JP4396263B2 - Design support apparatus and design support program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a design support apparatus and a design support program, and in particular, a design support apparatus and design support for performing optimal design by automatic design by sequentially changing design parameters from an initial state based on design input data and design target conditions. Regarding the program.

  One of the three-dimensional CAD (Computer Aided Design) design support is a so-called parametric design. As an example of parametric design, a design procedure is stored in advance, and when an initial value is given, the procedure is started, and design parameters are sequentially changed to advance automatic design so as to approach a design target. In this way, if the design support device uses the one that stores the design procedure in advance, as long as the input data is within the range assumed by the design procedure, the optimum answer is automatically found and the result is obtained. Since the output is performed, the design can be automated and the time required for the design can be greatly reduced. An expert system is equivalent to or similar to this. For example, Patent Document 1 uses an expert system for design planning, sets initial values for design requirements, design variables, etc., and provides design evaluation means reflecting expert knowledge to perform quantitative evaluation of design variables. When this is not satisfactory, it is disclosed that the value of the design variable is slightly changed and the design evaluation is performed again.

JP-A-7-105250

  If a design support apparatus having a parametric design function is used in this way, it is convenient that an automatic operation diagram, automatic placement, etc. can be performed simply by inputting initial conditions. However, in such an apparatus, if the input condition is different, the optimum condition that matches it is obtained and the calculation process is performed from scratch. sell. For example, when the arrangement design of each element is performed according to the design, in the initial design stage where a novel design is proposed, the design parameters are changed and adjusted in a fairly wide range so that the design is utilized, It is desired to find the optimal arrangement of each element. When it is necessary to fine-tune the design at the stage where the development stage has progressed, it may not be desired to change design parameters that affect many factors as much as possible. Even in such a case, when the optimum condition is obtained mechanically, design parameters that affect many factors may be changed.

  In order to avoid this, it is conceivable that another design support tool (program) is prepared and used separately from the design support tool that performs normal optimum design processing. However, the number of programs increases and any program is used in advance. Judgment is necessary and is troublesome. In addition, the maintenance of the program becomes troublesome.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a design support apparatus and a design support program capable of solving the problems of the prior art and suppressing a change in design parameters when performing automatic design by sequentially changing design parameters. It is.

In order to achieve the above object, a design support apparatus according to the present invention is based on design target conditions, a plurality of design items for a design object, and design data related to each design item based on input data including design data related to the design. Is a design support device that optimally designs a design object that conforms to the design by changing the design parameters of the design object sequentially based on the input data. Execution means for normal design support processing for design placement, execution means for simple design support processing for design placement without optimal design of the design object based on input data, design parameter for design object and the design established range is an allowable range of design arrangement it may be placed a design without requiring changes to display the design data, based on the input content from the user, usually designed supported Comprising determining means for determining whether to perform one of the process or the simple design support process, according to a determination result of the determination means, and a distributing means for distributing the easy easy design support process usually design support process or input data It is characterized by that.

In addition, the design support program according to the present invention sequentially changes design parameters related to each design item based on input data including design target conditions, a plurality of design items for the design object, and design data related to the design. A design support program that is executed on a design support device that performs an optimal design of a design object that conforms to a design , and the design object of the design object is sequentially changed based on input data to a computer. Normal design support processing procedure for design placement with optimal design, simple design support processing procedure for design placement without optimal design of design target based on input data, and design target design and the design established range is an allowable range of design arrangement it may be placed a design without requiring changing parameters, and displaying the design data, the input from the user Based on a determination procedure that normally determine whether to perform one of the design support processing procedure or the simple design support processing procedure, in accordance with the determination result in the determination processing procedure, the input data or normal design support processing procedure easy a distribution processing procedure for distributing the easy design support processing procedure, to the execution and said Rukoto.

  When adapting a design object to a design, there is often a certain range that can be adapted to a new design without changing the design parameters of the design object. This can be called the design establishment range in the arrangement state of the design object. Compare whether or not the input design data is within the design establishment range by at least one of the above configurations, and depending on the result, change design parameters sequentially to perform normal design support for optimal design, or there Whether to provide simple design support or not. Therefore, when performing automatic design by sequentially changing the design parameters, it is possible to suppress changes in the design parameters when it is not necessary to match the design.

  Further, by at least one of the above-described configurations, the relationship between the arrangement state of the design object and the design establishment range is output, the user sees it, issues a determination signal, acquires it, and performs subsequent processing. In other words, when a user intervenes in the design support device, it is possible to provide normal design support or simple design support, or to give an appropriate instruction to the design support device. It can be carried out.

