Querying A Database With Thickness Criterion

• US 20160350387A1
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dassault Systemes SA
• Original Assignee: Dassault Systemes SA
• Inventors: Marini, Laurent, Rorato, Remy, Rameau, Jean-Francois
• Granted Patent: US 10,198,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/17 Mechanical parametric or variational design
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/12 Bounding box

Abstract

The invention notably relates to a computer-implemented method for querying a database that comprises 3D modeled objects that represent mechanical parts. The method comprises the steps of providing a query that includes a thickness criterion and returning, as results of the query, respective 3D modeled objects of the database based on an extent to which the respective 3D modeled object has a thickness that respects the thickness criterion. The thickness of the respective 3D modeled object is proxied by a thickness signature that corresponds to the evaluation of a function of the type ƒ(x)=

$a\left(b+{\mathrm{cx}}^{\frac{3}{2}}\right).$

Such a method improves the querying of a database that comprises 3D modeled objects that represent mechanical parts.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for querying a database that comprises 3D modeled objects that represent mechanical parts, the method comprising:

providing a query that includes a thickness criterion;

returning, as results of the query, respective 3D modeled objects of the database, a respective 3D modeled object being returned based on an extent to which the respective 3D modeled object has a thickness that respects the thickness criterion, the thickness of the respective 3D modeled object being proxied by a thickness signature of the respective 3D modeled object, the thickness signature being a value that corresponds to the evaluation of a function of the type

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the thickness signature corresponds to the last result of an iteration of the evaluation of function ƒ

, the evaluation at a given iteration being performed on the result of the previous iteration, starting from ƒ

(0).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the iteration is stopped after the first iteration when the function has no fixed point, and/or the iteration is performed until a first fixed point is reached.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bounding box has axes defined by the inertia matrix of the respective 3D modeled object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanical parts include mechanical thin parts.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the mechanical parts include any or several of the following parts:

aerospace structural parts, such as clips, cleats, stringers and/or frames;

sheet metal parts and/or metal stamping parts, such as automobile body-in-white parts or ship parts;

plastic molding parts; and

/or

composite parts.

7. A non-transitory database, the database comprising 3D modeled objects that represent mechanical parts, each respective 3D modeled object of the database being associated to a thickness signature of the respective 3D modeled object, the thickness signature of a respective 3D modeled object being a value that corresponds to the evaluation of a function of the type

8. The database of claim 7, recorded on a computer readable storage medium.

9. A computer-implemented method for constructing a database, the database comprising 3D modeled objects that represent mechanical parts, each respective 3D modeled object of the database being associated to a thickness signature of the respective 3D modeled object, the thickness signature of a respective 3D modeled object being a value that corresponds to the evaluation of a function of the type

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method comprises, for each 3D modeled object, an iteration of the evaluation of function ƒ

, the evaluation at a given iteration being performed on the result of the previous iteration, starting from ƒ

(0).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the iteration is stopped after the first iteration when the function has no fixed point, and/or the iteration is performed until a first fixed point is reached.

12. A non-transitory computer program, comprising instructions for performing a computer-implemented method for querying a database that comprises 3D modeled objects that represent mechanical parts, the method comprising:

providing a query that includes a thickness criterion;

returning, as results of the query, respective 3D modeled objects of the database, a respective 3D modeled object being returned based on an extent to which the respective 3D modeled object has a thickness that respects the thickness criterion, the thickness of the respective 3D modeled object being proxied by a thickness signature of the respective 3D modeled object, the thickness signature being a value that corresponds to the evaluation of a function of the type

13. The program of claim 12, recorded on a computer readable storage medium.

14. A system comprising a processor coupled to a memory having recorded thereon a computer program, comprising instructions for performing a computer-implemented method for querying a database that comprises 3D modeled objects that represent mechanical parts, the method comprising:

providing a query that includes a thickness criterion;

returning, as results of the query, respective 3D modeled objects of the database, a respective 3D modeled object being returned based on an extent to which the respective 3D modeled object has a thickness that respects the thickness criterion, the thickness of the respective 3D modeled object being proxied by a thickness signature of the respective 3D modeled object, the thickness signature being a value that corresponds to the evaluation of a function of type

15. A non-transitory computer program, comprising instructions for performing a computer-implemented method for constructing a database, the database comprising 3D modeled objects that represent mechanical parts, each respective 3D modeled object of the database being associated to a thickness signature of the respective 3D modeled object, the thickness signature of a respective 3D modeled object being a value that corresponds to the evaluation of a function of the type

16. The program of claim 15, recorded on a computer readable storage medium.