Automatic dimensioning in computer aided design
First Claim
1. A method of performing substantially automatic dimensioning in computer aided design for a design item which comprises a plurality of line segments stored in a geometric element file, each of the line segments having both ends defined respectively by end point coordinates, the method comprising:
- (a) an area defining step for defining;
an area which encompasses the design item to be automatically dimensioned;
(b) table forming steps including;
automatically extracting horizontal line segments from the geometric element file and automatically registering the end point coordinates of the horizontal line segments in an X-dimensioning table together with extension line orientation data for the horizontal line segments; and
automatically extracting vertical line segments from the geometric element file and automatically registering the end point coordinates of the vertical line segments in a Y-dimensioning table together with extension line orientation data for the vertical line segments;
(d) provisional dimensioning steps including;
automatically generating provisional X-dimensioning lines for the horizontal line segments in different stages by referring to the X-dimensioning table; and
automatically generating provisional Y-dimensioning lines for the vertical line segments in different stages by referring to the Y-dimensioning table; and
(e) layout modifying steps including;
automatically rearranging the provisional X-dimensioning lines so that larger valued X-dimensioning lines are located farther from the design item than smaller valued X-dimensioning lines; and
automatically rearranging the provisional Y-dimensioning lines so that larger valued Y-dimensioning lines are located farther from the design item than smaller valued Y-dimensioning lines.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Substantially automatic dimensioning is performed in computer aided design for a design item. For this purpose, different kinds of constituent elements are registered in different tables based on which provisional dimensioning is performed along an X-axis and a Y-axis to generate provisional dimensioning lines in different stages. Then, the provisional dimensioning lines are rearranged in a manner such that larger valued dimensioning lines are located farther from the design item than smaller valued dimensioning lines. Leader dimensioning may be further performed with respect to such elements as 45°-chamfer elements, arc elements, circles and section bores.
84 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of performing substantially automatic dimensioning in computer aided design for a design item which comprises a plurality of line segments stored in a geometric element file, each of the line segments having both ends defined respectively by end point coordinates, the method comprising:
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(a) an area defining step for defining;
an area which encompasses the design item to be automatically dimensioned;(b) table forming steps including;
automatically extracting horizontal line segments from the geometric element file and automatically registering the end point coordinates of the horizontal line segments in an X-dimensioning table together with extension line orientation data for the horizontal line segments; and
automatically extracting vertical line segments from the geometric element file and automatically registering the end point coordinates of the vertical line segments in a Y-dimensioning table together with extension line orientation data for the vertical line segments;(d) provisional dimensioning steps including;
automatically generating provisional X-dimensioning lines for the horizontal line segments in different stages by referring to the X-dimensioning table; and
automatically generating provisional Y-dimensioning lines for the vertical line segments in different stages by referring to the Y-dimensioning table; and(e) layout modifying steps including;
automatically rearranging the provisional X-dimensioning lines so that larger valued X-dimensioning lines are located farther from the design item than smaller valued X-dimensioning lines; and
automatically rearranging the provisional Y-dimensioning lines so that larger valued Y-dimensioning lines are located farther from the design item than smaller valued Y-dimensioning lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for performing substantially automatic dimensioning in computer aided design for a design item which comprises a plurality of line segments stored in a geometric element file, each of the line segments having both ends defined respectively by end point coordinates, the method comprising:
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(a) an area defining step for defining an area which encompasses the design item to be automatically dimensioned; (b) table forming means for automatically extracting horizontal line segments from the geometric element file and automatically registering the end point coordinates of the horizontal line segments in an X-dimensioning table together with extension line orientation data for the horizontal line segments, the table forming means further automatically extracting vertical line segments from the geometric element file and automatically registering the end point coordinates of the vertical line segments in a Y-dimensioning table together with extension line orientation data for the vertical line segments; (d) provisional dimensioning means for automatically generating provisional X-dimensioning lines for the horizontal line segments in different stages by referring to the X-dimensioning table, the provisional dimensioning means further automatically generating provisional Y-dimensioning lines for the vertical line segments in different stages by referring to the Y-dimensioning table; and (e) layout modifying means for automatically rearranging the provisional X-dimensioning lines so that larger valued X-dimensioning lines are located farther from the design item than smaller valued X-dimensioning lines, the layout modifying means further automatically rearranging the provisional Y-dimensioning lines so that larger valued Y-dimensioning lines are located farther from the design item than smaller valued Y-dimensioning lines. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification