Systems and methods for selecting a material that best matches a desired set of properties

• US 7,246,113 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SABIC Global Technologies BV (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Cheetham, William Estel, Mishra, Sanjay Braj, Reddy, Dagumati Dayakara, Amladi, Vinod, Suh, Jaehong, Vitta, Srikant
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Syed; Farhan M.
• Application Number:
  US10/263,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/6
• US Class Current: 707/741
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/334 Query execution G06F16/335 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

Material selection systems and methods for quickly identifying which existing material best matches a desired set of properties are described so that product development time can be minimized. Users may input the properties they desire in a material, which properties they want searched and scored, the acceptable values of those properties, and a priority value for each property. Preliminary matching materials may be retrieved from a materials database, and an index value for each property value may be calculated. One of four fuzzy membership functions may then be utilized to calculate a scored property value for each property of each material. The scored property value may then be weighted to account for the priority value assigned to each property. The results may then be sorted in descending order based on their overall match scores, and output to the user so the best matching material(s) is readily identifiable by the user.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a material that most closely matches a desired set of properties, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one input parameter for display from a user;

means for the user selecting from the at least one input parameter for display at least one parameter for searching;

retrieving actual property values for at least one preliminary matching material from a global data repository;

determining how well each preliminary matching material matches a desired set of property values; and

outputting the results to the user;

wherein the determining step comprises;

calculating an index value for each actual property value of each preliminary matching material;

scoring each property value to create a scored property value;

weighting each scored property value by taking a priority value for each property into account to create a weighted scored property value, wherein the weighted scored property value is calculated using the formula;

Weighted score property value=Scored property value*Priority value; and

calculating an overall match score for each preliminary matching material using the formula;

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sorting the preliminary matching materials by theft respective overall match scores prior to outputting the results to the user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the preliminary matching materials are sorted in descending order based on their respective overall match scores.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input parameter comprises at least one of:

units for each property, acceptable property values for each property to be searched, a priority value for each property to be searched, and a number of matching materials to display.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the acceptable property values for each property to be searched comprises at least one of:

a minimum acceptable property value, a maximum acceptable property value, a range of acceptable property values, and an acceptable point value for a property.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the priority value for each property to be searched comprises at least one of:

high, medium and low.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a minimum acceptable property value or a maximum acceptable property value for a property, the index value is calculated using the formula:

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, the index value is calculated using the formula:

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a minimum acceptable property value for a property, the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function:

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a maximum acceptable property value for a property, the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function:

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and the desired property value for that property equals zero (0), the scored property value is one (1).

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and the desired property value for that property does not equal zero (0), the scored property value is zero (0).

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and:

Actual property value<

DPV*0.9

wherein DPV=desired property value, the scored property value is zero (0).

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and:

DPV*0.9·

ltoreq·

Actual property value<

DPV

the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function;

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and:

Actual property value=DPV

wherein DPV=desired property value, the scored property value is one (1).

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and:

DPV<

Actual property value·

ltoreq·

DPV* 1.1

the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function;

17. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and:

Actual property value>

DPV*1.1

wherein DPV=desired property value, the scored property value is zero (0).

18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, and the index value for that property is less than −

1, the scored property value equals zero (0).

19. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, and:

−

1·

ltoreq·

Tndex value<

−

0.5

the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function;

Scored property value=2(1.0+Index value).

20. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, and:

−

0.5·

ltoreq·

Index value<

0.5

the scored property value is one (1).

21. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, and:

0.5·

ltoreq·

Index value<

1

the scored property is calculated using the fuzzy membership function;

Scored property value=2(1.0−

Index value).

22. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, and the index value for that property is greater than one (1), the scored property value is zero (0).

23. The method of claim 1, wherein a high priority exists for a property, a priority value of 4 is assigned to that property, a medium priority exists for a property, a priority value of 2 is assigned to that property, and a low priority exists for a property, a priority value of 1 is assigned to that property.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein each preliminary matching material comprises an engineering thermoplastic.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the engineering thermoplastic comprises at least one of a polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), liquid crystal polyester (LCP), a polyolefin, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polybutylene, a styrene-type resin, polyoxymethylene (POM), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), polymethylene methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyphenylene ether (PPE), polyimide (PI), polyamide imide (PAI), polyetherimide (PEI), polysulfone (PSU), polyether sulphone (PES), polyketone (PK), polyether ketone (PEK) polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyalylate (PAR), polyethernitrile (PEN), a phenol resin (novolac type), a phenoxy resin, a fluorocarbon resin, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polystyrene type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polyolefin type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polyurethane type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polyester type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polyamide type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polybutadiene type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polyisoprene type, and a thermoplastic elastomer of a fluorine type.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the engineering thermoplastic comprises at least one of a styrene-type resin, a polycarbonate resin, a polyphenylene ether resin, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, a polyphenylene sulfide resin, a polyolebi resin, a liquid-crystalline resin and a phenol-type resin.

