field gradient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for aligning a first object to a second object in a computer system comprising a processor, memory, display and graphic object controller, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for displaying the first object and the second object on the computer display; b) means for displaying a cursor on the computer display, said cursor coupled to the graphic object controller; c) means for selecting with the cursor coupled to the graphic object controller the first object displayed on the computer display; d) means for manipulating with the graphic object controller the first object displayed on the computer display towards the second object displayed on the computer display; e) means for providing an alignment field gradient emanating from the second object; and f) means for aligning the first object to the second object in accordance with the alignment field gradient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for aligning a displayed representation of an object comprising the steps of:
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(a) displaying a representation of a first object in an initial position on a display screen, the display screen under the control of a processor; (b) displaying a representation of a second object on the display screen; (c) moving the representation of the first object toward the second object in a visually continuous manner using a cursor whose position is controlled by a cursor movement mechanism; (d) calculating a current position for the first object which is displaced from a cursor dictated position by an amount which is determined as if the first object was under the gradual influence of an alignment field emanating from the second object; and (e) displaying a representation of the first object on the display screen in the current position.
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32. An apparatus for aligning a displayed representation of an object comprising:
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(a) means for displaying a representation of a first object in an initial position on a display screen, the display screen under the control of a processor; (b) means for displaying a representation of a second object on the display screen; (c) means for moving the representation of the first object toward the second object in a visually continuous manner using a cursor whose position is controlled by a cursor movement mechanism; (d) means for calculating a current position for the first object which is displaced form a cursor dictated position by an amount which is determined as if the first object was under the gradual influence of an alignment field emanating from the second object; and (e) means for displaying a representation of the first object on the display screen in the current position.
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33. A method for aligning a first object to a second object in a computer system comprising a processor, memory, display and graphic object controller, the method comprising:
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a) displaying the first object and the second object on the display of the computer system; b) displaying a cursor on the display of the computer system wherein the cursor defines a cursor position on the display of the computer system, said cursor coupled to the graphic object controller; c) selecting with the cursor coupled to the graphic object controller the first object displayed on the display of the computer system; d) manipulating with the graphic object controller the selected first object displayed on the display of the computer system; e) providing an alignment field gradient emanating from the second object displayed on the display of the computer system; and
,f) aligning the manipulated first object displayed on the display of the computer system with the second object displayed on the display of the computer system wherein when the manipulated first object is manipulated with the graphic object controller to within a first predetermined distance from the second object the displayed location of the manipulated first object on the display of the computer system is gradually shifted away from the cursor position and towards the displayed location of the second object on the display of the computer system and when the manipulated first object is manipulated with the graphic object controller to within a second predetermined distance from the second object the displayed location of the manipulated first object on the display of the computer system is gradually shifted away from the cursor position and into alignment with the displayed location of the second object on the display of the computer system.
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34. An apparatus for aligning a first object to a second object in a computer system comprising a processor, memory, display and graphic object controller, the apparatus comprising:
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a) means for displaying the first object and the second object on the display of the computer system; b) means for displaying a cursor on the display of the computer system wherein the cursor defines a cursor position on the display of the computer system, said cursor coupled to the graphic object controller; c) means for selecting with the cursor coupled to the graphic object controller the first object displayed on the display of the computer system; d) means for manipulating with the graphic object controller the selected first object displayed on the display of the computer system; e) means for providing an alignment field gradient emanating from the second object displayed on the display of the computer system; and
,f) means for aligning the manipulated first object displayed on the display of the computer system with the second object displayed on the display of the computer system wherein when the manipulated first object is manipulated with the graphic object controller to within a first predetermined distance from the second object the displayed location of the manipulated first object on the display of the computer system is gradually shifted away from the cursor position and towards the displayed location of the second object on the display of the computer system and when the manipulated first object is manipulated with the graphic object controller to within a second predetermined distance from the second object the displayed location of the manipulated first object on the display of the computer system is gradually shifted away from the cursor position and into alignment with the displayed location of the second object on the display of the computer system.
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Specification