Abstract:
A drawing aid assembly includes a tracing screen, a light generating assembly, a controller, a storage area, and a selector. The light generating assembly is arranged to cause a light spot to impinge upon a first side of the tracing screen and the light spot is transmitted to a second side of the tracing screen such that the position of the light spot may be recorded by a user. The controller controls the light generating assembly such that the light spot is arranged to impinge at a number of predetermined positions upon the tracing screen in accordance with a figure to be traced. The storage area retains data defining a number of figures, the storage area being accessible by the controller. The selector enables the user to select a figure to be traced from the number of figures within the storage area.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This description relates to a drawing aid assembly.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    A number of devices are known for assisting a user to draw figures such as simple shapes. For example, known tracing devices use a stylus to scrape an opaque powder from the surface of a screen in order to generate a visible mark upon the screen. A user controls the stylus with mechanical means such that independent motion of the stylus upon the X and Y axes can be affected by the user turning a corresponding knob with each hand. Such devices have been popular for many years as toys and educational aids for children. Analogous electronic devices are also known.  
           [0003]    Displays such as television screens have also been used to assist in the teaching of artistic methods and techniques to users. For example, a drawing sheet may be attached to a television screen. A user such as an art student traces over an image generated on the television screen, in order to practice various artistic techniques.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0004]    In one general aspect, a drawing aid assembly includes a tracing screen; a light generating assembly arranged to cause a light spot to impinge upon a first side of the tracing screen wherein the light spot is transmitted to a second side of the tracing screen such that the position of the light spot may be recorded by a user; a controller for controlling the light generating assembly such that the light spot is arranged to impinge at a number of predetermined positions upon the tracing screen in accordance with a figure to be traced; a storage area for retaining data defining a number of figures, wherein the storage area is accessible by the controller; and a selector for selecting the figure to be traced from the number of figures within the storage area.  
           [0005]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, one of a number of figures held in a storage area may be selected and presented on the tracing screen by the positioning of the light spot at a number of locations.  
           [0006]    In order to fully reproduce the figure, the user traces out a path defined by the respective positions of the light spot. The user may trace the figure directly upon the second side of the tracing screen using, for example, a felt tip pen. However, typically a removable recording medium such as a sheet of paper is overlaid upon the tracing screen and the user traces onto the paper as the light spot is transmitted through the paper. The drawing aid assembly provides both an educational and fun aspect to drawing for users such as children, particularly when the selected figure is only represented at any time by a single spot. This adds an element of excitement and mystery to the tracing procedure. The use of a recording medium also allows the user to retain the figure once it has been drawn.  
           [0007]    The figures are predefined and contained as data within the storage area and typically each figure is constructed from a series of rectilinear lines between various points. The figures therefore typically include simple line drawings. The particular figure to be traced by the user may be either selected by the user or by the drawing aid assembly and corresponding operational modes of the drawing aid assembly may be provided for each case.  
           [0008]    The selector typically includes an input device, such as a number of keys, that allows the user to provide instructions to the controller. This input device may also be used for providing other instructions, such as mode selection, instructions during the drawing of the figures, and On/Off operations. A similar function can be achieved by providing the selector in the form of a touch screen.  
           [0009]    When the user selects a figure from the storage area, visual information may be provided as feedback to the user to identify the figure to be selected. This may be achieved using the tracing screen, which is marked at a number of positions. The markings may be in the form of icons. Each position marking (icon) may correspond to a controller instruction, and the user may control the position of the light spot from the light generating assembly to select a particular controller instruction.  
           [0010]    The marked positions may be formed as surface relief upon the underside of the tracing screen. This is sufficient to disperse the light spot such that the marking is visible when the light spot impinges upon the marking. The location of the light spot corresponding to each marked position is known to the processor so that the corresponding figure can be selected. This method can also be used to provide other functions such as mode selection, or to provide instructions to the user from the processor.  
           [0011]    A separate overlay screen may be used as an alternative to using the tracing screen.  
           [0012]    The light generating assembly may take the form of a stationary light source with controlled mirrors or lenses providing the movement of the light spot upon the tracing screen. Alternatively, the light generating assembly may include a matrix of light sources such as light emitting devices (LEDs). However, typically the light generating assembly includes a physically movable light source such as an LED.  
           [0013]    This light source may be moved using a suitable drive mechanism. In general, the drive mechanism is arranged to move the light source upon two independent axes within a plane parallel to the tracing screen. In one example of a drive mechanism, a holder is provided for containing the light source, the holder being slidably mounted upon two rods. Each rod is driven along one of the corresponding axes independently. A motor driven wire and pulley device may be used to move the light source. One such motor along with a wire and pulley system may be provided for movement upon each of these two axes.  
           [0014]    Alternatively, other drive mechanisms may be used, such as mechanisms employing fine lead screws driven from motors with threaded followers.  
           [0015]    Conveniently, a Cartesian coordinate system may be employed. Similarly, a polar coordinate system may be used, for example, by providing a bar rotatable about an axis, and a slider adapted to move to and fro along the bar.  
           [0016]    So that the position of the light spot may be monitored with sufficient accuracy, the assembly may include a monitoring device for monitoring the light spot position. Possible monitoring methods that may be used include printed resistive material, counting feedback pulses from a commutator upon each motor, switch counting using a cam operated switch on each axis, and various optical methods using encoders (such as rotary or linear, transmissive or reflective electro-optical devices).  
           [0017]    An encoder, such as an infra-red transmissive encoder, may be used along with a detector. For example, one such encoder system may be provided to monitor movement relative to each axis. A linear encoder strip including a series of bars arranged along each axis is suitable for this purpose.  
           [0018]    As many monitoring means only provide relative position information, the assembly may further include a datum monitor that produces a signal when the light spot is in a predefined position. This position may be in the form of an origin for use by the controller to repeatedly recalibrate the position information such that position of the light spot is known with high accuracy. The datum monitor may include a microswitch, a switch, or another optical/infra-red method such as use of an encoder.  
           [0019]    In general, the assembly is provided as a self-contained portable device and includes a housing formed from a durable material. As the user uses a recording medium upon which to trace the figure, an attachment device may also be provided to hold the recording medium adjacent to the tracing screen. This attachment device may typically comprise clips or slidable members.  
           [0020]    In accordance with another aspect, a method of aiding drawing includes selecting a figure using the selector of a drawing aid assembly, positioning a recording medium adjacent to the second surface of a tracing of the assembly, operating a controller of the drawing aid assembly such that a light spot is transmitted through the tracing screen and the recording medium at a number of positions in accordance with the selected figure, and marking the positions upon the recording medium such that the selected figure is reproduced.  
           [0021]    The drawing of the figure may be aided by positioning the light spot at the number of predetermined positions sequentially. In one mode, the light spot remains illuminated as it is moved between related positions along a rectilinear path whereas in another mode it is turned off during such movement. In one implementation, only one light spot impinges upon the tracing screen at any one time.  
           [0022]    In cases in which the light spot remains illuminated between related positions, the user follows the movement of the spot between the positions. This may be assisted by controlling the light spot travel speed such that it accelerates when moving away from a particular position and decelerates when approaching the next position. Typically, a maximum traverse speed of 5 mm per second is used when the light spot is illuminated.  
           [0023]    Other features will be apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 schematically shows the drawing aid assembly of the example from above;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is an image of a view inside the assembly;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a more detailed image of the drive and monitor systems;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the control system of the example;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 shows the tracing screen icon arrangement;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 a  shows the figure resolution in trace mode;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 b  shows the figure resolution in mystery mode;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 shows the data points in a figure; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of the example method.  
         [0033]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0034]    Referring to FIG. 1, a drawing aid assembly  1  is in the form of a self-contained and portable children&#39;s toy. The drawing aid assembly  1  includes a housing formed from upper and lower parts  2 ,  3  respectively. These upper and lower parts  2 ,  3  are separable to allow access to the interior of the drawing aid assembly  1  although when in use these two parts  2 ,  3  are joined together. The housing parts  2 ,  3  are formed approximately in the shape of a flat and thin briefcase.  
         [0035]    The housing part  2  includes an approximately planar upper surface  4  that contains a tracing screen  5  and a selector in the form of user input controls  6  including UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT and SELECT navigation buttons. These enable the user to operate the assembly  1 . The housing part  2  also includes two clamps on either side of the tracing screen  5  to hold a piece of paper against the screen while the user traces a shape on the paper. The housing part  2  also includes a pen holder  8  adjacent to the tracing screen  5 . Furthermore, the housing parts  2  and  3  include matching handle portions  9  that mate to form a handle, that allows the drawing aid assembly to be easily carried.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 2, which shows the interior of the drawing aid assembly  1  with the upper and lower housing parts  2 ,  3  separated, the drawing aid assembly  1  is controlled by electronics contained upon a circuit board  10 . The circuit board  10  includes a controller  11  such as a Sunplus SPC41A micro-controller, and memory components that contain the software to operate the device. The memory components include a storage area  12  is provided as ROM within the SPC41A micro-controller, although a separate storage area may be used. The storage area  12  contains data relating to a number of figures to be drawn, as will be described later. All of the systems within the drawing aid assembly  1 , including the circuitry upon the circuit board  10  and the motors described below, are powered by a power source such as a battery.  
         [0037]    The electronics (including the circuit board  10 , controller  11 , storage area  12 , and supporting circuitry) control the operation and movement of a light source in the form of a light emitting diode (LED)  13 . In one implementation, the LED has a narrow viewing angle and a 3 mm diameter. The approximate range of motion of the LED  13  is in a plane parallel to the tracing screen  5  such that all points within the tracing screen  5  may be illuminated by the LED  13 . When operated, the LED  13  produces a light spot upon the inner surface of the tracing screen  5  that then passes through the screen.  
         [0038]    The LED  13  is held in a holder  14  and this holder  14  is slidably attached to horizontal  15  and vertical  16  metallic rods. These rods correspond to the two axes of the rectangular tracing screen  5  respectively. The LED  13  and holder  14  are therefore constrained to move within the plane parallel to that of the tracing screen  5  and the holder  14  is at all times mounted upon each of the rods. The holder  14  may therefore be moved to any point beneath the tracing screen  5  by moving the horizontal  15  and vertical rods  16 . During this process the holder  14  slides along each of the rods until the desired position is reached.  
         [0039]    Each rod  15 ,  16  spans the tracing screen and is held at opposed sides of the tracing screen  5  upon rails  17 , which are positioned along the sides of the tracing screen  5  and perpendicular to their corresponding rods  15 ,  16 . The ends of the rods  18  that are mounted upon the rails  17  are each attached to corresponding wires  19  and pulleys  20 . The pulleys are positioned at the corners of the plane of movement of the holder  14  and the LED  13 . The pulleys are powered by two motors  21 , one being provided for each of the horizontal  15  and vertical  16  rods. The motors  21  are independently controlled by the controller  11  and the rods  15 ,  16  are therefore moved normal to their axes by the application of a force from the motors to the rod ends  18  through the wires  19  and the pulleys  20 .  
         [0040]    The position of the LED  13  may be accurately monitored during the use of the drawing aid assembly  1  using an infrared transmissive linear encoder system provided on each of the horizontal and vertical axes of movement. As shown in FIG. 3, one of the two opposing rails upon each of the horizontal and vertical axes is fitted with an encoder strip  22  having a series of equally-spaced black and transparent bars of approximate width 0.5 mm.  
         [0041]    An infrared detector  23  (including a transmitter-receiver pair) is attached to one end of each of the horizontal and vertical rods  15 ,  16 . The detector  23  counts the passage of the bars of the encoder strip  22  and provides the information to the controller  11  for use in controlling the motors  21 .  
         [0042]    As the encoders only provide relative position information, a datum  24  is provided to act as an origin for each of the two axes. The datum  24  takes the form of two micro switches, one being provided for each of the two axes. These micro switches are each activated when the LED  13  is positioned in the top left-hand corner of the tracing screen  5 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the control system for use in the drawing aid assembly  1 . The micro-controller  11  controls the operation of the LED  13  and the position and motion of the LED  13  in accordance with the datum  24 , the encoder system  22 ,  23 , and the motor  21 . The motor  21  is operated by a motor driver  25  in the form of an H-bridge, which provides a reversible motor function. The microswitch of the datum  24  for a particular axis indicates when the corresponding rod  15 ,  16  is at the origin position and the infrared encoder  22 ,  23  provides motion information in the form of a count.  
         [0044]    The H-bridge motor driver  25 , the DC motor  21 , the encoder  22 ,  23 , and the microswitch of the datum  24  form a single axis drive  26  for one of the two axis. One such drive is provided for each axis. The controller  11  is therefore able to track the position of the rods upon each axis and therefore, is aware of the position of the LED  13  at all times. The controller  11  also controls operation of the LED  13  and is able to turn the LED  13  on and off as needed.  
         [0045]    As has been suggested, the user provides instructions to the drawing aid assembly  1  through the input controls  6 . In order to provide a display to present various options to the user, the control system of the LED  13  is used in conjunction with a number of symbols provided upon the tracing screen  5 .  
         [0046]    The tracing screen  5  is divided on its underside into regions containing icons  30 ,  31 ,  32 , which are formed by molding the shapes of these icons into the undersurface of the control screen  5 . No further marking of the screen is required as, when the LED  13  is positioned beneath one such symbol, the light is dispersed by the contours of the undersurface in such a way that the icon is visible.  
         [0047]    The layout of the icons is shown in FIG. 5. In the top left-hand corner of the tracing screen  5 , in a position corresponding to that of the datum, a paper icon  30  is provided. The LED  13  may be moved beneath this region of the paper icon  30  to indicate when the user should place upon or remove paper from the tracing screen  5  under the paper clamps  7 . Two mode icons  31  are also provided adjacent to the paper icon and these allow the user to select one of two possible operation modes according to this example. These are the TRACE and MYSTERY modes to be described below.  
         [0048]    The remainder of the icons are positioned in rows and columns upon the tracing screen  5  and these are in the form of 101 figure icons  32 . The icons permit the user to select a particular figure from the 101 figures available, to trace in the tracing mode.  
         [0049]    The user is able to select one of these icons by using the UP, DOWN, LEFT, AND RIGHT keys in order to move the LED  13  under the particular icon and the respective function/selection of the icon is then selected by pressing the SELECT button.  
         [0050]    During use, the drawing aid assembly  1  is operated by the user to enable the user to trace figures upon a piece of paper held within the paper clamps  7  on top of the tracing screen  5 . To do this, the controller sequentially positions and operates the LED  13  such that the light spot is visible to the user as it passes through the tracing screen  5  and through the paper upon it. The user then marks the paper at figure points and along paths instructed by the position and operation of the LED  13 . The user is therefore aided in the drawing of figures contained within the storage area  12 . Whether the user is aware of the actual figure they are drawing is dependent upon the mode used.  
         [0051]    An example of a method of operating the drawing aid assembly  1  will now be described. As has been mentioned, two modes are provided in connection with this example. In the TRACE mode, the user follows the light spot from the LED  13  known as the “tracing point,” and its path forms an image of the figure including a number of lines between various figure points. The LED  13  generally remains illuminated as it moves along its rectilinear path between figure points, unless a break in the trace line is desired. In the alternative MYSTERY mode, the light spot illuminates only specific figure points one by one, and the user traces a line between them constructing the figure as a result.  
         [0052]    Each of the figures is formed from a series of rectilinear lines linking a number of figure points. The relative coordinates of the figure points are held within the storage area  12  as data associated with each figure. The nature of both the TRACE and MYSTERY modes means that the figure image quality should be different in each mode. As illustrated in FIG. 6 a  (TRACE mode) and FIG. 6 b  (MYSTERY mode), the number of figure points used to define a figure in the TRACE mode is greater than that in the MYSTERY mode because a user would take an undesirable length of time to construct a figure in the MYSTERY mode if every figure point were used. The MYSTERY mode figure points are therefore carefully selected to maintain the maximum quality of the figure image; they are therefore a subset of the figure points used in the TRACE mode. The data defining each figure point within the storage area also identifies whether it is a figure point within the MYSTERY mode or a figure point within the TRACE mode.  
         [0053]    The figures are constructed from a number of segments. A segment is one continuous line formed between two or more figure points where the user should not remove their pen from the paper. For example, in FIG. 7, a figure of a fish within a bowl is shown. The bowl outline is formed from a single segment by the connected figure points  1  to  27 . A second segment forms the outline of the fish between figure points  28  and  67 , a third segment is used to draw the dorsal fin between figure points  68  to  76 , a fourth segment draws the gills between figure points  77  and  83 , and the final segment is used to draw the eye between figure points  84  to  88 .  
         [0054]    Some of the figure points may be coincident in coordinates. Furthermore, various figure points may be marked more heavily and these correspond to figure points in both the TRACE mode and the MYSTERY mode. Examples of such points include the figure points numbered  28 ,  68 , and  70 .  
         [0055]    The number of lines on a figure should be kept suitably low to obtain a recognizable outline shape without the process becoming laborious. Accordingly, for example, it should take no more than six minutes for the user to construct a single figure.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram of method of operating the drawing aid assembly  1 . The drawing aid assembly  1  is turned on by the user pressing the SELECT button (step  50 ). At any subsequent time during the operation of the drawing aid assembly  1 , pressing and holding the SELECT button for three or more seconds powers down the unit. An automatic power down also occurs three minutes after the completion of either the last figure segment for a figure, or from the last button pressed by the user.  
         [0057]    The user then selects either the TRACE mode or the MYSTERY mode (step  51 ). The mode selection process is undertaken without a piece of paper on the screen. The light spot initially appears flashing and illuminates the tracing mode icon on the screen as a default. The user may navigate between the tracing and the mystery mode icons using the left and right buttons of the input control  6 . The LED  13  is turned off such that the light spot is not illuminated when the LED  13  is moved by the controller  11  between the two positions corresponding to these mode icons.  
         [0058]    The user actually selects the desired mode by pressing the SELECT button, which causes the light spot to continuously illuminate for one second. Assuming the user has selected the trace mode at step  52 , the user then selects a figure to trace. This again occurs without a piece of paper on the screen and the light spot is initially moved to illuminate (flashing) the first of the  101  figure icons presented on the tracing screen  5 .  
         [0059]    The user then selects a figure by navigating among the icons on the screen using UP/DOWN/BACK/FORWARD buttons, with corresponding movements of the light spot.  
         [0060]    As in the case of mode selection, as the light spot moves between the various coordinates corresponding to the various figure icons, it remains off during the actual motion and flashes behind each icon when correctly positioned. Once the user has positioned the light spot under a figure they would like to draw, they simply press the SELECT button and then the light spot continuously illuminates for one second to confirm the selection.  
         [0061]    Next, the drawing preparation occurs (step  53 ). The light spot first switches off and then moves to and illuminates (flashing) the paper icon. The user then places a piece of paper onto the screen and clamps it in place using the paper clamps  7 . The user then presses the select button once and the light spot then illuminates the paper icon for one second constantly and moves to the start location of the figure (not illuminated during motion). The tracing of the figure may then begin (step  54 ).  
         [0062]    During tracing in the trace mode, the light spot first moves to the start location of the figure (first data point) as determined by the data corresponding to the figure held in the storage area. Once the light spot has arrived at the start location, it begins flashing. The user presses the select button when ready to start tracing. The light spot (tracing point) then turns on constantly for one second and then starts moving while remaining illuminated. The user places her pen on the paper and follows the tracing point upon the paper.  
         [0063]    The tracing point then pauses for half a second at each figure point along the path of the first figure segment. Once the last point within the first segment has been completed the light spot pauses and then it moves (while not illuminated) to the start location of the next segment. Once, at the start of the second segment, the light spot flashes and the user then presses the FORWARD or SELECT buttons to turn the tracing point on constantly for one second while stationary, and then the tracing point begins to move while illuminated along the data points of the second segment. This sequence then continues until the figure is completed.  
         [0064]    At any point during the construction of the figure, the user can press the BACK button and the light spot returns to the start location of the previous figure segment.  
         [0065]    If the MYSTERY mode is chosen at step  51 , then the step of selecting the figure at step  52  is performed at random by the controller. The subsequent preparation step  53  is the same in either mode. In the MYSTERY mode, the tracing step  54  begins by the light spot moving to the start location of the figure while not illuminated. Once it has arrived at the start location, the light spot flashes and the user then marks the dot at the start location. The user then presses the SELECT button and the light spot switches off and moves to the second figure point while unilluminated. Upon arriving at the second figure point, the light spot is illuminated constantly and the user then draws a line between the first and second figure point and presses the FORWARD or SELECT button so that the light spot then moves to the next location. This continues until the end of the figure segment.  
         [0066]    At any point during the construction of a figure in the MYSTERY mode, the user can press the BACK button and the light spot will return to the previous data point. At the beginning of the new figure segment, the light spot flashes instead of being illuminated constantly and this signifies that the user should not complete a line joining the previous data point to this new point. In this case, the user should place a dot in the new location and start a new figure segment. The sequence will continue until the figure is completed.  
         [0067]    In either mode, the user then progresses to the re-play (step  55 ). At step  55 , upon completion of a figure, the light spot switches off and moves to the paper icon location. Upon arriving at the paper icon, the light spot flashes to signify that the user should remove the paper from the screen. The light spot continues to flash until the user presses the SELECT button. Once the user presses the SELECT button, the light spot illuminates the paper icon constantly for one second and then switches off. The light spot then returns to the mode selection icons, illuminating the icon of the mode that has just been completed.  
         [0068]    Next, the method returns to the mode selection (step  51 ).  
         [0069]    The drawing aid assembly  1  is switched off at step  56  or at any time during the steps  51  to  55  by pressing and holding the SELECT button.  
         [0070]    The maximum speed of the light spot as the tracing point in the trace mode is set at 5 mm per second under the control of the controller  11 . It is also desirable that the light spot speed is higher than 5 mm per second when the light spot is moving between the segments or icons when the LED  13  is not illuminated. This reduces any impatience in the user caused by the time for the light spot to move between icons or figure segments.  
         [0071]    In the TRACE mode, the motors  21  are controlled to accelerate away from each figure point of a line and decelerate to the next figure point within a segment, allowing the user to predict the end figure points and those with rapid changes in direction during the trace mode.  
         [0072]    The acceleration control may be performed using a software pulse width modulation scheme. Friction and sticking in the drive may make it difficult for low mark-ratio pulse width modulation to drive the motor. One way of addressing this problem is by using a PI control technique such as ramping up the duty cycle until movement is recorded, then reducing the drive for normal movement.  
         [0073]    In one implementation, the light spot position is arranged to be accurate to within about 2 mm, as this allows the shapes to be connected together neatly to form a complete drawing. Using the linear encoder  22 ,  23 , a spatial accuracy of about 0.5 mm may be obtained. Moreover,  101  figures are used and held as data within the storage area. An absolute start position corresponding to the first figure point, is defined in terms of a coordinate with respect to the (0,0) datum  24  for each figure. Each subsequent figure point is held as a relative (X, Y) movement from the previous point and, as has been suggested, it may be necessary to repeat some points to draw closed shapes such as circles. Each figure point also has a pair of status bits to indicate the status of the LED at that point and to indicate whether the point is used in the mystery mode.  
         [0074]    An average of 108 figure points per figure is used. Of the 101 figures, a range of difficulty is provided from very simple figures to more complex ones, the figures being numbered and ordered according to their increasing difficulty.  
         [0075]    For this reason, a pseudo-random figure selection process is actually used when in the MYSTERY mode. When the MYSTERY mode is selected for the first time (upon powerup) the controller selects a relatively simple figure. The figures are ordered by complexity (from top left to bottom right of the screen) and the controller therefore selects one of the first fifty figures at random whereas for subsequent selections in MYSTERY mode, the controller  11  picks from the complete figure set of 101 figures.  
         [0076]    Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.