US3848089A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for automatically digitizing line patterns
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-05-21
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1993-05-21
Abstract
Abstract At least three sensors are transversely aligned in a first orthogonal direction to be scanned longitudinally in the other orthogonal direction along adjacent parallel scan paths to define a rectangular grid pattern. A scan sequence is begun at one corner of the grid pattern with the sensors aligned along one of the edges to be moved along three parallel grid lines at one of the longitudinal sides of the pattern. Upon completing a full scan at the opposite edge of the grid pattern, the sensors are transversely displaced to the next grid line inward to begin the next scan, and this is repeated after each successive scan in a regular indexing sequence until reaching the grid line at the opposite longitudinal side of the pattern to complete a scan sequence. Another scan sequence is performed in the same manner to move across the line illustration in the other orthogonal direction beginning at one corner with the sensors transversely aligned along one side to be scanned longitudinally across the grid pattern along adjacent parallel grid paths to the opposite side. The sensors are sequentially indexed to move transversely inward from the edge to the next adjacent line after each successive scan until reaching the opposite edge of the pattern. In scanning longitudinally, the sensors detect the presence of transverse line segments. The sensor output signals are monitored for an indication of the beginning or end of a line, whereupon the orthogonal coordinates indicative of the position of the sensors on the grid pattern are generated and recorded. This information can then be sorted to provide digitized data indicative of the orthogonal location and the beginning and the end points of each line.
Inventors
- 👤 R Stewart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/002; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
A method for automatically deriving digital signals representative of an orthogonal line pattern comprising: sequentially scanning said line pattern with repetitive longitudinal scans in each orthogonal direction to sense the presence of line segments at selected longitudinal positions along at least three adjacent parallel scan paths simultaneously with each scan being transversely shifted relative to said line pattern in a predetermined indexing sequence to longitudinally scan each succeeding set of three adjacent parallel scan paths forming an orthogonal grid pattern overlying said line pattern; separately detecting opposite ends of each line segment of said line pattern to generate a first detection signal only when a line segment is detected during each scan in coincident longitudinal positions in at least two adjacent scan paths but not in another path adjacent thereto on one side and to generate a second detection signal only when a line segment is detected during each scan in coincident longitudinal positions in at least two adjacent scan paths but not in another path adjacent thereto on the side opposite said one side; continuously maintaining first and second digital values indicative of the instantaneous longitudinal and transverse locations respectively of the successive positions being scanned in at least one of said scan paths; and providing a set of digital information output signals indicative of said first and second digital values during each scan only when either of said first or second detection signals is generated and providing a first or second identification signal indicative of said first or second detection signal, whereby said digital information output signals generated during scanning represent the orthogonal line pattern relative to said grid pattern.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
272 words
A method for automatically deriving digital signals representative of an orthogonal line pattern comprising: sequentially scanning said line pattern with repetitive longitudinal scans in each orthogonal direction to sense the presence of line segments at selected longitudinal positions along at least three adjacent parallel scan paths simultaneously with each scan being transversely shifted relative to said line pattern in a predetermined indexing sequence to longitudinally scan each succeeding set of three adjacent parallel scan paths forming an orthogonal grid pattern overlying said line pattern; separately detecting opposite ends of each line segment of said line pattern to generate a first detection signal only when a line segment is detected during each scan in coincident longitudinal positions in at least two adjacent scan paths but not in another path adjacent thereto on one side and to generate a second detection signal only when a line segment is detected during each scan in coincident longitudinal positions in at least two adjacent scan paths but not in another path adjacent thereto on the side opposite said one side; continuously maintaining first and second digital values indicative of the instantaneous longitudinal and transverse locations respectively of the successive positions being scanned in at least one of said scan paths; and providing a set of digital information output signals indicative of said first and second digital values during each scan only when either of said first or second detection signals is generated and providing a first or second identification signal indicative of said first or second detection signal, whereby said digital information output signals generated during scanning represent the orthogonal line pattern relative to said grid pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
160 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: successively recording as a block of information each set of digital information output signals and the associated identification signal generated during scanning in each orthogonal direction whereby said first and second dIgital values in each constitute longitudinal and transverse orthogonal coordinates of said grid pattern for each point at one or the other end of each line segment; and examining each successive block of information having the first identification signal in the sequence of its recording to match its first digital value with the next succeeding block having a corresponding first digital value and said second identification signal; and, recording said first digital value along with the different second digital values from both sets, whereby each line segment is defined to extend transversely along a longitudinal orthogonal coordinate corresponding to said first digital value with its opposite ends at two transverse orthogonal coordinates corresponding to the different second digital values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
122 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the scanning of said line pattern includes performing a first scanning sequence with repetitive longitudinal scans in one orthogonal direction followed by a second scanning sequence with repetitive longitudinal scans in a second orthogonal direction, continuously sensing during both sequences the simultaneous presence of line segments at transversely aligned longitudinal positions in three adjacent parallel scan paths and performing said predetermined indexing sequence to displace each successive longitudinal scan transversely by the width of one scan path to sense the presence of line segments in a next adjacent scan path whereby said scan sequences are each carried out by successive longitudinal scans progressing from one longitudinal edge of the grid pattern to the opposite longitudinal edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 3 wherein: said first and second digital values are indicative of the instantaneous longitudinal and transverse location of the position being scanned in the center one of said three adjacent parallel scan paths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of claim 3 wherein: said first detection signal is generated only when a line segment is simultaneously detected in the same longitudinal position both in the center path and in the adjacent outside path located in the direction of transverse shift, but not in the remaining outside path being scanned, to indicate detection of the starting end of the line segment; and, said second detection signal is generated only when a line segment is detected in said center and remaining outside paths, but not in the outside path located in the direction of transverse shift, to indicate detection of the end of a line segment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the scanning of said line pattern in each orthogonal direction consists of simultaneously moving three line sensing elements relative to said line pattern during each scan with each element responding to the presence of a line segment within a different one of three transversely aligned ones of longitudinal positions, whereby the movement of said elements relative to said line pattern defines said grid pattern.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: controlling the scanning of said line pattern in the longitudinal direction in response to first control pulses each displacing the longitudinal position being sensed by a fixed distance increment relative to said line pattern and controlling said transverse shifting in response to second control pulses each shifting the transverse position being sensed by said fixed distance increment; and, separately counting the total of said first control pulses generated during each longitudinal scan and counting the second control pulses produced during scanning of said line pattern in each of said successive orthogonal directions to obtain said first and second digital values.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
311 words
A system for automatically deriving digital signals representative of an orthogonal line pattern comprising: a scanning assembly having at least three sensor elements each responsive to the presence of a line segment of said line pattern within a respective transversely aligned incremental areA movable with respect to said line pattern; scan control means coupled to said scanning assembly for simultaneously moving each of said incremental areas longitudinally together in a transversely spaced alignment along adjacent parallel scan paths relative to said line pattern and for transversely displacing each of said incremental areas to the next adjacent scan path upon completion of each longitudinal scan path to define successive parallel scan paths to perform a scanning sequence in each orthogonal direction providing an orthogonal grid pattern of scan paths overlying said line pattern; digital register means responsive to said control means during each scan sequence for maintaining a first digital value indicative of the instantaneous transverse position of at least one of said incremental areas and for maintaining a second digital value indicative of the instantaneous longitudinal position of said incremental areas; selective output logic means responsive to each of said sensor elements during each scan for generating a first output signal indicative of one end of a line segment only when the line segment is present simultaneously in selected adjacent ones but not another of said incremental areas and for generating a second output signal indicative of the other end of a line segment only when the line segment is present simultaneously in different adjacent selected ones but not another of said incremental areas; and, digital transfer means for generating during each scan output signals indicative of said first and second digital values in response to each of said first or second detection signals and for generating a first or second identification signal indicative of said first or second detection signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
311 words
A system for automatically deriving digital signals representative of an orthogonal line pattern comprising: a scanning assembly having at least three sensor elements each responsive to the presence of a line segment of said line pattern within a respective transversely aligned incremental areA movable with respect to said line pattern; scan control means coupled to said scanning assembly for simultaneously moving each of said incremental areas longitudinally together in a transversely spaced alignment along adjacent parallel scan paths relative to said line pattern and for transversely displacing each of said incremental areas to the next adjacent scan path upon completion of each longitudinal scan path to define successive parallel scan paths to perform a scanning sequence in each orthogonal direction providing an orthogonal grid pattern of scan paths overlying said line pattern; digital register means responsive to said control means during each scan sequence for maintaining a first digital value indicative of the instantaneous transverse position of at least one of said incremental areas and for maintaining a second digital value indicative of the instantaneous longitudinal position of said incremental areas; selective output logic means responsive to each of said sensor elements during each scan for generating a first output signal indicative of one end of a line segment only when the line segment is present simultaneously in selected adjacent ones but not another of said incremental areas and for generating a second output signal indicative of the other end of a line segment only when the line segment is present simultaneously in different adjacent selected ones but not another of said incremental areas; and, digital transfer means for generating during each scan output signals indicative of said first and second digital values in response to each of said first or second detection signals and for generating a first or second identification signal indicative of said first or second detection signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 8 wherein: said scanning assembly includes three transversely aligned sensor elements responsive to the presence of a line segment within respective ones of three transversely aligned spots constituting said incremental areas, said scanning assembly being movable relative to said line pattern during a scanning sequence in both said longitudinal and transverse directions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
The system of claim 9 wherein: said selective output logic means includes a coincidence circuit coupled to receive sensing signals from each of said three sensor elements, said logic circuit generating said first output signal during each scan in response to a sensing signal from the middle one of said three sensor elements and a first one of the other sensor elements located on one side of said middle one but not from the second one on the other side thereof, and generating said second output signal during each scan whenever a sensing signal is received from said middle one and said second sensor elements, but not from said first one.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 8 wherein: said scan control means includes means responsive to the completion of each longitudinal scan for indexing said scanning assembly in a predetermined transverse direction by a distance equal to the transverse spacing between the sensing spots of adjacent sensor elements, whereby each sensor element after said indexing is responsive to the presence of line segments in a scan path next adjacent to that of its corresponding preceding scan path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
84 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising: recording means coupled to said digital transfer means and responsive to said output signals for recording said first and second digital values and said first or second identification signal in the serial order generated during each scan sequence, whereby said digital values having said first detection signals mays be matched with the corresponding digital values having said second detection signals to determine the opposite ends of each line segment in said line pattern for each orthogonal direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |