Design tool and method for preparing parametric assemblies
AssigneeQuintero Smith Incorporated
InventorsStephen Quintero, Jim Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An expert system is described for use in designing a connected collection of components which are available or can be made in different forms, e.g. which can be described by a selected number of variables. The expert system includes a knowledge base and an inference engine. The knowledge base includes records pertaining to constant and variable characteristics of connectable components and rules for combining a component with other components. The inference engine allows selecting a record for a first component, then a record for only those second components which can be connected to the first component, and storing information about the connections.
Claims24
An expert system for designing a connected collection of components, where each said component can be described by at least one constant characteristic and at least one variable characteristic, said expert system comprising:
- a knowledge base, said knowledge base comprising:
- a first record pertaining to a first connectable component having at least one constant characteristic and also a variable characteristic, where the state of the variable characteristic determines whether or not a second connectable component can be connected to said first connectable component,
- a second record pertaining to said second connectable component, connectable to said first component by an allowed connection determined by the state of the variable characteristic of said first record, and
- a rule for connecting said first connectable component and said second connectable component, said rule including a test for said variable characteristic of said first record;
- an inference engine, said inference engine comprising:
- means for selecting said first record for said first component,
- means for testing the state of said variable characteristic of said first record and determining whether said first and second components can be connected,
- means for selecting said second record for said second component if said connection is allowed,
- means for selecting said allowed connection between the first and the second connectable components to form a connected collection;
- and
- means for storing information about said connected collection.
An expert system for specifying a physical having at least two attributes, each of which can be described by a corresponding parameter, said expert system comprising
- a knowledge base, said knowledge base comprising:
- a first record pertaining to a first parameter corresponding to a first attribute of said object, said first record including a variable characteristic, the state of which determines whether or not a second attribute can be combined in said object together with said first attribute,
- a second record pertaining to a second parameter corresponding to said second attribute of said object, and
- a rule for combining said first attribute and said second attribute in said object, said rule including a test for the value of said variable characteristic;
- and
- an inference engine, said inference engine comprising:
- means for selecting said first record for said first attribute,
- means for testing said variable characteristic and determining whether said second attribute can be combined with said first attribute in said object,
- means for selecting said second record for said second attribute;
- and
- means for storing information about said object and said selected attributes.
A method of designing a connected collection of components where each said component can be described by a least one constant characteristic and at least one variable characteristic, said method comprising
- using a computer-based expert system which includes information about
- a first connectable component and a second connectable component, each capable of being connected to the other determined by the state of a variable characteristic of said first component,
- a stored value for said variable characteristic of said first component, and
- a rule for connecting said first and second connectable components,
- providing a first list of components which can be used to begin designing a connected collection, said first list including said first component,
- selecting said first component from said first list,
- testing the value of said variable characteristic of said first component to determine whether said first component can be combined with said second component, and if so
- providing a second list of components which can be connected to said first component, said second list including said second component, and
- selecting said second component from said second list to form a connected collection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.