Data processing: structural design – modeling – simulation – and em – Structural design
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2003-09-30
Teska, Kevin J. (Department: 2123)
Data processing: structural design, modeling, simulation, and em
Structural design
C345S420000, C345S664000, C345S679000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06629065
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the early conceptual design of objects using computer-aided design (CAD) systems. More particularly, the invention relates to CAD systems, and methods usable in CAD systems, which allow extremely rapid creation of “rough” or conceptual geometric models of objects without having to precisely describe the specific dimensions, locations, and other characteristics of their geometric subcomponents. The invention further relates to CAD systems, and methods usable in CAD systems, which allow creation and editing of geometric models in such a manner that the created/edited model is output very rapidly after the designer's input is provided (i.e., the final model is produced almost instantaneously after input), so as to enhance the ability to interactively create and edit designs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The ability to design (i.e., create, edit, visualize, and/or manipulate) two- and three-dimensional models of objects is a fundamental activity in diverse fields such as engineering, architecture, etc. From an engineering perspective, this process is especially important during the conceptual design stage of an object when the final geometric details of the object are unknown. See, e.g., D. L. Jenkins, R. R. Martin, “The Importance of Free-Hand Sketching in Conceptual Design: Automatic Sketch Input,”
Proc. of the
1993
ASME Design Technical Conference
, Albuquerque, N.Mex., Sep. 19-22, 1993, pp. 115-128. Typical solutions include making use of two-dimensional (2D) sketches to visualize concepts under discussion, or using a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) system to create a prototypical geometric model. Regarding 2D sketching, this suffers from the drawback that it does not readily allow editing and manipulation of the model (the model must be redrawn), and additionally visualization of the 2D-modeled object in three dimensions is difficult. As for CAD, it is a very useful tool, but it is complex and frequently requires detailed user input in order to generate a desired geometric model. For example, when generating a geometric model in conventional CAD systems, significant details must be provided to the CAD system, such as the specific shapes, dimensions, and locations of the geometric subcomponents of the model. Clearly, when working on a final model of an object, the need to enter this degree of detail might be expected if the designer is to obtain the desired amount of precision in the completed model. However, in the early stages of design where the parameters of the object being designed are conceptual and indefinite rather than certain, this need for high human/CAD system interaction is stifling and greatly hinders creativity in the design process. This is especially true where the immediate goal of the designer is to merely capture the rough shape of an object in the CAD system—in essence, to make a rapid “CAD sketch” of the object. In this case, while the designer wishes to take a fast, freewheeling approach to setting forth his or her design concepts, the CAD system's requirements for specificity demand that the designer slow down and provide explicit instructions for all aspects of the object being designed. This informational and time burden increases with the complexity of the CAD system and its human/CAD interface; for example, while modern graphical user interfaces make design of geometric models acceptably rapid in many 2D CAD systems, the ab initio design of objects in 3D CAD systems is still time-consuming and frustrating. The burden grows particularly acute for 3D CAD systems where the human/CAD interface is complex—for example, in Virtual Reality (VR) interfaces wherein the designer works within a Virtual Environment (VE)—owing to the increased processing requirements of such systems.
As a result of the above-noted problems, researchers have attempted to devise methods and apparata which simplify the input process to CAD systems so that a user is not constrained by complex input processes, and is freer to input conceptual designs in a more rapid fashion. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,854 to Yamashita illustrates an “Apparatus and Method for Inputting Cell Shape and Position and Inter-Cell Calculation.” This invention creates a series of meta-functions that allow an operator to specify specific shapes and shading using an input device, such as a keyboard or a mouse. When shapes are to be copied or moved, these meta-functions are invoked, thereby reducing the user's burden in specifying the details associated with the shapes to be moved.
To U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,291 to Palm was issued for a “Method and Apparatus for Creation of Three-Dimensional Wire Frames.” This invention addresses rapid creation of representations of three dimensional objects using generically-shaped wire frames which belong to classes of objects. These generic wire frames can then be modified to correspond to a specific shape desired by a user. This avoids the user's need to create individual shapes for subsequent manipulation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,122, to Corda et al. was issued for an “Immersive Visual Programming System.” While this invention is directed to the field of software programming/development, it is nevertheless of interest because it allows the user to select from a set of prefabricated virtual components, thus saving the user the time and effort of creating individual components.
U.S. Pat. No.5,177,689 to Kinasi et al. was issued for a “CAD/CAM Apparatus for Enhancing Operator Entry of Machining Attributes and Geometric Shapes.” This invention relates to the use of simplified forms of input to create numerical control data for machining shapes so that the designer does not need to learn complicated data entry instructions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,493 was issued to Kindena et al. for a “Virtual Machining Techniques for Modifying Computer Models of Parts.” This invention represents three-dimensional objects by a high density data point model. A virtual tool is provided to the user, who manipulates the tool on the surface of the displayed object to modify its shape. Thus, the object can be modified without having to input specific equations or data points associated with the desired modifications.
The above inventions generally use standard man-machine interfaces (e.g., mouse, keyboard, 2D video monitor output) to create designs. However, in more recent years, there has been greater interest in the use of more natural forms of input (such as hand motion input or voice command input), and in Virtual Environments (VE) wherein the user is “immersed” in a 3D design environment, owing to the tremendous potential advantages offered by their use. See, e.g., D. Dietz, “Real Engineering in a Virtual World,”
Mechanical Engineering Magazine
, vol. 117, no.7, July, 1995, pp. 78-85; T. H. Dani and R. Gadh, “Virtual Reality: A New Tool for the Mechanical Engineer,”
Mechanical Engineers Handbook
, Myer Kutz, (Ed.), John Wiley & Sons, 1997. As an example, various research projects conducted by the inventors named in this document have investigated inputting shapes into a computer system in a physically intuitive way, using voice, hand motions, and gestures in fashions similar to the way in which one person would communicate with another. By use of position gloves and the like, a CAD system could allow a user to “grab” a design and manipulate it as if holding it in his or her hand, thus providing a more natural and intuitive interaction with the objects that are being designed. This increases design speed and reduces the need to learn complex operating instructions prior to initiating the design process.
Other prior research has also been performed on “natural” forms of user input such as voice commands and hand gestures. See, e.g., D. Weimer, S. K. Ganapathy, “A Synthetic Visual Environment with Hand Gesture and Voice Input”,
Proceedings of the ACM Conference on Computer Human Interfaces
, May 1989, pp. 235-240; R. A. Bolt, “Put That There: Voice and Gesture at the Graphics Interface,”
Computer Graphics
, vol. 14, no. 2
Dani Tushar H.
Gadh Rajit
DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C.
Fieschko, Esq. Craig A.
Garcia-Otero Ed
Teska Kevin J.
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
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