Data processing: structural design – modeling – simulation – and em – Modeling by mathematical expression
Reexamination Certificate
1996-09-26
2001-10-23
Teska, Kevin J. (Department: 2123)
Data processing: structural design, modeling, simulation, and em
Modeling by mathematical expression
C345S182000, C345S182000, C345S213000, C345S420000, C345S440000, C345S440000, C345S214000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308144
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multi-dimensional modeling of solids in computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sketching system that facilitates creation and manipulation of planar geometries within a three-dimensional workspace.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In a typical computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system, a user interacts with the system to design a model that can later be used to manufacture a product according to the specifications of the model. During the design process, the user creates or sketches parts of the model on the computer system's display using various two-dimensional geometric primitives such as lines, arcs, circles, slots, rectangles, etc. that interact to form geometries that define the model being designed. Because such a model is typically used to manufacture a product that has three dimensions, a CAD/CAM system typically provides a capability for the user to enter and manipulate data that defines a three-dimensional model. However, most display devices typically used in CAD/CAM systems are inherently two-dimensional. As a result, special provisions and capabilities have been developed for CAD/CAM systems to facilitate the development and use of three-dimensional models, such as the ability to rotate the user's two-dimensional view through three-dimensional space while representing the designed model with accurate aspect views and size relationships.
One approach to allowing a user to design aspects of a three-dimensional model is to provide a sketcher on which the user can quickly yet accurately create geometric primitives and objects in two dimensions (referred to as planar geometry). The user can then map the planar geometry formed on the sketcher into three-dimensional space at a desired location, desired orientation, and depth to have the desired effect on the three-dimensional model. An example of a desired effect on a three-dimensional model is to bore a hole through part the model, the hole being represented by an extrusion of a geometry (e.g., a circle) from the sketcher. However, because the sketcher operates in two dimensions, it is often difficult for the user to visualize the effects of his two-dimensional sketching on the three-dimensional model, prior to the time at which the user maps the resulting planar geometry onto the three-dimensional model. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a facility by which a user operating a two-dimensional sketcher can concurrently view the results of the sketching operations in a three-dimensional work space that contains the three-dimensional geometry to which the sketched geometry will be mapped.
Additionally, because the user is working in a two-dimensional plane within the sketcher, it would be desirable to provide the capability for the user to designate elements of the planar geometry which are positioned relative to a point of interest within the three-dimensional space on an existing three-dimensional geometry, or to have other relationships to such a point of interest.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a CAD/CAM system is provided that provides a positive indication to a user when the user has located an object on a two-dimensional sketcher plane so that it is aligned with a point of interest within three-dimensional model geometry, even though the point of interest may not be within the two-dimensional sketcher plane. The object may be snapped to a projection of the point of interest on the sketcher plane. Additionally, an association may be defined so that further manipulation of the point of interest within the three-dimensional model will automatically result in corresponding re-location of the sketched object on the two-dimensional sketcher plane.
In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, a method and apparatus is provided within a CAD/CAM system so that the user can sketch an object in a sketcher plane while viewing a three-dimensional model over which the sketcher plane resides. The system may provide a capability so that the user can change the view in which the three-dimensional model is displayed on a display screen.
In another embodiment, a relationship can be created between a plurality of geometric entities during user operation of the sketcher, and the relationship will persist even after modifications by the user of one of the plurality of geometric entities in the three-dimensional model.
Another illustrative embodiment of the invention is directed to a method and apparatus for operating a CAD/CAM system, in which a representation of three-dimensional geometry is displayed on a display, a representation of an object that is on a two-dimensional plane is also displayed and a representation of a hotspot of the object on the display is displayed. Responsive to the user selecting and moving the hotspot, the object on the two-dimensional plane is moved across the display. In at least one embodiment the respresentations are all displayed concurrently.
In another embodiment, moving the object includes moving a cursor across the display to correspondingly move the hotspot. The moving of the object may also be responsive to the user moving the cursor over a point of interest on the representation of the three-dimensional geometry, and may include moving the object to a location that represents a projection of the point of interest onto the two-dimensional plane. An association may be created between the hotspot and the point of interest. After an association has been created, the system can automatically move the hotspot and the object to correspond to the user moving the point of interest within the three-dimensional geometry, so that the hotspot remains aligned with the point of interest. The hotspot may be moved so that the hotspot is positioned at a point on the two-dimensional plane that represents a projection, perpendicular to the two-dimensional plane, that intersects the point of interest.
In at least one embodiment, the display has a two-dimensional display plane, and the object is located on a two-dimensional plane that is different from the display plane. An indication may also be provided to the user that a potential association between the hotspot and a point of interest of the three-dimensional geometry exists.
Additionally, an indication may be provided to the user that a potential association between the hotspot and first one of a plurality of points of interest of the three-dimensional geometry exists. In one embodiment, an indication is provided to the user that a potential association between the hotspot and a second one of the plurality of points of interest of the three-dimensional geometry exists, in response to input by the user.
Another illustrative embodiment is directed to a method and apparatus for interpreting cursor position in a CAD/CAM system having a cursor that is controlled by a user to manipulate elements of two-dimensional geometry that is concurrently displayed with elements of three-dimensional geometry, in which an an element of the two-dimensional geometry is respositioned in response to a first position of the cursor, and in response to a second position of the cursor, an indication is provided to the user of an element of the three-dimensional geometry that is displayed proximate the cursor. The two-dimensional geometry may be located on a two-dimensional plane that is different from a display plane upon which the two-dimensional geometry and three-dimensional geometry is displayed and the element may be repositioned based upon a transformation from the cursor position with respect to the display plane to a position on a two-dimensional plane.
Another illustrative embodiment is directed to a method and apparatus for maintaining a historical database in a CAD/CAM system in which a historical database represents actions by a user, and a facility by which the user modifies the historical database, in which i
Bronfeld Jason P.
Doyle Serena Marie
Haran Girish
Computervision Corporation
Lahive & Cockfield LLP
Phan Thai
Teska Kevin J.
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