JP2001282879A - Design support system, recording medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily find a desired assembly data with a design support device that supports design work of two-dimensional or three-dimensional shapes by combining plurality of parts and assembly data indicating placement relations between the parts. SOLUTION: A shape display output means 1a makes two-dimensional or three-dimensional shapes stored in a database 2 to be displayed on a display part 3. A part designation means 1e designates a predetermined part displayed on the display part 3. An assembly data acquisition means 1b acquires an assembly data related to the designated part from the database 2. An assembly data display output means 1c sorts the acquired assembly data depending on its hierarchical structure and displays the result on the display device 3. A hierarchical number designation means 1d makes a part of the hierarchical structure displayed by the assembly data display output means 1c to be in non-display status.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a design support apparatus, a recording medium, and a program, and more particularly to designing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape by combining a plurality of parts and assembly data indicating a connection relationship between the parts. The present invention relates to a design support device, a recording medium, and a program for supporting work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, CAD (Computer Aided Desig)
In a design support apparatus such as n), by combining component data having an actual shape (shape, size, etc.) and assembly data indicating the arrangement state (position, direction, etc.) of the component data, an arbitrary two-dimensional or Generate a three-dimensional shape.

Here, the component data and the assembly data often have a hierarchical structure. One example is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to 2 to 14. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a conical part P1, a cylindrical part P2 having a concave part in a lower part, and a cylindrical part P3 having a convex part in an upper part are constituent parts,
Consider a three-dimensional model having a completed shape as shown in FIG.

[0004] Such a model is constituted by data having a hierarchical structure as shown in FIG. That is, component data corresponding to the cone P1, the cylinder P2, and the cylinder P3, which are actual data, and assembly data (hereinafter, referred to as the assembly data indicating the positional relationship between the cylinder P2 and the cylinder P3).
A2) and an assembly A1 indicating the positional relationship between the columns P2, P3 and the cone P1.

[0005]

By the way, a screen (hereinafter referred to as a view screen) for displaying the actual appearance of a model having a two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape (for example, a model as shown in FIG. 13) is provided. Usually, no assembly data is displayed. Therefore, conventionally, when editing assembly data, for example, a tree as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed separately from the view screen, and desired assembly data is designated on this tree. .

However, in such a method, for example, when it is attempted to edit the assembly data corresponding to a predetermined part displayed on the view screen, it is necessary to find the part on a tree. The part name had to be memorized correctly. Therefore, there is a problem that the burden on the operator increases.

Therefore, a method has been proposed in which, when a predetermined component is designated on a view screen by a mouse pointer or the like, a corresponding item is highlighted on a tree. However, this method has a problem that the operation becomes complicated because the item to be highlighted must be displayed on the tree in advance. Therefore, when a component not displayed on the tree is specified, a method of automatically changing the display mode of the tree so that the specified item is displayed has been proposed. However, there is a problem that the operator may be confused because the numbers change one after another according to the designated parts.

When a predetermined part is designated on the view screen by a mouse pointer or the like, the corresponding item is highlighted on the tree and moved to the upper or lower position of the designated part. There is also proposed a method of providing a button to facilitate the movement of the hierarchy. However, even in such a method, since a large number of items are displayed on the tree, there is a problem that the display is complicated and it is difficult to easily find desired assembly data.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and relates to a design support apparatus capable of easily finding desired assembly data.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape is designed by combining a plurality of parts and assembly data indicating the positional relationship between the parts shown in FIG. A shape display output unit 1a for displaying and outputting the two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape, and a shape display output unit 1
a component designating means 1e for designating a predetermined part constituting the two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape displayed by a, and assembly data acquiring means 1b for acquiring assembly data relating to the component designated by the component designating means 1e.
An assembly data display output unit 1c for rearranging and outputting the assembly data obtained by the assembly data obtaining unit 1b according to the hierarchical structure thereof,
Is provided.

Here, the shape display output means 1a displays and outputs a two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape. Parts designation means 1e
Designates a predetermined part constituting the two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape displayed by the shape display output means 1a. The assembly data obtaining means 1b obtains assembly data relating to the component specified by the component specifying means 1e. The assembly data display output unit 1c rearranges and outputs the assembly data acquired by the assembly data acquisition unit 1b according to the hierarchical structure.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a principle diagram for explaining the operation principle of the present invention. In this figure, the design support device 1
Is composed of a shape display output unit 1a, an assembly data acquisition unit 1b, an assembly data display output unit 1c, a hierarchy number designation unit 1d, and a component designation unit 1e, and stores model data stored in the database 2. Display on display device 3 and display device 3
Is specified, the associated assembly data is retrieved and displayed on the display device 3.

Here, the shape display output means 1a outputs a model having a predetermined two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape stored in the database 2 to the display device 3 for display. The component designating unit 1e designates a predetermined component constituting the two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape displayed on the display device 3 by the shape display output unit 1a.

The assembly data obtaining means 1b obtains, from the database 2, assembly data relating to the component specified by the component specifying means 1e. The assembly data display and output means 1 c
The assembly data obtained by b is rearranged according to the hierarchical structure and displayed on the display device 3.

The hierarchy number designation means 1d designates the number of layers to be displayed. Database 2 is 2D or 3D
It stores a model and the like composed of component data indicating a dimensional shape and assembly data indicating an arrangement relationship of the component data and the like.

The display device 3 is, for example, a CRT (Cathode
(Ray Tube) monitor, and displays a model and the like created by the design support apparatus 1. Next, the operation of the above principle diagram will be described.

Now, five parts P10 as shown in FIG.
3 are stored in the database 2 having the completed structure shown in FIG. In this model, conical parts P10 and P12 are arranged above and below a cylindrical part P11.
Components P13 and P14 each having a convex portion are engaged with a concave portion provided on the side surface of the component P11.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a hierarchical structure of component data and assembly data constituting the model shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, the parts P11 and P1
3 and the parts 14 are managed by the assembly data A11 in terms of the arrangement relationship and the like. Also, the component P1
The arrangement relationship and the like of the component group under the 0, the component P12, and the assembly data A11 are managed by the assembly data A10.

When such a model is to be processed, the shape display output means 1a outputs a screen (view screen) displaying an image as shown in FIG. Then, in order to edit desired assembly data, the operator designates a part related to the assembly data by the part designating unit 1e with reference to the view screen, and the part designating unit 1e outputs the designated part in a shape display. It notifies the assembly data obtaining means 1b via the means 1a.

The assembly data obtaining means 1b obtains assembly data belonging to a higher hierarchy than the component specified by the component specifying means 1e. For example, the component P1
When 4 is specified, the assembly data A11 belonging to the layer immediately above it and the assembly data A10 existing in the root are acquired.

The assembly data display output means 1c rearranges the assembly data acquired by the assembly data acquisition means 1b according to the hierarchical structure, and outputs the assembly data to the display device 3.

For example, when the part P14 is designated, the assembly data A10 and A11 are obtained as described above, and the tree shown in FIG. 5A is displayed on the display device 3.

When the part P12 is designated,
The assembly data A10 belonging to the layer immediately above it is acquired, and the tree shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the display device 3.

It should be noted that the number-of-layers specifying means 1d is
This is operated by the operator when specifying the number of layers of the tree displayed in. For example, when the component P14 is specified, the tree shown in FIG. 5A is normally displayed on the display device 3 when the component P14 is specified, but the number of layers is set to “2” by the number-of-layers specifying means 1d. In this case, only the component P14 and the assembly data A11 immediately above the component P14 are displayed. Therefore, when the number of hierarchies is large, it is possible to quickly find desired assembly data by limiting the number of hierarchies to be displayed.

As described above, according to the present invention,
When a specified part is specified on the view screen,
Since assembly data belonging to a hierarchy higher than the part is searched, and the obtained assembly data is rearranged and displayed according to the hierarchical structure, desired assembly data can be easily found. Note that, instead of the assembly data belonging to the higher hierarchy, the assembly data belonging to the lower hierarchy may be displayed.

