Computer aided coordinate digitizing system
First Claim
1. A computer aided coordinate digitizing system for use in making construction estimates, comprising:
- a digitizing device for determining a series of X-Y coordinate positions on a flat surface, comprising pointer means for placing at selected positions on the flat surface and sensor means for detecting the position of said pointer means and generating a series of X-Y coordinate data positions relative to selected positions on construction drawings placed on the flat surface corresponding to positioning of said pointer means at the selected positions;
a computer associated with said digitizing device and linking means for allowing said computer to receive said coordinate signals, said computer having memory means for storing program instructions and said coordinate signals, said program instructions including means for using said X-Y coordinate data positions to calculate a series of desired parameters relative to a structure represented on said construction drawings for generating an estimate of the cost of construction of the structure; and
user operated control means for operating said system, comprising voice activated control means for recognizing voice word commands entered by a user and generating one or more computer control signals in response to each voice entered command.
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Abstract
A computer aided coordinate digitizing system is arranged to read data from construction drawings and make construction estimates from the data. A digitizing device determines a series of X-Y coordinate positions on a flat surface by means of a pointer placed at selected positions on the surface and a sensor assembly for detecting the position of the pointer. The device generates X-Y coordinate signals which are transmitted to a computer associated with the device. The computer is programmed to use the received X-Y coordinate signals to perform calculations in response to entry of computer control functions by an operator using a voice recognition unit which converts vocal commands into computer control signals to operate the computer and initiate the selected computer programs for performing construction estimates.
317 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A computer aided coordinate digitizing system for use in making construction estimates, comprising:
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a digitizing device for determining a series of X-Y coordinate positions on a flat surface, comprising pointer means for placing at selected positions on the flat surface and sensor means for detecting the position of said pointer means and generating a series of X-Y coordinate data positions relative to selected positions on construction drawings placed on the flat surface corresponding to positioning of said pointer means at the selected positions; a computer associated with said digitizing device and linking means for allowing said computer to receive said coordinate signals, said computer having memory means for storing program instructions and said coordinate signals, said program instructions including means for using said X-Y coordinate data positions to calculate a series of desired parameters relative to a structure represented on said construction drawings for generating an estimate of the cost of construction of the structure; and user operated control means for operating said system, comprising voice activated control means for recognizing voice word commands entered by a user and generating one or more computer control signals in response to each voice entered command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of generating an estimate of the cost of construction of a building represented by a plan comprising a series of construction drawings, comprising the steps of:
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placing a series of construction drawings representing a building plan sequentially on a flat surface. positioning a pointer device at a series of selected positions on each drawing; monitoring the pointer device with a sensing device linked to a computer; controlling the sensing device to generate a series of X-Y coordinate signals corresponding to the positioning of the pointer device on the drawing; providing the generated series of X-Y coordinate signals as data input to the computer; and controlling the computer by means of a voice recognition device to respond to entry of at least one vocal command into the device to utilize the data input from the sensor device and program instructions stored in the memory of the computer to calculate a series of desired parameters and to generate from the calculated parameters an estimate of the cost of construction of a building represented by the construction drawings.
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Specification