Automatic tracking and scanning cursor for digitizers

• US 5,287,105 A
• Filed: 08/12/1991
• Issued: 02/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CalComp, Inc. (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: CalComp, Inc. (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Schlotterbeck, David L., Guardado, Julio L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAY, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/743,801
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 382/59, 382/60, 382/67, 341/20, 340/706, 340/709, 340/710, 178/18, 178/19, 364/474.26, 364/474.27, 364/571.08, 364/167.01, 364/188, 364/190, 364/189, 364/516, 364/561, 364/562, 364/563
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00129 with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor with a television apparatus H04N1/00283; arrangements for control of display devices G09G
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1072 Means for guiding the scanning, e.g. rules H04N1/1077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1077 Arrangements for facilitating movement over the scanned medium, e.g. disposition of rollers

Abstract

This is a hand cursor for a digitizing system allowing easier positioning of the cursor at the points to be digitized. The cursor includes a quasi-sight window having a CCD panel for viewing a 2-dimensional area and an LCD panel for displaying it to the user. There is a vertical positioning line on the panel. A position signal generator is disposed in the cursor for continuously generating and outputting positional data from which a reference point position and the orientation of the positional line on the tablet surface can be dynamically determined. There is also position determination logic for inputting the electrical signal output from the CCD panel and the positional data from the positional generator and for determining a point on the tablet surface where the positional line crosses a line contained in a drawing disposed on the tablet surface over which the quasi-sight window is positioned as a point to digitize.

Claims

1. In a hand-operated digitizing system wherein a cursor is hand-positioned at points to be digitized on a line contained in a drawing disposed on a tablet surface and the position of the cursor is determined by a sensed interaction between the cursor and the tablet, the improvement to allow easier positioning of the cursor at the points to be digitized comprising:

a) a quasi-sight window in the cursor comprising,

a1) sensing means for viewing a 2-dimensional area and developing an electrical signal output reflecting the contents of said 2-dimensional area, and

a2) display means connected to receive said electrical signal output for displaying the contents of said 2-dimensional area;

b) a positional line disposed across said display means;

c) positional signal generation means disposed in the cursor for continuously generating and outputting positional data from which a reference point position and the orientation of said positional line on the tablet surface can be dynamically determined; and

,

d) position determination logic means for inputting said electrical signal output from said sensing means and said positional data from said positional signal generation means and for determining a point on the tablet surface where said positional line crosses a line contained in a drawing disposed on the tablet surface over which said quasi-sight window is positioned as a point to digitize.

2. The improvement to a hand-operated digitizing system of claim 1 wherein:

for use of the cursor on a crowded drawing where more than one line or curve may be within said quasi-sight window at any one time and be intersected by said positional line, said positional line includes a crossing tick line and said position determination logic means includes logic to pick an intersection point closest to said crossing tick line as said point to digitize.

3. The improvement to a hand-operated digitizing system of claim 1 wherein:

a) said sensing means comprises a charge coupled device (CCD); and

,

b) said display means comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.

4. The improvement to a hand-operated digitizing system of claim 3 wherein:

said CCD comprises a CCD panel positioned directly over a bottom opening in the cursor in an area of said quasi-sight window.

5. The improvement to a hand-operated digitizing system of claim 3 and additionally comprising:

virtual display memory means for receiving and storing digital data from said CCD reflecting said contents of said 2-dimensional area and for outputting said digital data to drive said LCD panel.

6. The improvement to a hand-operated digitizing system of claim 5 and additionally comprising:

microprocessor means included within said position determination logic means for inputting said digital data from said virtual display memory means and for determining the location of lines contained in said 2-dimensional area.

7. A hand-operated digitizing system for connection to a computer to provide inputs thereto including a cursor to be hand-positioned at points to be digitized on a line contained in a drawing disposed on a tablet surface and allowing for easier positioning of the cursor at the points to be digitized comprising:

a) a digitizing tablet connected to the computer and including a first portion of positional determination apparatus;

b) a cursor connected to the tablet and including a second portion of said positional determination apparatus whereby a position and orientation of said cursor on a top surface of said digitizing tablet can be determined, said cursor further including a quasi-sight window comprising,

b1) sensing means for viewing a 2-dimensional area and developing an electrical signal output reflecting the contents of said 2-dimensional area,

b2) display means connected to receive said electrical signal output for displaying the contents of said 2-dimensional area, and

b3) a positional line disposed across said display means;

c) said second portion of said positional determination apparatus including positional signal generation means for continuously generating and outputting positional data from which a reference point position and the orientation of said positional line on said top surface of said tablet can be dynamically determined; and

,

d) position determination logic means for inputting said electrical signal output from said sensing means and said positional data from said positional signal generation means and for determining a point on said top surface of said tablet where said positional line crosses a line contained in a drawing disposed on said top surface of said tablet over which said quasi-sight window is positioned as a point to digitize.

8. The hand-operated digitizing system of claim 7 wherein:

for use of said cursor on a crowded drawing where more than one line or curve may be within said quasi-sight window at any one time and be intersected by said positional line, said positional line includes a crossing tick line and said position determination logic means includes logic to pick an intersection point closest to said crossing tick line as said point to digitize.