  As described above, according to the design support apparatus and the design support program according to the present invention, when the design parameters are sequentially changed and the automatic design is performed, the change of the design parameters can be suppressed.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, we will explain the design support object related to the design of the vehicle, more specifically, the layout design support between the design around the door and the related elements, but it may be applied to products other than the vehicle. Other than the door periphery, for example, a design related to a vehicle body, etc. may be used, and not only the layout design related to the design but also the shape and size design. Further, it may be related to not only three-dimensional design but also two-dimensional design. The design support apparatus may be an independent apparatus, or may be connected to another apparatus via a network. The design support program may be an independent program, or may be incorporated into an existing design support program.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the design support apparatus 10. The design support apparatus 10 includes a CPU 12 and an input unit 14 such as a keyboard, an output unit 16 such as a display and a plotter, and a storage device 18 that stores programs, design results, and the like, which are connected to each other via an internal bus. For example, the input unit 14 and the output unit 16 may be integrated to perform input / output interactively on a display. Moreover, you may have a communication control function connected to an external network. The design support apparatus 10 can be configured by a computer or the like suitable for three-dimensional design.

  The CPU 12 determines whether or not the design data is within the design establishment range with respect to the relationship between the design data and the design object, and determines whether the design support is normal or simple based on the determination. It has a design support selection function for sorting, and an optimum design function for optimally designing a design object that conforms to the design by sequentially changing design parameters of the design object and performing automatic operation diagrams, automatic placement, and the like. The former function includes the functions indicated by the design establishment range display unit 20, the instruction acquisition unit 22, the determination unit 24, and the distribution unit 26, and the latter function includes the function indicated by the optimum design processing unit 30. Details of these functions will be described later. These functions can be realized by software, specifically, by executing a corresponding design support program. Moreover, you may comprise so that a part of each function may be implement | achieved by hardware.

  As an example for explaining the operation of the design support apparatus having such a configuration, design support for the relationship between the design of the door of the vehicle and the door opening / closing hinge is used. Therefore, the area around the hinge for opening and closing the vehicle and the door will be described first. As shown in the side view of the vehicle in FIG. 2 and a partially cutaway view corresponding to the rear view, the door 52 of the vehicle 50 includes two female hinges (female) attached to the body body of the vehicle 50, and It is rotatably supported between two male hinges 54a and 54b attached to the door 52. Since the vehicle 50 includes a large number of components, the design support program is prepared as a capsule for each of these elements for vehicle design support. For example, a design support capsule having a name such as “hinge arrangement” is prepared around the hinge for opening and closing the door.

  The “hinge placement” design support capsule inputs design target conditions related to hinge placement, design items for other elements around the hinge, door design data, etc., and initial values for design parameters for each design item. The value is sequentially changed, and the hinge design is automatically designed in accordance with the door design and each element around the hinge.

The optimum design of the hinge will be described more specifically with reference to enlarged views around the hinges 54a and 54b in FIG. First, when the vehicle specification is determined and a design line 56 indicating the outer shape of the door design is given as input data, the hinges 54a and 54b of standard parts are placed in a predetermined initial arrangement state. Here, the hinges 54a and 54b are designed to move the X-direction positions X ₁ and X ₂ shown in FIG. 3, move the Y-direction position ΔY, and rotate the tilt angles θ ₁ and θ ₂ around the Z-axis. As a result, the arrangement can be changed. The layout change is performed so as to satisfy a design target condition related to a design item such as a door design and a gap relationship with other components around the door hinge. In other words, the optimal placement function in the design support capsule for hinge placement is that design parameters of X ₁ , X ₂ , θ ₁ , θ ₂ , and ΔY are input when design target conditions, standard hinge shape, design line, initial value, and the like are input. Is changed to optimally arrange the two hinges 54a and 54b.

Therefore, if the optimal placement function in the design support capsule of hinge placement is executed as it is, the design parameters of X ₁ , X ₂ , θ ₁ , θ ₂ , and ΔY are changed from the initial state. Among these design parameters, ΔY is the movement of the hinge center line connecting the centers of the two hinges 54a and 54b in the Y direction, and this change depends on the distance of the hinges 54a and 54b with respect to the door design line 56. Affect the door opening and closing function. Further, since the two hinges 54a and 54b are moved as a set, the shape and arrangement of other elements around the door, such as a female on the vehicle body side, a door handle and its driving mechanism, may be affected. For this reason, apart from the initial stage when a design of a new door is proposed and the design is started, if the design is finely adjusted once the shape and arrangement of each element has been solidified, it should be as much as possible. I want to avoid changing ΔY. Preferably, it is desired to suppress changes in all design parameters of the hinge.

