Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-19
2001-04-17
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S960000, C345S420000, C700S098000, C700S182000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219055
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This application relates to the field of computer-aided design and more particularly to the field of accessing and manipulating data describing a model constructed using computer-aided design.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computer-aided design software can be used to construct and manipulate computer drawings of objects referred to as “models”. The user is presented with a display of the model on the computer screen and manipulates the model using keyboard commands, a mouse/cursor combination, and other various input means. Changes to the model are reflected in the screen display of the model as the user makes the changes or, alternatively, in response to the user issuing a specific command to update the screen display of the model. In either case, the screen display of the model serves as the main source of model information to the user and as the user's reference for inputting and changing features of the model.
As modeling software becomes more powerful, it also becomes more complex. This increase in complexity increases the difficulty of use of the modeling software. If the software becomes too complex, then the user will have a difficult time making modifications and/or determining critical information about the model, especially since the screen display of the model is the user's main source of information and point of reference for facilitating input. This problem becomes more acute when the model is a three-dimensional model since, depending on the modeling software and the nature of the model, it is sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to see the entirety of the model at any one time.
One way to address the increasing complexity of modeling software is to provide alternatives to the traditional techniques for presenting the model information to the user that allow the user to manipulate the model information. U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,991 to Ohcoshi et al. discloses a system for graphically checking interference between stationary and moving objects. A design layout is graphically displayed and an object or a person is moved through the design layout by the graphical display device. Column 9, lines 64-66 indicate that along with displaying the design layout, the system can display a chart showing connections and positions of objects in the design layout.
Although the Ohcoshi et al. patent addresses a specific problem associated with modeling in the specific situation discussed in the patent, it does not address the general problem of modeling software complexity and unwieldiness and it does not provide a general alternative technique for accessing and manipulating models. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an alternative and effective technique for presenting and manipulating model data that allows the user to easily make changes to a model and that presents model information to the user that is useful although not apparent from simply viewing the model on the screen display.
Certain industries present particular modeling problems. For example, manufacturers of sheet metal parts may wish to model certain features that are formed in sheet metal, such as louvers, lances, ribs and the like. A company known as PTC has a forming tool that can be used to assist in modeling form features of sheet metal parts. However, known forming tools have significant drawbacks. In particular, known forming tools in computer-aided modeling systems typically do not permit storing of significant modeling information, such as an orientation sketch, the surfaces to be removed, stopping surfaces, and the like. Thus, this and other information must be specified every time the tool is used. Also, known tools do not dynamically preview the result that will occur if the forming tool is used on a particular model part. Therefore, a need exists for a forming tool function in a software modeling system that permits convenient use and reuse and for a forming tool function that dynamically previews the result that will occur upon use of the tool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a graphical browser displays and manipulates a computer model by accessing data indicative of features and geometric characteristics of the model, presents graphical data indicative of features of the model, and allows a user to graphically manipulate features to provide corresponding changes to the model. The data may be accessed by interfacing to feature data and geometric data of the model. Different icons, indicative of different types of features of the model, may be displayed. The icons may be ordered and connected to indicate an order of creation of features of the model. The icons may be presented in a way to indicate interdependency of features.
Graphically manipulating the features may include altering the ordering of the features of the model, selectively suppressing certain ones of the features, or rolling back the model to a particular feature, so that that particular feature and subsequent features are suppressed. Graphically manipulating the features may also include stepping through each feature of the model, one at a time, to unsuppress each feature on the model, one at a time. Presenting graphical data may also include presenting various alignment features of the model.
According further to the present invention, a computer-aided design system for displaying and manipulating a computer model presents the computer model in a modeling portion of a computer screen, presents graphical data indicative of features of the model in a graphical browser portion of the computer screen, highlights a subset of the modeling portion in response to a user selecting a corresponding subset of the graphical browser portion, and highlights a subset of the graphical browser portion in response to the user selecting a corresponding subset of the modeling portion.
The graphical browser provides the user with a powerful technique for creating and editing models. In the case of three dimensional models, the graphical browser provides the user with simultaneous access to all of the features of the model even if all of the model features cannot be seen all at the same time in a screen display of the model. The data manipulation features of the graphical browser allow the user to easily enter and edit model data in ways that would be difficult or cumbersome if the user were forced to use only the screen display of the model as an input reference.
Provided herein are methods and systems for displaying and manipulating a computer model, that include allowing a user to define a forming tool for a form feature and permitting the user to store the definition of the forming tool, wherein the forming tool may be reused without redefining characteristics of the forming tool. The systems may include allowing the user to select surfaces to be removed from the feature. The systems and methods may include storing with the definition of the forming tool information regarding the surfaces to be removed from the feature. The systems and methods may include allowing the user to orient and locate the form feature and to store orientation information with the definition of the forming tool. The user may be allowed to create a form feature with the form feature tool. Applying the form feature tool may modify the model to create a form feature corresponding to the form feature tool. The systems and methods may be used with sheet metal parts or other items that can be modeled. Parts can have substantially planar surfaces, curved surfaces, or bent surfaces.
In an embodiment, the user may select the disposition of the form feature above or below the planar surface. In an embodiment, the user may dynamically preview the disposition of the form feature. In an embodiment, the user may define or specify a stopping surface for the forming tool. The user may establish dimensions for the forming tool or for features formed by the forming tool. The user may parametrically modify the dimensions of the forming tool and otherwise manipulate the forming tool as a feature of a computer model. The systems and methods p
Bhargava Rahul
Hirschtick Jon K.
Shenoy Gopal
Zuffante Robert P.
Bayerl Raymond J.
Foley Hoag & Eliot LLP
SolidWorks Corporation
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