Patent ID: 6226405
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A method for changing positions of a plurality of nodes that constitute a curve c comprising a line or a surface, comprising the steps of:storing in a storage device data of a normal at a node;changing the position of said node and storing the position information into the storage device by(1) defining a virtual elastic member connected to said node in the direction of the normal of said node, with respect to the curve c, and(2) stretching or shrinking said elastic member in said direction of said normal; andrepeating said storing step and said changing step for predetermined nodes until a predetermined condition has been satisfied,wherein in the process of stretching and shrinking said elastic member in said direction of said normal, a displacement of said elastic member is calculated by employing position information of a reference node and position information of said node, said reference node having a predetermined positional relationship with said node, andwherein in the process of stretching and shrinking said elastic member in said direction of said normal, position information of a point on a first line is also employed, wherein at said point a distance between said first line and a second line is shortest, and said first line passes said node and is parallel to said normal of said node, and said second line passes said reference node and is parallel to the normal of said reference node.