However, with only the optimal placement function in the design support capsule of the hinge arrangement, even if the fine adjustment of the design is not necessary to change the hinge arrangement, if the input data is different, the nominal design target condition is satisfied. Therefore, in addition to X ₁ , X ₂ , θ ₁ , θ ₂ , ΔY that affects other elements may also be changed. Here, a problem to be solved by the design support apparatus and the design support program according to the present invention arises.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a design support procedure. When the “hinge arrangement” design support capsule is activated, input data for designing is first acquired (S10). Specifically, data input by the user via the input unit 14 is acquired by a function included in the optimum design processing unit 30 of the CPU 12 and is read out from the storage device 18 as necessary. Here, the input data includes vehicle specifications such as a vehicle type, design basic specifications such as design items and design target conditions, design data, and initial values such as an initial arrangement state. In the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, the data of each component in the vicinity of the target vehicle 50 and the accompanying hinges 54 a and 54 b and the door 52, the design line 56 given this time, the hinges 54 a and 54 b and the design line 56 Design items such as gaps between the two and each component, and design parameters X ₁ , X ₂ , θ ₁ , θ ₂ , ΔC and target values of the hinges 54 a, 54 b related to the respective design items, hinges 54 a, 54 b In addition, initial arrangement conditions and the like of each component in the vicinity thereof are input data.

  The initial arrangement conditions differ depending on whether a new door design is proposed and the entire design will be performed from now on, and when a single design has already been made and the design is to be changed. In the former case, for example, a default (standard) arrangement relationship may be used. In the latter case, since there is a design result that has already been performed, the arrangement of the hinges 54a and 54b at that time is the initial arrangement condition.

  Next, the design establishment range is displayed (S12). Specifically, the design establishment range for the hinges 54 a and 54 b is output to the display of the output unit 16 or the like by the function of the design establishment range display unit 20 of the CPU 12. Here, the design establishment range with respect to the hinges 54a and 54b is an allowable range of design arrangement in which the design lines 56 can be arranged without changing the design parameters of the hinges 54a and 54b.

  As an example, FIG. 5 shows a design establishment range 60 for the hinge 54a. The layout relationship between the door design line and the hinge 54a is not established pinpoint to the design target conditions such as the distance and interference with other elements, and usually has a certain spread. It is established in the range. In other words, even if the design line 56 is slightly changed in its curved state, position, etc., it is not necessary to change the arrangement of the hinges 54a in terms of design target conditions. The hatched area in FIG. 5 is a range in which the design line can be arranged without changing the design parameter of the hinge 54a, that is, the design formation range 60. What is indicated by an alternate long and short dash line is a virtual design line 62 that passes through the center of the design establishment range 60. The design establishment range for such hinges can be known in advance for each hinge, and can be stored as data in a memory.

  What is output to the display of the output unit 16 in step S12 is the relationship between the hinge 54a and the design establishment range 60 in FIG. 5 and, in addition to this, the design line of the current input data is superimposed. . The design line of the input data is not necessarily within the design establishment range. 6 and 7 show examples of the hinge 54a, the design establishment range 60, and the design lines 64 and 66 displayed in the step S12. FIG. 6 shows a case where the design line 64 of the input data is within the design establishment range 60, and FIG. 7 shows a case where the design line 66 of the input data is not within the design establishment range 60.

  Next, the design support apparatus 10 outputs a message “Do you want to match the design?” On the display of the output unit 16 or the like. The user looks at the design establishment range and determines whether or not to match the design (S14). For example, when the display of S12 is as shown in FIG. 6, it can be determined that it is not necessary to match the design. In the case of FIG. 7, the design parameters of the hinge 54a are sequentially changed according to the design. It can be determined that optimal placement is performed. Of course, in the case of FIG. 7, the user may determine that it is not necessary to match the design if it is such a deviation in the case of FIG. 7. In the case of FIG. It can also be judged. That is, the process of S14 is a comprehensive judgment response including the user's experience with respect to the message from the design support apparatus 10. In FIG. 4, process marks are indicated by broken lines in the sense that humans intervene.

  The user's judgment is acquired by the design support apparatus 10 in the instruction acquisition process (S16). Specifically, the user's judgment is acquired from the input unit 14 by the function of the instruction acquisition unit 22. For example, when the input unit 14 and the output unit 16 are merged and, for example, an interactive input / output function is provided on the display, a “YES” or “NO” button is displayed on the display together with a message “Match with design”. It is possible to specify the user's judgment by clicking a button and obtain an instruction.

  According to the acquired instruction, a branch determination is made as to whether procedure A is normal design support or procedure B is a simple design procedure (S18). Specifically, the user's instruction is determined by the function of the determination unit 24. In the above example, the procedure A is determined when the instruction to match the design is obtained, and the procedure B is determined when the instruction is not matched with the design. In the acquisition step (S16), selection of procedure A or procedure B may be obtained. According to the judgment, the subsequent steps are assigned to the step A (S20) of the procedure A or the step B (S22) of the procedure B. The sorting is performed by the function of the sorting unit 26.

  Procedure A: The normal design support step (S20) is to automatically change the hinge design parameters and automatically perform the optimum design of the hinge suitable for the design, and corresponds to the above-described optimum design function. Specifically, it is executed by the function of the optimum design processing unit 30 of the CPU 12. When normal design support is performed and optimum design between the design line and the hinge is performed, the result is output as data such as a three-dimensional CAD drawing, main cross-sectional view, and main dimensions.

  Step B: The step (S22) of the simplified design procedure does not provide support until the normal design support, for example, without changing the hinge design parameters, and in that state, the three-dimensional CAD drawing, main cross-sectional view, and main dimensions Etc. can be output. That is, it is possible to suppress the change of the design parameter by changing the design parameter only when necessary and leaving it unchanged when it is not necessary to match the design.

  After the procedure A or the procedure B, the user sees the output data such as the three-dimensional CAD drawing and determines whether or not it is OK (S24). Since this process is not a function of the design support apparatus 10, it is indicated by a broken line. If the user determines OK, the design support ends as it is. In other words, the design support apparatus 10 is set at one point when a three-dimensional CAD drawing or the like is output, and is ready for the next new design support.

  The user can view the data such as the output three-dimensional CAD drawing and give a new instruction to the design support apparatus 10. That is, a design line can be changed, a new design parameter can be set, and the like can be used as input data. In this case, the design support apparatus 10 acquires this instruction (S26), and returns to the process of S10 or S20 depending on the content, and subsequently performs the process such as the design establishment range display, the procedure A, and the procedure B. By repeating this, the optimal arrangement of the hinges is achieved.

  As described above, the procedure A: normal design support and the procedure B: simple design procedure can be integrated into one design support tool (program) by using the selective branch function. Therefore, the program can be easily maintained without increasing the number of programs.

  In addition, as shown in steps S14 and S24 in FIG. 4, the user can intervene in the design support apparatus, so that the optimum design function and design parameter suppression function of the design support apparatus can be more effectively exhibited, and the appropriate design can be performed. Can provide support.

1 is a block diagram of a design support apparatus in an embodiment according to the present invention. It is a partially broken view in a vehicle side view and a corresponding rear view. It is an enlarged view around a hinge. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the design support in embodiment which concerns on this invention. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure which shows the design establishment range with respect to a hinge. In embodiment which concerns on this invention, it is a figure which shows the case where the design line of input data is settled in the design formation range. In embodiment concerning this invention, it is a figure which shows the case where the design line of input data is not settled in the design formation range.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Design support apparatus, 12 CPU, 14 input part, 16 output part, 18 memory | storage device, 20 design formation range display part, 22 instruction | indication acquisition part, 24 judgment part, 26 distribution part, 30 optimal design process part, 50 vehicle, 52 Door, 54a, 54b Hinge, 56, 62, 64, 66 Design line, 60 Design establishment range.

Claims (2)

Based on input data including design target conditions, multiple design items for the design object, and design data related to the design, the design parameters for each design item are changed in order, and the optimal design of the design object that fits the design A design support device for performing
Based on the input data, means for executing a normal design support process that sequentially changes the design parameters of the design object and places the design with the optimal design of the design object;
Based on input data, an execution means of a simple design support process for arranging a design without performing an optimal design of a design object;
Design establishment range and design data, which is an allowable range of design placement where design can be placed without changing the design parameters of the design object, and design data are displayed , and normal design support based on user input A determination means for determining whether to execute a process or a simplified design support process ;
According to a determination result of the determination means, and distributing means for distributing the input data to the normal design support process or easy easy design support process,
A design support apparatus comprising: Based on input data including design target conditions, multiple design items for the design object, and design data related to the design, the design parameters for each design item are changed in order, and the optimal design of the design object that fits the design A design support program executed on a design support apparatus for performing
On the computer,
Based on the input data, the normal design support processing procedure to place the design with the optimal design of the design object by sequentially changing the design parameters of the design object,
Based on the input data, a simple design support processing procedure for arranging the design without performing the optimal design of the design object,
Design establishment range and design data, which is an allowable range of design placement where design can be placed without changing the design parameters of the design object, and design data are displayed, and normal design support based on user input A determination processing procedure for determining whether to execute a processing procedure or a simplified design support processing procedure;
A distribution process procedure for allocating input data to a normal design support process procedure or a simple design support process procedure according to a determination result in the determination process procedure,
Design support program to execute .

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