CAD system, design-support program for CAD system, and design methods

• US 6,928,330 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Caellum Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Caellum Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Rimoldi, Attilio, Kawai, Motomasa, Bassi, Gian Paolo
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jarrett, Ryan A.
• Application Number:
  US10/194,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 700/98, 700180-182, 700/183
• US Class Current: 700/98
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]

Abstract

A computer-aided-design (CAD) system design-support program and design methods are provided where a generation command to generate a target shape is extracted from existing CAD data. The generation command is displayed so as to make it possible to arbitrarily select a parameter included in the generation command. An operator is allowed to add a shape command to the selected parameter. Together with the parameter that includes the added shape command, the generation command is stored as a macro program. The macro program is activated and executed by inputting parameters provided with the shape commands, so as to change a target shape into a desired shape. With these arrangements, a CAD system as well as a design-support program and a design method allows more efficient operation of a user.

Claims

1. A computer-aided-design system comprising:

a controller that extracts a generation command to generate a target shape from existing computer-aided-design data;

a display that displays the generation command so as to make it possible to arbitrarily select a pre-stored parameter included in the generation command;

a first input device that allows an addition of a degree of freedom to the selected pre-stored parameter; and

a memory that stores the generation command together with the selected parameter that includes the added degree of freedom as a macro program.

2. The computer-aided-design system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second input device that activates the macro program and requests a predetermined input regarding the pre-stored parameter that includes the added degree of freedom; and

a generator that generates a desired shape by executing the macro program based on the input parameter.

3. The computer-aided-design system according to claim 1, wherein the macro program in which the generation command is stored comprises a plurality of sub-command programs.

4. The computer-aided-design system according to claim 1, wherein the generation command comprises a pre-stored parameter that does not include the added degree of freedom.

5. The computer-aided-design system according to claim 1, wherein the pre-stored parameter included in the generation command is a numerical value or a function.

6. A design-support program for a computer-aided-design system which is executed by a computer, the program comprising computer-readable instructions to perform the steps of:

extracting a generation command to generate a target shape from existing computer-aided-design data;

displaying the generation command so as to make it possible to arbitrarily select a pre-stored parameter included in the generation command;

allowing an addition of a degree of freedom to the selected pre-stored parameter; and

storing the generation command together with the selected pre-stored parameter that includes the added degree of freedom as a macro program.

7. The design-support program according to claim 6, further comprising computer-readable instructions to perform the steps of:

activating the macro program and requesting a predetermined input regarding the pre-stored parameter that includes the added degree of freedom; and

generating a desired shape by executing the macro program based on the predetermined input.

8. The design-support program according to claim 6, wherein the macro program in which the generation command is stored comprises a plurality of sub-command programs.

9. The design-support program according to claim 6, wherein the generation command comprises a pre-stored parameter that does not includes the added degree of freedom.

10. The design-support program according to claim 6, wherein the pre-stored parameter included in the generation command is a numerical value or a function.

11. A design method using a computer-aided-design system which is executed by a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

extracting a generation command to generate a target shape from existing computer-aided-design data;

displaying the generation command so as to make it possible to arbitrarily select a pre-stored parameter included in the generation command;

allowing an addition of a degree of freedom to the selected pre-stored parameter; and

storing the generation command together with the selected pre-stored parameter that includes the added degree of freedom as a macro program.

12. The design method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

activating the macro program and requesting a predetermined input regarding the pre-stored parameter that includes the added degree of freedom; and

generating a desired shape by executing the macro program based on the predetermined input.

13. The design method according to claim 11, wherein the macro program in which the generation command is stored comprises a plurality of sub-command programs.

14. The design method according to claim 11, wherein the parameter included in the generation command comprises a pre-stored parameter that does not include the added degree of freedom.

15. The design method according to claim 11, wherein the parameter included in the generation command is a numerical value or a function.