IP Library Granted Patent US 7,170,509
Granted Patent B2
US 7,170,509 · App. 10/327,876 · Granted Jan 30, 2007

Information processing apparatus, program for product assembly process display, and method for product assembly process display

Assignees: Panasonic Communications Co., Ltd.; Nippon Systemware Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,170,509
App. No.
10/327,876
Granted
Jan 30, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hard disk stores a CAD file having 3-D data that relates to an assembly product comprised of a plurality of parts. Based on this 3-D data of an assembly product, a parts data retriever retrieves 3-D data for each part. According to this 3-D data for each part, a bitmap output unit generates 2-D bitmap image data illustrating the part image, which is viewed from a predetermined direction. Moreover, using the 2-D data of the part, a management data generator generates a management table describing steps to output an assembly scene on a screen. A file having this management table and a file having 2-D data are then delivered to a PC for assembly scene output, in order to output the assembly scene.

Claims (30)

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first memory configured to store 3-D data indicating a plurality of components, a product being assembled based on the plurality of the components;

a display configured to display the 3-D data indicating the plurality of the components;

an input device configured to input a viewing orientation of the displayed 3-D data;

a second memory configured to store management data, the management data including an assembly process for assembling the product, based on the plurality of components; and

a controller configured to convert the 3-D data indicating the plurality of the components into 2-D data indicating the plurality of the components, based on the viewing orientation input by the input device;

the controller being further configured to output, to another information processing apparatus, the converted 2-D data indicating the plurality of the components and the management data including the assembly process without the 3-D data indicating the plurality of the components, the another information processing apparatus being discrete from the information processing apparatus, whereby the another information apparatus assembles the 2-D data indicating the plurality of components, based on the assembly process included in the management data and displays the assembled 2-D data on a display of the another information processing apparatus.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the 2-D data comprises bitmap image data.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the 3-D data is generated by a 3-D CAD device and is stored in the first memory of the information processing apparatus.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the management data comprises one of an order of the components for displaying the 2-D data indicating the plurality of the components during the assembly process, a time for displaying each of the 2-D data indicating the plurality of the components, move information indicating movement of each of the 2-D data indicating the plurality of the components when each of the 2-D data indicating the plurality of the components is displayed, display information indicating display location, angle, and size with respect to each of the plurality of the components, and fore-and aft locations of the plurality of the components when the 2-D data indicating the plurality of the components are displayed on one scene.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the management data comprises information indicating which 2-D data is being displayed, information identifying one component or information identifying one assembly including the plurality of the components.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second memory stores a basic management data, the basic management data indicating a basic assembly process for assembling the product.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the basic management data is configured for modification, based on a user's indication input by the input device.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output 2-D data comprises 2-D data indicating an assembly into which the plurality of the components are assembled, and the management data indicates a change of a display from a combination of the 2-D data indicating the plurality of components into the 2-D data indicating the assembly when the 2-D data indicating that the plurality of the components are assembled is displayed.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output 2-D data comprises 2-D data indicating a component smaller than another component and enlarged 2-D data indicating the another component, and the management data indicates a change of a display from the 2-D data indicating the another component into the enlarged 2-D data indicating the another component when the 2-D data including the smaller component is displayed with the 2-D data indicating the another component.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the management data comprises a command for repeating the assembly process indicated by the management data when the assembly process ends.

11. A computer readable medium storing a computer program, the computer program installed in an information processing apparatus, the computer readable medium comprising:

a code segment configured to store 3-D data indicating a plurality of components, a product being assembled based on the plurality of the components;

a code segment configured to display the 3-D data indicating the plurality of the components;

a code segment configured to input a viewing orientation of the displayed 3-D data;

a code segment configured to convert the 3-D data indicating the plurality of the components into 2-D data indicating the plurality of the components, based on the input viewing orientation;

a code segment configured to store management data, the management data including an assembly process for assembling the product, based on the plurality of components;

a code segment configured to output, to another information processing apparatus, the converted 2-D data indicating the plurality of the components and the management data including the assembly process without the 3-D data indicating the plurality of the components, the another information processing apparatus being discrete from the information processing apparatus, whereby the another information apparatus assembles the 2-D data indicating the plurality of components, based on the assembly process included in the management data, and displays the assembled 2-D data on a display of the another information processing apparatus.

12. A method for displaying a process for assembling 2-D data indicating a plurality of components into 2-D data indicating a product formed by the plurality of the components, the method comprising:

storing 3-D data indicating a plurality of components, a product being assembled based on the plurality of the components;

displaying the 3-D data indicating the plurality of the components;

inputting a viewing orientation of the displayed 3-D data;

converting the 3-D data indicating the plurality of the components into 2-D data indicating the plurality of the components, based on the input viewing orientation;

storing management data, the management data including an assembly process for assembling the product, based on the plurality of components;

outputting, to another information processing apparatus, the converted 2-D data indicating the plurality of the components and the management data including the assembly process without the 3-D data indicating the plurality of the components, the another information processing apparatus being discrete from the information processing apparatus, whereby the another information apparatus displays the 2-D data indicating the plurality of components, based on the assembly process included in the management data, and displays the assembled 2-D data on a display of the another information processing apparatus.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jul 18, 2013
From: PANASONIC COMMUNICATIONS CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC SYSTEM NETWORKS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 030822/0511 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2003
From: TANAKA, YUTAKA; TOSHIMA, KAZUNORI; MURANO, MINORU; OGAWA, HISATOMO; NAGAMATSU, TAKESHI; FUJIMOTO, TOMOMI
To: PANASONIC COMMUNICATIONS CO., LTD.; NIPPON SYSTEMWARE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 013919/0672 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2002-115097 · Apr 17, 2002 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20030197700A1 · Oct 23, 2003