2D Drawing Tool for 3D Curve Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current CAD tools face challenges in efficiently drawing and editing 3D objects with smooth, aerodynamic or hydrodynamic curves in a 2D environment, requiring multiple view selections and complex editing processes, which hinders speed and ease of use in automotive, aeronautical, and nautical design.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using a 2D screen with a stylus to draw curves by identifying features on a 3D object through image recognition, adjusting the drawing plane depth, and snapping points to corresponding features, allowing for direct positioning in 3D space, enabling intuitive curve creation and editing with control points for manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional CAD tools project 3D features onto a selected 2D plane for editing, then the drawing process can be performed in a 2D environment, but it requires multiple view selections and complex editing processes to fully visualize and edit 3D curves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of drawing 3D curvesVSAvoidcomplexity of editing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by allowing users to draw 3D curves directly in a 2D projection environment without needing to switch between multiple 3D views. The system automatically interprets 2D drawing inputs and generates corresponding 3D curve representations, effectively adding the third dimension through computational interpretation rather than requiring physical 3D manipulation space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple views are selected to fully visualize 3D curve changes, then editing accuracy improves, but the time required for drawing and editing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of curve positioningVSAvoidtime for drawing and editing
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback by automatically updating the 3D curve representation as the user draws in the 2D projection. The computer system continuously calculates and displays the corresponding 3D curve geometry, allowing users to verify positioning accuracy without manually switching to different 3D views, thus maintaining precision while reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional projection methods are used to draw 3D curves in 2D, then the tool can work in a 2D environment, but depth disambiguation becomes ambiguous requiring additional view selections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to draw in 2D environmentVSAvoiddepth positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary computational process that automatically resolves depth ambiguity. When a user draws a curve in the 2D projection, the system acts as an intermediary by calculating the corresponding 3D spatial coordinates and generating the accurate 3D curve representation, thereby eliminating the need for manual depth interpretation or multiple view selections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3931675B1Tool and method for drawing 3-d curves in 2-d
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 GOGGLE COLLECTIVE LTD
  • EP3931675B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3931675B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3931675B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for drawing a freehand curve on a 2D interactive screen in a first coordinate system, the curve being represented in 3D space in a second coordinate system, the method comprising: selecting, for display on the interactive screen, a perspective view of a 3D drawing object, the drawing object comprising features; creating a first point in the first coordinate system on the interactive screen; capturing the first point in the second coordinate system as a start point for a curve; creating a second point in the first coordinate system on the interactive screen; capturing the second point in the second coordinate system as an end point for the curve; wherein the capturing of at least one of the start point and the end point comprises fixing the point to a position that represents a feature of known position in the second coordinate system.