Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-29
2001-04-17
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S960000, C345S420000, C700S103000, C700S104000, C706S919000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219049
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This application relates to the field of computer-aided design and more particularly to the field of accessing and manipulating data describing a model constructed using computer-aided design.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computer-aided design software can be used to construct and manipulate computer drawings of objects referred to as “models”. The user is presented with a display of the model on the computer screen and manipulates the model using keyboard commands, a mouse/cursor combination, and other various input means. Changes to the model are reflected in the screen display of the model as the user makes the changes or, alternatively, in response to the user issuing a specific command to update the screen display of the model. In either case, the screen display of the model serves as the main source of model information to the user and as the user's reference for inputting and changing features of the model.
As modeling software becomes more powerful, it also becomes more complex. This increase in complexity increases the difficulty of use of the modeling software. If the software becomes too complex, then the user will have a difficult time making modifications and/or determining critical information about the model, especially since the screen display of the model is the user's main source of information and point of reference for facilitating input. This problem becomes more acute when the model is a three-dimensional model since, depending on the modeling software and the nature of the model, it is sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to see the entirety of the model at any one time.
One way to address the increasing complexity of modeling software is to provide alternatives to the traditional techniques for presenting the model information to the user that allow the user to manipulate the model information. U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,991 to Ohcoshi et al. discloses a system for graphically checking interference between stationary and moving objects. A design layout is graphically displayed and an object or a person is moved through the design layout by the graphical display device. Column 9, lines 64-66 indicate that along with displaying the design layout, the system can display a chart showing connections and positions of objects in the design layout.
Although the Ohcoshi et al. patent addresses a specific problem associated with modeling in the specific situation discussed in the patent, it does not address the general problem of modeling software complexity and unwieldiness and it does not provide a general alternative technique for accessing and manipulating models. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an alternative and effective technique for presenting and manipulating model data that allows the user to easily make changes to a model and that presents model information to the user that is useful although not apparent from simply viewing the model on the screen display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a graphical browser displays and manipulates a computer model by accessing data indicative of features and geometric characteristics of the model, presents graphical data indicative of features of the model, and allows a user to graphically manipulate features to provide corresponding changes to the model. The data may be accessed by interfacing to feature data and geometric data of the model. Different icons, indicative of different types of features of the model, may be displayed. The icons may be ordered and connected to indicate an order of creation of features of the model. The icons may be presented in a way to indicate interdependency of features.
Graphically manipulating the features may include altering the ordering of the features of the model, selectively suppressing certain ones of the features, or rolling back the model to a particular feature, so that that particular feature and subsequent features are suppressed. Graphically manipulating the features may also include stepping through each feature of the model, one at a time, to unsuppress each feature on the model, one at a time. Presenting graphical data may also include presenting various alignment features of the model.
According further to the present invention, a computer-aided design system for displaying and manipulating a computer model presents the computer model in a modeling portion of a computer screen, presents graphical data indicative of features of the model in a graphical browser portion of the computer screen, highlights a subset of the modeling portion in response to a user selecting a corresponding subset of the graphical browser portion, and highlights a subset of the graphical browser portion in response to the user selecting a corresponding subset of the modeling portion.
The graphical browser provides the user with a powerful technique for creating and editing models. In the case of three dimensional models, the graphical browser provides the user with simultaneous access to all of the features of the model even if all of the model features cannot be seen all at the same time in a screen display of the model. The data manipulation features of the graphical browser allow the user to easily enter and edit model data in ways that would be difficult or cumbersome if the user were forced to use only the screen display of the model as an input reference.
Provided herein is a system for displaying and manipulating a computer model, which may include data accessing means, for accessing data indicative of features and geometric characteristics of the model, feature selection means, coupled to said data accessing means, for allowing a user to select a feature of the model, and determination means, for determining a characteristic geometry of a feature. The system may also include preview means, coupled to the feature selection means and data accessing means, for previewing the mating of the feature to a component of the model based on the characteristic geometry of the feature.
Provided herein is a method of displaying and manipulating a computer model, including allowing a user to select a feature of the model and determining a characteristic geometry of the feature. The method may also include dynamically previewing the mating of the feature to a component of the model. The user may be permitted to select among different mating scenarios between the feature and the component.
Provided herein is a method of displaying and manipulating a computer model, including allowing a user to select a feature of the model, determining a characteristic geometry of the feature, dynamically previewing the mating of the feature to a component of the model, allowing the user to alternate between different mating scenarios, and permitting the user to mate the feature to the component in the previewed geometry.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5006991 (1991-04-01), Ohcoshi et al.
patent: 5165015 (1992-11-01), Coggins
patent: 5293479 (1994-03-01), Quintero et al.
patent: 5367622 (1994-11-01), Coggins
patent: 5586052 (1996-12-01), Iannuzzi et al.
patent: 5619630 (1997-04-01), Minami et al.
patent: 5754738 (1998-05-01), Saucedo et al.
patent: 5905501 (1999-05-01), Kato
patent: WO 97/22952 (1997-06-01), None
Corcoran David
Hirschtick John K.
Kallman Mick
Lokay Linda
Payne Michael
Bayerl Raymond J.
Foley Hoag & Eliot LLP
SolidWorks Corporation
LandOfFree
Mate inferencing does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Mate inferencing, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mate inferencing will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2548679