Assembly moves using float-remaining figures

Abstract

One aspect is a method which determines a float remaining figure (for example, a float remaining circle) for a manufactured pattern of features. In some embodiments, the size and relative location of two or more float remaining figures, each for a different part (each part typically designed in accordance with a different pattern of features), are compared and optionally also transformed to provide a quantifiable measure of whether the two parts fit (or can be modified to fit) and if so how well the parts fit. Other aspects are systems programmed to perform any embodiment of the method, and computer readable media which store code for implementing any embodiment of the method.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A method for assessing fit of a pattern of features with a second pattern of features, including the steps of: 
 processing data indicative of the pattern to generate data indicative of a maximum inscribed circle for the pattern;    generating a float remaining circle having a diameter and a center position by processing data indicative of the pattern, wherein the diameter is indicative of float remaining in the pattern, and the center position of the float remaining circle is determined by the center of the maximum inscribed circle;    generating a second float remaining circle, having a diameter indicative of float remaining in the second pattern, by processing data indicative of the second pattern;    determining a common framework for the features of the pattern and the features of the second pattern, such that the common framework determines relative location of the float remaining circle and the second float remaining circle;    generating an adjusted float remaining circle by processing data indicative of an adjusted version of the pattern; and    using the float remaining circle and the second float remaining circle to assess fit of the pattern with the second pattern, and using the adjusted float remaining circle and the second float remaining circle to assess fit of the adjusted version of the pattern with the second pattern.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the pattern is a simulated manufactured pattern, said method also including the steps of: 
 generating simulation data indicative of the pattern; and    generating the float remaining figure by processing the simulated data.    
   
   
       26 . A computer readable medium which stores code for programming a processor to assess available clearance of a pattern of features, including by determining a float remaining figure having size and location indicative of float remaining in the pattern.  
   
   
       27 . The medium of  claim 26 , wherein the code includes code for programming the processor to: 
 determine a second float remaining figure having size and location indicative of float remaining in a second pattern of features; and    use the float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure to assess fit of the pattern with the second pattern.    
   
   
       28 . The medium of  claim 27 , wherein the code includes code for programming the processor to: 
 generate the float remaining figure by processing data indicative of the pattern;    generate the second float remaining figure by processing data indicative of the second pattern;    generate an adjusted float remaining figure by processing data indicative of an adjusted version of the pattern; and    use the adjusted float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure to assess fit of the adjusted version of the pattern with the second pattern.    
   
   
       29 . The medium of  claim 27 , wherein the code includes code for programming the processor to assess fit of the pattern with the second pattern including by determining relative location of the float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure.  
   
   
       30 . The medium of  claim 27 , wherein the code includes code for programming the processor to assess fit of the pattern with the second pattern including by determining whether the float remaining figure overlaps the second float remaining figure.  
   
   
       31 . The medium of  claim 26 , wherein the pattern is a simulated manufactured pattern, and the code includes code for programming the processor to: 
 generate simulation data indicative of the pattern; and    generate the float remaining figure by processing the simulated data.    
   
   
       32 . The medium of  claim 26 , wherein the pattern is an actually manufactured pattern, and the code includes code for programming the processor to: 
 generate measured data indicative of measured characteristics of features of the pattern; and    generate the float remaining figure by processing the measured data.    
   
   
       33 . The medium of  claim 26 , wherein the float remaining figure is a float remaining circle.  
   
   
       34 . The medium of  claim 33 , wherein the float remaining circle has a diameter and a center position, the diameter is indicative of remaining clearance of the pattern, and the code includes code for programming the processor to determine the center position by generating a construct indicative of consumed feature-relating tolerance of the pattern.  
   
   
       35 . The medium of  claim 33 , wherein the code includes code for programming the processor to process data indicative of the pattern to generate data indicative of a feature-relating tolerance consumed circle having a center, and to determine a center position of the float remaining circle as the center of the feature-relating tolerance consumed circle.  
   
   
       36 . The medium of  claim 33 , wherein the code includes code for programming the processor to process data indicative of the pattern to generate data indicative of a maximum inscribed circle for the pattern, said maximum inscribed circle having a center, and to determine a center position of the float remaining circle as the center of the maximum inscribed circle.  
   
   
       37 . A computer readable medium which stores code for programming a processor to assess fit of a pattern of features with a second pattern of features, including by: 
 determining a float remaining figure having size and location indicative of float remaining in the pattern;    determining a second float remaining figure having size and location indicative of float remaining in the second pattern; and    determining at least one of relative location of the float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure, and overlap of the float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure.    
   
   
       38 . The medium of  claim 37 , wherein the code includes code for programming the processor to: 
 generate the float remaining figure by processing data indicative of the pattern;    generate the second float remaining figure by processing data indicative of the second pattern;    generate an adjusted float remaining figure by processing data indicative of an adjusted version of the pattern; and    determine at least one of relative location of the adjusted float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure, and overlap of the adjusted float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure.    
   
   
       39 . The medium of  claim 38 , wherein the float remaining figure is a float remaining circle, and the second float remaining figure is a second float remaining circle.  
   
   
       40 . The medium of  claim 38 , wherein the code includes code for programming the processor to determine a common framework for the features of the pattern and the features of the second pattern, such that the common framework determines relative location of the float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure.  
   
   
       41 . The medium of  claim 40 , wherein the float remaining figure has a first position, the first position is determined relative to the common framework, the adjusted float remaining figure has an adjusted position, and the code includes code for programming the processor to determine the adjusted position relative to the common framework.  
   
   
       42 . The medium of  claim 41 , wherein the second float remaining figure has a second position relative to the common framework, the second position is displaced relative to the first position by a displacement vector, and the adjusted position is located along the displacement vector.  
   
   
       43 . The medium of  claim 42 , wherein the float remaining figure is a float remaining circle having a center at the first position and a diameter, the adjusted float remaining figure is a second float remaining circle, and the diameter of the float remaining circle is indicative of the remaining clearance of the pattern.  
   
   
       44 . The medium of  claim 43 , wherein the code includes code for programming the processor to process data indicative of the pattern to generate data indicative of a feature-relating tolerance consumed circle, and to determine the first position as the center of the feature-relating tolerance consumed circle.  
   
   
       45 . The medium of  claim 43 , wherein the code for programming the processor to process data indicative of the pattern to generate data indicative of a maximum inscribed circle for the pattern, wherein the maximum inscribed circle has a center, and to determine the first position as the center of the maximum inscribed circle.  
   
   
       46 . A computer system, comprising: 
 a processor programmed to assess available clearance of a pattern of features, including by determining a float remaining figure having size and location indicative of float remaining in the pattern.    
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the processor is programmed to: 
 determine a second float remaining figure having size and location indicative of float remaining in a second pattern of features; and    use the float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure to assess fit of the pattern with the second pattern.    
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the processor is programmed to: 
 generate the float remaining figure by processing data indicative of the pattern;    generate the second float remaining figure by processing data indicative of the second pattern;    generate an adjusted float remaining figure by processing data indicative of an adjusted version of the pattern; and    use the adjusted float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure to assess fit of the adjusted version of the pattern with the second pattern.    
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the processor is programmed to assess fit of the pattern with the second pattern including by determining relative location of the float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the processor is programmed to assess fit of the pattern with the second pattern including by determining whether the float remaining figure overlaps the second float remaining figure.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the pattern is a simulated manufactured pattern, and the processor is programmed to: 
 generate simulation data indicative of the pattern; and    generate the float remaining figure by processing the simulated data.    
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the pattern is an actually manufactured pattern, and the processor is programmed to: 
 generate measured data indicative of measured characteristics of features of the pattern; and    generate the float remaining figure by processing the measured data.    
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the float remaining figure is a float remaining circle.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the float remaining circle has a diameter and a center position, the diameter is indicative of remaining clearance of the pattern, and the processor is programmed to determine the center position by generating a construct indicative of feature-relating tolerance consumed of the pattern.  
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the processor is programmed to process data indicative of the pattern to generate data indicative of a feature-relating tolerance consumed circle having a center, and to determine a center position of the float remaining circle as the center of the feature-relating tolerance consumed circle.  
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the processor is programmed to process data indicative of the pattern to generate data indicative of a maximum inscribed circle for the pattern, said maximum inscribed circle having a center, and to determine a center position of the float remaining circle as the center of the maximum inscribed circle.  
   
   
       57 . A computer system, including: 
 a processor programmed to assess fit of a pattern of features with a second pattern of features, including by:    determining a float remaining figure having size indicative of float remaining in the pattern and a center position indicative of combined location errors;    determining a second float remaining figure having size indicative of float remaining in the second pattern and a center position indicative of combined location errors; and    determining at least one of relative location of the float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure, and overlap of the float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure.    
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 57 , wherein the processor is programmed to: 
 generate the float remaining figure by processing data indicative of the pattern; generate the second float remaining figure by processing data indicative of the second pattern;    generate an adjusted float remaining figure by processing data indicative of an adjusted version of the pattern; and    determine at least one of relative location of the adjusted float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure, and overlap of the adjusted float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure.    
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the float remaining figure is a float remaining circle, and the second float remaining figure is a second float remaining circle.  
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the processor is programmed to determine a common framework for the features of the pattern and the features of the second pattern, such that the common framework determines relative location of the float remaining figure and the second float remaining figure.  
   
   
       61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the float remaining figure has a first position, the first position is determined relative to the common framework, the adjusted float remaining figure has an adjusted position, and the processor is programmed to determine the adjusted position relative to the common framework.  
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein the second float remaining figure has a second position relative to the common framework, the second position is displaced relative to the first position by a displacement vector, and the adjusted position is located along the displacement vector.  
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein the float remaining figure is a float remaining circle having a center at the first position and a diameter, the adjusted float remaining figure is a second float remaining circle, and the diameter of the float remaining circle is indicative of the remaining clearance of the pattern.  
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor is programmed to process data indicative of the pattern to generate data indicative of a feature-relating tolerance consumed circle, and to determine the first position as the center of the feature-relating tolerance consumed circle.  
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein the processor is programmed to process data indicative of the pattern to generate data indicative of a maximum inscribed circle for the pattern, wherein the maximum inscribed circle has a center, and to determine the first position as the center of the maximum inscribed circle.