3D Drawing Plane Selection via Camera Pose Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for defining planes in a 3D scene for drawing 3D objects are cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring frequent switching between drawing and plane selection commands, and involve complex rotations and translations, making the process non-intuitive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that allows users to sketch strokes in a first plane, switch viewing frustums, and automatically select the closest plane to the near plane as the current drawing plane, with the option to set the origin of the plane on a designated 3D point, providing visual feedback to simplify the process and reduce mouse movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user uses the plane manipulator to define drawing planes from scratch, then the plane can be positioned and oriented, but the process requires frequent switching between drawing and plane selection commands, increasing operation complexity and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the plane selection functionality from the traditional command-based interface and integrates it directly into the 3D scene through virtual frustums. When the user switches camera poses, the system automatically extracts and presents relevant planes (near planes of viewing frustums) as drawing surfaces, eliminating the need to exit the drawing mode for plane selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the camera pose switching function with the plane selection function. By combining these two operations, the system allows users to define drawing planes simply by switching camera views, rather than requiring separate plane selection and camera positioning operations.
2Manufacturing precision
If the user uses the plane manipulator to rotate and translate the plane to desired orientation and position, then the plane can be precisely positioned, but the process involves complex rotations and translations requiring multiple mouse displacements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and preparing multiple viewing frustums with different camera poses before the user needs them. When the user switches poses, the corresponding planes are already positioned and oriented correctly, eliminating the need for real-time rotation and translation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple virtual frustum copies with different orientations and positions. Each frustum contains a pre-defined plane that can be directly used as a drawing surface. Instead of manually transforming a single plane, the user simply selects from pre-copied frustum configurations that match desired viewing angles.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the user switches camera poses during drawing, then different viewing angles are available, but the drawing plane needs to be manually re-selected, interrupting the drawing process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera pose switching mechanism universal by giving it dual functionality: it serves both as a navigation tool for changing viewing angles and as a plane selection mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate plane selection operations when switching views during drawing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuity of the drawing action by automatically maintaining the drawing plane context when camera poses are switched. The useful action of drawing continues uninterrupted because the system automatically associates the new camera pose with an appropriate drawing plane, eliminating interruptions for plane re-selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer method and system draws a 3D object, by sketching at least one first stroke (ST1) in a first plane (PL1) rendered in a first viewing frustum corresponding to a first pose of a virtual camera. The first plane (PL1) is orthogonal to a second (PL2) and a third plane (PL3). In response to a command of a user switching from the first pose to a second pose of the virtual camera, the method and system switches from the first viewing frustum to a second viewing frustum corresponding to the second pose of the virtual camera. The second viewing frustum is bounded by a near plane on the side of the virtual camera. Next a plane is selected as current drawing plane. The selected plane is among the first (PL1), the second (PL2) and the third plane (PL3), whose normal is the closest to the normal of the near plane. At least one second stroke (ST2) is then sketched in the current drawing plane.