27. A system for selecting a material that most closely matches a desired set of properties, the method comprising:

a means for obtaining at least one input parameter for display from the user;

a means for the user selecting from the at least one input parameter for display at least one parameter for searching;

a means for retrieving actual property values for at least one preliminary matching material from a global data repository;

a material selecting algorithm operable for determining a match between each preliminary matching material and a desired set of property values; and

a means for outputting the results to the user;

wherein the determining step comprises;

calculating an index value for each actual property value of each preliminary matching material;

scoring each property value to create a scored property value;

weighting each scored property value by taking a priority value for each property into account to create a weighted scored property value, wherein the weighted scored property value is calculated using the formula;

Weighted score property value=Scored property value*Priority value; and

Calculating an overall match score for each preliminary matching material using the formula;

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the material selection algorithm is further operable for:

sorting the preliminary matching materials by their respective overall match scores prior to outputting the results to the user.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the preliminary matching materials are sorted in descending order based on their respective overall match scores.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the at least one input parameter comprises at least one of:

units for each property, acceptable property values for each property to be searched, a priority value for each property to be searched, and a number of matching materials to display.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the acceptable property values for each property to be searched comprises at least one of:

a minimum acceptable property value, a maximum acceptable property value, a range of acceptable property values, and an acceptable point value for a property.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the priority value for each property to be searched comprises at least one of:

high, medium and low.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a minimum acceptable property value or a maximum acceptable property value for a property, the index value is calculated using the formula:

34. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, the index value is calculated using the formula:

35. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a minimum acceptable property value for a property, the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function:

36. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a maximum acceptable property value for a property, the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function:

37. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and the desired property value for that property equals zero (0), the scored property value is one (1).

38. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and the desired property value for that property does not equal zero (0), the scored property value is zero (0).

39. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and:

Actual property value<

DPV*0.9

wherein DPW=desired property value, the scored property value is zero (0).

40. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and:

DPV*0.9·

ltoreq.Actual property value<

DPV

the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function;

19 Scored Property Value=(DPV*0.1)−

DPV+APV(DPV*0.1) wherein DPV=desired property value and APV=actual property value.

41. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and:

Actual property value=DPV

wherein DPV=desired property value, the scored property value is one (1).

42. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and:

DPV<

Actual property value·

ltoreq.DPV*1.1

the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function;

43. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property, and:

Actual property value>

DPV*1.1

wherein DPV=desired property value, the scored property value is zero (0).

44. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, and the index value for that property is less than −

1, the scored property value equals zero (0).

45. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, and:

−

1·

ltoreq·

Index value<

−

0.5

the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function;

Scored property value=2(1.0+Index value).

46. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, and:

−

0.5·

ltoreq·

Index value<

0.5

the scored property value is one (1).

47. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, and:

0.5·

ltoreq·

Index value<

1

the scored property is calculated using the fuzzy membership function;

Scored property value=2(1.0−

Index value).

48. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one input parameter obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for a property, and the index value for that property is greater than one (1), the scored property value is zero (0).

49. The system of claim 27, wherein a high priority exists for a property, a priority value of 4 is assigned to that property, a medium priority exists for a property, a priority value of 2 is assigned to that property, and a low priority exists for a property, a priority value of 1 is assigned to that property.

50. The system of claim 27, wherein each preliminary matching material comprises an engineering thermoplastic.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the engineering thermoplastic comprises at least one of a polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), liquid crystal polyester (LCP), a polyolefin, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polybutylene, a styrene-type resin, polyoxymethylene (POM), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), polymethylene methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyphenylene ether (PPE), polyimide (PI), polyamide imide (PAI), polyetherimide (PEI), polysulfone (PSU), polyether sulphone (PES), polyketone (PK), polyether ketone (PEK), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyalylate (PAR), polyethernitrile (PEN), a phenol resin (novolac type), a phenoxy resin, a fluorocarbon resin, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polystyrene type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polyolefin type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polyurethane type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polyester type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polyamide type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polybutadiene type, a thermoplastic elastomer of a polyisoprene type, and a thermoplastic elastomer of a fluorine type.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the engineering thermoplastic comprises at least one of a styrene-type resin, a polycarbonate resin, a polyphenylene ether resin, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, a polyphenylene sulfide resin, a polyolebi resin, a liquid-crystalline resin and a phenol-type resin.