Determining and displaying geometric relationship between objects in a computer-implemented graphics system

• US 6,801,217 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Andersson, Håkan
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US09/939,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20010055031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 345/419, 345/672, 345/649, 345/648, 345/660, 345/661, 345/664, 345/653, 345/679, 345/650, 345/676
• US Class Current: 345/648
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour

Abstract

Method for the modification of three-dimensional objects via an input device allowing only two-dimensional input. The method comprises creating a three-dimensional object, displaying a three-dimensional representation, activating the three-dimensional object, displaying a representation of a three-dimensional coordinate system, selecting one of the axes of the three-dimensional coordinate system assigned to the object, shifting the origin of the assigned coordinate system within a global three-dimensional coordinate system along a line defined by the orientation of the selected axis of the assigned coordinate system within the global three-dimensional coordinate system, computing the three-dimensional object relative to the global coordinate system after shifting according to the displacement of the origin of the assigned coordinate system, and displaying a representation of the shifted three-dimensional object on the computer screen.

Claims