JP2001084124A - Plotting method of multi-band laser photo plotter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plotting method for realizing quick plotting by holding vector data for one screen on a buffer in a multi-band laser photo plotter and excluding any useless movement of a plotting part without bit map-developing the vector data. SOLUTION: In this plotting method, a work station receives plotting data (vector data) indicating one screen, and generates a conversion data file in which parts where the data are present are extracted for each of plural bands and a position information file in which the position of each band is indicated based on plotting instruction information indicating the number of bands or the plotting direction. A multi-band laser photo plotter executes quick plotting by operating skip plotting or reciprocating plotting based on the conversion data or the position information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multiband laser photoplotter which transfers data created and edited at a workstation as vector data to a multiband laser photoplotter, and develops and draws vector data on the plotter side. The present invention relates to a drawing method in a laser photo plotter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been known a plotter drawing system which creates and edits drawing data at a workstation, transfers the data to a plotter, and outputs the data. For example, in a laser photoplotter, when high-resolution drawing is required, the scanning direction on the drawing surface is divided into a plurality of regions, and only the portion near the optical axis of the scanning optical system is used. , And multi-band drawing is performed.
In this case, the multi-band laser photoplotter holds the drawing data (vector data) for one screen transferred from the workstation in an internal buffer, develops the vector data into a bitmap, and performs drawing. Was running.

[0003]

However, as in the prior art, one screen of vector data is held in a buffer inside a multi-band laser photoplotter, and the vector data is drawn by bitmap development. Is performed, the load of the multiband laser photoplotter is heavy, and the margins without drawing data are also
There is a problem that the drawing time is long since the drawing operation of the data of the margin is performed.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-band laser.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for performing high-speed drawing by eliminating useless movement of a drawing unit in a photo plotter.

[0005]

Therefore, in the drawing method of the present invention, the workstation converts drawing data (vector data) representing one screen based on drawing instruction information indicating the number of bands and the drawing direction. Divided data is generated by extracting a vector corresponding to each band. The divided data includes a converted data file from which a vector corresponding to each band is extracted and a multi-band position information file indicating the position of each band. The multi-band laser photo-plotter performs skip drawing and reciprocating drawing based on the conversion data and the multi-band position information to execute high-speed drawing.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a drawing system as an embodiment of the present invention. The drawing system includes a workstation (WS) 10 that controls a multiband laser photoplotter 20 and a multiband laser photoplotter that is a high-resolution drawing device that draws drawing data output from the workstation 10. 20 are connected via a network cable 30. Workstation (WS) 1
The figures created and edited in 0 are vector data
The data is transferred to the multiband laser photoplotter 20 described above.

[0007] The workstation 10 is based on the drawing instruction information set by the operator and includes no band information.
The original drawing data representing the screen is converted into data in which a portion where data is present is extracted for each band, and a converted data file 11 and a multi-band position information file 12 are generated as divided data. When performing drawing, the workstation 10 uses the multi-band position information file 1
2 and data obtained by dividing the data in the converted data file 11 for each band are transferred to the multi-band laser photo-plotter 20.

[0008] The drawing instruction information that can be set by the operator includes a band number instruction, a reciprocating drawing instruction, and a negative drawing instruction. By the band number instruction, it is possible to specify how many bands are divided into one screen for drawing (that is, how many bands are divided into the vector data to generate the converted data file 11). When a reciprocating drawing instruction is given, the conversion data file 11 is generated so that drawing can be performed by reciprocating table movement of the drawing unit 25. When a negative drawing instruction is given, drawing is performed with the original data inverted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a table portion of the drawing section 25 extracted to explain how the drawing laser beam moves on the substrate to perform drawing. is there. The substrate 122 is placed on the table 121, and the drawing laser beam 123 scans the scanning range (band width) indicated by A in FIG.
By moving in the axial direction, drawing for one band is performed on the substrate 122. Further, this operation is repeated while moving the scanning range by the band width in the Y direction, and drawing is performed on all the bands. In the X and Y coordinates, the Y direction indicates the scanning direction of the drawing laser beam 123, and the X direction indicates the Feed direction in which the drawing laser beam 123 moves on the substrate 122 by moving the table 121. The position 127 of the corner of the substrate 122 shown in the figure is the origin of the X and Y coordinates.

FIGS. 3 to 6 show a process in which the workstation 10 divides vector data into data corresponding to each of a plurality of bands, and converts a portion where data exists for each band into extracted data. , Conversion data file 11). FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a graphic image drawn by the multi-band laser photoplotter 20. Actually, original drawing data (vector data) indicating this image is held in the workstation 10. ing. This data is independent of the number of bands,
This represents a single screen. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the drawing data is divided by the band width in the Y direction according to the band number information included in the drawing instruction information. Here, for the sake of simplicity, an example in which the band is divided into seven bands from band 1 to band 7 is shown. However, in a high-resolution multi-band laser photoplotter, more than 100 bands are used. Processing is performed with the number of bands.

Next, for each band, a rectangular area defined by the maximum / minimum X coordinate of the area where the data exists is extracted, excluding the blank portion in the band. FIG. 5 shows this state. In FIG. 5, a portion surrounded by a dotted line indicates a region from which data is extracted. in this case,
Since there is no picture in band 1, no data has been extracted. The arrow in FIG. 5 indicates the drawing direction when performing reciprocal drawing, and when the band number shown in FIG.
Drawing in the ed direction, Fee when the band number is odd
Drawing is performed in the direction opposite to the d direction.

Finally, a blank portion is removed as shown in each area of FIG. 6, and the data of the even-numbered band is mirror-inverted in the drawing direction in the case of the odd-numbered band. The generated vector data is generated.

A control unit 23 inside the multi-band laser photo-plotter drives a table of the drawing unit 25 based on the multi-band position information 12 received from the workstation, and performs a laser operation based on the bit-mapped data. Drawing is performed by modulating the beam. This drawing operation will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the case of drawing the data of the round-trip drawing shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 will be described. The multiband laser photoplotter 20 receives the multiband position information file from the workstation 10, and reads the start coordinates and the end coordinates of the band to be processed from the file (S40). The control unit 23 moves the table 121 based on the start coordinates, and matches the drawing start position with the scanning position of the scanning optical system. When the initial movement of the table is completed, drawing is performed for one band (S42), and thereafter the same operation is performed for all bands (S43).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of the drawing process (S42) for one band.
When the initial movement of the table is completed, the multi-band laser photoplotter 20 moves to the workstation 10.
Thus, the vector data divided into portions corresponding to one band is received and stored in the buffer 22 (S5).
0). Next, one vector is read from the received vector data (S51), the outline of one read vector is obtained, and a portion existing beyond the band area being processed is clipped (S52). Bitmap data is generated based on the data of only the portion that falls within the band (S53). By executing this process for all vectors in the vector data (S5
4) Bitmap data corresponding to one band is generated, the bitmap is sent from the control unit 23 to the drawing unit 25, and drawing is performed (S55).

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the multi-band laser photoplotter 20 is the first workstation 1
The drawing data received from 0 is the data of the area a shown in FIG. 6, and the start coordinates thereof are the coordinates of the position c shown in FIG. That is, at the time of drawing in the area a, the drawing is started by adjusting the position c to the scanning position of the scanning optical system, so that the drawing process is skipped for a blank portion upstream of the position c in the drawing direction. When scanning starts, the table 121 moves in the X direction, the drawing laser beam 123 moves on the substrate 122 in the X direction, drawing on the area a is completed, and the position d reaches the scanning position of the scanning optical system. Then, the drawing unit 25 stops moving the table 121. Band 2
Has no drawing data on the downstream side of the position d in the drawing direction.
Is reached, the drawing of band 2 is completed. That is, the drawing process on the downstream side of the position d is skipped.

The second data sent is that of the area b shown in FIG. 6, the starting coordinates of which are the coordinates of the position f shown in FIG. 5, and the bitmap data is mirror-inverted in the X direction. ing. Therefore, when the drawing of the first data is completed, the position d on the substrate coincides with the scanning position. Therefore, in the drawing of the second data,
The table 121 is moved so that the position f coincides with the scanning position, and drawing is performed in the return direction (that is, in the return path). The same operation is repeated until the last band (S4
3) Drawing is performed on the entire substrate 122. In addition,
Here, the case of reciprocal drawing has been described. However, in the case of unidirectional drawing, the start coordinate of the data sent second is the position e of the area b. Accordingly, in this case, the drawing unit 25 matches the scanning position with the position e and starts drawing in the direction opposite to the case of the reciprocal drawing.
Drawing of a blank portion on the more upstream side and a blank portion on the downstream side of the position f are skipped. In other words, in the case of unidirectional drawing, as in the case of reciprocal drawing, high-speed drawing with a blank portion skipped is performed.

Next, the operation for performing negative drawing will be described. FIG. 9 focuses on one band and shows how negative drawing is performed on that band. Frame 50 indicates the outer frame of the substrate, and arrow B indicates the drawing direction for this band. The area 51 is an area from which data is extracted, such as the area a or the area b illustrated in FIG. If the drawing is not a negative drawing, the drawing process from the outer frame position i of the substrate to the data start position g is skipped, only the area 51 is drawn, and the drawing is also performed from the data end position h to the outer frame position j of the substrate. Processing is skipped.

When there is a negative drawing instruction, the control unit 23 controls the drawing unit 25 to perform negative drawing on the bitmap data to be transferred. Drawing unit 2
5, from the outer frame position i of the substrate to the data start position g, drawing of data is performed by reversing the margin (that is, from the outer frame position i of the band to the data start position g)
), And then the extracted data area 51
For, data is drawn by inverting the data in the area 51, and from the data end position h to the outer frame position j of the substrate, all data is drawn with the margin inverted (that is, the data end position h of the band is concerned). To the outer frame position j).

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the work station 10 extracting vector data for one screen only in a portion where data exists for each band in the case of reciprocal drawing as shown in FIGS. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for converting the converted data into converted data. In S1, input data and an output file are prepared.
Here, the input data is vector data representing a picture for one screen, and the output file is a file in which band-divided data is written. In S2, each variable representing a band is initialized. As shown in FIG. 4, bandWidth is the bandwidth, banYMin
Is the minimum coordinate in the Y direction (Scan direction) of the band being processed, and bandYMax is the Y direction (Sc direction) of the band being processed.
an direction). bandNo indicates the band number currently being processed.

When the initialization of S2 is completed, bandNo
It is determined whether or not a vector exists in the band in order from the smaller one (S6 to S8). At S4,
A pointer indicating an input vector is set at the head, and one first vector is read first (S6). here,
The relationship between the read vector's maximum Y coordinate vecYMax and the band's minimum Y coordinate bandYMin is bandYMin ≦ vecYMax (S7: YES), and the vector's minimum Y coordinate v
If the relationship between ecYMin and the maximum Y coordinate bandYMax of the band is vecYMin <bandYMax (S8: YES), it is determined that the vector exists in the band, and the vector is written to the output file (S11). In S9 and S10, in the case of reciprocal drawing, the vector data of the odd-numbered band (S9: YES) is output after being mirror-inverted in the X direction (Feed direction). The above processing is continued until the vector ends, and when the vector ends (S5: YES), the processing shifts to the next band.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing for moving to the next band when processing for one band is completed in the flow of FIG. In S20, it is determined in the flow of FIG. 10 whether or not a vector exists in the band, and if a vector exists (S20: YE
S), S21 and S22 are performed. In S21,
Since the vectors read from the vector data are not always arranged in ascending order of the X coordinate, the vectors output in S13 are rearranged in ascending order of the X coordinate, and S22 is rearranged.
Obtains the minimum and maximum X coordinates of all the vectors. The coordinates obtained here are stored as a multi-band position information file 12 indicating the position of the portion where the data for each band exists. According to the example of FIG. 5, the coordinates in the multi-band position information file 12 are the start coordinates, the coordinates c for the area a, the coordinates f for the area b, and the end coordinates are the coordinates d for the area a. , The area b is as shown by coordinates e.

In S23, the band number is incremented by one.
In S24, bandYMin and bandYMa
By adding the bandwidth to x, the band information is updated, and the processing for the next band is performed. This repetition is performed until the processing for all the bands is completed (S3: NO).

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the drawing instruction information, vector data is converted into data in which only a portion where data exists is extracted for each band, and drawing is performed. Drawing, and furthermore, negative drawing can be performed, and the drawing can be accelerated accordingly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a drawing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a table portion of a drawing unit 25 extracted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram, together with FIGS. 4 to 6, for explaining a process of converting a portion where data exists for each band from vector data into extracted data.

FIG. 4, together with FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, is a view for explaining a process of converting vector data into data in which a portion where data exists is extracted for each band from vector data.

FIG. 5, together with FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, is a diagram for explaining a process of converting vector data into data in which a portion where data exists is extracted for each band.

FIG. 6 is a diagram, together with FIGS. 4 and 5, for explaining a process of converting a portion where data exists for each band from vector data into extracted data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a drawing operation of the multi-band laser photo plotter.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a drawing operation of a multi-band laser photo plotter.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of negative drawing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a method of converting vector data into data in which a portion where data exists is extracted for each band, together with FIG. 11;

11 is a flowchart showing a method of converting vector data into data in which a portion where data exists is extracted for each band, together with FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Workstation 11 Conversion data file 12 Multi-band position information file 20 Multi-band laser photo plotter 21 Interface 22 Buffer 23 Control unit 25 Drawing unit 50 Board outer frame 51 Data extraction area 121 Table 122 Board 123 Drawing laser beam 127 origin

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 7, 1999 (1999.10.
7)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIGS. 3 to 6 show a process in which the workstation 10 divides vector data into data corresponding to each of a plurality of bands, and converts a portion where data is present in each band into extracted data (ie, a process in which the data is extracted). , Conversion data file 11). FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a graphic image drawn by the multi-band laser photoplotter 20. Actually, original drawing data (vector data) indicating this image is held in the workstation 10. ing. This data is independent of the number of bands,
This represents a single screen. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the drawing data is divided by the band width in the Y direction according to the band number information included in the drawing instruction information. Here, for the sake of simplicity, an example in which the band is divided into seven bands from band 1 to band 7 is shown. However, in a high-resolution multi-band laser photoplotter, more than 100 bands are used. Processing is performed with the number of bands.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

A control unit 23 inside the multi-band laser photo-plotter drives a table of the drawing unit 25 based on the multi-band position information 12 received from the workstation, and performs a laser operation based on the bit-mapped data. Drawing is performed by modulating the beam. This drawing operation will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the case of drawing the data of the reciprocal drawing shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 will be described. The multiband laser photoplotter 20 receives the multiband position information file from the workstation 10, and reads the start coordinates and the end coordinates of the band to be processed from the file (S40). The control unit 23 moves the table 121 based on the start coordinates, and matches the drawing start position with the scanning position of the scanning optical system. When the initial movement of the table is completed, drawing is performed for one band (S42), and thereafter the same operation is performed for all bands (S43).

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the work station 10 extracting vector data for one screen only in a portion where data exists for each band in the case of reciprocal drawing as shown in FIGS. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for converting the converted data into converted data. In S1, input data and an output file are prepared.
Here, the input data is vector data representing a picture for one screen, and the output file is a file in which band-divided data is written. In S2, each variable representing a band is initialized. As shown in FIG. 4, bandWidth is the bandwidth, banYMin
Is the minimum coordinate in the Y direction (Scan direction) of the band being processed, and bandYMax is the Y direction (Sc direction) of the band being processed.
an direction). bandNo indicates the band number currently being processed.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0020

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

When the initialization of S2 is completed, bandNo
It is determined whether or not a vector exists in the band in order from the smaller one (S6 to S8). At S4,
A pointer indicating an input vector is set at the head, and one first vector is read first (S6). here,
The relationship between the read vector's maximum Y coordinate vecYMax and the band's minimum Y coordinate bandYMin is bandYMin ≦ vecYMax (S7: YES), and the vector's minimum Y coordinate v
If the relationship between ecYMin and the maximum Y coordinate bandYMax of the band is vecYMin <bandYMax (S8: YES), it is determined that the vector exists in the band, and the vector is written to the output file (S11). In S9 and S10, in the case of reciprocal drawing, the vector data of the odd-numbered band (S9: YES) is output after being mirror-inverted in the X direction (Feed direction). The above processing is continued until the vector ends, and when the vector ends (S5: YES), the processing shifts to the next band.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Figure 3

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 3 is a diagram, together with FIGS. 4 to 6, for explaining a process of converting a portion where data is present for each band from vector data into extracted data;

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Fig. 6

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 6 is a diagram, together with FIGS. 3 to 5, for explaining a process of converting vector data into data in which a portion where data exists is extracted for each band.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A drawing method for performing drawing based on vector data in a drawing system having a workstation and a drawing device, comprising: inputting drawing instruction information including at least drawing screen division instruction information; Generating divided data by extracting a vector corresponding to each band from the vector data based on the information; generating a bitmap in band units based on the divided data; based on the bitmap generated in band units A drawing method for drawing in band units. 2. A drawing method for performing drawing based on vector data in a drawing system including a workstation and a drawing device, wherein the workstation is configured to draw at least a band on a drawing surface. Based on the drawing instruction information, input the drawing instruction information, generate divided data obtained by extracting a vector corresponding to each band from the vector data, and in the drawing device, read the divided data in band units and read bit data. A drawing method, comprising: generating a map; and performing drawing based on the bitmap generated for each band. 3. When the divided data is generated, a band is divided into margins at both ends where no image is present and a central part where an image is present, and data at the center is generated as the divided data. Item 3. The drawing method according to Item 2. 4. The divided data includes information on a start position and an end position of the central portion. When the bitmap is generated, a bitmap is generated only for the central portion, and information on the start position and the end position and The drawing method according to claim 3, wherein the image of the central portion is drawn based on the bitmap. 5. A drawing operation is started by moving a table on which a substrate is placed so that a scanning position of a scanning optical system is coincident with a start point of a center portion of the band, and drawing is performed at an end point of the center portion. 5. The drawing method according to claim 4, wherein the process is terminated. 6. The drawing instruction information includes an instruction for reciprocal drawing, and at the time of generating the divided data, mirrors the data of an area to be drawn on the return path in the drawing direction. The drawing method described in. 7. The drawing instruction information includes an instruction for negative drawing (negative / positive inversion). When there is a negative drawing instruction, the margin portion is drawn as a painted area, and the center portion is negative-positive. 4. The drawing method according to claim 3, wherein drawing is performed in reverse.