Systems and methods for providing true scale measurements for digitized drawings

• US 20040095588A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sacal Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Archaio LLC
• Inventors: Ciccarelli, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 7,672,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device

Abstract

The present invention provides a measurement tool for use with an application suited for viewing a digitized drawing. The measurement tool enables the measurement of lengths (of both lines and poly lines) and areas (of both regular and irregular shapes) from a digital drawing in true scale. This is particularly advantageous with original architectural drawings or other drawings that are scanned from paper into a digital format and where measuring or annotating the drawing in true scale is important.

Claims

1. A method for providing actual scale information of a digital image, comprising:

digitizing a paper document using a digitizing device to create a digital image;

recording scale information associated with the paper document and the digitizing device;

associating the digital image and the scale information;

storing the digital image and the associated scale information; and

providing a digital image viewer for,

rendering the digital image,

receiving drawing input from a user comprising a line or a shape,

calculating a true scale measurement of the drawn line or shape based at least in part on the scale information, and

presenting the true scale measurement to the user via the viewer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scale information includes an original scale of the paper document, a dots per inch (DPI) of the digitizing device, and an original size of the paper drawing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the digital image and the scale information comprises embedding the scale information in a header of the digital image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital image is a TIFF image.

5. The methods of claim 4, wherein associating the digital image and the scale information comprises embedding the scale information in a header of the TIFF image.

6. A computer-based method for providing true scale information of a digital image made from a paper document by a digitizing device, comprising:

receiving a digital image, wherein the digital image has associated with it scale information of the paper document and the digitizing device;

rendering the digital image;

receiving drawing input from a user comprising a line or shape;

calculating a true scale measurement of the drawn line or shape based at least in part on the scale information; and

presenting the true scale measurement to the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the scale information includes an original scale information of the paper drawing, a dots per inch (DPI) of the digitizing device, and an original size of the paper drawing.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the digital image is a TIFF image.

9. The methods of claim 8, wherein the scale information is embedded in a header of the TIFF image.

10. A system for presenting actual scale information of a digital image, comprising:

a digitizing device that digitizes a paper document to create a digital image, wherein scale information associated with the paper document and the digitizing device is recorded and associated with the digital image; and

a digital image viewer that receives the digital image and;

renders the digital image,

receives drawing input from a user comprising a line or shape,

calculates a true scale measurement of the drawn line or shape based at least in part on the scale information, and

presents the true scale measurement to the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the scale information includes an original scale information of the paper drawing, a dots per inch (DPI) of the digitizing device, and an original size of the paper drawing.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the scale information is embedded in a header of the digital image.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital image is a TIFF image.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the scale information is embedded in a header of the TIFF image.

15. A digital image viewer for presenting true scale information of a line or a shape drawn on a digital image of a paper drawing, wherein the line or shape is defined by pixels having coordinates, comprising:

a measurement calculator that calculates a true scale measurement of the drawn line or shape based at least in part on scale information and the coordinates of the pixels defining the line or shape; and

presentation means for displaying the true scale measurement.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the scale information comprises an original scale information of the paper drawing, a dots per inch (DPI) of the digitizing device, and an original size of the paper drawing.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the measurement calculator reads the scale information from a header of the digital image.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the digital image is a TIFF image.