Implicit Feature Recognition for a Solid Modeling System
AssigneeDassault Systemes SolidWorks Corporation
InventorsSaul J. Rothstein, Robert M. Siegel, Ricardo W. Chin, Mark G. Gibson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Creating an explicit feature used for construction of a computer-aided design model includes recognizing that model features form an implicit feature, presenting variations of the implicit feature, selecting one of the variations of the implicit feature, and creating the explicit feature. The explicit feature produces geometry that gives rise to the selected variation of the implicit feature. The computer-aided design model is constructed by generating the explicit feature after generating the model features that form the implicit feature.
Claims21
A computer-implemented method for creating an explicit feature used for construction of a computer-aided design model, the method comprising:
- recognizing that a plurality of features of the computer-aided design model form an implicit feature;
- presenting variations of the implicit feature;
- selecting one of the variations of the implicit feature;
- creating the explicit feature, wherein the explicit feature produces geometry giving rise to the selected one of the variations of the implicit feature;
- and
- constructing the computer-aided design model by generating the explicit feature after generating the plurality of features.
A computer-readable data storage medium comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
- recognize that an arrangement of a plurality of features in a computer-aided design model produce an implicit feature;
- present a plurality of geometric results giving rise to a plurality of variations of the implicit feature to allow for selection of one of the plurality of geometric results;
- define an explicit feature, wherein the explicit feature produces a selected one of the plurality of geometric results;
- and
- apply the explicit feature during construction of the computer-aided design model after application of the plurality of features, wherein to apply the explicit feature includes instructions for causing the computer to:
- remove from the computer-aided design model an area surrounding geometry giving rise to the implicit feature;
- and
- place into the computer-aided design model the selected one of the plurality of geometric results as a replacement of the removed area.
A computer-aided design system comprising:
- a processor operatively coupled to a data storage system, the data storage system storing a three-dimensional model;
- and
- a data storage memory operatively coupled to the processor and comprising instructions to configure the processor to:
- construct a plurality of model features defining the three-dimensional model;
- recognize that the plurality of model features produce geometry giving rise to an implicit feature;
- calculate variations of the implicit feature;
- present geometry produced by the variations of the implicit feature to allow selection of one of the variations;
- create an explicit feature that produces geometry giving rise to the selected one of the variations of the implicit feature;
- and
- replace in the three-dimensional model geometry giving rise to the implicit feature with geometry produced by the explicit feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.