JP2002230041A - Design supporting device and design supporting program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a design supporting device for storing knowledge or know- how necessary for designing various products, and for allowing even a person who does not much experience to design those products in a short term by utilizing this.

SOLUTION: A designer faced to the display screen of integral design supporting software on a terminal 10 performs an operation under the guidance of the integral design supporting software. Various past data related with the design of a portable telephone case are preliminarily stored in a data base 14. When the integral design supporting software is started, and the actual design operation is started, the interface picture of the integral design supporting software is displayed on the display of the terminal 10, and a base model being a basic model at the time of largely classifying the kinds of the portable telephone case is selected. This base model is preliminarily prepared at the time of constructing this system, and registered in the data base 14.

COPYRIGHT: (C)2002,JPO

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a design support apparatus and a design support program for designing various products using a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of mobile phones and the like in which a plurality of different standards coexist and each camp is competing in product development with the aim of becoming a de facto standard, its functions are constantly evolving. In addition, the life cycle of products in these fields has been shortened as a result of the diversification of consumer preferences, and manufacturers have been continuously introducing new products in order to supply products that match consumer preferences. Must go to market.

As described above, behind the development of new products and their introduction to the market one after another, many designers are engaged in product design based on their plans and specifications. After the product has been developed and put into the market, the cycle of designing a new product immediately after that has continued.

[0004] Taking the design of a mobile phone case as an example, until now, designers have used CAD (computer-aided design) software running on a computer terminal to match the product specifications. The shape of the case was modeled in a virtual space in the computer. For example, once the overall design (dimensions and shape) of the mobile phone case has been determined, the designer uses CAD software to create this defined “shape” in a virtual space in the computer. If the size and shape of the numeric buttons and the LCD panel are already determined, a button hole and an LCD window corresponding to the size and shape are formed in the upper part of the case. The CAD software allows the designer to easily change the shape and dimensions, change the viewing viewpoint, display, enlarge or reduce, or enter the dimensions of a part and correct it to fit the shape Such functions are provided, and the designer makes full use of these functions to perform detailed design.

[0005]

By the way, CAD software represents a three-dimensional shape envisioned in the mind in a two-dimensional drawing, or imagines a three-dimensional shape from a two-dimensional drawing. The main purpose was to enable non-skilled and relatively inexperienced designers to perform difficult tasks required for previous shape design with simple operations on a computer. It has been.

[0006] However, as many functions are installed in CAD software, skill and know-how are required to fully utilize them. For this reason, if such advanced functions are fully used, even if it is possible to design a complex shape that conforms to detailed product specifications, designers who have little experience in designing using CAD software will need It is becoming difficult to design a shape that conforms to the requirements in a short period of time. On the other hand, as described above, the demand for shortening the design period is increasing more than ever because of the increase in the number of products that need to be designed and the necessity of speedy introduction of the products to the market.

[0007] In addition, even a skilled person does not always know all the design work performed in the past, so that when a new product equipped with a new function is determined to be developed, the designer must Each time, it was necessary to redesign the shape and dimensions of the new product, so it could not be said that the past results were used effectively.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such a technical background. The purpose of the present invention is to accumulate knowledge and know-how necessary for designing various products and utilize the accumulated knowledge and know-how. The aim is to enable even inexperienced people to design at a certain level or higher in a short period of time.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a design support apparatus according to the present invention comprises a database means for accumulating data relating to a product design inputted according to a predetermined format, Calculating means for performing calculations on the shape based on the data related to the design of the product, a function of instructing a worker on the design items that must be determined at each stage of the product design work, and specific functions related to the design items to be determined. A function of reading out an example of simple design data from the database means and presenting it to the worker, a function of prompting the worker to determine specific design data for each design item, and inputting the determined design data to the arithmetic means. And the function of presenting the calculation result to the operator, and information on the determined setting data in the database. Characterized by comprising a general control means having a function of additionally storing the stage.

Here, the general control means can be constituted, for example, as a computer program executed on a computer terminal.

One or both of the database means and the arithmetic means may be installed at a location remote from the general control means, and the general control means may be provided by the database means and the arithmetic means. One or both of them can be remotely accessed.

The arithmetic means may be constituted by any one of CAD means, CAM means and CAE means or a means combining a plurality of them.

Any one of the CAD means, the CAM means, and the CAE means or a means obtained by combining a plurality of these means has a function of graphically displaying the shape of the product based on the design data of the product. The general control means may have a function of presenting the graphic-displayed image to an operator on a computer terminal.

The general control means evaluates the specific design data determined by the operator, and the operator changes, corrects or optimizes the specific design data based on the evaluation result. Function can be provided.

The function of the general control means for evaluating the design data determined by the operator can be performed by comparison with a preset recommended value.

The general control means can read out the data of the base model of the same kind of product prepared in advance and present it to the operator when inputting the design of a certain kind of product. .

A design support program according to the present invention is a design support program for assisting a worker who designs a product on a computer terminal. The design support program is a program for design tasks which must be determined at each stage of the design work. A function of instructing the operator, a function of reading specific design data relating to the design items to be determined from the database and presenting them to the operator, and prompting the operator to determine specific design data relating to each design item. A function of performing an operation on the determined design data and presenting the result of the operation to an operator; and a function of additionally accumulating information on the determined setting data in the database. It is characterized by the following.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the following description is merely an example of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited by the following description.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing hardware components of a design support system according to this embodiment. Figure 1
In the terminal 10, integrated design support software that plays a central role in this system is provided with a computer
It is installed as a program. This general design support software corresponds to “general control means” described in the claims. The designer proceeds with the actual design work by performing necessary operations on the terminal 10 while being guided by the general design support software.

The terminal 12 is equipped with CAD software. The terminal 12 and the CAD software correspond to “calculating means” described in the claims. In the present embodiment, the CAD software on the terminal 12 is incorporated in the integrated design support software on the terminal 10 in the form of a plug-in, and can be remotely controlled by accessing the integrated design support software on the terminal 10. ing. However, as long as the CAD software operates substantially under the control of the integrated design support software, it is not limited to the plug-in. For example, a so-called hyperlink or a so-called jump may be used. Therefore, the designer usually does not directly operate the CAD software, but indirectly accesses the CAD software on the terminal 12 by operating the integrated design support software on the terminal 10. As the CAD software, commercially available software widely used in this field may be used, or CAD software developed or customized independently may be used.

The database 14 accumulates various information necessary for product design, particularly useful information on various products designed up to that time, in an easy-to-use form called a knowledge database. In addition to the data accumulated when the system was first constructed, the data actually created after the start of the operation of the design support system of this embodiment is sequentially accumulated as past results, as described later. This will also be used to assist designers in designing. Therefore, as the operation of this system is repeated, the data stored in the database 14 increases, and the contents of the design support gradually increase. Database 14
Is a client-server type network connected to the terminal 10. The database 14 is structurally managed by a database server. The database server reads necessary information from a recording medium based on a command from the general design support software on the terminal 10, and the terminal 14 on which the general design support software is installed 10
To transfer over the network. Database 14
How to collect the information stored in the database and actually register the information in the database will be described later in detail.

As described above, the integrated design support software mounted on the terminal 10 is a part that plays a central role in the design support system of the present embodiment.
2 overlies the CAD software and the database 14 managed by the database server at a higher level.

As described above, the designer who actually designs the product confronts the display screen of the general design support software on the terminal 10 and works while being guided by the general design support software. Hereinafter, the contents of the design work performed by the designer on the terminal 10 will be described in chronological order. This design work is performed by the designer on a terminal equipped with CAD software as in the related art. Work is very different.

FIGS. 2 to 9 show a case in which the shape of the case of the mobile phone is designed, which is displayed on the display unit of the terminal 10 when the design work is performed using the general design support software mounted on the terminal 10. 5 shows a specific image in chronological order. Here, it is assumed that the database 14 has already accumulated a considerable amount of past data on the design of the mobile phone case.

When designing a mobile phone case,
It is divided into design of the outer shape (design) and design of the shape and parts inside the case. The former is mainly designed by a so-called designer from the viewpoint of design, and the latter is mainly designed by ordinary designers. It is the practice of the industry to design from a strategic point of view. That is, the designer first designs the external shape first, and then the designer performs the internal design based on this design. In this case, the latter work (design work in a narrow sense) is often referred to as “design,” so in this case as well, when “design” is performed in this example, if the shape other than the outer shape of the mobile phone case is used, It mainly means design related to the shape inside the case and the arrangement of each part.

When the general design support software is started and the actual design work is started, an image shown in FIG. 2 is first displayed on the display of the terminal 10. Referring to FIG. 2, “base model 01”, “base model 02”,
Three types of base models “base model 03” are displayed. The base model is a basic model when the types of mobile phone cases are roughly classified, and is a model on which a new design of a mobile phone case is based. Here, the entities registered as the base model are various numerical values required when designing the mobile phone case. The data to be registered as the base model may be the actual data of the actual mobile phone case designed in the past, or may be the data corrected for some reason. These base models are prepared in advance and registered in the database 14 at the time of constructing the system. After the operation of the present system is started, a base model having a different basic configuration from the previous base model is newly added as a base model. It can also be registered in the database 14.

In the display areas 20a, 21a, and 22a of FIG. 2, "two case types" (base model 0
1), "4 case type I" (base model 02),
The type name of each base model “4 Case Type II” (base model 03) is displayed. Here, the “four-case type” refers to a mobile phone that can be folded in two at the center. Such a mobile phone is called by such a name because it is composed of a total of four cases, an upper case and a lower case of the upper half, and an upper case and a lower case of the lower half. On the other hand, the “two-case type” refers to a type of mobile phone that cannot be folded at the center, and is called by such a name because it is composed of a total of two cases, an upper case and a lower case.

The display areas 20b, 21b, and 22b in FIG. 2 have "2 case type" and "4 case type" respectively.
The actual shapes of the base models “I” and “4 case type II” are displayed as images. However, these images are omitted in FIG. These images may be directly displayed as images generated by the CAD software of the terminal 12, or may be displayed using viewer software that extracts image data from the CAD software and displays the data somewhat simplified. You may. As described above, when the designer selects a base model of the mobile phone case that he or she intends to design, it is convenient because the designer can see its specific shape.

Further, the display areas 20a, 21a, 22a
In the “past performance” section below the name of each base model, the name (model number) of each mobile phone case designed in the past based on each base model is described. For example, the case of the base model 01 indicates that based on this, there has been a track record of designing a mobile phone case for a mobile phone incs-02 and a mobile phone for incs-04 in the past. Such information becomes valuable information in performing the design work.

In the example of FIG. 2, the display areas 20a, 21
a and 22a are displayed only a maximum of two representative ones. If you want to refer to all achievements, see FIG.
By clicking the "detailed display" button, all past results (product names) can be displayed, and further detailed information of each product can be displayed.

In order to select a base model on the screen shown in FIG. 2, the user places the mouse pointer on any one of the display areas 20b, 21b, and 22b to select the base model.
Click the button. When the desired base model is selected in this way, the integrated design support software collects all data on the base model from the database 14, such as standard data on the base model and data on the design procedure of the model. When the selection of the base model is completed on the screen of FIG. 2, the screen shifts to the screen of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an example of a screen for selecting a specific part for a standard part used in a mobile phone case to be designed based on the selected base model. Mobile phones are composed of many parts,
The components required for assembly differ depending on the model, shape, specifications, etc. of the mobile phone. However, those who have little experience in designing may not know what components are necessary in the first place. Therefore, in the present embodiment, components required as standard for each base model are selected in advance as standard components and registered in the database 14. Examples of parts to be prepared as standard parts include:
Connector, speaker, microphone, antenna unit, LC
D (liquid crystal) unit, battery pack, vibration motor, card slot, hinge unit, LE
D and screws.

Furthermore, there are various specific parts in such standard parts depending on the parts manufacturer and the shape. Although it is the model number that specifies these specific parts, in the present embodiment, one or more specific parts for one standard part are stored in the database 14 together with the model number, specific shape, specification, and the like. Register.

When these pieces of information are registered in the database 14, information relating to zones required when arranging the individual parts is also registered. Based on such information, it is possible to determine whether or not a situation in which the part collides with (interferes with) another part when the part is placed in the mobile phone case. This judgment is
This is performed by CAD software on the terminal 12 which is an arithmetic unit.

FIG. 3 shows a screen for selecting a specific part for a connector which is one of the standard parts. For example, if “2 case type” of the base model 01 is selected on the screen of FIG. 2, up to three types of specific connector candidates that can be used in the base model 01 are displayed on the screen of FIG. Is done.

In the actual design, when the base model is selected by the designer on the screen shown in FIG. 2, the integrated design support software reads out information on all standard parts relating to the base model from the database 14 at that stage. Then, for each standard part prepared, FIG.
The selection screen as shown in (1) is displayed in order, prompting the user to select a specific part for each standard part. In this case, if the registered standard parts are to be used as they are, the user inputs the fact to the computer on the screen shown in FIG. 3, and if another part is used, the registered plural parts are registered. Select suitable parts from similar parts.

Further, when there is a necessary part other than the standard part, it can be added individually. In this way, even a person with little experience in designing can easily and quickly select an appropriate part.

In the screen of FIG. 3, the display areas 25b, 26
In b and 27b, the shapes of the respective connectors corresponding to the specific part numbers described in the "part number" part thereon are displayed. However, these images are omitted in FIG. As for these images, as in the case of FIG. 2, the images generated by the CAD software of the terminal 12 may be directly displayed, or the simplified images generated by using the viewer software may be displayed. Is also good.

The designer can select a required connector by looking at the specific shape. The same applies to other standard parts. Display areas 25a and 26 thereunder
In FIGS. 2A and 2A, only two representative model names are displayed in the "past record" portion, as in the case of FIG. FIG.
By clicking the "Details" button in the same way as above, all past results can be displayed.

When the designer selects a specific connector as a standard component on the screen of FIG. 3 and specifies specific components for other standard components, the components necessary for assembling the mobile phone are determined. Will be aligned. After this,
The screen moves to the screen shown in FIG.

The screen of FIG. 4 is based on the numerical information of the base model selected in FIG. 2 and the information of the standard parts specified in the screen of FIG. Design items necessary for specifying the shape of each part and specific “recommended values” for each design item are displayed in the display area 28. Further, the display area 2
9 shows a three-dimensional shape calculated by the CAD software based on the numerical information of the base model and the information of the standard part, or a simplified three-dimensional shape generated by the viewer software using the calculation result. .

In FIG. 4, the "recommended value" is selected as an appropriate value based on the results of actual design in the past. The background of each recommended value is usually accompanied by the reason and know-how of such a value. Conventionally, such reasons and know-how can be gradually acquired in the process of the designer gaining experience, and cannot be shared by others.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the reason why the value selected as the recommended value has a meaning is stored in the database 14, and anyone who uses this system can store the reason. Easy reference. The specific reference method is to select a specific design item for which you want to know the reason or know-how with the mouse pointer, and click "Knowledg
Click the "e" button. Then, the database 14
, Information related to the design item is read out across the models, and displayed on the terminal 10 operated by the designer as text and, if necessary, with an image.

Further, the system of the present embodiment has a function of inputting a model name designed in the past and referring to all information relating to the model name. To execute this function, the designer clicks the “reference search” button shown in FIG. Then, a search tool is activated, and by inputting a model name designed in the past on an input screen in the search tool, information relating to each design item of the model is input to the terminal 10.
Can be displayed above.

As a result of having such a function, even a new designer who has little experience can share the know-how accumulated in the past, and can design quickly and with high quality.
Note that a method of accumulating information to be displayed when the “Knowledge” button or the “reference search” button is clicked will be described later.

The "schedule display" button shown in FIG. 4 is used to determine the overall stage of the schedule of the design project in which the designer is currently participating, the progress of other designers, and the like. Button for displaying information about the schedule. Such a schedule management function is particularly useful when a plurality of designers cooperate to design one product.

In the display area 28 of FIG. 4, the designer inputs at least one value different from the “recommended value” as the “design value”, and finally clicks the “execute” button. Performs necessary operations on
This calculation result is immediately reflected on the three-dimensional shape displayed in the display area 29. As a result, the designer can immediately understand how the numerical value input by himself / herself affects the overall shape.

The display area 28 of the terminal 10 changes at the same time as the three-dimensional shape reflecting the calculation result is displayed in the display area 29 by pressing the "execute" button in FIG. At the stage up to FIG. 4, the general design of the basic part of the mobile phone case is completed, but in reality, it is determined whether each of the numerical values input so far can be used as it is as the design value. Need to be evaluated. Generally, since various conditions are imposed on the design, a case may occur where the design value of a certain part and the design value of another part are not compatible. In such a case, it is necessary to determine the priority order for each design value, and the optimal priority order may change depending on the situation. However, in the stages up to FIG. 4, since the values of the respective design items are determined according to a predetermined procedure, a case may occur in which the design values of a certain part contradict the design values of another part. Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the design value is evaluated by comparing the design value input on the screen of FIG. 4 with the “recommended value” shown in FIG.

The screen shown in FIG. 5 is an interface for performing this evaluation and necessary correction. Note that "Kn
The functions of the “owledge” button, the “reference search” button, and the “schedule display” button are the same as those in FIG.

In the display area 30 shown in FIG. 5, each value of the item "actual value" represents the base model and standard parts selected in the previous steps, and the design value inputted on the screen of FIG. It is the value calculated and calculated based on this. Some of the actual values are displayed as they are in the design values of FIG. 4. For example, some of such evaluation items include "clearance around a window".
Some of them automatically change depending on the design values of other parts. In FIG. 5, "recommended values" are also set for such items.
The evaluation is performed based on the values specified in the above. The result of the evaluation is indicated by a symbol “OK” or “NG” for each evaluation item in the item “judgment”.

For example, looking at the evaluation item “minimum thickness under case”, the recommended value is 0.8 mm, but the actual value is 0.5 mm, and the actual value is less than the minimum thickness. ing. For this reason, the “judgment” item is NG. In such a case, the designer may ask why the recommended value is 0.8
mm, why it was NG at 0.5mm,
Sometimes you may want to know the history of the setting of such a recommended value. In this case, the user can click the arrow of the “detail” item on the right side of the “judgment” item to display detailed information on the evaluation item.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the details displayed when the “detail” arrow of the evaluation item “minimum wall thickness under case” judged as NG on the screen of FIG. 5 is clicked. Clicking the "return" button on this screen allows the user to return to the screen of FIG.

The display area 35 at the upper left of the screen shown in FIG. 8 displays the same contents as those described in the evaluation item "minimum thickness under case" in FIG. In the display area 40 below the “CAD screen”, the actual CAD shape when the shape is formed using the value of “actual value” is displayed, and the corresponding portion is indicated by an arrow for easy understanding. is there.
In this actual shape, when the arrow of the “details” item is clicked, the CAD software is called up, and the image is displayed in the “CAD screen” portion of FIG. By looking at this image, the designer can visually grasp the work he is currently performing.

In the display area 45 on the right side of FIG. 8, past results relating to “the minimum thickness under the case” are displayed in a graph. In this case, “incs01” to “incs06” are the names of models actually designed in the past, with the leftmost being the oldest model and the rightmost being the newer model. The vertical axis represents the thickness under the case of each model, and the actual value is displayed at the top of each bar graph. From this graph, it can be seen that the newer products tend to be thinner, but this is due to the strong demand for weight reduction in the case of mobile phones. On the other hand, as the wall thickness becomes thinner, the problem of strength comes to the surface, so abundant experience was required in the past to grasp how thin the material should be in view of the strength of the material. .

Although the graph in the display area 45 of FIG. 8 is monochrome, it is difficult to understand, but in fact, the bar graph of the model “incs05” is displayed in red. This indicates that a problem such as a failure in obtaining sufficient strength in a drop test or the like has occurred, and the designer can easily understand the problem at a glance. For details, see "know
You can click the "ledge" button to find out what it is. However, looking at the past results, it can be seen that there are actually a plurality of models that are less than the recommended value of 0.8 mm, and that there was a problem at the stage of 0.4 mm. Therefore, the designer considered the past circumstances and set the design value of the thickness under the case to 0.5 mm.
Or thicker, for example, 0.
The design value is finally determined, for example, by changing it to 6 mm.

As can be seen from the graph of FIG. 8, there are some models in the past that do not cause any trouble even if the value is below the recommended value. For this reason, for example, if past results are accumulated to the extent that it is safe to go below the recommended value, the recommended value is changed at that stage by, for example, judgment of an administrator or the like. Of course, an algorithm for automatically changing the recommended value when a certain condition is satisfied can be incorporated in the overall design support software.

FIG. 9 shows a screen of the same kind as FIG. 8, but in this case, it relates to the evaluation item "minimum wall thickness". Referring to FIG. 5, the actual value of this evaluation item is also lower than the recommended value, and the judgment is NG. Then, when the designer clicks the “Details” button for this evaluation item, the screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. In FIG.
It can be seen that there was a problem with the model “incs04”. As in the case of FIG. 8, the designer examines the contents of this screen and determines the final value of the window thickness dimension. Similarly, the designer clicks the “Details” button for the evaluation items for which the judgment is NG on the screen of FIG. 5 and examines the detailed contents as shown in FIGS. Determine the final value for.

Here, returning to FIG. Display area 3 in FIG.
0 has an item “restriction condition”. This will be described below. As described above, various conditions are imposed on each design item of a product. Therefore, even if a design value of a certain part is determined, it often becomes incompatible with a design value of another part. For example, there is a case where the sum of the thickness of a certain portion and the clearance thereunder exceeds the thickness of the entire case.

In such a case, there is a case where both design values may be changed in some cases, or one of the values is preferentially determined, and then the other value is determined. It may be necessary to attach it. Also, for some reason, one of the values may not be desired to be changed. Furthermore, for a certain design value, the limit for decreasing is fixed, but the limit for increasing is not particularly determined.
Or vice versa. Furthermore, one value may be changed, but its variation range must be reduced, and the other value may have a larger variation range. Further, when a plurality of items are intertwined with each other, it may be necessary to determine a priority order or an allowable fluctuation range for each item. As described above, the condition that determines the condition when the actual value of each evaluation item is changed is the “restriction condition”. If no constraint is applied, the priority order is low, and the priority may change more depending on the actual values of other evaluation items.

In this embodiment, the types of constraint conditions are "target", "large", "small", "max", "mi"
There are seven options: n, FIX, and =. Here, “target” is a constraint condition to make the target value as close to the recommended value as possible. “Large” is a constraint condition that the value is at least larger than the recommended value. “Small” is a constraint condition that the value is equal to or smaller than the recommended value. “Max” is a constraint condition that the maximum value is made as large as possible according to the situation of the surrounding part. “Min” is a constraint condition that the size is made as small as possible according to the situation of the surrounding part. “FIX” is a constraint condition that it is fixed to the recommended value. “=” Is a constraint condition that the actual value is maintained at the current value. When a constraint condition is set for a certain evaluation item, a pull-down menu of the above seven types of constraint conditions is displayed by clicking the down arrow of the evaluation item, and one of them is selected.

After the constraints are imposed on the necessary parts in this way, the "optimization" button at the lower right of FIG. 5 is clicked. Then, the integrated design support software performs recalculation under the imposed constraint conditions, and changes the evaluation item determined as NG to the recommended value as much as possible while bringing the marginal actual value close to the recommended value. Once this procedure has been completed for all the evaluation items, the designer imposes another constraint on the value obtained by the optimization, if necessary, and causes the same optimization to be performed. By repeating such operations several times, actual values finally obtained are determined as design values.

In such a process, the judgment result can naturally change. As a result, all of the NG decisions may disappear, or some of the evaluation items may still not disappear. Thus, even when there is an evaluation item for NG determination, it is possible to set the value as the final design value. In that case, why the NG determination is used as the design value will be described later. A rule is described in which the design sheet (see FIG. 12) is described in a corresponding portion of the format and is input to the database 14 as past results. This provides important information for subsequent designers to face similar situations.

As described above, the integrated design support software of the present embodiment controls the CAD software to form an interface in which the display screen of the CAD software is incorporated in the display screen of the integrated design support software. In addition, the designer can change the product shape displayed on the CAD screen as needed from the display screen of the integrated design support software. For example,
It is possible to perform operations such as rotating, partially enlarging, displaying only specific parts, and turning off the display of parts that are not desired to be displayed, on the CAD screen shown in FIG. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate this, and are the same as FIG. 5 except for the CAD screen part.

Since the design is completed by the above-mentioned operations, the designer presses the “design end” button on the screen shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 or FIG. Thus, the data is stored at a predetermined position on a recording medium such as a hard disk. This design data is thereafter used to create CAD data, is used to create a stereolithography model, or is used to design a mold. Furthermore, since this data includes data on the parts to be used, it is also possible to automatically create design specifications from this data, which is then automatically sent to the administrator by e-mail. You can also set it up.

As can be seen from the above description, the design performed using the integrated design support software of the present embodiment is significantly different from the design work that the designer performed by trial and error on the conventional CAD software. It will be. In addition, the base model, standard parts, recommended values for each design item, etc. are prepared in advance and can be used to proceed with the design. To access various information,
Since it is possible to refer to past results, even a person with little experience in designing can surely carry out design with a certain level of quality or higher. Further, the time required for the design is significantly reduced as compared with the related art.

It can be seen that the integrated design support software of this embodiment supports the work of the designer by organically connecting various information and appropriately processing. FIG. 10 shows these elements linked by the centralized design support software shown in the center.

In FIG. 10, the “design surface” means
As described above, it is information on the design outside the mobile phone case, which is provided by the designer when designing the mobile phone case. Since the designer usually creates the shape of the design surface using CAD software, the data is provided as it is or after performing predetermined data conversion.

The "standard part (zone model)" is information on the standard part. The “base model” is data of a basic model of the previously registered mobile phone case. “Data management” is a tool for managing various types of data stored in the database 14. “Knowledge database” is various kinds of information stored in the database 14. This includes design requirements, manufacturing requirements,
Requirements related to production technology are accumulated. These are accumulated in the form of control procedures each consisting of a plurality of instructions, and select a control procedure among design requirements, a control procedure among manufacturing requirements, and a control procedure among production technology requirements. When these are organically connected to each other, a control procedure representing one large operation is obtained. The “automatic optimization function” is a tool that performs recalculation when a constraint condition is imposed on the screens of FIGS.

The data such as data management, knowledge database, base model, and standard parts shown separately in FIG. 10 may be data stored on separate computer terminals, or may be stored on a common computer terminal. May be the data stored in the.

When the design work is started, the integrated design support software of this embodiment collects necessary ones of these elements. The schematic flowchart shown in the center of FIG. 10 selects an operation procedure among design requirements, an operation procedure among manufacturing requirements, and an operation procedure among production technology requirements stored in the knowledge database. Then, it is shown that when these are combined so as to match the condition determined by other elements, it becomes one large operation procedure including many conditional branches. This operation procedure is reflected on the interface screen of the integrated design support software shown above. Although the designer only looks at this interface screen, it actually indicates that the operation shown in the flowchart below is actually performed internally.

FIG. 11 shows that the integrated design support software
It is the figure which showed typically linking design and evaluation. Here, the flowchart of the middle process written in the “design” part on the left side of FIG. 11 shows a procedure for determining design data of a certain part of a certain product, and one of these steps is This shows that the design procedure can be further divided into smaller small-step design procedures. In the database 14,
A procedure for determining the design value is prepared for each part of the mobile phone case. When the design work begins,
The integrated design support software collects procedures for all parts and connects them to each other. For example, a flowchart for determining a design value of a certain part includes a judgment step, and depending on the relation with another part, the branching direction may change. Finally, the final operation procedure is determined by what kind of branch is taken finally. Although the optimization has been described above, performing the optimization is reduced to running the flowchart again by changing the determination element of the conditional branch.

The “Evaluation” part on the right side of FIG. 11 is the comprehensive information on know-how for design support related to the “Design” part on the left side, and the past countermeasures when a problem occurs. This indicates that they are linked by the design support software. These detailed information are stored in the database 14 as a knowledge database. If some of these past information can be referred to at a certain stage of “design” on the left side, the related information linked by the integrated design support software can be accessed to obtain useful information that can be utilized for design.

As can be seen from the above description, the integrated design support software of this embodiment makes effective use of important past information stored in the database 14 shown in FIG. Therefore, it is extremely important how and what kind of data is stored in the database 14 and how that data is used. The following describes what information is stored in the database 14 and how.

FIG. 12 is a table summarizing the basic contents of the information stored in the database 14. This table is named “design sheet” for convenience. In the initial stage of building the design support system shown in FIG. 1, as many design results as possible in the past
The designer or a person who is familiar with the design contents is required to write necessary items on a design sheet showing the style in FIG. Alternatively, the developer of the system shown in FIG.
While actually interviewing persons involved in the past design results, necessary items are described in the form shown in FIG. The design sheet of FIG. 12 described for one product alone reaches a considerable number. Then, this is input to the database 14 by the operator.

Further, even when the operation of the design support system is actually started and the actual design is started, when the design of one product is completed, all the individual data related to the design are stored in the database 14. Stored. This data is read out as necessary in the past as a past result, and is used as a reference for later designers. In that case, for example, the judgment is NG in a certain evaluation item on the screen of FIG.
When an actual value different from the recommended value is used as the final design value, certain rules such as filling in the design sheet of FIG. 12 and inputting the content to the database 14 are determined in advance. For this reason, as many products are designed and their data are accumulated, the contents of the database 14 are gradually enhanced, and the possibility that later designers can obtain useful information is increased. Become.

The design sheet shown in FIG. 12 includes the following contents. In the upper right of FIG.
Each column of "date" and "designer" is provided. In the “management number” column, a code for uniquely specifying this one design sheet is entered. The rules for assigning this code are designed in advance so that the redundancy is small, easy to understand, and easy to classify. In the "Date" column, enter the date when this design sheet was created. In the “Designer” column, enter the name of the designer who described this design sheet.

In the column of “development model”, a development number or the like assigned to the product in advance is entered. For example, in the "past results" portion of the display areas 20a, 21a, and 22a in FIG.
The development numbers of cellphone cases designed in the past, such as incs-02 and incs-04, are displayed. These are displayed with reference to the development numbers described in this column.
In addition, information on various models appearing in FIGS. 2 to 8 is searched based on the development number described in the “development model” column.

In the column of "development specifications", prior information required for designing is described. Specifically, for example, information such as whether the mobile phone case is a two-case type or a four-case type, whether a resin molded product is used, or other material is described.

In the column of "design site", a rough site name regarding which part of the entire product this design sheet intends to transmit information is described. In the case of a mobile phone case, for example, “window design”, “antenna design”, “connector design” and the like are described. If a later designer wants to know past know-how by using the name of a rough part as a keyword, the description in this column is a search target. In the column of “design item”, the content for specifying the rough part described in the column of “design part” immediately above is described in more detail. For example, when "window design" is described in the "design site" column, the "design item" column is described in more detail, for example, "clearance around the window". The description in this column is displayed as it is in, for example, “design item” in FIG. 4 or “evaluation item” in FIG. Of course, they can also be searched.

Even if the upper "design site" is the same, the "design items" may be various. For example, even if the "design parts" are the same "window design", there are a number of "design items" including the window fixing glue thickness in addition to the above clearance. FIG.
Will be prepared for each of these “design items”.

In the “design contents” column, what kind of design is performed for the specific part described in the “design item” column immediately above is described. For example, when "clearance around window" is described in the column of "design item", for example, "minimum clearance setting around window" is described in this column.

In the column of "design value", an actual value is described. For example, the clearance around the window should be at least 0.
If it is set to 15 mm, this column contains
5 mm ". In addition, when the material is known, the name of the material and the characteristics of the material, such as specific gravity, bending strength, impact strength, surface hardness, and molding shrinkage, are entered in numerical values.

In the “design value reason” column, the reason, theory, or concept determined in the design contents of each column above this column is described. The contents described in this column are shown in FIG.
-Content displayed when the "Knowledge" button shown in Fig. 7 is clicked. Therefore, a description is given here so that when the past performance is examined, it is possible to understand why the past model has such a design value. In this field, you can also record an image showing the relevant part in detail, and if image information is recorded, click the "Knowledge" button,
This image is also displayed together.

In the column of “necessary information”, the above “design contents”
The information that is always required when designing the design is described as design items and design values. For example, the design of the clearance around the window includes information on the “design surface”, information on the “outline of the window”, information on the “board position”, and information on the “LCD”.
Unit thickness information, LCD packing thickness information,
Information on “window fixing adhesive thickness” is required. Therefore, this column indicates that such information is necessary. By describing such information, the priorities in the design between the items are determined, and the design procedure can be understood based on the priorities.

When the design sheet is described as described above, the contents are input to the database 14 as described above. As described above, when the designer wants to refer to past achievements and know-how, the design sheet can be easily referred to by calling up related items from the database 14, and for example, the design sheet is described in the "design value" column. The value given is
This is basic data for displaying the graph shown in the display area 45 of FIGS.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it is easily understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and that various modifications can be made thereto. You. It is to be understood that these are included in the technical scope of the present invention as long as they are within the scope of matters described in each claim of the claims and matters equivalent thereto. For example, in the above embodiment, only the case where a mobile phone case is set has been described, but this is merely an example, and it is apparent that the present invention is not limited to this specific example.

In this embodiment, the CAD software and the computer terminal on which the CAD software is installed are used as the calculating means. However, if the software for executing the calculation related to the shape based on the input data related to the design of the product, C
It is not limited to AD software. For example, CAM software or CAE software mounted on a computer terminal, or software integrating functions such as CAD, CAM, and CAE can be used as the calculation means.

[0088]

As described above, according to the design support apparatus of the present invention, in the actual design work, items to be determined at each stage are instructed to the designer by the overall control means. , And with reference to typical data presented at each stage, the work can be advanced to the completion of the design. In addition, for example, it is possible to refer to an image of a specific shape supplied from an arithmetic unit such as a CAD unit or to see in real time how the actual shape changes by changing data. In addition, if you want to know the meaning of each task at each stage of the task, you can pull out relevant information from the database and refer to it. Since it is possible to refer to information as to whether or not a decision has been made, past results, and the like, design work is facilitated. For this reason, the design work is different from what was done on conventional CAD software, and even those who have little experience in designing can design in a short period of time with a quality above a certain level, and already have enough experience. Even when used by a certain person, the working time can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing hardware components of a design support system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image initially displayed on a display when a general design support software is started to start a design work.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for selecting a specific component with respect to a standard component used for a mobile phone case to be designed.

FIG. 4 shows design items necessary for specifying the shape of each part of the mobile phone case based on the numerical information of the selected base model and the information of the specified standard parts. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen displaying a “recommended value” and a three-dimensional shape or the like calculated by the CAD software in association with these.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen displayed when the “execute” button in FIG. 4 is pressed and showing a result of evaluation of design values up to that time.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of operating CAD software from a display screen of the integrated design support software.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of operating CAD software from a display screen of the integrated design support software.

8 is a diagram showing an example of details displayed when a “detail” arrow of an evaluation item of “minimum wall thickness under case” determined as NG on the screen of FIG. 5 is clicked.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen similar to that of FIG. 8 for an evaluation item “minimum thickness of window”;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing each element linked by the integrated design support software.

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the integrated design support software links design and evaluation.

FIG. 12 is a diagram in which contents serving as a basis of information accumulated in a database 14 are summarized in a table.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 12, 14 ... computer terminals, 20a, 20b, 20c, 21a, 21b, 21c, 2
5a, 25b, 26a, 26b, 27a, 27b, 2
8, 29, 30, 35, 40, 45 ... display area

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 21, 2001 (2001.12.
21)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

Wherein said integrated control means, a feature that presented when the input to the effect that the design of certain products, the operator reads the data base model of the same type product prepared in advance The design support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a design support apparatus according to the present invention comprises a database means for accumulating data relating to a product design inputted according to a predetermined format, Calculating means for performing calculations on the shape based on the data related to the design of the product, a function of instructing a worker on the design items that must be determined at each stage of the product design work, and specific functions related to the design items to be determined. A function of reading an example of simple design data from the database means and presenting it to the worker, a function of prompting the worker to determine specific design data for each design item, and the determined design data is preset.
Evaluate by comparing with recommended value and based on the evaluation result
Change and correct the specific design data
Or a function to promote the optimization, while inputting the determined design data to the arithmetic means to perform necessary arithmetic,
Function presents the result to the operator, and, wherein the information regarding the determined design data to and a general control means having a function of additionally storing in said database means.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0015

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0017] The design support program according to the present invention, con
Computer design according to a predetermined format
Database means for storing data about
Based on the data on the product design
Calculation means to perform calculations and decisions at each stage of product design work
The ability to instruct workers on the design items that must be performed,
Specific information on the design items that must be determined
Read the example of the design data from the database means
Functions to be presented to workers, tools related to each design item for workers
A function that prompts the determination of physical design data,
By comparing the total data with the preset recommended values
And based on the evaluation results, give the worker
A function to promote change, correction or optimization of design data,
It is necessary to input the determined design data to the arithmetic means.
Performs necessary calculations and presents calculation results to workers
Function and information about the determined design data
Has a function of additionally accumulating data in the database means.
It is characterized by functioning as a general control means .

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Saki Sato 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inks Inc. (72) Inventor Takao Ikeda 3-2-Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 1 Inc., Inc. (72) Inventor Daichi Ninagawa, Inc. 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture Inc. (72) Inventor Seiichi Suga 3-2-1, Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan Inks Inc. (72) Inventor Hikaru Murata 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inks Company (72) Inventor Junya Uramoto 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inc. (72) Inventor Ken Yamamoto 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture Inc. (72) Inventor Hidenori Sasaki Kawasaki, Kanagawa Tsu District Sakado 3-2-1 share, Ltd. Inks in the F-term (reference) 5B046 CA06 DA02 GA01 HA05 KA05

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A database means for accumulating data on a product design input according to a predetermined format, an arithmetic means for performing an operation on a shape based on input data on a product design, and A function of instructing a worker on a design item to be determined at a stage, a function of reading an example of specific design data related to the design item to be determined from the database means and presenting it to the worker,
A function of prompting an operator to determine specific design data for each design item, a function of inputting the determined design data to the arithmetic unit and performing a necessary operation, and presenting the operation result to the operator; A design support device comprising: a general control unit having a function of additionally accumulating information on the determined design data in the database unit. 2. The design support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said general control means is configured as software executed on a computer terminal. 3. One or both of the database means and the arithmetic means are installed at a location remote from the general control means, and the general control means comprises:
3. The design support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or both of said database means and said arithmetic means are remotely accessed. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said arithmetic means comprises one of a CAD means, a CAM means, and a CAE means or a means obtained by combining a plurality of them. Design support equipment. 5. One of the CAD means, the CAM means, and the CAE means or a means combining a plurality thereof has a function of graphically displaying the shape of the product based on the design data of the product. 5. The design support means according to claim 4, wherein said general control means has a function of presenting said graphic displayed image to an operator on a computer terminal. 6. The general control means evaluates the specific design data determined by the operator, and the operator changes, corrects, or optimizes the specific design data based on the evaluation result. The design support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the design support apparatus includes a function capable of performing the function. 7. The design support apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the function of the general control means for evaluating the design data determined by the worker performs the evaluation by comparing with a recommended value set in advance. 8. The general control means reads out data of a base model of the same kind of product prepared in advance and presents it to an operator when inputting the design of a certain kind of product. The design support device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein 9. A design support program for supporting a worker who performs a product design work on a computer terminal, the function of designating a design item to be determined at each stage of the design work to the worker; A function of reading an example of specific design data relating to the design items to be determined from the database and presenting it to the operator; a function of prompting the operator to determine specific design data regarding each design item; And a function of presenting a result of the calculation to the operator and a function of additionally storing information on the determined setting data in the database. Design support program. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the calculation is performed by one of a CAD unit, a CAM unit, and a CAE unit, or a unit combining a plurality of these units.
Design support program described. 11. The CAD means, the CAM means, and the CAE.
Any one of the means or a means combining a plurality of the means has a graphic display function, and the graphic display function is required, and the shape of the product is determined on a computer terminal based on the design data of the product. 11. The design support program according to claim 10, having a function of presenting to a worker. 12. The design support program according to claim 9, further comprising: evaluating the specific design data determined by an operator; A design support program for realizing a function capable of changing, correcting or optimizing specific design data. 13. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the function of evaluating the design data determined by the worker is performed by comparing with a preset recommended value. 14. The design support program according to claim 9, wherein when a command to design a certain product is input, data of a base model of the same product prepared in advance is input. A design support program for realizing a function of reading and presenting to a worker.