JP2014102686A - Method and system for designing modeled assembly of at least one object in computer-aided design system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine continuously and easily a representative size of the current view.SOLUTION: A computer-implemented method of designing a modeled assembly of at least one object in a computer-aided design system comprises the steps of: providing a set of icons, each icon being representative of a range of scales of size; determining the dimensions of a view (40) of the modeled assembly; and displaying continuously the icon representative of the range of scales of size corresponding to the dimensions.

Description

  The present invention relates to the field of computer programs and computer systems, and more specifically to the field of designing object assemblies in computer aided design applications.

  Computer-aided technologies are known to include computer-aided design, or CAD, for software solutions for creating product designs. Similarly, CAE is an acronym for computer-aided engineering, for example, CAE relates to a software solution for simulating the physical behavior of future products. CAM represents computer-aided manufacturing and typically includes software solutions for defining manufacturing processes and manufacturing operations.

  Several systems and programs for designing objects (or parts) or assembly of objects that form products, such as systems and programs provided by Dassault Systèmes under the registered trademark CATIA, are available on the market Is provided by. These CAD systems allow a user to build and manipulate complex 3D or 3D models of objects or object assemblies. For this reason, CAD systems use edges or lines, and in some cases, surfaces to provide a representation of the modeled object. Lines or edges can be represented in various ways, for example, NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines). These CAD systems typically manage a part or assembly of parts as a modeled object that is a shape specification. Specifically, the CAD file contains a designation that a shape is generated, and this shape allows a representation to be generated. Shapes and representations may be stored in a single CAD file or in multiple CAD files. The CAD system includes graphic tools for displaying modeled objects to the designer, these tools are dedicated to the display of complex objects, and the typical size of files representing objects in the CAD system is: Within one megabyte per part, the assembly further comprises thousands of parts. The CAD system manages a model of an object stored in an electronic file.

  In computer-aided technology, the graphical user interface GUI plays an important role in terms of technology efficiency. Most of the operations required to manipulate and / or navigate the modeled object can be performed on the GUI by a user (eg, a designer). In particular, the user can create, modify, and delete modeled objects that form a product, and how multiple modeled objects are, for example, via the product structure You can examine the product to understand what is related to each other. Conventionally, these operations are performed through dedicated menus and icons arranged on the side of the GUI. Recently, CAD systems such as CATIA allow these operations to be invoked close to product representations. Designers no longer need to move the mouse towards menus and icons. Therefore, the operation can be used within the reach of the mouse. In addition, these operations behave semantically. That is, for a given operation selected by the designer, the CAD system will allow the designer to select a new operation that is likely to be selected by the designer, depending on the previous selected operation, also near the mouse. It is possible to suggest a set of

  Until recently, for example, some computer software used in the automotive and aerospace industries is based on shapes that allow mechanical engineers to see their work in a spatial display or in a three-dimensional display.

  In this field, computer software such as CATIA, SolidWorks, NX, and ProEngineer allows to design shapes in 3D space. The graphical user interface or GUI can be a typical CAD-like interface with a standard menu bar. Such menus and toolbars include a user selectable set of icons, each associated with one or more operations or functions. Some of these icons are in a software tool adapted to edit and / or work on a 3D shape modeled product or product part as displayed in a graphical user interface GUI. Associated. In the following description, terms such as “product”, “part”, “assembly”, etc. may be referred to as “part” for the sake of brevity. In addition, the concept of “parts” can be generalized to the concept of “objects”. Objects include any configuration of the final digital mockup, for example considering an assembly, and the objects of this assembly are partial assemblies, parts, kinematic joints, materials, ECUs (electronic Any software needed to describe the entire environment of the assembly, such as embedded software running on the control unit), or atmospheric modeling when it is desired to study the flight capabilities of an airplane Object.

It is known to display an element, such as a standing person used in the CATIA LiveShape, referred to herein as a 3D silhouette, near the assembly. This element is embedded in the 3D scene to give a scale display while the object is designed next to this element. This concept has several major limitations, for example as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the user's screen, respectively:
At human zoom size, the silhouette 10 fits well, but can result in occlusion or obstruction,
With a very large zoom, the silhouette 20 is too big and useless,
With a very small zoom, the silhouette 30 is too small and useless.

  The object of the present invention is to overcome these problems. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to determine continuously and easily the representative size of the current view.

In accordance with some aspects of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for designing a modeled assembly of at least one object in a computer-aided design system is proposed, the method comprising:
Providing a set of icons each representing a range of size scales;
Determining the dimensions of the view of the modeled assembly;
Continuously displaying an icon representing a range of a scale having a size corresponding to the dimension.

  Between the dimensions of the modeled assembly view of at least one object displayed on the screen and the size scale range via an icon representing the size scale range corresponding to this view dimension. Providing automatic continuous linking allows the user to work more efficiently and zooms back (i.e., after zooming (i.e. zooming in) is done (i.e. Allows users to continuously know the scale range of the size of the view displayed on the user's screen, even after zooming out or unzooming.

  In addition, these icons can be used later to represent the global size of the model when the model is presented in a thumbnail.

  According to an embodiment, a display of icons representing a range of scales of sizes corresponding to the dimensions of the view is included in the outer frame.

  For this reason, the separation of the view of the modeled assembly view of at least one object from the icons representing the range of size scales is clear, and these displays change in a linked manner. .

  For example, the outer frame may be displayed at the bottom of the screen, for example, in the right corner.

According to an embodiment, the set of icons is
A first subset that each icon represents a regular element;
A second subset, each icon representing a transition between two consecutive icons of the first subset.

  The user's understanding is then facilitated, and then the user can work more efficiently, especially more quickly.

  For example, the second subset icon comprises a superposition of two elements represented by the two consecutive icons of the first subset.

  The user's understanding is then facilitated and the user can work more efficiently.

  Depending on the work size, a computer program according to an aspect of the present invention can provide the most relevant tools for the user's current view, such as raw or sharp actions. It is also possible for the user to reconfigure the tools by associating the provided tools with specific icons, i.e. icons that depend on the size of the view.

  According to an embodiment, a dynamic frame is dynamically displayed on the displayed icon to indicate the size of the view relative to a range of scales of the size represented by the displayed icon.

  Thus, the efficiency of the icon set can be improved with another degree of accuracy without the use of a graphic at all.

  According to some embodiments, during the transition, zooming (ie, zooming in) or undoing zoom (ie, zooming out) is performed within the outer frame, each of two consecutive subsets from different subsets. Allows a break-free transition between two displayed icons to be obtained in the outer frame.

  For this reason, such a display allows no interruption, and if the degree of zoom is arbitrarily selected (eg by showing the zoom value from 100% to 500%), from one icon You can jump directly to another icon.

According to an embodiment, during zooming of the view, a sequence of icons in the first subset and icons in the second subset arranged in order of increasing or decreasing size range of size. The step of alternately displaying the series linked and corresponding is the following iterative step:
Reducing the size of the dynamic frame for icons of the first subset of the sequence;
A subsequent icon of the sequence, arranged in descending order, continuously replaces the preceding icon, and the common elements of the two icons are superimposed at the moment of icon change;
A dynamic frame focusing on the other element;
A step in which the size of the dynamic frame and the size of the displayed portion of the icon change simultaneously in inverse proportion;
During the animation of the second subset of icons, the subsequent icons of the sequence arranged in descending order continuously replace the preceding icons.

  Thus, during view zooming, it is possible that there is a continuous correlation between the view dimensions and the range of the corresponding icon size scale.

According to an embodiment, while undoing zooming of the view, the sequence of icons in the first subset and the second subset arranged in order of increasing or decreasing size scale range. Displaying a series of icons in an alternating, correspondingly linked manner is the following iterative step:
During the animation of the second subset of icons, the subsequent icons of the series, arranged in ascending order, successively replace the preceding icons in an adapted ratio, and the common elements of the two icons are: A step superimposed on the moment of icon change,
A step in which the size of the dynamic frame and the size of the displayed portion of the icon change simultaneously in inverse proportion;
A dynamic frame focusing on the other element;
Reducing the size of the dynamic frame for the icon.

  This allows a continuous correlation to exist between the view dimensions and the range of the corresponding icon size scale while unzooming the view.

  The present invention further proposes a computer program product stored on a computer readable medium for designing an assembly of objects in a computer aided design system, the computer program performing the method steps described below. Code means for doing this.

  The invention further relates to an apparatus for designing an assembly of objects in a computer aided design system, the apparatus comprising means for performing the method steps described later.

  The invention will be better understood by considering several embodiments, which are described by way of non-limiting examples and are further illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a known system displaying elements near an assembly according to the state of the art. FIG. 2 shows a known system displaying elements near an assembly according to the state of the art. FIG. 2 shows a known system displaying elements near an assembly according to the state of the art. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example set of icons representing a range of size scales representing regular elements, according to some aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of zooming and unzooming a view of a modeled assembly of at least one object, according to certain aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of zooming and unzooming a view of a modeled assembly of at least one object, according to certain aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of zooming and unzooming a view of a modeled assembly of at least one object, according to certain aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of zooming and unzooming a view of a modeled assembly of at least one object, according to certain aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of zooming and unzooming a view of a modeled assembly of at least one object, according to certain aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of zooming and unzooming a view of a modeled assembly of at least one object, according to certain aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of zooming and unzooming a view of a modeled assembly of at least one object, according to certain aspects of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of zooming and unzooming a view of a modeled assembly of at least one object, according to certain aspects of the present invention. It is a figure which shows more accurately the chain of icons during zooming and during zooming back. It is a figure which shows more accurately the chain of icons during zooming and during zooming back. It is a figure which shows more accurately the chain of icons during zooming and during zooming back. It is a figure which shows more accurately the chain of icons during zooming and during zooming back. It is a figure which shows more accurately the chain of icons during zooming and during zooming back. It is a figure which shows more accurately the chain of icons during zooming and during zooming back. It is a figure which shows more accurately the chain of icons during zooming and during zooming back. It is a figure which shows more accurately the chain of icons during zooming and during zooming back. It is a figure which shows more accurately the chain of icons during zooming and during zooming back. It is a figure which shows more accurately the chain of icons during zooming and during zooming back. It is a figure which shows more accurately the chain of icons during zooming and during zooming back. Determining a dimension of a view of a modeled assembly of at least one object according to an aspect of the present invention and continuously displaying an icon representing a range of scales of a size corresponding to the dimension. It is a figure which shows an example. Determining a dimension of a view of a modeled assembly of at least one object according to an aspect of the present invention and continuously displaying an icon representing a range of scales of a size corresponding to the dimension. It is a figure which shows an example. Determining a dimension of a view of a modeled assembly of at least one object according to an aspect of the present invention and continuously displaying an icon representing a range of scales of a size corresponding to the dimension. It is a figure which shows an example.

  A preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described. It will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the appended claims. For example, grading the criteria may depend on the technical context of the assembly.

  A set of icons that are considered to be most appropriate for a range of size scales is designed. In a preferred embodiment, the set of icons includes a first subset in which each icon represents a regular element and a second subset in which each icon represents a transition between two consecutive icons of the first subset. With. For example, the second subset icon comprises a superposition of two elements represented by the two consecutive icons of the first subset. Icons are arranged in ascending order of size scale range or in descending order.

  In FIG. 4, a first subset of icons representing the DNA structure with respect to a range of size scales corresponding to the dimensions of the current view less than 0.0002m is shown.

  The animation transition between FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 is in the range from 0.0002 m to 0.00025 m.

  In FIG. 5, a second subset of icons representing the biological cells and the DNA structure of FIG. 4 for a range of size scales corresponding to the dimensions of the current view contained within the range of 0.00025m to 0.0005m. Is shown.

  In FIG. 6, a first subset of icons representing the biological cells of FIG. 5 is shown for a range of size scales corresponding to the dimensions of the current view that fall within the range of 0.0005 m to 0.002 m.

  The animation transition between FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is in the range from 0.002 m to 0.0025 m.

  In FIG. 7, a second subset of icons representing beetles and biological cells of FIG. 6 for a range of scales corresponding to the dimensions of the current view contained within the range of 0.0025 m to 0.005 m. Indicated.

  In FIG. 8, a first subset of icons representing the beetles of FIG. 7 is shown for a range of scales of sizes corresponding to the dimensions of the current view that fall within the range of 0.005 m to 0.02 m.

  The animation transition between FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 is in the range from 0.02 m to 0.025 m.

  In FIG. 9, a second subset of icons representing the human hand and the beetle of FIG. 8 with respect to a range of scales of sizes corresponding to the dimensions of the current view contained within the range of 0.025 m to 0.05 m. Is shown.

  In FIG. 10, the first subset of icons representing the human hand of FIG. 9 is shown for a range of scales of sizes corresponding to the dimensions of the current view falling within the range from 0.05 m to 0.2 m. .

  The animation transition between FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 is in the range from 0.2 m to 0.5 m.

  FIG. 11 shows a second subset of icons representing a person and the hand of FIG. 10 with respect to a range of size scales corresponding to the dimensions of the current view contained within the range of 0.25 m to 0.5 m. It is.

  In FIG. 12, a first subset of icons representing the person of FIG. 11 is shown for a range of scales of sizes corresponding to the dimensions of the current view that fall within the range of 0.5 m to 2 m.

  The animation transition between FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 is in the range from 2 m to 2.5 m.

  In FIG. 13, a second subset of icons representing the trees and the person of FIG. 12 is shown for a range of scales of sizes corresponding to the dimensions of the current view contained within the range of 2.5m to 5m.

  In FIG. 14, a first subset of icons representing the tree of FIG. 13 is shown for a range of size scales corresponding to the dimensions of the current view that fall within the range of 5m to 20m.

  The animation transition between FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 is in the range from 20 m to 25 m.

  In FIG. 15, a second subset of icons representing the building and the tree of FIG. 14 is shown for a range of scales of sizes corresponding to the dimensions of the current view contained within the range of 25 to 50 meters.

  In FIG. 16, a first subset of icons representing the building of FIG. 15 is shown for a range of scales of sizes corresponding to the dimensions of the current view contained within the range of 50m to 200m.

  The animation transition between FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 is in the range from 200 m to 250 m.

  In FIG. 17, a second subset of icons representing the mountains and the building of FIG. 16 is shown for a range of scales of sizes corresponding to the dimensions of the current view contained within the range of 250m to 500m.

  In FIG. 18, a first subset of icons representing the peaks of FIG. 17 is shown for a range of scales of sizes corresponding to the current view dimensions above 500 m.

A computer-implemented method for designing a modeled assembly of at least one object in a computer-aided design system,
Providing a set of icons each representing a range of size scales;
Determining the dimensions of the view of the modeled assembly;
Continuously displaying an icon representing a range of a scale having a size corresponding to the dimension.

  19-26, and similarly FIGS. 27-37, while zooming the view of the assembly 40 of at least one object, the first subset icon and the second subset icon. Transitions between are shown. In this example, the icon used corresponds to a transition between the range of scales corresponding to the tree of FIG. 14 and the range of scales corresponding to the person of FIG. 12 using the icon of FIG. There are three icons.

  For example, the icon is displayed on the screen in the external fixed frame 41. In the example described herein, an optional dynamic frame 42 is described, such that the dynamic frame 42 indicates the size of the view relative to a range of size scales represented by the displayed icon. , Displayed dynamically on the displayed icon.

During such zooming of the view of the assembly 40 of at least one object, the series of the three icons in the first subset and the second, arranged in order of increasing or decreasing size range of the size. In the step of alternately displaying the three icon series in the subset linked and corresponding to each other, the following repeating steps are executed. That is,
Reducing the size of the dynamic frame 42 for the first subset of icons representing the tree of FIG. 14, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, or as shown in FIGS.
Subsequent icons in the sequence, arranged in descending order, in this case, the second subset of icons representing the trees and people of FIG. 13, replaces the preceding icons in succession and the common of the two icons Element, in this case, a step in which the tree is superimposed at the moment of icon change, as shown in FIG. 21 or FIG.
The dynamic frame 42 is focused on the other element, in this case the person, as shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 or FIG. 30 to FIG.
The size of the dynamic frame 42 and the size of the displayed portion of the icon representing the tree and person change simultaneously in inverse proportion, as shown in FIGS. 24 to 26, and the subsequent icon representing the person in FIG. Are sequentially replaced by corresponding portions of the icons representing trees and people in FIG. 13, and the animation of the second subset of icons, as shown in FIG. Subsequent icons in the sequence, in this case, the person icon in FIG. 12, are steps that successively replace the preceding icon, in this case, the icon representing the tree and person in FIG.

  FIGS. 26 through 19 show transitions between the first subset icon and the second subset icon while undoing the zoom of the view of the assembly 40 of at least one object. In this example, the icons used are a range of scales corresponding to the person of FIG. 12 and a range of scales corresponding to the tree of FIG. 14 using the icons of FIG. 13 representing trees and persons. These are three icons corresponding to transitions between

The series of the three icons in the first subset, arranged in ascending order of size scale range or in descending order of size, while so undoing the zoom of the view of the assembly 40 of at least one object In the step of alternately displaying the three icon sequences in the second subset linked in a corresponding manner, the following iterative steps are performed. That is,
During the animation of the second subset of icons, the subsequent icons of the series arranged in ascending order, in this case the second subset of icons representing trees and people in FIG. A step in which the preceding icon representing a person is continuously replaced and the common element of the two icons, ie the person, is superimposed at the moment of icon change, as shown in FIG. ,
The size of the dynamic frame 42 and the size of the displayed portion of the icon representing the tree and person in FIG. 13 are as shown in FIGS. 25 to 23, or as shown in FIGS. , Steps that change inversely and simultaneously,
The dynamic frame 42 is focused on the other element, in this case the tree, as shown in FIGS.
14 is a step in which the size of the dynamic frame 42 for the icon representing the tree of FIG. 14 is reduced, as shown in FIGS. 20-19 or as shown in FIGS. 29-27.

  38, 39, and 40 are examples of determining the dimensions of a view of a modeled assembly and continuously displaying icons representing a range of scales of sizes corresponding to the dimensions. Indicated.

  38, 39, and 40 show screens for displaying the modeled assembly. The following examples are not limiting.

  The system calculates the reference size Ref_Size_Comp at any point in time by calculating the ratio of the displayed object to the overall size of the screen (if there is no assembly of at least one displayed object, Ref_Size_Comp is Calculated by projecting a virtual line in the center of the screen and calculating the length that the line will have on the ground of the 3D scene).

  If there is a change in the degree of zoom, the system will select and display the icon that best fits it, and if it is a smaller change, it will use dynamic frame scaling. The second subset of icons is used to bridge two consecutive icons of the first subset.

Each icon has its own display area Ref_Size_Icon centered on the value attached to the icon, that is, a range of the scale of the icon's own size. The second subset icon, i.e., the transition icon, shares the first subset icon, i.e., the main icon, and the display area Ref_Size_Icon, but the transition icon and the main icon do not have the same display range. In the case of the examples of the present specification, it is as follows. That is,
Ref_Size_DNA = 0.0001m
Ref_Size_Cell = 0.001m
Ref_Size_Beetle = 0.01m
Ref_Size_Hand = 0.1m
Ref_Size_Man = 1m
Ref_Size_Tree = 10m
Ref_Size_Building = 100m
Ref_Size_Mountain = 1000m

The main icon is displayed when the following expression is verified: That is,
Ref_Size_Icon × 2 ≧ Ref_Size_Comp ≧ Ref_Size_Icon × 0.5

The transition icon is displayed when the following expression is verified: That is,
Ref_Size_Icon × 0.5> Ref_Size_Comp ≧ Ref_Size_Icon × 0.25

The icon defines the range in which the icon appears and how the icon is used by the software. In the case of a human icon, the display area Ref_Size_Icon is 1 m. This icon is then displayed in the following cases. That is,
1 × 2 ≧ Ref_Size_Comp ≧ 1 × 0.5, ie
2 ≧ Ref_Size_Comp ≧ 0.5

  The human icon is displayed when the reference size Ref_Size_Comp is included in the range from 0.5 m to 2 m.

  A transition icon between a human icon and a hand icon is displayed when 0.5> Ref_Size_Comp ≧ 0.25. This transition icon is displayed when the reference size Ref_Size_Comp is included in the range from 0.25 m to 0.5 m.

  For example, when the reference size Ref_Size_Comp is 1.5 m, the display area Ref_Size_Man is within a range from 0.5 m to 2 m, so the system displays a human icon. When the reference size Ref_Size_Comp is 0.4 m, an icon representing a person and a person's hand (that is, a transition icon between the person icon and the hand icon) is displayed.

  However, if the reference size Ref_Size_Comp does not correspond to the validity area of any icon, the transition icon animation must be displayed. For example, when the reference size Ref_Size_Comp is 2.1 m which is larger than the upper limit (2 m) of the person icon and smaller than the lower limit (2.5 m) of the tree and person transition icon, the animation of the tree and person transition icon is Displayed in the external frame 41 to display a clue of good size.

  The animation of an icon can be a transition from one icon to another, eg, from the person icon of FIG. 12 to the tree and person icon of FIG. 13 while zooming back and forth. If there is a switch, this is done using the animation of the second subset of icons.

  The reference size Ref_Size_Comp is 2 m. This reference size represents the validity boundary of the displayed human icon. When the reference size Ref_Size_Comp increases to 2.1 m, the transition is made between the person icon of FIG. 12 and the tree and person icons. Only those who are part of the tree and person icons of FIG. 13 are displayed using the corresponding dynamic frame.

  If the user continues to undo the zoom, the reference size Ref_Size_Comp increases to, for example, 2.3 m, and when the reference size Ref_Size_Comp becomes 2.5 m, the displayed part of the tree and the human icon is completely displayed. Is displayed. The dynamic frame 40 follows this transition uniformly with the size corresponding to the size Ref_Size_Man of the human icon.

  The selected value for the transition is only an example selected using a simple calculation such that the difference between 2 × Ref_Size_precedingcon and 0.25 × Ref_Size_followinglcon is minimal. Alternatively, this difference can be smaller.

  The animation of the icon is a second subset when there is a transition from one icon to another during zooming, eg, switching from the tree and person icon of FIG. 13 to the person icon of FIG. This is done using icon animation.

  When Ref_Size_Comp = 2.5, the displayed icons are the tree and person icons of FIG. When the user zooms, the reference size Ref_Size_Comp becomes smaller and a transition starts.

  While the current icon is gradually enlarged as such a portion of the icon is displayed without protruding the outer frame 41, the reference size Ref_Size_Comp becomes smaller. A dynamic frame 40 centered on the person of the tree and person icon grows at the same speed. When the reference size Ref_Size_Comp reaches 2 m, the zoomed portion of the tree and person icons in FIG. 13 represents the person icon in FIG. Also, the dynamic frame 40 is well placed.

  Depending on whether the user is zoomed or unzoomed, there is a transition between icons if there is an extrapolation from the current icon to the next icon to be displayed. The transition is to convert the current icon to the next icon by zooming directly on or off the icon. This is why each icon of the first subset that represents a normal element is included in the next icon of the second subset that represents a transition between two consecutive icons of the first subset. The transition is enhanced by a red frame that fits directly into the part of the icon that becomes the next icon.

  The dynamic frame is always matched to the next sequential icon. The size of the dynamic frame changes to give a more accurate clue as to the size of the displayed assembly of at least one object in the scene.

10, 20, 30 Silhouette 40 Assembly 41 Fixed frame 42 Dynamic frame

Claims (10)

A computer implemented method for designing a modeled assembly of at least one object in a computer aided design system comprising:
Providing a set of icons each representing a range of size scales;
Determining the dimensions of the view of the modeled assembly;
Continuously displaying the icon representing a range of scales of a size corresponding to the dimension.   The method of claim 1, wherein the display of the icon representing a range of scales of a size corresponding to the dimension of the view is contained within an outer frame. The set of icons is
A first subset where each icon represents a regular element;
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each icon comprises a second subset representing a transition between two consecutive icons of the first subset.   The method of claim 3, wherein the second subset of icons comprises a superposition of two elements represented by the two consecutive icons of the first subset.   5. A dynamic frame is dynamically displayed on the displayed icon to indicate the size of the view relative to a range of scales represented by the displayed icon. The method of any one of these.   During the transition, zooming in or out of the outer frame is done, and a transition without interruption between the two consecutive displayed icons each from a different subset is obtained in the outer frame. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein: While zooming the view, alternately correspond to a series of icons in the first subset and a series of icons in the second subset arranged in order of increasing or decreasing size range of size. A step of linking and displaying such that the step of linking and displaying so as to correspond,
Reducing the size of the dynamic frame for icons of the first subset of the sequence;
A subsequent icon of the sequence arranged in descending order successively replaces the preceding icon, and a common element of the two icons is superimposed at the moment of icon change;
The dynamic frame focusing on the other element;
Changing the size of the dynamic frame and the size of the displayed portion of the icon simultaneously in inverse proportion;
6. The method of claim 5, wherein during the animation of the second subset of icons, the subsequent icons in the descending sequence are successively replaced with the preceding icons. Or the method of 6. While undoing the zoom of the view, the series of icons in the first subset and the series of icons in the second subset, arranged in ascending order of size scale range, The method includes the steps of linking and displaying so as to correspond alternately, and the step of linking and displaying so as to correspond to each other,
During the animation of the second subset of icons, subsequent icons in the chronologically ordered series successively replace the preceding icons in an adapted ratio so that the common elements of the two icons are , Steps superimposed on the moment of icon change,
The size of the dynamic frame and the size of the displayed portion of the icon change simultaneously in inverse proportion;
The dynamic frame focusing on the other element;
The method according to any one of claims 4 to 7, comprising the step of repeating the step of reducing the size of the dynamic frame for the icon. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for designing an assembly of objects in a computer aided design system,
A computer program comprising code means for causing a computer-aided design system to perform the steps according to any one of claims 1 to 8. An apparatus for designing an assembly of objects in a computer-aided design system,
9. A device comprising means for performing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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