JPH02285471A - Drawing coordinate input device for cad - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve work efficiency by preparing plural pieces of position instruction tools for designating a coordinate position in each separate function, so that a work for instructing a menu and a command by operating a cursor can be executed by only selecting the position instruction tool for each separate function. CONSTITUTION:When an operator selects, for instance, a position instruction tool 6 for linear plotting, a linear plotting command is called, and a controller 52 becomes a linear plotting mode. Subsequently, when the operator instructs two points on a digitizer 4 by the selected position instruction tool 6, a straight line in which these two points are both ends is displayed on the digitizer 4 in a real time. When the operator selects the position instruction tool 6 for circular plotting, a circular plotting command is called, and the controller 52 becomes a circular plotting mode. Next, when the operator instructs two points on the digitizer 4 by the selected position instruction tool 6, a circle in which one point is the center and a distance between two points is a radius is displayed on the digitizer 4 in a real time. In such a way, the operability can be improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a computer-aided design and drafting system, or CA
This relates to a drawing coordinate input device used in D.

[Conventional technology]

A common CAD drawing coordinate input device is a combination of a tablet-type digitizer and a position pointing tool such as a stylus pen, light pen, or cursor device, and each point on the digitizer indicated by the position pointing tool is The coordinate signal is supplied from the digitizer to the control device, and based on the coordinate signal, the control device is configured to control the CRT display device and display a figure on the display. Furthermore, as an input device for a word processor, one in which a transparent plate-like coordinate input tablet board (digitizer) is superimposed on the display surface of a flat display device is known, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-144287. be. Also, special public service No. 62-59329
The publication discloses an input device for a word processor in which a tablet (digitizer) is superimposed on the bottom surface of a liquid crystal display.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

If the display device and digitizer are configured separately, when drawing a straight line, the straight line will not be drawn at the indicated location, that is, on the digitizer, and will be drawn at a different location from the indicated location, that is, on the screen of the display device. A straight line is drawn. Therefore, you cannot draw a drawing as if you were drawing a straight line using a writing instrument on paper on a drawing board, so if you are not used to CAD input operations, you will feel strange about the input operations, and C
The flaw was that AD was difficult to handle. In addition, when drawing on paper on a drawing board using a universal parallel ruler, move the head in parallel on the drawing board in any direction, move the right-angle ruler on the drawing board, and The ruler is rotated and the drawing is drawn using this square ruler as a reference. Conventional CAD cannot be operated as if using a flexible parallel ruler,
There is a problem in that a person who is accustomed to operating a free parallel ruler may feel uncomfortable operating the CAD.

The present invention aims to solve the above problems.

[Means to solve problems]

(1) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention projects the screen of a display device on a board-shaped digitizer and inputs a position signal to a control device using a position pointing device.
In the apparatus for drawing on the screen of the display device, a plurality of types of position pointing tools each having a selection signal output means prepared for each function for generating graphical elements, and selection of the position pointing tools are provided. A means for calling a command corresponding to the function of the position pointing tool by a signal is provided.

(2) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention projects the screen of a display device on a diagram-like digitizer, and inputs a position signal to a control device using a position pointing device.
In the device for drawing on the screen of the display device, there is provided a means for displaying a perpendicular reference line on the screen of the display device, a position indicator for controlling the perpendicular reference line, and a coordinate signal based on the position indicator. a control means for controlling the orthogonal reference line on the screen, a plurality of types of position pointing tools each having a selection signal output means prepared for each function for generating graphical elements; and means for calling a command corresponding to the function of the position pointing tool in response to a selection signal.

[Effect]

(1) In the above configuration, when the operator selects, for example, a position pointing tool for drawing a straight line, a straight line drawing command is called based on this selection signal.

The control device enters straight line drawing mode. In this mode, when the operator points out two points on the digitizer with the selected position pointing tool, a straight line having both ends of these two points is displayed on the digitizer in real time. When the operator selects a position pointing tool for drawing one circle, a one circle drawing command is called based on this selection signal, and the control device enters the rice drawing mode. In this mode, when the operator indicates two points on the digitizer with the selected position pointing tool, a circle centered on one point and having a radius equal to the distance between the two points is displayed on the digitizer in real time. In this manner, the operator selects position pointing tools having various functions and draws a drawing on the digitizer.

