Collision detector utilizing collision contours
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a collision between a first object and a second object in a computer controlled display system, wherein at least one of said first object and said second object is non-circular, said method comprising:
- reading characteristics of said first object and said second object from a memory of said computer controlled display system, wherein said characteristics indicate a shape, size and orientation of said first object and a shape, size and orientation of said second object;
generating a collision contour for a particular time, corresponding to said first object based upon said shape, size and orientation of said first object and said shape, size and orientation of said second object;
determining a centerpoint of said second object for said particular time;
determining whether said centerpoint of said second object for said particular time is included in said collision contour for said particular time;
generating a signal indicating whether said first object and said second object are in a state of collision, wherein inclusion of said centerpoint in said collision contour indicates that said first object is in a state of collision with said second object, wherein if said centerpoint does not reside in said collision contour, then said first object and said second object are not in a state of collision; and
displaying whether said first object ,and said second object are in a state of collision.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining and displaying or preventing a collision between two objects. Certain characteristics of these two objects such as their sizes, orientations, and velocities, are inputted. Based upon these characteristics, a collision contour is generated about the first object. If either or both object(s) had been moved, the collision contour is generated based on a velocity outline to account for the velocity effects. These two objects have collided if the second object'"'"'s centerpoint is included in the collision contour. Otherwise, the two objects have not collided. The result is then portrayed on a graphics display device.
50 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a collision between a first object and a second object in a computer controlled display system, wherein at least one of said first object and said second object is non-circular, said method comprising:
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reading characteristics of said first object and said second object from a memory of said computer controlled display system, wherein said characteristics indicate a shape, size and orientation of said first object and a shape, size and orientation of said second object; generating a collision contour for a particular time, corresponding to said first object based upon said shape, size and orientation of said first object and said shape, size and orientation of said second object; determining a centerpoint of said second object for said particular time; determining whether said centerpoint of said second object for said particular time is included in said collision contour for said particular time; generating a signal indicating whether said first object and said second object are in a state of collision, wherein inclusion of said centerpoint in said collision contour indicates that said first object is in a state of collision with said second object, wherein if said centerpoint does not reside in said collision contour, then said first object and said second object are not in a state of collision; and displaying whether said first object ,and said second object are in a state of collision. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a computer system, an apparatus for displaying a collision between a first object and a second object, wherein at least one of said first object and said second object is non-circular, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory having stored therein characteristics of said first object and said second object, said characteristics indicating a shape, size and orientation of said first object and a shape, size and orientation of said second object; a processing unit coupled to said memory for generating a collision contour for a particular time, for said first object and for determining a centerpoint of said second object for said particular time, wherein said processing unit generates said collision contour based on said shape, size and orientation of said first object and said shape, size and orientation of said second object; a circuit for determining whether said centerpoint of said second object for said particular time is included within said collision contour for said particular time, inclusion of said centerpoint in said collision contour indicating said first object is in a state of collision with said second object and exclusion of said centerpoint in said second object indicating said first object is not in a state of collision with said second object; and a graphics display device coupled to said processing unit for displaying whether said first object is in a state of collision with said second object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for adjusting positions between a first object and a second object in a computer display system so that said first object and said second object do not overlap when displayed, wherein at least one of said first object and said second object is non-circular, said method comprising:
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reading characteristics of said first object and said second object stored in a memory of said computer display system, said characteristics indicating a shape, size and orientation of said first object and a shape, size and orientation of said second object; generating a collision contour for a particular time, for said first object based upon said shape, size and orientation of said first object and said shape, size and orientation of said second object; determining a centerpoint of said second object for said particular time; generating a signal indicating whether said first object and said second object are in a state of collision, wherein inclusion of said centerpoint in said collision contour indicates that said first object is in a state of collision with said second object, wherein if said centerpoint does not reside in said collision contour, then said first object and said second object are not in a state of collision; if said first object and said second object are in a state of collision, positioning said second object so that said centerpoint of said second object is not included in said collision contour; and displaying said first object and said second object. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. In a computer system, an apparatus for adjusting positions between a first object and a second object so that said first object and said second object do not overlap when displayed, wherein at least one of said first object and said second object is non-circular, comprising:
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a memory having stored therein characteristics of said first object and said second object, said characteristics indicating a shape, size and orientation of said first object and a shape, size and orientation of said second object; a processing unit coupled to said memory for generating a collision contour for a particular time for said first object and for determining a centerpoint of said second object for said particular time, said processing unit generating said collision contour based on said shape, size and orientation of said first object and said shape, size and orientation of said second object; a circuit for determining whether said centerpoint of said second object for said particular time, is included within said collision contour for said particular time, inclusion of said centerpoint in said collision contour indicating said first object is in a state of collision with said second object and exclusion of said centerpoint in said second object indicating said first object is not in a state of collision with said second object; an adjustment means for positioning said first object and said second object if said first object and said second object are in a state of collision according to said circuit, so that said centerpoint of said second object is not included in said collision contour; and a graphics display device coupled to said processing unit for displaying said first object and said second object. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification