JP5032833B2 - Information processing apparatus and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, and more particularly to a technique suitable for using a three-dimensional model created using three-dimensional CAD.

  Conventionally, an article having a three-dimensional shape of a part constituting a product or product has been designed using a three-dimensional CAD apparatus. In using design information created by a CAD device, dimension, dimension tolerance, geometric tolerance, annotation, and symbol attribute information are input to the 3D model. In order to input attribute information to the 3D model, it is performed by instructing and selecting a surface, a ridgeline, a centerline, or a vertex of the 3D model.

  In addition, a technique has been proposed in which added attribute information is stored in association with at least one or more attribute arrangement planes (or line-of-sight directions) to enable more various ways of displaying attribute information and creation of 3D drawings. (Refer to patent document 1 etc.).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-324083

  However, the method for attaching the attribute information to the 3D model as in the conventional example has the following problems. That is, in order to input attribute information, when an imaginary position in a three-dimensional space in which a three-dimensional shape does not exist is designated and selected, an imaginary element needs to be created at that position. There was a problem that took time and effort.

  In addition, if the relationship between the imaginary element and the 3D model is not specified separately, the relationship between the attribute information that refers to the imaginary element and the 3D model is difficult for third parties to understand. It was.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to create a fictitious element used for pointing and selecting a fictitious position in a three-dimensional space where a three-dimensional shape does not exist with a minimum definition. .

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a pattern display control unit that displays a screen for selecting a creation pattern on which some typical examples of standardized fictional elements are shown, and a display device that displays the pattern display control unit. There is no pattern selection means for detecting selection of a pattern corresponding to an imaginary element to be created from the created patterns displayed above, and there is no 3D model shape corresponding to the creation pattern selected by the pattern selection means characterized in that it has a fictitious elements defining means for defining a fictitious elements fictitious position of the three-dimensional space, and setting means for associating a fictitious elements defined by the imaginary element definition means the three-dimensional model shape .

According to the present invention, a plurality of methods for defining fictitious elements limited to specific creation cases are prepared in advance, and appropriate linkage and relevance with a three-dimensional shape are automatically set according to each method. Therefore, an imaginary element can be created with only a minimal definition of an imaginary element used for indicating and selecting an imaginary position in a three-dimensional space where no three-dimensional shape exists.
Further, according to another feature of the present invention, when the three-dimensional shape is changed, the position and size of the fictitious element having relevance and interlocking with the changed shape are also changed. It is not necessary to perform double change work, and the burden on the operator can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to prevent in advance design information errors that occur when a fictitious element is neglected or forgotten.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a 3D-CAD apparatus that is an information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 8, the information processing apparatus has a RAM 901 for developing CAD data and the operation processing program of the present embodiment, and an external storage device 902 such as a hard disk for storing the CAD data and the operation processing program of the present embodiment. Yes. Further, the information processing apparatus has a CPU 903 that executes processing based on a program expanded in the RAM 901.

  Further, geometric processing such as so-called clipping and shading, pixel data calculation of image data, and rasterization processing such as hidden surface processing are executed on the geometric data of the geometric shape sent from the CPU 903. The image processing apparatus 904 holds an image storage device (display buffer) (not shown) and outputs image data to a display device 905 described later.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus includes a display device 905 that displays the shape and attribute information of the 3D model by using pixel data output from the image processing device 904 based on a command from the CPU 903. The display range of the 3D model shape and attribute information can be determined by using CAD functions such as zoom, pan, and rotation when displayed on the display device 905. Specifically, the display range can be determined by the viewpoint position with respect to the 3D model, the viewing direction (the direction of the visual axis) for viewing the 3D model, the viewing angle, the viewing range (viewing space) in the viewing direction, and the like. it can.

  Further, the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an output device 906 as a printer or a plotter. As a flow of printing processing, first, image data rasterized by the image processing device 904 is temporarily held in the RAM device 901, and image data of a predetermined format converted based on the processing of the CPU 903 is recorded on paper or the like. Print out to media. The print output is output as image data such as bitmap data using the image data rasterized by the image processing apparatus 904, and can be printed out in a short time with only simple processing.

  The input device 907 includes a mouse, a keyboard, and the like that give instructions to the CAD program. The external connection device 908 connects the information processing device and an external device, and exchanges data between the device and the external device.

  In the information processing apparatus configured as described above, the pattern display control unit, the pattern selection unit, the fictional element definition unit, the attribute definition unit, and the like are programmed by a computer system including the RAM 901, the external storage device 902, the CPU 903, and the like. Is done.

  First, the definition of a fictitious element will be described. A shape element virtually created and arranged to indicate or refer to an imaginary position in a three-dimensional space where no three-dimensional shape exists is called an imaginary element. The fictitious elements include points, ridges, and faces.

  FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing executed by the CPU 903 when creating an aerial surface. Hereinafter, an example of processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 1 and the block diagram of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in step S <b> 101, the CPU 903 displays a selection screen on which some representative examples of standardized imaginary elements are displayed on the display device 905. This is a 3D shape to be created and a simplified diagram depicting a representative example of an imaginary surface created there, and a supplementary explanation.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example thereof. FIG. 2 shows four pattern examples, and a plane represented by a one-dot chain line in a three-dimensional model is a fictitious surface. The first pattern example 201 is a case where an imaginary plane is created at a position intermediate between two planes that are symmetric in the three-dimensional model.

  The second pattern example 202 is a case where the orientation of the imaginary plane is defined by specifying another one axis or one point on the imaginary plane located on the hole axis of the three-dimensional model. The third pattern example 203 is a case where an imaginary cylindrical surface passing through the centers of three or more holes of the three-dimensional model is created. A fourth pattern example 204 is a case where an imaginary cylindrical surface that is an axis perpendicular to the plane is created at a position where the conical surface of the three-dimensional model intersects the plane. Note that the types, definitions, and numbers of patterns are not limited to the example shown here, and it is desirable to prepare necessary and sufficient patterns.

  When the CPU 903 detects that a pattern matching the imaginary surface to be created on the CAD is selected from the patterns shown on the creation pattern selection screen by a signal from the input device 907 (step S102), the process proceeds to step S103. . In step S103, the CPU 903 displays an input screen for inputting information necessary for creating and defining an aerial surface according to the selected pattern, such as selection of a three-dimensional shape, designation of a direction / axis, or numerical value. It is displayed on the display device 905.

  An example of the creation definition of the aerial surface will be described with reference to FIG. When an imaginary surface is created in the middle of one plane 311 and the other plane 312 which are constituent surfaces of the hole 31 in the illustrated three-dimensional model on CAD, a pattern suitable for the creation is selected by the operator. In this case, the CPU 903 detects that the first pattern example 201 displayed on the selection screen of FIG.

  Next, the CPU 903 causes the display device 905 to display an input screen for selecting and inputting one plane 311 and the other plane 312. Then, the CPU 903 detects that one plane 311 and the other plane 312 are continuously selected by the mouse cursor.

  Next, proceeding to step S104, as shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 903 creates an imaginary surface 41 in the three-dimensional space from the input information of one plane 311 and the other plane 312. The created aerial surface 41 can be interactively changed in size. Specifically, the CPU 903 displays a numerical value input screen of the size of the imaginary surface 41 on the display device 905 to prompt the operator to input (vertical and horizontal length for a plane, radius or diameter for a cylindrical surface), or an input device In response to the input of 907, the size of the aerial surface 41 is expanded or contracted.

  In the case of a plane, a process of determining the size of the plane by moving and dropping the positions of the upper right corner and the lower left corner of the surface with the mouse is executed. In the case of a cylindrical surface, the CPU 903 detects selection by the mouse cursor with respect to the surface, and moves in the axial direction of the cylindrical surface to detect the designated position, thereby changing the height of the cylindrical surface. In this example, an example in which one imaginary surface 41 is created will be described. However, the number of imaginary elements is not limited to one, and a plurality of imaginary elements may be created.

  Next, proceeding to step S105, the CPU 903 performs a process of defining, with attributes, the aerial surface 41, the related elements of the one plane 311 and the other plane 312 and the interlocking elements. In the present embodiment, the related element is an element indicating the design intention of the aerial surface 41. Usually, when checking the reference destination of a dimension, the related element from which the dimension is drawn is confirmed.

  However, when referring to the aerial surface 41, the element whose dimensions are drawn is the aerial surface 41, and it is difficult for a third party to understand under what definition this aerial surface 41 is created. .

  For this reason, it is necessary to show to a third party easily and reliably which part of the three-dimensional shape the aerial surface 41 is defined for. Therefore, when the CPU 903 detects that the dimension referring to the imaginary surface 41 is selected with the mouse cursor, the display device can visually confirm the referenced imaginary surface and the related elements associated with the imaginary surface 41. 905 is displayed. As an example of the display method, a highlight display that temporarily changes the color of an element is generally used.

  The dimension 51 shown in FIG. 5 refers to the aerial surface 41. The CPU 903 causes the display device 905 to highlight-display one plane 311 and the other plane 312 set as related elements when the aerial plane 41 is designated. Next, the CPU 903 determines whether or not to end the process in step S106. As a result of this determination, if the process is not terminated, the process returns to step S101 to repeat the above-described process.

Next, the relationship between the aerial surface 41 and the interlocking elements will be described.
The interlocking element is the position, size, etc. of the aerial surface 41 following the shape change when the vertex or edge of the three-dimensional shape, the movement of the surface, or the angle is changed and the overall shape changes. It is an element to be changed.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which one plane 311 that is an interlocking element of the aerial surface 41 is moved from the position of FIG. One plane 311 is moved by the operator selecting one plane 311 with the mouse cursor, designating the movement direction in the X-axis direction from the direction designation menu, and entering one of the movement amounts. Move to position.

  For the input of the movement amount, a method of inputting a numerical value (distance) on the input screen and one of the planes 311 is dragged while selecting with the mouse cursor, and the mouse cursor is moved in the designated direction to designate the designated position (movement distance). There is a method to confirm the movement by dropping. An example in which the position of the aerial surface 41 is changed in conjunction with this is shown in FIG.

  If the position or size of the aerial surface 41 changes, the dimension 51 (20 ± 0.1) in FIG. 5 changes to (12 ± 0.1) in the dimension 51 in FIG. Needless to say, it will follow and change. Note that related elements and interlocking elements are not necessarily the same, and should be set and held separately.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the flow of processing executed by the CPU 903 when correcting a pattern-created fictional element.
First, in step S701, the CPU 903 detects an existing imaginary element selected by the operator using a mouse cursor on the CAD. Next, proceeding to step S702, the CPU 903 acquires pattern creation history information from the attribute information added at the time of creating a fictitious element. The pattern creation history information is attribute additional information of a fictitious element, and is a pattern type and definition information at the time of creation.

  Next, in step S703, the CPU 903 determines whether there is a pattern creation history. If the pattern creation history information exists as a result of this determination, the process advances to step S704, and the CPU 903 obtains a pattern ID that is one of the attribute information. Here, the pattern ID is a pattern identifier that is a character string, a number, or a combination thereof for specifying the pattern type that created the fictional element.

  Next, proceeding to step S705, the CPU 903 identifies the creation pattern type from the acquired pattern ID and displays a correction screen corresponding thereto. The correction screen is an input definition screen similar to that at the time of creation, and it is desirable that the value input at the time of creation is already defined as an initial value.

  In step S706, the CPU 903 performs redefinition of the input value that has been defined and size adjustment in accordance with the input from the input device 907. The redefinition of the input value is to redefine the shape element selected at the time of creation, the input direction, and the numerical value. The size adjustment method includes a method of displaying a numerical value input screen for the size of the imaginary surface 41 and allowing the operator to input it (vertical and horizontal length for a plane, radius or diameter for a cylindrical surface), and drag and There is a method of expanding and contracting the size by dropping. Then, the CPU 903 confirms the correction by reflecting this correction content on the imaginary element (step S707).

  Next, a processing method when the pattern creation history cannot be acquired as a result of the determination in step S703 will be described. In the present embodiment, the case where the pattern creation history cannot be acquired is a case where the operator arbitrarily defines and creates a fictitious element without creating a pattern. In the creation of a special imaginary element that is not registered in a pattern, the creation definition of the imaginary element and the setting of the related element and the interlocking element are executed according to the input of the input device by the operator (step S708).

  Since an appropriate definition method is not explicitly specified like pattern creation, the operator is responsible for specifying the type of imaginary element (point, straight line, arc line, plane, cylindrical surface, etc.), creation method, and input value / attribute settings. It is left to. In this case, all definitions and settings are left to the operator in the correction of the imaginary element as in the creation.

It is the flowchart which showed an example of the flow of the whole process which produces an imaginary element (here an imaginary surface) with a pattern. It is a figure which shows an example of the selection screen of an imaginary surface creation pattern. It is a figure which shows the example of the three-dimensional model before creating an imaginary surface. It is a figure which shows the example which created the aerial surface on the three-dimensional model. It is a figure which shows the example which created the aerial surface on the three-dimensional model. It is a figure which shows the example which created the aerial surface on the three-dimensional model. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which corrects (redefines) an imaginary element. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

901 RAM
902 External storage device 903 CPU
904 Image processing device 905 Display device 906 Output device 907 Input device 908 External connection device

Claims (8)

Pattern display control means for displaying on a display device a screen for selecting a creation pattern showing some typical examples of standardized fictitious elements;
Pattern selection means for detecting selection of a pattern corresponding to an imaginary element to be created from the created patterns displayed on the display device by the pattern display control means;
A fictitious element definition means for defining a fictitious elements that the absence of the three-dimensional model shape corresponding to the created pattern selected by the pattern selecting means, fictional position of a three-dimensional space,
An information processing apparatus comprising: setting means for associating an imaginary element defined by the imaginary element defining means with the three-dimensional model shape.   2. The setting means associates an imaginary element defined by the imaginary element defining means with a portion of the three-dimensional model shape corresponding to the created pattern selected by the pattern selecting means. The information processing apparatus described.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising attribute defining means for defining a related element and an interlocking element between the fictitious element and the three-dimensional model.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the related element is an element indicating to which part of the three-dimensional model shape the imaginary element is related by the setting unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify a part of the three-dimensional model shape indicated by the related element. An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus,
A pattern display control step of causing the display device to display a screen for selecting a creation pattern in which some typical examples of standardized fictitious elements are shown by the pattern display control means of the information processing device;
A pattern selection step in which the pattern selection means of the information processing apparatus detects selection of a pattern of a three-dimensional model corresponding to a fictitious element to be created from the created patterns displayed on the display device in the pattern display control step;
Fictitious elements fictitious elements defining means of the information processing apparatus, which is not present the three-dimensional model shape corresponding to create patterns detected selected in the pattern selection process, which defines a fictitious elements fictional position of a three-dimensional space Definition process;
An information processing method comprising: a setting step of setting the information processing apparatus associating an aerial element defined in the aerial element definition step with the three-dimensional model shape.   A program causing a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 6.   A computer-readable recording medium, wherein the program according to claim 7 is recorded.

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