How to Draw 3D Shapes on Touchscreens Using Your Fingers
A method for creating 3D objects in design software by simply dragging your finger across a touchscreen, allowing the shape to grow in real-time as you move.
Original patent title: “Dynamic creation and modeling of solid models”
A method for creating 3D objects in design software by simply dragging your finger across a touchscreen, allowing the shape to grow in real-time as you move. Granted to Autodesk Inc in 2015 with 22 claims and 17 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2032.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to make 3D modeling software responsive to touch inputs. When a user selects a tool and drags their finger across a screen, the software interprets that movement as a path for a new 3D object. As the finger moves, the system calculates and renders the object's geometry instantly. It specifically uses mathematical techniques like cubic b-splines and Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces to turn a simple finger swipe into a smooth, complex 3D shape.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover 3D modeling using traditional mouse and keyboard inputs.
- Does not cover importing pre-existing 3D files or scanning objects into the software.
- Does not cover non-real-time modeling where the shape only appears after the gesture is completed.
- Does not cover gestures that are not specifically mapped to the creation of new geometric forms.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The system uses the finger's path to generate 'input curves' on the fly, which then act as a skeleton for a mesh that is instantly smoothed into a 3D surface using subdivision algorithms.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Autodesk Fusion 360 mobile app
iPad-based 3D sculpting and modeling apps
Touch-enabled CAD interfaces
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Before this, 3D modeling was largely restricted to desktop computers with precise mouse control. By enabling intuitive, touch-based creation, this technology helped move professional design tools like Autodesk's Fusion 360 onto tablets and mobile devices, making 3D design more accessible to students and mobile professionals.
Filed
January 16, 2012
Granted
November 10, 2015
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Autodesk remains the primary entity building on this, integrating these touch-based workflows into their professional CAD and CAM suites. Other developers of mobile-first 3D design tools, such as those creating apps for the iPad Pro, utilize similar real-time mesh generation techniques.
Market impact
This patent helped bridge the gap between casual drawing apps and professional-grade engineering software. It enabled a shift in the industry where mobile devices became viable platforms for serious 3D conceptual design rather than just viewing tools.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to make 3D modeling software responsive to touch inputs. When a user selects a tool and drags their finger across a screen, the software interprets that movement as a path for a new 3D object. As the finger moves, the system calculates and renders the object's geometry instantly. It specifically uses mathematical techniques like cubic b-splines and Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces to turn a simple finger swipe into a smooth, complex 3D shape.
The clever bit
The system uses the finger's path to generate 'input curves' on the fly, which then act as a skeleton for a mesh that is instantly smoothed into a 3D surface using subdivision algorithms.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover 3D modeling using traditional mouse and keyboard inputs.
- Does not cover importing pre-existing 3D files or scanning objects into the software.
- Does not cover non-real-time modeling where the shape only appears after the gesture is completed.
- Does not cover gestures that are not specifically mapped to the creation of new geometric forms.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
25/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$164K – $524K
Midpoint $328K · 5.5 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Ma, V., Brown, H., & Fowler, G. W. (2015). How to Draw 3D Shapes on Touchscreens Using Your Fingers (U.S. Patent No. 9,182,882). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9182882/dynamic-creation-and-modeling-of-solid-models
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Draw 3D Shapes on Touchscreens Using Your Fingers cover?
A method for creating 3D objects in design software by simply dragging your finger across a touchscreen, allowing the shape to grow in real-time as you move.
Who owns patent US 9182882?
Autodesk Inc owns this patent, granted in 2015.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 16, 2032, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9182882 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 17 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Before this, 3D modeling was largely restricted to desktop computers with precise mouse control. By enabling intuitive, touch-based creation, this technology helped move professional design tools like Autodesk's Fusion 360 onto tablets and mobile devices, making 3D design more accessible to students and mobile professionals.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover 3D modeling using traditional mouse and keyboard inputs.
Patent monitoring