IP Library Granted Patent US 8,473,257
Granted Patent B2
US 8,473,257 · App. 12/732,699 · Granted Jun 25, 2013

System and method for constraining curves in a CAD system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,473,257
App. No.
12/732,699
Granted
Jun 25, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A CAD system, method, and computer readable medium. A method includes receiving a graphic model and a selection of a symmetric constraint. The method includes receiving a selection of first and second curves of the graphic model, the selections indicating respective points on the first and second curves. The method includes determining a user's intent and applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves according to the user's intent. The method includes storing and displaying graphic model.

Claims (42)

1. A method for constraining a graphical model in a computer-aided design (CAD) system, comprising:

receiving a graphic model in a CAD system;

receiving a selection of a symmetric constraint by the CAD system;

receiving a selection of a first curve of the graphic model by the CAD system, the selection indicating a first point at a location on the first curve;

receiving a selection of a second curve of the graphic model by the CAD system, the selection indicating a second point at a location on the second curve;

determining a user's intent by the CAD system based on the locations of the first point and the second point, including designating at least one vertex of the first curve according to the location of the first point and designating at least one vertex of the second curve according to the location of the second point;

applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves, by the CAD system, according to the user's intent and the designated vertices; and

storing and displaying graphic model by the CAD system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the user's intent includes designating an endpoint of the first curve that is nearest to the indicated point on the first curve as a first vertex of the first curve, and designating an endpoint of the second curve that is nearest to the indicated point on the second curve as a first vertex of the second curve.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves includes applying a symmetric constraint between the first vertex of the first curve and the first vertex of the second curve.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the user's intent includes designating an endpoint of the first curve that is furthest to the indicated point on the first curve as a second vertex of the first curve, and designating an endpoint of the second curve that is furthest to the indicated point on the second curve as a second vertex of the second curve.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves includes applying a symmetric constraint between the second vertex of the first curve and the second vertex of the second curve.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the user's intent includes determining that an endpoint of the first curve nearest to the indicated point on the first curve should be symmetric to an endpoint of the second curve nearest to the indicated point on the second curve.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves includes determining a center line between the first and second curves.

8. A computer-aided design (CAD) system comprising a processor and accessible memory, the CAD system particularly configured to perform the steps of:

receiving a graphic model;

receiving a selection of a symmetric constraint;

receiving a selection of a first curve of the graphic model, the selection indicating a first point at a location on the first curve;

receiving a selection of a second curve of the graphic model, the selection indicating a second point at a location on the second curve;

determining a user's intent based on the locations of the first point and the second point, including designating at least one vertex of the first curve according to the location of the first point and designating at least one vertex of the second curve according to the location of the second point;

applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves, according to the user's intent and the designated vertices; and

storing and displaying graphic model.

9. The CAD system of claim 8 , wherein determining the user's intent includes designating an endpoint of the first curve that is nearest to the indicated point on the first curve as a first vertex of the first curve, and designating an endpoint of the second curve that is nearest to the indicated point on the second curve as a first vertex of the second curve.

10. The CAD system of claim 9 , wherein applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves includes applying a symmetric constraint between the first vertex of the first curve and the first vertex of the second curve.

11. The CAD system of claim 8 , wherein determining the user's intent includes designating an endpoint of the first curve that is furthest to the indicated point on the first curve as a second vertex of the first curve, and designating an endpoint of the second curve that is furthest to the indicated point on the second curve as a second vertex of the second curve.

12. The CAD system of claim 11 , wherein applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves includes applying a symmetric constraint between the second vertex of the first curve and the second vertex of the second curve.

13. The CAD system of claim 8 , wherein determining the user's intent includes determining that an endpoint of the first curve nearest to the indicated point on the first curve should be symmetric to an endpoint of the second curve nearest to the indicated point on the second curve.

14. The CAD system of claim 8 , wherein applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves includes determining a center line between the first and second curves.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a computer-aided design (CAD) data processing system to perform the steps of:

receiving a graphic model;

receiving a selection of a symmetric constraint;

receiving a selection of a first curve of the graphic model, the selection indicating a first point at a location on the first curve;

receiving a selection of a second curve of the graphic model, the selection indicating a second point at a location on the second curve;

determining a user's intent based on the locations of the first point and the second point, including designating at least one vertex of the first curve according to the location of the first point and designating at least one vertex of the second curve according to the location of the second point;

applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves, according to the user's intent and the designated vertices; and

storing and displaying graphic model.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein determining the user's intent includes designating an endpoint of the first curve that is nearest to the indicated point on the first curve as a first vertex of the first curve, and designating an endpoint of the second curve that is nearest to the indicated point on the second curve as a first vertex of the second curve.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves includes applying a symmetric constraint between the first vertex of the first curve and the first vertex of the second curve.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein determining the user's intent includes designating an endpoint of the first curve that is furthest to the indicated point on the first curve as a second vertex of the first curve, and designating an endpoint of the second curve that is furthest to the indicated point on the second curve as a second vertex of the second curve.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves includes applying a symmetric constraint between the second vertex of the first curve and the second vertex of the second curve.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein determining the user's intent includes determining that an endpoint of the first curve nearest to the indicated point on the first curve should be symmetric to an endpoint of the second curve nearest to the indicated point on the second curve.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein applying a symmetric constraint between the first and second curves includes determining a center line between the first and second curves.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 3, 2019
From: SIEMENS PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE INC.
To: SIEMENS INDUSTRY SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 051171/0024 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2011
From: SIEMENS INDUSTRY SOFTWARE (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
To: SIEMENS PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 025649/0198 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2010
From: JANKOVICH, STEVEN ROBERT
To: SIEMENS PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 024924/0194 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2010
From: ZHANG, DONG PING
To: SIEMENS INDUSTRY SOFTWARE (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 024924/0328 →