US3675231A - Automatic device for making drawings - Google Patents

Automatic device for making drawings Download PDF

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US3675231A
US3675231A US774132A US3675231DA US3675231A US 3675231 A US3675231 A US 3675231A US 774132 A US774132 A US 774132A US 3675231D A US3675231D A US 3675231DA US 3675231 A US3675231 A US 3675231A
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line
convertor
codes
code
convertors
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Marlen Solomonovich Bezrodny
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G1/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with cathode-ray tube indicators; General aspects or details, e.g. selection emphasis on particular characters, dashed line or dotted line generation; Preprocessing of data
    • G09G1/20—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with cathode-ray tube indicators; General aspects or details, e.g. selection emphasis on particular characters, dashed line or dotted line generation; Preprocessing of data using multi-beam tubes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G1/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with cathode-ray tube indicators; General aspects or details, e.g. selection emphasis on particular characters, dashed line or dotted line generation; Preprocessing of data
    • G09G1/06—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with cathode-ray tube indicators; General aspects or details, e.g. selection emphasis on particular characters, dashed line or dotted line generation; Preprocessing of data using single beam tubes, e.g. three-dimensional or perspective representation, rotation or translation of display pattern, hidden lines, shadows
    • G09G1/08—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with cathode-ray tube indicators; General aspects or details, e.g. selection emphasis on particular characters, dashed line or dotted line generation; Preprocessing of data using single beam tubes, e.g. three-dimensional or perspective representation, rotation or translation of display pattern, hidden lines, shadows the beam directly tracing characters, the information to be displayed controlling the deflection and the intensity as a function of time in two spatial co-ordinates, e.g. according to a cartesian co-ordinate system
    • G09G1/12—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with cathode-ray tube indicators; General aspects or details, e.g. selection emphasis on particular characters, dashed line or dotted line generation; Preprocessing of data using single beam tubes, e.g. three-dimensional or perspective representation, rotation or translation of display pattern, hidden lines, shadows the beam directly tracing characters, the information to be displayed controlling the deflection and the intensity as a function of time in two spatial co-ordinates, e.g. according to a cartesian co-ordinate system the deflection signals being produced by essentially analogue means

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the field of digital-to-graphical conversion of information and, more particularly, to automatic drawing devices for automation of designing processes through the use of digital computers.
  • Known devices are used to calculate the coordinates of each point of the line on the drawing either directly in a digital computer or in an intermediate digital unit (interpolator), which receives digital codes from the computer, said codes describing a segment of the line as a whole, for example, the coordinates of the beginning and end of the segment.
  • interpolator intermediate digital unit
  • the coordinates of every point of the line segment may be calculated also in the digital form and then converted by using the known method into the movement of the drawing element of a twocoordinate recording instrument.
  • the known devices for obtaining graphical images of separate symbols by utilizing the above-mentioned figures contain a definite set of units to generate any given symbol.
  • the devices for symbol generation can, however, produce only a definite set of symbols. When necessity arises to trace a figure beyond the set, the device should be modified.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic drawing device which would allow conversion of digital information into any lines on the drawing without preliminary calculation of the coordinates of each point of the line in digital form, without any modifications or readjustments in the above-mentioned automatic device or graphical output device.
  • the automatic drawing device which makes use of codes set by a digital computer, comprises: a convertor for translating codes describing the position of a line on the drawing into d.c. signals proportionate to the codes involved; a convertor for translating codes describing projection lengths of a line into a.c. signals proportionate to the codes involved, a convertor for translating the code describing the configuration of a line (straight line, ellipse or parabola) into signals whose frequency and phase shifts are determined by the configuration of the line; and means for summing up the signals obtained separately with respect to each coordinate, said means being connected to the deflection systems of a two-coordinate recording instrument.
  • the convertor for translating the code describing the projection length of a line on the drawing with respect to one of the coordinates into a.c. signals proportionate to the code involved may be coupled, through AND" and OR circuits connected to a line configuration decoder, to either a phase shifter or a frequency doubler and a phase shifter placed in parallel, whereas the convertor for translating the code describing the projection length of the line with respect to the other coordinate into a.c. signals proportionate to the code involved as well as a phase shifter and a frequency doubler may be connected to an a.c. voltage generator.
  • the line thickness and brightness automatic control unit may comprise: a convertor for translating the code describing the line projection length with respect to one of the coordinates into an a.c. signal, said convertor being coupled via AND and OR" circuits, connected to the line configuration decoder,- to series-connected a.c. voltage generator, phase shifter and rectifier for tracing straight lines or to series connected a.c. voltage generator and rectifier for tracing ellipses; a converter for translating the code describing the line projection length with respect to the other coordinate into an a.c. signal, said convertor being coupled to series-connected a.c. voltage generator and rectifier; a summing amplifier, whose input is connected to the convertors for translating projection length codes into a.c. signals, while its output is coupled to series-connected amplifiers, said amplifiers being coupled to the two-coordinate recording instrument via AND circuits connected to the line thickness decoder, an OR" circuit and a non-linear functional unit.
  • an arc tracing unit to the input of the two-coordinate recording instrument through an AND" circuit and a flip-flop, the coordinates of the beginning and end of the arc and an a.c. generator voltage being applied to the input of said are tracing unit.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the automatic drawing device of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of the arc tracing unit
  • FIG. 3 is a functional diagram of the line thickness and brightness automatic control unit.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a configuration drawn in accordance with the present invention.
  • the automatic drawing device comprises: a digital register 1 (FIG. 1) for storing digital information concerning a line to be traced; an a.c. voltage generator 2; a decoder 3 for delivering a control signal from anyone of its outputs, depending upon the thickness of the line; a convertor for translating the code describing the configuration of a line which comprises a decoder 4 for delivering a control signal from anyone of its outputs, depending upon the configuration of the line (straight line, circumference, ellipse or parabola), a phase shifter 5.for shaping signals phase-shifted by a definite angle relative to signals produced by the a.c.
  • a digital register 1 for storing digital information concerning a line to be traced
  • an a.c. voltage generator 2 for storing digital information concerning a line to be traced
  • a decoder 3 for delivering a control signal from anyone of its outputs, depending upon the thickness of the line
  • a convertor for translating the code describing the configuration of a line which comprises
  • phase shifter being employed for obtaining straight lines and ellipses, a frequency doubler 6 and a phase shifter 7, both employed for obtaining parabola; a unit 8 for obtaining arcs, said unit being used to receive signals corresponding to the beginning and end of an arc; a line thickness and brightness automatic control unit 9, said unit being connected to decoders 3 and 4 and to a phase shifter 5; convertors l0 and 11 for translating line position codes into d.c. signals; convertors 12 and 13 for translating line projection codes into a.c. signals; means 14 and 15 for summing up signals obtained in the above-mentioned signal convertors; a two-coordinate recording instrument fashioned as a cathode-ray tube 16 with a camera 17 in front of its display.
  • the automatic device of the present invention functions as follows.
  • code A describing the abscissa of the mid-point of a line segment
  • code I describing the length of the line horizontal projection
  • code D describing the line thickness
  • code K describing the configuration of the line
  • sine ac. voltage is delivered from the generator 2 to the convertor 12 and the phase shifter 5.
  • the code A describing the abscissa of the line mid-point is applied to the convertor 10
  • the code P describing the length of the horizontal projection is applied to the convertor 12.
  • K A, k P cos K (wt+ ⁇ 11) the vertically deflecting plates of the cathode-ray tube 16, K being the amplification factor, K l for tracing straight lines and ellipses, K 2 for tracing a parabola, ll: is a phase angle equal to 0, 90 or 180 depending upon the configuration of the line to be drawn.
  • the signal produced by' the generator 2 is not delivered directly to the convertor 13; it is supplied through the phase shifter 5, one of AND circuits 18, 19, 20 and an OR circuit 21 in the case of tracing straight lines and ellipses, or through the frequency doubler 6, the 90 phase shifter 7, an AND circuit 22 and the OR circuit 21 in the case of tracing a parabola.
  • codes 0, and 6 describing the beginning and end of the arc are supplied to the unit 8, said unit generating signals X and Y, which set the flipflop 23 to l or 0" position.
  • the output voltage of said flipflop is applied to one of the inputs of an AND" circuit 24, said'circuit either permitting or inhibiting the delivery of a signal to the modulating electrode of the cathode-ray tube 16.
  • the codes 0, and 6 describing the beginning and end of an are supplied to convertors 25 and 26 (FIG. 2), which translate the codes into proportional voltages.
  • convertors 25 and 26 (FIG. 2), which translate the codes into proportional voltages.
  • a sine voltage is applied to a null indicator 27, the latter operates and sends a permissive signal to OR" circuits 28 or 29 which are coupled to the convertors 25 and 26.
  • This permissive signal indicates the beginning of the voltage-to-time" conversion which is accomplished by convertors 30 and 31 of, say, the phantastron type, said convertors shaping the signals X and Y switching the flip-flop on and off.
  • the lines thus induced on the screen are consecutively photographed onto a single frame by the camera 17.
  • a permissive signal is delivered from the decoder 4 (FIG. 1) to inputs 32 and 33 (FIG. 3), while inhibitive signals are applied to an input 34.
  • Voltage P lsin toll is simultaneously shaped by a convertor 42, which is similar to the output voltage of the convertor 38.
  • the output voltages of the convertors 38 and 42 are summed up in a summing amplifier 43 and, depending upon the line thickness set by the signals from the line thickness decoder 3 through inputs 44, 45, 46 and 47, are delivered via one of amplifiers 48, 49 or 50 to AND circuits 51, 52, 53 and 54 and, further, via an OR circuit 55 to a non-linear functional unit 56.
  • the unit 56 employing diodes, is designed to compensate the non-linearity of the recording instrument, in particular, the modulation characteristics of the cathoderay tube.
  • Signal P lcos (02/ appears at the output of the convertor 38.
  • the shaping of signal P /sin art/and subsequent process of controlling the line thickness and brightness is analogous to the above described shaping of this signal when drawing straight lines.
  • a multibeam tube can be employed.
  • the application of a cathode-ray tube with an electromagnetic deflection system is also possible.
  • any conventional two-coordinate recording instruments such as two-coordinate automatic recorders can be utilized as a recording instrument.
  • the image comprises six lines of varying shapes and thicknesses.
  • the number of states for each parameter is small, but clearly this number can be increased.
  • the lines can be traced in any succession. Let us assume that they are traced in the order in which they appear in the table above.
  • the codes of the line are transmitted from the digital device to the register 1 where they are stored throughout the time the line is being traced.
  • the code of the address Ax -7 is fed to the convertor 10.
  • the voltage Ux,, cos wt, resulting from the value U being multiplied by the input digital code, is formed at the output of the convertor 12.
  • the END circuit is, as a result, open and the AND circuit 19, and 22 are closed, whereupon the variable voltage 4 cos cut is applied to the analog input of the convertor 13 from the output terminal of the phase shifter 5.
  • the input terminal 32 of the OR circuit 35 is supplied with a permissive signal from the decoder 4, which an inhibitive equal to x/sin wtl.
  • Signals 5/sin wt/ and 5/sin wt/ are formed at the outputs of the convertors 42 and 38 and summed up in the device 43 so that the output of this summing amplifier shows a voltage equal to k-lO/sin wt, where k is the scale factor that depends on the parameters of the circuit.
  • a signal k'l0/sin wt/ is formed at the output of the summing amplifier 43.
  • the amplitude of this dignal is numerically equal to the length of the line being traced, its variation law being inverse of the law of brightness variations of the line. As a result, brightness is satisfactorily adjusted along one line or during the tracing of the lines of varying length.
  • the signal formed by the device 43 corresponds to the smallest intensity of recording i.e., it is used for tracing the thinnest lines. This signal is applied to the first input of the AND circuit 54.
  • the AND circuit 54 (FIG. 3) is open and the AND circuits 51, 52, and 53 are closed, a signal which has an intensity corresponding to the thinnest line traced being supplied to the modulating electrode of the vacuum tube 16 from the amplifier 43 via the circuits AND 54, or 55, non-linear unit 56, busbar 60 and the AND circuit 24.
  • the signal from the output of the unit 9 will continue to arrive at the vacuum tube 16 as long as the flip-flop 23 is in the 1 position, i.e., up to. the moment when the code 0 is 16. After that the beam is switched off and the tracing of the line AB is over.
  • the tracing of the line BC is then started. It must be emphasized at this point that any line, for instance, F, can be started, and the tracing of the line BC is only due to the adopted order of lines.
  • the inputs of the device are supplied with the codes of the line BC. In the manner described above a deflecting signal U 1 7+7 cos out is formed in the channel X.
  • the AND circuit 20 is open and the AND circuits l8, l9 and 22 are closed.
  • the AND circuit 57 of the unit 9 (FIG. 3) is open and the AND circuit 36 is closed.
  • the analog input of the converter 13 is supplied with a voltage /2 sin out.
  • the combined action of the signals U and U causes the light spot to move along the circumference BC in the clockwise direction.
  • a signal 7/cos wt/ is formed at the output of the convertor while a signal 7/sin w/ is formed at the output of the convertor 42 in the same manner as during the tracing of the line AB.
  • the input of the non-linear unit 56 is supplied with the signal k(7/sin wt/ 7/cos wt/) through the AND circuit 54 and the OR circuit 55.
  • This signal is nearly proportional to the recording speed.
  • a variation in the recording intensity in accordance with the above-mentioned law ensures a satisfactory adjustment of the brightness during the tracing of the arc BC.
  • the operation of these convertors is similar to that of the convertors and 11. Constant voltages proportional in value to 0 and 0 respectively, are formed at the output terminals of these convertors.
  • These signals are applied to the first inputs of the AND circuits 28 and 29, but cannot reach the inputs of the convertors 30 and 31 until the other inputs of the AND circuits 28 and 29 are supplied with a permissive signal (actuating pulse).
  • An actuating pulse is shaped in the null indicator 27 at the moment when the sinusoidal deflecting voltage passes through zero.
  • the actuating pulse is directed from the output of the device 27 to the AND circuits 28 and 29, which are thus opened by it.
  • the output voltages of the convertors 25 and 26 are applied to the input terminals of the convertors 30 and 31. From this moment corresponding to the position of the beam at point 0 of the circumference BC (FIG. 4) the convertors 30 and 31 begin the voltage-to-time conversion.
  • a pulse is shaped at the output of the convertor 30 after a time period corresponding to ten angular units and sets the flipflop 23 to the position l corresponding to the point B in FIG. 4.
  • the AND circuit 24 opens, illuminating the vacuum tube.
  • the output of the convertor 31 produces a signal after a time period corresponding to 14 angular units after the beginning of the actuating pulse. This corresponds to the point C in FIG. 4.
  • the flip-flop 23 is set to the position 0", and the AND circuit 24 closes, discontinuing illumination.
  • the tracing ofthe arc BC is over.
  • a permissive signal therefore, is available at the terminal 33 of the convertor 4, while the analog input of the convertor 13 is supplied with a signal from the terminal 65 of the phase shifter. This signal is cos wt.
  • a voltage 7% cos 2wt is applied to the analog input of the convertor 13 via the frequency doubler 6, phase shifter 7 and AND circuit 22 and the OR circuit 21.
  • the codes Ax and Ay correspond to the coordinates of the point f.
  • An automatic device for making drawings by using digital codes of separate line, the codes describing the coordinates of the centers of said lines, the projection lengths on the coordinates, the coordinates of the beginning and end of an arc, the thickness, configuration of separate lines, such as, straight lines, ellipses, parabola, said automatic device comprising: a receiving register for storing the codes received; a first convertor of codes describing the horizontal coordinates of the line centers into d.c. electric signals proportionate to said codes,
  • said first convertor being connected to said receiving register; a second convertor of codes describing the vertical coordinates of the line centers into d.c. electric signals proportionate to said codes, said second convertor being connected to said receiving register; a third convertor of codes describing the lengths of horizontal projections of the lines into ac. electric signal proportionate to said codes, said third convertor being connected to said register; a fourth convertor of codes describing the lengths of vertical projections of lines into ac.
  • a voltage generator connected to said fifth code convertor and to that of said two convertors of codes describing the lengths of the line projections not connected to said fifth code convertor, a first device for summing up the output signals of said first and third code convertors; a second device for summing up the output signals of said second and fourth code convertors; a two-coordinate recording instrument provided with systems deflecting the drawing element and with a device for recording density control, said recording instrument being connected to said first and second summing-up devices.
  • said line thickness and brightness automatic control unit comprises additional convertors of codes describing horizontal and vertical projection lengths into ac. electric signals, said additional code convertors being connected to said receiving register, and one of said additional code convertors being coupled to said a.c. generator through a first rectifier, the other of said additional code convertors being coupled to the same a.c. generator through seriesconnected phase shifter and second rectifier when tracing a straight line, said other additional code convertor being coupled to said a.c.
  • said line thickness and brightness automatic control nit also including a summing-up amplifier whose input is connected to said additional code convertors and whose output is connected to three series-connected amplifiers, each of said amplifiers via AND circuits connected to said line thickness decoder, an OR circuit and a non-linear functional unit being coupled to said two-coordinate recording instrument.
  • An automatic device as claimed in claim 4, which comprises an arc tracing unit having input terminals connected with the output of said generator and said register, the output terminal being connected through said AND circuit and said flip-flop to the input of said recording instrument.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
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US774132A 1967-02-28 1968-11-07 Automatic device for making drawings Expired - Lifetime US3675231A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR96876A FR1512855A (fr) 1967-02-28 1967-02-28 Appareil automatique pour tracer des dessins à partir d'informations codées
US77413268A 1968-11-07 1968-11-07

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3789200A (en) * 1972-06-30 1974-01-29 Ibm Circle or arc generator for graphic display
US4511893A (en) * 1980-08-22 1985-04-16 Shaken Co., Ltd. Method of storing images in the form of contours and photo-typesetting apparatus thereof
US4768086A (en) * 1985-03-20 1988-08-30 Paist Roger M Color display apparatus for displaying a multi-color visual pattern derived from two audio signals

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3320409A (en) * 1963-01-30 1967-05-16 Burroughs Corp Electronic plotting device
US3335415A (en) * 1964-07-23 1967-08-08 Gen Precision Inc Digital display
US3364382A (en) * 1967-01-03 1968-01-16 Control Image Corp Automatic generation and display of animated figures
US3364479A (en) * 1963-07-31 1968-01-16 Bunker Ramo Line drawing system
US3434135A (en) * 1966-08-01 1969-03-18 Sperry Rand Corp Constant velocity beam deflection control responsive to digital signals defining length and end points of vectors
US3440480A (en) * 1967-01-20 1969-04-22 Bunker Ramo Display apparatus including means for varying line width
US3449721A (en) * 1966-10-31 1969-06-10 Massachusetts Inst Technology Graphical display system

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3320409A (en) * 1963-01-30 1967-05-16 Burroughs Corp Electronic plotting device
US3364479A (en) * 1963-07-31 1968-01-16 Bunker Ramo Line drawing system
US3335415A (en) * 1964-07-23 1967-08-08 Gen Precision Inc Digital display
US3434135A (en) * 1966-08-01 1969-03-18 Sperry Rand Corp Constant velocity beam deflection control responsive to digital signals defining length and end points of vectors
US3449721A (en) * 1966-10-31 1969-06-10 Massachusetts Inst Technology Graphical display system
US3364382A (en) * 1967-01-03 1968-01-16 Control Image Corp Automatic generation and display of animated figures
US3440480A (en) * 1967-01-20 1969-04-22 Bunker Ramo Display apparatus including means for varying line width

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3789200A (en) * 1972-06-30 1974-01-29 Ibm Circle or arc generator for graphic display
US4511893A (en) * 1980-08-22 1985-04-16 Shaken Co., Ltd. Method of storing images in the form of contours and photo-typesetting apparatus thereof
US4768086A (en) * 1985-03-20 1988-08-30 Paist Roger M Color display apparatus for displaying a multi-color visual pattern derived from two audio signals

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FR1512855A (fr) 1968-02-09

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