Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Graphic manipulation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-05
2002-09-17
Brier, Jeffery (Department: 2672)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Graphic manipulation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06452605
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer aided design technology for performing design work by setting a plurality of views of different origins and coordinate systems on a screen, and in particular to techniques for improving operability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, there is known a computer aided design (referred to hereunder as CAD) apparatus wherein drafting, simulation etc. in design work is performed in interactive form with a computer. As one example of a CAD apparatus, there is a device incorporating a view function which sets a plurality of views of different origins and coordinate systems on a screen, and performs design work in the respective views corresponding to elevation view, plan view and side view. With CAD provided with a view function, in order to define the input regions in the respective views, the setting of the view frames for the input regions is generally performed for each respective view.
However, with CAD provided with a view function, in the case of inputting a drawing element which exceeds the view frame, the view frame must be enlarged or the display scale factor for the drawing element changed before inputting the drawing element.
Generally, the input of the drawing element to one view frame accompanies the input operation for the drawing element to the other view frame. That is to say, when the drawing element is input to the elevation view, the drawing element must also be reflected in the plan view and the side view etc. Consequently, in the case where a plurality of view frames are set, the input of a drawing element which exceeds the view frame requires enlargement of all of the view frames. Hence operability is poor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention takes into consideration the above heretofore problems, with the object of providing techniques for improving operability in CAD provided with a view function, in the case of inputting a drawing element which exceeds the view frame, by performing automatic enlargement of the view frame or automatic modification of the display scale factor.
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to distribute recording media on which the computer aided design program of the present invention is recorded, so that people who acquire the recording media can easily construct a computer aided design apparatus.
To achieve the aforementioned objects, a first means for solving the problems is characterized in that a computer aided design apparatus comprises; a view creating device for creating a view in which an origin and a coordinate system are set on a screen, a view frame creating device for creating a view frame which becomes an input region for the view created by the view creating device, a first judgment device for judging, when a drawing element is being input to the view frame created by the view frame creating device, if part of the drawing element has been input to outside of the view frame, and a view frame enlarging device for enlarging, when judged by the first judgment device that part of the drawing element has been input to outside of the view frame, the view frame so as to contain the drawing element.
With such a construction, in the case of performing design work, at first a view in which is set an origin and a coordinate system is created by the view creating device. Then as required, a view frame serving as an input region for the view, is created by the view frame creating device. After this, the operation of inputting the drawing element to the created view frame is performed. With the operation of inputting the drawing element, when part of the drawing element is input to outside of the view frame, this condition is detected by the first judgment device. As a result, the view frame is automatically enlarged by the view frame enlarging device so as to contain the input drawing element. On the other hand, if the drawing element is not input to outside of the view frame, input of the drawing element to outside of the view frame is not detected, and hence the view frame is not automatically enlarged. That is to say, when part of the drawing element is input to outside of the view frame, the view frame is automatically enlarged to contain the input drawing element, and hence the operation of enlarging the view frame prior to input of the drawing element is not required. Consequently in the case of inputting a drawing element which exceeds the view frame, the operation of enlarging the view frame prior to input of the drawing element is not required, and hence operability can be improved.
Furthermore, the construction may be such that in the case where there is another view frame other than the view frame into which the drawing element has been input, the view frame enlarging device also enlarges the other view frame.
With such a construction, in the case where there is another view frame other than the view frame into which the drawing element has been input, the other view frame is also enlarged in conjunction with the enlargement of the view frame into which the drawing element has been input. For example, with a screen for displaying three views, when a drawing element is input to a view frame for displaying the elevation view, the input drawing element must also be input to view frames for displaying the plan view and the side view. Consequently, if the other view frames are also automatically enlarged, then when a drawing element is input to the other view frames, it is not necessary to again modify the size of the view frame. Hence operating efficiency can be increased.
Moreover, the construction may be such that the view frame enlarging device comprises; a second judgment device for judging, in the case where the view frame into which the drawing element has been input is enlarged, if the view frame would overlap the other view frame, and an enlargement prohibit device for prohibiting enlargement of the view frame into which the drawing element has been input and the other view frame, when judged by the second judgment device that there would be overlap.
With such a construction, the second judgment device judges, when the view frame into which the drawing element has been input is enlarged, if this would overlap the other view frame. Then, if judged that this would overlap the other view frame, enlargement of the view frame is prohibited by the enlargement prohibit device. Consequently, mutual overlapping of the view frames can be prevented, thus avoiding difficulties in the design operation.
In addition, the construction may be such that the view frame enlarging device comprises; a rectangular region computing device for computing a rectangular region circumscribing the drawing element and all of the already input drawing elements, and an enlarging device for enlarging the view frame into which the drawing element has been input so as to coincide with the rectangular region computed by the rectangular region computing device.
With such a construction, in enlarging the view frame so as to contain the input drawing element, at first a rectangular region circumscribing the drawing element and all of the already input drawing elements is computed by the rectangular region computing device. After this, the view frame is enlarged by the enlarging device so as to coincide with the computed rectangular region. Consequently, enlargement control of the view frame is performed by an extremely simple process, and hence any drop in performance of the computer aided design apparatus can be prevented.
A second means for solving the problems is characterized in that a computer aided design apparatus comprises; a view creating device for creating a view in which an origin and a coordinate system are set on a screen, a view frame creating device for creating a view frame which becomes an input region for the view created by the view creating device, a judgment device for judging, when a drawing element is being input to the view frame created by the view frame creating device, if part of the
Brier Jeffery
Fujitsu Limited
Staas & Hasley LLP
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