US5822206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Concurrent engineering design tool and method
Assignee: Stevens Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1996-08-30
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Granted: 1998-10-13
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Expires: 2016-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A computer-based engineering design system to design a part, a tool to make the part, and the process to make the part. The design system has a processor and a memory. The memory stores feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function. Each feature template is indexed by the function of the primitive object and includes a representation of a primitive geometric entity having the form of the primitive object. Each feature template can include information relating to a tool to make the primitive object and a process to make the primitive object. The design system also includes an input device for receiving a request to design the part. This request includes one or more predetermined functions that the part performs. A core design module, executable by the processor, designs the part, the tool to make the part and process to make the part by accessing the plurality of feature templates in the memory to locate one or more primitive objects that perform the one or more predetermined functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald Sebastian
- 👤 Steven Pratt
- 👤 Sivakumar Muthuswamy
- 👤 David Johann Kniep
- 👤 Souran Manoochehri
- 👤 Scott Kolodzieski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:56
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C33/00; B29C33/38; B29C33/3835; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/18; G05B19/4097; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/31; G05B2219/31398; G05B2219/35; G05B2219/35044; G05B2219/35081; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A computer-based engineering design system to design a part, a tool to make the part, and the process to make the part, the design system comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing at least one feature data record, each feature data record representing a respective primitive object having a predetermined function, each feature data record including a geometric data record for forming a shape of the primitive object, each feature data record including information corresponding to a tool to make the primitive object and a process to make the primitive object; an input device receiving a request from the processor to design the part, the request including at least one prespecified function performed by the part; and a core design module executable by the processor and creating the part, the tool to make the part and process to make the part, the core design module utilizing the at least one feature data record in the memory to locate the at least one primitive object performing the at least one prespecified function.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A computer-based engineering design system to design a part, a tool to make the part, and the process to make the part, the design system comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing at least one feature data record, each feature data record representing a respective primitive object having a predetermined function, each feature data record including a geometric data record for forming a shape of the primitive object, each feature data record including information corresponding to a tool to make the primitive object and a process to make the primitive object; an input device receiving a request from the processor to design the part, the request including at least one prespecified function performed by the part; and a core design module executable by the processor and creating the part, the tool to make the part and process to make the part, the core design module utilizing the at least one feature data record in the memory to locate the at least one primitive object performing the at least one prespecified function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The engineering design system of claim 1 further comprising an output device being coupled to the processor and displaying a graphical representation of the shape of the respective primitive object located by the processor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The engineering design system of claim 2 wherein the shape of the respective primitive object is displayed on a user-specified location of the output device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The engineering design system of claim 2 wherein the shape of the respective primitive object is displayed on a location of the output device specified by the core design module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The engineering design system of claim 2 wherein the shape of the respective primitive object is displayed on a location of the output device specified by the core design module and a user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The engineering design system of claim 2 wherein the shape of the respective primitive object is displayed on a location of the output device specified in the respective feature data record.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The engineering design system of claim 1 wherein the shape of the respective primitive object located by the processor is specified by a user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The engineering design system of claim 1 wherein the shape of the respective primitive object located by the processor is determined by the core design module.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The engineering design system of claim 1 further comprising an interface to a computer-aided drafting system, the interface being coupled to the processor and transmitting a set of instructions defining the the shape of the respective primitive object to the computer-aided drafting system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The engineering design system of claim 1 wherein each feature data record is representatively indexed using the shape of the primitive object.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The engineering design system of claim 1 wherein each feature data record represents a respective primitive object having more than one function.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The engineering design system of claim 1 wherein each feature data record represents a respective primitive object having one or more functions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The engineering design system of claim 1 wherein the core design module simultaneously designs the part, the tool to make the part and the process to make the part.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
155 words
A computer-based design method comprising the steps of: receiving a set of materials to make a part; selecting a preferred one of the set of materials to make the part; determining a set of design constraints as a function of characteristics of the preferred one of the set of materials; and simultaneously designing, within the set of design constraints, a part that is made from the selected material, a tool to make the part and a process to make the part, wherein the part, the tool and the process are simultaneously designed using at least one feature data record stored in a computer memory, each feature data record representing a primitive object having a predetermined function, each feature data record including a geometric data record forming a shape of the primitive object, each feature data record including information corresponding to a tool to make the primitive object and a process to make the primitive object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
155 words
A computer-based design method comprising the steps of: receiving a set of materials to make a part; selecting a preferred one of the set of materials to make the part; determining a set of design constraints as a function of characteristics of the preferred one of the set of materials; and simultaneously designing, within the set of design constraints, a part that is made from the selected material, a tool to make the part and a process to make the part, wherein the part, the tool and the process are simultaneously designed using at least one feature data record stored in a computer memory, each feature data record representing a primitive object having a predetermined function, each feature data record including a geometric data record forming a shape of the primitive object, each feature data record including information corresponding to a tool to make the primitive object and a process to make the primitive object.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for designing a tool to make a product and a process to make the product, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a set of constraint relationships that specify a desired function of the product; selecting a material from a set of materials to be used for making the product; providing a set of feature data records, each feature data record corresponding to a respective primitive object having a predefined function, each feature data record including shape information, tool information and process information corresponding to the respective primitive object; generating a selected feature data record corresponding to a primitive object having the desired function and capable of being made from the selected material, the selected feature data record being generated from the set of feature data records; and concurrently designing a tool drawing and a process specification to make the product as a function of the form information, the tool information and the process information in the selected feature data record.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for designing a tool to make a product and a process to make the product, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a set of constraint relationships that specify a desired function of the product; selecting a material from a set of materials to be used for making the product; providing a set of feature data records, each feature data record corresponding to a respective primitive object having a predefined function, each feature data record including shape information, tool information and process information corresponding to the respective primitive object; generating a selected feature data record corresponding to a primitive object having the desired function and capable of being made from the selected material, the selected feature data record being generated from the set of feature data records; and concurrently designing a tool drawing and a process specification to make the product as a function of the form information, the tool information and the process information in the selected feature data record.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for designing a product and a process to make the product, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a set of constraint relationships that specify a desired function of the product; selecting a material from a set of materials to be used for making the product; providing a set of feature data records, each feature data record corresponding to a respective primitive object having a predefined function, each feature data record including shape information, tool information and process information corresponding to the respective primitive object; generating a selected feature data record corresponding to a primitive object having the desired function and capable of being made from the selected material, the selected feature data record being generated from the set of feature data records; and concurrently designing a product drawing and a process specification to make the product as a function of the form information, the tool information and the process information in the selected feature data record.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for designing a product and a process to make the product, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a set of constraint relationships that specify a desired function of the product; selecting a material from a set of materials to be used for making the product; providing a set of feature data records, each feature data record corresponding to a respective primitive object having a predefined function, each feature data record including shape information, tool information and process information corresponding to the respective primitive object; generating a selected feature data record corresponding to a primitive object having the desired function and capable of being made from the selected material, the selected feature data record being generated from the set of feature data records; and concurrently designing a product drawing and a process specification to make the product as a function of the form information, the tool information and the process information in the selected feature data record.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
151 words
A computer-based engineering design system for designing a part and a process to make the part, the system comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of feature data records, each feature data record corresponding to a respective primitive object having a predetermined function, each feature data record including a geometric shape representing a form of the respective primitive object, each feature data record including information relating to a tool to make the respective primitive object; an input device coupled to the processor receiving a request to design the part, the request including a predefined function performed by the part; and a core design module executable by the processor, the core design module designing the part and the process to make the part by accessing the plurality of feature data records in the memory to locate the respective primitive object substantially performing the predefined function.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
151 words
A computer-based engineering design system for designing a part and a process to make the part, the system comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of feature data records, each feature data record corresponding to a respective primitive object having a predetermined function, each feature data record including a geometric shape representing a form of the respective primitive object, each feature data record including information relating to a tool to make the respective primitive object; an input device coupled to the processor receiving a request to design the part, the request including a predefined function performed by the part; and a core design module executable by the processor, the core design module designing the part and the process to make the part by accessing the plurality of feature data records in the memory to locate the respective primitive object substantially performing the predefined function.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
161 words
A computer-based engineering design system to assist in designing a tool to make a part and a process to make the part, the system comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of feature data records, each feature data record corresponding to a respective primitive object having a predetermined function, each feature data record including a geometric shape representing a form of the respective primitive object, each feature data record including information relating to the tool to make the respective primitive object; an input device coupled to the processor receiving a request to design the part, the request including a predefined function performed by the part; and a core design module executable by the processor, the core design module designing the tool to make the part and the process to make the part by accessing the plurality of feature data records in the memory to locate the respective primitive object substantially performing the predefined function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
161 words
A computer-based engineering design system to assist in designing a tool to make a part and a process to make the part, the system comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of feature data records, each feature data record corresponding to a respective primitive object having a predetermined function, each feature data record including a geometric shape representing a form of the respective primitive object, each feature data record including information relating to the tool to make the respective primitive object; an input device coupled to the processor receiving a request to design the part, the request including a predefined function performed by the part; and a core design module executable by the processor, the core design module designing the tool to make the part and the process to make the part by accessing the plurality of feature data records in the memory to locate the respective primitive object substantially performing the predefined function.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer-based engineering design system according to claim 17, wherein the core design module concurrently designs the part and the process to make the part.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer-based engineering design system according to claim 18, wherein the core design module concurrently designs the tool to make the part and the process to make the part.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-based engineering design system according to claim 1, wherein each data record is indexed by the predetermined function of the primitive object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer-based design method according to step 14, wherein each data record is indexed by the predetermined function.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer-based design method according to step 14, wherein each data record is indexed by the predetermined function.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein each feature data record is indexed by the predefined function.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 16, wherein each data record is indexed by the predefined function.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer-based engineering design system according to claim 11, wherein each feature data record is indexed by the predetermined function.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer-based engineering design system according to claim 18, wherein each feature data record is indexed by the predetermined function.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-10-12 | 2002-04-13 | 2002-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-12 | 2006-04-13 | 2006-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-12 | 2010-04-13 | 2010-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |