CAD to Electrical Schematic Conversion Engine

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for analyzing and simulating electrical power systems require duplicative efforts and are costly due to the need for separate electrical schematics and CAD drawings, leading to potential human errors and inefficiencies in data transfer.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that converts a CAD drawing file of an electrical power system into component objects for analytic analysis and simulation, utilizing a processor, memory, and display device with a component classification database, import engine, and symbol classification engine to automate the parsing and classification process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate electrical schematics and CAD drawings are created manually, then system design and analysis can be performed, but engineering costs and time increase due to duplicative efforts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of system analysisVSAvoidengineering project time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a digital copy of the CAD drawing data and transforms it into a functional electrical schematic model that can be used for analysis. The import engine reads CAD drawing data and generates corresponding electrical schematic representations, eliminating the need for manual duplication while preserving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of creating separate schematics from CAD drawings is replaced by an automated computer-based system. The import engine and symbol classification engine automatically process CAD data and generate electrical schematic models, substituting human drafting work with algorithmic processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If separate electrical schematics and CAD drawings are created manually, then system design and analysis can be performed, but engineering costs increase due to duplicative efforts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of system analysisVSAvoidengineering project cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the CAD drawing creation process with the electrical schematic generation process. By importing and transforming CAD data directly into analytical models, the system combines what were previously separate manual tasks into a single automated workflow, reducing both time and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of manually recreating electrical schematics from CAD drawings, the system creates digital copies of the CAD data and transforms them into functional electrical models, eliminating redundant manual labor and associated costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If manual data transfer between CAD drawings and electrical schematics is performed, then system design can proceed, but human errors occur during data transfer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign process efficiencyVSAvoiddata accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The manual data transfer process is completely replaced by automated computer-based processing. The import engine reads CAD drawing data directly and the symbol classification engine automatically generates electrical schematic models, eliminating human transcription errors while maintaining design productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates accurate digital copies of CAD data and transforms them into electrical schematic models through automated processing, ensuring data integrity is maintained without the errors introduced by manual copying and transcription.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Productivity

If automated conversion from CAD drawings to electrical schematics is implemented, then engineering time and costs are reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengineering project efficiencyVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated conversion system is divided into distinct functional modules: an import engine for reading CAD data, a symbol classification engine for processing and categorizing elements, and an output generation component. This segmentation manages complexity by organizing the automation process into manageable, specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary processing layer between CAD drawing creation and electrical schematic analysis. The import engine and symbol classification engine act as mediators that automatically transform CAD data into analytical models, reducing the need for manual intervention while managing system complexity through structured intermediate processing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8155943B2Systems and methods for automatically converting CAD drawing files into intelligent objects with database connectivity for the design, analysis, and simulation of electrical power systems
Publication Date: 2012.04.10 BENTLEY SYSTEMS INC
  • US8155943B2 patent drawing
  • US8155943B2 patent drawing
  • US8155943B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer system for converting a computer aided design drawing file of an electrical power system into one or more component objects for power analytic analysis and simulation, is disclosed. The computer system can include a processor, a memory, a display device, and an input device. The memory device can be coupled to the processor and configured to maintain a component classification database, an import engine, computer aided design drawing parser, and a symbol classification engine. The display device can be coupled to the processor and configured for displaying the computer aided design drawing file of the electrical power system. The processor can be operative to execute instructions within the import engine to control the import of the computer aided design drawing file to the computer, execute instructions within the computer aided design drawing parser to control the parsing of the computer aided design drawing file into at least one component object containing a component symbol and execute instructions within the symbol classification engine to control the assigning of a component classification to the component symbol.