Patents by Inventor Paul M. Isaacs

Paul M. Isaacs has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • View dependent layer ordering method and system
    Patent number: 6346939
    Abstract: Method and system are provided for specifying view dependent ordering of geometry that occupies co-incident surfaces. A co-incident surface has a first side and a second side. The co-incident surface is capable of being viewed on either side. A first order of the geometry layers is defined as viewed on the first side of the co-incident surface. In response to a specified view, a rendering order of the geometry layers is determined from the first order. The rendering order specifies an actual rendering sequence of the geometry layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Paul M. Isaacs
  • Interactively reducing polygon count in three-dimensional graphic objects
    Patent number: 5894308
    Abstract: The number of polygons in a 3D graphic object is adjusted by receiving interactive input from a user through a user-interface abstraction, and altering the number of polygons in the 3D graphic object in real time based on the input received from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Isaacs
  • Robust mapping of 2D cursor motion onto 3D lines and planes
    Patent number: 5798761
    Abstract: A moving 2D cursor is mapped onto a guiding entity in a virtual 3D space displayed on a 2D surface by determining if the guiding entity has a characteristic that may yield a discontinuity in motion along the guiding entity when the moving cursor is mapped onto the guiding entity. The cursor is mapped onto the guiding entity based on a result of the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Isaacs