Patents by Inventor John G. Ford

John G. Ford 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).

  • 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: 7999827
    Abstract: Tools and techniques for creating and editing a master block definition for a block, and manipulating a block instantiation of the block are described. User input can be received defining a block and a master block definition can be generated for the block. The block can include one or more graphical entities and receiving a user input defining a block can include receiving one or more user inputs manipulating a graphical representation of the block. The master block definition can include at least one allowable manipulation to a geometry of the block when instantiated. One or more block instantiations of the block can be manipulated differently according to the allowable manipulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Ford, John Beltran
  • Patent number: 7978206
    Abstract: A first block represents a two or three dimensional object in a Computer Aided Design (CAD) model, and has a visual presentation in a presentation of the CAD model based on a first plurality of property values denoted by a first label in a plurality of labels. User input specifying a new value for a first property value in the first plurality of property values is received. A second plurality of property values denoted by a second label is selected. The second plurality of property values differs by at least one value from the first plurality of property values and the second plurality of property values has a second property value that is satisfied by the new value. The visual presentation of the first block is updated based on the second plurality of property values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Ford, III, Phillip D. Beymer
  • Patent number: 7663637
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for overriding layer display properties in computer-aided design (CAD) viewports. A method of generating a display representation of a CAD drawing includes identifying one or more layers of the CAD drawing to include in the display representation. Each of the one or more layers may be associated with a set of drawing elements and a set of layer display properties. The method also includes identifying a viewport display property for a first layer of the one or more layers and generating the display representation. The display representation may include the drawing elements associated with the one or more layers, and the appearance of the drawing elements associated with the first layer is based on the viewport display property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: AUTODESK, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Elaine Mason, Qun Lu, Thomas Allen Stoeckel, Jr., Stewart A. Sabadell, Jose Madeira de Freitas Garcia, John G. Ford, III
  • Patent number: 7650565
    Abstract: Annotations in CAD drawings are given fixed sizes so that CAD application will generate the annotations at the fixed size even though modeled objects within the CAD drawing are scaled in accordance with a paper space scale selected by the CAD designer. The annotations generally comprise text annotations and graphic annotations, including one or more of text, dimensions, hatch patterns, and symbols, and are represented as annotation objects having multiple properties, such as size, visibility, position and rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: AUTODESK, Inc.
    Inventor: John G. Ford, III
  • Publication number: 20090201295
    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: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: AUTODESK, INC.
    Inventors: Jiri Kripac, John G. Ford, III
  • Publication number: 20080180460
    Abstract: Annotations in CAD drawings are given fixed sizes so that CAD application will generate the annotations at the fixed size even though modeled objects within the CAD drawing are scaled in accordance with a paper space scale selected by the CAD designer. The annotations generally comprise text annotations and graphic annotations, including one or more of text, dimensions, hatch patterns, and symbols, and are represented as annotation objects having multiple properties, such as size, visibility, position and rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventor: John G. Ford
  • Publication number: 20080184111
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for overriding layer display properties in computer-aided design (CAD) viewports. A method of generating a display representation of a CAD drawing includes identifying one or more layers of the CAD drawing to include in the display representation. Each of the one or more layers may be associated with a set of drawing elements and a set of layer display properties. The method also includes identifying a viewport display property for a first layer of the one or more layers and generating the display representation. The display representation may include the drawing elements associated with the one or more layers, and the appearance of the drawing elements associated with the first layer is based on the viewport display property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: KAREN ELAINE MASON, Qun Lu, Thomas Allen Stoeckel, Stewart A. Sabadell, Jose Madeira de Freitas Garcia, John G. Ford