Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
  • G06F3/038—Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
  • G06F3/0386—Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry for light pen
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
  • G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
  • G06F3/03542—Light pens for emitting or receiving light

Definitions

• the invention relates to a hand-held input device (airbrush) for a computer according to the preamble of claim 1.
• Mechanical airbrushes are known and have five operating parameters, namely the spatial position in relation to the surface to be sprayed in the X, Y and Z coordinates, the air pressure of the spray jet and the amount of paint which is in the spray jet, whereby the latter two parameters are typically operated by a combined lever that can control both parameters independently. So far, only a mechanical airbrush could be implemented and used on the computer using special software, but only a sub-area of the function of a mechanical airbrush can be simulated.
• an electronic hand-held small spraying device which in itself can also be referred to as a mechanical device, has a manual control element for the air pressure to be set and is provided with an air pressure sensor at the current outlet.
• a digital airbrush device is known from US Pat. No. 4,751,503, which can vary certain parts of the picture in their contrasts. A dynamic and independent change of all five operating parameters is not possible with both devices.
• the present invention has for its object to provide an electronic input device of the type mentioned, with which all five loading drive parameters - as shown by a mechanical airbrush - can be changed dynamically and independently of each other during operation.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic airbrush connected to a computer system
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an airbrush in its electronic structure
• FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment for the electronic construction of a computer system
• FIG. 4 shows a representation of an exemplary embodiment for the optical representation of a scan with image of the airbrush on the monitor surface
• FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram for the lever function of an airbrush with details of the degrees of freedom of movement
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electronic airbrush when processing a monitor image.
• an electronic airbrush 10 - in accordance with an exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2 - is connected to a computer system C, as shown separately in FIG and 21, the synchronization evaluation 17 of the airbrush 10 with the electronic component for the Gk badge 26 of the computer C and its monitor 24 with the airbrush optics 11 of the airbrush 10.
• the coordinates of the airbrush 10 are determined with respect to the computer monitor screen 24.
• This first connection is made optically.
• the airbrush 10 is connected to the video signal of the computer graphics card 26 via the video synchronization evaluation unit 17.
• This second connection is therefore physical.
• the calculated coordinates and the setting values of the input lever 12 are passed on to the interface 21 of the computer C via the interface 16.
• This third connection is also physical.
• a computer C suitable for the use of an electronic airbrush 10 is composed of the following components or systems: a computer 22, a user program 23, a graphics card 26 with a connected computer monitor screen 24 and ultimately the basic graphic input unit 25 with the airbrush 10 itself
• Various "tools" are available to the user for the processing of images by the user program 23.
• One of these tools is, for example, an airbrush application that is used to spray parts of images that are partially covered by masks with paint, so that a certain desired effect is achieved.
• the exemplary embodiment described below relates specifically to user programs 23 which are used for graphic changes to images. If the "Airbrush" tool is now activated by a user in program 23, a specific subroutine is called which establishes communication with airbrush 10 and carries out the changes in the image which are caused by the airbrush data.
• the Airbmsh optics 11 detects the pixels of the computer monitor 24, which are brought to light by the deflected electron beam of the picture tube. With the help of the synchronization signals from the synchronization evaluation unit 17, the are taken from the video signal, the computer 15 now calculates the center of the image of the Airbmsh optics 11 on the computer monitor screen 24 or its surface. The imaging of the pixels by the optics 11 is proportional to the position x, y and distance z of the airbrush 10 from the computer monitor 24.
• the determined coordinates (x, y, z) are transmitted to the computer 22 and thus to the user program 23 via the interface 16 to 21.
• this program draws a marking cross that is used for position feedback for the user.
• the distance z of the airbrush 10 from the computer monitor 24 is identified by the circle around the marking cross, which corresponds to the image of the Airbmsh optics 11. If the user now actuates the combined input lever 12, the corresponding pressure and color quantity data are transmitted to the user program 23 in accordance with the lever position values. This causes the electronic unit for the user program 23 to draw a color set by the user on the image area defined by x, y, z.
• the parameters of air pressure and ink quantity are now taken into account.
• the new coordinates or the lever position values are immediately communicated to the user program 23.
• the electronic unit for this program 23 enters the color in the image to be processed in accordance with the incoming data and updates the marking.
• the coordinates are determined from the image of the Airbmsh optics 11 in relation to the computer monitor screen 24.
• Synchronization evaluation unit 17 are determined from the video signal generated by the graphics card 26, the horizontal synchronization pulse (H-sync pulse) for each line and the vertical synchronization pulse (V-sync pulse) for each image.
• the y-counter 14a which is used to determine the y-coordinate, is reset by the V-sync pulse.
• the counter 14a is incremented by 1 with each H sync pulse. If a pixel to be processed is determined by the Airbmsh optics 11 in line n, the current counter reading of the y counter 14a is stored in the computer 15.
• the x counter 14b which is used to determine the x coordinate, is reset with each H sync pulse and increased with a fixed clock frequency. If a pixel to be processed is detected in the current line n in the detection area of the Airbmsh optics 11, the x counter 14b is stopped. The x counter reading 14b is read and stored by the computer 15 at the end of the line. At the end of an image, the computer 15 calculates the center of the image from the distribution of the stored x and y counter readings (see FIG. 4).
• the distance z of the optics 11 from the computer monitor surface 24 can be concluded. Due to the optical imaging, the distance z is proportional to the number of lines detected.
• a travel sensor 14c, 14d is connected to the corresponding input lever 12 with its combined functions.
• a change in the output signal of the displacement transducer 14c is caused, which is evaluated and entered into the computer 15.
• the output signal of the displacement sensor 14c is proportional to the indentation depth and gives the air pressure in terms of value.
• the same principle is used to determine the amount of color.
• a change in the output signal of the displacement pickup 14d is caused, which is evaluated and transferred to the computer.
• the output signal of the displacement sensor 14d is proportional to the adjustment path and gives the amount of color in terms of value.
• FIG. 5 illustrates the functions of the input lever 12 in a schematic representation.
• FIG. 6 illustrates the substantially simplified system and clarifies its functioning to the person skilled in the art.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
• Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)
• Image Processing (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=6501467

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 1993
  • 1993-10-30 DE DE4337161A patent/DE4337161C1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1994
  • 1994-09-21 TW TW083108655A patent/TW360840B/zh active
  • 1994-10-26 WO PCT/EP1994/003521 patent/WO1995012862A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-10-26 CA CA002153067A patent/CA2153067A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-10-26 AU AU79919/94A patent/AU680058B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1994-10-26 JP JP7512997A patent/JPH08505728A/ja active Pending
  • 1994-10-26 EP EP94930980A patent/EP0677195A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1994-10-26 HU HU9501954A patent/HUT72140A/hu unknown
  • 1994-10-29 US US08/481,264 patent/US5767843A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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