Further, since the number of hierarchies of the tree to be displayed can be specified, even if the number of hierarchies is large, it is possible to quickly find desired assembly data.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
Is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 20a, RO
M (Read Only Memory) 20b, RAM (Random Acces)
s Memory) 20c, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 20
d, GC (Graphics Card) 20e, and I / F (I
nterface) 20f, and the input device 2
In addition to executing the processing according to the information input from 2, the processing result is displayed and output on the display device 21.

Here, the CPU 20a executes various arithmetic processes in accordance with programs stored in the HDD 20h and the like, and controls each unit of the apparatus. ROM 20b
Stores basic programs executed by the CPU 20a, data, and the like.

The RAM 20c temporarily stores programs being executed by the CPU 20a and data being operated on. The HDD 20d stores a program executed by the CPU 20a, generated model data, and the like.

The GC 20e executes a drawing process according to a drawing command supplied from the CPU 20a, converts an obtained image into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the display device 21. I / F2
0f indicates that the data from the input device 22 is
Convert and input to match the internal expression format.

The display device 21 is composed of, for example, a CRT monitor or a liquid crystal display.
And display and output the video signal output from. Input device 22
Is configured by, for example, a mouse or a keyboard, and is operated when an operator inputs information.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. Now, a CD (Compact Disk (trademark)) changer is selected as the target model, and the display device 21 shown in FIG.
It is assumed that a screen as shown in FIG. In this display example, a window 30 entitled "Assembly Tree" and a window 31 entitled "3D-View" are displayed. In the window 31, the shape of the CD changer 50 is three-dimensionally displayed, and in the window 30, a tree composed of component data and assembly data constituting the CD changer 50 is displayed.

In such a state, if the input device 22 is operated and the gear 50c fitted on the rotation axis of the thread motor 50b of the CD changer 50 displayed in the window 31 is designated by a mouse pointer, The CPU 20a detects that the gear 50c has been designated.

Then, the CPU 20a refers to the component data and the assembly data stored in the HDD 20d, and obtains the assembly data belonging to the hierarchy higher than the specified component.

In the present example, the designated gear 50c is
“Motor_gear_M” shown in the window 30
1 (fifth display item from the bottom), so as assembly data belonging to a higher hierarchy,
“Sred_motor_1_asm1”, “m27_
pu_base1_asm ”and“ 140 kad
ai_ue_2_asm ". The assembly data “sred_motor_1_asm1” is
This is data indicating an arrangement relationship between the thread motor 50b and the gear 50c, and "m27_pu_base1_a
"sm" is assembly data relating to the chassis 50a on which the sled motor 50b is mounted. Furthermore, "14
"0kadai_ue_2_asm" is assembly data relating to the entire CD changer 50.

Next, the CPU 20a rearranges the acquired assembly data and the designated component data according to the hierarchical structure, and causes the window 30 to display it.
As a result, a screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display device 21. In this example, the component data “motor_gear_M1” corresponding to the specified component is set as the lowest layer, and “sred_motor_1_as” is placed above the component data “motor_gear_M1”.
A tree having “m1”, “m27_pu_base1_asm”, and “140 kadai_ue_2_asm” is displayed.

According to such a tree, all the assembly data existing in the hierarchy from the designated component to the root can be seen at a glance, so that desired assembly data can be easily found.

In this state, if the right button of the mouse constituting the input device 22 is clicked, only the number of layers corresponding to the number of clicks is displayed in the window 3.
0 will be displayed.

For example, if the right-click is performed only once, the number of layers obtained by subtracting “1” from the number of layers currently displayed in the window 30 is displayed. Specifically, if the right click is performed only once on the screen shown in FIG. 8, the screen shown in FIG. 9 will be displayed. In this example, the designated component data “motor_
Data of three layers counted from “gear_M1” are displayed.

When the right click is further repeated, the number of layers is reduced, and only the designated parts are displayed in the window 30. In such a state, if the right-click is further performed, the display returns to the original display state (the state shown in FIG. 8).

