US3609237A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Line or edge digitizing system with means for automatically outputting only data truly representative of the line or edge being digitized
Assignee: Gerber Systems Corp
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Filing: 1969-01-27
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1989-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A digitizer for providing digital information defining the coordinates of points located along a line or edge of a map, drawing, template or other similar artwork includes a reticle manually movable along the line or edge and an associated set of optical and electronic components for automatically outputting coordinate information only when the reticle is properly positioned over the line or edge being digitized. Two modes of operation are possible-one in which the signal to output coordinate information is produced by the crossing of the line being digitized, and another in which the output of coordinate information is enabled only after a certain increment has been traversed by the reticle in either the X or Y axis from the point at which information was previously outputted.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinz Joseph Gerber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
An automatic digitizing system for an X-Y coordinate digitizer used for digitizing features of an artwork placed thereon, said system comprising a photodetector adapted and arranged to receive only light transmitted from a small sensing point fixed relative to said photodetector and located on the surface of the artwork received on said digitizer, said photodetector being adapted to produce an output signal representative of the amount of light received thereby, means supporting at least one part of said photodetector for movement in the X and Y coordinate directions relative to such artwork to produce corresponding movement of said sensing point and to enable said sensing point to be moved to any location and along any line on said artwork surface, two encoders operatively connected with said photodetector for providing output signals representative, respectively, of the X and Y coordinate positions of said photodetector sensing point, two output terminals each associated with a respective one of said encoders, and control means responsive to the signal produced by said photodetector for causing said encoder output signals to be applied to or removed from said output terminals in accordance with the nature of said photodetector signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
An automatic digitizing system for an X-Y coordinate digitizer used for digitizing features of an artwork placed thereon, said system comprising a photodetector adapted and arranged to receive only light transmitted from a small sensing point fixed relative to said photodetector and located on the surface of the artwork received on said digitizer, said photodetector being adapted to produce an output signal representative of the amount of light received thereby, means supporting at least one part of said photodetector for movement in the X and Y coordinate directions relative to such artwork to produce corresponding movement of said sensing point and to enable said sensing point to be moved to any location and along any line on said artwork surface, two encoders operatively connected with said photodetector for providing output signals representative, respectively, of the X and Y coordinate positions of said photodetector sensing point, two output terminals each associated with a respective one of said encoders, and control means responsive to the signal produced by said photodetector for causing said encoder output signals to be applied to or removed from said output terminals in accordance with the nature of said photodetector signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
An automatic digitizing system as defined in claim 1 further characterized by an index means fixed relative to said one part of said photodetector for movement therewith and including means readily visible to an operator visibly marking an index point fixed relative to said sensing point of said photodetector, said photodetector being arranged so that said sensing point thereof is registered with said index point of said index means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An automatic digitizing system as defined in claim 2 further characterized by said index means being a reticle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
An automatic digitizing system as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said photodetector including a photosensor located remote from said artwork surface, a lens fixed relative to said one part of said photodetector and located between said photosensor and said artwork surface for concentrating rays emanating from said artwork surface at the location of said sensing point onto said photosensor, and a tube having said lens located at one end thereof and said photosensor located at the other end thereof, said index means comprising a reticle fixed relative to said tube and located on the opposite side of said lens from said photosensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
An automatic digitizing system as defined in claim 1 further characterized by means preventing the appearance of said encoder output signals at said output terminals until said photodetector sensing point has been displaced a given predetermined increment in either the X or Y directions from the position occupied during the preceding appearance of output signals at said output terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
An automatic digitizing system as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said photodetector including means for producing a voltage output signal having a value related to the amount of light received thereby, and said means responsive to the signals produced by said photodetector for controlling the appearance of said encoder output signals at said output terminals including means for producing a reference voltage signal, and a comparator for comparing said reference voltage signal with the output signal of said photodetector and for enabling the appearance of said encoder output signals at said output terminals only when said output signal of said photodetector exceeds said reference voltage signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
An automatic digitizing system as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said photodetector including means for producing a voltage output signal related to the amount of light received by said photodetector, a differentiator connected with said photodetector for providing a signal which is the derivative of the output signal of said photodetector, and means for enabling the appearance of sAid encoder output signals at output terminals only when said derivative signal exceeds a predetermined given value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
An automatic digitizing system as defined in claim 7 further characterized by a pulse-inverter circuit connected with the output of said differentiator for converting all output pulses produced by said differentiator to pulses of a like polarity, and means responsive to the output pulses from said pulse inverter for enabling the appearance of said encoder output signals at said output terminals only when any one of said latter pulses exceeds a predetermined given value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
An automatic digitizing system as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said control means including means for causing said encoder output signals to be removed from said output terminals when said photodetector signal is within one range of values representing one range of amounts of light received by said photodetector and for causing said encoder output signals to be applied to said output terminals when said photodetector signal is within another range of values representing another range of amounts of light received by said photodetector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
An automatic digitizing system as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said control means including means for causing said encoder output signals to be applied to said output terminals only when said photodetector signal undergoes a rapid change indicating a rapid change in the amount of light received by said photodetector.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |