US5844566A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for controlling shadow geometry on computer displays
Assignee: Dassault Systemes SE
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Filing: 1996-02-12
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Granted: 1998-12-01
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Expires: 2016-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling shadow geometry on a computer display in an interactive computer display system. The method and apparatus comprises: maintaining primary element information defining a primary element; generating shadow geometry information defining a shadow geometry, the shadow geometry information having a predetermined mathematical relationship with the primary element, the shadow geometry information being generated in response to user manipulation of the primary element; integrating the shadow geometry with the primary element to form a single graphical unit (called a "par"); and selectively displaying the secondary element concurrently with the primary element.
Inventors
- 👤 Pascal Lecland
- 👤 Antoine Balestrieri
- 👤 Duy Minh Vu
- 👤 Andre Clement
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T19/00; G06T19/20; G06T11/00; G06T11/20; G06T11/23; G06T2200/00; G06T2200/24; G06T2219/00; G06T2219/20; G06T2219/2021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
In an interactive computer-controlled display system, a method for automatically generating and manipulating shadow geometry, said method comprising the steps of: maintaining primary element information defining a primary element; generating shadow geometry information defining said shadow geometry, said shadow geometry information having a predetermined mathematical relationship with said primary element, said shadow geometry information being generated in response to user manipulation of said primary element; integrating said shadow geometry with said primary element to form a single graphical par unit, and selectively displaying said graphical par unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
In an interactive computer-controlled display system, a method for automatically generating and manipulating shadow geometry, said method comprising the steps of: maintaining primary element information defining a primary element; generating shadow geometry information defining said shadow geometry, said shadow geometry information having a predetermined mathematical relationship with said primary element, said shadow geometry information being generated in response to user manipulation of said primary element; integrating said shadow geometry with said primary element to form a single graphical par unit, and selectively displaying said graphical par unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary element is a line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary element is a circle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary element is a curve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary element is a three-dimensional element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary element information and said shadow geometry information are stored in a common data structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shadow geometry is selectively erased while said primary element remains displayed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
In an interactive computer-controlled display system, a method for automatically generating and manipulating shadow geometry, said method comprising the steps of: maintaining primary element information defining a first primary element; maintaining primary element information defining a second primary element; combining said first primary element and said second primary element; generating shadow geometry information defining said shadow geometry, said shadow geometry information having a predetermined mathematical relationship with said combination of said first primary element and said second primary element, said shadow geometry information being generated in response to user manipulation of said combination of said first primary element and said second primary element; integrating said shadow geometry with said primary and secondary elements to form a single graphical par unit; and selectively displaying said graphical par unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
127 words
In an interactive computer-controlled display system, a method for automatically generating and manipulating shadow geometry, said method comprising the steps of: maintaining primary element information defining a first primary element; maintaining primary element information defining a second primary element; combining said first primary element and said second primary element; generating shadow geometry information defining said shadow geometry, said shadow geometry information having a predetermined mathematical relationship with said combination of said first primary element and said second primary element, said shadow geometry information being generated in response to user manipulation of said combination of said first primary element and said second primary element; integrating said shadow geometry with said primary and secondary elements to form a single graphical par unit; and selectively displaying said graphical par unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first primary element and said second primary element are two-dimensional elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first primary element and said second primary element are three-dimensional elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said primary element information 25 and said shadow geometry information are stored in a common data structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said shadow geometry is selectively erased while said combination of said first primary element and said second primary element remains displayed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
An interactive computer-controlled display apparatus for automatically generating and manipulating shadow geometry, said apparatus comprising: means for maintaining primary element information defining a primary element; means for generating shadow geometry information defining said shadow geometry, said shadow geometry having a predetermined mathematical relationship with said primary element, said shadow geometry information being generated in response to user manipulation of said primary element; means for integrating said shadow geometry with said primary element to form a single graphical par unit; and means for selectively displaying said graphical par unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
88 words
An interactive computer-controlled display apparatus for automatically generating and manipulating shadow geometry, said apparatus comprising: means for maintaining primary element information defining a primary element; means for generating shadow geometry information defining said shadow geometry, said shadow geometry having a predetermined mathematical relationship with said primary element, said shadow geometry information being generated in response to user manipulation of said primary element; means for integrating said shadow geometry with said primary element to form a single graphical par unit; and means for selectively displaying said graphical par unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said primary element is a two-dimensional element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said primary element is a three-dimensional element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said primary element information and said shadow geometry information are stored in a common data structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said shadow geometry is selectively erased while said primary element remains displayed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
130 words
An interactive computer-controlled display apparatus for automatically generating and manipulating shadow geometry, said apparatus comprising: means for maintaining primary element information defining a first primary element, means for maintaining primary element information defining a second primary element; means for combining said first primary element and said second primary element; means for generating shadow geometry information defining said shadow geometry, said shadow geometry information having a predetermined relationship with said combination of said first primary element and said second primary element, said shadow geometry information being generated in response to user manipulation of said combination of said first primary element and said second primary element; integrating said shadow geometry with said primary and secondary geometry to form a single graphical par unit, and means for selectively displaying said graphical par unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
130 words
An interactive computer-controlled display apparatus for automatically generating and manipulating shadow geometry, said apparatus comprising: means for maintaining primary element information defining a first primary element, means for maintaining primary element information defining a second primary element; means for combining said first primary element and said second primary element; means for generating shadow geometry information defining said shadow geometry, said shadow geometry information having a predetermined relationship with said combination of said first primary element and said second primary element, said shadow geometry information being generated in response to user manipulation of said combination of said first primary element and said second primary element; integrating said shadow geometry with said primary and secondary geometry to form a single graphical par unit, and means for selectively displaying said graphical par unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said first primary element and said second primary element are two-dimensional elements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said first primary element and said second primary element are three-dimensional elements.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said primary element information and said shadow geometry information are stored in a common data structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |