JP5228565B2 - CAD system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a CAD system.

  In recent CAD systems, an environment has been established in which a plurality of designers can simultaneously perform design work in parallel using network computing, which has helped shorten the design period.

  In addition, instead of producing a real model at the product design stage, the introduction of software that performs digital mock-up by three-dimensional CAD is also progressing, which is expected to further shorten the design period.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 is a technology that, when converting CAD data into viewer data, uses data conversion instruction data in data conversion performed last time, and after rewriting it as necessary, can start data conversion Is disclosed. According to this technique, it is not necessary for the user to specify all the data conversion instruction data, and only part of the data conversion instruction data needs to be rewritten as necessary, so that data conversion can be easily executed.

Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for converting CAD data into viewer data for three-dimensional display and automatically updating it to the latest viewer data each time CAD data is created / updated.
JP 2002-222217 A JP 2006-072569 A

  For example, in the development of a large-scale product such as an automobile, CAD data is created and updated at various times in various departments. Conventionally, such an update has not been reflected in the three-dimensional image displayed on the client. That is, the three-dimensional image being displayed becomes information with low utility value over time. For this reason, it is necessary for the operator to frequently obtain the latest data from the CAD server.

  Also, the update mode desired by the user is different. For example, it is different whether all updated data is to be reflected in a three-dimensional image in real time or whether only a part of data is updated is reflected in a three-dimensional image. However, the conventional system has not been able to meet such user demands.

  Although the technique of Patent Document 2 automatically updates the viewer data, it does not disclose how to reflect it in the three-dimensional image. In actual development, it may be desired to display a part of the old data retroactively. However, in the technique of Patent Document 2, every time CAD data is updated, it is always overwritten with the latest data, and thus viewer data cannot be browsed retroactively.

  The present invention aims to solve such problems. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server that stores viewer data used for generating CAD data and a three-dimensional image, and a client that displays a three-dimensional image of a product based on the viewer data provided from the server. Including a CAD system,
The server
CAD data storage means for storing CAD data of each revision for each part;
Generation means for generating viewer data for CAD data each time CAD data of a newly created part or CAD data of a new revision is stored in the CAD data storage means;
Viewer data storage means for storing the generated viewer data;
Management means for associating each revision of CAD data and viewer data for each part to each CAD data and viewer data stored in the CAD data storage means and viewer data storage means,
In response to a transfer instruction from the client, transfer means for transferring viewer data of the latest revision of each part to the client;
According to the update mode received from the client, transfer control means for controlling the transfer of the viewer data updated after the transfer means first transferred,
Equipped with a,
When the update mode is the partial update mode, the transfer control unit updates the update data except for the viewer data of the newly added parts each time the viewer data is updated after the transfer unit performs the first transfer. Transfer the later viewer data,
In the partial update mode, the CAD system is characterized in that only when there is a change in the CAD data, the change is reflected in the display by the viewer, while the change in the component configuration of the parts list is not reflected in the display by the viewer. Provided.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to update the display of the three-dimensional image based on the viewer data in a manner suited to the user's desire.

In addition, according to this configuration, only the portion related to the user's examination work is updated in the three-dimensional image, and the newly added part image is not displayed thereafter, thereby reducing the processing load of the system. Can do.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the update mode is the complete update mode, the transfer control unit performs the update after each update of the viewer data after the transfer unit performs the first transfer. Transfer all viewer data of.

  According to this configuration, the latest three-dimensional image can always be displayed.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the update mode is a point-in-time mode, the transfer control unit does not perform transfer after the transfer unit performs transfer for the first time.

  According to this configuration, the examination work can be performed while being fixed to data at a specific time. In addition, the processing load on the system can be reduced.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when there is no latest revision of viewer data for a part, it is preferable to transfer the old revision of the viewer data for the part.

  According to this configuration, a substantially completed three-dimensional image can be provided even when the latest viewer data is not available due to a time lag or generation error of viewer data generation.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the display of a three-dimensional image, the client preferably performs display indicating that old revision viewer data is used for the part.

  According to this configuration, the user can easily recognize that the displayed three-dimensional image includes old data.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to update the display of a three-dimensional image based on viewer data in a manner suitable for a user's request.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following embodiment, It shows only the specific example advantageous for implementation of this invention. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the following embodiments are indispensable as means for solving the problems of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a CAD system according to the present embodiment. In the illustrated example, this system is a so-called client-server type CAD system, which includes a CAD management server 1 that centrally manages CAD data, and two CAD terminals 2 and 3 as clients, each of which includes a LAN 4 Connected through.

  The CAD management server 1 collectively stores CAD data, manages the modification history of the CAD data, and has a digital mockup function for generating a three-dimensional image by mocking up a plurality of viewer data. Have.

  The CAD terminals 2 and 3 are terminals for performing design studies using a CAD program installed in the CAD terminals 2 and 3. This CAD terminal is configured to load CAD data to be examined from the CAD management server 1 and perform a CAD operation. The CAD data after editing is saved in the CAD management server 1 by performing a save operation. Is done. FIG. 1 shows two CAD terminals, but this is only an example. That is, the present invention is not limited to a specific number of CAD terminals, and the number of CAD terminals (clients) may be one or three or more.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the CAD management server 1.

  The CAD management server 1 can be realized by a general-purpose computer device. The system bus 5 includes a CPU 6, a ROM 7, and a RAM 8, a display controller 9, a disk controller 10, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) controller 11, a network interface. (I / F) 12 and the like are connected.

  The CPU 6 is a control unit that controls the entire CAD management server 1. The ROM 7 stores a BIOS for hardware control. The RAM 8 functions as a main memory and provides a work area for the CPU 6.

  The display controller 9 displays the image data expanded in the video memory (VRAM) 13 on the CRT 15 and supports, for example, VGA text and graphics display.

  The disk controller 10 controls a hard disk drive (HDD) 14. As illustrated, the HDD 14 stores an OS 141, a CAD data management program 142, CAD management information 143, viewer data 144, CAD data 145, and the like.

  The USB controller 11 controls devices connected via the USB 18. For example, a keyboard 16 and a mouse 17 are connected to the USB 18.

  The network I / F 12 is an interface for performing communication by connecting to the LAN 4.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the CAD terminals 2 and 3.

  Similarly to the CAD management server 1, the CAD terminals 2 and 3 can also be realized by general-purpose computer devices. The system bus 20 includes a CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, a display controller 24, a disk controller 25, and a USB controller. 26, a network I / F 27, and the like are connected. A VRAM 28 and a CRT 35 are connected to the display controller 24, and an HDD 29 is connected to the disk controller 25. Further, for example, a keyboard 36 and a digitizer 37 for performing a CAD operation are connected to the USB 38.

  The HDD 29 stores a CAD program 31 for loading CAD data from the CAD management server 1 and performing a CAD operation, including the OS 30. The HDD 29 further stores a viewer program 33 (hereinafter also simply referred to as “viewer”) for displaying a three-dimensional image based on the viewer data generated in the CAD management server 1. In addition, a session file 34 that stores work states such as a viewing direction in viewing a three-dimensional image, display / non-display of specific parts, and grouping of specific parts is also stored. With this session file 34, when the viewer data is opened again, the viewer data can be browsed in the same working state as the previous time.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing the software configuration of the CAD system in the present embodiment.

  The CAD management program 142 in the CAD management server 1 includes a CAD data management module 41, a viewer data generation module 42, an HTTP communication module 43, a CGI control module 44, an authentication CGI module 45, and a CAD data list CGI module 46 as shown in the figure. It is a configuration.

  The CAD data management module 41 transfers a file in response to a file request from the CAD terminal 2 or 3, and responds to a save request from the CAD terminal 2 or 3 to receive the accompanying CAD data as CAD data. Store in the storage device 145.

  The viewer data generation module 42 performs processing for generating viewer data for CAD data. When the CAD data of a new part is registered in the CAD data storage device 145 or the new revision of the CAD data is registered in the CAD data storage device 145, the viewer data generation module 42 automatically converts the viewer data for the CAD data. Generate with Data generated by the viewer data generation module 42 is registered in the viewer data storage device 144.

  The CAD data management module 41 further performs a process of checking a generation error of the viewer data obtained by the viewer data generation module 42 and a process of updating the CAD management information 143.

  The HTTP communication module 43 transfers the HTML file to the viewer program 33 in the CAD terminals 2 and 3 based on HTTP, and in response to this, various information input on the browser displayed by the viewer program 33 is displayed. Transfer to the CGI control module 44 based on HTTP.

  The CGI control module 44, when there is a request via the CGI (Common Gateway Interface) among the information input on the browser displayed by the viewer program 33 transmitted from the viewer program 33, the CGI control module 44 displays a predetermined CGI. The HTML file generated by the CGI or a predetermined information file is transferred to the viewer program 33.

  The authentication CGI module 45 performs authentication processing based on the user name and password of the user who has logged into the browser by the viewer program 33.

  The CAD data list CGI module 46 transmits an HTML file of the CAD data list in response to an instruction from the logged-in user.

  The system configuration in the present embodiment is generally as described above. Next, characteristic functions realized by the CAD system in the present embodiment will be described.

  While the 3D image is mocked up and displayed on the terminal 2 or 3 based on the viewer data by the viewer program 33, the CAD management server 1 keeps the CAD data and its viewer data by the CAD operation in other terminals. It will be updated. Conventionally, such an update has not been reflected in the three-dimensional image displayed on the client. That is, the three-dimensional image being displayed becomes information with low utility value over time. For this reason, it is necessary for the operator to frequently obtain the latest data from the CAD management server 1.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, a mechanism for automatically acquiring the latest data from the CAD management server 1 and reflecting it in the three-dimensional image is provided. In this embodiment, three update modes that can be specified by the user are prepared.

  The first is the “complete update mode”. As shown in FIG. 5, when there is a change in the CAD data (the viewer data is automatically generated accordingly) or the part list (Parts List) generated in the CAD management information, In this mode, all these changes are automatically reflected in the viewer display.

  The second is “partial update mode”. This is a mode in which, as shown in FIG. 6, only when CAD data is changed, the change is automatically reflected in the display by the viewer. Unlike the full update mode, changes to the parts list configuration are not reflected.

  The third is the “time mode”. As shown in FIG. 7, this is a mode in which the state at the time of starting the CAD system is maintained regardless of changes in the CAD data or parts list configuration. Instead of starting the CAD system, the state specified by the user can be maintained. In this mode, even if there is a change in the configuration of the CAD data or parts list after that time, those changes are not reflected in the display by the viewer.

  Hereinafter, a specific data configuration and control process for realizing the automatic update of the display of the three-dimensional image in the viewer as described above will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the CAD data management information 143 includes a parts list 1431, viewer data update follow data 1432, part configuration data update follow data 1433, viewer data location data 1434, and component configuration data location data 1435. Including.

  FIG. 9 shows a data configuration example of viewer data update follow data 1432, viewer data location data 1434, component configuration data update follow data 1433, and component configuration data location data 1435.

  When CAD data is updated, viewer data is automatically generated. At this time, the top address indicating the location of the created viewer data is automatically registered in the viewer data update follow data 1432. In the example of FIG. 9, the update follow-up data 1432 for the viewer data holds start addresses $ A10, $ A20, $ A30 indicating the location of the A component assembly (Assy) represented by $ A. $ A10, $ A20, and $ A30 are created in the order in which the viewer data was updated. $ A10 is the last viewer data (at system startup), $ A20 is the previous viewer data, and $ A30 is the latest. Corresponds to viewer data.

  The viewer data location data 1434 holds the address of the viewer data of each part constituting the revision A part assembly corresponding to the viewer data update follow data 1432.

  Further, when the CAD data or the component configuration is updated, the parts list is automatically updated. At this time, the start address indicating the location of the parts list is automatically registered in the update follow-up data 1433 for parts configuration data. In the example of FIG. 9, the part configuration data update follow data 1433 holds start addresses $ AL10, $ AL20, and $ AL30 indicating the location of the A part assembly (Assy) represented by $ AL. $ AL10, $ AL20, and $ AL30 are created in the order in which the parts list was updated. $ AL10 corresponds to the previous parts list, $ AL20 corresponds to the previous parts list, and $ AL30 corresponds to the latest parts list. .

  The part configuration data location data 1435 corresponds to the part configuration data update follow data 1433, and holds the location address of the part number data of each part constituting the revision A part assembly.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the data structure of the parts list 1431.

  The example of FIG. 10 is an example in which information from the latest to the previous one is held for the configuration of the A part assembly. The CAD index includes a part number (the same value as the parts list) and a revision number (Revision No.) of CAD data. Corresponding CAD data and viewer data are specified by this CAD index.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a data structure example of the session file 34 held in each terminal. As shown in the figure, the session file 34 is divided into data for the full update mode, the partial update mode, and the time point mode. The address to be accessed differs depending on which mode is selected. For example, when the complete update mode is selected, the address description unit 341 for viewer data in the complete update mode is referred to. By accessing “$ A” described here, the viewer data update follow data 1432 in FIG. 9 is referred to. Then, the data at the latest data address “$ A30” is accessed. Similarly, the latest data address is accessed for the component configuration data.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an outline of processing related to CAD data registration processing by the CAD system in the present embodiment. At this time, it is assumed that the CAD management program 142 is operating in the CAD management server 1.

  When the CAD program 31 is activated in the CAD terminal (step S11), a login process is first performed (step S12). Specifically, the CAD terminal transmits the input user name and password to the CAD management server 1, and the CAD management server 1 performs authentication processing in response to this, and returns login permission information (step S21). The CAD terminal can proceed to the subsequent processing only when the authentication is successful and login is permitted.

  In step S15, the CAD terminal issues a file open request to the CAD management server 1 by selecting a file (CAD data) that is a target of the CAD operation from a file selection screen (not shown). In response to this file open request, the CAD management server 1 transfers the corresponding file entity to the CAD terminal that issued the file open request (step S22).

  Thereby, the operator of the CAD terminal can perform a CAD operation based on the received CAD data (step S16).

  When the CAD operation is terminated and a file close (file save) operation is performed, the CAD terminal transmits a file save request together with the substance of the edited file to the CAD management server 1 (step S17). The CAD management server 1 receives and stores the file (step S23). Then, the CAD terminal saves the work state in the session file 34 (step S18).

  Subsequently, the CAD management server 1 adds an address to the update follow data (step S24). Here, the address is added to the update follow data in the same manner for the component configuration change.

  Next, viewer data for the CAD data stored in step S23 is generated (step S25). As described above, this processing is performed by the viewer data generation module 42.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing operations related to the viewer program 33 in the present embodiment.

  When the viewer program 33 is activated in the CAD terminal (step S31), a login process is first performed (step S32). Specifically, the CAD terminal transmits the input user name and password to the CAD management server 1, and the CAD management server 1 performs authentication processing in response to this, and returns login permission information (step S41). The CAD terminal can proceed to the subsequent processing only when the authentication is successful and login is permitted.

  If the login is successful, the user selects one of a complete update mode, a partial update mode, and a time point mode from a mode selection screen (not shown) (step S33). When the partial update mode and the time point mode are selected, the state at the specified time point can be displayed by specifying the time point the user wants to display on the time point setting screen (not shown). Next, the user designates a part and a part unit to be browsed (step S34). Thereafter, the terminal extracts processing information corresponding to the mode specified in step S33 from the session file 34, and includes it in the transfer instruction and transmits it to the CAD management server 1 (step S35). When receiving this (step S42), the CAD management server 1 selects configuration data and viewer data based on the processing information (step S43). Details of this processing will be described later.

  Then, the CAD management server 1 transfers the configuration data and viewer data selected in step S43 to the CAD terminal (step S44). Thereby, digital mockup (3D image display) is performed in the designated mode in the CAD terminal (step S36).

  Hereinafter, the configuration data and viewer data selection processing based on the processing information in step S43 will be described in detail. The specific example of the address uses the example shown in FIGS.

(In full update mode)
First, the address ($ AL) of the update follow-up data 1433 for component configuration data is accessed, and the latest address ($ AL30) is accessed. Next, the data ($ AL3, $ AL3-a, $ AL3-b) at the latest address is read from the part configuration data location data 1435. Then, the component configuration data with the read data value as an address is read from the parts list 1431.

  Next, the address ($ A) of the update follow-up data 1432 for viewer data is accessed, and the latest address ($ A30) is further accessed. Next, the data ($ A3, $ A3-a, $ A3-b) at the latest address is read from the viewer data location data 1434. Then, the viewer data whose address is the read data value is read from the viewer data. If there is no latest data at the address, old data may be read instead. In this case, in the display of the three-dimensional image, the client side may perform highlighting such as displaying in a specific color in order to indicate that the old revision viewer data is used for some parts. .

(In partial update mode)
In the partial update mode, only when CAD data is changed, the change is automatically reflected in the display by the viewer. Unlike the full update mode, changes in the parts list part configuration are not reflected. Therefore, in the partial update mode, unlike the complete update mode, the update address for component configuration data 1433 is set to the address ($ AL10) of the data at the time of system startup (previous time) (or the time designated by the user). to access. Next, the data ($ AL1, $ AL1-a) at the address is read from the part configuration data location data 1435. Then, the component configuration data with the read data value as an address is read from the parts list 1431.

  The partial update mode is the same as the full update mode for changing CAD data. That is, next, the address ($ A) of the viewer data update follow data 1432 is accessed. Further, the latest address ($ A30) is accessed. Next, the data ($ A3, $ A3-a, $ A3-b) at the latest address is read from the viewer data location data 1434. Then, the viewer data whose address is the read data value is read from the viewer data. If there is no latest data at the address, old data may be read instead.

(Time mode)
In the time mode, the state at the time of starting the CAD system (or the time specified by the user) is maintained regardless of changes in the CAD data and parts list configuration. Therefore, in the time point mode, as in the partial update mode, the address ($ AL10) of the data at the time of system startup (previous time) (or the time point designated by the user) of the update follow-up data 1433 for component configuration data is accessed. To do. Next, the data ($ AL1, $ AL1-a) at the address is read from the part configuration data location data 1435. Then, the component configuration data with the read data value as an address is read from the parts list 1431.

  In the time mode, the address ($ A10) of the data at the time of system activation (previous time) (or the time designated by the user) of the update follow-up data 1432 for viewer data is further accessed. Next, the data ($ A1, $ A1-a) at the address is read from the viewer data location data 1434. Then, the viewer data whose address is the read data value is read from the viewer data.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the CAD management server 1 and the CAD terminal cooperate to display the latest or predetermined three-dimensional image by operating the viewer program in the CAD terminal. If a similar viewer program is installed in the CAD management server 1, the latest or predetermined three-dimensional image can be displayed on the CAD management server 1 alone. In other words, the present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices, and can also be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a CAD system according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the CAD management server in embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the CAD terminal in embodiment. It is a figure which shows notionally the software structure of the CAD system in embodiment. It is a figure explaining the complete update mode in embodiment. It is a figure explaining the partial update mode in embodiment. It is a figure explaining the time point mode in an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the content of the data contained in CAD data management information in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structural example of the update follow data for viewer data in the embodiment, the viewer data location data, the update follow data for component configuration data, and the component configuration data location data. It is a figure which shows the example of a data structure of the parts list in embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structure example of the session file in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the process which concerns on the registration process of the CAD data by the CAD system in embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement regarding the viewer program in embodiment.

1: CAD management server 2, 3: CAD terminal 4: LAN

Claims (5)

A CAD system including a server that stores viewer data used for generating CAD data and a three-dimensional image, and a client that displays a three-dimensional image of a product based on the viewer data provided from the server,
The server
CAD data storage means for storing CAD data of each revision for each part;
Generation means for generating viewer data for CAD data each time CAD data of a newly created part or CAD data of a new revision is stored in the CAD data storage means;
Viewer data storage means for storing the generated viewer data;
Management means for associating each revision of CAD data and viewer data for each part to each CAD data and viewer data stored in the CAD data storage means and viewer data storage means,
In response to a transfer instruction from the client, transfer means for transferring viewer data of the latest revision of each part to the client;
According to the update mode received from the client, transfer control means for controlling the transfer of the viewer data updated after the transfer means first transferred,
Equipped with a,
When the update mode is the partial update mode, the transfer control unit updates the update data except for the viewer data of the newly added parts each time the viewer data is updated after the transfer unit performs the first transfer. Transfer the later viewer data,
In the partial update mode, only when there is a change in the CAD data, the change is reflected in the display by the viewer, while the change in the component configuration of the parts list is not reflected in the display by the viewer .   When the update mode is the complete update mode, the transfer control unit transfers all of the updated viewer data each time the viewer data is updated after the transfer unit performs the first transfer. The CAD system according to claim 1.   2. The CAD system according to claim 1, wherein, when the update mode is a time point mode, the transfer control unit does not perform transfer after the transfer unit first performs transfer.   2. The CAD system according to claim 1, wherein when some of the parts do not have the latest revision of the viewer data, the old revision of the viewer data is transferred for the part of the parts. 5. The CAD system according to claim 4 , wherein in the display of the three-dimensional image, the client performs a display indicating that old revision viewer data is used for the part of the part.

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