JP6024723B2 - Information processing apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, while operating the movable portion in a range corresponding to an instruction from the user of the movable range of the movable portion with the parts goods data, and the different component data from the component data and the component data most The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that can specify an approaching distance while reducing the load on the information processing apparatus, a control method thereof, and a program.

  Conventionally, there is a CAD (Computer Aided Design) application for designing a product or the like using an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer. CAD applications are classified into two types: a conventional two-dimensional CAD application for designing with a two-dimensional drawing such as a front view, a plan view, and a side view, and a three-dimensional CAD application for designing with a three-dimensional model.

  In particular, part data constituting a product designed by a three-dimensional CAD application may have a movable part. In designing, a part having a movable part is used to confirm whether or not the movable part operates normally. Interference between data and other parts data must be confirmed. In the three-dimensional CAD application, the user can operate the component data according to the movable part only by dragging the component data including the movable part. In other words, the operation status of the component data corresponding to the movable part, which was difficult to reproduce in the two-dimensional drawing expressed by the two-dimensional CAD application, can be easily reproduced in the three-dimensional CAD application. It is visually confirmed whether or not they interfere with each other.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a mechanism for geometrically detecting interference by moving a parent part with a predetermined movement pitch with respect to part data including such a movable part.

JP 2000-111302 A

  By the way, when designing a product, it is also examined whether a necessary distance (space) can be secured between component data. A part is manufactured from the part data, and the manufactured part is assembled into a product. However, a space is required for an operator to move his hands and tools when assembling. Without this space, a design designed with a three-dimensional CAD application becomes an empty theory on the desk. In addition, a certain amount of space is required between the component data including the movable portion described above and other component data. For example, even if the component data including the movable part and other component data do not interfere with each other at the design stage, they may interfere depending on an error in the size of the manufactured component.

  In order to verify whether or not a necessary space can be secured between such component data, the three-dimensional CAD application has a function of measuring the shortest distance between designated component data. The designer uses this function to measure the shortest distance between the component data, and confirms whether the necessary space can be secured.

  However, the functions provided in a general three-dimensional CAD application can measure only the shortest distance between components in a temporary operation state when component data including a movable part is operated. In order to obtain the distance when the part data is closest to other part data (the closest approach distance), the measurement must be repeated. For this reason, in order to efficiently measure the closest approach distance, an experienced designer predicts a place where measurement is necessary with high accuracy based on experience and intuition, and minimizes the number of measurements.

  However, if an inexperienced designer performs the same method, the prediction accuracy is not high, and therefore the number of measurements tends to increase, and it cannot be said that the efficiency is high. If the number of measurements is reduced without the prediction accuracy being high, design quality may be deteriorated. Therefore, it is not necessary to easily reduce the number of measurements.

  Furthermore, as a conventional technique, there is a method of calculating a distance when the component data including the movable part is closest to other component data within a movable range in which the component data is operated by simulation. Using this makes it possible to easily identify the closest distance, but this mechanism cannot be used at the design stage where the official range of motion has not been determined. That is, when searching for a movable range in which a necessary space can be secured from the current movable range, there is no choice but to repeatedly measure the shortest distance between components in a temporary operating state as described above. This simulation mechanism is a confirmation work performed when the design is almost completed, and cannot be used at the design stage. Therefore, there is a problem that the design cannot be performed efficiently.

This onset Ming, while operating the movable portion in a range corresponding to an instruction from the user of the movable range of the movable portion with the parts goods data, and the different component data from the component data and the component data An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that can specify the closest distance while reducing the load on the information processing apparatus .

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that includes a three-dimensional CAD application that displays part data having a movable part and operates as an add-on tool, and has a movable part. Selection accepting means for accepting selection of one part data and second part data different from the first part data, and movable part of the first part data accepted by the selection accepting means. While the movable part is operated within the range in accordance with the instruction from the user, the shortest distance between the first component data and the second component data received by the selection receiving means is measured. to a first mode and a second mode that does not get the shortest distance, to switch by accepting an instruction as to end the measurement of the shortest distance, the three-dimensional C A mode switching instruction means an instruction to D applications, a distance obtaining means for obtaining a shortest distance in which the three-dimensional CAD application was measured by an instruction by the mode switching instruction means, in said first mode, according to an instruction from the user Display the list with the shortest distance acquired by the distance acquisition means while operating the movable part within the range, and display the shortest distance in the list except when operating the movable part. display means not to add, among a plurality of the shortest distance acquired by the distance acquisition means, the first part data receives the selection by the selection receiving unit, a second component which receives the selection by the selection receiving means characterized in that it comprises a closest distance specifying means for specifying a distance data and closest.

According to the present invention, while operating the movable portion in a range corresponding to an instruction from the user of the movable range of the movable portion with the parts goods data, and different component data from the component data and the component data It is possible to specify the distance that is closest to the information processing apparatus while reducing the load on the information processing apparatus .

