Method and apparatus for tolerancing three dimensional drawings

Claim 3

The method for dimensioning and tolerancing an object on a computer screen as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of producing a symbol representing the first datum on the computer screen.

Claim 4

The method for dimensioning and tolerancing an object on a computer screen as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of defining a first datum includes defining a datum plane and the step of labeling said first datum includes the step of producing a rectangle or parallelogram coplanar with the designated datum plane in the three dimensional drawing of the object.

Claim 5

The method for dimensioning and tolerancing an object on a computer screen as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of defining a first datum includes defining a centerplane and the step of labeling said first datum includes the step of producing a rectangle or parallelogram coplanar with the designated datum for the centerplane in the three dimensional drawing of the object.

Claim 6

The method for dimensioning and tolerancing an object on a computer screen as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of defining a first datum includes defining a centerline and the step of labeling said first datum includes the step of producing a rectangle or parallelogram having one edge colinear with the defined datum for the centerline in the three dimensional drawing of the object.

Claim 7

A computer aided design system having a computer video display used in designing, dimensioning and placing tolerances on a three-dimensional object which includes a plurality of geometric portions, said computer display comprising: means for selecting a first geometric portion of said plurality of geometric portions of said object; means, coupled to said means for selecting a first geometric portion, for designating a datum corresponding to said first geometric portion; means for selecting a second geometric portion of said plurality of geometric portions of said object; and means for defining a relationship between the datum and the second geometric portion of said object further comprising: means for selecting a type of tolerance; and means for defining a numerical tolerance value, said type of tolerance and the numerical tolerance value defining the relationship between the datum and the second of said plurality of geometric portions.

Claim 8

A computer aided design system having a computer video display used in designing, dimensioning and placing tolerances on a three-dimensional object which includes a plurality of geometric portions, said computer display comprising: means for selecting a first geometric portion of said plurality of geometric portions of said object; means, coupled to said means for selecting a first geometric portion, for designating a datum corresponding to said first geometric portion; means for selecting a second geometric portion of said plurality of geometric portions of said object; and means for defining a relationship between the datum and the second geometric portion of said object further comprising: means for selecting a type of tolerance; and means for defining a numerical tolerance value, said type of tolerance and the numerical tolerance value defining the relationship between the datum and the second of said plurality of geometric portions.

Claim 9

The computer aided design system of claim 6 wherein the computer system comprises: means for defining the designated datum mathematically; and means for storing the mathematical definition of the datum; and means for storing said selected type of tolerance and numerical tolerance value defining the relationship between datum and said other of said plurality of geometric portions of said object, wherein said means for storing said selected type of tolerance and numerical tolerance value stores said selected type of tolerance and numerical tolerance values in a linked relationship with said mathematical definition of the datum.

Claim 10

The computer display of claim 6 wherein the means for designating a datum includes a menu for creating and modifying datum.

Claim 11

The computer display of claim 8 wherein the means for designating a datum includes a menu for selecting the type of datum.

Claim 12

The computer display of claim 9 wherein the means for designating a datum includes means for defining a label for said datum.

Claim 13

The computer display of claim 6 wherein the means for selecting a type of tolerance includes a menu of various types of tolerances.

Claim 14

The computer display of claim 6 further comprising means for displaying the selected type of tolerance and displaying the numerical value which define the relationship between the datum and the other of said plurality of geometric portions after being selected.

Claim 15

A computer aided design system for use in designing a three-dimensional object, comprising: display means for displaying on a computer display an axonometric representation of said three-dimensional object; selection means interactive with said computer display for selecting one or more features of said three-dimensional object from said axonometric representation; datum designation means coupled to said selection means for designating a datum corresponding to a first of said features selected by said selection means; means coupled to said selection means for identifying a second of said features selected by said selection means as a feature to be related to said datum; means for defining a geometric relationship between said datum and said second feature; means for selecting a type of tolerance to be associated with said geometric relationship between said datum and said second feature; means for specifying a tolerance value to be associated with said geometric relationship between said datum and said second feature; and means for storing data representing said datum, said second feature, said geometric relationship, said type of tolerance, and said tolerance value in said computer system, wherein said datum, said second feature, said geometric relationship, said type of tolerance and said tolerance value are linked in said storage means.

Claim 16

A computer aided design system for use in designing a three-dimensional object, comprising: display means for displaying on a computer display an axonometric representation of said three-dimensional object; selection means interactive with said computer display for selecting one or more features of said three-dimensional object from said axonometric representation; datum designation means coupled to said selection means for designating a datum corresponding to a first of said features selected by said selection means; means coupled to said selection means for identifying a second of said features selected by said selection means as a feature to be related to said datum; means for defining a geometric relationship between said datum and said second feature; means for selecting a type of tolerance to be associated with said geometric relationship between said datum and said second feature; means for specifying a tolerance value to be associated with said geometric relationship between said datum and said second feature; and means for storing data representing said datum, said second feature, said geometric relationship, said type of tolerance, and said tolerance value in said computer system, wherein said datum, said second feature, said geometric relationship, said type of tolerance and said tolerance value are linked in said storage means.

Claim 17

The computer aided design system of claim 13 wherein the datum designation means includes a menu for creating and modifying datum.

Claim 18

The computer aided design system of claim 14 wherein the datum designation means includes a menu for selecting a type of datum.

Claim 19

The computer aided design system of claim 14 wherein the datum designation means includes means for defining a label for said datum.

Claim 20

The computer aided design system of claim 13 wherein the means for selecting a type of tolerance includes a menu of various types of tolerances.