GB2243970A

GB2243970A - Electronic apparatus for the composition of photographic images, useful particularly in the definition of new industrial products

Info

Publication number: GB2243970A
Application number: GB9105401A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfio Leotta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-16
Filing date: 1991-03-14
Publication date: 1991-11-13
Also published as: GB9105401D0; IT1247600B; DE4108839A1; IT9045205A0; IT9045205A1; FR2659765A1

Abstract

The apparatus comprises two screens 15, 16 and means to allow an operator to interact with the apparatus to select stored images of product parts 36 to 38 from a first screen 15 and place the selected images in designated areas 36' to 38' on the second screen 16 to form an image of the complete product. A hard copy of the final image may then be produced. <IMAGE>

Description

I ELECTRONIC APPARATUS FOR THE'COMPOSITION OP 1-HOTOGRAPHIC IMAGESp USEFUL

PARTICULARLY IN THE DEF17NITION OF NEW INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS The invention refers to en -ippamtuz to, compose e:ffibibnt3:y,. photographic images# useful patticularly in the definition phase of new industrial products.

It is known for a long time the use of electronic devices. based on computers, in the phase of planning of new products. Said devices permit both the drawing of the product and the structural calculus of the same.

The advantages associate d to them derive essentially frori the fact that in the above said phase of plaxl, together with the product also the mathematical model of the same is createdp that is a whole of nwneric data able to draw mathematically each line, each surface each geometric element of the object is created.

Once this model has been entirely defined it is authomatic: to obtain other views and sections of the object. to generate the work programs of the machine tools able to make it. to verify.its mechanical resistance# to simulate its way of working from a kinematic point of view.

The authomatic generation of other views could reveal useful when the product must be aestetically planned; moreover in this phase other and sophisticated features are useful, such as the image rotation. the colouring of the surfacesq the shading simulating light sources at a certain distance..and-other features and functions made possible by said electronic devides, which are based on powerful computers provided with a large -7 2- and complex software.

As above said. the utilization of these means is justified not only in the phase of definition of a new product but in a whole vision of plannipg and production of the same product..based on the constitution of a.computer data base to which different categories of technicians can have access according to the applications they have to develop.

In case of low level technological productsfor which the necessity of structural checks or-running simulation does not exist, it is not certainly.justified the utilization of the above said means only for the purpose of obtaining authomatically various views of the same object which can help the designers.

In the case of products for which the above said means are becoming of usual use it must be taken into consideration that the obtaining of views and perspectives useful to the stylists work is subordinated to the creation of the mathematical model of the whole product. operation which implies an utilization of a large time by highly skilled people.

It would be greatly useful an - appe.rg:ttfs; which. for at least some categories of productst can represent a valid and cheap instrument useful to facilitate the definition of new industrial products eliminating the long and complex routines typical of the noWddays devices, 1 a at i..30 3 The purpose of the present invention is.to pr6pose an apm P0X9Ltue Which satief-,:Les the above said demands pormitting-.the creation in short times of data-bases of images of. products and permitting to create simply and efficiently the image of a new product, For this purpose it is proposed an electronic apparatus for the composition of photographic imagesy useful particularly in the definition phase of new industrial products. which includes means to control at least two screens able to visualize said images. means able to convert the electric signals given out from shot devices of said im.ages into a series of digital signalsy neans able to memorize said series of digital signls, means able to define in an interactive way areas including parts of images over said screeney a central processing unit which. according to a suitable set of programmed instructionsp governs the flux of digital S ignals among said means in such v. way to put over one of said screens in a controllable position said parts of images included in said areas defined in an interactive way.

To show better the features of an app,LratUF3 according to the invention an exemplifying form ofo. a practical embodiment of the same is disclosed through the hereto attached drawing tables wherein: - figure I shows a block diagram of on, apparatus -adtording to the invention; - figure 2 shows. a configuration relative to two screens inclided in the device in figure I.

4 4 Regarding to figure It it is generally indicated with -jo jEp3.-. sppatatixs - according to the invenion; as it can be noted.it includes a simple central.processing unit 119 which controls and coordinates the running of each equipment of device 16; among these, indicated with 12 and 13. two cards able to digitalize and to manage the images can be observed; that is, two cards able to convert the electric signals given out from external shot deVices of -a, conventional typ.ev as it can be the device indicated with 14 in figure I, into digital signals which can be processed by the central unit II.

In this type of realization. theabove said cards 12 and 13 include also the driving circuits of the two television screens 15 and 16; the screen16 particularly represents the service terminal video of the system. the terminal devoted to the exchange of messages between the computer and the operator; the above said screen 16-is in fact interfaced with the central unit II through the video card 17P whichp as in all elaboration systems. controls all the data exchange between the terminal video and the central unit of the computer'. defining also the graphics of the images or of the symIDols represented over the 'sa,ne video.

In this case the card 17 includes also the interface useful to the driving of a printer I8p with such graphic features to reproduce in a sufficient high resolution the images composed on the screen 16, _j The magnetic archives'dedicated.to memorize the digital signals resulting f rom the conversion operated by the card 12 or 13 are indicated with 19 and 20; th6 above said archives memorize also the programs according to which it is possibley with the above said apparatus. to operate the composition of the images memorized in such a way to get the definition of a new industrial product from an.aesthetical point of view.

The above said magnetic archives 19 and 20 are controlled directly by a control card 21 which performs specific tasks of data organization. of memory zone address and in general of all the functions linked to the control of magnetic memory archives.

The peripheric equipments of the dptAratus--.illustrdted in figure I include a keyboard 22 and a device 23 for the control of the cursor over terminal videos in an interactive way; the above said device 23 is linked to the central unit.II through a serial interface 24.

The rd=ing of the above described apparatus occurs according to the following iistructions.

At the starting of the systeT and after that the program has been recalled into the central memory, the user can control the position of a luminous cursor over the screen 16 through the device 23;. over the -same video some graphic symbols'which represent.

6 functions or activity areas.of the device selected by the computer through the positioning of the luminous cursor connected to said symbols and through the confirmation-of the choice'effectuated with a button.put. over the device 23 according to a known techniaue are visualized.

In figure 2 vie can see the graphic symbols utilized in. the realization example; it is indicated with 25 a symbol which indicates the inquiry functionof the archives images; it is indicated with 26 a symbol which recalls the creation activity of the archives. that is the activity of acquisition of the images through the video cam-era 14; it is indicated with 27 a symbol.which permits, when selected, the activity of composition of the image of a new product after the definition of the areas including the images or parts of images visualized over the various screens of the device; it is indicated with 28 a symbol which indicates the possibility to move the cursor. and so the activities, to another screen of the device; in particular the symbol 28 indicates the possibility to move the cursoi-'to video 22, video which is indicated with 15 in the figure; it is indicated with 29 a symbol suitable to represent the possibility to -put a text on the image over the screen; finally it is indicated with 30 a symbol which smbolizes the intention 11 exit 11 from the whole program. that is the intention to close the running operations.

1 7 In figure 2 -we can see. also a.cofifigurdtion relative.to a differeiA screen of the deviceg exactly to screen 15 over whichp dnlike screen 16 which is the service screen of the system. only four graphic sym-bols 31t 32P 33 and 34 are represented, being not possible to carry out by the screen 15 Some of the function's and activities above disclosed.

1 In this ease. we can see for example that the symboloy and so the activities. selected exactly. regards: - the:Lnquir,.gLetivity of the archives of the images, symbol 31; - the definition activity of the video areas to utilize for the composition of the images, symbol 32; - the possibility to move the control to video "I", 16t symbol 33; -.-the ability of the acquisition of images for the creation or the extension of the archives, symbol 34.

At the starting p: a6cording A6 the operations he intends to carry out, the operator puts the video cursor, which appears over the video It I 'It 16, connected to one of the graphic symbols from 25 to 30.

The creation activity of the archives of images is generally the first activity; in fact it must be created the data-base useful to the proper phase of the creation of new images of products.The creation phase of the archives in particular foresees a the two types of'areiives; an archives of. principal images. to recall over the screen 16, and an archives of secondary or ancillary images to recall Dver the other screens of the device.

z It is combined a precise set of images belonging to the secondary type of archives to one of the images present in the main archives in such a way that in the inquiry of the archives, the various images memorized are authomatically-visualized over the main screen or over the other screens according to whether the question demand is made when the cursor is over the screen 11 1 11 or when it is over the other screens Of course the creation of the archives can be omitted when the images present in the memorized archives are sufficient enough or when the archives is set up, together with its magnetic supporty to the device in question after its creation through other machines or analogous devices.

The composition phase of the new image is preceded by the inquiry phase of the archives, selection of the idoneous images, relative visualization over the screens 15 and 16; in particular the image recalled over the principal video 16 can sim-ply consist in the contour line of the figure Which is intended to be constituted; on the contrary over video 15 images of single components or groups of images from which to takle out the ones to move over t, - 1 4 1 o 9 video 16 can.be recalled. This 1!3 the case of. the conposition example illustrated in figure.2 where it is indicated with 35 the new image of a producty a modular kitchen.,. within its contour the various images of the components products visualized over the s creen 15 are put in succession; in partic ularp they are indicated with 36 and 361. 37 and 371p 38 and 38't the three images nut with three subsequent operations useful to.coniplete the new irnage 35 over the screen 16.

From an operative point of view, each of the above said removal happens selecting through video 12 1 ltp 16. the composition activity indicated with the symbol 27; moving the cursor over the video 11 2 'It 15; selecting over this screen the composition activity of the areas. represented with the symbol 32; setting the dimension of the outlined areas through the interaction device 23; giving back the control of the cursor to video 11.1 11 through the selection of the symbol 33, finally positioning over the screen 169 through the device 23, the outlined areas previously defined confirming the removal of the image through a button put over the device 23 itself.

The new, image 35. once completedy can be. sent to the printer 18 or also be memorized, with a proper.codificationt into the electronic archives 19 and. 20o, The benefits obtained from sn'appara.tus atbording 1 _. 1 I0 to the inventien are evident considering the seinplicity of composition of the images archives useful to the making of the.definition activity of new products- and above all"considering the facilitation at an operative level given by the presence of at least two screens controlled by a. central unit according to programmed instructions which permits an easy definition of the images and the subsequent composition through means. and-ways within not skilled persons' reach.

The above said facilitation is more favourable if it is taken into consideration thatv with an: apparatus according to the invention, it is obtained with low mission profile computers such as personal computers; that is computers which can be purchased by a broad range of users f or which it is not nowadays justified the..dse of computers dedicated to the design and to similar techniques.

Of course the above said Cipp,.r,.atus can be modified according to the range of Dossible ittilizations and. can have replacements of parts with other similar and with the same aim.

The terminal videos could 'be for examplt constituted by usual television sets; the ptinter could be replaced with another device able for example to reproduce right photographies of the image present over the terminal videos of the system; the memory units could be removable ones; the data could reach t 11 through telephone line# linked to he device through a well-known interface.

4_.

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Claims

I.- Electronic apparatus.1&5"or the composition. of images of the photographic type including means to control and to drive at least two screens able to visualize said images. means able to convert the electric signals given out. from shot devicodof said images into a series of digital signals. means able to define In an, iteractive way areas including parts of images over said screens. a central processing unit which. according to a suitable set of programmed JO instructions, supplies to direct the flux of digital signals among_said means in such a way to put over one of said screen in a controllable position said parts of images included in said areas defined in an interactive way.
.Electronte apparatus ac:cording--to claim. I characterized. in that thp;. 'above said means of netorization includ6 a first archive-of images relative to industrial products. a second archive. of images relative to derived products or accessories. of said industrial products. to an image included in said first archive. corresponding a series of images included in said second archive,.:.
3.Electronte appatatus accord.ing--:to cl-dio'2 th'Aracterized in that said central processing unit is able to control the registration of said images and relative visualization in such a way that the images memorized in the said first archive- are visualized over one 30. of said screens and the images memorized in said second. archivet. are visualized over another of said screens.

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4. Blectron:Lc-apparatixer, iiiacarditig ta,"one of the preceding claims characterized in that said registration of the images, said visualization#_ saia definition of ar eas and said composition of the image. s represent functions of the said ppparatus recalled by an operator through the selection oC. a graphic symbol included in a series of symbols visualized in a proper position over said screens.
5. Electronic apparatup ar-coxdiil-g,-,to, tlw preceding claims charact erized in that said means of memorization are removable from said apparatus.
6. Electronic a-ppara-tug according -to -thef preceding claims characterized in that said screens.are constitutdd by television sets.
7. Electronic tipparatus.,, according to the preceding claims characterized by the fact to be. applicable in phase of definition of new industrial products to define its aesthetic configuration.
8. Electronic a7pparatus-,.f Qr. thp-L z-ompb,,itiod of images of the photographic type as disclosed in the hereto attached draviing tables.
9. Elddtronic apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 at 7be Patent Office, Concept House. Cardiff Road, Newport, Gwent NP9 I RH. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point, Cwrnfelinfach, Cross Keys, Newport. NP1 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid, St Mary Cray. Kent-