JPH05314196A - Graphic processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain a high speed, and to hold a high efficiency by displaying a partial graphic based on a vector data on a display, operating a correcting processing to the partial graphic displayed at the display by contrasting it with the original graphic on an original, and obtaining the entire graphics by repeating the partial processing. CONSTITUTION:Data written in a memory 4m for a raster are successively converted into vector data by a CAD processing part 7 in which software for a raster/vector conversion is stored, and stored in a memory 8 for a display. Then, a graphic based on the vector data is displayed at a monitor display 9. The vector data at that time are intermediate one, and can be turned into a final graphic to be used by a CAD system by comparing it with the original graphic, and correcting it by a CAD function, and the final vector data can be obtained. The partial graphic partially read by an optical reading means 3 is joined together based on coordinate data, and prepared into the final entire graphic.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention converts a handwritten drawing into vector data when the handwritten drawing is used in a system such as a CAD system (Computer-Aided Desing System) for processing graphics with vector data. The present invention relates to a graphic processing system suitable for being incorporated in a computer.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A CAD system has a problem of effectively using a drawing given in advance, that is, a handwritten drawing. That is, it is possible to greatly reduce the drawing work by directly using the handwritten drawing for drawing by the CAD system.
Incorporation into the system must be possible with high accuracy and high speed.

Conventional methods for importing handwritten drawings into a CAD system are roughly classified into a trace method and a scanner method. The trace method captures vector data for CAD by tracing a handwritten drawing. There are a digitizer method and an image trace method. The digitizer method requires a lot of time and effort for tracing, and high speed. The image tracing method is a method in which the image captured by the image scanner is displayed as a rough sketch on the display and this is traced by the CAD function, which improves the processing speed compared to the digitizer method. Although it can be obtained, it is not satisfactory in that the troublesome work of tracing is indispensable, and it also requires a large image scanner of A0 to A1 class, and inevitably raises the cost in terms of hardware. There is also.

On the other hand, the scanner system converts raster data captured by an image scanner into vector data by raster / vector conversion software and captures it in a CAD system, which does not require the troublesome work of tracing. Of course, there is a problem that the processing time is long and the accuracy is insufficient, and there is a problem that the price is high in terms of hardware as in the image tracing method.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made against the background of such conventional circumstances.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a graphic processing system that can be incorporated into a D system with high accuracy and high speed, and that can use a hardware structure that is relatively inexpensive and has high versatility.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention scans an original with an optical reading means and converts the raster data obtained by this into vector data with a raster / vector conversion means. In the graphic processing system in which the vector data is used as output data, predetermined coordinates can be set on the document and coordinate data can be added to each pixel in the raster data based on the coordinates. , A part of the original is read by an optical reading means capable of selectively scanning an arbitrary part of the original, and raster / vector conversion processing is performed on the raster data obtained by this partial reading, and The partial figure based on the vector data is displayed on the display, and the original figure on the original is displayed on the partial figure displayed on this display. The correction process is performed in contrast with the above, and this series of partial processes is repeated while splicing the partial figures in each partial process using the coordinate data to obtain the final overall figure. The raster data of is used as the output data.

As the optical reading means used in such a graphic processing system, an "image reading device" as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-6150 can be used. This "image reading device" is highly versatile because it has a mouse function as well as an optical image reading function, and it has a shape and size that is almost the same as a mouse used for ordinary personal computers, so it is an excellent operation. It is also possible to reduce the cost in terms of reading hardware.

This graphic processing system is an improvement of the above-mentioned scanner system, and is designed to process the document in a divided manner as compared with the conventional scanner system in which the document is collectively read and processed. This divisional processing realizes high speed and maintains high accuracy.

The reason why such division processing can realize high speed and high accuracy is as follows. That is,
In the conventional scanner method, since a large amount of image data (raster data) is processed at once, raster data or vector data is saved in a file each time and processing is performed, that is, a batch method is unavoidable. As a result, the processing time becomes long, but in the division processing method of the present invention, the amount of data to be processed at one time can be freely adjusted, and the raster data fetching and the raster / vector conversion processing can be performed simultaneously. It is possible, and as a result, speeding up can be achieved.

In the conventional scanner system, raster /
In the vector conversion process, the amount of data processed at one time becomes large and the processing efficiency is lowered, and the processing time is lengthened by these. On the other hand, in the division processing method of the present invention, data processed at one time is processed. Since you can freely choose the amount,
It is possible to set the optimum amount of data for maximizing the efficiency of the raster / vector conversion process, and thus speed up.

Further, in the conventional scanner system, the entire original including the blank area is read regardless of the presence or absence of the required figure, and the raster data of the entire original is processed, which also requires a processing time. Although it greatly affected the increase, the division processing method of the present invention, on the other hand, can read and process only a portion having a required figure with a minimum necessary amount, so that the processing time can be greatly reduced.

Further, in the case of the scanner system, a figure based on vector data obtained by directly converting the raster data from the scanner is discontinuous, which is considerably different from the original drawing in relation to the accuracy of raster / vector conversion. Since it becomes a rough figure that contains many lines etc., it is necessary to correct and edit it while comparing it with the original figure, but with the conventional scanner method, this editing work is difficult, especially for large size such as A2 class or more. When the drawings are processed collectively, the psychological burden on the operator is very large, which is likely to cause a mistake and easily cause a decrease in accuracy.However, in the division processing method of the present invention, the operator is Since the most suitable processing amount can be selected, it is possible to achieve high accuracy with less occurrence of mistakes.

Further, in the conventional scanner system, since it is a batch system as described above and the burden of editing work is large, the accuracy of the scanner is improved and the accuracy of the raster / vector conversion process is also improved. Inevitably, this leads to an increase in the price of the scanner and an increase in the raster / vector conversion processing time. However, the division processing method of the present invention can solve these problems. That is, in the division processing method of the present invention, the processing amount is most suitable for the worker and the processing is performed in a real-time interactive format, that is, an interactive format capable of simultaneously advancing raster data acquisition, raster / vector conversion, and editing. Can be done. As a result, editing work is significantly easier, so a high-precision scanner is not always required, and therefore cost can be reduced, and software that emphasizes speed over accuracy can be adopted as software for raster / vector conversion processing. Can be realized.

Regarding such a graphic processing system,
Although a portion to be read redundantly occurs when partially reading, it is more efficient if the overlapping processing of the duplicate reading portion is avoided. For that purpose, it is possible to prohibit the capture of the data of the pixels of the overlapping read portion by using the coordinate data.

As one form thereof, the presence / absence of reading is recorded for each pixel, and based on the comparison with this recording, the acquisition of the data for the pixel in the overlapping read portion is prohibited.

As another form, a certain processing area is set on the original based on the coordinate data, and only the pixels within this processing area can be loaded with data. By specifying the processing area for dynamic reading, it is possible to avoid capturing duplicate data. This form has the advantage that the independence of the worker can be respected.

Further, in such a graphic processing system, in addition to the above-mentioned minimum necessary processing only for necessary graphic parts, this processing is further advanced so that only pixels forming a graphic are processed. It is also possible to further improve the processing efficiency. That is, the data is fetched only for pixels having a density value larger than a preset threshold value, whereby only pixels forming a figure can be processed.

Furthermore, in such a graphic processing system, the amount of processing data can be further reduced by handling the coordinate data of the pixel as the data for the pixel, and the speed can be further increased.

The graphic processing system as described above is capable of setting predetermined coordinates for a document, providing coordinate data for each pixel in the raster data on the basis of these coordinates, and at the same time, for arbitrary parts of the document. Is provided with an optical reading means capable of selectively scanning, a storage means for storing the raster data obtained by the optical reading means, and a raster / vector conversion means for converting the raster data into vector data. It can be executed by using another graphic processing device.

[0020]

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below.
The present embodiment is an example applied to a CAD system as shown in FIG. This CAD system is provided with an optical reading unit 3 in addition to the keyboard 1 and the mouse 2 as an input unit, and the optical reading unit 3 can partially read and input a handwritten drawing. As the optical reading means 3, an "image reading device" as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-6150 is used.

That is, the optical reading means 3 has an image scanner function by a line sensor such as a CCD array, and reads a transparent coordinate sheet and coordinate information elements with a special color attached to the coordinate sheet. It also has a mouse function in combination with a mouse mechanism. It allows you to set coordinates based on the origin that you have arbitrarily selected for the document, and based on these coordinates, coordinate data is calculated for each pixel in the raster data, that is, for each pixel in the CCD array. Can be granted.

Further, the outer shape and size thereof are substantially the same as those of a mouse used in a normal personal computer, and it is possible to carry out partial scanning by selecting an arbitrary portion on a document by holding it in a hand. Therefore, its structure is remarkably simplified as compared with the conventional batch-reading type scanner, and it is possible to significantly reduce the cost in terms of reading hardware.

Pixel information data and coordinate information data are output from the optical reading means 3. The coordinates of pixels are actually taken into the raster memory 4m as vector data data. Only the information data, and only the pixels forming the graphic, that is, the pixels in the "figure" portion excluding the "ground" portion are fetched.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the figure M is formed by the pixels P _{1 to} P _n having a higher density than the surrounding ground portion, but only these figure forming pixels P _{1 to} P _n . Each coordinate data (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) ~
(X _n, Y _n) intended to capture only figure M except the result "land" portion is captured.

Such processing is carried out by selectively fetching data by the fetching selection means 5 forming the storage means 4 together with the raster memory 4m, and two criteria are used as the selection criteria. Has been. one,
The "ground" is a standard for limiting to only the figure forming pixels.
It is set by using the basic gray level difference between the pixel of the part and the pixel of the "figure" part. The other is a standard for avoiding double processing, that is, double processing for overlapping read portions when repeating partial reading by the optical reading means 3, and whether or not each pixel has been read. The tag is recorded in the tag memory 6, and the record is checked to select the acquisition.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between these two criteria for selection of capture.
2 and the processing flow is shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, as for the double processing avoidance standard, the data recorded in each memory cell of the tag memory 6 as 0 when read and 1 when not read in the address corresponding to the coordinates of each pixel is signaled to the acquisition selection means 5. EN is output, and as for the figure forming pixel limitation reference, the actual density value B of the pixel information data from the optical reading means 3 is taken in and the density is preset in the selecting means 5. In comparison with the threshold value A of B, if B ≧ A, the capture is performed. That is, only when EN is 1 and B ≧ A, the coordinate information data about the pixel is stored in the raster memory 4m.
Will be written in.

The data written in the raster memory 4m is sequentially converted into vector data in the CAD processing unit 7 in which the software for raster / vector conversion is stored and stored in the display memory 8 to be converted into this vector data. The based graphic is displayed on the monitor display 9.

The vector data at this point is, so to speak, intermediate data, and the figure based on this is in a state considerably different from the original drawing due to discontinuous lines. Therefore,
This intermediate figure is corrected by the CAD function while being compared with the original figure to make a final figure usable in the CAD system, and final vector data is obtained based on this final figure.

As described above, the optical reading means 3 has a structure for partially reading the original, and therefore, if the required figure is not covered by one partial reading, the partial reading is repeated. However, the partial figures from each partial reading are spliced together based on the coordinate data,
It will be formed into the final overall figure.

It is of course possible to carry out the raster / vector conversion processing for each partial read for the partial read repeated in this way, but if necessary, the raster / vector conversion processing may be collectively performed for a plurality of partial reads. / It is also possible to carry out vector conversion processing, and whichever of them is within a range that satisfies the condition that the amount of data processing for one raster / vector conversion processing does not decrease the efficiency of raster / vector conversion processing. It is selected appropriately.

When the above-mentioned processing is completed for the required figure, the result is directly compared with the original figure to make a final confirmation. The direct comparison for this final confirmation is to display the original drawing by the raster data as a sketch on the monitor display 9 and superimpose the drawing by the vector data on it, and the original sketch is used for the pixel information from the optical reading means 3. It is given by reproducing the data on the monitor display 9 via the CAD processing unit 7 and the display memory 10.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a time chart comparing the processing time of the conventional scanner system with the processing time of the system according to the present invention for the same handwritten drawing. This is an example of processing an A2 size drawing, and the system of the present invention processes it in 8 divisions. From this, it can be seen that the entire processing time is about half in the method of the present invention compared to the conventional method, and the main cause of such a difference is the raster / vector conversion processing time and the correction processing time. ..

The double processing avoidance in the above embodiment can be performed by other methods. The other method is a method of setting a processing area, and the flow of processing when this processing area method is used is shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, a rectangular processing area defined by the respective coordinates (X _min , Y _min ) and (X _max , Y _max ) of the facing vertices is set for the original, and data can be fetched only for pixels in this processing area. To do it. A plurality of such processing areas may be continuously set in advance, and selected for each partial reading, and may be designated, or may be set for each partial reading. ..

FIG. 7 shows another example for implementing the graphic processing system according to the present invention. While the embodiment of FIG. 1 is an example in which the graphic processing system according to the present invention is directly incorporated into a CAD system, in this example, the essential parts of the hardware structure for executing the graphic processing system according to the present invention are unitized. As a graphic processing device with a certain functional unit,
This graphic processing device can be used by being connected to a CAD system.

In addition to the optical reading means 3 and storage means 4 which are the same as those in the system of the above-mentioned embodiment, this graphic processing apparatus is for converting the raster data stored in the raster memory 4m into vector data. It is a functional unit provided with a dedicated raster / vector conversion means 20. The raster / vector conversion means 20 is composed of a CPU 22 and a working memory 21 dedicated to raster / vector conversion processing, and the vector data obtained by this is input to the CAD system via the interface 23.
The processing is performed in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

[0036]

As described above, the graphic processing system according to the present invention partially divides a document and processes it, and based on the coordinates given to the document the partial graphic obtained by this partial processing. Since the vector data for the required figures are spliced together, only the required figure parts are read with the minimum required, and the amount of data processed at one time is optimized in real time. As a result, the handwritten drawing can be input to the CAD system at high speed and with high accuracy, which can greatly contribute to the improvement of the function of the CAD system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a C incorporating a graphic processing system according to the present invention.
The block diagram of AD system.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart diagram of a graphic processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a figure and coordinate data.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a reference for taking in coordinate data of a pixel.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the processing time of graphic processing in comparison between the conventional method and the method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a graphic processing system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a graphic processing apparatus for executing the graphic processing system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Optical Reading Means 4m Raster Memory 4 Storage Means 5 Capture Selection Means 6 Tag Memory 7 CAD Processing Unit (Raster / Vector Converting Means) 9 Monitor Display 20 Raster / Vector Converting Means

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 24, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0026

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between these two criteria for selection of capture.
2 and the processing flow is shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, as for the double processing avoidance standard, the data recorded in each memory cell of the tag memory 6 as 0 when read and 1 when not read in the address corresponding to the coordinates of each pixel is signaled to the acquisition selection means 5. EN is output, and as for the figure forming pixel limitation reference, the actual density value B of the pixel information data from the optical reading means 3 is taken in and the density is preset in the selecting means 5. In comparison with the threshold value A of B, if B ≧ A, the capture is performed. That is, only when EN is 1 and B ≧ A, the coordinate information data about the pixel is stored in the raster memory 4m.
Will be written in. The density reference method using such a threshold value can be used not only for the data compression by selectively capturing only the "drawing" but also for further data compression by the contour processing. That is, by utilizing the direction of change in the magnitude relationship of the actual density value B of the pixel information data with respect to the threshold value A, only pixels forming the outline of the “figure” are selectively taken in It compresses data. The relationship of this process is shown in FIG.
That is, the relationship between the density value B of the pixel information data and the threshold value A is A> B in the past, but now A ≦ B, that is, the “ground” side to the “figure” side. Only the contour pixel to the side and the pixel when A ≦ B in the past is now A> B, that is, the contour pixel from the “figure” side to the “ground” side are fetched. It is a thing.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] Brief explanation of the drawing

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a C incorporating a graphic processing system according to the present invention.
The block diagram of AD system.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a graphic processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a figure and coordinate data.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a reference for taking in coordinate data of a pixel.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the processing time of graphic processing in comparison between the conventional method and the method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a graphic processing system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a graphic processing apparatus for executing the graphic processing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a reference for taking in coordinate data of pixels in the case of contour processing.

[Explanation of Codes] 3 Optical Reading Means 4m Raster Memory 4 Storage Means 5 Capture Selection Means 6 Tag Memory 7 CAD Processing Unit (Raster / Vector Converting Means) 9 Monitor Display 20 Raster / Vector Converting Means

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 8

[Correction method] Added

[Correction content]

[Figure 8]

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A graphic processing in which a document is scanned by an optical reading means, raster data obtained thereby is converted into vector data by a raster / vector converting means, and the vector data is used as output data. In the system, predetermined coordinates can be set for the original, coordinate data can be given to each pixel in the raster data based on the coordinates, and an arbitrary portion of the original can be selectively scanned. The original is partially read by the static reading means, raster / vector conversion processing is performed on the raster data obtained by this partial reading, and a partial figure based on the vector data obtained by this is displayed on the display. The partial figure displayed in is compared with the original figure on the manuscript and is corrected. A series of partial processes is repeated by splicing partial graphics in each partial process by using the coordinate data to obtain a final overall graphic, and raster data about the final overall graphic is used as output data. Figure processing system. 2. The reading of data for pixels of a portion which is read in duplicate when partially reading is prohibited by using coordinate data.
Figure processing system described in. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the presence / absence of reading is recorded for each pixel specified by the coordinate data, and based on the comparison with this record, the data acquisition of the pixel in the overlapping read portion is prohibited. Graphics processing system. 4. A pixel in a duplicate reading portion is set by setting a processing area to be targeted in each partial reading on a document based on coordinate data, and allowing data to be fetched only in the pixels in this processing area. The graphic processing system according to claim 2, wherein the acquisition of the above data is prohibited. 5. The graphic processing system according to claim 1, wherein data is taken in only for pixels having a density value larger than a preset threshold value. 6. The graphic processing system according to claim 1, wherein coordinate data of the pixel is used as data to be captured for the pixel. 7. A graphic processing apparatus used in the graphic processing system according to claim 1, wherein predetermined coordinates can be set with respect to a document, and coordinate data is set for each pixel in raster data based on the coordinates. It can be given,
Optical reading means capable of selectively scanning an arbitrary part of a document, storage means for storing raster data obtained by the optical reading means, and raster / vector conversion for converting raster data into vector data And a graphic processing device comprising means.