Process for selecting and handling objects in a computer-aided design system
AssigneeDassault Systemes
InventorSebastien Rosel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Several elements are displayed on a computer display. The user is provided with a haptic device, for moving a cursor over the display. Distances between the cursor and the various elements are computed; the element with the smallest distance is highlighted on the display. When the user moves the haptic device, the identified element is changed, according to the distance between the cursor and the various elements. The user selects the identified element by actuating a select button. The invention makes it possible for the user to select one of the displayed elements, without having to move the cursor over the element to be selected. No prior knowledge of the shape of the elements is required for carrying out the selection process.
Claims21
A computer-implemented process for selecting elements among two sets of elements on a display, wherein:
- the first set of elements comprises modeled objects or parts thereof;
- and
- the second set of elements comprises tools for acting upon elements of the first set,
- the process comprising the steps of:
- displaying at least two elements of the first set on a display and at least two elements of the second set on the display;
- displaying a cursor of a haptic device on the display;
- comparing distances between the elements of each of the two sets and the cursor;
- emphasizing concurrently on the display one of the elements of the first set and one of the elements of the second set, according to the comparing step;
- and then:
- upon actuation of the user on a selector, selecting the emphasized element of the first set;
- and
- upon actuation of the user on a selector, selecting the emphasized element of the second set.
A data storage medium comprising storage instructions for selecting elements among two sets of elements on a display in a computer system, having a display and a haptic device, the instructions comprising:
- a routine for displaying on the display at least two elements of a first set of elements comprising modeled objects or parts thereof and at least two elements of a second set of elements comprising tools for acting upon elements of the first set;
- a routine for displaying a cursor of the haptic device on the display;
- a routine for comparing distances between the elements of each of the two sets and the cursor;
- a routine for emphasizing concurrently on the display one of the elements of the first set and one of the elements of the second set, according to the routine for comparing;
- and then:
- a routine for selecting the emphasized element of the first set upon actuation of the user on a selector of the computer system;
- and
- a routine for selecting the emphasized element of the second set upon actuation of the user on a selector of the computer system.
A computer-implemented process for selecting elements among two sets of elements on a display, wherein:
- the first set of elements comprises modeled objects or parts thereof;
- and
- the second set of elements comprises tools for acting upon elements of the first set, the process comprising the steps of:
- displaying at least two elements of the first set on a display wherein said elements comprise displayed objects;
- an element is a 3D element and a point of the element is the projection on the display surface of a barycentre of the 3D element;
- displaying at least two elements of the second set on the display wherein an element of said second set is associated with a half-line, and said element associated with a half-line is a tool handle for acting upon elements of the first set;
- displaying a cursor of a haptic device on the display;
- selecting an element of the first set and selecting an element of the second set, independently, according to a process comprising the steps of:
- comparing distances between the cursor and each element wherein the compared distance, for an element of the first set, is the Euclidian distance between the cursor and a point of the element or a weighted Euclidian distance between the cursor and a point of the element and, for an element of the second set, is the distance between cursor and associated half-lines;
- emphasizing concurrently on the display one of the elements of each set, according to the results of the comparing step comprising emphasizing the element with the smallest distance;
- and then:
- upon actuation of the user on a selector, selecting the emphasized element of the first set;
- and
- upon actuation of the user on a selector, selecting the emphasized element of the second set.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.