(2) In the above configuration, when the operator selects, for example, a position pointing tool for drawing a straight line, a straight line drawing command is called based on this selection signal, and the control device enters a straight line drawing mode. In this mode, when the operator indicates two points on the digitizer with the selected position pointing tool, a straight line with these two points as both ends is displayed on the digitizer in real time. When a tool is selected, a 1-yen drawing command is called based on this selection signal, and the control device enters a rice-drawing mode. In this mode, when the operator indicates two points on the digitizer with the selected position pointing tool, a circle centered on one point and having a radius equal to the distance between the two points is displayed on the digitizer in real time. In this way, the operator selects position pointing tools with various functions and draws a drawing on the digitizer.
When the operator draws a drawing in the manner described above, the operator operates the control position indicator to move the orthogonal reference line on the digitizer in parallel to the desired position, or The object is rotated by an angle, and drawings are drawn on the digitizer using the various functional position pointing tools described above, using this perpendicular reference line as a reference.

〔Example〕

The structure of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 2 denotes a drafting table, and a transparent tablet-type digitizer 4 is supported on its support frame. The digitizer 4 is set to the same dimensions as a normal drawing board,
It has a flat surface like a drawing board. When the digitizer 4 is operated, an operator indicates a point on the digitizer 4 with a position pointing tool 6 such as a stylus pen connected to a control device (not shown) of the digitizer 4 via a cord.

The coordinate signal of this designated point is transmitted to the driver 8 shown in FIG.
．． The data is converted into paper surface coordinate data via the coordinate conversion means 10 and supplied to the cursor pattern generator 12 . The cursor pattern generator 12 supplies cursor pattern data to the coordinate conversion means 14. Coordinate conversion means 14
converts the input cursor pattern data into screen coordinate data and supplies it to the display driver 16, so that the cursor 14 corresponding to the indicated position on the digitizer 4 of the position pointing tool 6 is displayed on the screen 16 (see FIG. 2). will be displayed.

A plurality of position pointing tools 6 are prepared depending on the type of figure, for example, a straight line, a circle, a circular arc, an ellipse, an elliptical arc, a free curve, etc. These position pointing tools 6 each have a pressure sensitive switch and an input switch, and are connected to the digitizer 4 via a cord.
connected to the control device. Each position indicator 6 includes
A function display (not shown) is provided so that the operator can distinguish whether the function is for drawing a straight line or for drawing a circle. Of course, the positioning tool 6 may be cordless. FIG. 8 shows the function of the positioning tool 6 by its shape. The position indicator 6 is
The compass-shaped position indicator 6 is used for erasing lines, and is used for drawing circles. When the operator selects one of the plurality of position pointing tools 6 prepared for each function, the cursor discrimination device 7 is activated by a pressure-sensitive switch.
0, where a signal corresponding to the position pointing tool 6 selected is input.
Discrimination device! 7 outputs a coordinate signal corresponding to the function of the 1 position pointing tool 6 to the driver 8, and this coordinate signal is converted into paper surface coordinate data via the coordinate conversion means 10, and is supplied to the drawing program means 18. Means 18 is 1
If the selected position pointing tool 6 is for drawing a straight line, for example, a straight line drawing command is called based on the input coordinate signal, and a state is set in which straight line drawing is executed. That is, this drawing program means composes a means for calling a command corresponding to the function of the position pointing tool 6 by the selection signal of the position pointing tool 6. is supplied to the drawing program means 18 by turning on the input switch of the position pointing tool 6.

The means 18 outputs drawing data based on the position signal instructed by the position pointing tool 6, and this drawing data is converted into screen coordinate data by the coordinate conversion means 20 and supplied to the display driver 16, and is converted into screen coordinate data based on the drawing program. A graphic is displayed on screen 16. The screen 16 is set to have substantially the same dimensions as the digitizer 4, and is disposed close to the back surface of the digitizer 4. In FIG. 2, 22 is a display device consisting of a green cathode ray tube, and a lens 24, a light valve 26, and a polarizing prism 28 are arranged in front of the display surface of this display device. The light valve 26 constitutes a device that converts an image input from one side into a clear image and irradiates it to the other side.The structure and principle of the light valve 26 are based on US Pat. No. 3,723,651 and US Pat. No. 4,343,535. Since it is disclosed in detail in publications etc., detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. The light valve 26 converts the image of the display device 22 into a clear image by interacting with the input from the xenon lamp 30, and transmits this image to the polarizing prism 2.
Irradiate to 8. The image illuminated on the polarizing prism 28 is
The image is enlarged and projected onto the screen 16 via a half mirror 32 and a lens 34. 36 is a display device consisting of a red cathode ray tube.

