# 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. - **Patent:** US 9182882 - **Original title:** Dynamic creation and modeling of solid models - **Owner:** Autodesk Inc - **Granted:** 2015 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 17 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, mechanical ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Autodesk Fusion 360 mobile app 2. iPad-based 3D sculpting and modeling apps 3. Touch-enabled CAD interfaces ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9182882/dynamic-creation-and-modeling-of-solid-models **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US9182882 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Touchscreens Use Math to Recognize Your Fingers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7812828/ellipse-fitting-for-multi-touch-surfaces) — Apple's patent on using mathematical ellipses to track and identify individual fingers and palms on a touch-sensitive surface. - [How Touchscreen Gestures Use Physics to Feel Real](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8429565/windows-8-charms-bar) — Google's patent on making touchscreen gestures feel natural by applying simulated physics, like friction or magnetism, to items on your screen. - [How Multi-Touch Gestures Like Pinch-to-Zoom Work on Smartphones](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7812826/iphone-software-keyboard) — Apple's patent on using two-finger gestures to manipulate images and objects on a touchscreen, allowing for smooth zooming and rotation even if you lift your fingers briefly. - [How 3D Icons Rotate to Show More Information](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5303388/macintosh-finder) — A 1994 Apple patent for a 3D computer icon that can be rotated by clicking specific areas to reveal different sides, each containing extra information about a file or folder. - [Adjusting Touchscreen Sensitivity Based on Device Tilt Angle](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20160291760/contact-discrimination-using-a-tilt-angle-of-a-touch-sensitive-surface) — This patent describes how a computing device can decide if a touch on its screen is intentional or accidental by changing its sensitivity settings based on how much the device is tilted.