Method and system for dynamically manipulating an assembly of objects in a three-dimensional scene of a system of computer-aided design

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system of computer-aided design products for dynamically manipulating an assembly of objects in a three-dimensional scene. The system and method provide the assembly of objects with information relative to kinematic joints linking objects of the assembly. The system and method provide a dynamic manipulating tool (DM) embedded in the scene. The DM tool includes a reference with three-axes allowing for each axis a degree of freedom in translation and a degree of freedom in rotation. Next the system and method attach said dynamic manipulating tool (DM) to one object of the assembly, and select a degree of freedom of the dynamic manipulating tool (DM) attached to the object of the assembly. The system/method apply a load according to said selected degree of freedom and calculates and displays in real-time the result of a dynamic simulation of said load applying.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method for dynamically manipulating an assembly of objects forming a product in a three-dimensional scene of a system of computer-aided design enabling design of the product, the method comprising:
 providing the assembly of objects with information relative to kinematic joints linking objects of the assembly; 
 providing a dynamic manipulating tool embedded in the scene, comprising a referential with three axes allowing for each axis a degree of freedom in translation and a degree of freedom in rotation; 
 attaching said dynamic manipulating tool to one object of the assembly; 
 selecting a degree of freedom of the dynamic manipulating tool attached to the one object of the assembly; 
 applying a load according to said selected degree of freedom based on a performed movement of associated with the dynamic manipulating tool, the performed movement of associated with the dynamic manipulating tool being converted into a load value, wherein said conversion takes into account a speed for a movement of translation according to an axis or an acceleration for a movement of rotation according to an axis or a combination of acceleration and speed to drive both rotation and translation; and 
 calculating and displaying in real-time physical effects of a dynamic simulation of said load applying to the assembly of objects, in furtherance of designing the product; 
 wherein said applying the load is performed during the dynamic simulation based on real-time user interactions with the dynamic manipulating tool. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said applying a load according to said selected degree of freedom comprises:
 selecting a range of load values, the range of load values being an ordered set of load values with a minimum and a maximum load value; and   determining a load value among said range of load values.   
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said applying a load according to said selected degree of freedom further comprises determining a referential in which the load is applied. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said applying a load according to said selected degree of freedom further comprises determining if the three axes of the dynamic manipulating tool rotates or not with the one object on which the dynamic manipulating tool is attached. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the dynamic manipulating tool is performed with a mouse with a pressed button or with a contact of a finger on a screen of displaying. 
     
     
       6. The method according to claim  5   1 , wherein said the performed movement is with a mouse or a finger is applied at a distance from the dynamic manipulating tool. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said load is a force or a torque. 
     
     
       8. A computer-aided design system comprising;:
 a computer system; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that cause the computer system to dynamically manipulate an assembly of objects forming a product in a three-dimensional scene of a computer-aided design enabling design of the product, said instructions including causing the computer system to:
 provide the assembly of objects with information relative to kinematic joints linking objects of the assembly; 
 provide a dynamic manipulating tool embedded in the scene, comprising a referential with three axes allowing for each axis a degree of freedom in translation and a degree of freedom in rotation; 
 attach said dynamic manipulating tool to one object of the assembly; 
 select a degree of freedom of the dynamic manipulating tool attached to the one object of the assembly; 
 apply a load according to said selected degree of freedom based on a performed movement of associated with the dynamic manipulating tool, the performed movement of associated with the tool being converted into a load value, wherein said conversion takes into account a speed for a movement of translation according to an axis or an acceleration for a movement of rotation according to an axis or a combination of acceleration and speed to drive both rotation and translation; and 
 calculate and display in real-time physical effects of a dynamic simulation of said load applying to the assembly of objects, in furtherance of designing the product; 
 wherein said instructions cause the computer system to apply the load during the dynamic simulation based on real-time user interactions with the dynamic manipulating tool. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The computer-aided design system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the computer system to apply the load according to the selected degree of freedom by:
 selecting a range of load values, the range of load values being an ordered set of load values with a minimum and a maximum load value, and   determining a load value among said range of load values.   
     
     
       10. The computer-aided design system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the instructions cause the computer system to apply the load further by:
 determining a reference in which the load is applied; and   determining if the three axes of the dynamic manipulating tool rotates or not with the one object on which the dynamic manipulating tool is attached.   
     
     
       11. The computer-aided design system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the movement of the dynamic manipulating tool is performed with a mouse with a pressed button or with a contact of a finger on a screen of displaying; and
 wherein said movement with a mouse or a finger is applied at a distance of the dynamic manipulating tool. 
 
     
     
       12. The computer-aided design system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said load is a force or a torque. 
     
     
       13. A computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium, for dynamically manipulating an assembly of objects forming a product in a three-dimensional scene of a system of computer-aided design enabling design of the product; and 
 code meanscomputer-executable instructions stored on the computer readable medium and causing the system to take the steps of:
 providing the assembly of objects with information relative to kinematic joints linking objects of the assembly;   providing a dynamic manipulating tool embedded in the scene, comprising a referential with three axes allowing for each axis a degree of freedom in translation and a degree of freedom in rotation;   attaching said dynamic manipulating tool to one object of the assembly;   selecting a degree of freedom of the dynamic manipulating tool attached to the one object of the assembly;   applying a load according to said selected degree of freedom based on a performed movement of associated with the dynamic manipulating tool, the performed movement of associated with the tool being converted into a load value, wherein said conversion takes into account a speed for a movement of translation according to an axis or an acceleration for a movement of rotation according to an axis or a combination of acceleration and speed to drive both rotation and translation; and   calculating and displaying in real-time physical effects of a dynamic simulation of said load applying to the assembly of objects, in furtherance of designing the product;   wherein said applying the load is performed during the dynamic simulation based on real-time user interactions with the dynamic manipulating tool.   
 
     
     
       14. A computer apparatus comprising:
 means for dynamically manipulating an assembly of objects forming a product in a three-dimensional scene of a system of computer-aided design enabling further development and design of the product;   said means including computer means for implementing the steps of:
 providing the assembly of objects with information relative to kinematic joints linking objects of the assembly; 
 providing a dynamic manipulating tool embedded in the scene, comprising a referential with three axes allowing for each axis a degree of freedom in translation and a degree of freedom in rotation; 
 attaching said dynamic manipulating tool to one object of the assembly; 
 selecting a degree of freedom of the dynamic manipulating tool attached to the one object of the assembly; 
 applying a load according to said selected degree of freedom based on a performed movement of the dynamic manipulating tool, the performed movement of the tool being converted into a load value, wherein said conversion takes into account a speed for a movement of translation according to an axis or an acceleration for a movement of rotation according to an axis or a combination of acceleration and speed to drive both rotation and translation; and 
 calculating and displaying in real-time physical effects of a dynamic simulation of said load applying to the assembly of objects, in furtherance of designing the product; 
 wherein said applying the load is performed during the dynamic simulation based on real-time user interactions with the dynamic manipulating tool. 
   
     
     
       15. A computer apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said load is a force or a torque.