# US 2012/0032958 A1 · 3-D Model View Manipulation Apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0032958 A1 - Document ID: US20120032958A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/851,860 - Filed: 2010-08-06 - Published: 2012-02-09 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-06 - Assignees: Intergraph Technologies Company - Inventors: Curtis G. Werline - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120032958A1 ## CPC - G06T 19/20: Editing of three-dimensional [3D] images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts - G06T 2219/2016: Rotation, translation, scaling - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A 3-D view manipulation apparatus surrounds a 3-D model displayed on a display device, and allows a user to manipulate the view of the model by manipulating the apparatus, without having to divert the user's view from the model. The apparatus is transparent or semi-transparent, such that all of its surfaces are simultaneously visible. The apparatus may include control features on its surface, edges, or corners to facilitate changing the view of the model to a vantage point from or through that control feature. The apparatus may include a set of orthogonal axes at its center, about which the model may be made to rotate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of displaying a three-dimensional scene on a display device, the method comprising: processing graphics data to render a three-dimensional object; displaying the object; rendering a three-dimensional representation of a view manipulation apparatus; displaying the apparatus such that the apparatus surrounds the object, and the apparatus and object maintain a fixed orientation relative to one another when the orientation of the apparatus is manipulated on the display device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising reducing the apparent size of the object in reaction to the display of the apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a cube, and displaying the apparatus comprises simultaneously displaying six faces, eight corners, and twelve edges of the cube within the scene. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a control feature that, when activated, causes the orientation of the object to change to display the object from the vantage point of the activated control feature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus comprises a polyhedron, and the control feature comprises a three-dimensional object at a corner of the apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus comprises a polyhedron, and the control feature comprises a three-dimensional object at an edge formed by two faces of the apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein the control feature comprises a three-dimensional object on a face of the apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, wherein the control feature comprises text. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein orientation of the apparatus and object may be manipulated by dragging a corner, edge or face of the apparatus on the display device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: changing the view of the object by manipulating the apparatus; terminating the display of the apparatus; and increasing the apparent size of the object on the display device in reaction to terminating the display of the apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: displaying a multiple-axis coordinate system within the apparatus, such that the coordinate system maintains a fixed orientation relative to the object and the apparatus when the apparatus is moved on the display device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11 wherein the coordinate system comprises three axes, each axis orthogonal to the others. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12 wherein the object and the coordinate system are displayed at the geometric center of the apparatus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11, further comprising rotating the object about an axis when that axis is selected by a user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11, further comprising panning the object along an axis when that axis is selected by a user. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11, further comprising displaying the object from a pre-defined vantage point when the intersection of two axes is selected by a user. ### Claim 17 A computer program product for use on a computer system for displaying a three-dimensional scene on a display device, the computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code comprising: program code for processing graphics data to render a three-dimensional object; program code for displaying the object; program code for rendering a three-dimensional representation of a view manipulation apparatus; program code for displaying the apparatus such that the apparatus surrounds the object and maintains a fixed orientation relative to the object when the orientation of the apparatus is manipulated on the display device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer program product according to claim 17 further comprising program code for reducing the apparent size of the object on the display device in reaction to displaying the apparatus. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus comprises a cube, and the program code for displaying the apparatus comprises program code for displaying six faces, eight corners, and twelve edges of the cube within the scene. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The computer program product according to claim 17, the program code for rendering a three-dimensional representation of a view manipulation apparatus and the program code for displaying the apparatus further comprising program code displaying a control feature as part of the apparatus that, when activated, causes the orientation of the object to change to display the object from the vantage point of the activated control feature. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, wherein the apparatus comprises a polyhedron, and the control feature comprises a three-dimensional object at a corner of the apparatus. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, wherein the apparatus comprises a polyhedron, and the control feature comprises a three-dimensional object at an edge formed by two faces of the apparatus. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The computer program product according to claim 17, the program code for rendering a three-dimensional representation of a view manipulation apparatus and the program code for displaying the apparatus further comprising program code for displaying one or more three-dimensional symbols on at least one face of the apparatus. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A computer program product according to claim 23, wherein the one or more symbols comprise characters of text. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) A computer program product according to claim 23, wherein selecting one of the one or more symbols causes the orientation of the object and the apparatus to display the object from the vantage point of the face on which the one or more symbols are displayed. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The computer program product according to claim 17, further comprising: program code for changing the view of the object by manipulating the apparatus; program code for suspending the display of the apparatus; and program code for increasing the apparent size of the object on the display device in reaction to suspending the display of the apparatus. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The computer program product according to claim 17, further comprising: program code for displaying a multiple-axis coordinate system within the apparatus, such that the coordinate system maintains a fixed orientation to the object and the apparatus when the apparatus is moved on the display device. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The computer program product according to claim 27 wherein the coordinate system comprises three axes, each axis orthogonal to the others. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A method according to claim 28, wherein the program code for displaying the object and the multiple-axis coordinate system further comprises computer code for displaying the object and the coordinate system at the geometric center of the apparatus. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein the program code for displaying the object and the multiple-axis coordinate system further comprises: computer code for allowing a user to select an axis for rotating the object about the selected axis; and computer code for rotating the object about the selected axis. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) A method according to claim 27, wherein the program code for displaying the object and the multiple-axis coordinate system further comprises: computer code for allowing a user to select an axis for panning the object along the selected axis; and computer code for panning the object along the selected axis. ### Claim 32 An apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional scene on a display device, the apparatus comprising: an object display module capable of processing graphics data to render a three-dimensional image of an object and capable of displaying the object; a view manipulation apparatus module capable of rendering a three-dimensional image of a view manipulation apparatus comprising a plurality of faces and visible edges, and capable of displaying the apparatus surrounding the object such that the apparatus maintains a fixed orientation relative to the object when the orientation of the apparatus is moved on the display device. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising an apparent size reduction module capable of reducing the apparent size of the object on the display device in reaction to the display of the apparatus. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the apparatus is a cube, and the object display module is further capable of simultaneously displaying six faces, eight corners, and twelve edges of the cube within the scene. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the view manipulation apparatus module is further capable of displaying a control feature on the apparatus that, when activated, cause the orientation of the object to change to display the object from the vantage point of the activated control feature. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the apparatus comprises a polyhedron, and the control feature comprises a three-dimensional object at a corner of the apparatus. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the apparatus comprises a polyhedron, and the control feature comprises a three-dimensional object at an edge formed by two faces of the apparatus. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the control feature comprises one or more three-dimensional objects on a face of the apparatus. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) An apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a rotation module capable of changing the view of the object in response to manipulation of the apparatus by dragging a corner, edge or face of the apparatus on the display device. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) An apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising: a view manipulation apparatus removal module capable of terminating the display of the apparatus; and an apparent size increase module capable of increasing the apparent size of the object on the display device in response to terminating the display of the apparatus.