Process and apparatus for evaluating subregions

• US 3,936,667 A
• Filed: 04/23/1974
• Issued: 02/03/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter S. Loubal
• Original Assignee: Peter S. Loubal
• Inventors: Loubal, Peter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Application Number:
  US05/463,394
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 235/184, 235/185, 235/61.6 A, 235/61.6 B, 340/172.5
• US Class Current: 705/7.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for simplifying and accelerating the measurement of data values associated with subregions of a district or larger region identified by a map, for example. The method relies upon the concept of chain-wise top ographical ordering of the elements to be analyzed, so that each element, except the first or last, has a unique predecessor in the chain. The apparatus of the present invention includes a digitizer and computer, or a resistive evaluating circuit and a resistance measuring apparatus for summing parameter values associated with selected elements.

Claims

1. A method of analysing a subregion of a region divided into elemental areas wherein each elemental area has a predetermined parameter value associated with it and is surrounded by a boundary, comprising the steps of:

arranging said elemental areas in a chain-wise topographical order,

preparing a table containing the sums of said parameter values associated with said arranged elemental areas to provide a running sum value for association with each elemental area,

selecting a cross-over point on said boundary of each said elemental area,

physically establishing a border within said region to define said subregion, said border surrounding an integral number of said elemental areas; and

,

alternately adding and subtracting said running sum values for each elemental area having a cross-over point which falls on said border,

whereby the total parameter value of all elemental areas within said subregion is determined.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of arranging includes the step of:

tracing a continuous path through said region which traverses each of said elemental areas only once.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said step of selecting includes the step of:

choosing as a cross-over point one point at which said continuous path meets said boundary of each elemental area.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of establishing includes the step of:

marking a physical border on a physical representation of said region.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

taking the absolute value of the term resulting from said step of alternately adding and subtracting.

6. An apparatus for analysing a subregion of a region divided into elemental areas wherein each elemental area has a predetermined parameter value associated with it and wherein each parameter value is associated with a selected cross-over point of each said elemental area, comprising:

arranging means for arranging said elemental areas in a chain-wise topographical order,

electrical contact means coupled to said arranging means and located at said selected points for providing electrical signals related to said predetermined parameter values of said elemental areas,

electrical probe means for engaging said electrical contact means and for carrying said electrical signals; and

,

signal processing means coupled to probe means for sensing said electrical signals and for permitting a total parameter value of said subregion to be determined.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said arranging means comprises:

a physical representation of said region.

8. An apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said arranging means includes:

a printed document having said region and said elemental areas designated thereon.

9. An apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising:

a network of impedance means each said means having impedance values related to said parameter values coupled to said electrical contact means; and

,

said signal processing means includes measuring means for detecting said impedance values.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein:

said network of impedance means includes a network of series connected resistors, each of said resistors having a resistance value equal to a parameter value associated with a particular elemental area; and

,

further comprising encoding means coupled to said measuring means for converting output signals thereof to digital form.

11. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein

said network of impedance means includes a matrix of grounded resistors, each having a resistance value equal to a selected parameter sum value.

12. An apparatus for analysing a plurality of data elements, each of which has a predetermined parameter value associated with it comprising:

means for arranging said elements in a chain-wise topographical order,

identifying means on which said arranging means is positioned for providing output signals identifying said data elements,

probe means cooperating with said identifying means for engaging said data element for activating said identifying means to generate output signals identifying said engaged data elements,

signal processing means coupled to said identifying means for receiving said identifying output signals and for associating a parameter value with each.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein:

said signal processing means includes summing means for summing said parameter values.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said identifying means comprises:

digitizer means for generating an output signal identifying coordinates of points engaged by said probe means.