Method and systems for generating parametric designs

Claim 1

A system for generating a parametric design of an item which is a composite of design elements, said system comprising: a. a subordinate design module for each of said design elements, each of said design modules comprising: a master drawing which is modifiable to produce an image of a corresponding design element of said item and a design plan; b. means for inputting user-originated information to the design plans; c. means for thereafter employing each said design plan to modify the associated master drawing as specified by said design plan and produce an image of a design element as aforesaid; and d. means for causing one of said subordinate design modules to output the element-representing image generated in said module to different positions in the parametric design.

Claim 2

A system for generating a parametric design of an item which is a composite of design elements, said system comprising: a. a subordinate design module for each of said design elements, each of said design modules comprising: a master drawing which is modifiable to produce an image of a corresponding design element of said item and a design plan; b. means for inputting user-originated information to the design plans; c. means for thereafter employing each said design plan to modify the associated master drawing as specified by said design plan and produce an image of a design element as aforesaid; and d. means for causing one of said subordinate design modules to output the element-representing image generated in said module to different positions in the parametric design.

Claim 3

A system for generating a parametric design of an item which is a composite of design elements, said system comprising: a. a subordinate design module for each of said design elements, each of said design modules comprising: a master drawing which is modifiable to produce an image of a corresponding design element of said item and a design plan with multiple cells; b. means for inputting user-originated information to the design plans; c. means for thereafter employing each said design plan to modify the associated master drawing as specified by said design plan and produce an image of a design element as aforesaid; d. means for exporting values from the design plan in one of said modules to the design plan in another of said modules; e. means for subsequently reinstating in a cell of a design plan to which a value has been exported the original contents of that cell; f. means for effecting one of the following: (i) causing said other design plan to compute a value in accord with a formula located in a cell of that design plan, (ii) causing another of said design modules to output an image to said parametric design; and g. means for causing plural ones of the foregoing means to be sequentially activated in response to a single composite command to said design plan.

Claim 4

A system for generating a parametric design of an item which is a composite of design elements, said system comprising: a. a subordinate design module for each of said design elements, each of said design modules comprising: a master drawing which is modifiable to produce an image of a corresponding design element of said item and a design plan with multiple cells; b. means for inputting user-originated information to the design plans; c. means for thereafter employing each said design plan to modify the associated master drawing as specified by said design plan and produce an image of a design element as aforesaid; d. means for exporting values from the design plan in one of said modules to the design plan in another of said modules; e. means for subsequently reinstating in a cell of a design plan to which a value has been exported the original contents of that cell; f. means for effecting one of the following: (i) causing said other design plan to compute a value in accord with a formula located in a cell of that design plan, (ii) causing another of said design modules to output an image to said parametric design; and g. means for causing plural ones of the foregoing means to be sequentially activated in response to a single composite command to said design plan.

Claim 8

A system for generating a parametric design of an item which is a composite of design elements, said system comprising: a. a subordinate design module for each of said design elements, each of said design modules comprising: a master drawing which is modifiable to produce an image of a corresponding design element of said item and a design plan with multiple cells; b. means for inputting user-originated information to the design plans; c. means for thereafter employing each said design plan to modify the associated master drawing as specified by said design plan and produce an image of a design element as aforesaid; d. means for exporting values from the design plan in one of said modules to the design plan in another of said modules; e. means for subsequently reinstating in a cell of a design plan to which a value has been exported the original contents of that cell; f. means for effecting one of the following functions: (i) causing said other design plan to execute a supervisory command, (ii) causing another of said design modules to output an image to said parametric design, (ii) causing another of said design modules to output an image to said parametric design; and g. means for causing plural ones of the foregoing means to be sequentially activated in response to a single composite command to said design plan.

Claim 9

A system for generating a parametric design of an item which is a composite of design elements, said system comprising: a. a subordinate design module for each of said design elements, each of said design modules comprising: a master drawing which is modifiable to produce an image of a corresponding design element of said item and a design plan with multiple cells; b. means for inputting user-originated information to the design plans; c. means for thereafter employing each said design plan to modify the associated master drawing as specified by said design plan and produce an image of a design element as aforesaid; d. means for exporting values from the design plan in one of said modules to the design plan in another of said modules; e. means for subsequently reinstating in a cell of a design plan to which a value has been exported the original contents of that cell; f. means for effecting one of the following functions: (i) causing said other design plan to execute a supervisory command, (ii) causing another of said design modules to output an image to said parametric design, (ii) causing another of said design modules to output an image to said parametric design; and g. means for causing plural ones of the foregoing means to be sequentially activated in response to a single composite command to said design plan.

Claim 13

A system for generating a parametric design of an item which is a composite of design elements, said system comprising: a. a subordinate design module for each of said design elements, each of said design modules comprising: a master drawing which is modifiable to produce an image of a corresponding design element of said item and a design plan with multiple cells; b. means for inputting user-originated information to the design plans; c. means for thereafter employing each said design plan to modify the associated master drawing as specified by said design plan and produce an image of a design element as aforesaid; and d. means operable, upon command, to: (i) cause an image generated by another of the design elements to be inserted in said parametric design, and (ii) control the coordinates at which said image, all relative to positions and an angle of rotation specified by said design plan, is inserted in said parametric design.

Claim 14

A system for generating a parametric design of an item which is a composite of design elements, said system comprising: a. a subordinate design module for each of said design elements, each of said design modules comprising: a master drawing which is modifiable to produce an image of a corresponding design element of said item and a design plan with multiple cells; b. means for inputting user-originated information to the design plans; c. means for thereafter employing each said design plan to modify the associated master drawing as specified by said design plan and produce an image of a design element as aforesaid; and d. means operable, upon command, to: (i) cause an image generated by another of the design elements to be inserted in said parametric design, and (ii) control the coordinates at which said image, all relative to positions and an angle of rotation specified by said design plan, is inserted in said parametric design.

Claim 15

A system for generating a parametric design of an item which is a composite of design elements, said system comprising: a. a subordinate design module for each of said design elements, each of said design modules comprising: a master drawing which is modifiable to produce an image of a corresponding design element of said item and a design plan with multiple cells; b. means for inputting user-originated information to the design plans; c. means for thereafter employing each said design plan to modify the associated master drawing as specified by said design plan and produce an image of a design element as aforesaid; and d. means operable, upon command, to: (i) cause an image generated by another of the design elements to be inserted in said parametric design, and (ii) designate the absolute coordinates at which said image is inserted in said parametric design and the absolute angle of rotation at which said image is inserted in said parametric design.

Claim 16

A system for generating a parametric design of an item which is a composite of design elements, said system comprising: a. a subordinate design module for each of said design elements, each of said design modules comprising: a master drawing which is modifiable to produce an image of a corresponding design element of said item and a design plan with multiple cells; b. means for inputting user-originated information to the design plans; c. means for thereafter employing each said design plan to modify the associated master drawing as specified by said design plan and produce an image of a design element as aforesaid; and d. means operable, upon command, to: (i) cause an image generated by another of the design elements to be inserted in said parametric design, and (ii) designate the absolute coordinates at which said image is inserted in said parametric design and the absolute angle of rotation at which said image is inserted in said parametric design.

Claim 17

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. a design module with a master drawing which is modifiable to produce said parametric design and a design plan; b. means for inputting user-originated information to said design plan; c. means for thereafter employing said design plan to modify the master drawing as specified by the design plan and produce an image representing said parametric design; and d. means which can be accessed by a user to obtain design information that can be inputted to said design plan to effect a modification of said master drawing an aforesaid.

Claim 18

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. a design module with a master drawing which is modifiable to produce said parametric design and a design plan; b. means for inputting user-originated information to said design plan; c. means for thereafter employing said design plan to modify the master drawing as specified by the design plan and produce an image representing said parametric design; and d. means which can be accessed by a user to obtain design information that can be inputted to said design plan to effect a modification of said master drawing an aforesaid.

Claim 22

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. a design module with a master drawing which is modifiable to produce said parametric design and a design plan; b. means for inputting user-originated information to said design plan; c. means for thereafter employing said design plan to modify the master drawing as specified by the design plan and produce an image representing said parametric design; and d. means for causing said design module to repetitively output the image generated by the modification of said master drawing and form an array of said images in which each of said images is placed at a different location to thereby produce said parametric design.

Claim 23

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. a design module with a master drawing which is modifiable to produce said parametric design and a design plan; b. means for inputting user-originated information to said design plan; c. means for thereafter employing said design plan to modify the master drawing as specified by the design plan and produce an image representing said parametric design; and d. means for causing said design module to repetitively output the image generated by the modification of said master drawing and form an array of said images in which each of said images is placed at a different location to thereby produce said parametric design.

Claim 24

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. a design module comprising a master drawing which is modifiable to produce said parametric design and a design plan with mutliple cells; b. means for inputting user-originated information to said design plan; c. means for thereafter employing said design plan to modify the master drawing as specified by the design plan and produce an image representing said parametric design; d. means for electronically storing data defining said image. e. memory means in which instructions for inputting data to said design plan, instructions for executing an algorithms in the cells of said design plan, instructions for modifying said master drawing as specified by said design plan, and instructions for storing data defining that image representing the parametric design can be stored; and f. a compiler for translating data stored in said memorymeans into machine language.

Claim 25

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. a design module comprising a master drawing which is modifiable to produce said parametric design and a design plan with mutliple cells; b. means for inputting user-originated information to said design plan; c. means for thereafter employing said design plan to modify the master drawing as specified by the design plan and produce an image representing said parametric design; d. means for electronically storing data defining said image. e. memory means in which instructions for inputting data to said design plan, instructions for executing an algorithms in the cells of said design plan, instructions for modifying said master drawing as specified by said design plan, and instructions for storing data defining that image representing the parametric design can be stored; and f. a compiler for translating data stored in said memorymeans into machine language.

Claim 26

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. a design module with a master plan which is modifiable to produce said parametric design and a design plan having a selected number of cells in which parameters of specified character can be placed; b. means for editing said design plan to embed a variable, formula, function, or command in one of said cells; c. means for executing said parametric design by providing information specific to the item being designed to said design plan; and d. means which so isolates a user from said design plan as to keep the user from editing the design plan while said plan is being executed.

Claim 27

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. a design module with a master plan which is modifiable to produce said parametric design and a design plan having a selected number of cells in which parameters of specified character can be placed; b. means for editing said design plan to embed a variable, formula, function, or command in one of said cells; c. means for executing said parametric design by providing information specific to the item being designed to said design plan; and d. means which so isolates a user from said design plan as to keep the user from editing the design plan while said plan is being executed.

Claim 28

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. means for writing source code that defines a function; b. a design module comprising; (i) a master drawing which is modifiable to provide said parametric design, and (ii) a design plan composed of cells, at least one of which displays a text value which is defined by a statement that refers to said function; c. means utilizing said function to compute the value for said cell; and d. means for so modifying said master drawing according to information from said design plan so as to produce said parametric design.

Claim 29

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. means for writing source code that defines a function; b. a design module comprising; (i) a master drawing which is modifiable to provide said parametric design, and (ii) a design plan composed of cells, at least one of which displays a text value which is defined by a statement that refers to said function; c. means utilizing said function to compute the value for said cell; and d. means for so modifying said master drawing according to information from said design plan so as to produce said parametric design.

Claim 30

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. means for writing source code that defines a function; b. means for compiling said function into virtual machine code; c. a design module comprising: (i) a master drawing which is modifiable to provide said parametric design, and (ii) a design plan composed of cells, at least one of which displays a text value which is defined by a statement that refers to said function; d. means for utilizing said function to compute the value for said cell; and e. means for so modifying said master drawing according to information from said design plan so as to produce said parametric design.

Claim 31

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. means for writing source code that defines a function; b. means for compiling said function into virtual machine code; c. a design module comprising: (i) a master drawing which is modifiable to provide said parametric design, and (ii) a design plan composed of cells, at least one of which displays a text value which is defined by a statement that refers to said function; d. means for utilizing said function to compute the value for said cell; and e. means for so modifying said master drawing according to information from said design plan so as to produce said parametric design.

Claim 32

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. means for writing source code that defines a function; b. a design module comprising: (i) a master drawing which is modifiable to provide said parametric design, and (ii) a design plan composed of cells, at least one of which displays a numeric value which is defined by a statement that refers to said function; c. means for utilizing said function to compute the value for said cell; and d. means for so modifying said master drawing according to information from said design plan so as to produce said parametric design.

Claim 33

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. means for writing source code that defines a function; b. a design module comprising: (i) a master drawing which is modifiable to provide said parametric design, and (ii) a design plan composed of cells, at least one of which displays a numeric value which is defined by a statement that refers to said function; c. means for utilizing said function to compute the value for said cell; and d. means for so modifying said master drawing according to information from said design plan so as to produce said parametric design.

Claim 34

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. means for writing source code that defines a function; b. means for compiling said function into virtual machine code; c. a design module comprising: (i) a master drawing which is modifiable to provide said parametric design, and (ii) a design plan composed of cells, at least one of which displays a numeric value which is defined by a statement that refers to said function; d. means for utilizing said function to compute the value for said cell; and e. means for so modifying said master drawing according to information from said design plan so as to produce said parametric design.

Claim 35

A system for generating a parametric design of an item, said system including: a. means for writing source code that defines a function; b. means for compiling said function into virtual machine code; c. a design module comprising: (i) a master drawing which is modifiable to provide said parametric design, and (ii) a design plan composed of cells, at least one of which displays a numeric value which is defined by a statement that refers to said function; d. means for utilizing said function to compute the value for said cell; and e. means for so modifying said master drawing according to information from said design plan so as to produce said parametric design.