System and method for morphable model design space definition

Abstract

A system and method for designing, on a display device, a new design. The method includes receiving a plurality of at least two predefined models defined as parameters in a common coordinate system, extracting patterns and relationships from the predefined models and capturing the patterns and relationships in a processor memory to form a statistical model providing plural, selectable vehicle shapes, and generating a new design based on a selectable shape of the statistical model.

1 . A method for generating a geometric design, comprising: 
 receiving input of first components of a geometric design of a high dimensional space;    a first mapping of the first components of a high dimensional space into first components of a low dimensional space of principal components;    applying the first components of a low dimensional space of principal components to an optimization computation to generate second components of a low dimensional space of principal components;    a second mapping of the second components of a low dimensional space of principal components to second components of a new geometric design of a high dimensional space.    
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising: 
 on a display, displaying a representation of the first components of a geometric design of a high dimension;    on a display, displaying a representations of the second components of a geometric design of high dimension.    
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 on a display screen, a user manipulating a representation of the first components of a geometric design of high dimension;    in sequence the first mapping occurs;    in sequence, the optimization computation applies constraints to the first components of a low dimensional space of principal components to generate second components of a low dimensional space of principal components;    in sequence the second mapping occurs;    on the display screen, displaying a representation of the second components of a geometric design of high dimension.    
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first components of a geometric design of a high dimensional space is a statistic model generated from a set of exemplar models.  
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the optimization computation comprises applying constraints to principal components.  
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 3  wherein the mapping and optimization computation steps are transparent to the user.  
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first components of a geometric design of a high dimensional space represent an automobile.  
     
     
         8 . A system for generating a geometric design, comprising: 
 an input module for receiving of first components of a geometric design of a high dimensional space;    a first mapping module for mapping the first components of a high dimensional space into first components of a low dimensional space of principal components;    an optimization computation module for applying the first components of a low dimensional space of principal components to an optimization computation to generate second components of a low dimensional space of principal components;    a second mapping module for mapping the second components of a low dimensional space of principal components to second components of a new geometric design of a high dimensional space.    
     
     
         9 . A system as recited in  claim 8 , comprising: 
 a display module for displaying, on a display screen, a representation of the first components of a geometric design of a high dimension and on the display, displaying a representations of the second components of a geometric design of high dimension.    
     
     
         10 . A system as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a manipulation module for a user manipulating on a display screen, a representation of a first component of the first components of a geometric design of high dimension.    
     
     
         12 . A system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the first components of a geometric design of a high dimensional space are a statistic model generated from a set of exemplar models.  
     
     
         13 . A system as recited in  claim 8  wherein the optimization computation comprises: a constraint module for applying constraints to principal components.  
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein operations of the first mapping, second mapping and optimization modules are transparent to the user.  
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 8  wherein the first components of a geometric design of a high dimensional space represent an automobile.  
     
     
         16 . A method for design, comprising: 
 defining a first space for a first design to occupy;    defining a second space for a second design to occupy;    manipulating the second design within the first space.    
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein defining the first space comprises: 
 receiving a plurality of at least two predefined models defined as parameters in a common coordinate system;    calculating means from correspondences between parameters of the predefined models;    calculating a covariance based on the means.    
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein defining the second space comprises: 
 receiving a plurality of at least two predefined models defined as parameters in a common coordinate system;    calculating means from correspondences between parameters of the predefined models;    calculating a covariance based on the means.    
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the manipulating step comprises: 
 receiving the second design of a high dimensional space;    a first mapping of the first components of the high dimensional space into first components of a low dimensional space of principal components;    applying the first components of a low dimensional space of principal components to an optimization computation to generate second components of a low dimensional space of principal components;    a second mapping of the second components of a low dimensional space of principal components to second components of a new geometric design of a high dimensional space.    
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 on a display screen, a user manipulating the second design of high dimensional space.