Curve Patents (Class 345/442)
  • Patent number: 8761956
    Abstract: A computer and a control method for smart fan thereof are provided, wherein the computer includes a processor configured to control a smart fan under an UETFI bios mode. A sensed temperature value from a temperature sensor, and a current speed value of the smart fan are acquired. A real-time temperature curve and a real-time speed curve are traced in a dynamic updating zone of a graphical interface respectively according to the current temperature and the current speed value. A first control point and a second control point, which correspond to the smart fan, are obtained via a control zone of the graphical interface. A control curve is traced in the graphical interface according to the first and second control points. The speed of the smart fan is controlled according to the control curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: MSI Computer (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Wei Chen, Wei-Cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 8760467
    Abstract: Systems and techniques to apply an image distortion to two image objects of different graphic types. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes: receiving an image distortion description to be applied to an image portion including a vector graphic and a raster graphic, the raster graphic being distortable separate from the vector graphic, applying the image distortion description to the vector graphic to produce a distorted vector graphic, and applying the image distortion description to the raster graphic to produce a distorted raster graphic, the distorted vector graphic and the distorted raster graphic together forming a distorted image portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: John W. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8754890
    Abstract: A computer-readable medium, computer-implemented method, and system for generating a user interface is provided. One or more data presence indicators are generated which allows users to locate data on a graph displayed in the user interface by indicating where data is present, even when the data itself is not visible in the user interface. The system can modify the format of the data presence indicator depending on the location of the data. In one embodiment of the invention, the system can update the data presence indicators in response to a user modification of the magnification or scroll position of the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Nina Gilmore, Chloe Schulze, Daniel Workman
  • Publication number: 20140160133
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering a smooth circular point using polygons on a computer graphics display. The circular point is approximated by a polygon and the selection of the polygon depends on the diameter of the point. The polygon is enclosed in a bounding area that is divided into a plurality of tiles. The tiles are classified into different sections depending on their location relative to the center of the point. The tiles in each section are processed according to an algorithm to generate a mask that is used to render the circular point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: 3DLABS INC., LTD.
    Inventor: James L. Deming
  • Publication number: 20140148762
    Abstract: Methods for setting a basal rate profile for an insulin pump, wherein the basal rate profile defines a basal rate delivery for a selected time interval and has a pre-defined number of profile segments each of which define the basal rate delivery for a subset of the selected time interval, include providing a curve representing the basal rate as a continuous function of time as an input for an input unit and generating the basal rate profile from the curve by a calculation unit by assigning curve values at selected time instances to the pre-defined number of profile segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Roche Diagnostics International AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Haueter, Daniel von Buren, Catalin Cris, Stephan Marcin
  • Patent number: 8736600
    Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging a 3D volume of geometrically irregular grid data. The systems and methods utilize various types of probes and displays to render the geometrically irregular grid data, in real-time, and analyze the geometrically irregular grid data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Jim Ching-Rong Lin, Chi-Kang David Chien, Jeffrey M. Yarus
  • Publication number: 20140139529
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus selects a plurality of interval width sequences of internal knots of a nonuniform B-spline that approximates waveform data, based on a multivariate normal distribution, and then determines a knot vector based on each of the selected interval width sequences and an optimal control point sequence for each knot vector. Also, the apparatus repeats, for a nonuniform B-spline that is defined for each combination of a knot vector and an optimal control point sequence corresponding to the knot vector, the selection of interval width sequences, the determination of knot vectors and optimal control point sequences and the evaluation thereof, until an evaluation whose objective function is minimized is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomohiko MUKAI
  • Patent number: 8730253
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for decomposing and filling cubic Bèzier segments of paths without tessellating the paths. Path rendering may be accelerated when a GPU or other processor is configured to perform the decomposition operations. Cubic Bèzier paths are classified and decomposed into simple cubic Bèzier path segments based on the classification. A stencil buffer is then generated that indicates pixels that are inside of the decomposed cubic Bèzier segments. The paths are then filled according to the stencil buffer to produce a filled path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Mark J. Kilgard
  • Patent number: 8725474
    Abstract: A method and system for using Bezier curves in vehicle positioning and electronic horizon applications for providing data to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) applications are disclosed. The Bezier curves are obtained from B-splines. The obtained Bezier curves are subdivided in a manner that allows the vehicle positioning application to derive a polyline representation in real time. Using the Bezier and polyline geometry, the vehicle positioning application provides a vehicle position approximation to the ADAS applications. Using the Bezier curves, the electronic horizon application provides curvature, slope, and heading profiles to the ADAS applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Navteq B.V.
    Inventors: Ole Henry Dorum, Marianna Gnedin
  • Patent number: 8717366
    Abstract: A method of rendering a stroked curve for display in a graphics processing system in which an input stroked curve 2 to be displayed, such as a character in a computer font or a portion thereof, is defined in user space 4 and projected into a surface space 6 for display. For each of one or more sampling points in the surface space 6, a corresponding sampling position in a projected space 12 is determined, and predetermined information is used to estimate the extent in a defined direction of a projected form of the stroked curve in the projected space 12 at a position along the length of the projected form of the stroked curve corresponding to the position along the length of the projected form of the stroked curve of the sampling position in the projected space 12. The estimated extent is then used to determine whether the sampling position in question falls within the stroked curve or not, thereby allowing suitable rendering data to be assigned to the sampling point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Arm Limited
    Inventor: Bruce Merry
  • Patent number: 8718811
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to generate a lofted sheet metal model. User input is accepted that obtains two input profiles. A triangulated lofted shape is generated that transitions between the two profiles. The triangulated lofted shape is adjusted to reflect a manufacturing process. A manufacturable lofted sheet metal shape is then generated based on the adjusted triangulated lofted shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth A. Hindman, Gerald Hochenauer, Matthew J. Bussey
  • Patent number: 8711151
    Abstract: A hair pipeline utilizes a surface definition module to define a surface and a control hair and a hair motion compositor module combines different control hair curve shapes associated with the control hair and the surface. In particular, the hair motion compositor module generates a static node defining a static control hair curve shape; generates an animation node defining an animation control hair curve shape; and combines the static control hair curve shape of the static node with the animation control hair curve hair shape of the animation node to produce a resultant control hair curve shape for the control hair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Armin Walter Bruderlin, Francois Chardavoine, Clint Chua, Gustav Melich
  • Patent number: 8711150
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for deactivating internal constraint curves when inflating an N-Sided patch. Given a patch representation, the methods simplify the construction of 3D models from 2D sketches. At least some interior constraint curves may be deactivated when inflating an N-sided patch generated from a 2D sketch, or when performing other surface deformation tasks. An inactive constraint is a passive curve that stays on the surface and that gets modified along with the surface when the surface is inflated, but that does not affect the surface itself. By changing parameters stored at the active constraints, embodiments may modify the surface and turn the inactive constraints from flat 2D curves into 3D space curves. The inactive constraints can be activated at any time when their 3D shape meets the user's expectations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Pushkar P. Joshi, Nathan A. Carr
  • Patent number: 8698807
    Abstract: In using an application's drawing feature, users typically use connecting lines between graphical shapes to depict a relationship between the shapes. Drawing connecting lines between two or more graphical shapes within an application can be a time consuming, manual task. An application that automatically generates connecting lines between shapes, based on spatial relationships among the shapes, can reduce the amount of time for drawing a diagram. Functionality can be implemented to generate connecting lines between 1:n shapes based on proximity among the shapes and/or contact between shapes. Automatically generating connecting lines among shapes based on spatial relationships among the shapes allows generating of the connecting lines based on manipulation of shapes, which typically have a larger surface area than a line. Manipulating a larger surface area can be easier than manipulating a line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Fa Hsu, Chen-Yu Kuo, Pei-Hsuan Lin, Kang-Liang Liu, Mark D. Rogalski
  • Patent number: 8698808
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for converting dashed strokes into quadratic Bèzier segment sequences. Path rendering with stroking and dashing may be accelerated when a graphics processing unit or other processor is configured to subdivide quadratic Bèzier segments based on the remaining distance for a current dash pattern element and the arc length of the current quadratic Bèzier path segment to generate “on” dash pattern segments. Each “on” dash pattern segment is then bounded by a conservative geometric hull. A point containment technique is then used to identify pixels within each conservative geometric hull that are within half of the stroke width of any point along a path to be stroked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventor: Mark J. Kilgard
  • Patent number: 8699809
    Abstract: A labeling unit that extracts a character included in raster format image data and finds the size of the extracted character, and an approximation method determination unit that determines whether or not to use curve approximation to convert the character based on the found size, are provided. In the case where it has been determined to use curve approximation, the character is converted into a vector format by performing straight-line approximation or curve approximation on each of the various parts of the contour of the character, whereas in the case where it has been determined not to use curve approximation, the character is converted into a vector format by performing straight-line approximation and not performing curve approximation on each of the various parts of the contour of the character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuko Oota
  • Publication number: 20140095062
    Abstract: A method of generating a road map from clusters of line segments of multiple datapoint sources. The method includes defining line segments for the datapoint sources between consecutive samples from the sources, grouping the line segments into clusters according to a position criterion, applying curve fitting to the clusters to obtain centerlines, and generating a road map from the center lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Yin WANG, Xuemei LIU, Yanmin Zhu
  • Patent number: 8681156
    Abstract: Embodiments facilitate the production of a B-spline curve that approximates a set of N-dimensional (position, pressures, tilt, etc.) discrete input samples recorded by a digital input device. Iterative noise filtering and B-spline subdivision processes are performed within a dynamic window of recent samples. A vector representation is produced at interactive rates after each new sample is captured, thus producing results that are comparable to what the same artist would expect if drawing on paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Whited
  • Patent number: 8676494
    Abstract: A method and system for representing multiple road properties with a single multi-dimensional parametric spline curve is disclosed. A B-Spline is generated to represent a first road dimension. The B-Spline is written mathematically in vector format. One or more road dimensions to be added to the B-Spline are selected. Depending on the selection, the road dimensions are created in a format compatible with the B-Spline. For example, the road dimensions may be created using curve fitting, B-Spline merger, or direct assignment. Once the road dimensions are created, they are added to the original B-Spline vector. The new B-Spline vector is then stored in a data storage unit for use by systems, such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Navteq B.V.
    Inventor: Ole Henry Dorum
  • Patent number: 8674995
    Abstract: Folding avoidance in skeletal stroke application is provided. In some embodiments, folding avoidance in skeletal stroke application includes identifying a destination path for a source artwork and a plurality of ribs extending perpendicularly from the destination path, in which the source artwork is mapped onto the destination path; determining a contiguous region along the destination path including a subset of ribs; in which each of the subset of ribs in the contiguous region crosses another rib in the contiguous region that is not necessarily an adjacent rib; and adjusting each of the subset of ribs in the contiguous region so that each of the ribs no longer crosses another rib in the contiguous region to provide a modified subset of ribs. Accordingly, the source artwork can then be adapted to fit along the destination path using the adjusted ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul J. Asente
  • Patent number: 8669984
    Abstract: A preferred location and a preferred orientation of a tile shape are determined with respect to a current shape based on scores at multiple locations and orientations. A new shape is generated by subtracting from the current shape a tile area. The tile area includes the tile shape in the preferred orientation of the tile shape at the preferred location of the tile shape with respect to the current shape. The determining and generating are repeated with respect to the new shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Asente, Lesley Ann Northam
  • Patent number: 8669983
    Abstract: A method with acts for representing a buffer about a feature represented on an ellipsoid or round-object model. The method includes accessing a definition of a buffer stored on one or more computer readable medium in a format readable by a computer application. The definition of the buffer includes a number of arcs around a feature on an ellipsoid or round-object model. Each of the arcs is defined using three points defined using geodetic coordinates. The three points includes two endpoints of a given arc and a point on the arc between the two endpoints. The method further includes rendering the buffer by rendering the plurality of arcs. The method further includes displaying the rendered buffer to a user at a computing system display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kallay, Danica M. Porobic
  • Patent number: 8665276
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an image processing method for feature retention associated with averaging processes. The image processing method comprises: scaling and aligning a plurality of image data for acquiring feature information; determining a plurality of two-dimensional feature label points according to the feature information for generating at least one Bezier curve; utilizing the at least one Bezier curve to generate at least one Bezier tube and performing Bezier tube fitting for generating result of Bezier tube fitting; deforming the plurality of image data according to the Bezier tube or the result of Bezier tube fitting for generating a plurality of deformed image data; and averaging the plurality of deformed image data for generating feature-preserved average image data. The present invention also provides an image processing system, a computer readable storage medium, and a computer program product, for implementing the image processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Ann-Shyn Chiang, Hsiu-Ming Chang, Yung-Chang Chen, Kuan-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 8659603
    Abstract: A system and method for center point trajectory mapping includes a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprises instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to acquire a first plurality of images, each image comprising a masked portion. The instructions also cause the computer to locate a center point of the masked portion in each of the plurality of images and to plot a map based on variances in position of the center points from each other. The instructions further cause the computer to display the map on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignees: General Electric Company, The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc.
    Inventors: Ting Song, Vincent B. Ho
  • Patent number: 8654127
    Abstract: A method, a device arrangement and a computer program product for examining and analyzing the functioning of a communication network. In one or more taps of the examined communication network there is a network probe which examines communication packets flowing in the communication network via a tap and searches for identities and their relations from their header information. Identities and relations between them are used to create an identity flow which is used to create an identity graph for describing the operation of the communication network. A network probe(s) sends all or a part of the data of the traffic of the communication network it has collected or analyzed to a supervisor unit. The data is sent according to previously given instructions or by a request sent by the supervisor unit. The identities and relations between them to be included in the identity graph are chosen according to predetermined modifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Clarified Networks Oy
    Inventors: Jani Kenttälä, Marko Laakso, Jyrki Huhta
  • Patent number: 8654129
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for rendering a smooth circular point using polygons on a computer graphics display. The circular point is approximated by a polygon and the selection of the polygon depends on the diameter of the point. The polygon is enclosed in a bounding area that is divided into a plurality of tiles. The tiles are classified into different sections depending on their location relative to the center of the point. The tiles in each section are processed according to an algorithm to generate a mask that is used to render the circular point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: 3Dlabs Inc., Ltd.
    Inventor: James L Deming
  • Patent number: 8648861
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to update a fill region of a computer drawing. A topological recipe representing the fill region is defined. The recipe includes a region set (of regions to be filled where the regions are areas bound by contours), a contour set (of contours that are a chain of curve segments), and curve segments. A final fill area of the fill region based on the topological recipe is computed. The final fill area is displayed and the curve segments are then modified. In response to the modification of the curve segments, the final fill area is dynamically updated and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Jamieson Hill, Mitchell Jay Silverman
  • Patent number: 8643644
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a multi-stage tessellation technique for tessellating a curve during graphics rendering. In particular, a first tessellation stage tessellates the curve into a first set of line segments that each represents a portion of the curve. A second tessellation stage further tessellates the portion of the curve represented by each of the line segments of the first set into additional line segments that more finely represent the shape of the curve. In this manner, each portion of the curve that was represented by only one line segment after the first tessellation stage is represented by more than one line segment after the second tessellation stage. In some instances, more than two tessellation stages may be performed to tessellate the curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jian Wei, Guofang Jiao, Ning Bi, Chehui Wu
  • Patent number: 8643650
    Abstract: A system and method for approximating parametric curves may subdivide curves using a minimum number of subdivisions while meeting a given error tolerance. The method may include determining a subdivision point such that the maximum chord error on one side of the point is equal to the maximum chord error on the other side of the point, the chord error being the distance between the curve and a linear approximation thereof. These techniques may be applied recursively to sub-portions defined by the subdivision point if the maximum error is greater than a pre-determined error tolerance. The pre-determined error tolerance may be a default tolerance, or may be application-specific or user-configurable, in various embodiments. By subdividing a curve into fewer segments than conventional methods, the system and methods described herein may allow an alternate representation of the curve to be generated that includes less data than one generated using conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Eric Vinchon, Vincent Varennes, Philippe Cohen
  • Patent number: 8635551
    Abstract: A method for rapidly analyzing and editing data files with a number of GUI's and an adaptive decimation ratio in a computer allows processing data files and signal data files within a given data segment for a better fit into a limited-size working space buffer and provides improved resolution of data segments in a simplified way using GUI's that allow the user to point and click at a computer screen instead of performing manual calculations. A large data segment is adaptively decimated to a smaller size automatically so that a lower resolution version of the data segment will be loaded into a fixed-size small buffer in hardware working space for further data editing. The decimation and loading process will be repeated until the user finds the desired data-section of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Wei Su
  • Patent number: 8633930
    Abstract: Rendering glyphs is disclosed. A set of glyphs to be flowed along a nonlinear path are received. A first glyph included in the set is placed at a corresponding location along the nonlinear path such that the first glyph is spaced from a second glyph, at a point nearest the second glyph, by at least a prescribed distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Philip Andrew Mansfield
  • Publication number: 20140015838
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tile binning with respect to a Bezier curve. The apparatus may include a curve identification unit to identify a Bezier curve included in input data, a bounding box generation unit to generate a plurality of bounding boxes corresponding to the Bezier curve, and a tile binning unit to perform tile binning with respect to the Bezier curve based on the plurality of bounding boxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Joon YOO, Seok Yoon JUNG, Seung Won LEE, Shi Hwa LEE
  • Patent number: 8624921
    Abstract: A visualization system utilizing preconfigured overlay models and data models to create overlay displays representing different views of the same data or a single view of different data. The visualization system provides for collecting and sharing overlay displays and data sets with other communicatively connected visualization systems. The overlays can be automatically created by the visualization system and can be presented in different formats such as a three-dimensional or a translucent display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Joseph McGreevy, Micheal John Pantaleano, Bruce Gordon Fuller, Ian Edward Tooke, Kevin John Albert, John Joseph Baier, Jan Pingel
  • Patent number: 8624899
    Abstract: A curve drawing system is described herein that rasterizes arc splines in the GPU of a computer for cubic Bezier drawing of strokes and thin features. The curve drawing system first converts a cubic Bezier representation into an arc spline representation. Then the curve drawing system uses a similar approach to Loop/Blinn modified to cause the pixel shader to perform a point-in-circular-arc test instead of a point-in-Bezier test. Calculating arc radius is a much simpler operation than the alternatives and can be easily and efficiently performed by the pixel shader. Since the stroke of an arc spline is also an arc spline, the drawing system provides a resolution-independent representation of strokes. Thus, the curve drawing system allows several previously difficult graphical features to be efficiently drawn by readily available legacy hardware and used in software programs that are designed to run on a wide variety of hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ashraf A. Michail, David B. Teitlebaum, Brandon C. Furtwangler
  • Patent number: 8610720
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for decomposing an N-sided patch into multiple patches. A single patch may be decomposed into multiple, disjoint, and possibly abutting patches. An internal constraint curve may be selected, and a new patch with the constraint curve as the boundary may be generated. If the constraint curve is closed, it is turned into a hole in the original patch. If the constraint curve is not closed, the system closes the curve. The 3D position, surface normal, and possibly other information such as an up direction required for every point along the boundary of the new patch may be taken from the original patch surface. The new patch(es) may be edited independent of the original patch and may be further decomposed into more patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Pushkar P. Joshi, Nathan A. Carr
  • Publication number: 20130328885
    Abstract: A digital mapping display and related system for fishing, and other applications
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wesley Wood, Jeffrey Earl Smith
  • Patent number: 8605089
    Abstract: A system and method are employed to construct an association network to visualize relationships between variables of a data set. The relationships characterized by the association network may include symmetric or asymmetric measures of association between variables learned from the data. The association network includes nodes, which represent variables, and edges, which represent associations between variables. As a result, the association network helps a user to visualize useful information from data according to the determined measure of association.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Heckerman, Christopher A. Meek
  • Patent number: 8605091
    Abstract: An enhanced power distribution unit (PDU) with self-orienting display uses an orientation sensor in conjunction with a microprocessor to properly orient visual display of information by one or more displays of the enhanced PDU. Information displayed can relate to electrical current furnished to one or more power outlets of the enhanced PDU and/or information related to temperature, humidity or other conditions of the enhanced PDU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Bradbury, Carlos Ramirez
  • Publication number: 20130321429
