Computer system and method for providing exploded views of an assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- performing, by a computer;
obtaining a data structure representing an object, wherein the object is an assembly of a plurality of parts, wherein the data structure comprises a plurality of hierarchically arranged data elements each representing one of the plurality of parts of the assembly, wherein each of the plurality of parts of the assembly is either a single distinct component of the assembly or a sub-assembly of two or more others of the plurality of parts of the assembly;
receiving input selecting one of the parts of the assembly for which an exploded view is to be generated, wherein the selected part is a sub-assembly of two or more others of the plurality of parts; and
automatically generating an exploded view of the selected sub-assembly, wherein said automatically generating an exploded view of the selected sub-assembly comprises;
determining a global bounding region for the sub-assembly;
determining a bounding region for each of the parts of the sub-assembly;
for each of the parts of the sub-assembly, dynamically determining a vector for the respective part according to a center of the global bounding region for the sub-assembly and a center of the bounding region for the respective part;
dynamically determining a displacement for each of the parts in the direction of its respective vector such that the bounding regions for the parts of the sub-assembly do not intersect; and
displaying each of the parts of the sub-assembly at a location indicated by the direction of its respective vector and its respective displacement.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In response to user selection of automatic generation of an exploded view of a data element at a level in a hierarchical representation of an assembly, an exploded view of at least part of the assembly at the selected level can be generated automatically and the exploded view presented to the user.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
performing, by a computer; obtaining a data structure representing an object, wherein the object is an assembly of a plurality of parts, wherein the data structure comprises a plurality of hierarchically arranged data elements each representing one of the plurality of parts of the assembly, wherein each of the plurality of parts of the assembly is either a single distinct component of the assembly or a sub-assembly of two or more others of the plurality of parts of the assembly; receiving input selecting one of the parts of the assembly for which an exploded view is to be generated, wherein the selected part is a sub-assembly of two or more others of the plurality of parts; and automatically generating an exploded view of the selected sub-assembly, wherein said automatically generating an exploded view of the selected sub-assembly comprises; determining a global bounding region for the sub-assembly; determining a bounding region for each of the parts of the sub-assembly; for each of the parts of the sub-assembly, dynamically determining a vector for the respective part according to a center of the global bounding region for the sub-assembly and a center of the bounding region for the respective part; dynamically determining a displacement for each of the parts in the direction of its respective vector such that the bounding regions for the parts of the sub-assembly do not intersect; and displaying each of the parts of the sub-assembly at a location indicated by the direction of its respective vector and its respective displacement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
12. A computer system, comprising:
-
at least one processor; storage for a data structure representing an object, wherein the object is an assembly of a plurality of parts, wherein the data structure comprises a plurality of hierarchically arranged data elements each representing one of the plurality of parts of the assembly, wherein each of the plurality of parts of the assembly is either a single distinct component of the assembly or a sub-assembly of two or more others of the plurality of parts of the assembly; a display; and a memory comprising program code executable by the at least one processor to; receive input selecting one of the parts of the assembly for which an exploded view is to be generated, wherein the selected part is a sub-assembly of two or more others of the plurality of parts; and automatically generate an exploded view of the selected sub-assembly, wherein, to automatically generate an exploded view of the selected sub-assembly, the program code is executable by the at least one processor to; determine a global bounding region for the sub-assembly; determine a bounding region for each of the parts of the sub-assembly; for each of the parts of the sub-assembly, dynamically determine a vector for the respective part according to a center of the global bounding region for the sub-assembly and a center of the bounding region for the respective part; dynamically determine a displacement for each of the parts in the direction of its respective vector such that the bounding regions for the parts of the sub-assembly do not intersect; and display, on the display, each of the parts of the sub-assembly at a location indicated by the direction of its respective vector and its respective displacement. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing program code, wherein the program code is computer-executable to:
-
access a data structure representing an object, wherein the object is an assembly of a plurality of parts, wherein the data structure comprises a plurality of hierarchically arranged data elements each representing one of the plurality of parts of the assembly, wherein each of the plurality of parts of the assembly is either a single distinct component of the assembly or a sub-assembly of two or more others of the plurality of parts of the assembly; receive input selecting one of the parts of the assembly for which an exploded view is to be generated, wherein the selected part is a sub-assembly of two or more others of the plurality of parts; and automatically generate an exploded view of the selected sub-assembly, wherein, to automatically generate an exploded view of the selected sub-assembly, the program code is computer-executable to; determine a global bounding region for the sub-assembly; determine a bounding region for each of the parts of the sub-assembly; for each of the parts of the sub-assembly, dynamically determine a vector for the respective part according to a center of the global bounding region for the sub-assembly and a center of the bounding region for the respective part; dynamically determine a displacement for each of the parts in the direction of its respective vector such that the bounding regions for the parts of the sub-assembly do not intersect; and display each of the parts of the sub-assembly at a location indicated by the direction of its respective vector and its respective displacement.
-
-
24. An apparatus comprising:
-
means for obtaining a data structure representing an object, wherein the object is an assembly of a plurality of parts, wherein the data structure comprises a plurality of hierarchically arranged data elements each representing one of the plurality of parts of the assembly, wherein each of the plurality of parts of the assembly is either a single distinct component of the assembly or a sub-assembly of two or more others of the plurality of parts of the assembly; means for automatically generating an exploded view of a selected part of the assembly, wherein the selected part is a sub-assembly, and wherein said means for automatically generating an exploded view of the selected sub-assembly comprises; means for determining a global bounding region for the sub-assembly; means for determining a bounding region for each of the parts of the sub-assembly; means for dynamically determining a vector for each of the parts of the selected sub-assembly according to a center of the global bounding region for the sub-assembly and a center of the bounding region for the respective part; means for dynamically determining a displacement for each of the parts in the direction of its respective vector such that the bounding regions for the parts of the sub-assembly do not intersect; and means for displaying each of the parts of the sub-assembly at a location indicated by the direction of its respective vector and its respective displacement.
-
Specification