Navigation through the hierarchical structure of a three-dimensional modeled assembly of parts

A non-transitory computer readable data storage medium having recorded thereon instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to implement a method for navigating through a hierarchical structure of a three-dimensional modeled assembly, the method comprising:

• displaying the three-dimensional modeled assembly on a display, the three-dimensional modeled assembly being completely displayed within a bounding frame, the bounding frame being entirely visible on the display;
• exploding, via the computer and upon user interaction, the three-dimensional modeled assembly into parts, each part of the assembly corresponding to a first hierarchical level;
• and
• displaying each part corresponding to the first hierarchical level in a respective one cell of a first two-dimensional table that divides all the available screen space within the bounding frame into cells wherein the parts are represented, all the cells in which a part is represented being entirely visible on the display, each part displayed in the respective one cell is freely and independently rotatable in the respective one cell of each part, a number of cells of the first two-dimensional table being greater than or at least equal to a number of parts of the assembly corresponding to the first hierarchical level;
• exploding, via the computer and upon user interaction, a part corresponding to the first hierarchical level into parts corresponding to a second hierarchical level;
• and
• displaying each part corresponding to the second hierarchical level in a respective one cell of a second two-dimensional table located in the respective one cell in which the exploded part was displayed, a number of cells of the second two-dimensional table being greater than or at least equal to a number of parts of the assembly corresponding to the second hierarchical level.

A computer configured to implement navigation through a hierarchical structure of a three-dimensional modeled assembly, the computer comprising:

• processing circuitry coupled to a memory and a display, the processing circuitry configured to
• display the three-dimensional modeled assembly on the display, the three-dimensional modeled assembly being completely displayed within a bounding frame, the bounding frame being entirely visible on the display,
• explode, upon user interaction, the three-dimensional modeled assembly into parts, each part of the assembly corresponding to a first hierarchical level, and
• display each part corresponding to the first hierarchical level in a respective one cell of a first two-dimensional table that divides all the available screen space within the bounding frame into cells wherein the parts are represented, all the cells in which a part is represented being entirely visible on the display, each part displayed in the respective one cell is freely and independently rotatable in the respective one cell of each part, a number of cells of the first two-dimensional table being greater than or at least equal to a number of parts of the assembly corresponding to the first hierarchical level,
• explode, upon user interaction, a part corresponding to the first hierarchical level into parts corresponding to a second hierarchical level, and
• display each part corresponding to the second hierarchical level in a respective one cell of a second two-dimensional table located in the respective one cell in which the exploded part was displayed, a number of cells of the second two-dimensional table being greater than or at least equal to a number of parts of the assembly corresponding to the second hierarchical level.