U.S. patent application number 11/759312 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for systems and methods for selecting a material that best matches a desired set of properties.
This patent application is currently assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. Invention is credited to Vinod Amladi, William Estel Cheetham, Sanjay Braj Mishra, Dagumati Dayakara Reddy, Jaehong Suh, Srikant Vitta.
Application Number | 20070233665 11/759312 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31993562 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070233665 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cheetham; William Estel ; et
al. |
October 4, 2007 |
Systems and Methods for Selecting a Material That Best Matches a
Desired Set of Properties
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method for selecting a material that most
closely matches a desired set of properties, the method comprising:
obtaining at least one input parameter from a user; retrieving
actual property values for at least one preliminary matching
material from a global data repository; determining a match between
each preliminary matching material matches and a desired set of
property values; and outputting the results to the user.
Inventors: |
Cheetham; William Estel;
(Clifton Park, NY) ; Mishra; Sanjay Braj;
(Evansville, IN) ; Suh; Jaehong; (Clifton Park,
NY) ; Amladi; Vinod; (Bangalore, IN) ; Reddy;
Dagumati Dayakara; (Bangalore, IN) ; Vitta;
Srikant; (Bangalore, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CANTOR COLBURN, LLP
55 GRIFFIN ROAD SOUTH
BLOOMFIELD
CT
06002
US
|
Assignee: |
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
1 River Road
Schenectady
NY
12345
|
Family ID: |
31993562 |
Appl. No.: |
11/759312 |
Filed: |
June 7, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10263216 |
Oct 2, 2002 |
7246113 |
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11759312 |
Jun 7, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ; 700/97;
707/999.003; 707/E17.075 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 707/99933 20130101;
G06F 16/334 20190101; G06F 16/24578 20190101; Y10S 707/99936
20130101; Y10S 707/99935 20130101; Y10S 707/99934 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/003 ;
700/097 |
International
Class: |
G06F 19/00 20060101
G06F019/00; G06F 17/30 20060101 G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A method for selecting a material that most closely matches a
desired set of properties, the method comprising: obtaining at
least one input parameter from a user; retrieving actual property
values for at least one preliminary matching material from a global
data repository; determining a match between each preliminary
matching material matches and a desired set of property values; and
outputting the results to the user.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises:
calculating an index value for each actual property value of each
preliminary matching material; scoring each property value to
create a scored property value; weighting each scored property
value by talking a priority value for each property into account to
create a weighted scored property value; and calculating an overall
match score for each preliminary matching material.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is a minimum acceptable property value or a
maximum acceptable property value for a property, the index value
is calculated using the formula: Index .times. .times. value =
Actual .times. .times. property .times. .times. value Desired
.times. .times. property .times. .times. value ##EQU10##
4. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for
a property, the index value is calculated using the formula: Index
.times. .times. value range = Actual .times. .times. property
.times. .times. value - ( LOW + HIGH ) / 2 HIGH - LOW ##EQU11##
wherein LOW is the minimum value of the acceptable range and HIGH
is the maximum value of the acceptable range.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is a minimum acceptable property value for a
property, the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy
membership function: Scored .times. .times. property .times.
.times. value = 1 1 + exp [ - Slope .times. .times. ( Index .times.
.times. value - Crossover ) ] ##EQU12## wherein Slope=15 and
Crossover=0.95.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is a maximum acceptable property value for a
property, the scored property value is calculated using the fuzzy
membership function: Scored property .times. .times. value = 1 1 +
exp .function. [ - Slope .times. .times. ( Index .times. .times.
value - Crossover ) ] ##EQU13## wherein Slope=-15 and
Crossover=1.05.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property,
and the desired property value for that property equals zero (0),
the scored property value is one (1).
8. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property,
and the desired property value for that property does not equal
zero (0), the scored property value is zero (0).
9. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property,
and: Actual property value<DPV*0.9 wherein DPV=desired property
value, the scored property value is zero (0).
10. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property,
and: DPV*0.9.ltoreq.Actual property value<DPV the scored
property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function:
Scored .times. .times. Property .times. .times. Value = ( DPV * 0.1
) - DPV + APV ( DPV * 0.1 ) ##EQU14## wherein DPV=desired property
value and APV=actual property value.
11. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property,
and: Actual property value=DPV wherein DPV=desired property value,
the scored property value is one (1).
12. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property,
and: DPV<Actual property value.ltoreq.DPV* 1.1 the scored
property value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function:
Scored .times. .times. Property .times. .times. Value = ( DPV * 0.1
) + DPV - APV ( DPV * 0.1 ) ##EQU15## wherein DPV=desired property
value and APV=actual property value.
13. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is an acceptable point value for a property,
and: Actual property value>DPV* 1.1 wherein DPV=desired property
value, the scored property value is zero (0).
14. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for
a property, and the index value for that property is less than -1,
the scored property value equals zero (0).
15. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for
a property, and: -1.ltoreq.Index value<-0.5 the scored property
value is calculated using the fuzzy membership function: Scored
property value=2(1.0+Index value).
16. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for
a property, and: -0.5.ltoreq.Index value<0.5 the scored property
value is one (1).
17. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for
a property, and: 0.5.ltoreq.Index value<1 the scored property is
calculated using the fuzzy membership function: Scored property
value=2(1.0-Index value).
18. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one input parameter
obtained from the user is a range of acceptable property values for
a property, and the index value for that property is greater than
one (1), the scored property value is zero (0).
19. The method of claim 2, wherein the weighted scored property
value is calculated using the formula: Weighted scored property
value=Scored property value * Priority value
20. The method of claim 19, wherein a high priority exists for a
property, a priority value of 4 is assigned to that property, a
medium priority exists for a property, a priority value of 2 is
assigned to that property, and a low priority exists for a
property, a priority value of 1 is assigned to that property.
21. The method of claim 2, wherein the overall match score is
calculated using the formula: Overall .times. .times. Match .times.
.times. Score = Sum .times. .times. of .times. .times. all .times.
.times. weighted score .times. .times. property .times. .times.
values S .times. um .times. .times. of .times. .times. all .times.
.times. priority .times. .times. values ##EQU16##
22. The method of claim 2, wherein each preliminary matching
material comprises an engineering thermoplastic.
23. A system for selecting a material that most closely matches a
desired set of properties, the system comprising: a means for
obtaining at least one input parameter from a user; a means for
retrieving actual property values for at least one preliminary
matching material from a global data repository; a material
selection algorithm operable for determining a match between each
preliminary matching material and a desired set of property values;
and a means for outputting the results to the user.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the material selection
algorithm is further operable for: calculating an index value for
each actual property value of each preliminary matching material;
scoring each property value to create a scored property value;
weighting each scored property value by taking a priority value for
each property into account to create a weighted scored property
value; and calculating an overall match score for each preliminary
matching material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No.
10/263,216 filed Oct. 2, 2002, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Often times, when new products are being designed, a
material having certain properties is desired, but it may not be
readily apparent which material best meets those properties.
Therefore, experimentation may be required to find such a material.
Such experimentation may be a time consuming and expensive
endeavor, thereby maling experimentation undue and unfeasible in
many instances.
[0003] Current systems and methods for finding materials that
possess desired properties only result in unorganized lists of
materials having properties that are somewhere in the vicinity of
the desired properties. Someone then has to sort through this list
of materials and decide which material(s) most closely matches the
desired properties. Often times, this may be done in an engineer's
head, or the decision may be based on instinct, knowledge and
experience or other unscientific means. As such, further testing or
experimentation is often required to find out which of the
materials actually best matches the desired properties overall.
This is further complicated by the fact that a material may very
closely match one or more desired property values, while not very
closely matching other desired property values at all. Therefore,
it is often difficult to tell which material(s) in the list will
best match the desired properties overall.
[0004] There is presently no quick and easy way to find a material
that best matches the desired properties overall. Thus, there is a
need for systems and methods that allow one to quickly identify
which existing material(s) most closely matches the desired
properties overall, thereby allowing product development cycle
times to be significantly reduced. There is also a need for such
systems and methods to be automated using a computer. There is yet
a further need for such systems and methods to be accessible to
users via the Internet. There is also a need for such systems and
methods to take all the desired properties into account
collectively when calculating which material(s) best matches the
desired properties overall. There is still a further need for such
systems and methods to utilize fuzzy membership functions to score
existing materials according to how well they match each individual
desired property value. There is also a need for such systems and
methods to allow properties having higher priorities to be given
greater weight than properties having lower priorities when the
overall match of the material is being calculated. Finally, there
is a need for such systems and methods to allow materials to be
ranked in descending order according to their calculated overall
match, so that the material(s) that best matches the desired
properties is readily identifiable by a user.
SUMMARY
[0005] Accordingly, the above-identified shortcomings of existing
systems and methods are overcome by embodiments of the present
invention. This invention relates to material selection systems and
methods that allow one to quickly identify which existing
material(s) most closely matches a desired set of properties
overall, thereby allowing new product development cycle times to be
significantly reduced. One embodiment comprises systems and methods
that utilize a computer to automatically search a database of
materials and calculate which material therein best matches the
desired set of properties overall. In some embodiments, the systems
and methods of this invention may be accessible to users via a
personal computer, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet.
Embodiments of the systems and methods may take all the desired
properties into account collectively when calculating which
material(s) best matches the desired set of properties overall. In
some embodiments, the systems and methods may utilize fuzzy
membership functions to score existing materials according to how
well they match each individual desired property value.
Furthermore, properties having higher priorities can be given
greater weight than properties having lower priorities when the
overall match score of the material is being calculated. Finally,
embodiments of the systems and methods of this invention can allow
materials to be ranked in descending order according to their
calculated overall match score, so that the material(s) that best
matches the desired properties is readily identifiable by a
user.
[0006] When designing a new product, often times a material
possessing certain properties may be desired. Disclosed herein is a
method for selecting a material that most closely matches a desired
set of properties, the method comprising: obtaining at least one
input parameter from a user; retrieving actual property values for
at least one preliminary matching material from a global data
repository; determining a match between each preliminary matching
material matches and a desired set of property values; and
outputting the results to the user. In some embodiments, the user
is able to input or select the various properties and property
values that they desire in a material. For example, users may be
able to select the properties they desire in a material. Users may
also be able to select acceptable values for these desired
properties, such as a minimum acceptable value, a maximum
acceptable value, an acceptable point value, or a range of
acceptable values. In some embodiments, users may be able to select
a priority for each desired property, such as high, medium or low.
In some embodiments, users may also be able to select how many
matching materials they wish to see listed.
[0007] Once these property variables are selected, a search for the
closest matching material can begin. In one embodiment, the first
step involves searching a database of materials to find out which
materials possess the properties that are desired. Next, an index
value may be calculated for each property value of each material.
Thereafter, a score may be calculated for each property value.
Then, an overall match score may be calculated for each material,
indicating how well the material matches the desired properties.
Finally, the materials may be sorted in descending order based on
their overall match scores so that a user can easily identify which
material matches all the desired properties the best.
[0008] One embodiment of the present invention comprises a method
for selecting a material that most closely matches a desired set of
properties. This method comprises obtaining at least one input
parameter from a user; retrieving actual property values for at
least one preliminary matching material from a global data
repository; determining a match between each preliminary matching
material matches and a desired set of property values; and
outputting the results to the user. This determining step further
comprises calculating an index value for each actual property value
of each preliminary matching material; scoring each property value
to create a scored property value; weighting each scored property
value by taking a priority value for each property into account to
create a weighted scored property value; and calculating an overall
match score for each preliminary matching material. The method may
also comprise sorting the preliminary matching materials by their
respective overall match scores prior to outputting the results to
the user.
[0009] In one embodiment, fuzzy membership functions are used to
calculate a score for each property value. These fuzzy membership
functions determine the degree of similarity between the desired
property values and the actual property values of existing
materials. There are four different fuzzy membership functions
utilized by the present invention, depending on what acceptable
values are selected by the user for each desired property. For
example, if the user selects a maximum acceptable value for a
property, one fuzzy membership function is utilized to calculate a
score for that property value. If the user selects a minimum
acceptable value for a property, a second fuzzy membership function
is utilized to calculate the score for that property value. If the
user selects a range of acceptable values for a property, a third
fuzzy membership function is utilized to calculate the score for
that property value. Finally, if the user selects an acceptable
point value for a property, a fourth fuzzy membership function is
utilized to calculate the score for that property value.
[0010] In some embodiments, each score may also be weighted to
account for the priority selected for that property. For example,
if a high priority is selected for a property, that property may be
assigned a higher value than one having a lower priority so that
when the overall match score is calculated, these priorities are
taken into account.
[0011] In some embodiments, the overall match score may take all
the property values into account collectively. The calculations
described above may be performed automatically by a computer, or
they may be performed manually. Furthermore, the systems and
methods may be designed so that, once a user selects the desired
properties and acceptable property values, a database of materials
is automatically searched and the best matching material therein is
located.
