Patent GB-1521102-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for the processing of information obtained from the scanning of a multicoloured pattern
IPC: G06V30/10
Filed: 1975-07-23
Abstract: 1521102 Processing multi-coloured patterns SULZER MORAT GmbH 23 July 1975 [26 July 1974] 30856/75 Heading G1A In the machine reproduction of multi-coloured patterns requiring the subdivision of the pattern into separate fields arranged in rows and columns and the assignment to each field of a specific colour the signal obtained from each field of uncertain colour by scanning of the pattern is processed by examining the signals from adjacent fields, and applying a correction if necessary based on the results of that examination. Thus an uncertain colour signal, such as occurs when a field contains a boundary line between colours, will be replaced by a one colour signal. A pattern 101 stretched on a rotating cylinder 100 is scanned by an opto-electronic device 102 and coded signals fed to a store 107 comprising magnetic tape, punched tape or core memory. A screened image 110 of the stored pattern may be displayed utilizing printer 109. When the screened image matches the desired pattern the stored signals are fed to a knitting machine or used to produce a film control tape for electronic control of a machine. One block of the pattern at a time is read into working store 120 and a processor 121 examining the signals in an order determined by initiating storage 122 passes the field address of uncertain signals to store 124. A processor 125 examines the signals for adjacent fields, which fields form a U-matrix, corner matrix, or variable chain matrixes, Figs. 2, 4 and 5 to 9 respectively (not shown). If these signals satisfy certain conditions for the matrix applied, e.g. in the case of a U-matrix that all fields have the same colour signal, the processor acts via circuit 127 to change the uncertain signal to that colour signal. The correction may be over-ridden if in the proximity of the uncertain field more than two fields of different colour adjoin. Upon completion of the correction the processor 121 is restarted by a signal from circuit 127 or in the case where the matrix conditions are not satisfied by a signal from the matrix processor 125. Additional matrix processors may be connected in parallel with processor 125, and the signals may be processed by different matrixes simultaneously, or successively or by the same matrix repeatedly but in different orders. Using corner matrixes an uncertain corner field (39, or 44) Fig. 4 (not shown) is assigned the external colour (A), Fig. 1 (not shown) while the uncertain fields of a variable chain matrix (48 to 51), Fig. 5 (not shown) are assigned the colour of the starting and final fields, 59, 60. When the starting and final fields are of different colour, Fig. 7 (not shown) half of the uncertain fields (73, 74) are assigned one colour and half (75, 76) the other colour. Provisions can be made, Fig. 9 (not shown) for avoiding undesirable flattening of curves in the pattern. Matrixes may also be made variable in form wherefor after detection of an uncertain field (68) Fig. 6 (not shown) a search is instigated in different directions and at different distances for additional uncertain fields, and various sets of conditions applied as a result of this search. In a modification of the invention all uncertain signals may be picked out and stored in tubular form before processing.