Patent ID: 7330198
Filing Date: 2008-02-12
Classification: G06F,G06T

Abstract:
1. A three-dimensional object manipulating apparatus, comprising: a display means for displaying a three-dimensional object on the screen of a display unit; a coordinate detecting means for detecting a coordinate defined on the display screen by a user's physical touch on the display screen; an axis determination means for determining an axis of rotation of the three-dimensional object as a first line through a center of the display screen perpendicular to a second line from the detected coordinate through the center of the display screen; a rotation determination means for determining a direction of rotation about the axis of rotation for the three-dimensional object in a predetermined cycle on the basis of the coordinate detected by the coordinate detecting means; and an object rotating means for rotating the three-dimensional object about the axis of rotation in the direction of rotation, wherein the three-dimensional object stops rotating when the coordinate detecting means no longer detects a coordinate defined on the display screen by a user's physical touch on the display screen.