US3873769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic drawing system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-09-10
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-09-10
Abstract
Abstract The system is referred to in the art as an ''''interactive drawing system'''' wherein an operator may construct or reconstruct a drawing, such as an electronic circuit schematic, on a recording medium using a computer for storing position and symbol identification data and formulating and transmitting information for controlling the writing operation on the recording medium. The system includes in one embodiment a transparent coordinate digitizer element, the front surface of which is used by the operator for inputting position identification data to the computer by means of a stylus or cursor, and on the rear surface of which is mounted the recording medium. A plotting mechanism, preferably a servo-controlled X-Y plotter, is employed to record or remove information (symbols, alpha-numerics, etc.) from the recording medium, and is disposed adjacent the rear surface of the coordinate digitizer element. The symbol identification data is interfaced to the computer from a smaller digitizing symbol tablet by means of the stylus or cursor used also with the larger digitizer element, or by way of a keyboard entry. In another embodiment the digitizer element is essentially replaced by a joystick controller and a cross-hair projector is mounted on the plotting mechanism and visible to the operator who uses the joystick to move the plotting mechanism to the desired point, at which time the position data, from the X-Y position encoders associated with the plotting mechanism, is transferred to the computer.
Inventors
- 👤 William L Cotter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G01; G01D; G01D15/00; G06F3/044; G06F3/0441; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An automatic drawing system comprising; means for digitizing the position of a stylus on a platen having a working surface on one side and including means for registering position identification data, means defining a plurality of different indicia each capable of being selectably associated with positions on the platen and including means for registering indicia identification data, a recording medium positioned adjacent the other side of said platen, means for fixedly writing on said recording medium, and processing means responsive to said position and indicia identification data for controlling said means for writing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
An automatic drawing system comprising; means for digitizing the position of a stylus on a platen having a working surface on one side and including means for registering position identification data, means defining a plurality of different indicia each capable of being selectably associated with positions on the platen and including means for registering indicia identification data, a recording medium positioned adjacent the other side of said platen, means for fixedly writing on said recording medium, and processing means responsive to said position and indicia identification data for controlling said means for writing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said platen is constructed so that the writing on the recording medium is visible from the working surface side of said platen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said platen is substantially transparent, said writing appearing at a position on said recording medium in line with the position indicated by the position identification data generated from a selected point on the working surface of the platen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means defining a plurality of indicia includes a symbol tablet and means for digitizing positions on said symbol tablet which are represented by symbol identification data interpretable by said processing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said stylus is used to mutually exclusively select positions on said platen and tablet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said writing means includes a plotting mechanism for receiving control commands from said processing means and including a writing mechanism and erasIng mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said recording medium includes a light transmitting film covered with an opaque ink, writing being accomplished by removing the ink and erasing by replacing the ink.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for digitizing includes a marker means associated with and moveable with said writing means and visible from said working surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 8 including means for manually controlling movement of said writing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said processing means includes storage means for both said position data and indicia data and means responsive to said position data for positioning said writing means and responsive to said indicia data for moving said writing means to create the indicia on the recording medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
In an automatic drawing system having a platen defining a digitizing surface for selecting predetermined positions, means defining a plurality of preselectable indicia or symbols, a recording medium, means for writing on the recording medium, and processing means responsive to position and indicia data for controlling said means for writing, the improvement characterized by, said recording medium being positioned on the side of said platen opposite said digitizing surface, said platen being at least translucent, whereby the writing on said recording medium appears in the form of the preselected indicia or symbol and in line with the predetermined position selected on said digitizing surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
In an automatic drawing system having a platen defining a digitizing surface for selecting predetermined positions, means defining a plurality of preselectable indicia or symbols, a recording medium, means for writing on the recording medium, and processing means responsive to position and indicia data for controlling said means for writing, the improvement characterized by, said recording medium being positioned on the side of said platen opposite said digitizing surface, said platen being at least translucent, whereby the writing on said recording medium appears in the form of the preselected indicia or symbol and in line with the predetermined position selected on said digitizing surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
In the system of claim 11 wherein said writing means includes a plotting mechanism disposed on one side of said recording medium spaced from said platen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
In the system of claim 12 wherein said recording medium is mounted to the rear surface of said platen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
In the system of claim 11 including light means for directing light toward the platen to enhance the writing on the recording medium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
An automatic drawing system comprising: a recording medium, means defining a plurality of different indicia each capable of being associated with positions on the recording medium and including means for storing indicia identification data, a plotting mechanism including means for writing on the recording medium and positioned on one side of said recording medium, position identification marker means disposed on said plotting mechanism visible from the other side of the recording medium for indicating the position of the plotting mechanism, means for manually controlling the movement of said plotting mechanism so that said marker means is moveable to a preselected position on said recording medium, and processing means responsive to at least said indicia data for controlling said plotting mechanism.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
120 words
An automatic drawing system comprising: a recording medium, means defining a plurality of different indicia each capable of being associated with positions on the recording medium and including means for storing indicia identification data, a plotting mechanism including means for writing on the recording medium and positioned on one side of said recording medium, position identification marker means disposed on said plotting mechanism visible from the other side of the recording medium for indicating the position of the plotting mechanism, means for manually controlling the movement of said plotting mechanism so that said marker means is moveable to a preselected position on said recording medium, and processing means responsive to at least said indicia data for controlling said plotting mechanism.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said marker means includes means defining a cross hair and said means for manually controlling includes a joy stick arrangement.
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) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |