US 6,295,069 B1 · Three dimensional computer graphics tool facilitating movement of displayed object

Abstract

A object movement tool (100) creates an object movement reference frame (26) which has three frame orientation knob handles lying along mutually orthogonal frame handle axes. Provision of the three frame orientation knob handles facilitates use of object movement tool with its object movement reference frame for (1) the positioning, on the screen, a first displayed object (P) relative to selected features (surfaces, edges, or points) on a second displayed object (B), and (2) positioning, on the screen, of a frame center knob handle (220) of the first displayed object (P) with a feature of a second displayed object (B). Another further use of object movement tool is the repositioning of the object movement reference frame itself relative to its associated displayed object.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A computer program product which provides visually perceptible location of a first displayed object relative to a second displayed object on a display device upon which the first object and second object are depicted, the program comprising a memory storing computer readable code, the computer readable code being executable on a processor to which information is input via a user input device;

wherein execution of the program generates a display of a movement reference frame relative to the first object on the display device, the movement reference frame being shown on the display device as having three mutually orthogonal frame handle axes and a frame center knob handle at an intersection of the three mutually orthogonal frame handle axes, the movement reference frame being anchored relative to the first object;
and wherein in response to operation of the user input device the program causes one of (1) a selected one of the frame handle axes with the first object anchored to the movement reference frame to be aligned with a selected feature of the second object and (2) the frame center knob handle with the first object anchored to the movement reference frame to be aligned with a selected feature of the second object.

A method for providing a visually perceptible location of a displayed first object relative to a displayed second object, both the first object and the second object being depicted on a display device, the display device having a pointer displayed thereon, the pointer being movable on the display device in accordance with operation of a user input device;

the method comprising:
generating a display of a movement reference frame relative to the first object on the display device, the movement reference frame being shown on the display device as three mutually orthogonal frame handle axes and a frame center knob handle at an intersection of the three mutually orthogonal frame handle axes, the movement reference frame being anchored relative to the first object;
in response to operation of the user input device, aligning, with a selected feature of the second object, one of (1) a selected one of the frame handle axes with the first object anchored to the movement reference frame and (2) the frame center knob handle with the first object anchored to the movement reference frame:
(1) provides a menu of features of the object;
(2) causes the movement reference frame to be reoriented with respect to a selected feature of the displayed object, wherein a selected one of the frame handle axes is aligned with the selected feature of the object, the selected feature of the object being one of the following:
(1) a selected point on the object;
(2) an imaginary line connected between two selected points on the object;
(3) a selected edge of the object;
(4) a selected face of the object;
and (5) an axis of the object when the object is a cylindrical object.

7 more elements

A method for providing a visually perceptible location of a displayed object on a display device, the display device having a pointer displayed thereon, the pointer being moveable on the display device in accordance with operation of a user input device;

the method comprising:
generating a display of a movement reference frame relative to the object on the display device, the movement reference frame being shown on the display device as three mutually orthogonal frame handle axes and a frame center knob handle at an intersection of the three mutually orthogonal frame axes;
providing a menu of selected features of the object;
in response to operation of the user input device, reorienting the movement reference frame with respect to a selected feature of the displayed object;
wherein reorienting the movement reference frame comprises aligning a selected one of the frame handle axes with the selected feature of the object, and wherein aligning the selected one of the frame handle axes with the selected feature of the object comprises aligning with one of the following features of the object:
(1) a selected point on the object;
(2) an imaginary line connected between two selected points on the object;
(3) a selected edge of the object;
(4) a selected face of the object;
and (5) an axis of the object when the object is a cylindrical object.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Three dimensional computer graphics tool facilitating movement of displayed object

Life of this patent

Three dimensional computer graphics tool facilitating movement of displayed object

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44