Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Paul Joseph Stewart

Yifan Chen

Pietro Buttolo

Anne Marsan

James Stewart Rankin, Ii

Samuel Edward Ebenstein

Gregory Hugh Smith

Fang Frank Chen

Mumin Song

Horea Ilies

Yihan Chen

Aaron West

A system and method for computer-aided engineering analysis using direct mesh manipulation of a mesh model is provided. The system includes a computer system having a memory, a processor, a user input device and a display device. The method includes the steps of selecting a geometric model in a computer-aided design (CAD) format, converting the CAD model into a mesh model and evaluating the mesh model using a computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis. The method also includes the steps of modifying a surface of the mesh model by varying a predetermined parameter using direct surface manipulation (DSM), updating the mesh model and using the updated mesh model in further CAE analysis. Three techniques are provided for modifying a surface feature, including using a Dirichlet parameter distribution to determine the displacement of the surface feature; modeling the surface feature as an elastic sheet to determine deformation; and enclosing the feature within a lattice structure and using lattice deformation to determine surface deformation.

System and method of direct mesh manipulation

A system and method for interactively generating a family of mesh models is provided for use in engineering analysis. The system includes a user computer system having a memory, a processor, a user input device and a display device. The system also includes a remotely located computer system having a processor, a memory, and a data storage means and in communication with the user computer system. The system further includes a computer-generated geometric mesh base model stored in the data storage means, a computer-generated mesh feature stored in the data storage means, and a new mesh model including the base mesh model with a mesh feature that is stored in the data storage means. The method includes the steps of selecting a base model from a model library maintained in the data storage means. The method also includes the steps of creating a mesh feature that is defined by a modifiable set of parameters and saving the mesh feature in a mesh feature library maintained in the data storage means. The method further includes the steps of establishing a feature matrix by the user containing instructions for selectively applying the mesh feature to the base mesh model and using the feature matrix to selectively apply the mesh feature to the base model to generate a new mesh model that is available for further analysis.

System and method of interactively generating a family of mesh models

A system and method of real-time collision detection between solid geometric objects is provided. The system includes a computer system, a computer-generated geometric model and a haptic device in communication with the computer system having a haptic end effector for transmitting information between a user and the geometric objects. The method includes the steps of representing a moving object as a point cloud and a stationary object as a mesh, and partitioning the mesh into an organized data structure. The method also includes the steps of identifying a constraint set and a collision set. The method further includes the steps of rendering the constraint set by moving the moving object so that the set of active points do not penetrate into the mesh, and providing force feedback through the haptic device relative to the movement of the moving object to satisfy the constraint.

Method of real-time collision detection between solid geometric models

A system and method for replacing a direct surface manipulation (DSM) surface with an independent NURBS surface patch of a geometric model. The method includes the steps of sampling data points of the DSM surface and parameterizing the sampled data points. The method also includes determining knot vectors for a fitted NURBS surface patch and setting-up an equation system. The method further includes the steps of solving the equation system for the geometric model.

System and method for replacing parametrically described surface features with independent surface patches

A system and method of interactive evaluation of a geometric model is provided. The method includes the steps of acquiring a haptic device position and orientation with respect to a surface of the geometric model and mapping the haptic device position and orientation into a geometric model coordinate reference system. The method also includes the steps of determining a closest point position and orientation on the surface of the geometric model to the haptic device position and extracting a surface property at the closest point position and orientation. The method further includes the steps of determining a stick-to-surface force and a property feedback force using the surface property at the closet point position and orientation and applying the stick-to-surface force and property feedback force to control a location and force output of the haptic device.

System and method of interactive evaluation of a geometric model

A switch measurement system is disclosed for measuring characteristics of a switch while the switch is mounted to a product adjacent a product surface. The switch types may include linear, pivot and rotary types. The switch measurement system preferably has a control unit for driving a motor and receiving and storing input from a force or torque sensor. A fixturing setup preferably includes a mounting base, and three legs extending from the mounting base. Each of the legs is selectively adjustable in length and includes an end adapted for mounting against the product surface where the legs can vary the location and orientation of the mounting base relative to the product. Also, a measurement unit includes a motor fixed relative to the mounting base and includes a motor shaft extending therefrom, and a force sensor or a torque sensor, depending upon the switch measurement arrangement, interposed between the motor shaft and the switch. The motor and the sensor are in electronic communication with the control unit.

Handheld switch measurement system

A system and method for design of experiments (DOE) using direct surface manipulation of a mesh model. The method includes the steps of selecting a geometric model in a computer-aided design (CAD) format, converting the geometric model into a mesh model and evaluating the mesh model using a computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis. The method also includes the steps of determining whether to continue generating the design of experiments response, and modifying a surface of the mesh model by varying a predetermined parameter, wherein the surface is modified using direct surface manipulation (DSM), the mesh model is updated and the updated mesh model is used in continuing generating the design of experiments response, if determined to continue the design of experiments. The method further includes the steps of using the results of the CAE analysis for the design of experiments.

System and method for design of experiments using direct surface manipulation of a mesh model

A system and method for virtual interactive design and evaluation and manipulation of a vehicle mechanism using a haptic-user interface is provided. The system includes a computer system and a haptic interface operatively in communication with the computer system, whereby the haptic interface includes a haptic end effector device for transmitting information between a user and a digital model as the user interactively creates, modifies, and evaluates kinematic and dynamic properties of the vehicle mechanism using the haptic end effector device.

System and method for virtual interactive design and evaluation and manipulation of vehicle mechanisms

A method for automatically reconstructing topographical information for a given mesh, altering the mesh by introducing, deleting, or splitting existing polygons when needed. An OctTree space decomposition is used to achieve a log2-complexity search method to find the closest vertex in the polygonal soup to a given point in space. Linear complexities are used to find triangles connected to a given vertex and all triangles connected to a given triangle. The triangles are split to enforce conductivity.

Method for reconstructing the topology of a polygonal soup

A method of real time collision detection between geometric models includes the steps of identifying a current tracking point of a force feedback device colliding with a mesh model of the geometric model and identifying a current triangle associated with the current tracking point, wherein the force feedback device is operatively connected to a computer system. The method also includes the steps of determining a new tracking point of the force feedback device colliding with the mesh model by approximating the new tracking point from the current tracking point and the current triangle, and determining a state of the new tracking point and a known state using the new tracking point and the state of the previous tracking point, wherein the state is inside, on an edge or on a vertex of either the current triangle or a new triangle. The method further includes the steps of using the state of the new tracking point to determine if a predetermined condition is met to conclude that the new tracking point is on the current triangle or if another predetermined condition is met to conclude that the new tracking point crossed to a new triangle, wherein the new triangle is connectively associated with the current triangle.

Method of real time collision detection between geometric models

A system and method of interactive evaluation and manipulation of a geometric model is provided. The system includes a computer system and a haptic interface operatively in communication with the computer system, whereby the haptic interface includes a haptic end effector device for transmitting information between a user and a geometric model as the user browses or edit the surface of the geometric model using the haptic end effector device.

System and method of interactive evaluation and manipulation of a geometric model

A measurement system ( ) for accurately measuring the surface geometry of a part ( ) in three dimensions includes a laser ( ) for emitting a laser beam ( ). The laser beam ( ) is transmitted to a birefringent crystal ( ) which splits the laser beam ( ) into a pair of beams ( ). The pair of beams ( ) are then subjected to a phase shift by a liquid crystal system ( ) as controlled by a computer ( ). The pair of beams ( ) are then expanded in order to form a fringe pattern ( ) on the surface of the part ( ) to be measured.

Crystal based fringe generator system

A method and system for manipulating a three-dimensional object in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment utilizes a force feedback interface. A gravitational sphere is defined around each of the plurality of input parameters of a mathematical model defining a shape, location and orientation of the object. A force is applied to the force feedback interface based on the gravitational spheres and the position of the force feedback interface. An input signal is received from the force feedback interface based on the applied force indicating selection of one of the plurality of input parameters. The selected input parameter can then be edited according to an edit signal generated by the user via the force feedback interface. In addition, the edit signal can be limited according to predetermined constraints via the force feedback interface.

Method and system for manipulating a three-dimensional object utilizing

An improved Direct Surface Manipulation (DSM) method is disclosed which incorporates a global surface reparametrization scheme for the purposes of extending the DSM method to applications involving multiple surfaces and for reducing the geometric effect of parametric space distortions on the features. This method reparametrizes multiple surface patches with a shared two-dimensional space defined in the object space of the model. The result is a geometrically consistent mesh, called a super-mesh, that serves as a global, uniform parametric space for topologically-disconnected, geometrically-disproportional surface patches. Spherical projection is employed to perform the patch reparametrization. This allows the creation of DSM features on multiple surface patches with improved shape quality.

System and method for forming geometric features using global

A method for mapping a two-dimensional image of a physical object onto a computer generated three-dimensional surface defined by a plurality of surface points in a CAD space has the steps of creating a two-dimensional texture image plane of the physical object by taking a photograph of the physical object with a photographic device and converting the photograph into a texture image plane having a plurality of texture image plane points, determining a physical position of the photographic device with respect to the physical object, and transferring the texture image plane onto the three-dimensional surface. The transfer is accomplished by positioning a synthetic camera in the CAD space with respect to the three-dimensional surface according to the physical position of the photographic device, mapping each of the plurality of surface points viewable by the synthetic camera to a corresponding texture image point in the texture image plane, and assigning texture coordinates to each of the plurality of surface points from the corresponding texture image plane point.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Paul Joseph Stewart