Geometric model comparator and method

• US 20030135846A1
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TTI Acquisition Corporation
• Original Assignee: TTI Acquisition Corporation
• Inventors: Cramer, David, Jayaram, Sankar, Evans, Daniel, McDonald, Michael M., Jayaram, Uma, Sorenson, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/137
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/06 Multi-objective optimisation, e.g. Pareto optimisation using simulated annealing [SA], ant colony algorithms or genetic algorithms [GA]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/08 Probabilistic or stochastic CAD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/16 involving adaptation to the client's capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/32 Image data format

Abstract

A geometric model comparator is provided, which includes processing circuitry, memory, and comparison circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to generate a target model from a source model. The memory is configured to store the source model and the target model. The comparison circuitry is configured to identify selected points from the source model, create corresponding selected points in a target model, and compare the selected points from the source model with the selected points from the target model to identify one or more selected points from the target model that fall outside of a predetermined tolerance range with the respective one or more points from the source model. A method is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for managing computational geometry system translations, comprising:

providing a server and at least one client within a client/server network environment;

receiving source geometric data at the server within a memory;

generating target geometric data using the source geometric data; and

identifying discrepancies between the target geometric data and the source geometric data by comparing the target geometric data with the source geometric data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, after identifying a discrepancy, further comprising notifying a user of the client of the discrepancy.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the source geometric data comprises comparison reference data extracted from a pre-existing source model and the target geometric data comprises corresponding comparison reference data created in a target model generated using the pre-existing source model.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the comparison reference data comprises point cloud data.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein, after receiving the pre-existing source model, further comprising opening the source model using a source CAD system.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the comparison reference data is extracted from the pre-existing source model.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising storing the extracted comparison reference data in a metafile format.

8. A machine-executed method for implementing a geometric conversion on a computer system including an interface, the method comprising:

receiving a source geometric model at a computer;

storing the source geometric model in memory of the computer;

converting the source geometric model to a target geometric model;

extracting source comparison reference data from the source geometric model;

extracting target comparison reference data from the target geometric model; and

comparing the comparison reference data from one of the source geometric model and the target geometric model with geometry from one of the target geometric model and the source geometric model, respectively, to identify geometric discrepancies therebetween.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the comparison reference data comprises point cloud data.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein comparing comprises determining whether point cloud data from the target geometric model lies outside of one of a surface, or edge, and a curve of point cloud data from the source geometric model using a pre-determined geometric tolerance.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the point cloud data identifies one of a surface and an edge of a surface.

12. The method of claim 8, responsive to comparing, interrupting a user at the interface when a geometric discrepancy is identified.

13. The method of claim 8, responsive to converting, interrupting a user at the interface when a problem is encountered during converting the source geometric model to the target geometric model.

14. A geometric model comparator, comprising:

processing circuitry configured to generate a target model from a source model;

memory configured to store the source model and the target model; and

comparison circuitry configured to identify selected points from the source model, create corresponding selected points in a target model, and compare the selected points from the source model with the target model to identify geometric entities from the target model that fall outside of a predetermined tolerance range with the respective one or more points from the source model.

15. The comparator of claim 14 wherein the comparison circuitry implements a forward comparison between the selected points from the source model and the respective geometry of the target model.

16. The comparator of claim 14 wherein the comparison circuitry implements a reverse comparison between the geometry of the source model and the respective selected points from the target model.

17. The comparator of claim 14 wherein the comparison circuitry implements a bi-directional comparison between one of the geometry of the source model and the respective selected points from the target model with one of the geometry of the target model and the geometry of the source model, respectively.

18. The comparator of claim 14 wherein the comparison circuitry implements a bounding box comparison comprising a minimized box that fits around a curve comprising the selected points from the target model and the source model so as to enclose the curve.

19. The comparator of claim 14 wherein the comparison circuitry is configured to measure a distance to a nearest edge from a selected point in the target model and the source model, compare the distance in the target model and the source model, and if a difference between the compared distances falls outside of a pre-determined tolerance, initiate notification of a user of the geometric model comparator of a discrepancy between the target model and the source model.

20. The comparator of claim 14 wherein the comparison circuitry saves selected points between the source model and the target model that do not match into an error file comprising a bad edge pixie file.

21. A geometric translation system, comprising:

memory to receive input data of a source model;

processing circuitry configured to convert the input data of the source model into corresponding output data of a target model;

a geometric model comparator configured to compare the input data with the corresponding output data and identify geometric discrepancies between the input data and the output data.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the processing circuitry extracts comparison reference data from the source model.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the source model comprises point cloud data.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the comparison reference data is stored in a metafile format.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the geometric model comparator is implemented in the processing circuitry.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the target geometric output file comprises a target CAD file including data points representing the geometric location of at least one of edges and surfaces of the source model.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the source model comprises pre-existing geometric file data and the target model comprises target geometric file data, and wherein the mirror model comparator compares the pre-existing geometric file data with the target geometric file data.

28. The system of claim 21 further comprising a client and a server provided by a common device.

29. A machine-executed method for implementing a geometric conversion on a computer system including an interface, the method comprising:

receiving a source geometric model at a computer;

storing the source geometric model in memory of the computer;

converting the source geometric model to a target geometric model;

extracting reference data from one of the source geometric model and the target geometric model;

importing reference data into one of the target geometric model and the source geometric model;

comparing the extracted reference data for discrepancies with geometry from one of the target geometric model and the source geometric model in one of a target CAD system and a source CAD system.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein reference data is extracted from the source geometric model, reference data is imported into the target geometric model, and the extracted reference data is compared for discrepancies with geometry from the target geometric model in a target CAD system.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein reference data is extracted from the target geometric model, reference data is imported into the source geometric model, and the extracted reference data is compared for discrepancies with geometry from the source geometric model in a source CAD system.