When a left click is made, all layers are displayed as shown in FIG. As described above, according to the present invention, when a desired component displayed in the window 31 is specified, assembly data belonging to a higher level than the specified component is obtained and displayed according to the hierarchical structure. Therefore, desired assembly data can be easily found.

Further, since the number of displayed layers is increased or decreased in response to a right click of the mouse or the like, even when the number of layers is large, it is possible to quickly find the target assembly data.

In the above embodiment, a list of assembly data belonging to a higher hierarchy of a specified component is displayed. However, a list of assembly data belonging to a lower hierarchy of a specified component may be displayed. Good. Alternatively, a list of assembly data belonging to both the upper and lower hierarchies of the designated component may be displayed.

In the above embodiment, the number of layers to be displayed is increased or decreased in response to a mouse click. For example, the number of layers to be displayed may be specified in advance from a dialog box or the like. Good.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the number of displayed layers is increased or decreased, a predetermined number of assembly data is displayed centering on a designated part. The number of assembly data may be displayed.

Finally, a flowchart for realizing the above processing will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process executed when a predetermined component is designated in the embodiment shown in FIG. When this flowchart is started, the following processing is executed. [S1] The CPU 20a acquires assembly data belonging to the layer immediately above the specified component. [S2] The CPU 20a determines whether or not the acquired assembly data is the assembly data located at the route. If the acquired assembly data is the assembly data located at the route, the process proceeds to step S4; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S3.
Proceed to.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a data structure of the assembly data. As shown in this figure, the assembly data includes the number of models indicating the number of subordinate models (parts or assembly data), and the model names, positions, and pointers of the subordinate models. The model name is the name of a model belonging to the subordinate, and the position is data indicating an arrangement relationship between parts and the like. Further, the pointer is data for specifying the location where the model is stored. Although not shown in this figure, a pointer to a model belonging to a higher hierarchy is also provided, and by referring to this pointer, the higher model can be specified. When the pointer is empty, it is possible to specify that the assembly data is located at the root. [S3] The CPU 20a generates a tree creation list (hereinafter referred to as a tree creation list).
(Hereinafter simply referred to as a list). [S4] The CPU 20a proceeds to step S5 if data other than the specified component exists in the list, and otherwise ends the processing.

That is, if the assembly data does not exist in the hierarchy higher than the specified component, the process ends. [S5] The CPU 20a forms a tree from the assembly data registered in the list.

When constructing the tree, the hierarchical relationship of each assembly data in the hierarchy is specified by referring to the pointer added to the assembly data shown in FIG. 11, and the tree is constructed based on this. I do. [S6] The CPU 20a transfers the created tree to the GC 20
e, and is displayed on the display device 21.

As a result, for example, a screen as shown in FIG. [S7] The CPU 20a substitutes the number of items constituting the tree for the variable i.

For example, in the example of FIG. 8, the number of items constituting the tree is “4”. [S8] The CPU 20a determines whether or not the mouse constituting the input device 22 has been left-clicked. If the mouse has been left-clicked, the process proceeds to step S9; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S10. [S9] The CPU 20a displays all items constituting the tree, that is, the specified component data and all the assembly data. [S10] The CPU 20a determines whether or not the mouse has been right-clicked.
It proceeds to step S11, otherwise proceeds to step S15. [S11] The CPU 20a decrements the value “1” from the variable i. [S12] The CPU 20a determines whether or not the value of the variable i is “0”.
Otherwise, to step S14. [S13] The CPU 20a substitutes a value obtained by adding “1” to the number of items constituting the tree for the variable i.

The reason why the value obtained by adding "1" is substituted is that a tree having all items is displayed when the right-click is performed again. [S14] The CPU 20a causes the display device 21 to display a tree having the number of items i.

Here, the tree having the number of items i is, for example,
This is a tree generated by selecting only (i-1) assembly data belonging to a higher hierarchy of the specified component. Note that a tree may be generated by selecting only (i-1) assembly data from the root. [S15] The CPU 20a determines whether or not to continue the processing, and if so, returns to step S8; otherwise, ends the processing.

Finally, the above processing functions can be realized by a computer. In this case, the processing contents of the functions that the design support apparatus should have are described in a program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the above processing is realized by the computer by executing the program on the computer. Is done. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a magnetic recording device and a semiconductor memory. When distributing to the market,
The program is stored and distributed in a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) or a floppy (registered trademark) disk, or stored in a storage device of a computer connected via a network. It can also be transferred to other computers over a network. When the program is executed by the computer, the program is stored in a hard disk device or the like in the computer, loaded into the main memory, and executed.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a design support apparatus for supporting a work of designing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape by combining a plurality of parts and assembly data indicating a positional relationship between the parts. A shape display output means for displaying and outputting a dimensional or three-dimensional shape, a part designating means for designating a predetermined part constituting the two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape displayed by the shape display output means, and a part designation means Since there are provided assembly data acquisition means for acquiring assembly data relating to the part, and assembly data display output means for rearranging and outputting the assembly data acquired by the assembly data acquisition means according to the hierarchical structure thereof, Desired assembly data can be easily found.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram for explaining the operation principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a model to be processed in the principle diagram shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a completed structure of the model shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a hierarchical structure of data constituting the model shown in FIG. 3;

5A shows a processing result when the component P14 shown in FIG. 4 is designated, and FIG. 5B shows a processing result when the component P12 shown in FIG. 4 is designated. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a display example of a screen displayed in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a display example of a screen displayed when a gear is designated in the display example shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a display example of a screen displayed when the mouse is right-clicked in the display example shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process performed in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a data structure of assembly data.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a three-dimensional model.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a completed structure of the three-dimensional model shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of data constituting the three-dimensional model shown in FIG.

15 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure of data constituting the three-dimensional model shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Design support apparatus 1a Shape display output means 1b Assembly data acquisition means 1c Assembly data display output means 1d Layer number specification means 1e Parts specification means 2 Database 3 Display apparatus 20 Design support apparatus 20a CPU 20b ROM 20c RAM 20d HDD 20e GC 20f I / F 21 Display device 22 Input device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A design support apparatus for supporting a work of designing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape by combining a plurality of parts and assembly data indicating an arrangement relationship between the parts, wherein the two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape is displayed and output. A shape display output unit, a part designating unit for designating a predetermined part constituting the two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape displayed by the shape display output unit, and assembly data relating to the part designated by the part designating unit A design support apparatus comprising: an assembly data acquisition unit that acquires the assembly data; and an assembly data display output unit that rearranges and outputs the assembly data acquired by the assembly data acquisition unit according to the hierarchical structure. 2. The design support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said assembly data obtaining means obtains assembly data belonging to a hierarchy higher or lower than a component specified by said component specifying means. . 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a number-of-layers designating means for designating the number of layers to be displayed, wherein said assembly data display output means is provided by said number-of-layers designating means rather than the part designated by said part designating means. 2. The design support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein assembly data belonging to upper or lower layers by a specified number of layers is displayed. 4. A computer-readable recording recording a program for causing a computer to perform a process for supporting a work of designing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape by combining a plurality of parts and assembly data indicating an arrangement relationship between the parts. A medium, a computer comprising: a shape display output unit for displaying and outputting the two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape; a component designating unit for specifying a predetermined part constituting the two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape displayed by the shape display output unit; Assembly data obtaining means for obtaining assembly data relating to the component specified by the component specifying means; assembly data display output means for rearranging and displaying the assembly data obtained by the assembly data obtaining means in accordance with the hierarchical structure thereof; A program that functions as A computer-readable recording medium that has been recorded. 5. A program that causes a computer to perform a process of supporting a work of designing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape by combining a plurality of parts and assembly data indicating an arrangement relationship between the parts. Or, a shape display output unit for displaying and outputting a three-dimensional shape, a component designation unit for designating a predetermined component constituting a two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape displayed by the shape display output unit, a component designated by the component designation unit And an assembly data display output unit that rearranges and displays and outputs the assembly data obtained by the assembly data obtaining unit according to the hierarchical structure thereof. program.