JPH064637A - Method and device for plotting - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily execute plotting processing of a vectorized graphic for a display controller on a display screen. CONSTITUTION:A plane 16 for displaying image data and a plane 20 for displaying vector data are duplicatedly provided on the display screen 88 of a display and various kinds of data processing operation on both planes 16 and 20 can be executed independently each other. Then, an original drawing 12 on a paper surface 10 is read to the side of the plane 16 to be a design 14 and it is traced on the plane 20 to prepare a vector graphic 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of creating graphic data to be used on a display screen of various devices using a microprocessor and a device for implementing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this kind of figure data is drawn directly on the screen by utilizing a figure drawing function constructed on a computer, and the drawn figure is saved as vector or image data, and at an appropriate time. The method used was general.

Further, as a method of drawing a graphic, the operator can specify the drawing position on the screen by using an instruction means such as a mouse while looking at the original drawing, or by using a tablet or digitizer to trace the original drawing. A method of designating the position of input coordinates is also known.

Further, it is also practiced that a figure drawn on a paper surface is directly used as image data in a computer by using an image scanner, or the acquired image data is automatically vector-converted.

[0005]

However, in the method in which the operator designates the coordinate position on the screen while looking at the original drawing, it is difficult to specifically grasp the information such as the input position, size or shape of the figure. Therefore, skill is required to perform accurate drawing in a short time.

On the other hand, in the method of tracing the original drawing as it is using a tablet or the like, it is necessary to perform preprocessing such as reducing or enlarging the drawing size in advance according to the input means, and the position deviation of the original drawing during drawing. There are still many inconveniences such as the need to prevent

In the method of using the image data as it is, the amount of data to be stored becomes too large and the data handling becomes complicated. Further, even if an attempt is made to vectorize the data, complete vector data cannot be obtained because there are many ambiguous portions in the data to be handled, and a correction operation is indispensable as post-processing. Moreover, this correction work still has many problems, such as the time and effort required to create a figure from the beginning in some cases.

As a result of consideration made by the present inventors in view of the above-mentioned inconvenience, the specification or the like often draws a graphic that can be used as it is as a display graphic in the display control device. While making it into image data and displaying it on the screen so that it can be referred to and modified as the figure below, the vectorization process of the figure can be performed in parallel on the same screen, and the above problems can be solved at once. I found out.

The present invention has been made on the basis of the above findings, and an object of the present invention is to provide a drawing method in which vectorization of a graphic is easy. A further object of the present invention is to provide a drawing apparatus suitable for carrying out the above-described drawing method.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, in the drawing method of the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG.
A step of converting the original drawing (12) drawn on the paper surface (10) exemplified in (4) into image data, and a step of correcting the converted image data corresponding to the screen (88) to be displayed. , The step of displaying the figure (14) corresponding to the corrected image data on the screen (88), and the drawing position (18) on the screen (88) manually corresponding to the displayed figure (14). A step of specifying, a step of converting each position on the specified screen (88) into position data, a step of creating vector data based on the converted position data, and a step of saving the created vector data It has and.

Further, the drawing apparatus according to the present invention has a structure shown in FIG.
As shown in the schematic diagram in Fig.
0) Image data conversion means (22) for converting the original drawing (12) drawn on the screen into image data, and display means (24) capable of displaying a figure on the screen (88) based on the input data.
And a data input means (2) that allows at least coordinate data of the indicated position (18) to be input by manual instruction on the screen.
6), vector data creation means (28) for creating vector data based on the data input from the data input means (26), and the above based on the data input using the data input means (26). Image data conversion means (22)
The image data correction means (32) that enables correction of the image data input from the storage means and the storage means (34) that stores the created vector data. Further, the above-mentioned display means (24) has a graphic (14) formed by image data.
The plane (16) capable of displaying and the plane (20) displaying the graphic (15) based on the vector data are operated independently of each other and are capable of overlapping display operations.

[0012]

With the above-described structure, the original drawing (12) to be vectorized is converted into the image data by using the image data converting means (22) on the paper surface (10) such as the specification sheet and the correcting means (32). When input to, the image data is expanded and displayed on the image data display plane (16) in the display means (24). Therefore, data input means (26)
The following figure (14) is completed by making corrections such as enlarging or reducing the displayed figure using.

Next, the data input means (26) is switched to the vector data creating means (28) side, and the figure such as the position coordinates (18) and the figure shape is specified while tracing the above lower diagram (14) as it is from above. Input data. Then, the vector data creating means (28) converts the input data into vector data, while displaying the graphic (15) on the vector data display plane (20). Therefore, if necessary, modify the vector data to
5) is confirmed and the vector data is stored in the data storage means (34).
Then, the series of figure creating operations are completed.

[0014]

As described above, the original drawing drawn on the paper surface (10).
(12) is displayed as image data as it is and displayed.
Since (14) is configured to be used as the lower diagram when creating the vector graphic (15), the graphic of the required shape can be reliably drawn by a relatively simple procedure. Furthermore, the display screen
On the (88), the graphic (14) based on the image data and the graphic (15) based on the vector data are operated independently of each other, and two planes (16) and (20) are provided to enable overlapping display. In addition, it has many advantages such as the correction of the following figure (14) and the creation of necessary vector graphics (15).

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below on the basis of an example in which the present invention is applied to a display control device which enables a predetermined display operation by being integrated with a programmable controller (hereinafter referred to as "PLC"), but is not limited thereto. Of course, it can be implemented in a similar manner in a general-purpose personal computer or workstation.

The display control device (36) embodying the present invention, as shown in the overall connection state in FIG. 3, has various computers (40) via a communication line (38) in a LAN system similar to the conventional one. Alternatively, it may be connected in parallel with an external device group including a PLC (42), a data input device such as an image scanner (44), a data output device such as a printer (46), or a large-capacity storage device (48). Data is exchanged between the respective devices.

[0017]

[Circuit Configuration of PLC] The PLC (42) to which the display control device (36) is accessed as an external device has a function for each required individual function as shown in the schematic block diagram of FIG. The circuit is unitized and each unit can be connected in parallel via the bus line (50) as needed so that the function achieved as the PLC (42) as a whole can be increased or decreased. (For example, product number “C2000H” manufactured by OMRON).

In this embodiment, the CPU unit (52) for controlling the entire PLC (42) and the target system (5
4) an input unit (58) that allows the direct detection of the detection signal (56) sent from it, and an output unit that enables the output of a predetermined control signal (60) toward the target system (54). 62) and a memory unit (64) for storing various data
And a computer link unit (66) that enables predetermined data communication with the display control device (36) as a basic unit, and the CPU unit (52) constantly monitors the changing state of the input / output means. If a data change such as new data input is detected, the necessary arithmetic processing is performed and then the corresponding address on the memory unit (64) is accessed to rewrite the contents or the data is output to the output unit (62). Is configured to be transmitted.

The storage location of the status information MD input / output to / from the target system (54) is a passive component such as a level meter or a limit switch provided on the target system (54) to be controlled or displayed. It is secured on the memory unit (64) for each active component such as relay and motor, and the input / output data is for word data such as numerical value, and the word device for bit data such as on / off information. Is set in the memory unit (64) so that the bit device can specify the storage location by addressing. Therefore, the memory unit can be
Only by specifying an address to access an arbitrary word device or bit device in (64), the corresponding position of the target system (54) can be controlled or the information MD regarding the operation state can be individually fetched. There is.

[0020]

[Circuit configuration of display control device] The display control device (36) is integrated with the above-mentioned PLC (42) in an operation console of the target system (54) or is provided independently by itself. It is used as a display panel for creating and operating data for 54).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the main body case
While disposing a display (72) selected from various display means such as CRT, EL, plasma or liquid crystal so as to close the large opening (70) provided in the central position on the front of (68),
At the lower position of the display (72), a socket (78) to which the plug (76) of the keyboard (74) is detachably attached, and an IC
A reader / writer socket (82) for inputting / outputting data to / from the card (80) is arranged.

While the display control circuit (86) shown in FIG. 4 is housed inside the main body case (68), the above-mentioned display (7
The front of the display screen (88) in (2) has a transparent touch panel (9
Covered in close contact with 0). This Touch Panel (90)
The instruction by pressing with a fingertip or a dedicated pointing device (92) is taken in and analyzed via the touch panel controller (94), and the manual operation at the time of operation of the entire system and the drawing operation described later in detail. Allows input of coordinate data.

The basic structure of the display control circuit (86) is almost the same as that of a general personal computer, and a CPU and various memories (98) (100) (102) (10) are provided via a bus line (96).
4) or the graphic controller (106) is connected and the CPU (97) performs a predetermined arithmetic operation according to the system program stored in the memory (98), while the keyboard (via the I / O controller (108) ( 74) allows data input, and various calculation results stored in the working memory (100) are stored in the graphics memory (10
4) A graphic controller (106) is used to expand on the video RAM (110) using the image data stored in advance, and a display (72) corresponding to the contents written in the video RAM (110) is displayed. Done in.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the video RAM (110) has at least two planes (1) for processing analog data graphics (14) and for processing vector data graphics (15).
6) By providing in correspondence with (20), graphics of different data formats can be displayed on the same screen (8) of the display (72).
8) It is designed so that the necessary drawing processing such as correction and deletion can be performed independently of each other while displaying them on top of each other.

Further, the computer link unit (66) and the image on the PLC (42) side are provided through the communication controller (112) which operates by an algorithm specialized in the circuit configuration of the PLC (42) or a general-purpose communication program. The scanner (44) and the serial communication line (38) are connected to each other via LAN so that data can be exchanged between them.

[0026]

[Structure of processing instruction word] A display control device (3
In 6), a base screen such as a table or graph frame that does not require any change in the display content, or a graphic (15) such as that shown in FIG. 6 (a) that blinks or changes colors on the base screen. Data is stored in advance in the graphic memory (104) by designating one file number for each required display unit.

On the other hand, among the status information MD indicated by the bit or word device formed in the memory unit (64) of the PLC (42), the necessary information is displayed at an appropriate time by the display controller (3).
6) side work memory (100) is read while being associated with each other, and process instruction word W illustrated in FIG. 7 (a) stored in advance in event data memory (102) is intermittently recorded at every minute time. By executing the operation of the content specified by the event name T of each processing instruction word W while referring to the state information MD fetched from the PLC (42) side.
A display operation that changes in response to changes in the contents of the bit device or word device on the 2) side is performed.

That is, the basic structure of the processing instruction word W is
As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the file number F of the base screen on which the display control operation is to be executed, the event name T specifying the operation content to be executed on the base screen, and the reference for each execution event One set of the reference information d consisting of one or a plurality of data to be processed, and the number of processing instruction words W corresponding to the number of events to be executed on each base screen are stored in the event data memory ( 102) stored on.

For example, the processing instruction word WL shown in FIG.
File number F in the graphics memory (104) in advance.
On the base screen stored as 1, the figure (15) of the automobile shown in FIG. 6 (a) stored as the file number F2 is displayed on the display (72) as shown in FIG. 6 (b). Display plane for vector data on screen (88) (20)
The display color is expanded and displayed, and the display color of the figure (15) is changed according to the value of a specific bit device on the PLC (42) side. That is, the file number F1 of the base screen, the event name T starting with "L" for specifying the call of the figure, the file number F2 for specifying the call figure, the address of the bit device on the PLC (42) side referred to when the figure is displayed A1, information M1 for specifying the color when the bit device is "1" or "0", and coordinate data X1 on the screen for displaying a figure.

On the other hand, the processing instruction word WT shown in FIG. 7 (c), conversely to the above, interlocks with the pressing operation on the touch panel (90) and sends predetermined data to the PLC (42) side to send the PLC (4
2) or the target system (54) connected thereto, which is capable of controlling the file number F1 of the base screen, the event name T that starts with "T" for specifying the touch panel operation, and the touch panel (90) Input coordinate range X2 · X on the touch panel (90) that validates the input operation of
3, the address A2 of the PLC (42) side device to write the data in conjunction with the touch operation of the touch panel (90), the momentary bit writing in which the data writing is limited to the touch panel (90) pressing time, or absolute It is composed of an operation mode M2 that specifies whether to write a word to overwrite a value, and word data to be written or bit position information D in the word.

[0031]

[Operation of Display Controller] Next, the operation of the display controller 36, particularly the drawing operation of the display controller 36, will be described in more detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, at step (200) in FIG. 8, the power switch is turned on to start the display control device (36).
In step (201), a predetermined data communication is performed with the PLC (42) side so that the entire system is automatically operated, or only the display control device (36) is operated to operate the processing instruction word W. Selection is made as to whether or not the user is in an offline state for registration. Normally, the contents of the IC card (80) are initialized at the start of use, and the dedicated data as an embedded system is not set in either the event data memory (102) or the graphics memory (104). , The event data registration mode starting from step (210) of FIG. 9 is performed, and the necessary data setting processing is performed.

Further, when it is judged in the step (211) that the image data to be stored in the graphic memory (104) is being created, the drawing process starts from the step (220) in FIG. The present invention is characterized by such a drawing processing method.First, in step (221), a figure (12) drawn on a paper surface (10) such as a specification sheet is used as an original drawing, and an image scanner (44) is used. After converting to image data, it is taken into the display control device (36). The image data taken into the display control device (36) is further developed on the image data video RAM (110) in step (222), and the graphic (14) is displayed on the corresponding plane (16). To do.

Thereafter, the position or size of the displayed graphic (14) is changed, and the display content is added or removed as necessary (step (223)), and the image graphic (14) is added at step (224). When it is determined that the correction for is completed, the trace mode from step (225) is entered.

In the trace mode, the accessible plane is moved from the above-mentioned image data display plane (16) to the vector data display plane (20), and
The modified image figure (14) described above is shown in the figure below, and by tracing it on the screen (88), the figure required can be easily vectorized.

In the present embodiment, the touch panel (90) provided on the screen in duplicate is used, and tracing is performed by tracing it on the touch panel sequentially with the pointing tool (92) such as a pen tip. Coordinates are continuously captured in the device. On the other hand, in step (225), the input position coordinates are detected every set time, and when it is determined that the position coordinates are different in step (226), the position coordinates are stored (step (22
Along with 7)), the stored position coordinates are displayed as dots on the plane (20).

Further, when it is judged in step (228) that the trace mode is completed, the position coordinates are converted into a series of vector data in step (229), and
The data is transferred to a video RAM (11
It is expanded to 0) and the figure (15) is displayed on the corresponding plane (20) (step (230)). After making necessary corrections to the figure (15), the file number F2 is specified and stored in the graphic data memory (104) in step (231), whereby a series of figure creating operations is completed.

When all necessary base screens or graphics have been created, event data registration work starting from step (212) in FIG. 9 is started. This work is carried out in an interactive manner, and the display control device (36) side prompts the user to input the necessary data while judging the content of the data to be input. In the state where the base screen F1 to be processed is opened. After inputting the event name to be executed in step (212), the content of the event to be executed is determined from the initials of the input event name, and the reference information d required in step (213) is input. Be prompted.

When the setting contents of the reference information d are fixed, after the fixed contents are stored in the event data memory (102) in step (214), the process moves to step (215) for all necessary events. It is determined whether or not the processing instruction word W has been registered. If “NO”, the step (21
It returns to the event name input of 2) and returns to the work of registering the next processing instruction word W, but if "YES", it moves to step (216) and ends.

When the above-described data creating operation is completed,
Move to the online operation of step (202) in FIG.
(42) In parallel with the communication processing operation for transmitting and receiving the necessary data, or after all the necessary series of data has been taken out, the display processing of each event in step (203) is performed, and the PLC The display operation corresponding to the data change on the (42) side is performed.

[0041]

[Other Embodiments] As described above, instead of the device side automatically intermittently taking in and storing the position coordinates continuously input, it is possible to manually select and input the position coordinates to be the points. You may Further, the input position data may be collectively converted into vector data after the completion of a series of traces shown in (14) below, or vector conversion may be performed each time one or more position data is input.

Furthermore, the image figure (14) shown in the figure below is approximated in advance by a straight line or a circular arc, and the processing result is displayed in the middle, while the operator selects the approximation result. A vector graphic may be created. At this time, display attributes such as display color can be selected at the same time. Further, it is needless to say that the operator himself / herself can judge a straight line, a circular arc, or the like to draw.

Further, in the method of tracing the image figure (14), instead of the touch panel (90), various pointing devices such as a mouse and a light pen, or a keyboard.
Of course, the cursor movement by (74) can be used. In addition, the display on the screen (88) may be such that separate video RAMs are provided for image data and vector data, and both data can be displayed redundantly and correction processing etc. can be performed individually. For example, the data may be processed as software by a program. The display color or display timing in the following figure (14) can be changed as appropriate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a drawing state according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration showing an example in which the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a display control device and a PLC.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an external shape.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen configuration, (a)
Shows a display figure, and (b) shows a display state of the figure on the screen.

7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a specific configuration of a processing instruction word, in which FIG. 7A is a basic configuration, FIG. 7B is a configuration for calling and displaying a graphic, and FIG. The respective configurations that enable touch input above are shown.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an overall operation procedure.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an event data registration operation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a drawing processing operation showing an example in which the present invention is implemented.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (10) Paper (12) Original drawing (14) Image figure (15) Vector figure (16) Image data display plane (18) Drawing position (20) Vector data display plane (22) Image data conversion means (24) Display Means (26) Data input means (28) Vector data creation means (32) Image data correction means (34) Storage means (36) Display controller (44) Image scanner (72) Display (88) Display screen (90) Touch panel (92) Indicator (110) Video RAM

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A step of converting an original drawing drawn on paper into image data, a step of correcting the converted image data so as to correspond to a screen to be displayed, and the corrected image data The step of displaying the corresponding figure on the screen, the step of manually specifying the drawing position on the screen corresponding to the displayed figure, and the step of converting each specified position on the screen into position data. And a method of creating vector data based on the converted position data, and a step of saving the created vector data. 2. An image data conversion means (22) for converting an original drawing (12) drawn on an arbitrary paper surface (10) into image data.
Based on the input data, the display means (24) for displaying the figure on the screen (88) and the coordinate data of at least the indicated position (18) by the manual instruction on the screen (88). Data input means to enable input
(26) and vector data creating means for creating vector data based on the data input from the data input means (26)
(28) and image data correction means (32) capable of correcting the image data input from the image data conversion means (22) based on the data input using the data input means (26) And a means (34) for storing the created vector data, and a plane (16) capable of displaying the graphic (14) based on the image data on the display means (24) and a graphic based on the vector data. The plane (20) that can display (15),
A plotting device, which is operated independently of each other and is capable of displaying duplicated images.