JP2521339B2 - Design support device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a design support device for supporting efficient design using a computer, and in particular, parameters related to design are set to appropriate values. The present invention relates to a design support device that can be easily changed and set, and that uses this parameter to support optimum design.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, when designing a large-scale design target such as a vehicle, for example, a design support device using a computer is provided for the purpose of improving the efficiency of design.

When this design support device is explained by exemplifying a vehicle as a design object, the vehicle is generally designed based on a certain design concept, for example, a concept of designing a sports car that can run at high speed on Hakone Pass. In order to design a vehicle that satisfies the design concept, first,
A plurality of target indicators, such as acceleration performance, cornering performance, and other design concepts that are more specific, are set, and in order to achieve these target indicators, a huge number of design elements related to the target indicators, that is, design parameters, are set. Is set. The designer is required to determine the value of each design parameter, that is, the design value to a value that can achieve the target index while adjusting these design parameters. At this time, the design support device supports the design efficiency by providing various design information to the designer.

Here, the value of each design parameter is determined by one of the following methods. That is, a) It is determined by the input of the designer (user of the design support device).

b) It is a fixed value such as a physical constant and is fixed from the beginning.

c) In determining the value of a certain design parameter, it is determined by causing a predetermined function f such as a calculation formula or table reference to act on the values of other design parameters arranged below the certain design parameter. That is, for example, let X be a value of a design parameter determined by applying a predetermined function f,
Assuming that the values of the other design parameters arranged, for example, in three positions below the position are a, b, and c, it is determined on the assumption that the relational expression of X = f (a, b, c) holds. Here, each setting parameter is as described in c) above.
Are hierarchically arranged based on the relational expression. The value of the design parameter existing in a certain hierarchy is uniquely determined depending on the value of the design parameter existing below it.
Therefore, generally, d) the value of the design parameter of the lowermost layer is determined by the method of the upper layer a) or b).

e) The value of the design parameter of the uppermost layer is determined by the method of the upper layer c) and is a so-called design target.

f) The values of the design parameters existing in the intermediate layer are usually determined by the method of the above c) and are auxiliary parameters.

The conventional design support apparatus stores the above-mentioned design parameters, relational expressions and the like in a memory of a computer, and when, for example, the relational expression of X = f (a, b, c) in c) above is satisfied, When deciding a value, it is desired to obtain it by sequentially deciding the value of each design parameter according to a predetermined fixed procedure such as “decide value of a → decide value of b → decide value of c”. The value X of the design parameter is decided.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional design support device, the value of each design parameter is sequentially determined in accordance with a predetermined fixed design procedure. When it is desired to change a certain design parameter for some reason, the parameter for determining the design parameter has to be input again in a predetermined order. Some of these input parameters affect design parameters other than the design parameter to be changed, and there is a possibility that a design parameter not intended by the designer may be changed. Therefore, in the conventional design support device, in order to determine the optimum design parameter, the designer needs to repeat the design parameter input many times to determine the optimum value by trial and error, and perform the design. It took a lot of time.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and makes it possible to easily change and set a parameter related to design to an appropriate value, and to use this parameter to support optimum design. The purpose is to provide a support device.

[Configuration of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the design support apparatus according to the present invention is necessary for obtaining information necessary for designing a design object and the information. An information storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of information about a design including a data value, related information, and a relational expression as a combination of heading information and sub-information, and an input unit that inputs desired heading information to be acquired.
A first searching unit that searches the stored content of the information storage unit for sub information related to the heading information based on the heading information input by the input unit, and a sub search unit searched by the first searching unit. A second searching means for searching one or more lowermost layer sub-information located in the lowermost layer necessary for determining information, and a value of the lowermost layer sub-information searched by the second searching means The gist is to have a changing unit that changes and determines the value of the header information by changing the value.

(Operation) According to the design support apparatus of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, first, when desired heading information to be acquired is input to the input means 3, based on the input heading information. Then, the first search means 4 searches the stored contents of the information storage means 1 for the sub-information related to the headline information. Further, among the sub-information retrieved by the first retrieval means 4, the second retrieval means 5 retrieves one or more bottom-layer sub-information located at the bottom layer. Then, the changing unit 7 changes and sets the value of the heading information by changing the value of the bottom layer sub information searched by the second searching unit 5. The changed and set value of the headline information is provided to the setter via, for example, a display device. As described above, according to the design support apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily change and set the heading information, which is a design parameter, to an appropriate value, and use the value of the heading information to support optimal design. You can

(Embodiment) An embodiment according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the design support apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The input device 11 is composed of a keyboard or the like, and outputs a parameter or a value related to a design procedure by performing a key operation. The storage device 13 stores information about the designing means and is configured by being divided into frames for each parameter required for designing. In the frame, other parameters necessary for obtaining the value of the parameter, etc. Remembered That is, information (parameters) for each frame is arranged and stored in a hierarchical structure that is related to each other.

Here, the parameter necessary for design is, for example, 0-40.
It refers to performance indicators such as the time of 0 m acceleration, and specifications and concepts such as destination and vehicle grade for obtaining the performance indicators.

The control device 15 is connected to the input device 11 and the storage device 13, and based on the information from the input device 11, information about the design procedure stored in the storage device 13 is appropriately read and the read design procedure is read. A control process relating to the support of the designing means is executed based on the information regarding. Further, the control device 15 has a searching means for searching one or more lowermost layer parameters located in the lowermost layer among a plurality of parameters necessary for determining the value of the specific parameter, and the lowermost layer parameter. And changing means for changing and setting the value of the specific parameter by changing the value of.

Here, the lowest layer parameter will be described. Since each parameter forms a hierarchical structure associated with each other, the value of each parameter is determined by the parameter located in the layer below the parameter. All parameters necessary to determine the value of a specific parameter, that is, not only the parameter for determining the value of the specific parameter within the frame of the specific parameter, but also the parameters required for determining the value of the specific parameter The value of the parameter, using the parameters of the frame that do not have any of the other parameters required to determine the value of that frame's parameter among all other parameters, or the parameters required to determine the value of the parameter. The parameter for which the value of the parameter is forcibly input from the input device ignoring the expression in the frame is called the lowest layer parameter.

The display device 17 is connected to the control device 15,
Displays information from 15 such as design related information or specific parameters.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, an example of a frame in which mutually related information is arranged in a hierarchical structure as information related to design stored in the storage device 13 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the frame is composed of heading information DS1 indicating a frame name and the like and knowledge information DS2 corresponding to the heading information. Specifically, the heading information DS
“FA frame” is shown in 1. Knowledge information DS2 is output parameter (output), input parameter (inpu
t), expression (siki), and relation information (relation). Output parameter (outpu in knowledge information DS2
Although t) indicates the output value for the heading information DS1, in the example shown in FIG. 3, “(value of A) if-needed siki” is described for this output parameter (output), and a value is required. It shows that in some cases it is necessary to calculate the formula (siki). It should be noted that the evaluation of the items described by the mathematical formulas in this way is referred to as starting the daemon.

The input parameter (input) in the knowledge information DS2 describes the value of the parameter of this frame, that is, the parameter that needs to be input from the output parameter of another frame when obtaining the output parameter. "B, b", "C, c" as parameters
It is shown. B and C are parameter names, and b and c are variables used in the equation. Also, the formula (siki)
Shows a formula (b + c) for calculating the above-mentioned output parameter using each input parameter.

Other related frames are similarly set for the respective input parameters described above, and the information for each frame arranged in a hierarchical structure related to each other in this way is stored in the storage device 13.
It is stored in.

Therefore, the respective values (output parameters) of the input parameters shown in FIG. 3 can be obtained by the control device by reading other relevant frames. That is, the value of the input parameter required to obtain a certain parameter is obtained by reading the output parameter of the frame having the input parameter as the header information,
When the output parameter is unknown, it is obtained by reading the output parameter of the frame having the input parameter necessary for obtaining the parameter of the frame of the unknown output parameter as the index information. Further, when the output parameter is unknown, it can be obtained by repeating the above reading.

Further, the input parameters shown in FIG. 3 can be directly input by the key operation from the input device 11. That is, when the relation information (relation) is “on” as shown in FIG. 3, the value of each input parameter and the expression (siki)
Is used to obtain the value of the output parameter.
Further, when the relation information (relation) is “off”, it indicates that the value of the predetermined output parameter is input by the key operation directly from the input device 11 without using the expression (siki) described above.

FIG. 4 shows a hierarchical structure of parameters between mutually related frames. Parameter PA shown in FIG. 4 is the third
The parameter A shown in the figure is shown, the parameter PB is the input parameter shown in FIG. 3, and the parameter B of another frame is shown.
, And the parameter PC is the input parameter of FIG. 3 and is the parameter of another frame. The parameters PD and PE are input parameters for obtaining the value of the parameter B and are parameters of other frames. Each parameter arranged in relation to such a hierarchical structure is sequentially determined according to each hierarchical order. For example, the parameter PD is determined by the parameter PG and the parameter PH, and the parameter PB is determined by the parameter PD and the parameter PE. Further, the parameter PA is determined by the parameter PB and the parameter PC.

Next, the basic operation of the control device will be described with reference to FIG.

When the search information regarding the frame i is input using the input device 11 to obtain the information of the frame i, in step 31, the storage device 13 is based on the search information from the input device 11.
Perform a search for frame i stored in. Subsequently, in step 33, it is determined whether or not an output parameter (output) as an output value exists in the retrieved frame i. If an output parameter exists, the process proceeds to step 45 and the output parameter of this frame i is output. By outputting a signal for displaying a certain output value to the display device 17, the frame i
Answer the information in. In step 33, the frame i
If the output parameter does not exist in step 35, the process proceeds to step 35, and it is determined from the description of the relationship information of frame i whether or not the output parameter should be input by the user.
That is, in step 35, the relation information (relation) is "OF
It is determined whether or not it is “F”, and the related information (relatio
If n) is "OFF", the process proceeds to step 37 and the user, that is, the user, outputs to the display device 17 the information input. Thus, when the user operates the input device 11 to input predetermined information, the process proceeds from step 37 to step 45 and a signal indicating that the information input by the input device 11 as an output value for the frame i is displayed on the display device 17. Is output.

If the user should not input in step 35, or if the relation information (relation) is set to "ON", the process proceeds to step 39 and the value of frame X having the input parameter included in frame i as the header information ( Output knowledge). That is, in the example shown in FIG. 3, a frame value (output parameter) having the input parameter (input) B as the header information and the input parameter (input) C
The value (output parameter) of the frame having the header information of (4) is read from the storage device 13. In step 41, it is determined whether or not the values of all the frames X corresponding to the input parameters of the frame i have been obtained. When the values of all the frames X have been obtained, the process proceeds to step 43, and the so-called daemon is activated. To do. Referring to FIG. 3 as an example, the values of the input parameters B and C obtained by the frame X described above are substituted into the equation (siki) instead of the variables b and c to calculate the value of the output parameter of the frame i. . In step 45, the calculated output parameter of the frame i is output as a signal to be displayed on the display device 17. (Refer to Japanese Patent Application No. 61-145657 for details) Next, the control processing relating to the change setting of the specific parameter included in the frame will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8.

In step 61, the input device 11 is operated to specify a parameter to be changed (hereinafter referred to as a change designation parameter). Then, in step 63, whether the forced input is performed, that is, the value of the parameter to be changed is directly input by the input device.
The display device 17 displays a question item asking whether to input from 11. In step 63, when an answer indicating that forced input is not performed is output from the input device, the process proceeds to step 65, and of all parameters necessary for determining the parameter to be changed, search for the lowest layer parameter located in the lowest layer. Execute the process.

Here, the lowest layer parameter means, for example, when the parameter PB shown in FIG. 4 is the change designation parameter,
At least the parameters PG, PH, PI are the lowest layer parameters.

Next, the search process for the lowermost layer parameter in step 65 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

At step 101, a variable list LS having parameters as parameters for searching the lowest layer parameters is created. That is, all the parameters necessary for determining the value of the specific parameter to be changed are the elements of the variable list LS. Subsequently, at step 103, an empty list, that is, a blank portion is set in each of the variable lists LM and LL. Next, at step 105, the input parameter of the parameter located at the head of the variable list LS is obtained. In step 107, it is determined whether or not there is an input parameter and the relation information (relation) corresponding to this input parameter is “ON”. When the input parameter exists and the relation information (relation) is “ON” in step 107, the process proceeds to step 109. In step 109, the corresponding input parameter is added to the end of the variable list LS so as not to overlap the elements of the variable list LL. Then, at step 111, the corresponding input parameter is added to the variable list LL so as not to overlap with the elements of the already existing list LL. Then, in step 113, the input parameter is changed to the variable list L in step 109 described above.
Since it is added to the end of S, the input parameter located at the beginning of this variable list LS is deleted.

In step 107, the input parameter does not exist, or even if the input parameter exists, the relation information (relation) corresponding to this input parameter is “OF”.
If it is “F”, the process proceeds from step 107 to step 115. In step 115, the relevant parameter, that is, the parameter located at the head of the variable list LS is added to the variable list LM. Then, in step 117, the parameter located at the head of the variable list LS is deleted. In step 119, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all the parameters existing in the variable list LS. If the processing has not been completed for all the parameters, step 10 is executed again.
Returning to step 5, the parameters existing in the variable list LS are distributed to the variable list LM or the variable list LL as described above. Therefore, in the variable list LL, all parameter names necessary for determining the value of the specific parameter to be changed are distributed, and in the variable list LM, it is necessary to determine the value of the specific parameter to be changed. Among the plurality of parameters, the lowest layer parameter located at the bottom is distributed. Here, when the value of the parameter is forcibly input ignoring the calculation formula or the relational expression, even if this input parameter is not located in the lowermost layer, it is distributed to the variable list LM as the lowermost layer parameter.

Referring again to FIG. 6, in step 67, the bottom layer parameter to be changed is selected from among the plurality of bottom layer parameters searched. Then, in step 69, a search for a parameter that the selected lowest layer parameter influences is executed. A parameter that is influenced by a specific parameter in this way is called an influence parameter.

Next, the search processing in step 69 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In step 121, a variable list MS of the parameters affected by the above-mentioned selected lowest layer parameter, that is, the parameter to be searched is created. Step 123
Then, an empty list, that is, a blank area is set in each of the variable list MM and the variable list ML. In step 125, the value of the input parameter located at the beginning of the variable list MS is calculated. Subsequently, in step 127, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned input parameter exists and the relation information (relation) corresponding to this input parameter is “ON”. If there is an input parameter in step 127 and the relation information (relation) corresponding to this input parameter is “ON”, the process proceeds to step 129. In step 129, the corresponding parameter is added to the end of the variable list MS so as not to overlap the elements of the variable list ML. Then, in step 131, the corresponding parameter is added to the variable list ML so as not to overlap with the elements already existing in the variable list ML. Then, in step 133, the input parameter located at the head of the variable list MS is deleted.

In step 127, the input parameter does not exist, or even when the input parameter exists, the relation information (relation) corresponding to the input parameter is “OF”.
If it is “F”, the process proceeds from step 127 to step 135. In step 135, the corresponding input parameter, that is, the parameter located at the beginning of the variable list MS is set to the variable list.
Add to MM. Then, in step 137, the input parameter located at the head of the variable list MS is deleted. Step 139
Then, it is determined whether or not the search processing has been completed for all the parameters existing in the variable list MS, and if the search processing for all the parameters has not been completed, the processing returns from step 139 to step 125 again and the processing described above is performed. In the same manner as, the input parameter distribution process existing in the variable list MS is executed. That is, all the influential parameters that are affected by the parameters selected in step 67 are distributed to the variable list ML, and among the parameters distributed to these variable list ML, that is, the parameters arranged in the mutually related hierarchical structure, the uppermost layer. The top layer parameters existing at the position of are distributed to the variable list MM. At this time, among a plurality of parameters arranged in a hierarchical structure related to each other, even if the parameter is not located in the top layer, the corresponding expression is ignored and the parameter forcibly input from the input device 11 is set as the top layer parameter. It is distributed to the variable list MM.

Referring again to FIG. 6, in step 71, the specific parameter to be changed, that is, the lowermost layer parameter selected as the change designation parameter and the influence parameter which this specific parameter influences are stored and these change settings are made. The previous value is stored in the storage device as the old value.

Then, in step 73, the value of the lowest layer parameter selected in step 67 is reset. At this time, if the parameter value is forcibly input, the input device 11
Use to set the value of the parameter. Then Step 75
With the resetting of the parameter values in step 73, the values of all the influence parameters affected by the resetting of the parameters are set to the undecided state.

In step 77, among the influential parameters that the above-mentioned lowest layer parameter influences, the uppermost layer parameter located in the uppermost layer is driven. That is, the value of the uppermost layer parameter is changed and set. Further, all the values of the influential parameters that the lowest layer parameter selected in step 67 influences are calculated, and the calculated values are set as new values in the corresponding frames.

In step 79, the old value set in step 71 and the new value set in step 77 are displayed on the display device 17 in the form of a comparison table so that they can be compared with each other.
In step 81, the user selects one of the values using the input device 11 as the new value and the old value are displayed. When a new value is selected in step 81, the process proceeds from step 81 to step 83. In step 83, when the value of the input parameter is forcibly input from the input device 11, the relation information (relation) existing in the frame of the change designation parameter is set to OFF.

Then, in step 85, the old value of the corresponding parameter is deleted.

In step 63, the value of the input parameter is input by the input device 11
To enter directly using
Continue to 87. In step 87, the search process shown in FIG. 8 is executed. That is, when the value of the parameter is forcibly input, the search for the influential parameter that the forcibly input parameter affects is executed. The routine proceeds from step 87 to step 71, and the above-mentioned control processing is executed.

Next, when the old value is selected in step 81, the process proceeds from step 81 to step 89. In step 89, the value of the corresponding parameter is returned to the old value, that is, the value before the change setting because the old value is selected. When the input device 11 is forcibly input as the above-mentioned parameter value, the corresponding relation information (relation) is set to “OFF”.
To "ON".

As described above, since the old value and the new value are compared and displayed on the display device 17, the user can easily select which of the values is adopted.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3, and the confirmation information (chec
k) and step information (step) are added. If the confirmation information (check) is ge, it indicates more than anything, and if it is gt, it indicates greater than anything,
If it is le, it indicates the following, if it is lt, it indicates that it is smaller, and if it is in, it indicates that it is between anything and nothing.

Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 9, since it is ge4, it indicates that the output parameter A which is the output value is 4 or more. Further, when the calculated output parameter A is 5, for example, it is 4 or more as described above, and therefore the setting indicating that the constraint condition is satisfied, that is, OK is set at the end of the confirmation information (check). As described above, the confirmation information (check) indicates the constraint condition regarding the output parameter and the determination result indicating whether or not the constraint condition is satisfied.

The step information (step) indicates the amount by which the value of this parameter is changed, that is, the amount of step width, when the value of the parameter to be described later is changed and set.

FIG. 10 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 5, and the same processes are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In step 201, an inquiry is selectively made via the display device 17 as to whether to search the frame i or to change or set a specific parameter. Go to step 203. Then, the process proceeds from step 203 to step 205, and a specific parameter changing process is executed.

The operation relating to the process of changing the specific parameter in step 205 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In step 211, a change designation parameter to be changed is designated. In step 213, based on the display on the display device 17, the display device 17 displays whether or not the value of the parameter is forcibly input.

If the input device receives an input to forcibly input the value of the parameter in step 213, step 21
Proceed to step 219 from step 3. If an input indicating that the parameter value is not forcibly input is received from the input device in step 213, the process proceeds to step 215. In step 215, the lowermost layer parameter is searched from among the parameters necessary for determining the value of the change designation parameter to be changed, and the searched lowermost layer parameter is displayed on the display device 17.

Then, in step 217, the lowermost layer parameter to be changed (hereinafter referred to as the changed parameter) is selected from the lowermost layer parameters obtained by the search. In step 219, the repeat condition and the end condition regarding the change parameter change setting are set, and the change parameter changing process is executed.

Next, the subroutine in step 219 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In step 301, when changing the value of the change parameter, the number of repetitions of this change is input using the input device 11. The information input at this time is a positive integer, or the instruction information Sd regarding repetition is input. In step 303, it is determined whether or not the instruction information Sd regarding repetition is input. If the number of repetitions is input, step 303
The process proceeds from step 303 to step 305. In step 305, the repeated condition B or B is selected and displayed. Here, the repetition condition (i) is the case where the user specifies all the values of the change parameter or the values of the parameters to be forcibly input, and the repetition condition (b) is that the change parameter value is the current value in the specified step size. This is the case of changing to the standard. When the repeat condition B is selected in step 305, the process proceeds to step 307, and the value of the change parameter set to be changed by the number corresponding to the above-described number of repeats is written in the variable list QS.

When the instruction information Sd regarding repetition is input in step 303, the process proceeds from step 303 to step 311.
In step 311, the number of iterations is input when the constraint condition of the specific parameter to be changed cannot be satisfied.
Then, in step 313, the selection of the end condition is executed. For example, when it is selected in step 313 to repeatedly execute until the constraint condition corresponding to the specific change designation parameter to be changed is selected, steps 313 to 319
Proceed to. In step 319, it is determined whether or not the value of the step size (step), that is, the amount of change is described in the corresponding frame when the value of the change parameter is changed and set. move on. On the contrary, when the step width (step) is not described in the corresponding frame, the process proceeds to step 321, and the input device 1
Use 1 to enter the value of the step size (step) when changing the value of the change parameter. In step 323, the value of the changed parameter is changed based on the predetermined repeating condition and the ending condition described above with reference to the current value of the changed parameter, and the changed value of each parameter is set in the variable list QS. .

When the value of the parameter to be changed is changed in step 313, if it is selected to repeat until the value of the parameter to be changed reaches the target value as the end condition, the process proceeds from step 313 to step 315 to set this target value. . Then, in step 317, a priority condition is selected based on the constraint condition corresponding to the parameter to be changed and the above-mentioned target value. From step 317 to step 319, the above-described operation is repeated.

Referring again to FIG. 11, in step 221, a search for the influence parameter affected by changing the value of the change parameter is performed, and at the same time, a search for the top layer parameter located at the top layer among these influence parameters is performed. Run. At step 223, the value of the counter CN is set to 0. Then, in step 225, the current value of the change parameter, the value of the influence parameter, and the check result of the change designation parameter to be changed, that is, the confirmation information (chec) included in the frame corresponding to the change designation parameter to be changed (chec
k) and the value of the counter CN are stored in the storage device 13, respectively. Then, in step 227, the value of the above-mentioned influence parameter is set to the undecided state. Subsequently, in step 229, it is determined whether or not the variable list QS is an empty list. If it is not an empty list, steps 229 to 2
Proceed to 31. In step 231, the information located at the beginning of the variable list QS is deleted, and the value of the change designation parameter to be changed is set at the beginning position of this variable list QS. Then, in step 233, among the above-mentioned influence parameters, the uppermost layer parameter located in the uppermost layer is driven. That is, the value of the uppermost layer parameter is changed and set, and the value of the influential parameter is reset accordingly. Also step 23
At 3, while checking each constraint condition corresponding to the influential parameter, the value of the counter CN is incremented by one. In step 235, the above-mentioned termination condition is determined, and if the termination condition is set to either be repeated until a predetermined constraint condition is satisfied as the termination condition, or it is repeated until a predetermined target value is reached, Returns from step 235 to step 225 again and repeats similar control processing. If the command information Sd regarding repetition is input in step 235, step 235
To Step 237. In step 237, it is determined whether or not the priority condition is set as the target value. For example, when the end condition is set to repeat until a specific constraint condition is satisfied, the process proceeds from step 237 to step 241.
In step 241, it is judged whether or not all the constraint conditions corresponding to the change designation parameter to be changed are satisfied. If all the constraint conditions are not satisfied, step 24
The process returns from step 1 to step 225 again, and the above-described operation is repeated.

When the priority condition is set as the target value in step 237, the process proceeds from step 237 to step 243. In step 243, it is determined whether or not the value of the change designation parameter to be changed with respect to the set target value is within the predetermined error range. If it is out of this predetermined error range, the process returns from step 243 to step 225 again.
If the value of the change designation parameter to be changed is within the error range of the predetermined target value in step 243, the process proceeds to step 245. In step 245, when the value of the change designation parameter to be changed is counter CN = 0 and the current value is displayed as a comparison table on the display device 17, the check result of each cout value of the change designation parameter to be changed is displayed. That is, the result of the check information (check) existing in the frame corresponding to the changed parameter is displayed. Also, turn off the relation information (relation) existing in the frame corresponding to the change specification parameter to be changed.
Set to. Subsequently, in frame 246, the value of the change designation parameter to be changed corresponds to the value of the counter CN, that is, the old value before the change and the current new value changed stepwise are displayed on the display device 17 in contrast. And the user decides whether to adopt this current new value. If it is determined that the current new value is not adopted, the process returns from step 246 to step 225. If it is determined in step 246 that the current new value is adopted, the process proceeds to step 247 to erase other calculation results and unnecessary information.

If the variable list QS is an empty list in step 229, that is, if all the information existing in the variable list QS is an empty list, the process proceeds from step 229 to step 251. In step 251, the value of the change designation parameter to be changed is displayed corresponding to the value of the cowtan CN, and the check result for each parameter value is displayed as a list on the display device 17. In step 253, the optimum value is selected from the display results displayed on the display device 17. At this time, the relation information (relation) existing in the frame corresponding to the change designation parameter to be changed is set to "OFF".
Set to. Then, in step 255, the above-mentioned selected result is set as the current new value of the changed parameter, and other unnecessary information is deleted.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 25.

FIG. 13 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3, and in the frame shown in FIG. 13 (A), “A frame” is shown in the header information DS1 and the output value or calculation which is an output parameter in the knowledge information DS2. Information necessary for designing equations and the like is shown. Here, not the output value itself but the name of another frame for calculating the output parameter, for example, the frame name "value of A 2" is set as the output parameter in the output parameter column. That is, knowledge information DS
Multiple output parameters are set as the output value of 2 and the output parameter as the output value can be obtained from the searched frame by searching the found information of other frames shown in the output value column. it can. For example, as shown in FIGS. 13 (B) and 13 (C), the heading information "value of A 1"
And “A value 2” are set, and the output value “a ₁ ”, which is an output parameter, is set in the frame corresponding to the heading information “A value 1”, and the heading information “A ₁ ” is set. The output value “a ₂ ” is set in the frame corresponding to the value 2 ”of A.

 Next, the operation will be described.

When starting a new design, a frame having input parameters is generated in step 401 as shown in FIG. In step 403, the header information of the frame having a new value as the output value is set in the output parameter field of the generated frame. Therefore, the value of the output parameter as a new output value can be obtained by searching the frame corresponding to the header information set in the output parameter column.

When returning the current output value of a specific frame to the output value according to the previous design, as shown in step 411 of FIG. 15, the output parameter column of the corresponding frame has the previous value as the output value. Set the frame heading information.

When obtaining a plurality of output parameters set in a specific frame as described above, knowledge information of a specific frame in step 421 as shown in FIG. 16, for example, the finding information set in the output parameter column. Search for the frame corresponding to. Then, in step 423, the value of the parameter set in the output parameter column of the retrieved frame is read.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 is characterized in that the identifier is set in the knowledge information of a specific frame, for example, the output parameter column.

More specifically, (type α) or (type β) as an identifier is set in the output parameter column of the frame shown in FIG. 17 (A), and as shown in FIG. 17 (B), (A ₁ ) is set as (type α) in the knowledge information of the frame corresponding to the output parameter, and (a ₂ ) is set as (type β).

In the example shown in FIG. 18, each frame corresponding to (type α) or (type β) as an identifier is set. That is, as shown in FIG. 18B, (type α) and its output value (a ₁ ) are set in the knowledge information of the frame corresponding to (type α). Similarly, as shown in FIG. 18C, (type β) and its output value (a ₂ ) are set in the knowledge information of the frame corresponding to (type β).

Next, an outline of the operation related to design will be described. As shown in FIG. 19, in step 501, a design number for identifying (type α) or (type β) as the above-mentioned identifier is input using the input device 11. To do. In step 503, when the value of the specific parameter is calculated, a predetermined value is substituted for each parameter required to determine the value of the specific parameter, and a process related to design is executed. In step 505, the results of each step using a successive interpolation method such as the Newton-Raphson method are compared.

Next, the case of obtaining the current design number will be described. The result of each stage described above is the design number MC set for each stage.
Stored in the storage device 13 in correspondence with, and the current design number MC is obtained by searching the data area current instance in step 511 in FIG.

Next, the operation of obtaining all design numbers will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 521, the area a for holding the design number is
Initialize ll-ins. In step 523 the name of the frame
Data for each frame having FX, design number MC, and output value DV of the frame, that is, data frame (da
ta-frame). In step 525 the area all-ins
Determines whether the desired design number MC is included in
If it is included, the process returns to step 523 to continue the data frame search process. In step 525, the area all-
If the ins does not include the desired design number MC, proceed to step 527 and select the area all corresponding to the list of old design numbers.
Search for -ins (N). In step 529 step 527
Add a list of new design numbers to the area all-ins searched in. In step 531, the list of old design numbers in the area all-ins (N) is deleted. In step 533, the area all-ins (N) having the new list of design numbers is added as new data to be searched.

Next, the case where the design number is changed will be described with reference to FIG. In step 551, the data area current-inst
Delete the data related to design number MC ₁ stored in ance. In step 553, the data regarding the new design number MC ₂ is input. In step 555, the data area current-inst
Write data for new design number MC _{2 to} ance.

Next, the process of writing the value of the parameter set in the knowledge information of the frame will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 601, the frame name F is input using the input device 11.
X and the new parameter value D to write to this frame FX
Enter V ₁ . In step 603, the new parameter value D
The design number MC ₂ corresponding to V ₂ is obtained by the process of FIG. 20 and input. In step 605, the data frame (data-fram
Delete the old parameter value DV ₁ in e). Step 60
In 7, a new parameter value DV ₁ is set in the data frame (data-frame).

Next, with reference to FIG. 24, the case of reading the value of the parameter set in the knowledge information of the frame will be described. In step 611, the input device 11 is used to input a frame name FX having a desired parameter. In step 613, the current explanation number, that is, the setting number MC ₂ corresponding to the parameter DV ₂ is obtained by the processing of FIG. 20 and input. In step 615, a data frame (data-frame) is searched,
Frame name Design number set in FX knowledge information MC ₂
The value DV _{2 of} the parameter corresponding to is calculated.

Next, the comparison process of the design data obtained, that is, the value of the parameter will be described with reference to FIG.

In step 701, the frame name F is input using the input device 11.
Enter X. In step 703, the current design number MC ₂ is
0 Obtained by the process shown in Figure 0 and input. In step 705, a data frame (data-frame) is searched. When the design number existing in the searched frame is the current design number MC ₂ , the process proceeds to step 709 via step 707, and the value of the searched frame or the parameter existing in this frame is set as the current design data V. Output. On the contrary, when the design number existing in the searched frame is not the current design number MC ₂ , the process proceeds to step 711 via step 707, and the searched frame or the value of the parameter existing in this frame is set as other design data V. Output.

As described above, optimal values are supported by setting multiple values independently for a specific parameter set in the knowledge information and reading each value corresponding to this specific parameter as needed. You can

In addition, the design can be supported in any order, and the flexibility can be improved and the efficiency can be improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the design support apparatus of the present invention, first, when desired heading information to be acquired is input to the input means, based on the input heading information. From the stored contents of the information storage means, the sub information related to the headline information is searched by the first search means. Further, of the sub information retrieved by the first retrieval means, one or two or more bottom layer sub information located in the bottom layer is retrieved by the second retrieval means. Then, the change means is
By changing the value of the lowermost layer sub-information searched by the second searching means, the value of the header information is changed and set. The value of the changed headline information set is provided to the designer via the display device, for example. As described above, according to the design support apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily change and set the heading information, which is a design parameter, to an appropriate value, and use the value of the heading information to support optimal design. It has an extremely excellent effect that

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a claim correspondence diagram, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a design support device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a frame as information relating to a design procedure stored in the storage device of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a hierarchical structure of parameters associated with each other included in the information about the design procedure, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the basic operation of the design support apparatus of FIG. 2, FIGS. 6 to 8 are flow charts showing processing relating to change setting of specific parameters, and FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a frame used in an example, FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the basic operation of another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are subroutines for changing and setting parameters in FIG. FIG. 13, a flow chart showing FIG. 13, FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are explanatory views showing a frame used in another embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 14 to 16 show other embodiments of the present invention. A flowchart showing a schematic operation, and FIGS. 19 to 25 are flowcharts showing processing at each stage from the start of design to the comparison of design data. 1 ... Information storage means, 3 ... Input means, 4 ... First search means, 5 ... Second search means, 7 ... Change means.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of pieces of information necessary for designing an object to be designed and a plurality of pieces of information about a design including a data value necessary for obtaining the information, related information and a relational expression are respectively stored as a combination of heading information and sub information. Information storage means, input means for inputting desired heading information to be obtained, and sub-information related to the heading information from the stored contents of the information storage means based on the heading information input by the input means. A first searching means for searching information, and a second searching means for searching one or more lowermost subinformation items located in the lowermost layer necessary for determining the subinformation searched by the first searching means. A design support comprising: a search unit and a change unit that changes and sets the value of the heading information by changing the value of the bottom layer sub information searched by the second search unit. Apparatus.