Simplified modeling software interface and method

• US 6,904,399 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.), TNO Madymo North America
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.), TNO Madymo North America
• Inventors: Rockwell, William Edward, Altamore, Paul Francis, Cooper, John
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US10/127,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 280/735, 280/728.1, 280/801.1, 703/2, 703/8, 703/22, 717/100, 717/104, 701/36, 701/45, 297/216.1, 180/271, 180/272, 180/274, 180/287
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30

Abstract

Disclosed is a simulation based environment that allows a product based engineer, with a modest understanding of complex software programs, to use complex math models. The system provides an interface by which basic component models can be used within the simulation. Allowances are made for particular variables to be adaptable by the product based engineer.

Claims

1. A computer executable method for producing a computer model, operative to control a computer stored on at least one computer readable medium, the method when executed comprising:

a) receiving a computer model formed of a plurality of variables from a first party;

b) receiving a modification to at least one of the variables from a second party;

c) determining whether the modification falls outside at least one predetermined criterion;

d) if any of the modifications fall outside the at least one criteria, transmitting a message to the second party that the modification of the variable will likely result in the model producing an undesirable result.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the model simulates a vehicle crash.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the model simulates the interaction between at least two objects.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a first software advisor determines whether the modification falls outside a predetermined criterion.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined criteria is a range of one of an integer number or a real number.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined criteria is a range of mathematical expressions.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of recommending acceptable values.

8. The method according to claim 4 further comprising a second software advisor configured to prevent modification of a variable if the modified variable does not have a predetermined format.

9. The method according to claim 8 further including recommending an acceptable format.

10. A system for facilitating the development of a computer simulation model, the system comprising:

a) a preprocessor interface that is configured to allow the modification of data in a computer simulation model, wherein the data can include;

(i) a vehicle'"'"'s interior geometry;

(ii) a restraint device;

(iii) a vehicle occupant; and

b) a first software advisor configured to determine whether the data variable falls outside of at least one predetermined criteria.

11. The system according to claim 10 further comprising a modeling engine configured to run the simulation model.

12. The system according to claim 10 further comprising a second software advisor configured to determine whether the input variable meets a required data format.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the second software advisor recommends acceptable formats.

14. The system according to claim 10 wherein the first software advisor determines whether data related to a restraint device falls within the predetermined criteria.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein first the software advisor recommends acceptable values related to a restraint device.

16. A system for facilitating the development of a computer model between a software expert and an engineer, the system comprising:

a data deck comprising variables representing properties of physical components in a simulation model;

a model processor for accepting the data deck and simulating an event;

a preprocessor for allowing the software expert and the engineer to modify variables on the data deck;

a first software advisor module configured to restrict the modification of variables within the data deck based upon engineering principles;

a second software advisor module configured to restrict modification to variables of the data deck based on limitation of the model processor.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein the data deck has a first set of variables whose value can be modified by a software expert but cannot be modified by the engineer.

18. The system according to claim 16 wherein the data deck comprises variables indicative of an automobile'"'"'s interior.

19. The system according to claim 16 wherein the data deck contains variables representative of a vehicle'"'"'s occupant.

20. The system according to claim 16 wherein the data deck contains variables indicative of a vehicle restraint system and wherein the first software advisor recommends values for the restraint system.

21. The system according to claim 20 wherein at least one of the restraint variables has a data range and wherein the first software advisor is configured to produce a warning indicator if one of the variables indicative of a vehicle restraint system is outside of a predetermined data range.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the warning indicator contains recommended values for the variable indicative of a vehicle restraint system.

23. The system according to claim 16 wherein at least one variable in the data deck must be input in a first format and wherein the second software advisor module is configured to generate an alarm if the variable is not inputted in the first format.