A lens 38 and a light valve 40 are placed in front of the display surface of this.
is provided, and the light valve 40 faces the polarizing prism 28. Reference numeral 42 denotes a display device consisting of a cathode ray tube for blue (Blue), and a lens 44, a reflecting mirror 46, and a light valve 48 are arranged in front of the display surface of this display device, and the light valve 48 is connected to a polarizing prism 2.
It is facing 8. The lenses 24, 38, 44, the light valves 26, 38, 48. Lamp 30. The polarizing prism 28, the half mirror 32, and the reflecting mirror 46 are display devices! ! 22, 36, and 42 on the screen 16 in an enlarged manner. The position of the cursor 14 on the screen 16 based on the coordinate signal of the position is set to match. The screen 16 and the enlarged projection mechanism 50 are housed inside a box of the drafting table 2. The digitizer 4 and display devices 22, 36, 42 are connected to a control device 52 consisting of a host CPU. Reference numeral 54 denotes a position pointing tool consisting of a mouse, which is connected to a driver 56 within the control device 52. The position indicator 54 is supported by arms 55 and 57 of a known arm-type flexible parallel ruler so that it can be moved in parallel to any position on the top surface of the digitizer 4. The driver 56 is connected to a coordinate conversion means 58 and a length change/angle change amount conversion means 60 via switch contacts a and b. Switching between the contacts a and b is performed using the position indicator 5.
The configuration is such that it can be performed by operating the No. 4 key. The cursor pattern generator 62 displays a graduated orthogonal reference line 64 as shown in FIG.
This reference line 64 is configured so that angle conversion and scaling of the scale can be performed based on the contents of the cursor parameter table 66.

The cursor pattern generator 62 is connected to the display driver 16 via a coordinate conversion means 68. 72 is a keyboard.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The orthogonal reference line 64 displayed on the screen 16 is.

It can be operated using the position indicator 54.

When the key of the position indicator 54 is not pressed, the switch 70 is connected to the a contact. In this state,
When the position indicator 54 is moved in the XY force direction on the digitizer 4, as shown in FIG.
The amount of change in Δy is directly converted into a parallel movement of the origin position of the orthogonal reference line 64 and displayed. When the mouse key of the 0 position indicator 54 is pressed, the switch 70 connects to the b contact. When the position pointing tool 54 is moved in the XY force direction on the digitizer 4 while pressing the mouse key, the conversion means 60 collects the amount of change in length of the position pointing tool 54 Δy or ΔX, and converts this amount of change Δy or ΔX is the function f(Δy) or f(ΔX)
is linearly converted into an angle Δθ by This angle change amount Δθ is added to the angle θ on the current parameter table 66. According to the contents of the parameter table 66, the cursor pattern generator 62 rotates the orthogonal reference line 64 by an angle θ and displays it on the screen 16, as shown in FIG. The angle θ of this perpendicular reference line 64 is displayed on the screen 16 by the drawing program means 18.

On the other hand, the operator selects from among the plurality of various position pointing tools 6,
For example, when the green position pointing tool 6 for drawing a straight line is selected and grasped by hand, a selection signal is output from the pressure-sensitive switch provided on the position pointing tool 6. The selection signal is received by the cursor discrimination device 7, and the device 7 outputs a coordinate position signal corresponding to the green line command area of the digitizer 4. This coordinate position signal is supplied to the coordinate conversion means 1o via the driver 8, where it is converted into paper surface coordinate data and supplied to the drawing program means 18. The drawing program means 18 calls a green straight line command based on the coordinate position data corresponding to the green straight line command, thereby entering a green straight line drawing mode. In this green straight line drawing mode, when two points A and B on the digitizer 4 are indicated with the tip of the position pointing tool 6, drawing coordinate signals of the 82 points A and 82 are inputted to the drawing program means 18 of the control device 52. The control device 52 controls the display device 22 based on this input coordinate signal.

As a result, a straight line A is displayed on the display surface of the display device 22.
B is displayed with the XY coordinate axes of the image plane as a reference. The image on the display surface of the display device 22 is displayed by the light valve 2
6 in the direction of the polarizing prism 28, passing through the polarizing prism 28, the half mirror 32, and the lens 34,
The image on the display device 22 is enlarged and projected onto the screen 16.

The XY coordinate reference of this enlarged projection view and the XY of digitizer 4
The coordinate standards match 1:1. Therefore, the operator uses the position pointing tool 6 on the digitizer 4 to perform A.

When point B is specified, a green straight line connecting the specified points A and 82 is displayed in real time on the digitizer 4 in actual size. The above is a case where a green straight line is displayed, but based on the same principle, a red, blue, etc. straight line or one circle, arc, ellipse, one spline diagram, etc. can be displayed by selecting the corresponding position indicator. , a drawing can be drawn at a designated position on the digitizer 4. In addition, by using the eraser position indicator 6, it is possible to erase a single element or a part thereof, and by using the R ruler position indicator (not shown), two passing points, touching elements can be erased. You can perform radius drawing by instructing. Furthermore, by using a distance measuring position indicator (not shown), two points on the digitizer 4 can be measured with high precision.

