Alignment Functions (e.g., Snapping, Gravity) Patents (Class 345/651)
  • Patent number: 7945863
    Abstract: A method for providing an Integrated Development Environment comprises receiving input from a user identifying an area containing an edge shared by two or more objects, wherein the shared edge includes two or more individual edges corresponding to the objects, and visibly separating the two or more individual edges in a localized exploded view responsive to the receiving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Dexter Reid, Narciso B. Jaramillo, Mark Anders
  • Patent number: 7853894
    Abstract: A method of enveloping a group of toolbar icons. An application program displays a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes multiple toolbar icons. If a graphical cursor is in proximity to a first toolbar icon, the application displays a graphical border that surrounds the first icon and one or more additional related icons included in a pre-defined toolbar icon group. The application displays a first identification tab that includes a toolbar group name and an icon name. The first tab includes a graphical thumbtack icon that generates a moveable hover window that includes the border, the toolbar icon group, and at least the first tab. The first tab also includes a graphical close icon that removes the moveable hover window from view. The application also displays a second identification tab that includes an icon attribute field corresponding to a current setting of a function of the first icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher K. Karstens
  • Patent number: 7844106
    Abstract: A method for determining a pose of an object from a range image is presented. A distribution of poses for an object is determined from a model of the object. A set of reference poses is selected according to the distribution, such that more reference poses are selected for more probable poses than less probable poses. A reference image for each reference pose is generated, and the reference pose used to generate the reference image that best matches a range image including the object is assigned as the pose of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc
    Inventors: Hanspeter Pfister, In Kyu Park, Marcel German, Michael D. Breitenstein
  • Patent number: 7813592
    Abstract: A method for non-rigid multi-modal registration of digitized images includes providing a reference image and an alignment images acquired from different imaging modalities to a graphics processing unit (GPU), initializing a deformation field for registering said reference image and said alignment image, computing marginal and joint intensity histograms of the reference image and the alignment image as registered by said deformation field, computing gradients of the reference and registered alignment images and of their respective marginal and joint intensity histograms, smoothing said histograms and gradients using Gaussian filters, calculating a new deformation field using said smoothed gradients, and registering said alignment image to said reference image using said deformation field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Vetter, Christoph Guetter, Chenyang Xu
  • Patent number: 7756358
    Abstract: A method performed by a processing system. The method includes receiving a sequence of frames, each frame comprising a sequence of at least two images, each image at a different image position in the sequence and each pair of adjacent images having an overlap region. A local alignment value is determined for the images of each pair of adjacent image positions of each frame based on minimizing a difference of a desired parameter between the images in the overlap region. Global alignment values are determined for all images at corresponding pairs of adjacent image positions of each frame based on the local alignment values for the images at the corresponding pair of adjacent image positions of each frame. Each global alignment value is applied to at least one image of the images of the corresponding pair of adjacent image positions of each frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Yining Deng, D. Amnon Silverstein
  • Patent number: 7657840
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for providing a navigable grid to allow for accessible drag-drop in visual modeling tools. The method includes receiving an input which selects an object. The method further includes providing a visual canvas on a display device. The method further includes overlaying the navigable grid onto the canvas, the overlying navigable grid being of a defined granularity, the defined granularity being based on an underlying application being implemented, the overlying navigable grid further being keyed input device-navigable based on the defined granularity. The method further includes designating a drop position on the navigable grid when a position input is received via a keyed input device. The method further includes dropping the object onto a destination position of the canvas when a drop command input is received. The drop position on the overlying navigable grid is directly aligned over the destination position of the canvas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Becky J. Gibson, Richard S. Schwerdtfeger
  • Publication number: 20100009308
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for visualizing and manipulating three-dimensional digital dental models and related methods and apparatus for dental treatments are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for visualizing and manipulating a three-dimensional digital dental model may comprise viewing the three-dimensional digital dental model and using hand gestures to instruct a computer to manipulate one or more teeth in the digital dental model. In other aspects, a dental treatment method may comprise viewing a three-dimensional digital model, using hand gestures, a conventional keyboard, and/or a conventional mouse to instruct a computer to manipulate one or more teeth in the digital model to generate a three-dimensional digital model of a modified arrangement of the subject's teeth, and fabricating one or more dental aligners configured to reposition the subject's teeth into the modified arrangement. Viewing may comprise stereoscopically viewing a digital dental model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Huafeng Wen, Muhammad Ziaullah Khan Chishti, Yasser Bashir, Omair Aslam, Sohaib Athar
  • Patent number: 7634324
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method for aligning and laying out drawing elements in a computer-aided design drawing and computer-readable medium storing instructions for implementing the method. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of receiving a selection of an insertion point on an object within the CAD drawing, where the drawing element attaches to the object at the insertion point, placing the drawing element at the insertion point, and orienting the drawing element at a predetermined alignment angle relative to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventor: Toby S. Smith
  • Patent number: 7633483
    Abstract: Extending graphical information to a remote computing system such that a multiple monitor configuration can be implemented for the first computing device is illustrated. The multiple monitors include a display connected to the first computing device and one or more displays connected to other computing devices. A remote session is established between the first computing device and the second computing device. Graphics commands are generated for first and second display drivers at the first computing device as if a multi-display configuration is active at the first computing device. The first display driver is associated with a display at the first computing device. The second display driver doesn't have an associated display at the first computing device. Graphics are displayed from the graphics commands for the first display driver at the display at the first computing device. Graphics commands for the second display driver are remoted to the second computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ido M. Ben-Schachar, Robert-Wilhelm Schmieder
  • Patent number: 7607109
    Abstract: To improve ease of operation with which a user selects an image when many images are simultaneously displayed on a screen, a frame, which divides many images into 12 areas, is superimposed and displayed on a screen displaying thumbnail exhibition thereon. For example, the press of a channel key allows selecting one of the areas and moving to the selected area a focus frame indicating a candidate image for selection, and then the presses of cursor keys allow moving the focus frame to a desired image to be selected. The number of areas can be changed and displayed according to the number of channel keys when a television remote control is used, or according to the number of numeric keys when a mobile telephone is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ohno, Shuntaro Aratani, Katsuhiro Miyamoto, Tomoyasu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7460120
    Abstract: A map display apparatus includes a view transformation matrix generation unit which generates a view transformation matrix, including four rows and four columns, for transforming a global coordinate of a three-dimensional object into a view coordinate system; a view transformation matrix change unit which (i) changes, to 0, (a) the value of the first row in the second column and (b) the value of the third row in the second column in the view transformation matrix, in the case where the coordinate transformation is executed by multiplying a coordinate with the view transformation matrix from the left side of the coordinate, and (ii) changes, to 0, (a) the value of the second row in the first column and (b) the value of the second row in the third column in the view transformation matrix, in the case where the coordinate transformation is executed by multiplying the coordinate with the view transformation matrix from the right side of the coordinate; and a view transformation unit which transforms the global co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Yoshida, Hitoshi Araki, Keiichi Senda, Masato Yuda, Yoshiteru Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20080259094
    Abstract: A portable electronic device adapted to change its operation mode is disclosed. When a rotation of the portable electronic device is detected, the operation mode is changed according to the angle of rotation, and a user interface corresponding to the changed operation mode is output by a display unit. This method intuitively changes the mode based on a rotation of the device without requiring a complicated and unnecessary key input, and provides a more convenient and faster user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong-Kyun KIM, Joon-Suh KIM, Gee-Hong YOON
  • Patent number: 7298382
    Abstract: A figure selection method and device including a retrieval operation of a figure element adjacent to a designated figure element where a figure is formed by a plurality of figure elements. According to an aspect of the present invention, the retrieval operation is configured to retrieve a figure element neighboring the designated figure element such that the designation is automatically accomplished without individually designating each of the figure elements neighboring the designated figure element. The retrieval operation is further configured to perform a retrieval process a predetermined number of times such that figure elements adjacent to or in the neighborhood of figure elements are automatically designated the predetermined number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Tanaguchi, Takuya Onoue
  • Patent number: 7176946
