Multidimensional Placement Dashboard for CAD Model Manipulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current CAD systems are inefficient and error-prone for manipulating multidimensional models due to the need for users to navigate between separate control and measurement interfaces, often presenting inappropriate options and requiring multiple actions to achieve desired object location and orientation changes.

Innovation Solution

A placement dashboard within the user interface that integrates control and measurement functions, allowing users to manipulate objects by selecting grips associated with coordinate axes, limiting displayed interface elements and allowed manipulations based on object type and contextual relationships, providing a unified and context-aware interface for location and orientation adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate control and measurement interfaces are used, then users can access comprehensive options for object manipulation, but users must navigate between multiple interfaces which increases complexity and reduces efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate control and measurement interfaces into a single unified placement dashboard. The dashboard simultaneously displays control elements for manipulating object location and orientation, and measurement elements showing real-time feedback about the object's properties, eliminating the need for users to switch between multiple interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The placement dashboard serves multiple functions within a single interface: it provides control elements for location adjustment, control elements for orientation adjustment, and measurement displays for both location and orientation feedback. This multi-functional design consolidates what were previously separate interfaces into one comprehensive tool.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If all interface elements and manipulation options are presented to users, then users have maximum flexibility, but users are overwhelmed with irrelevant options which increases error potential

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanipulation flexibilityVSAvoiderror rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The placement dashboard dynamically adapts its interface elements based on the specific object selected and the current manipulation context. Different object types (e.g., pipes, equipment, vessels) receive customized control and measurement elements appropriate to their specific manipulation requirements, rather than presenting a generic set of options to all objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The dashboard dynamically adjusts which interface elements are displayed and which manipulations are allowed based on real-time context including object type, selection state, and current operation mode. This dynamic adaptation ensures users see only relevant options for their current task, reducing cognitive load and error potential while maintaining full flexibility when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If users can make any changes to object location and orientation, then users have full control, but users may make inappropriate changes that violate object constraints or interactions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidmanipulation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system preemptively prevents inappropriate manipulations by dynamically limiting the interface elements displayed and the manipulations allowed based on object type and contextual relationships. Constraints are built into the interface itself, preventing users from attempting invalid operations before they can cause errors, while still allowing full control within the valid parameter space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Ease of manufacture

If control and measurement portions are widely separated in the interface, then each portion can be optimized independently, but users must take multiple actions to traverse between them which reduces efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface design flexibilityVSAvoidmanipulation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The placement dashboard merges previously separate control and measurement portions into a single integrated interface located in the same portion of the user interface. This integration eliminates the need for users to traverse between separate interfaces or perform multiple actions to access both control and measurement functionality, significantly improving manipulation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9507502B1Configurable multidimensional placement dashboard

Publication Date: 2016.11.29 BENTLEY SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a technique is provided for manipulating an object of a multidimensional (e.g., 2-D, 3-D, etc.) model within a modeling environment using a special placement dashboard. The placement dashboard operates as both as a control interface for manipulating the object in multidimensional space, and as a measurement interface for displaying measurements related to the manipulated object. While serving this dual role, the placement dashboard may selectively limit displayed interface elements, and limit manipulations that may be performed on the manipulated object based on the type of the manipulated object itself, and based on its interaction with one or more other objects of the multidimensional model.