Patent ID: 8599195

Claim:
An apparatus for modeling general polyhedra without using complex formulas and without requiring advanced computer processors and computer memory, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor; means for inputting vertex data to the processor; a display in data communication with the processor; and computer memory coupled to the processor and having recorded within it machine readable instructions for: storing vertex data previously input to the processor; determining all triangles that meet at each vertex represented by the vertex data; determining all triangular faces corresponding to each vertex; determining polyhedron virtual triangles corresponding each vertex; determining all polygonal faces corresponding to each vertex; modeling a polyhedron using the vertex data; and actuating the display; wherein the instructions for modeling a polyhedron utilize length data and angle data for the determined triangles; wherein the instructions for modeling a general polyhedron are instructions for modeling all General Polyhedra and include instructions for: establishing lines with known lengths between the vertices; establishing triangles with known angles from the established lines to form triangular faces of vertices of a polyhedron with some of the triangles and to form polyhedron virtual triangles with others of the triangles; and forming polygons that define the faces of the polyhedron using triangular faces; wherein the instructions for modeling a general polyhedron apply equally to: (a) a polyhedron having four faces; and (b) a polyhedron having more than four faces, where two or more faces share a common edge; wherein the instructions for modeling a polyhedron apply equally to concave and convex polyhedrons; wherein the instructions for modeling a polyhedron apply equally to polyhedra with symmetry and polyhedra with no symmetry; wherein the instructions for modeling a polyhedron apply equally to polyhedra with holes and polyhedra with no holes; wherein the instructions for modeling a polyhedron apply equally to polyhedra that is solid and polyhedra that is at least partially hollow; wherein the means for inputting vertex data includes a keyboard; wherein the display is a computer display; and wherein the apparatus further comprises means for powering the processor.