Three dimensional contriver tool for modeling with multi-touch devices

• US 8,902,222 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Fowler, Gregory W., Ma, Vincent, Brown, Hans-Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K
• Application Number:
  US13/351,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20130181972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2021 Shape modification

Abstract

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provides the ability to perform a three-dimensional (3D) modeling operation. A modeling tool is activated in a 3D modeling application. A visual representation (having three separate regions) of a grid system tool is displayed on a digital modeling canvas of the 3D modeling application. The grid system controls whether a gesture is captured as a modeling operation or a navigation operation. A starting touch event (of the gesture) is received in/on one of the three separate regions. The region where the starting touch event is received determines the operation that is to be performed/selected. The operation may be a 3D geometry creation operation, a restroking operation, or a navigation operation.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for performing three-dimensional (3D) modeling comprising:

(a) activating, in a 3D modeling application executing on a computer, a modeling tool;

(b) displaying, in the 3D modeling application, a visual representation of a grid system tool on a digital modeling canvas, wherein;

(i) the grid system tool controls whether a gesture is captured as a modeling operation or a navigation operation; and

(ii) the visual representation comprises three separate regions;

(c) receiving a starting touch event, of the gesture, on one of the three separate regions, wherein the separate region in which the starting touch event is received determines whether the gesture is captured as the modeling operation or the navigation operation without invoking a separate modeling or navigating tool;

(d) if the starting touch event is in a first region of the three separate regions, the starting touch event triggers the modeling operation by creating a first 3D geometry based on the gesture;

(e) if the starting touch event is in a second region of the three separate regions, the starting touch event triggers a restroking modeling operation if a second 3D geometry is active or triggers the navigation operation if the second 3D geometry is not active; and

(f) if the starting touch event is in a third region of the three separate regions or outside of the visual representation of the grid system tool, the starting touch event triggers the navigation operation based on the gesture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer comprises a multi-touch device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital modeling canvas is displayed in response to the activating.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital modeling canvas comprises a blank canvas that does not contain any geometric objects.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the navigation operation modifies a viewing angle of the digital modeling canvas;

based on the viewing angle, a dominant plane is determined; and

the grid system tool automatically and dynamically adapts itself and is displayed consistent with the dominant plane.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the visual representation of the grid system tool comprises a polygonal shaped grid having the three separate regions;

the first region of the grid system tool comprises one or more first cells defining a center region of the polygonal shaped grid;

the second region of the grid system tool comprises one or more second cells surrounding the first region, wherein the second region is visually distinguishable from the first region; and

the third region comprises one or more third cells that surround the second region and define a boundary of the polygonal shaped grid, wherein the third region is visually distinguishable from the first region and from the second region.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the third region is visually distinguishable from the second region based on a difference in densities between the one or more third cells in the third region and the one or more second cells in the second region.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the first region is displayed in a different color from a color of the second region.

9. An apparatus for performing three-dimensional (3D) modeling in computer system comprising:

(a) a computer having a memory; and

(b) a 3D modeling application executing on the computer, wherein the 3D modeling application is configured to;

(i) activate a modeling tool;

(ii) display a visual representation of a grid system tool on a digital modeling canvas, wherein;

(1) the grid system tool controls whether a gesture is captured as a modeling operation or a navigation operation; and

(2) the visual representation comprises three separate regions;

(iii) receive a starting touch event, of the gesture, on one of the three separate regions, wherein the separate region in which the starting touch event is received determines whether the gesture is captured as the modeling operation or the navigation operation without invoking a separate modeling or navigating tool;

(iv) if the starting touch event is in a first region of the three separate regions, the starting touch event triggers the modeling operation and creates a first 3D geometry based on the gesture;

(v) if the starting touch event is in a second region of the three separate regions, the starting touch event triggers a restroking modeling operation if a second 3D geometry is active or triggers the navigation operation if the second 3D geometry is not active; and

(vi) if the starting touch event is in a third region of the three separate regions or outside of the visual representation of the grid system tool, the starting touch event triggers the navigation operation based on the gesture.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer comprises a multi-touch device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the digital modeling canvas is displayed in response to the activating.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the digital modeling canvas comprises a blank canvas that does not contain any geometric objects.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the navigation operation modifies a viewing angle of the digital modeling canvas;

based on the viewing angle, a dominant plane is determined; and

the grid system tool automatically and dynamically adapts itself and is displayed consistent with the dominant plane.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the visual representation of the grid system tool comprises a polygonal shaped grid having the three separate regions;

the first region of the grid system tool comprises one or more first cells defining a center region of the polygonal shaped grid;

the second region of the grid system tool comprises one or more second cells surrounding the first region, wherein the second region is visually distinguishable from the first region; and

the third region comprises one or more third cells that surround the second region and define a boundary of the polygonal shaped grid, wherein the third region is visually distinguishable from the first region and from the second region.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the third region is visually distinguishable from the second region based on a difference in densities between the one or more third cells in the third region and the one or more second cells in the second region.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the first region is displayed in a different color from a color of the second region.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with computer program instructions for a three-dimensional modeling application, which when accessed by a computer cause the computer to load the program instructions to a memory therein creating a special purpose data structure causing the computer to operate as a specially programmed computer, executing a method of performing three-dimensional (3D) modeling, comprising:

(a) activating, in the 3D modeling application in the specially programmed computer, a modeling tool;

(b) displaying, in the 3D modeling application in the specially programmed computer, a visual representation of a grid system tool on a digital modeling canvas, wherein;

(i) the grid system tool controls whether a gesture is captured as a modeling operation or a navigation operation; and

(ii) the visual representation comprises three separate regions;

(c) receiving, in the 3D modeling application in the specially programmed computer, a starting touch event, of the gesture, on one of the three separate regions, wherein the separate region in which the starting touch event is received determines whether the gesture is captured as the modeling operation or the navigation operation without invoking a separate modeling or navigating tool;

(d) if the starting touch event is in a first region of the three separate regions, the starting touch event triggers the modeling operation by creating, in the 3D modeling application in the specially programmed computer, a first 3D geometry based on the gesture;

(e) if the starting touch event is in a second region of the three separate regions, the starting touch event triggers, in the 3D modeling application in the specially programmed computer, a restroking modeling operation if a second 3D geometry is active or triggers the navigation operation if the second 3D geometry is not active; and

if the starting touch event is in a third region of the three separate regions or outside of the visual representation of the grid system tool, the starting touch event triggers, in the 3D modeling application in the specially programmed computer, the navigation operation based on the gesture.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the computer comprises a multi-touch device.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the digital modeling canvas is displayed in response to the activating.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the digital modeling canvas comprises a blank canvas that does not contain any geometric objects.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein:

the navigation operation modifies a viewing angle of the digital modeling canvas;

based on the viewing angle, a dominant plane is determined; and

the grid system tool automatically and dynamically adapts itself and is displayed consistent with the dominant plane.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein:

the visual representation of the grid system tool comprises a polygonal shaped grid having the three separate regions;

the first region of the grid system tool comprises one or more first cells defining a center region of the polygonal shaped grid;

the second region of the grid system tool comprises one or more second cells surrounding the first region, wherein the second region is visually distinguishable from the first region; and

the third region comprises one or more third cells that surround the second region and define a boundary of the polygonal shaped grid, wherein the third region is visually distinguishable from the first region and from the second region.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein:

the third region is visually distinguishable from the second region based on a difference in densities between the one or more third cells in the third region and the one or more second cells in the second region.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein:

the first region is displayed in a different color from a color of the second region.