Engineering Schematic Editing via Natural Language and Ontology Queries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computer-aided design tools for engineering schematics require extensive user training and manual effort to translate high-level design concepts into detailed schematics, lacking the ability to understand natural language instructions and maintain schematics efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A system and method using natural language processing and knowledge graphs to interpret user inputs, generate or modify engineering schematics, ensuring compliance with industry standards by identifying components, actions, and attributes, and rendering visual representations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional computer-aided design tools are used to create engineering schematics, then the schematics can be generated with standard components and libraries, but the process requires extensive user training and manual effort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of schematic creationVSAvoiduser training requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical interaction with design tools (drag-and-drop interfaces, menu navigation) with natural language processing. Users speak or type natural language descriptions of desired schematics, and the system automatically generates the visual representations, eliminating the need for users to learn complex software interfaces while maintaining schematic creation capabilities

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic schematic generation and validation without requiring user intervention for manual component placement or configuration. The AI model independently interprets natural language input, selects appropriate components from libraries, arranges them according to engineering standards, and validates the schematic, making the system self-sufficient in the creation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If manual schematic drawing is performed to ensure clarity and correctness, then the schematics can be iteratively improved, but the process is time-intensive and repetitive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveschematic accuracyVSAvoidschematic generation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating complete schematics from natural language descriptions before any manual review is needed. The AI model pre-configures all components, connections, and attributes according to engineering standards, providing a ready-to-review schematic that eliminates repetitive manual drawing while maintaining accuracy through automated validation rules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates automated validation that provides immediate feedback on schematic correctness by checking against engineering standards and constraints. This feedback mechanism ensures accuracy without requiring multiple manual iteration cycles, as the system automatically identifies and corrects errors in the generated schematics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If existing schematic maintenance is performed to ensure complete understanding of the system, then the schematics can be updated correctly, but the process is as challenging as authoring from scratch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveschematic maintenance reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an AI-based intermediary layer between the user and the schematic maintenance process. Users provide natural language descriptions of desired changes, and the AI model interprets these descriptions, automatically updates the schematic while maintaining consistency with the overall system design, and validates the changes. This intermediary eliminates the need for users to completely understand the existing schematic structure while ensuring reliable maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If natural language processing is implemented to interpret user intent, then the interaction becomes more intuitive, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction intuitivenessVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a multi-functional AI processing system that handles multiple tasks within a single integrated architecture: natural language interpretation, component selection from libraries, schematic layout generation, validation against engineering standards, and visual representation rendering. This universal system performs all these functions through one cohesive AI model, making the increased complexity manageable while providing intuitive natural language interaction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4703947A1System and method for generating and modifying engineering schematics
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 SIEMENS AG
  • EP4703947A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4703947A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4703947A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed is a method (100) for generating and modifying engineering schematics. The method comprises receiving a natural language input via a user interface, the input containing a user intent to perform operations on an engineering schematic. The method generates a structured representation of the input using a language model, identifying components, actions, and attributes. Knowledge graph queries are generated based on this representation, compatible with a standardized ontology. These queries are executed to retrieve component, connection, and attribute data from the knowledge graph. A system representation of the schematic is generated using the retrieved data and specified actions. The method then renders a visual representation of the engineering schematic based on this system representation and outputs it via the user interface. This approach allows for intuitive schematic modification using natural language processing and knowledge graph technologies.