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a three-dimensional CAD system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus 101 and a server 102. FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an information processing apparatus 101. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a series of processes in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a screen structure of the shortest distance measurement screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the 1st component data 601 provided with the movable part in embodiment of this invention, and the 2nd component data 602 used as a measuring object. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table configuration of a component table 700, an operation state history table 710, a shortest distance measurement table 720, and a closest approach distance table 730. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the shortest distance measurement process. It is an image figure of the processing result in this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a three-dimensional CAD system 100 of the present invention. An information processing apparatus 101 and a server 102 are installed in a three-dimensional CAD system 100 of the present invention, and these apparatuses are connected to each other via a network 103 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) so that data communication can be performed. The configuration of various terminals or servers connected on the network 103 in FIG. 1 is an example, and it goes without saying that there are various configuration examples depending on the application and purpose.

  The information processing apparatus 101 is an apparatus that executes a three-dimensional CAD application and a shortest distance measurement program on an operating system. The three-dimensional CAD application and the shortest distance measurement program are stored in the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 shown in FIG. 2, which will be described later, and the CPU 201 reads out to the RAM 203 and performs various operations in accordance with instructions from the user.

  The three-dimensional CAD application creates or constructs a three-dimensional model indicating a three-dimensional shape of a design object and creates a two-dimensional drawing based on the three-dimensional model in accordance with an operation from the user. The three-dimensional CAD application has various APIs (Application Programming Interface), executes the API according to an instruction from the shortest distance measurement program described later, and returns the result to the shortest distance measurement program as necessary. Can do.

  The shortest distance measurement program is a program for issuing an instruction to the API of the 3D CAD application and displaying the result in order to measure the distance between the component data composed of the 3D model displayed in the 3D CAD application. . The shortest distance measurement program may be an add-on to the three-dimensional CAD application or may be a separate and independent program.

  The server 102 is a device that stores and manages various data created by the information processing apparatus 101. A three-dimensional model may be created by a plurality of users. In this case, the three-dimensional model created by the information processing apparatus 101 of each user is centrally managed in one server 102.

  The information processing apparatus 101 may include the configuration of the server 102, or the server 102 may include the configuration of the information processing apparatus 101. Also, in the present embodiment, description will be made based on a form in which various data are stored in the information processing apparatus 101 and operated by an operation from a user.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of various terminals according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The CPU 201 comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204.

  Further, the ROM 202 or the external memory 211 (storage means) implements a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) or an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) that is a control program of the CPU 201, and functions executed by each server or each PC. For this purpose, various programs described later are stored. The RAM 203 functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU 201.

  The CPU 201 implements various operations by loading a program necessary for execution of processing into the RAM 203 and executing the program.

  An input controller (input C) 205 controls input from an input device 209 such as a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse (not shown).

  A video controller (VC) 206 controls display on a display device such as the display 210. The type of the display device is assumed to be a CRT or a liquid crystal display, but is not limited thereto.

  The memory controller (MC) 207 is an adapter to a hard disk (HD), flexible disk (FD) or PCMCIA card slot for storing boot programs, browser software, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, various data, and the like. Controls access to an external memory 211 such as a card-type memory connected via the.

  A communication I / F controller (communication I / FC) 208 is connected to and communicates with an external device via a network, and executes communication control processing in the network. For example, Internet communication using TCP / IP is possible.

  Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the display 210 by executing outline font rasterization processing on a display information area in the RAM 203, for example. Further, the CPU 201 enables a user instruction with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the display 210.

  Various programs used by the information processing apparatus 101 of the present invention to execute various processes described later are recorded in the external memory 211 and are executed by the CPU 201 by being loaded into the RAM 203 as necessary. is there. Furthermore, definition files and various information tables used by the program according to the present invention are stored in the external memory 211.

  Next, a functional configuration diagram showing a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 101 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the functional configuration of FIG. 3 is an example, and it goes without saying that there are various configuration examples depending on the application and purpose.

  The information processing apparatus 101 includes a storage unit 301 and a display control unit 302. The storage unit 301 corresponds to the RAM 203 and the external memory 211, and stores various data handled by the information processing apparatus 101. In this embodiment, in particular, a three-dimensional model and a two-dimensional drawing displayed by a three-dimensional CAD application and various tables described later are stored.

  The display control unit 302 is a control unit for displaying various data stored in the storage unit 301 on the display 210. Various data are displayed on the display 210 in accordance with instructions from a later-described three-dimensional model control unit 311 and screen display control unit 321.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus 101 is installed with the three-dimensional CAD application 310 and the shortest distance measurement program 320. The three-dimensional CAD application 310 includes a three-dimensional model control unit 311, a shortest distance acquisition unit 312, a mode switching unit 313, a distance measurement unit 314, an operation state acquisition unit 315, a shortest distance identification display control unit 316, and a closest approach state reproduction control unit. 317 is provided. These are provided in the three-dimensional CAD application 310 as an API.

