Patent US5929856A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5929856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for design and drafting
Assignee: AUTO-DIMENSIONS LLC
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Filing: 1997-07-30
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Granted: 1999-07-27
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Expires: 2017-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A dimension indicator is automatically created to define the size of a geometric object or the spatial relationship between two geometric objects for a user of a computer-aided design and drafting system by the data processing steps of displaying one or more geometric objects; determining the geometry of one or more of the displayed objects; choosing one of a plurality of possible dimension indicators for the object(s) based on the determination in the previous step; displaying an image of the chosen dimension indicator until a placement location is selected for the chosen dimension indicator; and then displaying the dimension indicator in the vicinity of the placement location.
Inventors
- 👤 Rene LoNegro
- 👤 Stuart Wells
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T19/00; G06T2219/00; G06T2219/012; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/964
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for automatically creating a dimension indicator to define the size of a geometric object for a user of a computer-aided design and drafting system, comprising: providing programming means for controlling the system into (a) displaying at least one geometric object; (b) determining the geometry of the displayed object; (c) choosing one of a plurality of possible dimension indicators for the object based on the determination in step (b); (d) displaying an image of the chosen dimension indicator until a placement location is selected for the chosen dimension indicator; and (e) displaying the dimension indicator in the vicinity of the placement location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for automatically creating a dimension indicator to define the size of a geometric object for a user of a computer-aided design and drafting system, comprising: providing programming means for controlling the system into (a) displaying at least one geometric object; (b) determining the geometry of the displayed object; (c) choosing one of a plurality of possible dimension indicators for the object based on the determination in step (b); (d) displaying an image of the chosen dimension indicator until a placement location is selected for the chosen dimension indicator; and (e) displaying the dimension indicator in the vicinity of the placement location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) includes: allowing a user to select the displayed object; and identifying one of a plurality of possible geometries as the geometry of the selected object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of possible geometries includes a circle, an arc, a line, and a spline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of possible dimension indicators includes a diameter indicator, a radius indicator, and a length indicator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 wherein allowing the user to select the displayed object includes: accepting input from the user; and moving a cursor to the object in response to the input from the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) includes: accepting input from a user; and moving the image in response to the input from the user until the placement location is selected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising, based on the placement location indicated in step (d): choosing one of a plurality of possible orientations, with respect to the object, for the chosen dimension indicator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 wherein step (e) includes displaying the dimension indicator in the chosen orientation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of possible dimension indicators includes a diameter indicator, a radius indicator, and a length indicator.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for automatically creating a dimension indicator to define the spatial relationship between two geometric objects for a user of a computer-aided design and drafting system, comprising: providing programming means for controlling the system into (a) displaying at least two geometric objects; (b) determining the geometry of a first one of the displayed objects; (c) determining the geometry of a second one of the displayed objects; (d) choosing one of a plurality of possible dimension indicators for the first and second objects based on the determinations in steps (b) and (c); (e) displaying an image of the chosen dimension indicator until a placement location is selected for the chosen dimension indicator; and (f) displaying the dimension indicator in the vicinity of the placement location.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for automatically creating a dimension indicator to define the spatial relationship between two geometric objects for a user of a computer-aided design and drafting system, comprising: providing programming means for controlling the system into (a) displaying at least two geometric objects; (b) determining the geometry of a first one of the displayed objects; (c) determining the geometry of a second one of the displayed objects; (d) choosing one of a plurality of possible dimension indicators for the first and second objects based on the determinations in steps (b) and (c); (e) displaying an image of the chosen dimension indicator until a placement location is selected for the chosen dimension indicator; and (f) displaying the dimension indicator in the vicinity of the placement location.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 wherein step (b) includes: allowing a user to select the first object; and identifying one of a plurality of possible geometries as the geometry of the first object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of possible geometries includes a line and a point.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of possible dimension indicators includes a linear separation distance indicator and an angular separation indicator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 11 wherein allowing the user to select the first object includes: accepting input from the user; and moving a cursor to the first object in response to the input from the user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 wherein step (c) includes: allowing a user to select the second object; and identifying one of a plurality of possible geometries as the geometry of the second object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of possible geometries includes a line and a point.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the plurality of possible dimension indicators includes a linear separation distance indicator and an angular separation indicator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 15 wherein allowing the user to select the second object includes: accepting input from the user; and moving a cursor to the second object in response to the input from the user.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 10 wherein step (e) includes: accepting input from a user; and moving the image in response to the input from the user until the placement location is selected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
170 words
A computer-aided design and drafting system, comprising: a computer having at least a memory and a processor; a display device coupled to the computer; a cursor controlling device coupled to the computer for generating signals indicative of desired movement on the display device; and programming means for operating the computer, comprising: (a) means for displaying at least one geometric object on the display device; (b) means for determining the geometry of the displayed object; (c) means for choosing, based on the determination made by the geometry determining means, a dimension indicator for the object from a plurality of possible dimension indicators stored in the memory; (d) means for displaying an image of the chosen dimension indicator on the display device, in response to the signals generated by the cursor controlling device, until a placement location is selected for the chosen dimension indicator on the display device via the cursor controlling device; and (e) means for displaying the dimension indicator on the display device in the vicinity of the placement location.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
170 words
A computer-aided design and drafting system, comprising: a computer having at least a memory and a processor; a display device coupled to the computer; a cursor controlling device coupled to the computer for generating signals indicative of desired movement on the display device; and programming means for operating the computer, comprising: (a) means for displaying at least one geometric object on the display device; (b) means for determining the geometry of the displayed object; (c) means for choosing, based on the determination made by the geometry determining means, a dimension indicator for the object from a plurality of possible dimension indicators stored in the memory; (d) means for displaying an image of the chosen dimension indicator on the display device, in response to the signals generated by the cursor controlling device, until a placement location is selected for the chosen dimension indicator on the display device via the cursor controlling device; and (e) means for displaying the dimension indicator on the display device in the vicinity of the placement location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5123087A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-26 | 2003-01-25 | 2003-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-26 | 2007-01-25 | 2007-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-26 | 2011-01-25 | 2011-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |