APPARATUS FOR COMPUTING QUANTITIES EXPRESSED BY DRAWINGS

Abstract: A drawing is placed on a panel on an input unit (11), and an operation instruction for calculating the length, area and volume by using a pointing device, such as a stylus pen, and coordinate values on the drawing are input. The input oper­ ation instruction and coordinate values are analyzed in an an­ alysis control unit (12), and the data obtained by the analysis are subjected to contraction-scale computation to start a lenth measuring unit (13), an area measuring unit (14), and an arith­ metic unit based on four rules of arithmetics (15) and thereby compute quantities including the length, area and volume. The results of this computation and what are input from the input unit are output from the analysis control unit (12) to a display unit (17) and a printer (18) through an output control unit (16).

Description: DESCRIPTION PROCESSING UNIT FOR MEASUREMENT OF DRAWINGS Technical Field This invention relates to a drawing measurement processing unit for measuring length, area, volume and the like from construction and other drawings designated by using coordinate input means such as a digitizer. Background Art Work such as preparing a job estimate or materials estimate performed at a construction firm involves finding length, area and volume from drawings. Such an operation can be performed at the time measurements are made and is not necessarily performed at the construction site. Conventionally, the usual practice is to use a set (triangular) square and planimeter for an operation of this type. In order to reduce labor, systems have appeared in which software for large-scale or personal computers utilizing a digitizer has been developed, wherein numerical information is entered from a keyboard and subsequent computations are performed mechanically (i.e., through electronic calculations). Fig. 8 is a view illustrating an example of a conventional measurement processing unit utilizing a digitizer. Numeral 31 denotes a digitizer, 32 a stylus pen, 33 a keyboard, 34 a display, and 35 a central processing unit (CPU). In the measurement processing unit shown in Fig. 8, the digitizer 31 having the stylus pen 32 is connected to a personal computer comprising the keyboard 33, display 34 and central processing unit 35. Data and commands inputted from the keyboard 33 and coordinate values inputted from the digitizer 31 are processed by the central processing unit 35 to obtain lengths and areas. The results are outputted to and displayed by the display 34. As shown in Fig. 8, this recently developed measurement processing unit has the personal computer connected to the digitizer. This is disadvantageous in that the unit is not constructed as a general-purpose, easily usable device, the unit is large in size and not easy to carry, and the cost of the unit is high. Consequently, set squares and planimeters, which are inexpensive and long-established measuring means, are still widely used. These can only measure length, area and the like individually and cannot perform applied calculations. In other words, the state of the art is such that the operation for finding length, area and volume is still largely performed by hand and therefore involves many difficulties in terms of efficiency and accuracy. The present invention is based on the foregoing considerations and its object is to provide a unit capable of obtaining length, area, volume and the like from a drawing placed on a panel. Another object of the present invention is to provide a unit capable of simplifying key information input and programs. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a unit which is simple and easy to operate. A further object of the present invention is to provide a unit which is compact and easy to carry. Disclosure of the Invention In order to attain the foregoing objects, the present invention provides a drawing measurement processing. unit in which a drawing is placed upon a panel and coordinate values on the drawing are inputted for computing length, area, volume and the like, characterized by having input means for inputting a computation command and coordinate values on a drawing placed upon the panel, processing means for computing length, area, volume and the like from the inputted computation command and coordinate values, and output means for outputting inputted contents and the contents of computations. Thus, by inputting a predetermined computation command from the input means and then inputting the coordinate values that are to be submitted to the computation, a desired length, area, volume and the like can be found from a drawing. Since only the keys necessary for length, area and volume computation commands need be provided, the input means can be simplified because the types of keys are few in number. This also enables the processing means to be implemented by a simple program. Accordingly, the unit can be handled substantially in the same manner as a calculator, and actual lengths, areas, volumes and the like can be obtained from a drawing written in any scale through a simple operation which does not require complicated manipulations. Moreover, by arranging the unit with the minimum required number of keys and the minimum required program, the unit can be integrated, reduced in size and weight and made readily portable. In addition, the unit is flexible and can be adapted to various objectives by changing a menu sheet and program. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a view illustrating an embodiment of a drawing measurement processing unit according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the system configuration of the drawing measurement processing unit of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a view illustrating an example of a menu sheet; Fig. 4 is a view for describing a specific example of input processing; Fig. 5 is a view illustrating another example of a menu sheet; Fig. 6 is a view illustrating another embodiment of a drawing measurement processing unit according to the present invention; Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a further embodiment of a drawing measurement processing unit according to the present invention; and Fig. 8 is a view illustrating an example of a conventional measurement processing unit utilizing a digitizer. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention A mode for carrying out the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In Fig. 1, numeral 1 denotes coordinate input means, 2 a menu sheet, 3 processing means, 4 display means and 5 printing output means. The coordinate input means is a so-called digitizer or tablet for inputting numerical values on a panel by using a stylus pen or cursor. The menu sheet 2 is affixed to a specified coordinate region on the panel. Though the menu sheet 2 will be described in detail later with reference to Fig. 3, the menu sheet has, by way of example, numeric keys of from 10" to "9", computation designating keys such as "x", t n "AREA" and "LENGTH", and scale designating keys such as "SCALE 1" and "SCALE 2". The processing means 3 functions to read in the coordinate values from the coordinate value input means 1, determine whether a coordinate value lies in a specific coordinate region (the region of menu sheet 2), identify key information corresponding to the coordinate value and execute processing defined by the key information if the coordinate value is within the region of the menu sheet 2, and accept and identify the coordinate value directly as data if the coordinate value lies outside the region of the menu sheet 2. Accordingly, by hitting the menu sheet 2 with a stylus pen, the processing means 3 recognizes the key information on the menu sheet 2 from the coordinate values. For instance, if a scale key is hit with the stylus pen to set a scale, a computation designating key is hit to designate computation of an area and desired points on a drawing placed on the panel are hit in succession, then the processing means 3 will compute the area from the coordinate values of the desired range. The display means 4 displays the input information recognized by the processing means 3, as well as the results of the computations. The printing output means 5 prints out this information in accordance with a print instruction. The coordinate value region recognition program, a program for identifying the key information and executing processing corresponding to each item of key information, and other programs in the processing means 3 are prepared depending upon the contents of the menu sheet 2. By way of example, these programs can be stored in a memory such as a replaceable ROM with which the processing means 3 can be replaceably provided to conform to a change in the menu sheet 2 affixed to the panel. Alternatively, a program can be modified by using the processing means 3 having a keyboard, whereby the keys can be used to alter the program in accordance with a change in the menu sheet affixed to the panel. Fig. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the drawing measurment processing unit illustrated in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the portion comprising an analytical controller 12, a length measuring unit 13, an area measuring unit 14, an arithmetic operations unit 15 and an output controller 16 corresponds to the processing means 3 shown in Fig. 1. The analytical controller 12 has an internal memory, reads in coordinate values from the input unit (coordinate input means) 11, determines whether a coordinate value lies within a specific coordinate region (the region of the menu sheet 2), and executes analytical processing of the key input information from the menu sheet 2. Units and scale are defined based on the results of the analysis. The analytical controller 12 starts the length measuring unit 13 if a computation for measurement of length is designated, the area measuring unit 14 if computation for measurement of area is designated, and the arithmetic operations unit 15 if an arithmetic computation is designated. The output controller 16 controls outputs to a display 17 and a printer output unit 18 in accordance with a command from the analytical controller 12. Fig. 3 illustrates a specific example of the menu sheet. In Fig. 3, "SCALE 1" is a scale designating key used when scale is decided in advance so as to define a scale of 1/1000 by inputting 1000 using the numeric keys. The "SCALE 2" key is used when defining scale by coordinate values inputted from the coordinate input section and numerical values inputted from the numeric keys, as by inputting coordinates between two points of a length (e.g. a length of 1000) on the drawing and inputting the length as 1000 using the numeric keys when the scale is unclear. Depending on the drawing, the vertical and horizontal scales are not the same. When such is the case, a "SCALE 3" can be added in such a manner that definition according to the "SCALE 2" method is carried out for each of the vertical and horizontal directions. With the system shown in Fig. 2, this processing is performed by the analytical controller 12. When coordinate values are inputted along points for obtaining length by a "LENGTH" computation designating key, the analytical controller 12 obtains coordinate values converted in accordance with the scale definition, and the length measuring unit 13 computes the distance between these coordinate values. When the area of, say, the wall of a room is to be found with the "AREA" key, coordinate values are inputted along the wall on a plan view and the height of the wall is inputted by the numeric keys. The analytical controller 12 then obtains coordinate values converted in accordance with the scale definition and the area measuring unit 14 computes the distance (the total length of the wall) between the coordinate values, then multiplies this by the height of the wall inputted from the numeric keys in order to calculate the area. In addition, when coordinate values are inputted along a region for obtaining area and a height by which this area is to be multiplied is inputted from the numeric keys, the analytical controller 12 obtains coordinate values converted in accordance with the scale definition and the area measuring unit 14 computes the area surrounded by these coordinate values and then multiplies this by height to calculate volume. Further, it is possible to adopt an arrangement in which, by using other computation designation keys, these results are stored in the memory of the analytical controller 12 so that arithmetic operations ("M+", "M-", "RM") can be performed with the next step of computation results. For example, in a case where areas are computed for regions at several locations and the total of these areas is to be obtained, processing used in a calculator is performed, as by using the "M+" key to store the area found each time and add this to the next area. In addition, in a case where portions having the same length or area, such as entrances, exits and pillars in a construction drawing, are to be subjected to calculations, an arrangement may be adopted in which a "NUMBER" key is provided, the number of coordinate inputs is counted by this computation designation, and this is multiplied by coordinate values (length or area) provided by the numeric keys. "READ FORMAT" represents a key used to set an input method. Whenever an input is made using this key, a changeover is effected between a POINT (discrete) designation and a STREAM (successive) designation. POINT (discrete) is for making point inputs one point at a time when obtaining area or length, while STREAM (successive) is for making inputs successively (by moving the stylus pen while it is being pressed down) when finding area or length on a drawing which includes curves. "UNITS" is a key for designating measurement units. Whenever an input is made using this key, the set units are changed in accordance with a predetermined sequence, such as km 3 m H > cm. "PRINT" is a key operated when printing numbers and the results of measurement. A specific example of input processing will now be described. Assume that the plan view of a building is placed on the panel to obtain the area of a wall, and that the height of the wall is 2.4 m. In such case, the first step is to input a data identification code (ID) "A01", followed by inputting the "READ FORMAT" to establish the "POINT" mode, "UNITS" to set "m", and then "SCALE 1", "200" and "LENGTH", as shown in Fig. 4. When this has been accomplished, the analytical controller 12 analyzes these inputs and then, in accordance with point inputs based on the starting and end points of straight lines, recognizes that the lengths between these points are to be obtained in accordance with the scale, with m being the unit. Accordingly, when a plurality of points (coordinate values) are thereafter inputted in succession along the wall of the building in the plan view, these coordinate values are delivered to the length measuring unit 13, where the lengths between mutually adjacent points (coordinate values) are calculated and added. After the points necessary for obtaining total wall length have been entered, "x", "2.4" and "=" are inputted, whereupon the total length of the wall is multiplied by the height thereof to obtain "52.2 m2 as the area of the wall. In other words, first the data ID is inputted, then coordinate values and numerical values, which are the computation data, are inputted after scale, units and computation have been designated, and finally "=" is inputted. In such case, the display 17 sequentially displays the data identification code and measured values in combination. However, if only "PRINT" has been designated, the printer output unit 18 will print out this information. The present invention can be modified in various ways and is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 3, the menu sheet is provided with alphabetic character keys. However, it is permissible to input the data ID solely in the form of numerical values and delete the alphabetic character keys. It is also permissible to input different key information based on inputs made by a combination of the alphabetic character keys. Further, it is possible to store the results of computations in advance for each ID and define and append key information such as will edit, tabulate and print out these results for each ID in response to a print designation. In this case, it is permissible to provide an edit output function in which, by forming the ID of a combination of alphanumeric characters, alphabetic characters are arranged vertically and numeric characters horizontally to produce an edited output in the form 01 02 03 A .... B .... C .... D .... As shown in Fig. 5, the menu sheet has its rear side coated with paste and is affixed to a specific region on the panel of the coordinate input means 1 shown in Fig. 1 after a sheet of backing paper is peeled off. With such an arrangement, the menu sheet can be readily changed. This enables a menu sheet to be constituted by the minimum necessary key information for the particular objective and also makes it possible to simplify the program itself. In addition, the combination of the menu sheet and program can be changed at will, thus making it possible to provide a unit capable of diverse processing. Fig. 6 is a view illustrating another embodiment of a drawing measurement processing unit according to the present invention. In the Figure, numeral 21 denotes coordinate input means, 22 a stylus pen, 23 and 27 panels, 24 a menu sheet, 25 a printer and 26 a display. In Fig. 6, the coordinate input means 21 comprises the stylus pen 22, panel 23 and the menu sheet 24, which is attached to the top of the panel 23, and is a so-called digitizer for inputting coordinate values on the panel 23 when the panel is hit with the stylus pen 22. Mounted within the panel 27 is the processing means for processing instructions and data inputted from the coordinate input means 21. Mounted on the panel 27 are the printer 25 and display 26 for outputting contents inputted from the coordinate input means 21 as well as the results of processing. As mentioned earlier, the menu sheet 24 has, by way of example, numeric keys of from 0" to "9", computation designating keys such as "x", #+#, "AC", "AREA" and "LENGTH", and scale designating keys such as "SCALE 1" and "SCALE 2". By hitting the menu sheet 24 with the stylus pen 22, the processing means reads in the corresponding key information. To this end, the processing means naturally has a function for identifying whether coordinate values inputted from the coordinate input means 21 represent key information from the menu sheet 24 or merely coordinate value data, as well as a function for identifying and processing key information. Accordingly, a program in the processing means for coordinate recognition and a program for the identification and processing of the key information are prepared in accordance with the contents of the menu sheet 24. Fig. 7 is a view showing yet another embodiment of a a drawing measurement processing unit according to the present invention. Here the menu sheet 24 shown in Fig. 6 is replaced by a keyboard 24' arranged on the panel 27 alongside the coordinate input means 21. The keyboard 24' in this case may have contents on the same level as that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and can be a keyboard similar to that of a calculator. This enables the unit to be made compact in construction. Industrial Applicability As set forth above, the drawing measurement processing unit according to the present invention is suitable for calculating various shapes, cross sections, lengths, areas, volumes and the like expressed on a construction drawing, work drawing, measurement drawing and various other scale drawings (inclusive of full-size and enlarged drawings) placed on the unit.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A drawing measurement processing unit in which a drawing is placed upon a panel and coordinate values on the drawing are inputted for computing length, area, volume and the like, characterized by having input means for inputting a computation command and coordinate values on a drawing placed upon the panel; processing means for computing length, area, volume and the like from the inputted computation command and coordinate values; and output means for outputting inputted contents and the contents of computations. 2. A drawing measurement processing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the input means comprises a coordinate input unit for inputting the coordinates on the drawing and a key input unit for inputting key information such as the computation command, said key input unit having computation designating keys for designating at least length computation, area computation and arithmetic computations, a scale designating key and numeric keys. 3. A drawing measurement processing unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a specific region on the panel on which the drawing is placed is made the key input section and the computation command and other key information are defined, and a changeable key information menu sheet is affixed to said specific region. 4. A drawing measurement processing unit according to any one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that said processing means performs an analysis to determine whether coordinate value input data from the input means is key information or a coordinate value for being subjected to computation, and performs predetermined processing designated by the key information. 5. A drawing measurement processing unit according to any one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that the processing means is adapted so as to be capable of modifying a definition of key information to conform to the menu sheet. 6. A drawing measurement processing unit according to any one of claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the processing means has an editing function and is adapted so as to control the output means to output data edited by the editing function. 7. A drawing measurement processing unit according to claim 6, characterized in that data are edited for each and every identification code. 8. A drawing measurement processing unit according to any one of claims 1 through 6, characterized in that an input message is displayed on the output means. 9. A drawing measurement processing unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the key input section is arranged alongside the coordinate input section.

Inventors: HASHIMOTO, YUJI SHIMIZU CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD., KOBAYASHI, KIMIHIRO SHIMIZU CONSTRUCTION CO.,LTD., YOSHIDA, TAKANORI SHIMIZU CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
Applicants: SHIMIZU CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G06F15
IPC codes: G06F17, G06T7