    Abstract: A string arrangement device includes: a character string arrangement data acquisition unit for acquiring character string arrangement data for arranging a character string along a road; a control point sequence creation unit for creating a control point sequence from a road node sequence included in the character string arrangement data acquired by the character string arrangement data acquisition unit; a curve approximation unit for creating a node sequence obtained by approximating with a straight line a curve from the control point sequence created by the control point sequence creation unit; a curve approximation node sequence storage unit for storing the node sequence created by the curve approximation unit as a curve approximation node sequence; and a character string arrangement processing unit for performing arrangement processing of the character string based on the curve approximation node sequence stored in the curve approximation node sequence storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20130321428
    Abstract: A system of curve generation takes a sequence of control points and constraint codes for each control point, and outputs a curve in which each of the constraints is satisfied. The set of constraints is chosen from the tangent angle, curvature, first derivative of curvature, and second derivative of curvature. The interactive curve design uses as its primitive, a curve whose curvature is a polynomial function of arclength (whose intrinsic equation is a polynomial). At each control point, a choice of G2 curvature continuity (tangent angle and curvature) or G4 curvature continuity (tangent angle and curvature plus first and second derivatives of curvature are continuous) is input. The desired curve is expressed as the solution to the chosen set of constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Raphael L. Levien
  • Patent number: 8587590
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for performing an analysis and other activities using one or more two- or three-dimensional representational images, presenting a two- or three-dimensional representational image containing analytical information to assist in the analytical process. One or more two- or three-dimensional representational images are created, e.g., using standard photography, holography or computer imaging, and are placed in a positioner for use by the analyst. The representational images are illuminated using a light source and the analyst utilizes the information released from the representational image to perform an analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Ronald R. Erickson, Joel N. Bock, Eliezer D. Sandler
  • Publication number: 20130293554
    Abstract: A method of stroking a curved path with a fill of pre-determined thickness, said path having line segments defined by a plurality of points, said method comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of projection lines normal to the curved path at the plurality of points, each of the projection lines having a length based on the pre-determined fill thickness; determining an intersection between a set of the plurality of projection lines, said intersection indicating an occurrence of a void in stroking the curved path; and in response to detecting said intersection of the set of projection lines, constructing at least one polygon filling in the void in the stroked path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Eugeny Vostrikov, Ian Robert Boreham, Mindy Xie, Peter William Mitchell Ilbery
  • Patent number: 8576232
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for interfacing with a surface within a computer-aided drawing environment includes determining that a plurality of curves operable to define the surface constitute a P×1 surface condition. A P×1 surface condition is defined by a number of first curves equal to P and only one second curve. P is an integer greater than zero. The method also includes converting the P×1 surface condition into an N×M surface condition in response to determining that a plurality of curves constitute a P×1 surface condition. An N×M surface condition is defined by a number of third curves equal to N and a number of fourth curves equal to M. N and M are integers greater than one. The method also includes constructing an N×M surface under the N×M surface condition. The method also includes modifying the N×M surface to edit a drawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Yu, Bo Kyoung Moon, Jeffrey A. Weidman
  • Patent number: 8576221
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for generating mesh models of feathers. The apparatus for generating the mesh models of the feathers includes a geometrical model analyzing unit that analyzes groups of barbs included in a geometrical curve model of the feather; a calculating unit that calculates the number of grids for each of the groups of barbs by applying curve lengths of the barbs and an average length of the curve lengths included in each of the groups of barbs; and a mesh model generating unit that constructs the geometrical curve models as polygonal mesh models based on the number of grids. According to the present invention, it extracts curved points by using characteristics of a model of a feather and constructs polygonal meshes by using the extracted curved points, thereby making it possible to physically and realistically express the forced physical variation of the polygonal meshes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Choong-Gyoo Lim, Byoung-Tae Choi
  • Publication number: 20130241934
