WO2001015429A1

WO2001015429A1 - Method for converting drawing to electronic data

Info

Publication number: WO2001015429A1
Application number: PCT/JP2000/005264
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keizo Ogasawara; Hiroshi Sato
Original assignee: Cosmotec Patent Information Systems Inc.
Priority date: 1999-08-19
Filing date: 2000-08-07
Publication date: 2001-03-01
Also published as: AU6472200A; JP3309084B2; JP2001056857A

Abstract

When creating an electronic document containing drawings through computers, a document of character codes and drawings comprised of image data are organically and uniquely linked. Line segments (4, 4A) corresponding to the position and size of drawings (2, 3) on the sheet (1) of paper are additionally drawn on the sheet (1). An optical reader (20) reads the line segments (4, 4A) and the corresponding drawings (2, 3) on the sheet (1) and creates electronic data on them. An information processor (10) measures the positions and lengths of the line segments (4, 4A). Areas (13, 14) for character codes and area (15, 16) for image data are provided on a screen (3) according to the measured positions and lengths. Identification codes are inserted in the areas (13, 14) for character codes on the screen (3) in the order of detection of the line segments (4, 4A) and the drawings (2, 3), and the drawings (2, 3) are inserted in the area (15, 16) for image data on the screen (3) in the same order. According to the order, the identification coded NO and the image data are linked.

Description

Details ^:

Geometry conversion method [Technical field]

The present invention relates to a method for digitizing a figure, and more particularly to a method for digitizing a figure in which a character code for identification is combined with an image in a sentence accompanied by the figure.

[Background Art]

In recent years, one computer is connected to the other computer using the communication line, and the contract printed on paper is digitized and exchanged, and the submission to public authorities is digitized and transferred. Has been put to practical use.

Such electronic contracts and submissions now include many drawings and design drawings that were rare in the past. These drawings and blueprints are not limited to explanatory ones, but are deeply involved in the contract and the contents of the submission, and occupy an important position. It is necessary to clarify how to combine them.

Therefore, between computers or between a computer and a small personal computer, it is particularly required that a so-called character code document and a drawing or design drawing of image data be organically and uniquely linked.

For example, there are patent application documents as submissions to public authorities. In the patent application documents, the character code "Fig. 1" has a predetermined figure, "Fig. 2" has another figure, and " In Figure 3 ", different figures etc. are specified, and these are identified independently of each other.

In the digitization of patent application documents, the character code "Fig. 1" is displayed in the upper line of the screen of a computer corresponding to paper, and a predetermined figure corresponding to this Fig. 1 is optically displayed in subsequent lines. The reading device captures and displays the image as an image.

In FIG. 5, for example, two types of, for example, a triangular figure 2 and a square figure 3 are drawn on one A4 type sheet 1. Figure 2 has an “il figure” consisting of symbols and letters for identification, and I1 form 3 has a “¾2 figure” at the end of digitization. This paper 1 is read by an optical reading device (hereinafter referred to as OCR or scanner), and figures 2 and 3 are imported into a desktop computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) as an image and displayed on the screen.

At this time, the recognition code "Figure 1" for the image data of Figure 2 and the recognition code ^ "^ 2 Figure" for the image data of Figure 3 are processed as character data (code data) by a personal computer. On the metaphor, corresponding to each of the figures 2 and 3 of the image data, they are displayed as character data as “FIG. 1” and “FIG. 2”. This screen is transmitted to the remote information processing device using the communication line segment.

In the past, when a figure on paper 1 was imported to a personal computer, the upper part of the paper, for example, three lines were in the “Chart 1” character code area, and the entire area of four lines or less was image data. Since it was recognized as a reading area, it was not possible to automatically set multiple character data (code / night) areas in paper 1.

To set the character data (code data) area in the image data area, perform the image data clipping work on the computer screen and set the character data (code data) area again. And input the word "Fig. 2" into the character data area.

In the conventional patent application documents, the same figure corresponding to the character code "Fig. 1", another figure corresponding to "Fig. 2", and a figure corresponding to "Fig. When a plurality of different figures are described, a predetermined figure corresponding to “FIG. 1”, another figure corresponding to “FIG. 2”, It is troublesome to specify another figure corresponding to the figure.

Without such correspondence, all the figures on the same page will become the predetermined figures corresponding to "Fig. 1", which will be confusing in the text of the patent application documents. Was expected.

According to the present invention, when a document including a plurality of figures is digitized between computers or between a computer and a small computer, the document of the character code and the drawings and design drawings of the image data are organically and uniquely defined. The purpose is to link. Furthermore, in this invention, By reading a figure, it is possible to dynamically set a character data area according to the I-shaped image data, if necessary.

[Disclosure of the Invention]

The present invention has been made to solve the above ^^ 、. In claim 1, a plurality of figures, each having an independent identification code, drawn on paper are read by an optical reader, and are digitized. The data is sent to the information processing apparatus as data, and in this information processing apparatus, the image corresponding to the paper is set, and each image data is combined with the character code data of the identification code. Line segments corresponding to the position and size of each figure occupying on the sheet are additionally written on the sheet, and the optical reading device reads the line segments and the corresponding figure from the sheet. The report processing device detects the position and length of each line segment, and the area and image for each character code on the screen corresponding to the detected position and length of each line segment. Jide overnight In the above screen, the identification code is inserted in the area for each character code, and the figure is inserted in the area for image data, according to the order of the detected line segments and figures. Join.

In claim 2, each character code and each image data are a drawing number and a drawing in a patent application and a utility model application.

According to the third aspect, the plurality of sheets are continuously read and digitized by the optical reading device, and the character code and the image data are respectively combined in the information processing device in order.

According to the fourth aspect, a plurality of figures drawn on a sheet and provided with mutually independent identification codes are read and digitized by an optical reading device and sent to an information processing device as image data. In a method of digitizing a figure for setting a screen and combining the character code data of the identification code with each image data, a line segment corresponding to a position and a size occupied by the figure on the sheet is respectively written on the sheet. The line reader and the corresponding figure are read out from the paper by the optical reading device and digitized, and the information processing device detects the position and length of each line segment, and detects each detected line. Each character on the screen corresponds to the position and length of the minute. ^ ドドし ^ し確保ししし確保し確保しししししししししししししししししし^ In the region of the image and the river, we will reduce or enlarge the figure and join them together.

[Brief description of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external view showing an example of filling out a person's form for the digitization method of this figure.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration example of an optical reading device and an information processing device to which the method of digitizing a figure of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is an information processing device of the digitizing method of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the first-stage scanner process of the digitizing method according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a digitizing method according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a second-stage trimming process of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a third-stage normalization process of the digitizing method for graphics according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the fourth stage of the joining process of the figure digitizing method. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a general example in which a plurality of figures are identified and drawn on a sheet of paper.

[Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to patent application documents.

In FIG. 2, the configuration of an information processing apparatus in which the digitizing method of the present invention is implemented will be described.

The scanner 20 reads the sheets 1, 1A, and 1B and outputs an electronic signal to the information processing device 10 such as a personal computer.

The information processing device 10 includes a screen 3 of a display device, a CPU 6 of a central control unit, a ROM 9 of a program memory, a RAM 7 of a work memory, a character pattern generator 8 and a mouse 19. The ROM 9 stores a reading program, an editing program a, and an editing program b.

When the information processing device 10 is turned on and the mouse 19 is used in the specified screen menu, the contract for the scanner 20 and the A4 paper 1 etc. are specified in the application form, such as a patent application document. It is.

Start with CPU 6 Hano ^ preparative program, A 4 River Paper 1 ^lambda in the first 1 1¾1, on ΐ corresponding surface 3, sets the biparietal width Alpha = 2 1 cm marked area beta. This marquerer B is an area for entering a line segment identifying the figure.

The mark area B is the entire vertical area of the river paper 1 and the width is 20 mm on the left side or according to the resolution of the scanner 20 it is 16 pixels at 200 dpi, 32 pixels at 400 dpi, etc. Set.

Therefore, the person who describes a meta in patent application class [nJ-note 1] should leave this mark area B blank if there is one drawing, etc. Draw a line segment (control symbol, control mark) that extends to the end. The line segment to be drawn should be black or blue, etc., which can be recognized by Skyana 20.

In FIG. 3, if there are two or more drawings on the same sheet 1, this marquer B draws a first line segment 4 having a length from the top to the bottom of the designated drawing in order from the top, Next, a second line segment 4A having a length from the upper end to the lower end of the designated drawing is drawn below it.

The first and second line segments 4, 4A in the mark area B are used as control symbols, and the line segment width C is set to, for example, 4 pixels as shown in FIG. Line width C is approximately equal to the line width drawn by a normal ballpoint pen or pencil.

As the image data cutout area, secure the length of line segment 4 in the vertical direction, left merge D16 pixels from the left end of figure 30 to the left, and right merge E16 pixels from the right end to the right of figure 30.

Since the top, bottom, left, and right merges on the paper 1 are determined in the drawings for the patent application documents, the reduction program is set in advance so that the drawings fall within the number of pixels corresponding to each merge.

The editing program a is a line segment in the mark area B: read the control symbol 4, identify the length of each control symbol 4, separate and assign a number 1, and set the code area on the screen 3 corresponding to paper 1 from the top, for example. Up to three lines, insert the character code "Fig. 1" in place of the first management symbol, and set (secure) an image area corresponding to the length of each management symbol 4. This image ¾t area is 1: 1 with the left and right merges D and E added to the horizontal width of the figure, and the height equal to each control symbol 4. In the following, the image area is set by adding 桥 ¾ 2 to the next f logic-4, as in ί [, and continue with 3 and 4.

The program b is to read the management record 4 in the mark area B, detect the length of the control symbol (one line segment) 4 and assign a number 1, and set the code area from the top on the screen 3 corresponding to the paper 1 3 lines: up to l, insert the character code "Fig. 1" in place of the 1st management code. Set (secure) an image area corresponding to the entire vertical area of paper 1. This image area adds the left and right margins 0 and E to the actual horizontal width of the figure, and prints the vertical

1 is the total length (excluding upper and lower margins).

Next, the overall operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

When the power of the personal computer or the like of the information processing apparatus 10 in FIG. 2 is turned on, the flow of the scanner processing in FIG. 4 starts.

In step S1, the CPU 6 reads the reading program and the editing programs a and b from the program ROM 9, and expands them in the work memory RAM 7.

In step S2, the scanner 20 reads the sheet 1 of the drawing provided on the first and last days according to the reading program.

In step S3, the CPU 6 stores the image of paper 1 (line 4 and figure) as one page in the storage space of the work memory RAM 7, and creates the first bitmap file (line 4 and figure). , Page Boyne-j to j + 1 (1 step forward).

In step S4, the CPU 6 checks whether there is a next page on the entire surface of the scanner 20.If there is, returns to step S2, scans the next sheet 1A, and scans the first page of the second page. Enlarge the 1-bit map file (BPF line 4 and figure). Steps S2 to S4 are repeated in the same manner, and the first bitmap file for the provided j pages is further enlarged.

If there is no next page to be read in step S4 (reading is completed), the process proceeds to the trimming process in FIG.

In step S5, the CPU 6 reads the image data of the first page from the first bitmap file in the storage space of the work memory RAM7. In step S6 Will make the page boyne i i + 1 (1 step forward).

In step S7, the CPU 6 checks whether the line segment 4 ^ is present, and if not, discards the page and returns to step S5 to read the next page.

If there is a line segment 4 and the like, the process proceeds to step S 8, ^A d 1 bitmap file from line 4 and set of figures 2 ( '^ 3) with a margin as shown in FIG. 1 figure de Isseki only Cut out.

In step S9, only one figure in one page (line 4 in the management record is deleted) is stored in the memory space of the work memory RAM 7 as Ί1 figure, and a second bitmap file (only figures) is created. Then, the figure number pointer h is changed to h + 1 (1 step).

In step S10, it is checked whether or not the next line segment 4A exists in one page. If there is, the process returns to step S8, and only figure 3 is cut out and stored, and the figure number pointer is further advanced. .

Steps S8 to S10 are repeated by the number of line segments in the first page, and the figure number pointer is increased.

If there is no next line segment in the first page, and the page number i is not greater than page j of the first bitmap file, the process returns to step S5 and reads the next (2) page from the first bitmap file. Repeat step S5 and step S10 in the second page to enlarge the second bitmap file (only the figure with line elimination) and extend the figure number h.

If the number of page pages i is larger than page j of the first bitmap file, there is no page to read, so the flow proceeds to the normalization processing flow in FIG. By now, each figure has been recognized by the figure number and page number to which it belongs.

In step S12, the CPU 6 reads out the figure data of the figure number pointer 1 from the second bitmap file (only the figure by line elimination), and in step S13, sets the figure number pointer y to Y. +1 (one step).

In step S14, it is checked whether or not the figure data of the figure number pointer 1 is within the specified size.

The specified size is acceptable, but if it is larger than the specified size, go to step S15 to reduce the size to fit the specified size. In step S16, the second bitmap file is updated (above I do.

At step S17, it is checked whether (义 I 桥 pointer y is more visible than figure number pointer h set at step S9).

If the size is smaller, the figure to be checked for the standard size remains, so the flow returns to step S12, and the standard processing for the next figure No. 2 and subsequent figures is completed by repeating steps S12 to S17. .

In step S17, if the figure number pin y is larger than the figure number pin h, the flow proceeds to the combining processing flow in FIG.

In step S18, the CPU 6 reads the graphic data of the rare pointer 1 from the updated second bitmap file (only the graphic with the line erasure), and in step S19, moves the graphic number pointer p to P + 1. And (one step forward).

In step S20, the character code of "Fig. 1" is assigned to the drawing number pointer 1, and in step S21, the character code of "Fig. 1" of the drawing number pin 1 is paired ( (Applicable) Figures and data are combined on data.

In step S22, it is checked whether or not the figure number pointer p in step S19 is larger than the figure number pointer h in step S9.

If it is not large, the character code of "Figure 2" of Figure No. 2 is further combined with figure 3 etc. which is a pair.

Until it becomes larger, the character code of "Figure h" of the figure number pointer is further combined with the figure in the same manner.

If it is larger, the combination has been completed for all figures on all pages, so go to step S23, for example, change the character code such as "Fig. 1" in Fig. 3 from R〇M8. Read and display in character code area 13.

Further, the trimmed figure 2 is displayed in the image area 16 below the character code area 13 as an image data such as a bit map (black and white binarization).

Similarly, the character code of FIG. 2 and the figure 3 are displayed on the screen 5.

The character code "FIG. 1" and the image data "Figure 2" and the image code "Figure 3" and the image data "Figure 3" displayed on the screen 3 are transmitted to a destination such as the JPO. Or output it to a printing press and print the text of "Figure 1" and the image of Figure 2 below and "Figure 2". Print the text and the image of figure 3 below.

After the transfer and printing, the first bit map file and the first bit map file in the work memory RAM 7 may be deleted.

[Industrial applicability]

According to the present invention, when a document containing a plurality of figures is converted into a computer between computers or between a computer and a small personal computer, the text of the character code and the drawings and design drawings of the image data are automatically converted. -You can link right. Further, according to the present invention, a character data area can be automatically set as necessary in response to reading of a graphic on a sheet and image data of the graphic.

Since the corresponding characters can be inserted and combined into the character data area as appropriate, links between documents and figures that are important and accurate in content can be easily and automatically executed.

Claims

The scope of the claims

A plurality of figures drawn on ffl paper with unique identification codes attached to them are read by an optical reader, digitized, and sent to an information processing device as image data. A screen is set, and each image data includes a line segment corresponding to the position and size of each figure occupying on the paper in the method for converting a figure that combines the character code data of the identification code into a line. Each line segment and its corresponding figure are read from the sheet by the optical reader and digitized, and the position and length of each line segment are respectively determined by the information processing device. Areas for each character code and an area for image data are secured on the screen corresponding to the position and length of each detected line segment, and the areas are detected in the order of the detected line segments and figures. Picture In electronic method of figures, wherein the area for and image data the identification code in the area for each character code to combine these the figure it it inserted to.

2. The graphic digitizing method according to claim 1, wherein the character codes and the image data are drawing numbers and drawings in a patent application and a utility model application.

3. The graphic reader according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the sheets are continuously read and digitized by the optical reading device, and each character code and each image data are respectively combined in the information processing device in order. Computerization method.

4. A plurality of figures drawn on paper and given independent identification codes are read and digitized by an optical reading device, sent to an information processing device as image data, and the information processing device sets a screen corresponding to the paper. In addition, in the method of digitizing graphics for combining the character code data of the identification code with each image data, a line segment corresponding to the position and size of each figure occupying on the paper is added to the paper. The optical reading device reads each line segment and its corresponding figure from the paper and digitizes it. The information processing device detects the position and length of each line segment, and detects each detected line segment. A region for each character code and a region for image data are secured on the screen corresponding to the position and length of the [Ill] [ill] Each sentence '?-' Indicates ^ in front of the code river area In the area for image data, "| A method of making a figure into an it child.