    Abstract: A displaying apparatus including a signal generator part generating a video signal, and a display part displaying thereon a picture based on the video signal generated by the signal generator part, further comprising including a setting part including a portion set part for setting whether to indicate an arbitrary portion within a screen of the display part, and a size adjuster part adjusting the size of the set portion based on movement from an arbitrary position within the portion set by the portion set part to another position; and a controller part for storing a position value of the set portion set by the setting part, generating a setting signal corresponding to the set portion based on the position value, and processing the video signal according to the setting signal. With this configuration, the user can make a selection allowing an emphasized portion to be shown within a screen of the display part, and can select the size, the position, and the brightness of the emphasized portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Hyeun Ha
  • Patent number: 6904392
    Abstract: In CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM systems in which three dimensional objects are display along with two dimensional annotations, a method and system is described for assisting the user in selecting a location for placement of the annotation on the object so that it annotates the proper portion of the object and complies with applicable standards. The system displays through highlighting or other visual means a set of points on the object to which the leader line of an annotation may be connected so that the annotation meets the requirements of applicable standards. The user may select any one of the location points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Dassault Systemes
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Marty, Dominique Gaunet
  • Publication number: 20040239691
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus that, in some embodiments, displays one or more guides when a selected object moves into a particular alignment with one or more other objects is described. The one or more guides may be used to align the objects in relation to one another. In this way, the screen is free from the clutter of guides when they are not needed, but the guides are present when they are needed, i.e., when the selected object moves into or near alignment with another object or objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Steve Sprang, Steven P. Jobs, Roger Rosner
  • Patent number: 6804416
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for aligning a geometric object model with a pixel image. A geometric object model representing an object is obtained first. Using the geometric object model of the object, a revised geometric object model is created. An alignment tool is then trained based on the revised geometric object model. The alignment model can be applied to a pixel image of the object so that the pose of the object can be computed by aligning the revised geometric object model with the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Bachelder, Lowell Jacobson, Jay Negro, Leonid Segal
  • Patent number: 6606081
    Abstract: The invention includes moveable magnetic devices, for use in conjunction with electronic displays associated with computers and electronic devices enable manual input devices and control devices to be joined to the display, whereby the electronic device may be controlled, inputs may be made thereto, and the electronic display may be altered in correspondence to these inputs. In one aspect, the invention includes a fader controller comprised of a longitudinally extending track having a portion thereof extending over an image area of an electronic display, and a fader cap joined to the track for longitudinal sliding translation therealong. A plurality of permanent magnets are spaced along the track, and the fader cap includes at least one electromagnet. Conductive rails extend longitudinally on the track, and the fader cap includes contacts that electrically engage the conductive rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventors: Denny Jaeger, Kenneth M. Twain
  • Publication number: 20020047853
    Abstract: An image alignment tool is described for adjusting the alignment of a grid with an image. An initial grid aligner determines an initial, approximately aligned, position of the grid. An intensity scorer determines, for each of a plurality of test grid elements of the plurality of grid elements, a set of intensity scores. Each member of the set is based, at least in part, on intensities of pixels of one or more image features within the test grid element in one of the initial or additional positions. A combined-rank-score generator combines, for each of the initial and additional grid positions, members of sets of rank scores corresponding to the grid position in order to generate a combined rank score for the grid position. A grid alignment adjuster adjusts the alignment of the grid based on a comparison among the combined rank scores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventor: Daniel M. Bartell
  • Patent number: RE39950
    Abstract: A presumptive mode computer aided design and drafting system for interactively manipulating and displaying graphic objects that employ predefined rules to govern the geometric layout and logical relationships representing a physical design, schematic or process flow diagram. The system is configured to comply with the rules employed by various design disciplines. Specific interactive computer graphics behavior is dynamically accessed to interactively update graphic object relationships according to rules of geometric conduct. The rules of geometric conduct may be stored in external databases along with parameters to verify the logical relationships of the graphic objects used in the drawing. Object orientation is employed in the software design of the system to allow new devcies or procedures to adopt the behavior of existing definitions. In the preferred embodiment, a selected object floats with a cursor in a graphic environment until located in proximity with underlying graphic objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Doyle Gantt, Alfredo Contreras