N-Sided Surface Patching for CAD Deformation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAD systems face challenges in efficiently designing geometric objects due to high computational overhead, non-intuitive deformation techniques, and difficulties in precise blending and trimming operations, leading to issues with surface smoothness and polynomial degree management, which affects precision and compatibility with commercial modelers.
Innovation Solution
A computational geometric design system that enables real-time deformations and blending of parametric geometric objects using novel blending functions and N-sided surface generation techniques, allowing for efficient generation of surfaces with lower polynomial degrees and improved smoothness, while maintaining computational efficiency and interoperability with commercial modelers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional control point techniques are used for surface deformation, then surface shape control is achieved, but computational overhead increases and local deformation capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the surface into multiple patches, each controlled by its own set of control points. This segmentation allows local deformation of specific patches without affecting the entire surface, reducing the computational overhead associated with global control point manipulation while maintaining intuitive surface shape control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces hierarchical control by adding a patch level dimension to the traditional control point structure. Users can control surfaces at multiple levels: individually controlling specific patches or globally controlling entire surfaces, providing flexible operation without the computational burden of traditional uniform control point systems.
2Shape
If high polynomial degree surfaces are used, then design flexibility and smoothness are improved, but compatibility with commercial modelers and computational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent represents complex high-degree surfaces as assemblies of multiple lower-degree patches. Each patch uses standard low polynomial degree representations that are compatible with commercial modelers, while the combination of patches achieves the overall smoothness and design flexibility of high-degree surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Different patches can have different polynomial degrees tailored to their specific geometric requirements. This allows the surface to achieve high smoothness where needed while maintaining compatibility and computational efficiency in other regions, resolving the contradiction between surface quality and system compatibility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional blending techniques are used, then surface continuity is achieved, but computational overhead and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-computes and stores blending functions and their derivatives during patch generation. This preliminary action ensures surface continuity is automatically maintained when patches are assembled, eliminating the need for time-consuming continuity calculations during interactive design operations and significantly improving design efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent reuses pre-computed blending functions and control structures across multiple patches. Once a blending function is calculated for a patch, it can be copied and adapted for similar patches, reducing redundant computational overhead while maintaining surface continuity across the entire surface assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for computer aided design (CAD) is disclosed for designing geometric objects, wherein interpolation and/or blending between such objects is performed while deformation data is being input. Thus, a designer obtains immediate feedback to input modifications without separately entering a command(s) for performing such deformations. A novel N-sided surface generation technique is also disclosed herein to efficiently and accurately convert surfaces of high polynomial degree into a collection of lower degree surfaces. E.g., the N-sided surface generation technique disclosed herein subdivides parameter space objects (e.g., polygons) of seven or more sides into a collection of subpolygons, wherein each subpolygon has a reduced number of sides. More particularly, each subpolygon has 3 or 4 sides. The present disclosure is particularly useful for designing the shape of surfaces. Thus, the present disclosure is applicable to various design domains such as the design of, e.g., bottles, vehicles, and watercraft. Additionally, the present disclosure provides for efficient animation via repeatedly modifying surfaces of an animated object such as a representation of a face.