Method and system for the design of an enclosure to house internal components

• US 8,050,893 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Protocase, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Protocase, Inc.
• Inventors: Milburn, Douglas I., Lilley, Stephen G., Manley, Stephen F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thangavelu; Kandasamy
• Application Number:
  US11/560,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 703/10, 703/1, 379/413.02, 174/50, 174/67, 174/58, 174/50.67, 248/218.4, 293/85, 361/800, 361/797, 361/818, 361/796, 361/808, 342/4, 362/219, 700/231, 700/97, 600/490, 701/16, 701/6, 705/10, 716/11, 716/26, 716/27, 716/274, 165/54, 165/4, 439/607.01, 439/607.1, 707/1, 455/566, 463/46, 713/1, 358/498, 156/64
• US Class Current: 703/1
• 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 2219/2016 Rotation, translation, scaling

Abstract

Disclosed are a method, a computer-based system and a computer-readable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for creating the specifications for the fabrication of a fully customized enclosure housing internal components. First a suitable three dimensional template representing a basic form of the enclosure is chosen from a plurality of predetermined three dimensional templates and sized. Each face of the enclosure is selected and customized by selecting specific design features from a range of predetermined design options as necessary until a complete set of specifications for the enclosure is obtained.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of creating specifications for fabrication of a customizable enclosure for housing electronic components, the method comprising:

a) storing in a computer, a plurality of three dimensional templates representing possible basic forms of the customizable enclosure;

b) storing in the computer a range of predefined design features for the customizable enclosure;

c) displaying in a drop down box to a user, the stored plurality of three dimensional templates;

d) selecting as a base shape, one of the displayed plurality of three dimensional templates or a template from an external software program, based on the size and shape of the electronic components to be housed;

e) sizing the selected base shape by entering dimensions in a plurality of input boxes;

f) selecting a face of the base shape;

g) using a Face Editor stored on the computer to customize the customizable enclosure, the step of using the Face Editor comprising;

i) selecting at least one design feature from the range of predetermined design features stored in the computer, the design features being selected from the group comprising cutouts, standoffs, ports and fasteners;

ii) positioning the selected at least one design feature on the selected face; and

iii) sizing the selected at least one design feature; and

g) repeating steps f) and g) for each face of the base shape as necessary until a complete set of specifications for fabrication of the customizable enclosure for housing electronic components is created.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored plurality of three dimensional templates include the shapes of a rackmount enclosure, a u-shaped enclosure, a mini-ITX enclosure and a mechanical mounting fixture.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of activating a grid on the template selected in step g).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the grid comprises either lines or dots.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of viewing the customized enclosure in three dimensions.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of requesting a price estimate of the customized enclosure by a method selected from a group comprising of using embedded code, using a web query, or contacting a company representative.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of ordering the customized enclosure and filling in an online order processing form.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the customizable enclosure is for housing a printed circuit board.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of applying silk-screening to at least one face of the customizable enclosure.

10. A computer-implemented system for creating specifications for fabrication of a customizable enclosure for housing electronic components, the system comprising:

a) a storage medium for storing a plurality of three dimensional templates representing possible basic forms of the customizable enclosure and storing a range of predefined design features for the customizable enclosure;

b) a drop down box for displaying the stored plurality of predetermined three dimensional templates;

c) a processor for permitting a user to select as a base shape, one of the displayed three dimensional templates or a template from an external software program, based on the size and shape of the electronic components to be housed;

d) a plurality of input boxes to permit a user to enter dimensions to size the selected base shape based on a user'"'"'s requirements;

e) a processor for permitting a user to select a face of the base shape;

f) a Face Editor used to customize the selected face by;

i) selecting design features from the stored range of predetermined design features based on the user'"'"'s requirements, the design features being selected from the group comprising cutouts, standoffs, ports and fasteners;

ii) positioning the selected design features on the selected face; and

iii) sizing the selected design features;

wherein the Face Editor can be used to customize each face of the base shape as necessary until a complete set of specifications for the enclosure is obtained.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code embodied therein which when executed on a computer performs a method for creating specifications for fabrication of a customizable enclosure for housing electronic components, the method comprising:

a) storing in a computer, a plurality of three dimensional templates representing possible basic forms of the customizable enclosure and storing a range of predefined design features for the customizable enclosure;

b) displaying in a drop down box, the stored plurality of predetermined three dimensional templates;

c) selecting as a base shape, one of the displayed three dimensional templates or a template from an external software program, based on the size and shape of the electronic components to be housed;

d) sizing the selected base shape based on a user'"'"'s requirements by entering dimensions in a plurality of input boxes;

e) selecting a face of the base shape;

f) using a Face Editor to customize the selected face by;

i) selecting design features from the range of stored predetermined design features based on the user'"'"'s requirements, the design features being selected from the group comprising cutouts, standoffs, ports and fasteners;

ii) positioning the selected design features on the selected face; and

iii) sizing the selected design features; and

g) repeating steps e), and f) for each face of the base shape as necessary until a complete set of specifications for the enclosure is obtained.