    Abstract: A method is provided for sketch segmentation via smart scribbles, the results of which are especially suitable for interactive real-time graphics editing applications. A vector-based drawing may be segmented into labels based on input scribbles provided by a user. By organizing the labeling as an energy minimization problem, an approximate solution can be found using a sequence of binary graph cuts for an equivalent graph, providing an optimized implementation in a polynomial time suitable for real-time drawing applications. The energy function may include time, proximity, direction, and curvature between strokes as smoothness terms, and proximity, direction, and oriented curvature between strokes and scribbles as data terms. Additionally, the energy function may be modified to provide for user control over locality control, allowing the selection of appropriately sized labeling regions by scribble input speed or scribble input pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Gioacchino Norris, Daniel Sykora, Ariel Shamir, Stelian Coros, Alexander Hornung, Robert Sumner, Maryann Simmons, Brian Whited, Markus Gross
  • Patent number: 8538157
    Abstract: A device for detecting characters in an image includes a Hough transformer implemented to identify, as identified elements of writing, circular arcs or elliptical arcs in the image or in a preprocessed version of the image. The device further includes a character description generator implemented to obtain, on the basis of the identified circular arcs or elliptical arcs, a character description which describes locations of the identified circular arcs or elliptical arcs. In addition, the device includes a database comparator implemented to compare the character description with a plurality of comparative character descriptions which have character codes associated with them, so as to provide, as a result of the comparison, a character code of a detected character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Frank Klefenz
  • Patent number: 8537163
    Abstract: A method for displaying continuous lines on a raster-based display appliance, with a continuous line being defined by a sequence of two-dimensional support points v1 and v2 and a line width w, and with a rectangle 1, which connects the support points v1, v2, having a rectangle length predetermined by the distance between the support points v1, v2 and having a rectangle width predetermined by the line width w being displayed between two support points v1, v2. The method provides that a triangle sequence 6, which covers a gap 5 between the rectangles 1, 2, is displayed between two successive rectangles 1 and 2 whose alignment with respect to one another is at an angle ???0. The triangle sequence 6 includes a plurality of triangles which each have the support point v2, which connects the successive rectangles 1, 2, as a common corner point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Diehl Aerospace GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Bader, Sven Marco Hoppe
  • Patent number: 8538737
    Abstract: A curve editor may model a continuous curve as a finite collection of discrete mass points (among which the curve's mass is distributed) and associated springs. The springs may include damped axial springs between pairs of consecutive mass points, and damped bending springs representing interactions between sets of three consecutive mass points. In response to manipulation of the curve at various mass points, the curve editor may determine new positions and/or velocities of one or more mass points using a real time physical simulation of the spring forces acting at mass points involved in the editing operation. The simulation may be dependent on viscous drag forces and/or on constraints applied to individual mass points, angles defined by consecutive mass points, or an absolute direction of a segment between two mass points. Mass points may be added to or removed from the model by adaptive resampling, and the mass redistributed accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Sunil Hadap, Peter Borosan
  • Patent number: 8525838
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to update a filleted curve in a computer graphics application. A drawing having a first input curve and a second input curve is displayed. The first and second input curves are selected. A fillet curve is calculated, created, and displayed between the two input curves. A property of the first input curve is modified. Automatically, without additional user input, the fillet curve is recalculated based on the modified property. The recalculated fillet curve is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiri Kripac, John G. Ford, III
  • Patent number: 8520004
    Abstract: Complex labyrinth curves are interactively generated by an iterative process that spatially modulates curve evolution by an image or other function defined on the evolution space. After curves and evolution parameters are initialized [100], the iterative process resamples the curves [104], and spatially modulates the curves according to the evolution parameters [106]. The spatial modulation includes computing sample point displacements by calculating distances between each of the sample points and neighboring points using a surface distance metric that estimates a geodesic distance metric in a two-dimensional non-Euclidean evolution space. The evolved labyrinth curves are may be processed [110] for use in various applications. The evolved curves can also be triangulated and projected to a plane to create patterns for manufacturing developable surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Daedal Doodle, LLC
    Inventor: Hans Kohling Pedersen