'US006441823B1 2) United States Patent Ananya US 6,441,823 BL Aug. 27, 2002 a0) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent: (54) COMPUTER CURVE CONSTRUCTION -YSTEM (76) Inventor: Brigit Ananya, 20725 Locust De, Los Gatos, CA (US) 95033 (+). Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35, US.C. 15440) by 0 days. (21) Appl. Nos 09/405,713 Filed Sep. 24, 1999 Related U.S. Application Data (60) Provisional application No, 60/102,523, filed on Sep. 30, 1998, and provisional application No, 60/101,927, Hed on Sep. 24, 1998, (51) In. cl? Gosr 11720 (52) US.CL 345442 (58) Field of Seareh 345/442 (56) References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4.961150 A * 10/1990. Seki ota 5412770 A 5/1995. Yamashita et al a05/142 5.594852 A 1/1997 Tankelevich 395/181 5.636338 A 6/1907 Moreion 395/142 OTHER PUBLICATIONS. Carl de Boor et al., Computer Aided Geometric Design, (1987) vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 269-278. Wolfgang Boehm, Computer Graphics and Image Process- ing, (1982) vol. 19, No. 3, pp 201-226. AR. Forrest, Computer Aided Design, (1980) vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 165-172. Reinhold Kass, Computer Aided Design, (1983) vol. 15, No 5, pp. 297-299. Helmut Potmann, ACM Transactions on Graphics, (1991) vol. 10, No. 4, 365-377. peak-point curve point-point [Serstan tangent } jection o., [Set start point a, [Set end pont a, J. Hoschek, Computer Aided Design, (1992), vol. 24, No. 11, pp. 611-618. AR, Forrest, Computer Aided Design, (1990), vol. 22, No, 9, pp. 527-537. L.Picgl, IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, (1987), vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 45-58. * cited by examiner Primary Examiner—etfery Brier (74) Aitorney, Agent, or Firm—David E Newhouse, Esq 67) ABSTRACT A fast computer curve construction system/method is described enabling a computer graphic artist, intitively, to predictably, and accurately generate a class of two dimen- sional curves defined and described as peak-point curves, point-point curves point-langent curves, point curves and curvature curves that ean be connected together, and be ‘connected with circular arcs and straight lines with either G? continuity, G* continuity, or G* continuity for display and printing, The described computer curve construction system/method further permits the computer graphic artist to (@ dynamically modify or shape a constructed curve component by selecting and altering or repositioning particular geometric consiraints defining that curve component; (i) modify the continuity of two connected curve com= ponents; (Gil) create two curve components from a single curve component; (iv) create a single curve from of two curves; (¥) delete and redraw any curve component, and (vi) add or subtract curve components, 50 Claims, 14 Drawing § sheets [Set peak points, Palnbtangenteurve [Set end tangent aiection &,| (No other features needed pont cueU.S. Patent Aug. 27, 2002 Sheet 1 of 14 US 6,441,823 BL Fig.1 Prior Art Fig, 2 Prior Art Fig.3 Prior ArtUS 6,441,823 B1 Sheet 2 of 14 Aug. 27, 2002 U.S. Patent Fig.4 Prior Art Fig.5 Prior Art Fig.6 Prior Art