[0012] The present invention has all the advantages of existing
material selection systems and methods, but it requires less
experimentation and laboratory time, thereby reducing product
development cycle times so that new products can get to market
quicker.
[0013] Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a
system for selecting a material that most closely matches a desired
set of properties. This system comprises a means for obtaining at
least one input parameter from a user; a means for retrieving
actual property values for at least one preliminary matching
material from a global data repository; a material selection
algorithm operable for determining a match between each preliminary
matching material and a desired set of property values; and a means
for outputting the results to the user. This material selection
algorithm is further operable for calculating an index value for
each actual property value of each preliminary matching material;
scoring each property value to create a scored property value;
weighting each scored property value by taking a priority value for
each property into account to create a weighted scored property
value; and calculating an overall match score for each preliminary
matching material. The material selection algorithm may also be
operable for sorting the preliminary matching materials by their
respective overall match scores prior to outputting the results to
the user.
[0014] Further features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention will be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art
during the course of the following description, wherein references
are made to the accompanying figures which illustrate some
preferred forms of the present invention, and wherein like
characters of reference designate like parts throughout the
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The systems and methods of the present invention are
described herein below with reference to various drawings and
graphical representations thereof, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the material properties
retrieval and overall match score calculations that are performed
in one embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the fuzzy membership function
applied when a minimum acceptable property value is selected by a
user;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the fuzzy membership function
applied when a maximum acceptable property value is selected by a
user;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a graph showing the fuzzy membership function
applied when an acceptable point value for a property value is
selected by a user; and
[0020] FIG. 5 is a graph showing the fuzzy membership function
applied when a range of acceptable property values is selected by a
user; and
[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the three-tiered
architecture of one embodiment of a system for selecting a material
that best matches a desired set of properties.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
invention, reference will now be made to some preferred embodiments
of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, and specific
language used to describe the same. The terminology used herein is
for the purpose of description, not limitation. Specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention. Any modifications or
variations in the depicted material selection systems and methods,
and such further applications of the principles of the invention as
illustrated herein, as would normally occur to one skilled in the
art, are considered to be within the spirit of this invention.
[0023] Disclosed herein are material selection systems and methods
that allow one to quickly identify which existing materials most
closely match a desired set of properties overall so that new
product development time can be reduced. In one embodiment, the
material selection method comprises the steps shown in FIG. 1.
First, a user inputs the properties they wish to be displayed for
each material 10. These properties may include mechanical
properties, thermal properties, electrical properties or other
desired properties. Such properties may include one or more of the
following non-limiting properties: tensile strength, tensile strain
at break, tensile modulus, flexural modulus, Izod impact notched at
23.degree. C., HDT at 0.45 MPa, HDT at 1.80 MPa, Vicat softening
temperature, coefficient of thermal expansion, relative thermal
index (electrical), relative thermal index (mechanical with
impact), relative thermal index (mechanical without impact),
dissipation factor at 50 Hz, dissipation factor at 1 MHz,
dielectric constant at 50 Hz, dielectric constant at 1 MHz, volume
resistivity, surface resistivity, specific gravity, water
absorption, and the UL94 rating at a given thickness. Once the user
decides which properties they wish to have displayed, they then
decide whether or not each property they selected is to be searched
20. If the user wants a particular property to be displayed, but
not searched and scored, then they do not need to input a value for
that property 30. If however, the user wants the property values to
be searched, scored and displayed, then the user inputs the desired
or acceptable values for that property 40, and also selects which
units are desired for each property (i.e., SI units or British
units). For example, the user may input a minimum acceptable value,
a maximum acceptable value, a range of acceptable values, or an
acceptable point value for each property being searched and scored.
Next, the user may input the priority assigned to each property 50.
The priorities may comprise high, medium and low. Next, the user
may input the number of matching materials they wish to have
displayed 60. For example, they may wish to see only the ten
materials that most closely match the desired properties.
[0024] In some embodiments, background calculations may be
performed. Users may or may not even be aware that these background
calculations are occurring. For example, if property values for a
material are retrieved from the global data repository in SI units,
but the user wants the units to be displayed in British or U.S.
units, embodiments of the invention may convert the retrieved units
to the appropriate desired units before displaying them to the
user. Also, data may be normalized as needed so that testing
methods used to measure a given property in one country can be
normalized to test methods used to measure that same property in
another country. Other background calculations may also be
performed. For example, if results of a specific test method are
requested by a user, but that test has not been performed and
entered into the database, then if a similar test has been
conducted, the desired results may in some cases be calculated from
the actual results of the similar test.
[0025] Now, the search for the best matching material(s) can begin.
First, a global data repository or database may be searched to male
preliminary matching material selections 70. This global data
repository may comprise data for materials from all around the
globe, instead of just comprising data from one region of the
globe. For example, embodiments comprise data for materials
available in North America, Europe, Japan, Brazil, etc. all
combined into one searchable global data repository. Contrary to
many existing methods and systems for selecting a material that
most closely matches a desired set of properties, this invention
does not discard a material just because it does not match one or
more property values very well. In fact, this invention allows
materials to be preliminarily selected if they have property values
that are just somewhat in the vicinity of the desired property
values. Therefore, no null search results are returned to users
with this invention--at least some materials will be retrieved and
scored. Next, an index value can be calculated for each property
value of each material 80. The manner in which the index value is
calculated can vary depending on what the acceptable values are for
the property. For example, in one embodiment, if a minimum
acceptable property value or a maximum acceptable property value
for a property is selected, the index value for that property may
be calculated as follows: Index .times. .times. value = Actual
.times. .times. property .times. .times. value Desired .times.
.times. property .times. .times. value ##EQU1## If a range of
acceptable property values is selected, the index value for that
property may be calculated as follows: Index .times. .times. value
range = Actual .times. .times. property .times. .times. value - (
LOW + HIGH ) / 2 HIGH - LOW ##EQU2## where LOW is the minimum value
of the acceptable range specified by the user and HIGH is the
maximum value of the acceptable range specified by the user. If an
acceptable point value is selected, there is no need to calculate
an index value for the property because the scoring algorithm for
an acceptable point value does not take the index value into
account.
[0026] Next, a score for each property value can be calculated 90.
Generally, a property is given a score of about 0.7 if it satisfies
the acceptable property value. A higher score is given if the
material exceeds the acceptable property value, and a lower score
is given if is does not meet the acceptable property value as well.
A score of 0.0 is given if the material does not come close to
matching the acceptable property value at all. Therefore, the
highest scores are given to materials having property values that
exceed the acceptable property values, or that are well within the
specified ranges of acceptable property values. As such, and
because a material is not eliminated from the search just because
it does not match one property, it is possible to have a material
that exceeds the desired property values for a few properties rank
higher (i.e., be listed as a better overall match) than a material
that just barely meets a greater number of desired property
values.
[0027] In one embodiment, the score is calculated via one of four
possible fuzzy membership functions. If a minimum acceptable
property value is selected, the score for that property value may
be calculated using a first fuzzy membership function: Score = 1 1
+ exp .function. [ - Slope .times. .times. ( Index .times. .times.
value - Crossover ) ] ##EQU3## where Slope=15 and Crossover=0.95. A
graphical representation of this sigmoidal fuzzy membership
function is shown in FIG. 2.
[0028] If a maximum acceptable property value is selected, the
score for that property value may be calculated using a second
fuzzy membership function: Score = 1 1 + exp .function. [ - Slope
.times. .times. ( Index .times. .times. value - Crossover ) ]
##EQU4## where Slope=-15 and Crossover=1.05. A graphical
representation of this sigmoidal fuzzy membership function is shown
in FIG. 3.
[0029] If an acceptable point value for a property is selected, the
score for that property value may be calculated using a third fuzzy
membership function: TABLE-US-00001 If the Desired property Use
This Fuzzy value = 0 and: Membership Function: Actual property
value < 0 Score = 0 Actual property value = 0 Score = 1 Actual
property value > 0 Score = 0
[0030] TABLE-US-00002 Use This Fuzzy Membership If the Desired
property value .noteq. 0 and: Function: Actual property value <
DPV * 0.9 Score = 0 DPV * 0.9 .ltoreq. Actual property value <
DPV Score = ( DPV * 0.1 ) - DPV + APV ( DPV * 0.1 ) ##EQU5## Actual
property value = DPV Score = 1 DPV < Actual property value
.ltoreq.DPV * 1.1 Score = ( DPV * 0.1 ) + DPV - APV ( DPV * 0.1 )
##EQU6## Actual property value > DPV * 1.1 Score = 0
where DPV=desired property value and APV=actual property value. A
graphical representation of this fuzzy membership function is shown
in FIG. 4.
[0031] Finally, if a range of acceptable property values is
selected, the score for that property value may be calculated using
a fourth fuzzy membership function which varies depending on where
the index value falls as shown below. TABLE-US-00003 If Index Value
Falls Use This Fuzzy Membership In This Range: Function: Index
value < -1 Score = 0 -1 .ltoreq. Index value < -0.5 Score =
2(1.0 + Index value) -0.5 .ltoreq. Index value < 0.5 Score = 1
0.5 .ltoreq. Index value < 1 Score = 2(1.0 - Index value) 1 <
Index value Score = 0
A graphical representation of this piecewise linear fuzzy
membership function is shown in FIG. 5.
[0032] Once a score for each property value is calculated, each
score can be weighted 100 according to the priority assigned to
each property. For example, in this embodiment, if a property is
given a high priority, a priority value of 4 is assigned to that
property; if a property is given a medium priority, a priority
value of 2 is assigned to that property; and if a property is given
a low priority, a priority value of 1 is assigned to that property.
The score can then be weighted by multiplying the score by the
priority value.
[0033] Next, an overall match score can be calculated 110 as
follows: Overall .times. .times. Match .times. .times. Score = Sum
.times. .times. of .times. .times. the .times. .times. weighted
.times. .times. .times. scores Sum .times. .times. of .times.
.times. all .times. .times. priorities ##EQU7## where the sum of
all priorities is the sum of all priorities assigned to all
properties. Thereafter, in this embodiment, the materials are
sorted 120 in descending order of their overall match scores.
Finally, a list of the best matching materials is output to the
user 130 so the material that matches the best is listed at the top
of the output list so it can be easily identified by the user.
[0034] To further clarify these calculations, reference will now be
made to Table 1, which shows all the above-described calculations
for a group of materials. For simplicity, the calculations for only
one property of one material will described herein--flexural
modulus for Material Grade Name 2735. First, the properties that
were desired were selected--flexural modulus, RT Izod impact,
tensile strength, and tensile strain at break. These properties are
list in the first column in the table below. TABLE-US-00004 Grade
Name 2735 5230R 5230 2230EU 2230 X2300WX 2230M 2730U Flex Mod
Actual 2136 2136 2136 2239 2239 2205 2239 2067 (MPa) Score 0.8162
0.8162 0.8162 0.7105 0.7105 0.8667 0.7105 0.4991 Priority 4 4 4 4 4
4 4 4 RT Izod Impact Actual 75 64 64 80 80 64 64 64 (kJ/m.sup.2)
Index 1.1194 0.9552 0.9552 1.1940 1.1940 0.9552 0.9552 0.9552 Score
0.9270 0.5196 0.5196 0.9749 0.9749 0.5196 0.5196 0.5196 Priority 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Tensile Actual 54 54 54 55 55 59 55 55 Strength (MPa)
Index 0.9474 0.9474 0.9474 0.9649 0.9649 1.0351 0.9649 0.9649 Score
0.8234 0.8234 0.8234 0.7818 0.7818 0.5557 0.7818 0.7818 Priority 2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Tensile Strain Actual 110 110 110 120 120 120 100 120
@ Break (%) Index -0.5 -0.5 -0.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 -2.5 1.5 Score 1.00
1.00 1.00 0 0 0 0 0 Priority 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Overall Overall 0.871
0.826 0.826 0.598 0.598 0.566 0.547 0.453 Match Best 1 2 2 3 3 4 5
6 Match
Next, the units desired for each of these properties, the desired
values for each of these properties, the priorities of each of
these properties, and the number of matching materials to be listed
in the results were selected as follows:
[0035] Properties Desired: Priority Value TABLE-US-00005 Properties
Desired: Priority Value Flex. Mod. 2176 MPa High (4) RT Izod Impact
> 67 kJ/m.sup.2 Low (1) Tensile Strength < 57 MPa Medium (2)
Tensile Strain at Break (%) between 110 and 115 Medium (2)
For this embodiment, the six (6) best matching materials were asked
to be listed in the results output, and the units selected were SI
units. The actual value of flexural modulus for the 2735 material
was 2136 MPa. As previously discussed, there is no need to
calculate an index value for this property since the scoring
algorithm for an acceptable point value does not take the index
value into account. Therefore, the score for this property is
calculated as follows: Score = ( DPV * 0.1 ) - DPV + APV ( DPV *
0.1 ) = ( 2176 * 0.1 ) - 2176 + 2136 ( 2176 * 0.1 ) = 0.8162
##EQU8## Then, the score is weighted as follows:
[0036] Weighted score=Score * Priority Value=0.8162* 4=3.2648 The
same calculations can be performed for each of the other properties
and materials and then an overall match score can be calculated as
follows: Overall .times. .times. Match .times. .times. Score = Sum
.times. .times. of .times. .times. weighted .times. .times. scores
Sum .times. .times. of .times. .times. all .times. .times.
priorities = 3.2648 + 0.927 + 1.6468 + 2 4 + 1 + 2 + 2 = .871
##EQU9##
[0037] The overall match score rates how well a material fits the
desired property values. Each material will have an overall match
score ranging from 0 to 1.0, depending on how well it matches the
desired properties. An overall match score of 1.0 means the
material matches all the desired properties perfectly, while an
overall match score of 0.0 means the material does not match the
desired properties at all.
[0038] Some embodiments also comprise material selection systems.
In one embodiment, the material selection system comprises a
three-tier architecture as shown in FIG. 6. The three tiers in this
embodiment include the user tier 200, the network tier 210 and the
database tier 220. The user tier in this embodiment allows a user
to input or select various input parameters. Some non-limiting
examples of these various input parameters comprise: which
properties the user wishes to have displayed, which properties they
wish to be searched, what the acceptable property values are for
each property being searched, a priority value for each property
being searched, and/or the number of matching materials they wish
to have displayed. This user tier may contain a material search
interface layer implemented in any suitable manner, such as by
JavaServer Pages.TM. (JSP) technology and/or JavaScript. In this
embodiment, the network tier layer hosts the actual application
that performs the material search (i.e., the network tier acts as
the material search engine). The network tier accepts the user's
inputs, and then performs the search/data query over the database
layer. The search results may then be returned to the user via the
user tier. This functionality may be achieved in any suitable
manner, such as by using a web server, Java Servlet and/or Java
Data Base Connectivity (JDBC.TM.) technology.
[0039] Embodiments search a global data repository comprising any
type of materials such as, for example, plastics, glasses,
ceramics, and/or metals, etc. Other embodiments search a global
data repository comprising commercial or developmental grade
engineering thermoplastics. These thermoplastics may comprise, for
example, polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN),
liquid crystal polyester (LCP) and the like, polyolefins, such as
polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polybutylene or the like,
styrene-type resins, etc. or polyoxymethylene (POM), polyamide
(PA), polycarbonate (PC), polymethylene methacrylate (PMMA),
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS),
polyphenylene ether (PPE), polyimide (PI), polyamide imide (PAI),
polyetherimide (PEI), polysulfone (PSU), polyether sulphone (PES),
polyketone (Pl), polyether ketone (PEK), polyether ether ketone
(PEEK), polyalylate (PAR), polyethemitrile (PEN), phenol resins
(novolac type or the like), phenoxy resins, fluorocarbon resins,
or, furthermore, thermoplastic elastomers of a polystyrene type, a
polyolefin type, a polyurethane type, a polyester type, a polyamide
type, a polybutadiene type, polyisoprene type, a fluorine type or
the like, or copolymers or modifications of any of the these
substances, or blended resins of two or more of these substances or
the like. More preferably, these thermoplastics comprise
styrene-type resins, polycarbonate resins, polyphenylene ether
resins, polyamide resins, polyester resins, polyphenylene sulfide
resins, polyolebi resins, liquid-crystalline resins and phenol-type
resins. The thermoplastics in this invention may further comprise
one or more reinforcing agents such as glass, talc, mica, clay, or
combinations thereof; flame retarding compounds used alone or in
conjunction with a synergist; drip retarding agent(s); and/or a
wide variety of other additives such as stabilizers, pigments,
colorants, processing aids, antioxidants and the like.
[0040] As described above, the systems and methods disclosed herein
allow a user to quickly and easily identify a material that closely
matches desired performance criteria. Advantageously, these systems
and methods may significantly speed up new product development
times, allowing new products to get to market quicker than in the
past.
[0041] Various embodiments of the invention have been described in
fulfillment of the various needs that the invention meets. It
should be recognized that these embodiments are merely illustrative
of the principles of various embodiments of the present invention.
Numerous modifications and adaptations thereof will be apparent to
those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the
present invention cover all suitable modifications and variations
as come within the scope of the appended claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *