Contact type pointer device for three-dimensional graphics programs

摘要

Pointer device for electronic computers which, appropriately configured, allows the user of three- dimensional graphics programs, hypertexts or virtual reality to identify in simple and exact manner any given point on a determined solid surface by interacting with the objects represented in the program via making contact with a physical model thereof, external to the computer. The system is made up of a sensor of force and torque, a model of the surface to be handled, obtained from the description inside the graphics program, a rigid support to integrate said model with the sensor, and finally a program to handle the data flow from the sensor to the computer and to interpret it. The functioning of the device is based on the fact that if the rigid model of the surface is stressed at any given point by a force and possibly by a local torque, the sensor detects 6 quantities (3 force and 3 torque components) which, through a particular calculation algorithm, make it possible to reconstruct the co-ordinates of the point where the forces and the local torque have been applied. One field of application of the invention described here can be identified in the field of mechanical design where, if one is using robotic manufacturing structures, it may be useful to determine in simple and quick manner particular points in space where the tool mounted on such structures is supposed to operate. Another application of the invention involves so-called "hypertext", that is, learning programs by means of which a text (manual, atlas, etc.) can be read by the user along "pathways" selected by him with direct action of the pointer on portions of the text itself or images. Thus, for example, an anatomy atlas could be provided with a series of models of certain fundamental parts of the body which, alternatively attached to the device, would allow the student to request information, magnified views, etc., pertaining to the particular zone of the model touched by him. IMAGE