9. The hand-operated digitizing system of claim 7 wherein:

a) said sensing means comprises a charge coupled device (CCD); and

,

b) said display means comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.

10. The hand-operated digitizing system of claim 9 wherein:

said CCD comprises a CCD panel positioned directly over a bottom opening in said cursor in an area of said quasi-sight window.

11. The hand-operated digitizing system of claim 9 and additionally comprising:

virtual display memory means for receiving and storing digital data from said CCD reflecting said contents of said 2-dimensional area and for outputting said digital data to drive said LCD panel.

12. The hand-operated digitizing system of claim 11 and additionally comprising:

microprocessor means included within said position determination logic means for inputting said digital data from said virtual display memory means and for determining the location of lines contained in said 2-dimensional area.

13. A hand-operated digitizing system for connection to a computer to provide inputs thereto including a cursor to be hand-positioned at points to be digitized on a line contained in a drawing disposed on a tablet surface and allowing for easier positioning of the cursor at the points to be digitized comprising:

a) a digitizing tablet connected to the computer and including a first portion of positional determination apparatus;

b) a cursor connected to the tablet and including a second portion of said positional determination apparatus whereby a position and orientation of said cursor on a top surface of said digitizing tablet can be determined, said cursor further including a quasi-sight window comprising,

b1) sensing means for viewing a 2-dimensional area and developing an electrical signal output reflecting the contents of said 2-dimensional area,

b2) display means connected to receive said electrical signal output for displaying the contents of said 2-dimensional area, and

b3) a positional line disposed across said display means, said positional line including a principle data point indicator;

c) said second portion of said positional determination apparatus including positional signal generation means for continuously generating and outputting positional data from which a reference point position and the orientation of said positional line on said top surface of said tablet can be dynamically determined; and

,

d) position determination logic means for inputting said electrical signal output from said sensing means and said positional data from said positional signal generation means and for determining a point on said top surface of said tablet where said positional line crosses a line contained in a drawing disposed on said top surface of said tablet over which said quasi-sight window is positioned as a point to digitize, said position determination logic means further including logic to pick an intersection point closest to said principle data point indicator as said point to digitize whereby said cursor can be used on a crowded drawing where more than one line or curve may be within said quasi-sight window at any one time and be intersected by said positional line.

14. The hand-operated digitizing system of claim 13 wherein:

a) said sensing means comprises a charge coupled device (CCD); and

,

b) said display means comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.

15. The hand-operated digitizing system of claim 14 wherein:

said CCD comprises a CCD panel positioned directly over a bottom opening in said cursor in an area of said quasi-sight window.

16. The hand-operated digitizing system of claim 14 and additionally comprising:

virtual display memory means for receiving and storing digital data from said CCD reflecting said contents of said 2-dimensional area and for outputting said digital data to drive said LCD panel.

17. The hand-operated digitizing system of claim 16 and additionally comprising:

microprocessor means included within said position determination logic means for inputting said digital data from said virtual display memory means and for determining the location of lines contained in said 2-dimensional area.

18. A hand-operated digitizing system for connection to a computer to provide inputs thereto including a cursor to be hand-positioned at points to be digitized on a line contained in a drawing disposed on a tablet surface and allowing for easier positioning of the cursor at the points to be digitized comprising:

a) a digitizing tablet connected to the computer and including a first portion of positional determination apparatus;

b) a cursor connected to the tablet and including a second portion of said positional determination apparatus whereby a position and orientation of said cursor on a top surface of said digitizing tablet can be determined, said cursor further including a quasi-sight window comprising,

b1) sensing means for viewing a 2-dimensional area and developing an electrical signal output reflecting the contents of said 2-dimensional area, said sensing means comprising a charge coupled device (CCD) panel positioned directly over a bottom opening in said cursor in an area of said quasi-sight window,

b2) display means connected to receive said electrical signal output for displaying the contents of said 2-dimensional area, said display means comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and

b3) a positional line disposed across said display means, said positional line including a principle data point indicator;

c) said second portion of said positional determination apparatus including positional signal generation means for continuously generating and outputting positional data from which a reference point position and the orientation of said positional line on said top surface of said tablet can be dynamically determined;

d) virtual display memory means for receiving and storing digital data from said CCD panel reflecting said contents of said 2-dimensional area and for outputting said digital data to drive said LCD panel;

e) microprocessor means including position determination logic means for inputting said electrical signal output from said sensing means and said positional data from said positional signal generation means and for determining a point on said top surface of said tablet where said positional line crosses a line contained in a drawing disposed on said top surface of said tablet over which said quasi-sight window is positioned as a point to digitize, said position determination logic means further including logic for inputting said digital data from said virtual display memory means, for determining the location of lines contained in said 2-dimensional area, and for picking an intersection point closest to said principle data point indicator as said point to digitize whereby said cursor can be used on a crowded drawing where more than one line or curve may be within said quasi-sight window at any one time and be intersected by said positional line.