US5774111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing a dynamically oriented compass cursor on computer displays
Assignee: Dassault Systemes SE
•
Filing: 1996-02-12
•
Granted: 1998-06-30
•
Expires: 2016-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A computer-aided design and drawing system having a dynamically oriented compass cursor is disclosed. In the interactive computer-controlled drawing system, a method and apparatus is disclosed for automatically generating and manipulating a dynamic compass cursor. The method comprises the steps of: 1) generating a compass cursor in a first orientation, the compass cursor being responsive to movement of a cursor control device; 2) selecting a geometrical element having a second orientation; and 3) selectively re-orienting the compass to the second orientation and maintaining the second orientation until a new orientation for the dynamic compass cursor is selected.
Inventors
- 👤 Pascal Lecland
- 👤 Antoine Balestrieri
- 👤 Duy Minh Vu
- 👤 Andre Clement
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04845; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04812
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
In an interactive computer-controlled drawing system, a method for generating and manipulating a dynamic compass cursor, said method comprising the steps of: generating a compass cursor in a first orientation, said compass cursor being responsive to movement of a cursor control device; selecting a geometrical element having a second orientation; and automatically re-orienting said compass to said second orientation and maintaining said second orientation until a new orientation for said dynamic compass cursor is selected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
In an interactive computer-controlled drawing system, a method for generating and manipulating a dynamic compass cursor, said method comprising the steps of: generating a compass cursor in a first orientation, said compass cursor being responsive to movement of a cursor control device; selecting a geometrical element having a second orientation; and automatically re-orienting said compass to said second orientation and maintaining said second orientation until a new orientation for said dynamic compass cursor is selected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said geometrical element is a line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said geometrical element is a circle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said geometrical element is a curve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of providing a replacement mode wherein said second orientation of said compass is displayed in place of a prior compass orientation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 further including a step of providing an accumulation mode wherein said second orientation of said compass is displayed in addition to a prior compass orientation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said geometrical element is a two-dimensional geometrical element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said geometrical element is a three-dimensional geometrical element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 further including the steps of displaying a different geometrical element and highlighting said different geometrical element whenever said dynamic compass cursor moves into alignment with said second orientation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically re-orienting said compass to said second orientation is selective.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
An interactive computer-controlled drawing apparatus for generating and manipulating a dynamic compass cursor, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a compass cursor in a first orientation, said compass cursor being responsive to movement of a cursor control device; means for selecting a geometrical element having a second orientation; and means for automatically re-orienting said compass to said second orientation and maintaining said second orientation until a new orientation for said dynamic compass cursor is selected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
An interactive computer-controlled drawing apparatus for generating and manipulating a dynamic compass cursor, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a compass cursor in a first orientation, said compass cursor being responsive to movement of a cursor control device; means for selecting a geometrical element having a second orientation; and means for automatically re-orienting said compass to said second orientation and maintaining said second orientation until a new orientation for said dynamic compass cursor is selected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said geometrical element is a line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said geometrical element is a circle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said geometrical element is a curve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further including means for providing a replacement mode wherein said second orientation of said compass is displayed in place of a prior compass orientation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further including means for providing an accumulation mode wherein said second orientation of said compass is displayed in addition to a prior compass orientation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said geometrical element is a two-dimensional geometrical element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said geometrical element is a three-dimensional geometrical element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further including means for displaying a different geometrical element and means for highlighting said different geometrical element whenever said dynamic compass cursor moves into alignment with said second orientation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for automatically re-orienting said compass to said second orientation is selectively operated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4845643A
Cited
US5010502A
Cited
US4785399A
Cited
US4855939A
Cited
US5138697A
Cited
US5353395A
Cited
US5412762A
Cited
US5490241A
Cited
US5198990A
Cited
US5371845A
Cited
US5123087A
Cited
US5396565A
Cited
US5299307A
Cited
US5251268A
Cited
US5297241A
Cited
US5465324A
Cited
US5377313A
Cited
US5390294A
Cited
US5425109A
Cited
US5461709A
Cited
US5463722A
Cited
EP0697679A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-12-29 | 2002-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-29 | 2005-12-29 | 2006-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-29 | 2009-12-29 | 2010-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |