Method and apparatus for generating three dimensional graphic symbols

Assignee: Honeywell Inc

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Filing: 1991-04-25

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Granted: —

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Expires: 2011-04-25

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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for generating three dimensional graphic symbols. Each symbol includes a plurality of polygons referenced to a data point in a cartesian coordinate system, for example, having X, Y and Z axes. Apparatus for storing a vertice list is included. The vertice list characterizes each symbol and includes a starting address and a plurality of vertices, wherein each vertice is comprised of X, Y, and Z offsets from the data point. In one embodiment, each vertice has a surface normal assigned to it. Connected to the vertice storing apparatus is an apparatus (104) for assigning an icon ID reference numeral to each symbol. An apparatus (106) for mapping to the starting address is further connected to an output of the assigning apparatus. The mapping apparatus uses the icon ID reference numeral to point to each symbol's starting address. Apparatus for transforming (100) the vertice list into a different coordinate system is arranged to receive the vertice list from the mapping apparatus. Apparatus for tiling (102) each symbol is arranged to receive the transformed vertice list from the transforming apparatus.

Inventors

👤 John F. Dawson
👤 Douglas E. Thorpe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction EP

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 05:03

CPC Classifications

G; G06; G06T; G06T15/00; G06T15/10; G06T15/20; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/976

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5

Claim 1

Independent Claim 179 words

An apparatus for generating three dimensional graphic symbols, wherein each symbol is comprised of a plurality of polygons referenced to a datum point in a Cartesian coordinate system having Z, Y and z axes characterized by: (a) a means (18, Fig. 4 to 6) for storing a vertice list which characterizes each symbol wherein the vertice list includes a starting address and further comprises a plurality of vertices, wherein each vertice is comprised of X,Y and Z offsets from the datum point and each polygon has a surface normal assigned to it; (b) a means (12) for assigning an ICON ID reference numeral to each symbol; (c) a first memory means (14) for mapping to the starting address using the ICON ID reference numeral (38) to point to each symbol's starting address; (d) means (100) for transforming the vertice list into a screen coordinate system arranged to receive the vertice list from the mapping means; and (e) means for tiling (102) each symbol wherein the tiling means is arranged to receive the transformed vertice list from the transforming means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 188 words

Apparatus according to Claim 1 characterized in that the tiling means (102) comprises: (a) register means (104) for storing the ICON ID reference numeral (32) having an output (105) for transmitting the ICON ID reference numeral (32); (b) a second memory means (106) for mapping to the starting address (103) using the ICON ID reference numeral (32) to point to each symbol's starting address (103) wherein the second memory means (106) is arranged to receive the ICON ID reference numeral (32) from the register (104) means; (c) a first counter means (108) for processing the starting address (103) wherein the first counter means (108) receives the starting address from the second memory means (106); (d) a third memory means (110) for storing and retrieving the connectivity list (Figure 8) for each symbol in response to receiving the processed starting address (109) from the first counter means (108); (e) a fourth memory means (116) for storing and retrieving color data in response to the retrieved connectivity list (124); and (f) a fifth memory means (118) for storing and retrieving transformed coordinate data in response to the retrieved connectivity list.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

Apparatus according to Claim 2 characterized in that the vertice and surface normal list (Figure 8) comprises a plurality of vertice sets (Figures 5,6) wherein each vertice set is comprised of a data word for each coordinate and a data word for the surface normal (Figure 6).

Claim 4

Independent Claim 139 words

A method for generating three dimensional graphic symbols, wherein each symbol is comprised of a plurality of polygons referenced to a datum point in a Cartesian coordinate system have X, Y and Z axes characterized by: (a) storing a vertice list which characterizes each symbol wherein the vertice list includes a starting address and further comprises a plurality of vertices, wherein each vertice is comprised of X,Y and Z offsets from the datum point and each polygon has a surface normal assigned to it; (b) assigning an ICON ID reference numeral to each symbol; (c) mapping to the starting address using the ICON ID reference numeral to point to each symbol's starting address; (d) transforming the vertice list into a screen coordinate system after mapping to the starting address; and (e) tiling each symbol using the transformed vertice list.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 41 words

Method according to Claim 4 characterized in that the vertice list comprises a plurality of vertice sets wherein each vertice set is comprised of a data word for each coordinate and at least one data word for each assigned surface normal.

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