Concurrent engineering design tool and method

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-based engineering design system to design a part, a tool to make the part, and the process to make the part, comprising: a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including a representation of a primitive geometric entity having the form of the primitive object, each feature template including information relating to a tool to make the primitive object and a process to make the primitive object;   an input device coupled to the processor receiving a request to design the part, the request including one or more predetermined functions that the part performs; and   a core design module executable by the processor, the core design module designing 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.   
     
     
       2. The engineering design system of claim 1 further comprising an output device coupled to the processor, the output device displaying a graphical representation of the primitive geometric entity corresponding to each one or more primitive objects located by the processor. 
     
     
       3. The engineering design system of claim 2 wherein at least one primitive geometric entity is displayed on the output device at a location on the output device specified by a user. 
     
     
       4. The engineering design system of claim 2 wherein at least one primitive geometric entity is displayed on the output device at a location on the output device specified by the core design module. 
     
     
       5. The engineering design system of claim 2 wherein at least one primitive geometric entity is displayed on the output device at a location on the output device specified by the core design module and a user. 
     
     
       6. The engineering design system of claim 2 wherein at least one primitive geometric entity is displayed on the output device at a location on the output device specified in the feature template that includes the primitive geometric entity. 
     
     
       7. The engineering design system of claim 1 wherein a set of dimensions for each primitive geometric entity corresponding to each one or more primitive objects located by the processor is specified by a user. 
     
     
       8. The engineering design system of claim 1 wherein a set of dimensions for each primitive geometric entity corresponding to each one or more primitive objects located by the processor is determined by the core design module. 
     
     
       9. The engineering design system of claim 1 further comprising an interface to a computer-aided drafting system, the interface coupled to the processor and transmitting to the computer-aided drafting system a set of instructions defining the primitive geometric entity corresponding to each one or more primitive objects located by the processor. 
     
     
       10. The engineering design system of claim 1 wherein each feature template is indexed by the form of the primitive object represented in the template. 
     
     
       11. The engineering design system of claim 1 wherein each feature template represents a primitive object having more than one function. 
     
     
       12. The engineering design system of claim 1 wherein each feature template represents a primitive object having one or more functions. 
     
     
       13. 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. 
     
     
       14. A computer-based design system to design a part, a tool to make the part, and the process to make the part, the part comprising a plurality of sub-parts, the design system comprising: a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including a representation of a primitive geometric entity having the form of the primitive object, each feature template including information relating to a tool to make the primitive object and a process to make the primitive object;   an input device coupled to the processor receiving a set of instructions, each instruction in the set of instructions referring to a sub-part and specifying the function that the sub-part performs; and   a core design module executable by the processor, the core design module designing 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 for each instruction a primitive object that performs the function specified for the sub-part.   
     
     
       15. The engineering design system of claim 14 wherein the core design module further comprises means for combining the sub-parts to create the part. 
     
     
       16. The engineering design system of claim 14 wherein the core design module simultaneously designs the part, the tool to make the part and the process to make the part. 
     
     
       17. A computer-based engineering design system to assist in designing a part and a tool to make the part, the system comprising: a processor,   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including a representation of a primitive geometric entity having the form of the primitive object, each feature template including information relating to a tool to make the primitive object;   an input device coupled to the processor receiving a request to design the part, the request including a predetermined function that the part performs; and   a core design module executable by the processor, the core design module designing the part and the tool to make the part by accessing the plurality of feature templates in the memory to locate the primitive object that best performs the predetermined function.   
     
     
       18. The engineering design system of claim 17 further comprising an output device coupled to the processor, the output device displaying a graphical representation of the primitive geometric entity corresponding to the primitive object located by the processor. 
     
     
       19. The engineering design system of claim 18 wherein the graphical representation of the primitive geometric entity is displayed on the output device at a location on the output device specified by a user. 
     
     
       20. The engineering design system of claim 18 wherein the graphical representation of the primitive geometric entity is displayed on the output device at a location on the output device specified by the core design module. 
     
     
       21. The engineering design system of claim 18 wherein the graphical representation of the primitive geometric entity is displayed on the output device at a location on the output device specified by the core design module and a user. 
     
     
       22. The engineering design system of claim 18 wherein the graphical representation of the primitive geometric entity is displayed on the output device at a location on the output device specified in the feature template. 
     
     
       23. The engineering design system of claim 18 wherein a set of dimensions for the primitive geometric entity corresponding to the primitive object located by the processor is specified by a user. 
     
     
       24. The engineering design system of claim 18 wherein a set of dimensions for the primitive geometric entity corresponding to the primitive object located by the processor is determined by the core design module. 
     
     
       25. The engineering design system of claim 17 further comprising an interface to a computer-aided drafting system, the interface coupled to the processor and transmitting to the computer-aided drafting system a set of instructions defining the primitive geometric entity corresponding to the primitive object located by the processor. 
     
     
       26. The engineering design system of claim 17 wherein each feature template is indexed by the form of the primitive object represented in the template. 
     
     
       27. The engineering design system of claim 17 wherein the core design module simultaneously designs the part and the tool to make the part. 
     
     
       28. A computer-based engineering design system to assist in designing a product and a tool to make the product, the system comprising: a processor,   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of feature templates,   each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including a representation of a primitive geometric entity having the form of the primitive object, each feature template including information relating to the tool to make the primitive object;   an input device coupled to the processor receiving a request to design the product, the request including a predetermined function that the product performs; and   means for simultaneously designing the product and the tool to make the product by accessing the plurality of feature templates in the memory to locate the primitive object that best performs the predetermined function.   
     
     
       29. A computer-based design system to assist in the simultaneous design of a part, a tool to make the part, and a process to make the part, the design system comprising: a processor,   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including a form information relating to the primitive object, tool information relating to a tool to make the primitive object and process information relating to a process to make the primitive object;   an input device coupled to the processor receiving a request to design the part, the request including a predetermined function that the part performs; and   a core design module executable by the processor, the core design module simultaneously designing the part, the tool to make the part and the process to make the part by accessing the plurality of feature templates in the memory to locate one or more feature templates representing primitive objects that perform the predetermined function.   
     
     
       30. The design system of claim 29 wherein each feature template further comprises material information relating to a material with which to make the primitive object that the feature template represents. 
     
     
       31. A computer-based design system to assist in the simultaneous design of a complex object, a tool to make the complex object, and a process to make the complex object, the design system comprising: a processor,   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including a form information relating to the primitive object, tool information relating to a tool to make the primitive object and process information relating to a process to make the primitive object;   an input device coupled to the processor receiving a request to design the complex object, the request including a predetermined function that the complex object should perform; and   a core design module executable by the processor, the core design module simultaneously designing the complex object, the tool to make the complex object and the process to make the complex object by accessing the plurality of feature templates in the memory to locate one or more feature templates representing primitive objects that perform the predetermined function.   
     
     
       32. A method to design a part, a tool to make the part and a process to make the part, comprising the steps of: receiving a set of constraint relationships that specify the desired function of the part;   selecting a material with which to make the part;   providing a set of feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including part information including at least one representation of a primitive geometric entity having the form of the primitive object, each feature template further including tool information and process information relating to the primitive object;   accessing the set of feature templates to obtain a selected feature template being a representation of a primitive is object having the desired function and capable of being made from the selected material; and   concurrently designing a part drawing, a tool drawing and a process specification to make the part by utilizing the part information, the tool information and the process information in the selected feature template.   
     
     
       33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of displaying a representation of the part drawing on an output device by plotting a representation of the primitive geometric entity corresponding to the selected feature template. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of outputting the part specification to a tooling generator to produce a prototype tool. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of utilizing the part drawing, the tool drawing and the process specification to make the part. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of utilizing the part drawing, the tool drawing and the process specification to make a part specification. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of inputting the part specification as a set of constraints to an automated design system. 
     
     
       38. A method to concurrently design a part, a tool to make the part and a process to make the part, comprising the steps of: receiving a set of constraint relationships that specify the desired function of the part, the part having a plurality of sub-parts;   for each sub-part, receiving a set of constraint parameters that specify the desired function of the sub-part;   providing a set of feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including form information, tool information and process information relating to the primitive object;   for each sub-part of the part, accessing the set of feature templates to retrieve a selected feature template for each sub-part being a representation of a primitive object having the desired function of the sub-part;   combining the form information in the selected feature templates for each sub-part to create a part drawing; and   concurrently with the previous step, designing a tool drawing and a process specification by utilizing the tool information and the process information in the selected feature templates.   
     
     
       39. The method of claim 38 wherein the step of combining further comprises the step of providing connectivity information for all sub-parts in the part. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim 38 wherein the step of combining further comprises the step of providing parametric relationships between sub-parts. 
     
     
       41. A method to design a part, a tool to make the part and a process to make the part comprising the steps of: receiving a set of constraint relationships that specify the desired function of the part;   selecting a material with which to make the part;   providing a set of feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including form information, tool information and process information relating to the primitive object;   accessing the set of feature templates to obtain a selected feature template being a representation of a primitive object having the desired function and capable of being made from the selected material; and   concurrently designing a part drawing, a tool drawing and a process specification to make the part by utilizing the form information, the tool information and the process information in the selected feature template.   
     
     
       42. A method to concurrently design a part having a plurality of sub-parts, a tool to make the part and a process to make the part, comprising the steps of: for each sub-part, receiving a set of constraint parameters that specify the desired function of the sub-part;   providing a set of feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including form information, tool information and process information relating to the primitive object;   for each sub-part of the part, accessing the set of feature templates to retrieve a selected feature template for each sub-part being a representation of a primitive object having the desired function of the sub-part;   combining the form information in the selected feature templates for each sub-part to create a part drawing; and   concurrently with the previous step, designing a tool drawing and a process specification by utilizing the tool information and the process information in the selected feature templates.   
     
     
       43. In a computer-based design system, a method for designing a part, comprising the steps of: providing a set of part templates each representing an object that has a form and a function, each part template including form information;   providing a set of tool templates each representing a tool to make an object, each tool template including tool information;   providing a set of process templates each representing a process to make an object, each process template including process information;   providing a set of feature templates, each feature template associated with a part template, a tool template and a process template;   receiving a set of constraint relationships, the constraint relationships including a desired function for an object under design;   accessing the set of feature templates to retrieve a selected part template representing an object having the desired function, an associated tool template and an associated process template; and   utilizing the form information in the selected part template, the tool information in the associated tool template and the process information in the associated process template to concurrently design a part drawing, a tool drawing and a process specification.   
     
     
       44. A method to design a product, a tool to make the product and a process to make the product comprising the steps of: receiving a set of constraint relationships that specify the desired function of the product;   selecting a material with which to make the product;   providing a set of feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including form information, tool information and process information relating to the primitive object;   accessing the set of feature templates to obtain a selected feature template being a representation of a primitive object having the desired function and capable of being made from the selected material; and   concurrently designing a product drawing, a tool drawing and a process specification to make the product by utilizing the form information, the tool information and the process information in the selected feature template.   
     
     
       45. A method to concurrently design a product having a plurality of sub-parts, a tool to make the product and a process to make the product, comprising the steps of: for each sub-part, receiving a set of constraint parameters that specify the desired function of the sub-part;   providing a set of feature templates, each feature template being a representation of a primitive object having a form and a function, each feature template indexed by the function of the primitive object and including form information, tool information and process information relating to the primitive object;   for each sub-part of the product, accessing the set of feature templates to retrieve a selected feature template for each sub-part being a representation of a primitive object having the desired function of the sub-part;   combining the form information in the selected feature templates for each sub-part to create a product drawing; and   concurrently with the previous step, designing a tool drawing and a process specification by utilizing the tool information and the process information in the selected feature templates.