  The three-dimensional model control unit 311 reads out the three-dimensional model stored in the storage unit 301 to the RAM 203, and creates, edits, deletes, etc. a three-dimensional model according to the function of the three-dimensional CAD application 310 instructed by the user. Run. Further, it has a function of operating a part data comprising a three-dimensional model and having a movable part in accordance with an instruction from the user.

  When the shortest distance acquisition unit 312 receives an instruction from the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324 described later, the component data including the movable unit (hereinafter referred to as first component data) is operated by the three-dimensional model control unit 311. The distance measuring unit 314 instructs the mode switching unit 313 to enter a mode in which the shortest distance between the component data and other component data (hereinafter referred to as second component data) is continuously measured. put out. Then, the shortest distance acquired by measurement by the distance measuring unit 314 is passed to the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324. In addition, the operation state of the first component data acquired by the operation state acquisition unit 315 is acquired and passed to the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324.

  The mode switching unit 313 switches the mode of the three-dimensional CAD application 310. In the present embodiment, a mode in which the distance measurement unit 314 measures the shortest distance (shortest distance measurement mode) by operating the first component data under the control of the three-dimensional model control unit 311 and a mode in which this is not measured. There are two modes (normal mode). If the distance measuring unit 314 always measures the shortest distance by operating the first component data according to the movable part, the load on the information processing apparatus 101 becomes high. That is, there is a problem that the design work of the user is hindered. Therefore, such a problem is solved by switching to the mode in which the distance measuring unit 314 measures the distance only when necessary by the mode switching unit 313.

  The distance measuring unit 314 measures the shortest distance between component data. In the present embodiment, the first component data is operated in the state in which the first part data is operated while the three-dimensional model control unit 311 is operated within the range of the range of motion instructed by the user according to the movable unit. The shortest distance between the component data and the second component data is continuously measured. The method for measuring the shortest distance is a conventional technique, and the description thereof will be omitted. Conventionally, in a three-dimensional CAD application, there is a function for measuring the shortest distance between two component data. Therefore, the same measurement is performed.

  The operation state acquisition unit 315 acquires the operation state of the first component data at the time when the shortest distance is measured by the distance measurement unit 314 and passes it to the shortest distance acquisition unit 312. The operation state is used by the closest approach state reproduction control unit 317 described later.

  When the shortest distance identification display control unit 316 receives an instruction from the shortest distance identification display instruction unit 326 described later, the shortest distance identification display control unit 316 receives the first component data and the second component data according to the shortest distance measured by the distance measurement unit 314. The shortest distance is identified and displayed with the part data. That is, it is not known only by the value of the shortest distance measured by the distance measuring unit 314 which part of the first part data and which part of the second part data is the shortest distance. Therefore, the straight line corresponding to the shortest distance is identified and displayed in real time each time the shortest distance is measured, thereby helping the user to understand.

  When receiving the instruction to reproduce the operation state acquired by the operation state acquisition unit 315 from the closest state reproduction instruction unit 327 described later, the closest approach state reproduction control unit 317 instructs the operation state of the first component data. It is operated so as to be in the operated state.

  The shortest distance measurement program 320 includes a screen display control unit 321, an input reception unit 322, a CSV output unit 323, a shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324, a closest approach distance determination unit 325, a shortest distance identification display instruction unit 326, and a closest approach state. A reproduction instruction unit 327 is provided.

  The screen display control unit 321 performs display control of various screens for accepting an operation from the user. For example, a shortest distance measurement screen 500 (see FIG. 5) described later. The result executed by the shortest distance measurement program 320 is displayed on the shortest distance measurement screen 500.

  The input receiving unit 322 receives a character input or button press from the user through the input device 209.

  The CSV output unit 323 outputs a list of shortest distances acquired by instructing by the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324 as a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) format file. Although the CSV format is used in this embodiment, the file format is not particularly limited as long as a list of the shortest distances can be output.

  The shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324 causes the shortest distance acquisition unit 312 to operate the first component data within the movable range instructed by the user out of the movable range of the component data, and the first component data and the second component data. An instruction is given to measure the shortest distance from the part data. And the shortest distance passed from the shortest distance acquisition part 312 is received at any time. In addition, an instruction is given to the operation state acquisition unit 315 to acquire the operation state of the first component data when the shortest distance is measured, and the operation state is received from the operation state acquisition unit 315.

  The closest distance determination unit 325 is instructed by the user of the first component data that the shortest distance acquired by instructing the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324 is the first component data and the second component data. It is determined whether or not it is the closest distance in the range of motion. Since the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324 can acquire the shortest distance at any time while the first part data is operated by the three-dimensional model control unit 311, the distance having the smallest value among the plurality of acquired shortest distances. Is determined as the closest approach distance. That is, when the three-dimensional model control unit 311 operates the movable part of the first component data, it is desirable to operate so as to cover the movable range instructed by the user.

  The shortest distance identification display instruction unit 326 instructs the shortest distance identification display control unit 316 to identify and display the shortest distance acquired by the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit. As described above, it is desirable to perform identification display of the shortest distance in real time in accordance with the operation by the three-dimensional model control unit 311.

  The closest approach state reproduction instruction unit 327 specifies the operation state when the shortest distance determined as the closest approach distance by the closest approach distance determination unit 325 is determined from the information acquired by the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324, and the closest approach state The reproduction control unit 317 is instructed to reproduce the operation state.

  Next, a series of processing performed by the information processing apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When performing the processing shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 is in a state where the 3D CAD application 310 is activated in accordance with an instruction from the user and the 3D model can be operated. In the following, description will be given.

  In step S <b> 401, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 activates the shortest distance measurement program 320 in accordance with an instruction from the user through the input device 209.

  In step S <b> 402, when the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 confirms that the shortest distance measurement program 320 is activated in step S <b> 401, the CPU 201 determines whether the three-dimensional CAD application 310 satisfies the start condition of the shortest distance measurement program 320. More specifically, confirm that the current active document is assembly data, that only one active document is open, and that the current active document has been saved. If all the conditions are satisfied, it is determined that the start condition is satisfied. These prevent unexpected behavior of the three-dimensional CAD application 310 and acquisition of unexpected data. The assembly data is data that can be handled by the three-dimensional CAD application, and includes reference information of one or more parts data or assembly data. That is, information such as the absolute path where the part data and the assembly data are stored and the position where the part data is arranged are managed. If it is determined that the start condition of the shortest distance measurement program 320 is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S403. If it is determined that the start condition of the shortest distance measurement program 320 is not satisfied, an error message is displayed and the series of processes is terminated.

  In step S <b> 403, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 displays the shortest distance measurement screen 500 as illustrated in FIG. 5 on the display 210 using the screen display control unit 321.

  In step S <b> 404, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 uses the input receiving unit 322 to receive selection of two component data to be measured with the shortest distance. In particular, at least one part data including a movable part is selected from the part data included in the assembly data opened by the three-dimensional CAD application 310. More specifically, when the user selects the text box 501 of the shortest distance measurement screen 500 and then selects the component data to be measured, the screen display control unit 321 is selected from the three-dimensional CAD application 310. The part name of the part data is acquired and displayed in the text box 501. At the same time, the acquired component name is registered in the measurement target component name a 701 of the measurement target component table 700 shown in FIG. Similarly, with respect to another part data, the selection of the part data is accepted after the text box 502 is selected, the part name of the part data is displayed in the text box 502, and the part name is measured in the measurement target part table 700. It is registered in the part name b702.

  The measurement target component table 700 (see FIG. 7) is a table stored in the storage unit 301 of the information processing apparatus 101. The measurement target component table 700 includes a measurement target component name a 701 and a measurement target component name b 702. As described above, the measurement target component name a 701 and the measurement target component name b 702 store the component names of the measurement target component data that have been selected in step S404.

  Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, description will be made using the first component data 601 and the second component data 602 shown in FIG. The first component data is component data including a movable part. The first part data is rotated with a vertical axis passing through the center point of the first part data as a rotation axis. The second component data is component data that does not include a movable part. When each is selected in step S404, the part name of the first part data 601 is displayed in the text box 501 and this part name is registered in the measurement target part name a701. Further, the part name of the second part data 602 is displayed in the text box 502, and this part name is registered in the measurement target part name b702.

  In step S <b> 405, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 accepts pressing of the control button 503 indicating “measurement start” on the shortest distance measurement screen 500.

  In step S <b> 406, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 uses the input reception unit 322 to determine whether or not component data to be measured is selected. Whether or not the measurement target component data is selected is determined by whether or not the component names are registered in the measurement target component name a 701 and the measurement target component name b 702 of the measurement target component table 700, respectively. If it is determined that the button is selected, the caption of the control button 503 is changed from “measurement start” to “measurement end”, for example, and the process proceeds to step S407. If it is determined that it is not selected, an error message is displayed, and the process returns to step S404 to prompt selection of part data to be measured.

  In step S407, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 executes a process for calculating the shortest distance between the component data selected in step S404. Details of the shortest distance calculation process are shown in FIG.

  In step S <b> 408, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 determines whether the CSV output button 508 is pressed on the shortest distance measurement screen 500 using the input reception unit 322. If it is determined that the CSV output button 508 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S409. If it is determined that the CSV output button 508 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S410.

  In step S409, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 uses the CSV output unit 323 to measure the measurement ID 721, the shortest distance 722, the X coordinate a 723, the X coordinate b 724, and the Y coordinate stored in the shortest distance measurement table 720 illustrated in FIG. a725, Y-coordinate b726, Z-coordinate a727, and Z-coordinate b728 are output to a CSV file (file output means). This output format is not limited to a CSV format file.

  The shortest distance measurement table 720 is a table stored in the storage unit 301 of the information processing apparatus 101. The shortest distance measurement table 720 includes a measurement ID 721, a shortest distance 722, an X coordinate a 723, an X coordinate b 724, a Y coordinate a 725, a Y coordinate b 726, a Z coordinate a 727, and a Z coordinate b 728. The measurement ID 721 is information that is issued each time the shortest distance is acquired in the process described later and is uniquely identifiable. The shortest distance 722 is information indicating the shortest distance between the selected measurement target component data. In particular, the shortest distance between the first component data and the second component data when the first component data is operated according to the movable part is shown. The X coordinate a 723, the X coordinate b 724, the Y coordinate a 725, the Y coordinate b 726, the Z coordinate a 727, and the Z coordinate b 728 are coordinate values indicating the start point and end point of a straight line indicating the shortest distance. The X coordinate a723, the Y coordinate a725, and the Z coordinate a727 are coordinate values indicating the start point, and the X coordinate b724, the Y coordinate b726, and the Z coordinate b728 are coordinate values indicating the end point.

  In step S <b> 410, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 detects the pressing of the close button 509 on the shortest distance measurement screen 500 using the input receiving unit 322, thereby closing the shortest distance measurement screen 500 and shortest distance measurement program 320. Terminates the start of.

  Next, the shortest distance measurement process will be described with reference to FIG. In the shortest distance measurement process, the component data selected in step S404 is operated in the movable range designated by the user, and the shortest distance between the component data is continuously acquired during the operation. And the shortest distance (closest approach distance) which the said component data approached most among the some acquired shortest distances is specified as the closest approach distance. That is, the user can acquire the closest approach distance between the component data in the movable range only by operating the selected component data in an arbitrary movable range. This will be described below.

  First, in step S801, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 switches the three-dimensional CAD application 310 to a mode for measuring the shortest distance. More specifically, the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324 is used to instruct the shortest distance acquisition unit 312 to acquire the shortest distance. When receiving the instruction, the shortest distance acquisition unit 312 instructs the mode switching unit 313 to switch to the mode for measuring the shortest distance. In response to this, the mode switching unit 313 switches to the mode. When the mode is switched to the mode for specifying the shortest distance, each process of step S803 to step S812 to be described later is executed every time the component data is operated according to the movable part.

  In step S <b> 802, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 determines whether or not the user has dragged the measurement target component data including the movable unit through the input device 209. That is, it is determined whether or not there is an operation instruction from the user. If it is determined that an operation instruction has been issued, the process proceeds to step S803. If not, the process proceeds to step S813.

  In step S <b> 803, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 uses the three-dimensional model control unit 311 to accept a drag operation on the component data (first component data) including the movable unit displayed on the three-dimensional CAD application 310. Then, the component data is operated in a movable range corresponding to the drag operation. That is, the operation is performed in a range in which the drag operation is performed by the user within the movable range of the component data.

  In step S804, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 uses the distance measurement unit 314 to measure the shortest distance between the measurement target component data at a fixed measurement interval (measurement control unit). In the present embodiment, the first component data 601 including the movable part is operated in step S803, and the first component data 601 and the second component data 602 different from the first component data 601 are obtained. Measure the shortest distance. The measured shortest distance is transferred to the shortest distance acquisition unit 312 and is transferred from the shortest distance acquisition unit 312 to the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324.

  In step S <b> 805, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 stores the shortest distance acquired in step S <b> 804 in the shortest distance measurement table 720 using the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324. More specifically, a new record is created in the shortest distance measurement table 720, and new unique identification information is issued to the measurement ID 721. The shortest distance acquired in step S804 is stored in the shortest distance 722 of the record, and the X coordinate a723, X coordinate b724, Y coordinate a725, Y coordinate b726, Z coordinate a727, and Z coordinate b728 are measured in step S804. The coordinate values indicating the start point and end point of the straight line indicating the shortest distance are stored. In this way, the shortest distance at a certain operated position is recorded.

  In step S806, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 uses the screen display control unit 321 to display each piece of information in the shortest distance measurement table 720 updated in step S805 on the measurement point list 507 provided in the shortest distance measurement screen 500 ( List display means). For example, as shown in the measurement point list 507 of the shortest distance measurement screen 500 in FIG. 9, the shortest distance and the coordinate value indicated by the shortest distance are displayed.

  In step S807, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 uses the operation state acquisition unit 315 to acquire the operation state of the component data to be measured including the movable unit when the shortest distance is measured in step S804. In response to an instruction from the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324, the shortest distance acquisition unit 312 instructs the operation state acquisition unit 315 to acquire the operation state of the first component data 601 when the shortest distance is measured. The operation state acquisition unit 315 acquires the operation state of the first component data 601 and returns it to the shortest distance acquisition unit 312, and the shortest distance acquisition unit 312 returns the result to the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324 as a result.

  In step S808, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 uses the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324 to store information regarding the operation state acquired in step S807 in the operation state history table 710 as illustrated in FIG.

  The operation state history table 710 is a table stored in the storage unit 301 of the information processing apparatus 101. The operation state history table 710 includes a measurement ID 711, a measurement target component name 712, an origin coordinate value 713, an X-axis vector 714, a Y-axis vector 715, and a Z-axis vector 716. The measurement ID 711 is identification information corresponding to the measurement ID 721 of the shortest distance measurement table 720. The same information as the measurement ID 721 issued in step S805 is stored in the measurement ID 721. That is, the operation state is stored for each measured shortest distance. The measurement target component name 712 indicates the name of the measurement target component data including the movable part. That is, the component name of the component data including the movable part is stored in the measurement target component name a 701 or the measurement target component name b 702 in the measurement target component table 700. The origin coordinate value 713 stores the coordinate value of the origin set in the part data indicated by the part name 712 to be measured. It is not the coordinate value of the origin of the assembly data that is the active document, but the coordinate value of the origin set for each part data. Further, the X-axis vector 714, the Y-axis vector 715, and the Z-axis vector 716 store the direction and angle of the component data indicated by the measurement target component name 712. In this manner, the operation state of the component data to be measured including the movable portion at the time when the shortest distance is measured in step S804 is stored in the operation state history table 710.

  In step S809, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 instructs the shortest distance identification display control unit 316 to identify and display the shortest distance measured in step S804 in the three-dimensional space using the shortest distance identification display instruction unit 326. (Display control means). When receiving the instruction, the shortest distance identification display control unit 316 identifies and displays the shortest distance between the first component data and the second component data. For example, as shown in the processing image 910 of FIG. 9, the shortest distance is measured by operating the movable part of the first component data 601 and is identified and displayed as a straight arrow 911 indicating the shortest distance. An arrow 911 indicates the back side of the second component data 602.

  In step S810, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 uses the closest distance determination unit 325 to measure in step S804, and whether the shortest distance stored in the shortest distance measurement table 720 in step S805 is the closest distance. It is determined whether or not (closest approach distance specifying means). More specifically, the closest distance 732 in the closest distance table 730 as shown in FIG. 7 is compared with the shortest distance 722 newly stored in step S805, and the shortest distance 722 has a smaller value. In step S811, the process proceeds to step S811. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S812. When the shortest distance is acquired for the first time, nothing is stored in the closest approach distance 732, so the process proceeds to step S811. In this way, every time a drag operation is accepted, the measured shortest distance is the closest distance (the closest approach distance) to the measurement target part data among the shortest distances measured so far. Can be identified.

  The closest approach table 730 is a table stored in the storage unit 301 of the information processing apparatus 101. The closest approach distance table 730 includes a measurement ID 731 and a closest approach distance 732. The measurement ID 731 is identification information corresponding to the measurement ID 721. The closest approach distance 732 indicates the shortest distance 722 of the measurement ID 721 corresponding to the measurement ID 731.

  In step S811, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 determines that it is the closest approach distance in step S810, and therefore records the shortest distance measured in step S804 as the closest approach distance. In addition, the closest approach distance recorded in the closest approach distance column 506 of the shortest distance measurement screen 500 is displayed. More specifically, the measurement ID 721 stored in step S 805 is stored in the measurement ID 731, and the shortest distance 722 stored in step S 805 is stored in the closest approach distance 732. In either case, if a value has already been stored, it is overwritten. However, if the shortest distance 722 shows the same value as the closest distance 732, a new record is added. Thus, at each measurement, it is determined whether or not the shortest distance that has just been measured is the closest distance, and if it is the closest distance, the closest distance can be specified by overwriting and saving. That is, since the shortest distance is measured at a predetermined interval, it is desirable to operate the component data so as to satisfy as much as possible the range of motion that the user wants to operate so that there is no measurement omission. By doing so, it is possible to prevent specific leakage of the closest approach distance. Moreover, even when there are a plurality of closest approach distances having the same distance, it can be recorded.

  In step S812, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 determines whether or not the drag operation from the user on the measurement target component data including the movable unit is continued. If it is determined that the process continues, the process returns to step S803. If it is determined not to continue, the process proceeds to step S813. That is, while the drag operation is continued, each process of step S803 to step S812 is continued. That is, while operating the part data to be measured including the movable part, the shortest distance is continuously measured in step S804, and the measured shortest distance is additionally displayed as needed in the measurement point list 507, and the closest distance is displayed in step S810. If the distance is smaller than the closest approach distance recorded so far, the measured shortest distance is newly recorded as the closest approach distance.

  In step S813, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 determines whether the preview button 504 provided on the shortest distance measurement screen 500 has been pressed using the input receiving unit 322. The preview button 504 is a button for reproducing the operation state when the shortest distance recorded as the closest approach distance is measured. If it is determined that the preview button 504 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S814. If it is determined that the preview button 504 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S818.

  In step S <b> 814, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 uses the screen display control unit 321 to identify and display the closest approach distance stored in the closest approach distance table 730 in the measurement point list 507. The shortest distance displayed in the measurement point list 507 is a list of information stored in the shortest distance measurement table 720. That is, a record having the same measurement ID 721 as the measurement ID 731 of the closest approach distance table 730 is specified, and the row corresponding to this record is identified and displayed in the measurement point list 507. In the shortest distance measurement screen 500 shown in FIG. 9, “149.172” is displayed in the closest distance column 506. That is, this is the closest approach distance. Since the record corresponding to this closest approach distance is the record indicated by 901, this is identified and displayed. The background may be reversed as shown in 901, or the character color may be changed. The identification display method is not particularly limited.

  In step S815, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 reproduces the operation state when the closest approach distance is measured (reproduction unit). More specifically, the closest approach state reproduction instruction unit 327 specifies the measurement ID 711 that matches the measurement ID 731 of the closest approach distance table 730, and uses the information stored in the record having the measurement ID 711 to determine the operation state. An instruction is issued to the closest state reproduction control unit 317 so as to reproduce. The closest approach state reproduction control unit 317 receives this and operates the part data indicated by the part name 712 to be measured based on the origin coordinate value 713, the X-axis vector 714, the Y-axis vector 715, and the Z-axis vector 716, and the closest approach Reproduce the placement position and orientation when measuring the distance. Further, the shortest distance in this operation state is identified and displayed as shown by an arrow 911. By doing in this way, since the state when the closest approach distance is measured can be reproduced, it is possible to make the user understand the situation that cannot be understood only by the value. In this embodiment, only the operation state at the closest distance is reproduced. However, since the operation state is recorded in the operation state history table 710 for each shortest distance, the operation state at each shortest distance is reproduced. It may be. In this case, a mechanism for reproducing the shortest distance selected by the user in the measurement point list 507 can be considered. A record having a measurement ID 711 that matches the measurement ID 721 of the selected shortest distance may be identified from the operation state history table 710 and reproduced as described above.

  In step S816, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 determines whether there are a plurality of closest approach distances. As described above in step S811, if the measured shortest distance and the closest approach distance are the same, a record is newly created and recorded in the closest approach distance table 730. That is, there may be a plurality of closest approach distances having the same distance. In this case, since it is necessary to present the plurality of operating states to the user, such a determination is made. More specifically, when there are a plurality of records in the closest distance table 730, it is determined that there are a plurality of closest distances. If it is determined that there are a plurality of closest approach distances, the process proceeds to step S817. If it is determined that there are not a plurality of closest approach distances, the process proceeds to step S818.

  In step S817, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 uses the input receiving unit 322 to determine whether or not the next button 505 provided on the shortest distance measurement screen 500 has been pressed. If it is determined that the next button 505 has been pressed, the process returns to step S815 to reproduce the operation state at the closest distance that has not yet been reproduced. In this way, each time the next button 505 is pressed, the operation state of another closest approach distance can be reproduced. If it is not determined that the next button 505 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S818. In the processing image 920 of FIG. 9, the operation state when the closest distance different from the closest distance reproduced in the processing image 910 is measured is reproduced. When the next button 505 is pressed, the first component data 601 is operated and displayed in a state as shown in the processing image 920.

  In step S <b> 818, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 determines whether or not the control button 503 indicating “end of measurement” included in the shortest distance measurement screen 500 has been pressed using the input receiving unit 322. If it is determined that the control button 503 has been pressed, the caption of the control button 503 is changed from “measurement end” to “measurement start”, and the process proceeds to step S819. If it is not determined that the control button 503 has been pressed, the process returns to step S802.

  In step S809, the CPU 201 of the information processing apparatus 101 returns the mode switched in step S801 to the original normal mode. More specifically, the shortest distance acquisition instruction unit 324 instructs the shortest distance acquisition unit 312 to end acquisition of the shortest distance. When the shortest distance acquisition unit 312 receives this and instructs the mode switching unit 313 to return to the normal mode, the mode switching unit 313 switches from the mode in which the shortest distance is measured to the normal mode. As described above, the normal mode is a mode in which the shortest distance is not measured even when the component data including the movable part is dragged. After switching to this normal mode, the shortest distance measurement process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S408 described above.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the component data that operates in the movable range corresponding to the instruction from the user among the movable range of the component data having the movable portion, and the component data different from the component data Since the closest distance can be easily identified, there is an effect that can reduce the labor of the worker without depending on the experience and intuition of the worker.

  The present invention can be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like, and can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices. You may apply to the apparatus which consists of one apparatus.

  Note that the present invention includes a software program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments directly or remotely from a system or apparatus. The present invention also includes a case where the system or the computer of the apparatus is achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  Examples of the recording medium for supplying the program include a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW. In addition, there are magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R), and the like.

  As another program supply method, a browser on a client computer is used to connect to an Internet home page. The computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the homepage by downloading it to a recording medium such as a hard disk.

  It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. Let It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the downloaded key information and install the program on a computer.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer executing the read program. In addition, based on the instructions of the program, an OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can also be realized by the processing.

  Further, the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Note that the above-described embodiments are merely examples of implementation in carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed in a limited manner. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea or the main features thereof.

100 three-dimensional CAD system 101 information processing apparatus 102 server 103 network 201 CPU
202 RAM
203 ROM
204 System Bus 205 Input Controller 206 Video Controller 207 Memory Controller 208 Communication I / F (Interface) Controller 209 Input Device 210 Display Device 211 External Memory

Claims (8)

An information processing apparatus having a three-dimensional CAD application for displaying component data having a movable part and operating as an add-on tool,
Selection accepting means for accepting selection of first part data having a movable part and second part data different from the first part data;
While operating the movable part in a range corresponding to an instruction from the user in the movable range of the movable part of the first part data received by the selection receiving unit, the first part data; An instruction to end the measurement of the shortest distance in the first mode for measuring the shortest distance from the second component data received by the selection receiving means and the second mode in which the shortest distance is not acquired. to switch by accepting a mode switching instruction means an instruction to the three-dimensional CAD applications,
Distance acquisition means for acquiring the shortest distance measured by the three-dimensional CAD application according to an instruction from the mode switching instruction means;
In the first mode, a list in which the shortest distance acquired by the distance acquisition unit is added while the movable unit is operated within a range according to an instruction from a user is displayed, and the movable unit is operated. Display means that does not add the shortest distance to the list except during
Of the plurality of shortest distances acquired by the distance acquisition unit, the distance at which the first component data received by the selection reception unit is closest to the second component data received by the selection reception unit Means for specifying the closest approach distance and
The information processing apparatus comprising: a. The display means further includes:
2. The information according to claim 1, further comprising: displaying a numerical value of a distance at which the first component data specified by the closest approach distance specifying unit is closest to the second component data. Processing equipment. The display means, identifying display a line indicating the shortest distance on the three-dimensional space in which the one of the shortest distance to the first component data second component data and is displayed among the list The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The information processing apparatus includes:
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a file output unit that outputs the plurality of shortest distances acquired by the distance acquisition unit in a predetermined file format. The information processing apparatus includes:
An operation state acquisition unit that acquires an operation state of the first component data when the shortest distance is acquired by the distance acquisition unit;
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a reproduction unit that reproduces an operation state of the first component data acquired by the operation state acquisition unit. Wherein the first mode, while operating the movable portion in a range corresponding to an instruction from the user of the movable range of the movable portion in which the first component data selection of which is accepted by the selection accepting means has, the a first component data, any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the shortest distance between the second component data selection of which is accepted by the selection accepting means is a mode of measuring at predetermined intervals 1 The information processing apparatus according to item. A control method for an information processing apparatus having a three-dimensional CAD application for displaying component data having a movable part and operating as an add-on tool,
The information processing apparatus is
A first component data having moving parts, and the selection accepting step of accepting a selection for a different second component data with the first component data,
While previous SL operates the movable portion in a range corresponding to an instruction from the user of the movable range of the movable portion with the first part data receives the selection in the selection accepting step, a said first component data An instruction to end the measurement of the shortest distance in the first mode for measuring the shortest distance to the second component data whose selection has been received in the selection receiving step and the second mode in which the shortest distance is not acquired. A mode switching instruction step for instructing the 3D CAD application to switch by receiving
A distance obtaining step of an instruction by the pre-Symbol mode switching instruction step to obtain the shortest distance the three-dimensional CAD application was measured,
In the first mode, a list in which the shortest distance acquired in the distance acquisition step is added while the movable unit is operated within a range according to an instruction from a user is displayed, and the movable unit is operated. A display step not adding the shortest distance to the list except during
Among the plurality of the shortest distance obtained in the previous SL distance obtaining step, a first component data selection of which is accepted by the selection accepting step, closest to the second component data selection of which is accepted by the selection accepting step a method of controlling an information processing apparatus, characterized in that the closest distance specifying step of specifying a distance. A program comprising a three-dimensional CAD application for displaying part data having a movable part and capable of executing a control method for an information processing apparatus operating as an add-on tool,
The information processing apparatus;
Selection accepting means for accepting selection of first part data having a movable part and second part data different from the first part data;
While operating the movable part in a range corresponding to an instruction from the user in the movable range of the movable part of the first part data received by the selection receiving unit, the first part data; An instruction to end the measurement of the shortest distance in the first mode for measuring the shortest distance from the second component data received by the selection receiving means and the second mode in which the shortest distance is not acquired. to switch by accepting a mode switching instruction means an instruction to the three-dimensional CAD applications,
Distance acquisition means for acquiring the shortest distance measured by the three-dimensional CAD application according to an instruction from the mode switching instruction means;
In the first mode, a list in which the shortest distance acquired by the distance acquisition unit is added while the movable unit is operated within a range according to an instruction from a user is displayed, and the movable unit is operated. Display means that does not add the shortest distance to the list except during
Of the plurality of shortest distances acquired by the distance acquisition unit, the distance at which the first component data received by the selection reception unit is closest to the second component data received by the selection reception unit a program characterized by Ru to function as a closest distance specifying means for specifying.

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