Device and method for generating a virtual model of an installation

• US 7,054,793 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Moritz, Soeren, Sauer, Frank, Friedrich, Wolfgang, Navab, Nassir, Craft, Nicholas, Bani-Hashemi, Ali-Reza
• Primary Examiner(s): FERRIS III, FRED O
• Application Number:
  US09/750,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20010025229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 703/6, 703/1, 703/8, 703/7, 701/31, 701/17, 345/419, 345/581, 382/181, 382/190, 382/224, 706/20, 700/65
• US Class Current: 703/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for generating a virtual installation model (2) as an image of a real installation (1). As a database therefor, digital picture data (4) representing pictures of a real installation (1) on the one hand and installation components (13) of a component library (6) on the other hand are used. The data of the installation components as well as the digital picture data (4) of the real installation (1) is evaluated by means of an image analysis (5). Based on this analysis, the identified installation components (13) are assigned to the virtually generated installation model (2). The virtual image of the real installation thus created serves to document the actual structure of the installation/facility, to simplify failure analysis, e.g., in areas that are difficult to access, and/or to operate and monitor the installation/facility. In addition to geometric data, functional data, etc. of the installation components are also stored.

Claims

1. A device for generating a virtual installation model as an image of a real installation, comprising:

a first memory for storing picture data of the real installation;

a second memory for storing information data of installation components of a component library;

a third memory for storing the virtual installation model; and

an evaluation-and-control-unit for comparing the information data of the installation components with the picture data of the real installation, for identifying identified components in the picture data as respective ones of the installation components, for deriving hypotheses regarding the identified components in the picture data, and for assigning the respective identified ones of the installation components to the virtual installation model,

wherein the evaluation-and-control-unit is configured to control a building-up process of the virtual installation model, in which at least one of the installation components selected from the component library is dragged into a screen section that is assigned to display the picture data of the real installation, and

wherein the evaluation-and-control-unit is configured to evaluate geometric properties of the picture data in order to reconcile the selected and dragged installation component with the identified installation components identified in the picture data of the real installation, and wherein, after a successful reconciliation, the selected and dragged installation component is assigned to a respective one of the identified installation components.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation-and-control-unit is configured to perform an image analysis of data selected from the group consisting of the picture data, the information data of the installation components of the component library, current state data of the virtual installation model, and additional information data provided by a user.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation-and-control-unit is configured to perform an image analysis of at least one of geometric information of the picture data and the installation components of the component library.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a display device to display three views, wherein a first view of the three views displays the real installation based on the picture data;

wherein a second view of the three views displays the information data of the installation components of the component library; and

wherein a third view of the three views displays the virtual installation model.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the evaluation-and-control-unit is configured to evaluate structural information of the installation components, in order to assign the installation components to the picture data of the real installation.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the structural information comprise geometric and functional information.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the evaluation-and-control-unit is configured to add, after successful identification of at least one of the installation components, the respective identified installation component to the third view displaying the virtual installation model.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a digital camera, a digital video-camera, digitized photographs and data of a CAD-system to generate the picture data of the real installation.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first memory stores, as the picture data, different perspectives of the real installation.