The input data of the controller 52 is stored in a processing unit of the controller 52 and is configured to be output to an xY plotter. Drawing with the position pointing tool 6 is performed with reference to a perpendicular reference line 64 on the screen 16. This right-angled reference line corresponds to a straight ruler provided on the head of the universal parallel ruler device, and the position pointing tool 6 corresponds to a writing tool. The operator performs parallel translation and angle conversion or scale conversion of the orthogonal reference line 64 using the position pointing tool 54 in the same way as operating the head of a universal parallel ruler device, and then performs a drawing operation using the other selected position pointing tool 6. As is clear from the above description, the cursor pattern generator 62 constitutes a means for displaying a perpendicular reference line on the screen of a display device, and includes a cursor parameter table 66, a length variation/angle variation conversion means 60, and The cursor pattern generator 62 constitutes a control means for moving, rotating and scaling the orthogonal reference line 64 on the screen 16.

In this embodiment, the screen of the display device is projected onto the screen 16 by the enlargement projection mechanism 50, but a display device having a screen of the same size as the digitizer 4 may be placed below the digitizer 4.

Also, as shown in FIG. 9, on the digitizer 4.

A position pointing tool 70 such as a mouse supported by arms 55 and 57 of a universal parallel ruler is arranged, and this position pointing tool 70 is
Various scales 72 and templates 7 are mounted on the mounting plate 71 of
When the scale 72 and template 74 are attached to the mounting plate 71 of the position pointing tool 70, the position pointing tool 70 can be attached to the flags provided for each function of the drawing tool. The mark or protrusion (not shown) may be detected and a selection signal for each function may be output.
When installed, the drawing program means 18 of the control device 52
is in straight line drawing mode, and the template 74 is attached to the mounting plate 7.
1, the drawing program means 1 of the control device 52
8 becomes the internal drawing mode. Further, the position pointing tool 54 shown in FIG.

The cursor is not particularly limited to one supported by the arms 55, 57, and a known free cursor may be used.

Effect C] As described above, in the present invention, a plurality of position pointing tools for specifying coordinate positions are prepared for each function, so it becomes possible to specify a menu or command by operating a cursor by simply selecting a position pointing tool for each function. , it is possible to improve work efficiency.

In addition, when creating a drawing, the relationship between each position pointing tool and the digitizer provides the same environment as the process of drawing using a universal parallel ruler.

It can be used without any discomfort.

In addition, in normal CAD, command selection has a hierarchical structure, so efficient operation cannot be expected unless each element is drawn at the same time, and is not suitable for design work that requires repeated trial and error. Since all you have to do is change the tools, you can operate it quickly and intuitively without getting in the way of your thinking.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block explanatory diagram, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram, Fig. 4 is a block explanatory diagram, Fig. 5 is an external view, and Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram.
7 is an explanatory diagram, FIG. 8 is an external view, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment. 2... Drafting table, 4... Digitizer, 6... Position indicator, 14... Cursor, 16... Screen,
22...Display device, 24...Lens, 26
...Light valve, 28...Polarizing prism, 30.
...Xenon lamp, 32...Half mirror-134.
...Lens, 36...Display device, 38...
Lens, 40...Light valve, 42...Display device, 44...Lens, 46...Reflection mirror,
48...Light valve, 50...Enlargement projection mechanism, 5
2...Control device, 54...Position indicator, 64...
Cartesian coordinate reference line, 70... position indicator.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Generating graphical elements in a device that draws on the screen of the display device by projecting the screen of the display device on a board-like digitizer and inputting a position signal to the control device using a position pointing device. In order to do this, a plurality of types of position pointing tools each having a selection signal output means prepared for each function are provided, and a means for calling a command corresponding to the function of the position pointing tool by the selection signal of the position pointing tool is provided. A CAD drawing coordinate input device characterized by: (2) In a device in which drawings are drawn on the screen of the display device by projecting the screen of the display device on a drawing plate-like digitizer and inputting a position signal to a control device using a position pointing tool, the screen of the display device is means for displaying a perpendicular reference line on a screen; a position indicator for controlling the perpendicular reference line; a control means for controlling the perpendicular reference line on the screen using coordinate signals based on the position indicator; and a graphic element. A plurality of types of position pointing tools each having a selection signal output means prepared for each function for generation, and a means for calling a command corresponding to the function of the position pointing tool by the selection signal of the position pointing tool are provided. A CAD drawing coordinate input device characterized by: