User interface for controlling three-dimensional animation of an object
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsGregory E. Niles, Guido Hucking, Brian Edward Walsh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A user can control the animation of an object via an interface that includes a control area and a user-manipulable control element. The control area includes an ellipse. The user-manipulable control element includes a three-dimensional arrow with a straight body, a three-dimensional arrow with a curved body, or a sphere. In one embodiment, the interface includes a virtual trackball that is used to manipulate the user-manipulable control element.
Claims20
A method for animating an object according to a speed with which the object moves and a direction in which the object moves, the method comprising:
- displaying a user interface comprising:
- a control area comprising an ellipse and a slider;
- a representation of a three-dimensional vector having a variable orientation that specifies the direction, wherein the vector representation is located mostly within the ellipse;
- a first user-manipulable control element that comprises a virtual trackball, wherein the first user-manipulable control element is located within the ellipse;
- and
- a second user-manipulable control element that specifies the speed, wherein the second user-manipulable control element is located along the slider;
- receiving a first input via the first user-manipulable control element, the first input comprising mousing down within the virtual trackball and continuing to mouse down for a period of time;
- responsive to receiving the first input, displaying during the period of time a spherical mesh that represents the virtual trackball;
- receiving a second input via the first user-manipulable control element, the second input comprising spinning the virtual trackball to change the orientation of the vector representation while continuing to mouse down within the virtual trackball;
- receiving a third input via the first user-manipulable control element, the third input comprising mousing up;
- responsive to receiving the third input, removing the spherical mesh from display;
- receiving input via the second user-manipulable control element, the input comprising dragging the second user-manipulable control element to set the speed;
- and
- animating the object based on the received input.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon data representing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for animating an object according to a speed with which the object moves and a direction in which the object moves, the operations comprising:
- displaying a user interface comprising:
- a control area comprising an ellipse and a slider;
- a representation of a three-dimensional vector having a variable orientation that specifies the direction, wherein the vector representation is located mostly within the ellipse;
- a first user-manipulable control element that comprises a virtual trackball, wherein the first user-manipulable control element is located within the ellipse;
- and
- a second user-manipulable control element that specifies the speed, wherein the second user-manipulable control element is located along the slider;
- receiving a first input via the first user-manipulable control element, the first input comprising mousing down within the virtual trackball and continuing to mouse down for a period of time;
- responsive to receiving the first input, displaying during the period of time a spherical mesh that represents the virtual trackball;
- receiving a second input via the first user-manipulable control element, the second input comprising spinning the virtual trackball to change the orientation of the vector representation while continuing to mouse down within the virtual trackball;
- receiving a third input via the first user-manipulable control element, the third input comprising mousing up;
- responsive to receiving the third input, removing the spherical mesh from display;
- receiving input via the second user-manipulable control element, the input comprising dragging the second user-manipulable control element to set the speed;
- and
- animating the object based on the received input.
A system comprising a processor configured to perform operations for animating an object according to a speed with which the object moves and a direction in which the object moves, the operations comprising:
- displaying a user interface comprising:
- a control area comprising an ellipse and a slider;
- a representation of a three-dimensional vector having a variable orientation that specifies the direction, wherein the vector representation is located mostly within the ellipse;
- a first user-manipulable control element that comprises a virtual trackball, wherein the first user-manipulable control element is located within the ellipse;
- and
- a second user-manipulable control element that specifies the speed, wherein the second user-manipulable control element is located along the slider;
- receiving a first input via the first user-manipulable control element, the first input comprising mousing down within the virtual trackball and continuing to mouse down for a period of time;
- responsive to receiving the first input, displaying during the period of time a spherical mesh that represents the virtual trackball;
- receiving a second input via the first user-manipulable control element, the second input comprising spinning the virtual trackball to change the orientation of the vector representation while continuing to mouse down within the virtual trackball;
- receiving a third input via the first user-manipulable control element, the third input comprising mousing up;
- responsive to receiving the third input, removing the spherical mesh from display;
- receiving input via the second user-manipulable control element, the input comprising dragging the second user-manipulable control element to set the speed;
- and
- animating the object based on the received input.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.