Abstract: Analyzing the mechanical state of an assembly modeled by a computer aided design system includes generating a model of a fastener and a part of the assembly. The fastener model includes an engaging region and the part model includes a receiving region to fastenably receive the engaging region. The fastener and the part are each represented by finite element representations that include elastically interconnected nodes. A tightening mesh interconnecting nodes of the engaging region and nodes of the receiving region is generated and a force applied between the nodes of the engaging and receiving region is determined based on a pre-tension force occurring upon engaging the engaging region with the receiving region.

Abstract: A declarative system for designing parts or assemblies of parts is based on a history-based design system (40), which has a storage format with primitives and operations; a modeled object is defined in the history based design system by an ordered sequence of operations and primitives. The declarative system has several functional features, which may be selected (48) and instantiated by a end user by providing a set of specifications (46) to a end-user interface (44). An instantiated functional feature provides contributions (50), each contribution being an ordered sequence of operations and primitives of the history-based design system. Contributions (50) are received by a seed structure (52). The seed structure is defined in a context-free grammar. The seed structure orders operations and primitives of received contributions provides an ordered sequence (54) of operations and primitives to the history based system. An editor (56) makes it possible to edit the seed structure in the grammar.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a widget of or in a graphical user interface for navigating amongst related objects. The widget is adapted for displaying first and second groups of objects within respective first and second visually linked display areas. The widget is further adapted, upon user selection of a relation between an object of the second group and a third group of objects, for displaying objects of the third group in the second display area and objects of the second group in the first display area. The invention also relates to a method for navigating amongst related objects, comprising a step of providing to a user a graphical user interface with such a widget. Lastly, the invention is directed to a computer program comprising code means for implementing the method and to a computer system comprising means for implementing the method.

Abstract: Determining a minimum condition and a maximum condition of an assembly of parts includes determining a subset of the assembly of parts, constructing a tolerance chain comprised of tolerance features associated with the parts and that have tolerances that can assume maximum and minimum values, setting at least one tolerance to a minimum value or a maximum value, and calculating the minimum condition and the maximum condition of the assembly based on the setting of the tolerance.

Abstract: A distributed computer application can be made to communicate with a plurality of computer architectures. A first compiler compiles and converts input interface source code to produce a high level language including a plurality of computer architecture interfaces. A second compiler integrates application source code with the converted interface source code to produce the distributed computer application with the plurality of computer architecture interfaces that enable the distributed computer application to communicate with the plurality of computer architectures.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for data storage and retrieval in which data is stored in a file storage system and keywords are associated with the data. The keywords include parameters of the data and associated values for the parameters. The keywords are collected together in indexes of the data, and various methods are used on the keywords or the indexes of keywords. These methods include index creation methods, searching methods, and data conversion methods.

Abstract: The invention system and method of computer aided design of a product having a set of objects, identifies constraints linking objects of said set of objects. Each of the constraints is oriented from a first object to a second object so as to ensure, upon solving the constraints, that the first object is not moved provided that all other of said constraints are solved. The invention further modifies the orientation of one of the constraints, upon user action.

Abstract: Creating a parametric surface having a required geometrical continuity Gi from a set of parametric elementary surfaces includes providing a set of parametric elementary surfaces, each elementary surface having edges, with vertices joining adjacent edges, each elementary surface having an internal continuity Cj at least equal to the required continuity Gi, the geometrical continuity between at least two elementary surfaces across their common edge being less than the required continuity Gi. For each singular vertex, the process can include defining a system of equations linking the parameters (including control points) of the parametric elementary surfaces across edges joined to the vertex and enforcing the required geometrical continuity across the joined edges and solving the system of equations to obtain the parameters.

Abstract: For computing a vector image of a view of a modeled object with removed hidden lines, a bitmap image of the modeled object, with removed hidden lines is first computed (22) in a graphic card. For each line of the modeled object, a raster of the line in the same view is computed (26). The pixels of the raster are compared (30) with corresponding pixels of the bitmap image, to determine whether there exists in the bitmap image pixels corresponding to the pixels of the raster. According to the results of the comparison, the visible parts of the line are determined (38).

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for use in computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, computer-aided engineering and product lifecycle management. Cell descriptors are used to identify one or more geometric cells of a model. The cell descriptors are in the form of scripts specifying constraints or filters for identifying cells. The constraints are based on characteristics of items in the model, or associations between items in a model, that are readily discernable to the user, and are therefore easily written and susceptible to easy distribution to other systems.

Abstract: This invention presents methods and systems for generating and handling a harmonized network of points. More generally, this invention reorganizes and optimizes a network of points in terms of spatial distribution regularity. Implementations may allow users to manipulate the network of points while maintaining the organization of the network of points. The network of points can define a surface, which can include Béziers and Nurbs three-dimensional surfaces. The surface can be used in a CAD system.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for use in computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, computer-aided engineering and product lifecycle management. An efficient, non-centralized communications framework makes “synchronous” collaborative design possible. Users are resident at workstations that are connected in a peer-to-peer arrangement. In a collaborative design session, the model is resident in memory at each workstation. Modifications are made at any workstation, and commands, which are interpreted at each workstation to effect the modifications, are transmitted over the network. In addition, cell descriptors may be used to identify one or more geometric cells of a model. The cell descriptors are in the form of scripts specifying constraints or filters for identifying cells.

Abstract: A method and system for indicating curve connection continuity information in a graphical design system comprises steps and apparatus for determining values for measures of G1, G2, and G3 continuity at a junction point between curves. The continuity values are selectively displayed in a graphical display as respective tags adjacent or otherwise associated with the junction point at issue. The tags are updated as the shape of the curves are altered to provide a designer with a substantially real-time indication of the continuity of the curve junction. The display format of the tags can be altered to indicate when the respective continuity measure is within a predefined continuity tolerance level.

Abstract: This invention presents a method and system for industrializing a designed part. This invention includes selecting a parting surface to divide the designed part, which includes a functional specification, into a first side and a second side, and selecting a draft angle. A change is computed in the first side and the second side using the selected draft angle. During the computation, the functional specification is maintained and the first side and second side meet on the parting surface. A face and a pulling direction can also be selected on the designed part. The selected face can be parallel to the pulling direction for the first side. Faces adjacent to the selected face can also be used in the computation. Once computed, the industrialized designed part can be displayed. An optimal blend draft method or a driving/driven blend draft method can be selected to compute the designed part.

Abstract: In a CAD/CAM system providing freeform modeling of solids and surface, commands for modifying the geometry of an object can be designated to run concurrently, so as to reduce the number of steps required of the user in the design process. A command (or commands) can be designated as associative, so that the command is performed automatically whenever the geometry to which it is attached is modified. This leads to a further streamlining of the design process. The user may store an interactive scene as it is at any given time, with the current selections and tool representations, so that the work can be resumed later without the user having to redo interactions. With that, and in relation to parallel and associative commands, the system allows the user to capture all design constraints and dependencies throughout the whole lifetime of a design model.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of modeling a swept volume for a computer simulated object by generating a polyhedral representation of the object and representing motion of the object with a set of position matrices. A subset of free neighborhood entities can be determined for each matrix and traces of the motion of the free neighborhood entities can be generated. A representation of the swept volume from the traces is constructed. Free neighborhood entities can include for example, an edge or a triangle. A free neighborhood can be represented by an angular portion for different types of entities comprising the boundary of the polygon, a material zone represented by a half sphere containing material of the object and delimited by a plane of a triangle, or a free neighbor hood including a tangent zone represented by two portions of a sphere, wherein the two portions of the sphere are delimited by planes of adjacent triangles.

Abstract: Data objects replicated at multiple computers can be synchronized using synchronization messages exchanged over a network. The synchronization messages include a current operation parameter and a previous operation parameter that are processed to determine how and when the replicated data objects should be manipulated. The current operation parameter identifies an operation and associated data to be executed at a receiving computer to synchronize the receiving computer's data object. An execution stage parameter is also sent to identify a correct execution timing for the operation. The previous operation parameter identifies a preceding operation executed by the sending computer, an execution stage at which the preceding operation was executed, and the computer first originating the preceding operation (e.g., an identify of a third computer that first initiated the operation).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling generation of descriptive information, such as dimension generation, relating to creation of a 2-D view of a computer defined graphical model, such as a 3-D model. An option to choose a semi-automatic mode of generation can enable a user to interrupt generation and rework data being transferred from the 3-D model to the 2-D view. One embodiment provides a user with manual control of dimension and constraint generation such that the process can move from one step to the next, under a user's control. In another embodiment, a semi-automatic mode of operation provides a pause in the generation process. During the pause, the user can rework drawing data or halt the process to perform other tasks. In the absence of an interruption, the system can proceed to a next item of drawing data.

Abstract: In CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM systems in which three dimensional objects are display along with two dimensional annotations, a method and system is described for assisting the user in selecting a location for placement of the annotation on the object so that it annotates the proper portion of the object and complies with applicable standards. The system displays through highlighting or other visual means a set of points on the object to which the leader line of an annotation may be connected so that the annotation meets the requirements of applicable standards. The user may select any one of the location points.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for guiding flight through a computer digital mockup object scene is generated on a display. A three dimensional graphical figure, such as an arrow, is formed on the display to represent a trajectory responsive to positioning of an input device. The three dimensional graphical figure is bent responsive to rotation speed of a viewpoint base; and stretched or compressed responsive to viewpoint translation speed. The visual texture of the three dimensional graphical figure can be altered to indicate an imminent collision of the viewpoint with an object in the digital mock up scene. Altering the texture can include changing the color or presenting a pattern such as a checkerboard or stripes. An imminent collision is determined by computing the viewpoint eye translation along its sight direction and testing the resulting eye position against the depth buffer.