SYSTEM FOR QUANTIZING GRAPHIC DISPLAYS

• US 3,621,130 A
• Filed: 11/21/1969
• Issued: 11/16/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ca Hollywood, Nazem A. Habbal
• Original Assignee: Ca Hollywood, Nazem A. Habbal
• Inventors: Hollywood, CA, Nazem, A. Habbal
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert L. Griffin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Donald E. Stout
• Application Number:
  US04/878,730
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 178/DIG.28,6.8,DIG.1,DIG.21
• US Class Current: 348/138
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00

Abstract

A system for digitizing a graphic display to determine the position and orientation of objects depicted thereon is disclosed. The display is provided with a reference coordinate framework. A detection apparatus scans the display in a line-byline manner. A counter is initiated when each line scan intersects a first reference line of the coordinate framework and normally continues to count until the scan intersects a second reference line. If there is an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'image'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' portion between the counter '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'start'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and counter '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'stop'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' reference lines, however, then the count is terminated when the scan intersects the leading edge of the image. The counter values from each line scan are stored in a computer memory. Since the linear speed of each scan relative to the counting rate is known, information relating to the image distance above the start reference line is obtained. Information as to the image position in the orthogonal coordinate is obtained by counting the number of scans of known separation from a reference line segment to the point where the reference scan intersects the portion of interest.

Claims

1. A system for quantizing graphic displays including a line image, said system comprising:

display means for presenting said line image in a format including a pair of orthogonal rectangular coordinates, and first and second reference lines positioned along opposing edges of said graphic display, said reference lines being parallel to each other and to a first one of said coordinates;

scanning means for scanning said graphic display to provide scan signals, said scanning including a plurality of traversals across said graphic display, said traversals successively following a pattern of contiguous scan lines that are parallel to a second one of said coordinates;

data means responsive to said scan signals for providing data signals representative of distances measured along successive scan lines from said first reference line to points on a line image where intersected by said scan lines; and

storage means responsive to said data means for storing said data signals wherein data signals are applied to said storage means subsequent to each of said traversals of said scanning means across said graphic display.

2. The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said data means includes:

bistable means responsive to said scan signals for providing an enabling signal for at least a portion of each traversal, said enabling signal being commenced during each traversal in response to said scanning means traversing said first reference line and being terminated in response to said scanning means traversing said line image or said second reference line in the absence of a line image;

clock means responsive to said enabling signals for providing a succession of clock pulse signals; and

counter means responsive to said clock pulse signals for providing said data signals.

3. The apparatus defined by claim 2 wherein said data means further includes:

monitor means connected to said scanning means for detecting each successive traversal; and

means connected to said monitor means for relating each traversal with respect to other traversals of a graphic display.

4. The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said display means includes:

a transparency having said graphic display recorded thereon; and

means for providing an enlarged projected image of said graphic display including a projection screen, a source of light adapted to be juxtaposed to said transparency to provide a light image of said graphic display, and an optical system for projecting said light image onto said projection screen to develop said enlarged projected image.

5. The apparatus defined by claim 3 wherein said display means includes:

a transparency having said graphic display recorded thereon; and

means for providing an enlarged projected image of said graphic display including a projection screen, a source of light adapted to be juxtaposed to said transparency to provide a light image of said graphic display, and an optical system for projecting said light image onto said projection screen to develop said enlarged projected image.