Object-oriented curve manipulation system
First Claim
1. A method for manipulating a curve object which generates a three-dimensional representation on a display coupled to a computer with a user actuated input controller for selectively positioning a cursor at a location on the display, comprising the steps of:
- a) displaying a three-dimensional representation of a virtual box sized and positioned to surround a portion of the three-dimensional representation on the display, the three-dimensional representation extending outside the virtual box, the virtual box having at least one active zone sensitive to the presence of the cursor;
b) detecting the cursor'"'"'s location over the at least one active zone;
c) activating a control movement type specified by the at least one active zone under the cursor;
d) responding to a reposition of the cursor by controlling the curve object to cause a manipulation of the portion of the three-dimensional representation surrounded by the virtual box; and
e) re-displaying the three-dimensional representation in accordance with the manipulation defined in step (d).
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus enables direct manipulation of 3D curve images on a computer display. In accordance with this method and apparatus, a curve object is created which, in turn, generates a 3D virtual box image enclosing a portion of a selected curve image. The 3D virtual box image has areas which are sensitive to a pointing device cursor such that a user can select an area and use it to manipulate the virtual box. Manipulation of the virtual box causes the curve object to redisplay the portion of the curve image within the box so that the curve image is changed with direct kinesthetic correspondence between the manipulation of the virtual box and the curve image.
220 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A method for manipulating a curve object which generates a three-dimensional representation on a display coupled to a computer with a user actuated input controller for selectively positioning a cursor at a location on the display, comprising the steps of:
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a) displaying a three-dimensional representation of a virtual box sized and positioned to surround a portion of the three-dimensional representation on the display, the three-dimensional representation extending outside the virtual box, the virtual box having at least one active zone sensitive to the presence of the cursor; b) detecting the cursor'"'"'s location over the at least one active zone; c) activating a control movement type specified by the at least one active zone under the cursor; d) responding to a reposition of the cursor by controlling the curve object to cause a manipulation of the portion of the three-dimensional representation surrounded by the virtual box; and e) re-displaying the three-dimensional representation in accordance with the manipulation defined in step (d). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for manipulating a curve object which generates a three-dimensional representation on a display coupled to a computer with a user actuated input controller for selectively positioning a cursor on the display, comprising the steps of:
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a) displaying a three-dimensional representation of a virtual box sized and positioned to surround a portion of the three-dimensional representation on the display, the three-dimensional representation extending outside the virtual box, the virtual box having at least one active zone sensitive to the presence of the cursor; b) displaying a dot on the three-dimensional representation where the virtual box is centered; c) detecting the cursor'"'"'s location over the dot; and d) responding to a repositioning of the cursor to effectuate a movement of the dot and the virtual box along the three-dimensional representation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 22)
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19. An apparatus for manipulating a curve object which generates a three-dimensional representation on a display coupled to a computer with a user actuated input controller for selectively positioning a cursor on the display, comprising:
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a) means for displaying a three-dimensional representation of a virtual box sized and positioned to surround a portion of the three-dimensional representation on the display, the three-dimensional representation extending outside the virtual box, the virtual box having at least one active zone sensitive to the presence of the cursor; b) means for detecting the cursor'"'"'s location over a least one active zone; c) means for activating a control movement type specified by the at least one active zone under the cursor; d) means for responding to a repositioning of the cursor by controlling the curve object to cause a manipulation of the portion of the three-dimensional representation surrounded by the virtual box; and e) means for re-displaying the three-dimensional representation in accordance with the manipulation defined in step (d). - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for manipulating curve object which generates a three-dimensional representation on a display coupled to a computer with a user actuated input controller for selectively positioning a cursor on the display, comprising:
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a) means for displaying a three-dimensional representation of a virtual box sized and positioned to surround a portion of the three-dimensional representation on the display, the three-dimensional representation extending outside the virtual box, the virtual box having at least one active zone sensitive to the presence of the cursor; b) means for displaying a dot on the three-dimensional representation where the virtual box is centered; c) means for detecting a cursor'"'"'s location over the dot; and d) means for responding to a repositioning of the cursor to effectuate a movement of the dot and the virtual box along the three-dimensional representation. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for manipulating a curved 3D surface object which generates a three-dimensional representation on a display coupled to a computer with an input controller for selectively positioning a cursor on the display, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) displaying a three-dimensional representation of a virtual box sized and positioned to surround a portion of the three-dimensional representation on the display, the three-dimensional representation extending outside of the virtual box, the virtual box having at least one active zone sensitive to the presence of the cursor; b) detecting the cursor'"'"'s location over at least one active zone; c) activating a control movement type specified by the active zone under the cursor; d) responding to a reposition of the cursor by controlling the curved 3D surface object to manipulate the three-dimensional representation surrounded by the virtual box; and e) re-displaying the three-dimensional representation in accordance with the manipulation defined in step (d). - View Dependent Claims (38, 40, 41, 42)
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39. The method of claim 39 wherein the portion of the three-dimensional representation surrounded by the virtual box has a tangential plane and the method includes the steps of:
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i) activating a translate movement type to translate the portion of the three-dimensional representation along the tangential plane; j) translating the portion of the three-dimensional representation in accordance with the repositioning of the cursor in step (d); and k) re-displaying the three-dimensional representation to produce a deflection in the portion of the three-dimensional representation along the tangential plane in accordance with step (j).
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43. An apparatus for manipulating a curved 3D surface object which displays a three-dimensional representation on a display coupled to a computer with an input controller for selectively positioning a cursor on the display at a location, comprising:
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means for displaying a three-dimensional representation of a virtual box to surround a portion of the three-dimensional representation on the display, the three-dimensional representation extending outside of the virtual box, the virtual box having at least one active zone sensitive to the presence of the cursor; means for detecting the cursor'"'"'s location over at least one active zone; means for activating a control movement type specified by the active zone under the cursor; means responsive to a reposition of the cursor for controlling the curved 3D surface object to manipulate the portion of the three-dimensional representation surrounded by the virtual box; and means responsive to the manipulation of the three-dimensional representation for re-displaying the manipulated three-dimensional representation. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method for manipulating a sweep object having input parameters and generating an image having a surface displayed on a display coupled to a computer with an input controller for selectively positioning a cursor on the display, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) displaying a three-dimensional representation of a virtual box proximal to one of the plurality of input parameters of the image on the display, the virtual box having at least one active zone sensitive to the presence of the cursor; b) detecting the cursor'"'"'s location over at least one active zone; c) activating a control movement type specified by the active zone under the cursor; d) responding to a reposition of the cursor by controlling the sweep object to effectuate a manipulation of the one parameter of the image proximal to the virtual box; and e) re-displaying the image in accordance with the manipulation of the one parameter. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification