Patent GB-1190491-A (GB)
Title: Perspective or Orthographic Plotter
Inventor: TAYLOR BERNARD MONTROSS JR
IPC: B43L13/14
Filed: 1968-01-01
Abstract: 1,190,491. Computer for projection plotting. B. M. TAYLOR. 1 Jan., 1968 [19 Jan., 1967], No. 41/68. Heading G4G. [Also in Divisions G1 and G3] A system for providing two-dimensional projections of a subject specified by three-dimensional space lines comprises an input record bearing information concerning the subject in the form of a plurality of distinct continuous lines which are tracked to produce analogue signals which are processed to produce output signals representative of a two-dimensional projection of the subject. As shown, a paper strip on a recorder bears analogue lines C1-C9 in silver ink, of which, C1-C3 represent co-ordinate points C1-C3 along a line on an object positioned within arbitrary co-ordinate planes, C4-C7 sine and cosine parameters of the angular direction of the line in the co-ordinate planes which are used to identify line sections hidden from an imaginary observer and C8-C9 indicate where a pen is to ink or lift from the produced two-dimensional representation on a plotter 80. The lines C1-C7 are tracked by electromechanical servos to position sliders W1-W3 of potentiometers R1-R3 and the sliders of potentiometers R7-R10. The sliders W4-W6 of potentiometers R4-R6 are manually set in dependence on the co-ordinates a 1 -a 3  of the position of the imaginary observer. Each potentiometer R4-R6 comprises a linear portion from earth to a mid-point and then on reciprocally to a theoretical infinite value at the upper end. Sliders W1-W6 on the potentiometers are ganged, together with sliders on potentiometers R15, R16, and loaded by a spring L1 so that their position is determined by the highest slider W7-W12. It is stated that the windings of the potentiometers are rendered continuous by the sliders W1-W6 being supplied with the appropriate phase voltage as determined by switches S1-S6, from the tappings of potentiometers R15, R16. Switches S1-S3 are automatically switched by the movement through zero of the servos responsive to lines C1-C3. The observer's attitude with respect to the picture plane is set for yaw a# and pitch a# in rotatable inductor resolvers T1, T2. It is stated that roll may be changed by rotation of the drawing sheet in the plotter 80. Transformers 14, 18, 22 perform the subtraction of a 1 -c 1 , a 3 -c 3  and a 2 -c 2 , respectively, and from the rotor-winding of resolver T2 is obtained the divisor for a division circuit 60 deriving the co-ordinates f 1 , f2, with respect to a reference point, at the intersection of the normal through the observer position with picture plane. The signals from the resolvers are fed to the plotter 80 to produce a perspective view of the object in the picture plane. For an orthographic projection, a switching system S82 is manually actuated whereby the divisor for the division circuit 60 is derived from the differential voltage across the sliders of potentiometers R15, R16. The voltage across the secondaries of transformers 14, 18, 22 are applied across potentiometers R7-R9, the sliders of which are positioned in correspondence with lines C4-C6 to provide signals to transformers T3, T4 which, in combination with the potentiometer R10, positioned in correspondence with line C7, provide, in accordance with formulµ set out in the Specification, a voltage V70 which is applied to a phase-detector 70 controlling the operation of a relay 75 whereby the signal C9, signifying that the line is hidden, is fed to the plotter 80 and a dashed line drawn. The hidden line circuit is inhibited by the opening of a switch S16. The end of line signal for lifting the pen from the drawing is fed through line C8. For an orthographic projection, the switches S10-S14 operable by switching system S82, change the supply to potentiometers R7-R9 over to sine-cosine resolvers R11, R12 which are manually set to the imaginary observer angles a#, a#.