Patent Application
20140355888
The present disclosure is directed, in general, to computer-aided design, visualization, and manufacturing systems, product lifecycle management (“PLM”) systems, and similar systems, that manage data for products and other items (collectively, “Product Data Management” systems or PDM systems).
Computer-aided design systems (“CAD systems”) enable users to design and visualize model objects. Improved systems are desirable.
Various disclosed embodiments include methods for pattern recognition and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes receiving a set of two-dimensional (2D) points. The method includes identifying neighbor points for each of a plurality of points in the set and finding at least one indicated pattern between points in the set. The indicated pattern can be one of a linear pattern identified by a plurality of points in the set at regular distances from and in line with a given point within a 2D plane, a rectangular pattern identified by a plurality of points in the set at regular distances from a given point in orthogonal directions, a skew pattern identified by a plurality of points in the set at regular distances from and in line with a given point in two directions within the 2D plane, or a circular pattern identified by a plurality of points in the set at regular distances from each other and that each lie along an arc of a circle with a common center. The method includes storing pattern data corresponding to the found indicated pattern.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description that follows. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure in its broadest form.
Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words or phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, whether such a device is implemented in hardware, firmware, software or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, and those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that such definitions apply in many, if not most, instances to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. While some terms may include a wide variety of embodiments, the appended claims may expressly limit these terms to specific embodiments.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers designate like objects, and in which:
CAD and other systems can maintain grids or patterns of features, which will be referred to generically as “patterns” herein. These patterns, as used herein refer to a structured organization of features of a geometric model with respect to each other. These features can be any elements of a geometric model maintained in a PDM or other system. Various systems include methods for patterns of features to be created and explicitly labeled and so function as part of the system.
However, many models may contain implicit patterns, not explicitly labeled, and which cannot, therefore, function properly in the system. These may arise in many ways including but not limited to data imported from a different system, features within models generated in earlier versions of the system, models created via un-conventional, indirect or obscure methods, and others.
Disclosed embodiments include systems and methods for automatically recognizing rectangular, circular, and linear patterns between features of geometric models.
Other peripherals, such as local area network (LAN)/Wide Area Network/Wireless (e.g. WiFi) adapter 112, may also be connected to local system bus 106. Expansion bus interface 114 connects local system bus 106 to input/output (I/O) bus 116. I/O bus 116 is connected to keyboard/mouse adapter 118, disk controller 120, and I/O adapter 122. Disk controller 120 can be connected to a storage 126, which can be any suitable machine usable or machine readable storage medium, including but not limited to nonvolatile, hard-coded type mediums such as read only memories (ROMs) or erasable, electrically programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic tape storage, and user-recordable type mediums such as floppy disks, hard disk drives and compact disk read only memories (CD-ROMs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs), and other known optical, electrical, or magnetic storage devices.
Also connected to I/O bus 116 in the example shown is audio adapter 124, to which speakers (not shown) may be connected for playing sounds. Keyboard/mouse adapter 118 provides a connection for a pointing device (not shown), such as a mouse, trackball, trackpointer, touchpad, etc.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware depicted in
A data processing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an operating system employing a graphical user interface. The operating system permits multiple display windows to be presented in the graphical user interface simultaneously, with each display window providing an interface to a different application or to a different instance of the same application. A cursor in the graphical user interface may be manipulated by a user through the pointing device. The position of the cursor may be changed and/or an event, such as clicking a mouse button, generated to actuate a desired response.
One of various commercial operating systems, such as a version of Microsoft Windows™, a product of Microsoft Corporation located in Redmond, Wash. may be employed if suitably modified. The operating system is modified or created in accordance with the present disclosure as described.
LAN/WAN/Wireless adapter 112 can be connected to a network 130 (not a part of data processing system 100), which can be any public or private data processing system network or combination of networks, as known to those of skill in the art, including the Internet. Data processing system 100 can communicate over network 130 with server system 140, which is also not part of data processing system 100, but can be implemented, for example, as a separate data processing system 100.
Disclosed embodiments can analyze a geometric model including a plurality of features and automatically recognize patterns between the features.
The system receives a set of two-dimensional 2D points representing at least a portion of a geometric model (205). Receiving, as used herein, can include loading from storage, receiving from another device or process, receiving via an interaction with a user, preprocessing other data to produce the received data, or otherwise.
A process in accordance with disclosed embodiments can take as input a simple set of 2D points. The raw input from a model can alternately be either 2D or three-dimensional (3D) features, and as part of 205, the system can obtain a consistent representative point for each of the features, as described in more detail below with reference to
For features whose points are not already in 2D space, the system can convert the points into 2D space by projecting onto a common plane.
Features in the model will likely have many different types, shapes, sizes, orientations and, in 3D, heights from plane. Any, some, or all of these variables, plus others, can be used to pre-divide the input.
For example, if features of different types should not be considered for inclusion into a pattern, then they can be divided out and can be passed to separate and distinct calls to the detection process. That is, where only patterns among common feature types should be identified, then the detection processes described herein can be separately executed, sequentially or in parallel for each of the different feature types. For example, in the context of
As another example, if only features of a particular orientation are of interest then they can be grouped, and each orientation group (or only the orientation group of interest) can be separately put through the detection process. For example, in the context of
When features are grouped, included, or excluded as described herein, the corresponding 2D projected points can be grouped, included, or excluded accordingly for the detection process.
The examples above serve only as illustrations. Any features that can be processed into a set of 2D points in any way can be handled by techniques disclosed herein, and any such processes are intended to be included as part of receiving the set of 2D points.
The system can then find rectangular, linear, circular, or other patterns within the points.
Returning to the process of
The system then finds indicated patterns among the set of points (215). For each point in the set, the system determines whether it and its nearest neighbors indicate any patterns. Note that a single point can indicate multiple pattern types. The system can receive a user selection of pattern indicators to apply so that only certain types of patterns are identified or can apply any or all pattern indicators.
The pattern indicators indicate a pattern among the points. Each point is checked against its nearest neighbors to see if it indicates a pattern. If it does then the information about this pattern (e.g. type, spacing, directions) can be stored together with an identification of the point that first indicated it (origin), as described below.
There are two types of circular patterns indicated by various embodiments—open circular patterns and closed circular patterns. They are both indicated by the same indicator form but importantly the angle θ for closed patterns must be a value that divides 360 degrees (i.e. 360°=N*angle θ, where N is natural number). That is, the angle between points on a “closed” circular pattern divides evenly into 360 degrees, so that the set of points in the closed circular pattern would be evenly spaced on the circumference of the implied circle if there were enough points to complete the circle. An “open” circular pattern has no such requirement; the angle θ is not evenly divisible into 360 degrees, and though the actual points in the set are evenly spaced on the implied circle, if there were enough points to complete the circle, then at least two of them could not be evenly spaced.
Returning to the process illustrated in
For rectangular patterns, the system can store x and y spacing, and x and y directions. The first point that indicated this pattern can be used as the origin (which is stored as origin for the first point). Rectangular patterns indicate the same pattern as a previous pattern when their respective patterns fall on one another, so x and y spacing is equal, x and y directions parallel respectively (and orthogonal to each other), and the origin of each lies on the pattern of the other.
For linear patterns, the system can store spacing, direction and origin. The first point that indicated this pattern can be used as the origin (which is stored as origin for the first point). Linear patterns indicate the same pattern as a previous pattern when their respective patterns fall on one another, so the spacing between points is equal, the vector directions are parallel, and the origin of each lies on the pattern of the other.
For circular patterns, the system can store center, angular spacing, direction, and origin. The first point that indicated this pattern can be used as the origin (which is stored as origin for the first point). Circular patterns indicate the same pattern as a previous pattern when their respective patterns fall on one another, so the angle spacings θ are equal, the centers C are equal, the radii r (center to origin distance) are equal, and the origin of each lies on the pattern of the other. The circular pattern does not require a full “set” of points to complete a circle.
If the current indicated pattern is the same as a previously found indicated pattern, then the system can increment the count of this indicated pattern.
The system can consolidate found linear patterns into rectangular patterns (220). The pattern-finding process can occasionally generate what would ideally be rectangular patterns as individual linear patterns. In such cases, the system can correct this and combine such cases into rectangular patterns.
The system can select a primary pattern (225). From all indicated patterns, at this stage, the system can select a primary pattern. The primary pattern can be selected from the indicated patterns in various ways to meet particular demands. For example, one criterion for selecting the primary pattern can be the pattern containing the largest number of points. In many cases, when selecting a primary pattern, any indicated patterns with three points or less are ignored.
The system can store pattern data including the associated points (230). This can include marking, labeling, or otherwise associating with the patterns, including any primary pattern, all the points from the set that match the primary pattern, and with any 2D or 3D features that were used to produce the set of points, and storing this pattern data. This can include removing all points that correspond to the primary pattern, or from all found patterns, from the set of points. In various embodiments, all points that correspond to found patterns can be removed, or only points that correspond to the primary pattern can be removed. All of the points that match the patterns, in either of these cases, can be removed from the set of points currently being processed, so that additional patterns can be found that do not include the points already associated with the primary pattern or other found patterns.
The system can repeat the process to 210, now processing only the remaining points in the set, to find another other patterns. That is, once the points in the first primary pattern or all found patterns are removed from the set, the system can repeat the process using only the remaining points, beginning with finding the nearest neighbors to each remaining point.
After these patterns have been identified in the first iteration, all the points in these patterns are removed from the original set of points, and the remaining points are processed in a second iteration.
Other embodiments include variations on the specific techniques disclosed above. For example, a “linear” pattern could alternatively be represented as a rectangular pattern with Y count equal to one and y-spacing equal to zero. In some embodiments, all the points can be stored in a tree structure, which makes finding the closest neighbors much faster.
In some embodiments, to prevent finding of all the possible linear patterns within rectangular patterns, the system can first find rectangular and circular patterns, remove them from the input set of points, and then search for linear pattern in remaining data in a subsequent iteration.
Of course, those of skill in the art will recognize that, unless specifically indicated or required by the sequence of operations, certain steps in the processes described above may be omitted, performed concurrently or sequentially, or performed in a different order.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that, for simplicity and clarity, the full structure and operation of all data processing systems suitable for use with the present disclosure is not being depicted or described herein. Instead, only so much of a data processing system as is unique to the present disclosure or necessary for an understanding of the present disclosure is depicted and described. The remainder of the construction and operation of data processing system 100 may conform to any of the various current implementations and practices known in the art.
It is important to note that while the disclosure includes a description in the context of a fully functional system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that at least portions of the mechanism of the present disclosure are capable of being distributed in the form of instructions contained within a machine-usable, computer-usable, or computer-readable medium in any of a variety of forms, and that the present disclosure applies equally regardless of the particular type of instruction or signal bearing medium or storage medium utilized to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of machine usable/readable or computer usable/readable mediums include: nonvolatile, hard-coded type mediums such as read only memories (ROMs) or erasable, electrically programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), and user-recordable type mediums such as floppy disks, hard disk drives and compact disk read only memories (CD-ROMs) or digital versatile disks (DVDs).
Although an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, substitutions, variations, and improvements disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure in its broadest form.
None of the description in the present application should be read as implying that any particular element, step, or function is an essential element which must be included in the claim scope: the scope of patented subject matter is defined only by the allowed claims. Moreover, none of these claims are intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC §112 unless the exact words “means for” are followed by a participle.
