JP2001338002A - Shape processing method and shape processing device and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shape processor capable of inputting a rough shape to a part where a standard part or the like should be used at the time of designing a shape, and allowing a system to automatically replace the shape with the standard part. SOLUTION: A shape inputted by a shape inputting part 15 is retrieved by a shape retrieving part 13. As retrieval processing, a designated three- dimensional shape is surrounded, and a bounding box whose each face is made parallel with XY, YZ, and ZX face is generated, and the box is divided into unit cubes. Then, the unit cubes occupied by the designated shape are retrieved from the divided unit cubes, and the distribution of the cubes when viewed from the X, Y, and Z axial directions is calculated. The designated three- dimensional shape is compared with the distributed data of all the cubes whose distribution is preliminarily calculated and registered in a data base managing part 14, and the cubes whose correlation is the highest are recorded as the cubes obtained as a result. The shape designated for retrieval is replaced with the shape of the result of retrieval by designating the size.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shape processing method, apparatus, and recording medium utilizing shape search, and can be applied to shape design using this shape processing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the manufacturing industry has been actively working on designing a shape using a shape processing system such as a CAD system. In a design using a shape processing system, a large improvement in performance of a computer has made it possible to handle a large number of components. On the other hand, there are also the goals of reducing costs in product development and shortening the development cycle,
To achieve this goal, standard parts are used for many of the parts to be designed, and parts designed in the past are diverted.

Conventionally, when it is desired to use a standard part or a part designed in the past, a designer uses a database registered in advance according to the classification, and the designer designates the classification by himself and narrows the selection range. A method has been adopted in which a desired part is selected or a desired part is selected by executing a search based on a keyword using a database registered together with additional information such as a keyword.

Recently, by inputting a feature of a shape,
A method of searching a database in which parts are registered and selecting a shape having the input characteristics has also been devised.

[0005]

However, in any of the methods, when the designer inputs a shape in the shape processing system and wants to use a standard part or a part designed in the past, the shape input operation is performed. After a pause, a search is performed to select a shape, design work must be resumed.
Since what the designer originally wants to do is simply input the shape, input the approximate shape of the part where standard parts etc. should be used, and the system will automatically replace the shape with the standard parts. There is a demand for an environment in which designers can concentrate on design without interrupting the flow of thought during design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and in designing using a shape processing system, efficiently searches for a part necessary for one's own design from a database in which a large number of parts are registered. By using the searched shape without interrupting the designer's thinking,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a design environment capable of greatly improving the design work efficiency.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shape processing apparatus for processing a shape in cooperation with a database in which a shape and attribute information of the shape are registered. Attribute information input means for inputting attribute information of a shape; shape search means for searching the database according to the shape input by the shape input means; and search of the database by attribute information input by the attribute information input means And a means for embedding the searched shape from the database into the shape processing apparatus, and a means for changing the dimensions when embedding the searched shape from the database into the shape processing apparatus. It is characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the shape retrieving means sets the shape input by the shape inputting means as a search target, and based on the occupation rate information on the shape occupying a unit area. And searching for a shape whose shape is similar to the shape of the search target from the database.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, as a result of the search by the shape search means using the shape input by the shape input means as a search target, there are a large number of shape candidates to be embedded. The attribute information search means uses additional attribute information for the shape of the part maker, price, material, etc., input by the attribute information input means, and determines the shape to be embedded by narrowing search from the candidates. It is what it was.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the method of any one of the first to third aspects, during the execution of the search by the shape searching means or the shape searching means and the attribute information searching means,
The input of the shape by the shape input means is continuously executed in parallel.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, a shape obtained as a result of the search by the shape searching means or the attribute information searching means is used as a search target input by the shape inputting means. It is characterized by being exchanged with the previous shape.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fifth aspect, when the shape obtained as a result of the search by the shape searching means or the attribute information searching means is exchanged with the shape which is the search target input by the shape inputting means. In addition, a shape having a size applied to the size of the shape as a result of the search is generated based on the size of the shape to be searched and exchanged.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in a shape processing method for processing a shape in cooperation with a database in which a shape and attribute information of the shape are registered, a shape is input, and the attribute information of the shape is input. Performing a search of the database according to the input shape information, performing a search of the database according to the input attribute information, changing dimensions of the searched shape and embedding the shape from the database into a shape processing system. is there.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh aspect, the input shape is set as a search target, and the feature of the shape is determined from the database based on the occupancy information of the shape occupying a unit area. The feature is to search for a shape similar to the shape to be searched.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh or eighth aspect, as a result of searching for the input shape as a search target, if there are many candidates for the shape to be embedded, the input component maker, price, It is characterized in that the shape to be embedded is determined by narrowing down search from the candidates by using additional attribute information for the shape such as material.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the input of the shape is continuously executed in parallel during the execution of the search.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the seventh to tenth aspects, the shape of the search result is
It is characterized in that it is exchanged with the input shape to be searched.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the eleventh aspect, when the shape of the search result is exchanged with the input shape to be searched, the shape of the shape to be searched is based on the size of the shape to be searched. In addition, a shape having a size applied to the size of the shape as a result of the search is generated and exchanged.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in a shape processing system for processing a shape in cooperation with a database in which a shape and attribute information of the shape are registered, a shape is input, and the attribute information of the shape is input. A program for searching the database according to the input shape, performing a search for the database according to the input attribute information, changing dimensions of the searched shape, and embedding the shape into the shape processing device from the database. It is what it was.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect, the program searches the input shape from the database based on occupation ratio information in which the shape occupies a unit area. A process of searching for a shape whose feature is similar to the shape of the search target.

The invention of claim 15 is the invention of claim 13 or 14
In the invention, when the input shape is searched for as a search target and there are a large number of shape candidates to be embedded, the input part maker, price,
A process for determining a shape to be embedded by narrowing down search from the candidates using attribute information added to a shape such as a material is performed.

The invention of claim 16 is the invention of claims 13 to 15
In any one of the inventions described above, the program executes a process of continuously executing the input of the shape in parallel during a search.

The invention of claim 17 is the invention of claims 13 to 16
In any one of the inventions described above, the program executes a process of exchanging a shape obtained as a result of the search with the shape that was the input search target.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the seventeenth aspect, the program causes the shape of the search result to be
When exchanging with the input search target shape,
On the basis of the size of the shape to be searched, a shape having a size applied to the size of the shape as a result of the search is generated, and a process of exchanging the shape is executed.

[0025]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware environment (terminal device) to which the present invention is applied. The present invention can also be realized by configuring each unit described below as a hardware module, but may also be implemented as a program having each unit described below as a configuration module or a computer-readable recording medium recording the program. It is feasible. In the latter case, the terminal device of FIG. 1, that is, the CPU 1, the memory 2, the external storage device 3,
The present invention is realized by a computer system including the bus 4, the input device 5, and the display device 6, and the above-described program operating on the computer system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of the shape processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. This system includes an attribute search unit 11, a search condition input unit 12, a shape search unit 13, a database management unit 14, a shape input unit 15, a shape registration unit 16, and a display unit 17.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are flow charts showing a design procedure using the shape processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a diagram showing an example of shape input, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one embodiment of dividing a three-dimensional shape into unit cubes, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one embodiment of generating a two-dimensional image from a three-dimensional shape. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the exchange of the input shape by the search shape, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the exchange in which the size of the input shape is changed by the search shape. Hereinafter, the design procedure will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 5 based on the shape examples shown in FIGS.

The shape input unit 15 inputs a three-dimensional shape (see FIG. 6) by a normal input method of the shape processing system (step S1). The input shape is designated and the shape search unit 13 is requested to execute a search (step S2). The shape input unit 15 can continue to input a shape (step S4) until a search end event (determined in step S3) comes from the shape search unit 13.

As one embodiment (process A) of the search processing in the shape search unit 13, an example in which a three-dimensional shape is targeted will be described below with reference to FIG. When the search execution request in step S2 is sent to the shape search unit 13 together with the three-dimensional shape to be searched, the present system surrounds the specified three-dimensional shape, and each surface becomes parallel to the XY plane, the YZ plane, and the ZX plane. Generate a bounding box (step S1)
1). The inside of the generated bounding box is divided using a unit cube (step S12: see FIG. 7). A unit cube occupied by the designated shape is obtained for the unit cube after the division (step S13). When the unit cube occupied by the specified shape is obtained as the occupation rate information that the specified shape occupies the unit area, the unit cube occupied by the specified shape is viewed from the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction of the occupied unit cube. The variance is obtained (step S14).

For all three-dimensional shapes registered in the database management unit 14, the calculation of the bounding box, the division of the unit cube, and the calculation of the dispersion of the unit cube occupied by the shape are performed in advance. , And create shared data in advance.

Next, for the specified three-dimensional shape and all the three-dimensional shapes registered in the database management unit 14, a solid is selected from a database in which the variance has been calculated in advance (step S15), and the calculated variance is selected. The data is compared (step S16), the one having a high correlation is selected (step S17), and recorded as a three-dimensional search result (step S18). Finally, it is determined whether it is the last solid in the database (step S19). When all the solids have been searched, a group of shapes found by the search is returned to the calling side (step S20). Here, in the calculation of the correlation, it is not necessary to select all shapes falling within a certain threshold value as a search result and to limit the shapes to one. The three-dimensional shape obtained by the above processing is sent to the shape input unit 15 together with the event.

As another embodiment (process B) of the search process in the shape search unit 13, another example for a three-dimensional shape will be described below with reference to FIG. When the search execution request in step S2 is sent to the shape search unit 13 together with the three-dimensional shape to be searched, the present system surrounds the specified three-dimensional shape, and each surface becomes parallel to the XY plane, the YZ plane, and the ZX plane. Generate a bounding box (step S2)
1). A two-dimensional image is generated by projecting the shape in parallel on each surface of the generated bounding box (step S22: see FIG. 8).

In generating a two-dimensional image, an image generation technique such as a Z-buffer method, a scan line method, or a ray tracing method is used. In that case, it is necessary to specify the same display attribute and light source for all the shapes. Or,
In generating a two-dimensional image, a line drawing display method based on wire frame display or hidden line processing display may be used. Six images for each surface of the bounding box are obtained for the specified shape, and the variance of each image is obtained (step S23).

For all the three-dimensional shapes registered in the database management unit 14, the above-described calculation of the bounding box, calculation of the image projected in parallel to each plane, and calculation of the variance of each image are performed. Is performed, and shared data is created for each.

Next, for the specified three-dimensional shape and all the three-dimensional shapes registered in the database management unit 14, a solid is selected from a database in which the variance is calculated in advance (step S24), and the calculated variance is selected. The data is compared (step S25), the one having a high correlation is selected (step S26), and recorded as a three-dimensional search result (step S27). Finally, it is determined whether it is the last solid in the database (step S28). When all the solids have been searched, the group of shapes found by the search is returned to the calling side (step S29). Here, in the calculation of the correlation, it is not necessary to select all shapes falling within a certain threshold value as a search result and to limit the shapes to one. The three-dimensional shape obtained by the above processing is sent to the shape input unit 15 together with the event.

If a plurality of shapes are selected by the above shape search process (NO in step S5), the search information input by the search condition input unit 12 and the selected shape group are sent to the attribute search unit 11. Then, the search is narrowed down (steps S6 and S7). Here, the search condition input unit 12
Is the key information in a normal database search, and uses the attribute information preset for the shape registered in the database management unit 14. As the attribute information, the name of the creator of the shape (part maker), material, cost (price), and the like can be considered.

The attribute search unit 11 acquires the attribute information of the shape to be searched from the database management unit 14 and compares the attribute information with the search information input from the search condition input unit 12 to execute the search. Execute. As a result of the search by the attribute search unit 11, when the shape is narrowed down to one shape, the obtained shape is transmitted to the shape input unit 15 together with the event.

By the shape search process and the attribute information search process described above, the shape sent to the shape input unit 15 together with the search end event is determined to be one.

Next, exchange (exchange) of the shape designated for the search and the shape of the search result is performed, and the shape registration unit 16 exchanges the shape of the search result into the shape processing system (step S8). To S10).
More specifically, the shape registration unit 16 calculates the bounding box of the shape input for search, and then deletes the shape. Next, the bounding box of the shape selected from the search results is calculated, the center position is aligned with the bounding box of the deleted shape, and the shape selected from the search results is stored in a database where the faces of each bounding box are parallel. The shape is read from the management unit 14, and the shape is generated by the shape registration unit 16 (see FIG. 9). In practice, first, it is determined whether the dimensions are the same (step S8). If the shape is selected because the shape characteristics are the same, but different sizes are selected from the search results, a regenerated shape is given by designating dimensions so that the sizes are the same (step S9). ), And exchanged (step S10: see FIG. 10). The dimensions that can be specified need to be registered in advance with the shape in the database management unit 14.

By performing the above procedures in combination, for example, in the case of designing using a power supply unit of a standard part, it is necessary to input a schematic shape of the power supply unit and execute a search. Thus, the system can be designed such that the system automatically searches the database for the power supply unit of the standard part that matches the search condition and replaces the power supply unit with the searched shape.

[0041]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects. Claims 1, 7,
According to the invention described in the thirteenth aspect, in shape design, a large number of shape databases are searched from standard parts or previously designed parts without interrupting thinking during design, and replaced with the shape of the search result. It is possible to efficiently design using standard parts or parts designed in the past.

According to the second, eighth and fourteenth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to search for a shape close to the specified shape from a database in which standard parts or previously designed shapes are registered by simply specifying the shape. .

According to the third, ninth, and fifteenth aspects of the present invention, in searching for a shape from a database in which a large number of shapes are registered, not only search by shape, but also manufacturer, material,
A refined search can be performed using additional attribute information such as cost.

According to the fourth, tenth, and sixteenth aspects, the shape input processing can be continued without interrupting the shape input processing until the search is executed and the result is obtained.

According to the fifth, eleventh and seventeenth aspects of the present invention, after inputting a shape indicating a rough shape for search,
It can be replaced with a part that approximates the general shape and satisfies the necessary conditions.

According to the sixth, twelfth and eighteenth aspects of the present invention, after inputting a shape indicating a rough shape for search,
The shape after the search can be replaced with a shape to which the approximate shape dimension is applied.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware environment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the shape processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a design procedure using the shape processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a design procedure using the shape processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a design procedure using the shape processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of shape input.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of dividing a three-dimensional shape into unit cubes.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an embodiment of generating a two-dimensional image from a three-dimensional shape.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an exchange of input shapes by a search shape.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an exchange in which a size of an input shape according to a search shape is changed.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 2 ... memory, 3 ... external storage device, 4 ... bus, 5 ... input device, 6 ... display device, 11 ... attribute search part,
12: Search condition input unit, 13: Shape search unit, 14: Database management unit, 15: Shape input unit, 16: Shape registration unit, 17: Display unit.

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A shape processing device for processing a shape in cooperation with a database in which a shape and attribute information of the shape are registered, a shape input unit for inputting a shape, and an attribute information input unit for inputting attribute information of the shape Shape search means for searching the database according to the shape input by the shape input means; attribute information search means for searching the database based on the attribute information input by the attribute information input means; A shape processing apparatus comprising: means for embedding a shape from the database into the shape processing device; and means for changing dimensions when embedding the searched shape from the database into the shape processing device. 2. The shape search means sets a shape input from the shape input means as a search target, and based on occupancy information on the shape occupying a unit area, the feature of the shape from the database is set as the search target. 2. The shape processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a shape similar to the shape is searched. 3. When there are a large number of candidate shapes to be embedded as a result of searching by the shape searching means with the shape input by the shape input means as a search target, the attribute information searching means may 3. The shape processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein additional attribute information is used for the input shape of the component maker, price, material, or the like, and the shape to be embedded is determined by narrowing down the search from the candidates. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein input of a shape by said shape input means is continuously executed in parallel during a search by said shape search means or said shape search means and said attribute information search means. 3. The shape processing apparatus according to any one of 3. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a shape obtained as a result of the search by said shape search means or attribute information search means is exchanged with a shape which is a search target input by said shape input means. A shape processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 6. When exchanging a shape obtained as a result of the search by the shape search means or the attribute information search means with a shape which is a search target input by the shape input means, the size of the shape of the search target is changed. 6. The shape processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a shape having a size applied to the size of the shape as a result of the search is generated and exchanged. 7. In a shape processing method for processing a shape in cooperation with a database in which a shape and attribute information of the shape are registered, a shape is input, attribute information of the shape is input, and the shape is input. A shape processing method comprising: searching a database; searching the database according to the input attribute information; changing the dimensions of the searched shape; and embedding the shape from the database into a shape processing system. 8. Searching for a shape whose shape is similar to the shape of the search target from the database, based on the occupancy information that the shape occupies a unit area, using the input shape as a search target. The shape processing method according to claim 7, wherein: 9. As a result of searching for the input shape as a search target, if there are a large number of shape candidates to be embedded,
9. The shape processing method according to claim 7, wherein additional attribute information is added to the input shape of the part maker, price, material, or the like, and the shape to be embedded is determined by narrowing search from the candidates. 10. The shape processing method according to claim 7, wherein the input of the shape is continuously executed while the search is being executed. 11. The shape processing method according to claim 7, wherein a shape obtained as a result of the search is exchanged with a shape which is the input search target. 12. When the shape of the search result is exchanged with the shape which was the input search target, the shape is applied to the shape of the search result based on the size of the search target shape. 12. The shape processing method according to claim 11, wherein a shape having a predetermined size is generated and exchanged. 13. In a shape processing system for processing a shape in cooperation with a database in which a shape and attribute information of the shape are registered, a shape is input, and attribute information of the shape is input. A computer-readable recording medium which records a program for searching a database, searching the database according to the input attribute information, changing dimensions of the searched shape, and embedding the shape into the shape processing device from the database. 14. The program according to claim 1, wherein the input shape is a search target, and the shape characteristic is similar to the search target shape from the database based on the occupancy information of the shape occupying a unit area. 14. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 13, wherein the computer executes a process of searching for an existing shape. 15. The program, when a result of searching for the input shape as a search target indicates that there are many candidates for the shape to be embedded, the input component maker, price,
15. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 13, wherein a process of determining a shape to be embedded by narrowing down search from the candidates is performed using attribute information added to a shape such as a material. 16. The computer-readable recording according to claim 13, wherein the program executes a process of continuously executing the input of the shape in parallel during a search. Medium. 17. The program according to claim 13, wherein the program executes a process of exchanging a shape obtained as a result of the search with a shape which is the input search target.
A computer-readable recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 18. The program, when exchanging a shape obtained as a result of the search with a shape that was the input search object, based on a size of the shape of the search object, 18. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17, wherein a process of generating and exchanging a shape having a size applied to the size of the image is performed.