Systems and methods for interfacing with a virtual object in a haptic virtual environment
First Claim
1. A method for interfacing with a virtual object in a haptic virtual environment, the method comprising:
- generating, by a processor of a computing device, the virtual object comprising a first plurality of discrete points in the haptic virtual environment, wherein the virtual object comprises a virtual surface, wherein voxel density values associated with the first plurality of discrete points define a shape of the virtual object, and wherein each discrete point of the first plurality of distinct points having a density value greater than a density threshold is determined to be inside the virtual object;
identifying a first location of a user in real space;
determining, by the processor, a virtual tool comprising a second plurality of discrete points for use by the user in the haptic virtual environment;
responsive to identifying the first location of the user in real space, determining, by the processor, a first haptic interface location in the haptic virtual environment;
receiving information regarding a movement of the user to a second location in real space;
responsive to the movement, determining, by the processor, a second haptic interface location in the haptic virtual environment;
determining, by the processor, a proposed movement of the virtual tool towards the virtual surface of the virtual object responsive to the second haptic interface location;
responsive to the proposed movement of the virtual tool, determining, by the processor, penetration of one or more discrete points of the second plurality of discrete points of the virtual tool into the virtual surface of the virtual object;
calculating, by the processor, a force feedback as a function of the second haptic interface location, whereinthe force feedback corresponds to a resistance of the proposed movement of the virtual tool into the virtual object, andthe force feedback is calculated based in part upon a determination that at least one of the one or more discrete points of the second plurality of discrete points of the virtual tool has encountered a discrete point of the first plurality of discrete points of the virtual object having a voxel density value greater than the density threshold; and
causing, by the processor, a haptic interface device to provide the force feedback to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user of a modeling application modifies an initial virtual object using a sketch drawn on one or more construction planes. Typically, construction planes are connected by an axis that intersects the virtual object. The user can draw a sketch on each construction plane, and the modeling application interpolates a shape along the axis between the sketches to determine what material in the virtual object is to be removed from it. In this manner, material may be removed to create a recess or hole in the virtual object or otherwise to slice away material from the object. A user can use two or more axes and construction planes to produce complex shapes from the initial virtual object. A user can also select a portion of a virtual object and mirror the selected portion. Modifications that the user makes in the selected portion are made correspondingly in the mirrored portion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for interfacing with a virtual object in a haptic virtual environment, the method comprising:
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generating, by a processor of a computing device, the virtual object comprising a first plurality of discrete points in the haptic virtual environment, wherein the virtual object comprises a virtual surface, wherein voxel density values associated with the first plurality of discrete points define a shape of the virtual object, and wherein each discrete point of the first plurality of distinct points having a density value greater than a density threshold is determined to be inside the virtual object; identifying a first location of a user in real space; determining, by the processor, a virtual tool comprising a second plurality of discrete points for use by the user in the haptic virtual environment; responsive to identifying the first location of the user in real space, determining, by the processor, a first haptic interface location in the haptic virtual environment; receiving information regarding a movement of the user to a second location in real space; responsive to the movement, determining, by the processor, a second haptic interface location in the haptic virtual environment; determining, by the processor, a proposed movement of the virtual tool towards the virtual surface of the virtual object responsive to the second haptic interface location; responsive to the proposed movement of the virtual tool, determining, by the processor, penetration of one or more discrete points of the second plurality of discrete points of the virtual tool into the virtual surface of the virtual object; calculating, by the processor, a force feedback as a function of the second haptic interface location, wherein the force feedback corresponds to a resistance of the proposed movement of the virtual tool into the virtual object, and the force feedback is calculated based in part upon a determination that at least one of the one or more discrete points of the second plurality of discrete points of the virtual tool has encountered a discrete point of the first plurality of discrete points of the virtual object having a voxel density value greater than the density threshold; and causing, by the processor, a haptic interface device to provide the force feedback to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 19, 20)
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9. A system for interfacing with a virtual object in a haptic virtual environment, the system comprising:
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a haptic interface device, wherein the haptic interface device is configured to sense a current location of a user in real space; and a modeling application for modeling the virtual object comprising a first plurality of discrete points, wherein the virtual object comprises a virtual surface, wherein voxel density values associated with the first plurality of discrete points define a shape of the virtual object, and wherein each discrete point of the first plurality of distinct points having a density value greater than a density threshold is determined to be inside the virtual object, and a virtual tool comprising a second plurality of discrete points for use by the user in the haptic virtual environment, wherein the modeling application is configured, when executed by a processor of a computing device, to; determine a haptic interface location in the haptic virtual environment corresponding to the current location of the user in real space, receive, from the haptic interface device, information identifying a movement to an updated current location of the user in real space, determine, based upon the information, a second haptic interface location in the haptic virtual environment, responsive to the second haptic interface location, determine a proposed movement of the virtual tool towards the virtual surface of the virtual object, responsive to the proposed movement of the virtual tool, determine penetration of one or more discrete points of the second plurality of discrete points of the virtual tool into the virtual surface of the virtual object, calculate a force feedback as a function of the second haptic interface location, wherein the force feedback corresponds to a resistance of the movement of the virtual tool into the virtual object, and the force feedback is calculated based in part upon a determination that at least one of the one or more discrete points of the second plurality of discrete points of the virtual tool has encountered a discrete point of the first plurality of discrete points of the virtual object having a voxel density value greater than the density threshold, and cause the haptic interface device to provide the force feedback to the user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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Specification