Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to an interactive graphic system which can
record predetermined lines, symbols or marks directly on the plotting surface
by inputting plotting information.
Heretofore, in order to plot figures OT graphs on a recording sheet,
the following two methods are employed. In one of the methods, a computer or
a calculator and a plotter are combined, so that the coordinate signals of
figures or graphs stored in the computer or the calculator are successively
applied to the plotter to plot the figures or graphs. In the other method,
a cathode-ray-tube display unit and a plotter are combined, so that a picture
on the display unit is hard-copied on the plotter.
However, these conventional methods are disadvantageous in that,
since the plotter itself can draw simple figures only, the provision of an
external unit such as a computer, a calculator or a cathode-ray-tube display
unit is essential for drawing figures or graphs, and that the combination of
the external unit and the plotter makes the entire device considerably bulky.
Furthermore, the operation of the employed computer or calculator
is not simple. That is, since the computer or calculator is designed as a
general purpose device, it is necessary to carry out intricate operations by
referring to the operating manual containing a large amount of description
even in drawing a relatively simple figure or symbol. In this connection
also, the conventional methods are disadvantageous.
On the other hand, in a special calculator or in a cathode-ray-tube
display terminal, a long instruction word or sentence which is frequently
used is a~signed to one key thereby to simplify the plotting operation.
Houever, the operation of assigning such a word or sentence to the key is
intricate.
Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide an
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interactive graphic system in which all of the above-described difficulties
accompanying a conventional method have been eliminated, and which can draw
figures or graphs with lines, symbols and marks by itself.
Another object of the invention is to provide an interactive
graphic system in which plotting information is given by setting means, and
necessary figures or graphs can be drawn directly on the plotting surface of
a recorder without monitoring the figures or graphs with a cathode ray tube
or the like.
A further object of the invention is to provide an interactive
graphic system which is provided with special keys facilitating the drawing
of various graphs such as a bar graph, a polygonal line and a pie chart, so
that the various graphs can be drawn by simple operations.
In accordance with the invention there is provided an interactive
graphic system comprising: plotting means for recording lines, symbols or
marks on a plotting surface with a recording pen which is held by a recording
head which is driven in association with input signals; data setting means
for setting plotting data; a controller for executing predetermined programs
according to said plotting data; and display means for requiring said plotting
data so that said plotting data are inputted in a step-by-step mode in an
interactive system, whereby lines, symbols or marks can be directly recorded
on said plotting surface of said plotting means by inputting said plotting
data through said data setting means.
The invention will now be further described in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of
ane example of an interactive graphîc system according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical circuit employed
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in the interactive graphic system of the invention;
Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a keyboard which is one
example of data setting means employed in the interactive graphic system of
the invention;
Figures 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams showing one example of an
operating procedure with the interactive graphic system of the invention; and
Figures 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams showing a graph drawn
according to the operating procedure shown in Figures 4 and 5.
In Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 designates plotting means;
4, data (or information) setting means; 5, display means; and 6, a controller.
The plotting means 1 comprises an analog X-Y recorder 2, and a D/A ~digital-
to-analog) converter 3. A digital plotter may be employed as the plotting
means. The D/A converter 3 is made up of an X-axis D/A converter 31 and a
Y-axis D/A converter 32, in which an X-axis signal and a Y-axis signal from
the controller 6 are converted into analog signals, respectively, which are
applied to the recorder 2. The X-Y recorder 2 has an X-axis carriage 21 which
is displaced in an X-axis direction in response to the X-axis input signal,
and a Y-axis carriage 22 which is slidably displaced on the X-axis carriage
21 in a Y-axis direction in response to the Y-axis input signal. The Y-axis
carriage 22 is coupled to a recording head 23 which holds a recording pen 24.
The recording pen 24 is moved up and down under the control of the controller
6, so that a recording line is provided on a plotting surface 26 according to
signals which are provided directly or indirectly from the controller 6. In
the recording head 23, a cursor 25 is coupled to the recording pen 24. A
coordinate point can be specified on the plotting surface by positioning the
cursor 25. The setting means 4 is adapted to set plotting data. A keyboard
may be employed as the setting means 4. One example of the keyboard is as
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shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, reference character 41 designates a function
key group; 42, an execution key group; 43, a general key group consisting of
digit keys, character keys, symbol keys, etc; and 44, up and down keys for
instructing the recording pen 24 to move up and down. In the case where the
recording pen is instructed to move down, the up and down control is effected
by the controller 6. Further in Figure 3, reference numeral 45 designates a
cursor movement key group for moving the cursor 25 in the X- and Y-axis
directions. The function key group 41 includes keys 41a, 41b and 41c which
specify a bar graph, a polygonal line and a pie chart, respectively; a key
41d for specifying the drawing of a graph axis or of an axis label; a char-
acter specifying key 41e for specifying a character and a digit, or the size
thereof; a hatching key 41f for specifying hatching lines applied to the bar
graph or the pitch of hatching lines; keys 41g, 41h and 41i for specifying a
straightline, an arc and a circle, respectively; a key 41j for specifying an
original point; and a key 41k which is used in operation test or for specify-
ing coordinates. The key to which two functions are assigned, can select one
of the functions when it is operated in association with a shift key 43b
included in the general key group 43.
The execution key group 42 includes; a plotting direction key 42a
for specifying a plotting direction (or an axial direction); a mode key 42b
for selecting an execution mode or a store mode; an edit key group 42c for
editing programs; a run key 42d for running programs stored; and a stop key
42e for stopping the execution of a program midway. The edit key group 42c
includes: an insertion key which is used to additionally insert stored data;
an erasing key for erasing a part of stored contents; a line specifying key
or specifying the line number of a stored program; and a read key for reading
stored contents.
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The general key group 43 includes: character keys 43d consisting
of character keys, digit keys and symbol keys; an input key 43a for inputting
instructions or data; a shift key 43b; and a space key 43c which is used in
spacing or back-spacing.
The cursor movement key group 45 includes: movement direction keys
45a, 45b, 45c and 45d for specifying four movement directions of the cursor
25 respectively; and an accelaration key 45e for increasing the speed of move-
ment of the cursor 25. The cursor 25 can be moved to a desired position on
the plotting surface by operating these keys.
The outputs of the above-described keys on the keyboard 4 are applied
to the controller 6.
The display means 5 operates to display contents for requiring plot-
ting data inputs. The display means 5 may be constituted by light emitting
elements such as light emitting diodes, or liquid crystal display units.
Contents to be displayed on the display means 5 are given by the controller 6.
The controller 6 has various programs necessary for plotting oper-
ations, executes a program according to plotting data applied through the key-
board 4, and suitably controls the operations of various sections. A micro-
processor may be employed as the controller 6.
The operation of the interactive graphic system thus organized will
be described with reference to the case where, for instance, a bar graph is
drawn, by referring to Figures 4 and 5. Figures 4 and 5 indicate operating
procedures in comparison of operating keys on the keyboard 4 with contents
displayed on the display means 5.
(1) First, an axis drawing operation will be described.
The axis drawing key 41d and the bar graph key 41a in the function
key group 41 are operated successively. Thereafter, axes and axis scale
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markings are drawn according to the operating procedure in Figure 4. More
specifically, with the display "AXIS" on the display means 5 confirmed, the
axis drawing key 41d and the input key 43a are depressed. In this connection,
it should be noted that it is necessary to depress the input key 43a after
data such as plotting parameters are inputted. The controller 6 reads the
axis drawing data, and then displays the display "SIZE X,Y = " for enquiring
the lengths of the X and Y axes on the display means 5. In response to this
display, data "60 and 50" are inputted by using the general key group 43, to
set the lengths of the X and Y axes to 60 mm and 50 mm. In succession with
this, in response to the display "ORIGIN = " enquiring for the position of the
original point, the coordinates "25, 10" of the original point are keyed in.
The position of the original point can be specified with the cursor 25. In
this case, the cursor 25 is moved to a desired position by operating the
cursor movement key group 45 and is then positioned by depressing the coordin-
ate specifying key 41k. Next, the number of segments of the X-axis is inquired
with the display "X SEGMENT = ". In response to this, for instance the digit
"6" is inputted. Similarly, the digit "5" in inputted for the Y-axis. In
succession with this, the display "FRAME = " is provided. In this case, "0"
~r "1" is inputted depending on whether or not plotting the frame F is required.
Thus, the axes have been drawn on the plotting surface 26 of the recorder 2
as shown in Figure 6.
(2) An operation for drawing bar graphs on the axes thus drawn as shown
in Figure 7 will be described.
After the display "B.GRAPH" has been confirmed, the bar graph key
41a and the input key 43a are depressed. In response to the display "NO OF
DATA - ", the total number "6" of data is specified with the keys. Next the
display "GRAPH PATTERN = " inquiring for the type of a graph is displayed on
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the display means. In response to this display, the number "1" indicating
the type of the graph is inputted. Then, the value "0" is inputted for the
display "MINIMUM Y = " inquiring the minimum value of the Y-axis, and the
value "100" is inputted for the display "MAXI~M Y = " inquiring the maximum
value of the Y-axis. Thereafter, in response to data requests "DATA 001 = "
"DATA 002", .... and "DATA 006 = " displayed successively beginning with the
first segment, the corresponding values "40", "75", ... and "55" are inputted
one after another. In the case where it is required to shade the bar graph
as shown in Figure 7, the hatching key 41f is depressed after the display
"END" has been confirmed. In this case, the display "DATA = " appears in the
display means 5. In response to this display, the value "2" is inputted to
specify the second bar from the original point. Then, in response to the
display "PATTERN = ", the number "1" indicating the kind of the pattern is
inputted. The fifth bar from the original point can be specified so as to be
shaded, similarly as in the above-described case, after the display "~ " has
been confirmed. As was described above, the graph can be drawn directly on
the recorder 2 by keying in the plotting data in a step-by-step mode in the
interactive system with the displays on the display means 5, under the control
of the controller 6.
In the case where the mode key 42b is set to the execution mode,
the execution is effected to advance the plotting operation for every instruc-
tion. In the case where the mode key 42b is set to the store mode, all the
programs set are stored, and therefore by depressing the run key 42d after
the mode key has been switched to the execution mode the stored programs are
executed, so that the bar graph can be drawn at once. Amendment, addition or
elimination af the stored programs can be carried out as desired if the state-
ments of the relevant program or programs are called to the display means 5
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by operating the edit key group 42c and other relevant keys.
Substantially similarly as in the above-described bar graph plotting
operation, a polygonal line or a pie chart can be drawn by giving suitable
plotting data.
The key operating sequence and the display words appearing on the
display means 5 are not limited to those described above; that is, they may
be modified so as to be suitable or convenient for the user.
The plotting parameters are inputted by operating the keyboard in
the above-described case; however, they may be inputted through an interface
from an external unit. In the case where it is required to insert characters
or symbols in a graph constructed on the plotting surface, the respective
recording positions are specified as coordinates or specified by the cursor
and then the characters or symbols to be inserted and the sizes thereof are
specified.
As is apparent from the above description, according to the inter-
active graphic system of the invention, the plotting means, the keyboard, the
display means and the controller are formed into one unit. Therefore, with
the graphic system only, intricate graphs, characters and symbols can be
drawn. The special keys for instruction words and sentences concerning a bar
graph, a polygonal line and a pie chart are provided on the keyboard. Intri-
cate graphs can be readily plotted by operating these special keys and the
general keys in simple manner.
Since the display words and the operating procedure are substantially
similar to the words and the procedure which are employed in an actual graph
plotting operation, it is not always necessary that the operator is a special-
ist or the interactive graphic system; that is, a graph can be readily drawn
even by an ordinary operator as desired. Furthermore, if the position of the
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recording pen can be predetermined by specifying the necessary coordinates or
by positioning the cursor, then the arrangement of a draft can be determined
before the plotting operation. Therefore, the interactive graphic system of
the invention is advantageous in that the labor and time for a preliminary
plotting operation can be saved, when compared with the conventional device
in which a hard copy is prepared by the plotter after a draft is temporarily
drawn on the cathode-ray-tube display unit.
The interactive graphic system of the invention can draw not only
graphs, but also various patterns or figures by using lines, symbols, etc.
