US 5,632,008 A · Method of and apparatus for navigation display

Abstract

A method and apparatus for navigation display when a graphic element is to be created in relation to a graphic element which has already been generated on a two-dimensional CAD system. A position which may possibly be indicated is displayed for navigation to allow the user to produce a drawing on a display screen with improved operation efficiency. In order to display particular points of a graphic element close to a cursor, a search range for searching for the graphic element is first obtained. Then, the present position of the cursor is obtained, and an identifier of the graphic element in the search range around the present cursor position is obtained. All particular points of the obtained graphic element are determined, and displayed on the display screen. One of the determined particular points which is closest to the cursor is determined, and displayed in emphasis on the display screen.

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Claims7

Dependent claims

A method of navigation display for displaying on a display screen proposed selection points of a graphic element to aid an operator to perform manual coordinate selection in an interactive CAD system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining, from a search range setting table, a search range disposed around a cursor on the display screen of the CAD system for searching for said graphic element having at least a portion thereof contained in the search range;
(b) obtaining a present position of the cursor;
(c) identifying said graphic element which is positioned in said search range that is disposed around the present position of the cursor and obtaining an identifier thereof;
(d) based on said identifier, determining a plurality of all selection points of said graphic element, definitions of said selection points having been predetermined for each type of graphic element so as to include at least points that define the shape of the graphic element;
(e) displaying said plurality of all selection points which have been determined on the display screen with symbols distinguishable from other points displayed on the display screen;
(f) determing one of said all selection points which is closest to said cursor;
and
(g) displaying the determined one of said all selection points in emphasis with a symbol distinguishable from the other selection points, thereby prompting the operator to make a selection,
said steps (a) through (g) being repetitively carried out at predetermined intervals while the CAD system is awaiting an indication of selection from the operator.

6 more elements

An apparatus for navigation display for displaying on a display screen proposed selection points of a graphic element to aid an operator to perform manual coordinate selection in an interactive CAD system, the apparatus comprising:

graphic element information memory means for storing graphic element information related to graphic elements including a straight line, a circle, and an arc which are required to produce a drawing;
display means for displaying said graphic elements based on graphic element information read from said graphic element information memory means;
cursor information recognizing means for recognizing a search range for one of said graphic elements, a position of a cursor being displayed by said display means, and a hit position where the displayed cursor is clicked;
graphic element searching means for recognizing the one of said graphic elements in said search range, among said graphic elements being displayed by said display means, and outputting an identifier of said recognized graphic element;
selection point generating means for generating all selection points of the one of said graphic elements based on the identifier thereof output from said graphic element searching means, definitions of said selection points having been predetermined for each type of graphic element so as to include at least points that define the shape of the graphic element;
rubber banding generating means for generating a rubber banding pattern of a new graphic element to be created from the present position of the cursor and the hit position which are recognized by said cursor information recognizing means;
and
display position calculating means for calculating display positions for the selection points generated by said selection point generating means and the rubber banding pattern generated by said rubber banding generating means, and instructing said display means to display the selection points with symbols distinguishable from other points displayed on the display screen and the rubber banding pattern in the calculated display positions.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description6,209 words

Summary1,143 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for navigation display to display particular points in a graphic element, and more particularly, to a method of and an apparatus for navigation display to display guidance positional information about a position which is to be possibly indicated next, when a graphic element such as a straight line is to be created in connection to or contact with an existing graphic element such as a line segment, a circle, or an arc in an interactive system such as a computer-aided design (CAD) system.

#2. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings18 figures

#FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an operation sequence illustrative of the principles of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a detailed process of determining particular points;

#FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a detailed process of determining particular points of a straight line;

Detailed description4,800 words

#FIG. 1 shows an operation sequence illustrative of the principles of the present invention. A navigation display method according to the present invention will first be described below with reference to FIG. 1.

#In the navigation display method, a search range is obtained from a search range setting table in a step S1. A search range is a rectangular range, for example, established around the position of a cursor on a graphic display screen, and can be set as desired by the user. If "5" is set in the search range setting table, then a search range in the shape of a square having a size 5 mm.times.5 mm is established around the position of the cursor, and a graphic element is searched for in the established search range.

#Then, the position of the cursor at the present time is obtained in a step S2. The present cursor position can be obtained based on movement information from a mouse. Thereafter, a step S3 determines whether there is a graphic element in the search range around the present cursor position obtained in the step S2, and, if a graphic element is found in the search range, obtains an identifier (ID) of the graphic element.

Facts

Application

08/693,501Filed 7 Aug 1996 · continuation

Priority

JP 6-0366548 Mar 1994

Granted

20 May 1997

Term ended

1 Sep 2014

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination. Patent term adjustment is unavailable; no adjustment was added.

Classification4 codes

G06T 11/23
Drawing from basic elements: using straight lines or curves
G06F 3/04845
For the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a…:…
G06T
Image data processing or generation, in general
G06F
Computing and data processing

Method of and apparatus for navigation display

Life of this patent

Method of and apparatus for navigation display

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims7

Description6,209 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description6,209 words