JP3309084B2 - How to digitize shapes - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of digitizing a graphic, and more particularly to a method of digitizing a graphic in a document accompanying the graphic by combining character code data for identification with each image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, one computer and the other computer have been connected to each other using a communication line, and a contract or the like printed on paper has been digitized and exchanged. Electronic transfer has been put to practical use. Such electronic contracts and submissions include many drawings and design drawings that were rare in the past. Since these drawings and blueprints are not limited to explanatory ones, they are deeply involved in the contract and the contents to be submitted, and occupy an important position. It is necessary to clarify how to combine them.

Therefore, it is particularly required that a so-called character code document and a drawing or a design drawing of image data be uniquely organically linked between computers or between a computer and a small personal computer. For example, there is a patent application document as a submission form to a public organization, and in the patent application document, the character code "

FIG. 1 shows a predetermined figure,

FIG. 2 shows another figure,

FIG. 3 designates different graphics and the like, which are identified independently of each other. In the digitization of patent application documents, the character code "

FIG. 1 shows "", and a predetermined figure corresponding to FIG. 1 is read and displayed as image data by an optical reading device in a line after that.

In FIG. 5, for example, two types of, for example, triangular figures 2 and quadrangular figures 3 are drawn on one A4 type sheet 1. FIG. 2 includes a symbol and a character “

FIG. 1 shows “3.

FIG. 2 is attached at the final stage of digitization. The paper 1 is read by an optical reading device (hereinafter referred to as OCR or scanner), and the figures 2 and 3 are converted into image data by a desk computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer).
Capture and display on the screen.

At this time, the recognition code “

1 is a diagram showing a recognition code for image data of FIG.

FIG. 2 is processed by a personal computer as character data (code data), and on the screen, as character data, corresponding to each of figures 2 and 3 of image data,

FIG. 1

FIG. 2 is displayed as “”. This screen is transmitted to a remote information processing device using the communication line.

Conventionally, when a figure on paper 1 is taken into a personal computer, the upper part of the paper 1, for example, three lines

FIG. 1 shows that a plurality of character data (code data) areas cannot be automatically set in a sheet 1 because an entire area of a character code area and a range of four lines or less is recognized as an image data reading area. To set the character data (code data) area in the image data area, cut out the image data on the PC screen and perform processing such as setting the character data (code data) area again. , The character “

[FIG. 2] A word processor is input.

[0007]

In the conventional patent application documents, the character code "" is written on the same sheet.

FIG. 1 shows a predetermined figure corresponding to “

FIG. 2 shows another figure corresponding to "

[FIG. 3] In the case where a plurality of other figures and the like corresponding to "" are described, a plurality of "

FIG. 1 shows a predetermined figure corresponding to “

FIG. 2 shows another figure corresponding to "

FIG. 3 is a troublesome task of designating another graphic corresponding to ". If such a correspondence is not performed, all the graphics on the same sheet will be"

FIG. 1 shows a predetermined figure corresponding to "", and it was expected that the contents would be confused in the text of the patent application document.

According to the present invention, when a document including a plurality of figures is digitized between computers or between a computer and a small personal computer, a character code document and a drawing or a design drawing of image data are organically defined. The purpose is to provide a link.
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to read a graphic on a sheet and automatically set a character data area as needed in accordance with image data of the graphic.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. In the present invention, a plurality of figures which are drawn on a sheet and which have independent identification codes are attached by an optical reading apparatus. In the method of digitizing graphics, in which the screen corresponding to the paper is set and each image data is combined with the character code data of the identification code, Lines corresponding to the positions and sizes occupied by the figures on the paper are additionally written on the paper, and the optical reader is used to read out the respective lines and the corresponding graphics from the paper and digitize them. The information processing device detects the position and length of each of the line segments, and
Each image in the range corresponding to the position and length of each line segment issued
To make room for data respectively, by inserting the figure each of the regions for each image data in the screen according to the order of the detected line segments and the figure, the the respective figures
Combines the character code data of the identification code .

[0010] According to claim 2, wherein each character code and each image data and the patent application or utility model application on Nodochi
One of the drawing numbers and drawings. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the sheets are continuously read by the optical reading device and digitized, and the information processing device combines each character code and each image data in accordance with the order of the detected graphics .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of figures drawn on a sheet and provided with independent identification codes are read and digitized by an optical reading device and sent to an information processing device as image data. In the method of digitizing graphics, in which each image data is combined with the character code data of the identification code, a line segment corresponding to the position and size occupied by the graphics on the paper is set on the paper. Each of the lines is additionally entered and read from the paper by the optical reading device to read each line segment and its corresponding figure and digitize it. The information processing device detects the position and length of each line segment , and detects each detected line. Minutes
Area for each image data in the range corresponding to the position and length, and the area for the
When exceeding the range prescribed in the screen corresponding to the paper
In the area for each image data on the screen according to the order of the detected line segment and figure, the reduced figure is inserted, and the figure and the identification code text are inserted.
Combine character code data .

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the graphic digitizing method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to patent application documents. FIG.
In the following, the configuration of an information processing apparatus in which the method for digitizing graphics of the present invention is implemented will be described. The scanner 20 reads the sheets 1, 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B 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 device, 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 has a reading program, an editing program a, and an editing program b.
And are stored.

When the information processing apparatus 10 is turned on, an A4 sheet 1 or the like is specified by a mouse 19 in a predetermined screen menu, for example, a patent application document of a contract or a submission to the scanner 20. The CPU 6 is started by the reading program of FIG.
In the screen 3 corresponding to A4 paper 1 etc., the maximum width A =
21 cm and mark area B are set. The mark area B is an area where a line segment for specifying a figure is written. The mark area B has a width of 20 mm on the left side in the entire vertical region of the sheet 1.
Alternatively, according to the resolution of the scanner 20, the pixel is set to 160 pixels for 200 dpi, 320 pixels for 400 dpi, and the like.

Therefore, the person who describes the drawing in the patent application should leave the mark area B blank if there is one drawing on the same sheet 1 or the like, or leave the mark from the top to the bottom of the designated drawing. Draw a line segment (control symbol, control mark) of the included length. The line segment to be drawn is black or blue of a color recognizable by the scanner 20. In FIG. 3, when there are two or more drawings on the same sheet 1, this mark area B includes
Draw a first line segment 4 having a length from the top to the bottom of the designated drawing in order from the top, and then draw a second line segment 4A having a length from the top to the bottom of the designated drawing below it, and further below If there are drawings, do the same.

The first and second line segments 4 and 4A in the mark area B serve as management 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 of a normal ballpoint pen or pencil. As the image data cutout area, the vertical is the length of the line segment 4, the horizontal is the left merge D16 pixel from the left end of the figure 30 to the left,
A right merge E16 pixel is secured rightward from the right end. In the drawings for the patent application documents, the up, down, left, and right merging on the paper 1 is determined, so 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 of the mark area B: reading the management symbol 4, identifying the length of each management symbol 4 and separating and assigning the number 1, and setting the code area from the top on the screen 3 corresponding to the paper 1. For example, up to the third line, the character code “

FIG. 1 inserts "" and sets (reserves) an image area corresponding to the length of each management symbol 4. This image area is obtained by adding left and right merges D and E to the actual horizontal width of a figure, The vertical is the range of the length of each management symbol 4. Similarly, the next management symbol 4 is assigned a number 2 to set an image area, and continues with 3, 4.

The editing program b reads the management symbol 4 in the mark area B, detects the length of the management symbol (one line segment) 4 and assigns the number 1, and sets the code area on the screen 3 corresponding to the paper 1. For example, from the top to the third line, the character code “

1 is set (securing). An image area corresponding to the entire vertical area of the sheet 1 is set (secured). This image area is obtained by adding left and right merges D and E to the actual horizontal width of the figure, and setting the vertical 1
(Excluding upper and lower margins).

Next, the overall operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described according to the flowchart of FIG. 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 S 1, the CPU 6 reads the reading program and the editing programs a and b from the program ROM 9 and expands them on the work memory RAM 7. In step S2, the scanner 20 reads the sheet 1 of the drawing provided on the sorter or the like according to a reading program.

In step S3, the CPU 6 stores the image of the sheet 1 (line 4 and graphic) as one page in the storage space of the work memory RAM 7, and creates a first bitmap file (line 4 and graphic). Page pointer j to j +
1 (one step). In step S4, the CPU 6 checks whether there is a next page on the sorter of the scanner 20, and if so, returns to step S2, scans the next sheet 1A, and scans the first bitmap file (BPF) of the second page.
The line segment 4 and the figure) are enlarged. Thereafter, 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, the page pointer i is incremented by 1 (one step). In step S7, the CPU 6 checks whether there is a line segment 4 or the like, and if not, discards the page and returns to step S5 to read the next page. If there is a line segment 4 or the like, the process proceeds to step S8, and the first
Figure 2 (Fig. 3) as a set with line segment 4 from the bitmap file
Is cut out only with the margin shown in FIG.

In step S9, only the contents of FIG. 1 (with the management symbol line segment 4 deleted) in the first page are stored in the work memory R.
It is stored in the storage space of the AM 7 as FIG. 1, a second bitmap file (only figures) is created, and the figure number pointer h is incremented by one (h + 1). In step S10, it is checked whether or not the next line segment 4A exists in the first page. If there is, the process returns to step S8, where 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 to increase the figure number pointer. If there is no next line segment in the first page and the page pointer i is not greater than page j of the first bitmap file, the process returns to step S5 to read the next (2) page from the first bitmap file. Steps S5 and S10 are repeated within the second page to enlarge the second bitmap file (only the figure with line erasure) and extend the drawing number pointer h. If the page pointer i is greater than the j-th page of the first bitmap file, there is no page to be read, so the flow proceeds to the normalization processing flow of FIG. Heretofore, the figure number and the page number to which each figure belongs are recognized.

In step S12, the CPU 6 reads the figure data of the figure number pointer 1 from the second bitmap file (only the figure by line erasure), and in step S13, moves the figure number pointer y to Y + 1 (one step forward). Step S1
In step 4, it is checked whether the graphic data of the drawing number pointer 1 is within the specified size. The specified size is sufficient, but if it is larger than the specified size, the process proceeds to step S15 to reduce the size to fit in the specified size. In step S16, the second bitmap file is updated (overwritten).

In step S17, it is checked whether or not the figure number pointer y is larger than the figure number pointer h set in step S9. If the size is smaller, the figure whose standard size is to be checked remains, so the process returns to step S12, and the standard processing of the next figure number 2 and subsequent figures is completed by repeating steps S12 to S17. In step S17, if the drawing number pointer y is larger than the drawing number pointer h, the flow proceeds to the combining processing flow in FIG.

In step S18, the CPU 6 updates the second
The graphic data of the figure number pointer 1 is read from the bitmap file (only the figure is erased by the line segment), and in step S19, the figure number pointer p is incremented by p + 1 (one step). In step S20, the character code of "FIG. 1" is assigned to the figure number pointer 1, and in step S21, "FIG. 1"
And the corresponding (corresponding) figure on the data. In step S22, step S1
It is checked whether or not the figure number pointer p of No. 9 is larger than the figure number pointer h of step S9. If it is not larger, the character code of "FIG. 2" of the figure number pointer 2 is further combined with the figure 3 and the like that are paired.

Until it becomes larger, the character code of "figure h" of the figure number pointer h is further combined with the figure in the same manner. If it is larger, the combination has been completed for all the figures on all the pages, so step S23
And, for example, in FIG.

FIG. 1 reads a character code such as "" from a ROM 8 and displays the character code in a character code area 13. Further, an image such as a bit map (black and white binarization) of the trimmed figure 2 is stored in an image area 16 below the character code area 13. Display as data. Similarly, "

FIG. 2 shows a character code “3” and a figure 3 on a screen 5;

The character code "

FIG. 1 shows image data “FIG. 2” and “FIG.

[FIG. 2] and image data such as “FIG. 3” are transmitted to a destination such as the JPO.

FIG. 1 shows an image of FIG.

FIG. 2 prints the image of FIG. 3 below the character "." After transfer and printing, the first bitmap file or the first bitmap file in the storage space of the work memory RAM 7 may be deleted.

[0028]

According to the present invention, when a document including a plurality of figures is digitized between computers or between a computer and a small personal computer, a document of a character code and a drawing or a design drawing of image data are converted. You can link organically and uniquely. Further, according to the present invention, a character data area can be automatically set as required according to the image data of the graphic by reading the graphic on the paper. Since the corresponding characters can be appropriately inserted and combined in the character data area, the link between the document and the graphic that is important in content and requires accuracy can be easily and automatically executed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of entry on an input form in a method for digitizing graphics according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing a configuration example of an optical reading device and an information processing device in which the graphic digitizing method of the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation of the information processing apparatus of the graphic digitizing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a first-stage scanner process of the graphic digitizing method according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a second-stage trimming process of the graphic digitizing method according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a third-stage normalization process of the graphic digitizing method according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a fourth-stage combining process of the graphic digitizing method according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a general example in which a plurality of figures are identified and drawn on a sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A, 1B Paper 2, 3 Figure 4, 4A line segment 5 Drawing 6 Central processing unit (CPU) 7 RAM 8 ROM 9 Working memory (RAM) 10 Information processing device 19 Mouse 20 Scanner 21 Output sensor

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/38-1/393 G06T 7/60 200

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] An optical reading device reads a plurality of figures drawn on a sheet and provided with independent identification codes, and digitizes the figures.
The image data is sent to an information processing apparatus. In this information processing apparatus, a screen 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 positions and sizes occupied on a sheet are additionally written on the sheet, and the optical reading device reads the line segments and the corresponding figures from the sheet and digitizes the information. In the above, the position and length of each line segment are respectively detected, and the range corresponding to the detected position and length of each line segment is detected.
Area for each image data is secured respectively, and the figure is inserted into the area for each image data on the screen according to the detected line segment and the order of the figure, respectively.
A method of digitizing a figure, comprising combining each figure with character code data of the identification code . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the character codes and each of the image data are a drawing number and a drawing of either a patent application or a utility model application. 3. The optical reading device continuously reads a plurality of sheets of paper and digitizes them, and the information processing device detects and digitizes them.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each character code and each image data are combined in accordance with the order of the figures. 4. A plurality of figures, which are drawn on a sheet of paper and are provided with independent identification codes, are read by an optical reader and digitized, and
The image data is sent to an information processing apparatus. In this information processing apparatus, a screen 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 positions and sizes occupied on a sheet are additionally written on the sheet, and the optical reading device reads the line segments and the corresponding figures from the sheet and digitizes the information. In the above, the position and length of each line segment are respectively detected, and the range corresponding to the detected position and length of each line segment is detected.
Area for each image data is secured, and the secured area for image data is
If the area exceeds a predetermined range, the area is reduced, and the reduced figure is inserted into the area for each image data on the screen according to the detected line segment and the order of the figure, and each of these figures is A method for digitizing a figure, comprising combining character code data of the identification code .