Patent US6628279B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6628279B1
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System and method for three-dimensional modeling
Assignee: Trimble Inc
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Filing: 2000-11-22
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Granted: 2003-09-30
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Expires: 2020-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A three-dimensional design and modeling environment allows users to draw the outlines, or perimeters, of objects in a two-dimensional manner, similar to pencil and paper, already familiar to them. The two-dimensional, planar faces created by a user can then be pushed and pulled by editing tools within the environment to easily and intuitively model three-dimensional volumes and geometries.
Inventors
- 👤 Brad Schell
- 👤 Joe L. Esch
- 👤 John E. Ulmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04845; G06T; G06T11/00; G06T11/20; G06T11/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for three-dimensional modeling, comprising the steps of: receiving a first input representing a plurality of edges, which define a two-dimensional shape bounded by the edges; and receiving a second input indicating a push/pull operation, and in response thereto, extruding the two-dimensional shape to form a three-dimensional figure, wherein the step of extruding includes the step of replicating the edges to form zero-area faces along each edge of the two-dimensional shape.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for three-dimensional modeling, comprising the steps of: receiving a first input representing a plurality of edges, which define a two-dimensional shape bounded by the edges; and receiving a second input indicating a push/pull operation, and in response thereto, extruding the two-dimensional shape to form a three-dimensional figure, wherein the step of extruding includes the step of replicating the edges to form zero-area faces along each edge of the two-dimensional shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of extruding includes the step of: extending the two-dimensional shape in a direction perpendicular to the two-dimensional shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: increasing the dimensions of the zero-area faces in a direction related to the push/pull operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 3 , wherein: the direction is perpendicular to the two-dimensional shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: replicating vertices on the edges.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for three-dimensional modeling, comprising the steps of: maintaining a three-dimensional model including edges; receiving input defining a new edge and, in response thereto, performing the steps of: determining a first subset of the edges that share a common plane with the new edge; determining a second subset of edges from the first subset that form a closed perimeter with the new edge; and defining a first two-dimensional shape based on and bounded by the second subset of edges and the new edge; receiving input indicating a first push/pull operation, and in response thereto, extruding the first two-dimensional shape to form a first three-dimensional figure.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for three-dimensional modeling, comprising the steps of: maintaining a three-dimensional model including edges; receiving input defining a new edge and, in response thereto, performing the steps of: determining a first subset of the edges that share a common plane with the new edge; determining a second subset of edges from the first subset that form a closed perimeter with the new edge; and defining a first two-dimensional shape based on and bounded by the second subset of edges and the new edge; receiving input indicating a first push/pull operation, and in response thereto, extruding the first two-dimensional shape to form a first three-dimensional figure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
The method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of: in response to the input defining the new edge, further performing the steps of: determining a third subset of edges that share a common plane with the new edge, said third subset including at least one edge not in the first subset; and determining a fourth subset of edges from the third subset that form a closed perimeter with the new edge; and defining a second two-dimensional shape based on and bounded by the fourth subset of edges and the new edge; receiving input indicating a second push/pull operation, and in response thereto, extruding the second two-dimensional shape to form a second three-dimensional figure.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for creating a component within a three-dimensional model, comprising the steps of: selecting a set of elements from the model; specifying a plurality of behavioral properties, wherein said behavioral properties relate to interactions between the set of elements and the model; and creating the component based on the set of elements and at least one of the specified behavioral properties.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for creating a component within a three-dimensional model, comprising the steps of: selecting a set of elements from the model; specifying a plurality of behavioral properties, wherein said behavioral properties relate to interactions between the set of elements and the model; and creating the component based on the set of elements and at least one of the specified behavioral properties.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the behavioral properties include a cutting property, said cutting property causing the component to create an opening in a surface on which the component is placed when instantiated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein the behavioral properties include an orienting property, said orienting property causing the component to orient itself to the plane of a surface on which the component is placed when instantiated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of: storing the component in a persistent storage repository for the component to be available to future executions of a modeling application.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for creating a component within a three-dimensional model, comprising the steps of: receiving first input related to selecting a plurality of elements within the model; selecting a set of elements from the model based on the first input; receiving second input related to specifying behavioral properties that relate to interactions between the set of elements and the model; specifying a plurality of behavioral properties based on the second input; creating the component based on the set of elements and at least one of the behavioral properties; and storing the component in a persistent storage repository separate from the model.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for creating a component within a three-dimensional model, comprising the steps of: receiving first input related to selecting a plurality of elements within the model; selecting a set of elements from the model based on the first input; receiving second input related to specifying behavioral properties that relate to interactions between the set of elements and the model; specifying a plurality of behavioral properties based on the second input; creating the component based on the set of elements and at least one of the behavioral properties; and storing the component in a persistent storage repository separate from the model.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein the behavioral properties include a cutting property indicating that an opening is created in a surface when instantiating the component thereon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein said set of behavioral properties includes an automatic orienting property indicating the component is oriented to the plane of a surface when instantiating the component thereon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer readable medium bearing instructions for three-dimensional modeling, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of: receiving input defining a plurality of edges, said edges forming a closed perimeter and sharing a common plane; in response to receiving the input defining the edges, defining a two-dimensional shape based on and bounded by the edges; and receiving input indicating a push/pull operation, and in response thereto, extruding the two-dimensional shape to form a three-dimensional figure, wherein the step of extruding includes the step of replicating the edges to form zero-area faces along each edge of the two-dimensional shape.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer readable medium bearing instructions for three-dimensional modeling, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of: receiving input defining a plurality of edges, said edges forming a closed perimeter and sharing a common plane; in response to receiving the input defining the edges, defining a two-dimensional shape based on and bounded by the edges; and receiving input indicating a push/pull operation, and in response thereto, extruding the two-dimensional shape to form a three-dimensional figure, wherein the step of extruding includes the step of replicating the edges to form zero-area faces along each edge of the two-dimensional shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
126 words
A computer readable medium bearing instructions for a three-dimensional modeling application, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of: maintaining a three-dimensional model including edges; receiving input defining a new edge and in response thereto, performing the steps of: determining a first subset of the edges that share a common plane with the new edge; determining a second subset of edges from the first subset that form a closed perimeter with the new edge; and defining a first two-dimensional shape based on and bounded by the second subset of edges and the new edge; receiving input indicating a first push/pull operation, and in response thereto, extruding the first two-dimensional shape to form a first three-dimensional figure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
126 words
A computer readable medium bearing instructions for a three-dimensional modeling application, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of: maintaining a three-dimensional model including edges; receiving input defining a new edge and in response thereto, performing the steps of: determining a first subset of the edges that share a common plane with the new edge; determining a second subset of edges from the first subset that form a closed perimeter with the new edge; and defining a first two-dimensional shape based on and bounded by the second subset of edges and the new edge; receiving input indicating a first push/pull operation, and in response thereto, extruding the first two-dimensional shape to form a first three-dimensional figure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer readable medium bearing instructions for a three-dimensional modeling application according to claim 16 , said instructions further configured to implement a pencil tool for drawing edges.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer readable medium according to claim 17 , said application further comprising: a measuring tool for displaying a dimension of a model element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer readable medium according to claim 17 , said application further comprising: a protractor tool for displaying an angular distance within a model.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer readable medium according to claim 17 , said application further comprising: instructions for providing visual cues indicating any of on-edge, on-face, on-axis, parallel-to-edge, perpendicular-to-edge, endpoint, and midpoint.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer readable medium according to claim 17 , said application further comprising: a component tool for creating an object within a model, said object comprising at least one element and at least one behavioral property.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
78 words
The computer readable medium according to claim 21 , said object further comprising: a boundary cube bounding in three-dimensions the at least one element, said boundary cube comprising faces oriented with coordinates axes of the-model; and each face of the cube comprising one or more associated selectable rotation grips, said rotation grips, upon selection, configured to rotate the at least one element around a centerpoint of the boundary cube in a plane parallel to the associated cube face.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer readable medium according to claim 17 , said application further comprising: an erase tool for erasing selected edges and incomplete faces resulting therefrom and for reconstituting remaining co-planar faces.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
69 words
The computer readable medium according to claim 17 , said application further comprising: a move tool for moving a vertex and for adjusting a length and a direction of edges connected to the vertex such that the adjusted edges remain connected to the moved vertex and for adjusting a dimension and orientation of surfaces connected to the edges such that the adjusted surfaces remain connected to the adjusted edges.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer readable medium bearing instructions for creating three-dimensional figure from a two-dimensional planar surface, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of: receiving a mouse-click selecting a push/pull tool; receiving a mouse-click selecting an interior region of the two-dimensional planar surface; receiving a mouse-drag movement for extruding the interior region into a third dimension for a distance based on the mouse-drag, to create the three-dimensional figure, wherein the step of extruding includes the step of replicating the edges to form zero-area faces along each edge of the two-dimensional shape.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
100 words
A computer readable medium bearing instructions for creating three-dimensional figure from a two-dimensional planar surface, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of: receiving a mouse-click selecting a push/pull tool; receiving a mouse-click selecting an interior region of the two-dimensional planar surface; receiving a mouse-drag movement for extruding the interior region into a third dimension for a distance based on the mouse-drag, to create the three-dimensional figure, wherein the step of extruding includes the step of replicating the edges to form zero-area faces along each edge of the two-dimensional shape.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
80 words
A computer readable medium bearing instructions for creating a component within a three-dimensional model, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of: selecting a set of elements from the model; specifying a plurality of behavioral properties, wherein said behavioral properties relate to interactions between the set of elements and the model; and creating the component based on the set of elements and at least one of the specified behavioral properties.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
80 words
A computer readable medium bearing instructions for creating a component within a three-dimensional model, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of: selecting a set of elements from the model; specifying a plurality of behavioral properties, wherein said behavioral properties relate to interactions between the set of elements and the model; and creating the component based on the set of elements and at least one of the specified behavioral properties.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
115 words
A computer readable medium bearing instructions for creating a component within a three-dimensional model, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of: receiving first input related to selecting a plurality of elements within said model; selecting a set of elements from the model based on the first input; receiving second input related to specifying behavioral properties that relate to interactions between the set of elements and the model; specifying a plurality of behavioral properties based on the second input; creating the component based on the set of elements and at least one of the behavioral properties; and storing the component in a persistent storage repository.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
115 words
A computer readable medium bearing instructions for creating a component within a three-dimensional model, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of: receiving first input related to selecting a plurality of elements within said model; selecting a set of elements from the model based on the first input; receiving second input related to specifying behavioral properties that relate to interactions between the set of elements and the model; specifying a plurality of behavioral properties based on the second input; creating the component based on the set of elements and at least one of the behavioral properties; and storing the component in a persistent storage repository.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6448964B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-09-29 | 2007-03-31 | 2007-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-09-29 | 2011-03-31 | 2011-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-09-29 | 2015-03-31 | 2015-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |