US5594651A — Method and apparatus for manufacturing objects ha…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 157 words

A method for manufacturing an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, the method comprising the steps of: designing a geometric model of said object; generating a computerized mathematical model of said object by discretizing said geometric model of said object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of said elements, wherein values of the field {f} and potential {x} are specified at said nodes; calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting material property coefficients from said material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model; comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials; determining manufacturing parameters corresponding to the matched material property coefficients; and manufacturing the object in accordance with the determined manufacturing parameters.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 157 words

A method for manufacturing an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, the method comprising the steps of: designing a geometric model of said object; generating a computerized mathematical model of said object by discretizing said geometric model of said object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of said elements, wherein values of the field {f} and potential {x} are specified at said nodes; calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting material property coefficients from said material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model; comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials; determining manufacturing parameters corresponding to the matched material property coefficients; and manufacturing the object in accordance with the determined manufacturing parameters.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating a computerized mathematical model of the object further includes determining the smallest volume increment which can be manufactured using a computer assisted manufacturing method.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the field {f} is a mechanical force field and the potential {x} is a displacement.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the field {f} is an electric current field and the potential {x} is a voltage.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the field {f} is a magnetic field and the potential {x} is a magnetic vector potential.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the field {f} is a thermal flux field and the potential {x} is a temperature.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein the field {f} is a fluid velocity field and the potential {x} is a fluid potential.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 47 words

An article of manufacture having response characteristics which are optimized for a particular application and made in accordance with the method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein different portions of the article have different material properties corresponding to the matched material property coefficients for known materials.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 173 words

A computer-implemented method for determining manufacturing parameters for manufacturing an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, the method comprising the steps of: creating a geometric model of said object in a computer; generating a computerized mathematical model of said object by discretizing said geometric model of said object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of said elements, wherein values of the field {f} and potential {x} are specified at said nodes; calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting material property coefficients from said material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model; comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials; determining manufacturing parameters corresponding to the matched material property coefficients; and generating machine control instructions for controlling a machine to manufacture the object in accordance with the manufacturing parameters.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 173 words

A computer-implemented method for determining manufacturing parameters for manufacturing an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, the method comprising the steps of: creating a geometric model of said object in a computer; generating a computerized mathematical model of said object by discretizing said geometric model of said object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of said elements, wherein values of the field {f} and potential {x} are specified at said nodes; calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting material property coefficients from said material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model; comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials; determining manufacturing parameters corresponding to the matched material property coefficients; and generating machine control instructions for controlling a machine to manufacture the object in accordance with the manufacturing parameters.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 144 words

A computer-implemented method for determining the material properties of an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to field {f} applied thereto, the method comprising the steps of: creating a geometric model of said object in a computer; generating a computerized mathematical model of said object by discretizing said geometric model of said object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of said elements, wherein values of the field {f} and potential {x} are specified at said nodes; calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting material property coefficients from said material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model; and comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 144 words

A computer-implemented method for determining the material properties of an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to field {f} applied thereto, the method comprising the steps of: creating a geometric model of said object in a computer; generating a computerized mathematical model of said object by discretizing said geometric model of said object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of said elements, wherein values of the field {f} and potential {x} are specified at said nodes; calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting material property coefficients from said material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model; and comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 165 words

A machine for determining the manufacturing parameters of an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, comprising: designing means for designing a geometric model of said object; generating means for generating a computerized mathematical model of said object by discretizing said geometric model of said object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of said elements, wherein values of the field {f} and the potential {x} are specified at said nodes; calculating means for calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting means for extracting material property coefficients from said material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model; comparing means for comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials; and determining means for determining manufacturing parameters corresponding to the matched material property coefficients.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 165 words

A machine for determining the manufacturing parameters of an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, comprising: designing means for designing a geometric model of said object; generating means for generating a computerized mathematical model of said object by discretizing said geometric model of said object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of said elements, wherein values of the field {f} and the potential {x} are specified at said nodes; calculating means for calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting means for extracting material property coefficients from said material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model; comparing means for comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials; and determining means for determining manufacturing parameters corresponding to the matched material property coefficients.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 151 words

A machine for determining the material properties of an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, comprising: designing means for designing a geometric model of said object; generating means for generating a computerized mathematical model of said object by discretizing said geometric model of said object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of said elements, wherein values of the field {f} and potential {x} are specified at said nodes; calculating means for calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting means for extracting material property coefficients from said material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model; and comparing means for comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 151 words

A machine for determining the material properties of an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, comprising: designing means for designing a geometric model of said object; generating means for generating a computerized mathematical model of said object by discretizing said geometric model of said object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of said elements, wherein values of the field {f} and potential {x} are specified at said nodes; calculating means for calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting means for extracting material property coefficients from said material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model; and comparing means for comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The article of manufacture according to claim 8, wherein the different material properties are mechanical stiffness properties.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

The article of manufacture according to claim 8, wherein the different material properties are thermal conductivities.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

The article of manufacture according to claim 8, wherein the different material properties are magnetic reluctivities.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

The article of manufacture according to claim 8, wherein the different material properties are electrical conductivities.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 68 words

An article of manufacture made in accordance with the method of claim 1, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of an automobile part, an aircraft part, a prosthetic implant, a golf club shaft, a tennis racket, a bicycle frame, and a fishing pole, and wherein different portions of the article have different material properties corresponding to the matched extracted material property coefficients for known materials.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 28 words

A human prosthesis manufactured in accordance with the method of claim 1, wherein the human prosthesis comprises a non-uniform mechanical stiffness throughout causing a different displacement under loading.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 39 words

A golf club manufactured in accordance with the method of claim 1, wherein the golf club comprises a shaft having a plurality of adjacent regions each having a different mechanical stiffness property which provides a different displacement under loading.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 151 words

A method for manufacturing an object for which a defined field {f} generates a potential {x} in response thereto, the method comprising the steps of: (1) generating a computerized mathematical model of the object by discretizing a geometric model of the object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of each of the finite elements; (2) specifying values of the field {f} and the potential {x} for each of the nodes; (3) calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}, wherein the material property matrix [k] comprises a plurality of values each corresponding to one or more material property coefficients; (4) comparing each of the plurality of values in the material property matrix [k] to a known material property and, responsive to a match, selecting a corresponding manufacturing process parameter; and (5) controlling a manufacturing machine in accordance with the selected manufacturing process parameters.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 151 words

A method for manufacturing an object for which a defined field {f} generates a potential {x} in response thereto, the method comprising the steps of: (1) generating a computerized mathematical model of the object by discretizing a geometric model of the object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of each of the finite elements; (2) specifying values of the field {f} and the potential {x} for each of the nodes; (3) calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}, wherein the material property matrix [k] comprises a plurality of values each corresponding to one or more material property coefficients; (4) comparing each of the plurality of values in the material property matrix [k] to a known material property and, responsive to a match, selecting a corresponding manufacturing process parameter; and (5) controlling a manufacturing machine in accordance with the selected manufacturing process parameters.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 20, wherein step (5) comprises the step of controlling the manufacturing machine to control the stiffness properties of the object along an axis of manufacture.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 30 words

An article manufactured in accordance with the method of claim 21, wherein the article comprises a plurality of regions each having a different mechanical stiffness along the axis of manufacture.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 73 words

An article of manufacture comprising a plurality of adjacent fiber composite braided regions each having a different mechanical stiffness property which causes a different regional displacement according to a stress load placed on that region when the material article is used, wherein each different stiffness mechanical property is determined by a manufacturing process which calculates each stiffness based on a specified potential at nodes of a geometric model of the article of manufacture.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 73 words

An article of manufacture comprising a plurality of adjacent fiber composite braided regions each having a different mechanical stiffness property which causes a different regional displacement according to a stress load placed on that region when the material article is used, wherein each different stiffness mechanical property is determined by a manufacturing process which calculates each stiffness based on a specified potential at nodes of a geometric model of the article of manufacture.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 113 words

A computer programmed with machine control instructions for controlling a manufacturing machine to manufacture an article in accordance with a plurality of manufacturing parameters, wherein the machine control instructions are generated on the basis of a process which optimizes the manufacturing parameters for a particular application in response to a plurality of desired displacement values for different regions of the article, and wherein the machine control instructions control settings of the manufacturing machine on the basis of sensor data received from the machine and the plurality of manufacturing parameters to manufacture the article with a plurality of different regions each having a different mechanical stiffness property which provides a different displacement under loading.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 113 words

A computer programmed with machine control instructions for controlling a manufacturing machine to manufacture an article in accordance with a plurality of manufacturing parameters, wherein the machine control instructions are generated on the basis of a process which optimizes the manufacturing parameters for a particular application in response to a plurality of desired displacement values for different regions of the article, and wherein the machine control instructions control settings of the manufacturing machine on the basis of sensor data received from the machine and the plurality of manufacturing parameters to manufacture the article with a plurality of different regions each having a different mechanical stiffness property which provides a different displacement under loading.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-01-14	2000-07-15	2001-01-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-01-14	2004-07-15	2005-01-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-01-14	2008-07-15	2009-01-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for manufacturing objects having optimized response characteristics

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