Simulation device

• US 7,194,396 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagatsuka, Yoshiharu, Watanabe, Atsushi, Kuribayashi, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Kamini
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUU, CUONG V
• Application Number:
  US10/290,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 600/484, 600/416, 715/700, 386/83, 707/100, 273/247, 345/419, 345/629
• US Class Current: 703/7
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1671 characterised by simulation, either to verify existing program or to create and verify new program, CAD/CAM oriented, graphic oriented programming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35291 Record history, log, journal, audit of machine operation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40322 Simulation with des, discrete event system

Abstract

A simulation device capable of displaying still images of a three-dimensional model of a machine such as a robot in the midst of an operation of the machine and simulating the operation from a start to the midst of the operation. The simulation device receives historical data (lapsing time information and positional information associated with the lapsing time information) of the operation of the machine to perform the simulation of the operation by displaying an image of the three-dimensional model of the machine by animation. When a capturing trigger signal is issued manually or automatically in the simulation, the image of the three-dimensional model is reduced and stored to be associated with the historical data of the operation of the machine at the issuance of the capturing trigger signal. The obtained reduced images are displayed in time series in the order of lapsing time.

Claims

1. A simulation device for simulating an operation of a machine which operates in accordance with an operation program or an operation command, said simulation device comprising:

receiving means for receiving lapsing time information of the operation of the machine and positional information of the machine associated with the lapsing time information;

simulation display means for displaying an image of a model of the machine on a display device by animation to perform simulation of the operation of the machine based on the received lapsing time information and positional information;

capturing means for capturing images of the model of the machine obtained by said simulation display means in the simulation and reduceing the captured images of the model of the machine;

storing means for storing the reduced images to be associated with the lapsing time information and the positional information to the time of capturing of the respective images of the model of the machine;

display control means for displaying the reduced images on the display device in the order of lapsing time based on the stored lapsing time information;

replay means for replaying a part of the simulation of the operation of the machine designated by at least one reduced image selected by an operator from the reduced images displayed on the display device based on the lapsing time information of the operation of the machine and the positional information of the machine associated with the reduced image selected by the operator; and

replay control means for suspending the replay of the simulation to allow altering of a replay speed of the replay of the simulation and restarting the replay of the simulation.

2. The simulation device according to claim 1,

wherein the suspending of the replay of the simulation to alter the replay speed and the restarting of the replay of the simulation are performed with respect to another machine which operates simultaneously with said machine.

3. A simulation device for simulating an operation of a machine, comprising:

receiving means for receiving lapsing time information of the operation of the machine and positional information of the machine associated with the lapsing time information;

simulation display means for displaying an image of a model of the machine on a display device by animation to perform simulation of the operation of the machine based on the received lapsing time information and positional information;

capturing means for capturing images of the model of the machine obtained by said simulation display means in the simulation;

storing means for storing the captured images to be associated with the lapsing time information and the positional information to the time of capturing of the respective images of the model of the machine;

display control means for reducing the captured images and displaying the reduced images on the display device in the order of lapsing time based on the stored lapsing time information;

replay means for replaying a part of the simulation of the operation of the machine designated by at least one of reduced image selected by an operator based on the lapsing time information of the operation of the machine and the positional information of the machine associated with the reduced image selected by the operator; and

replay control means for suspending the replay of the simulation to allow altering of a replay speed of the replay of the simulation and restarting the replay of the simulation.

4. The simulation device according to claim 3,

wherein the suspending of the replay of the simulation to alter the replay speed and the restarting of the replay of the simulation are performed with respect to another machine which operates simultaneously with said machine.