Patent Publication Number: US-2010118031-A1

Title: Method and apparatus to define drafting position

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 97143423, filed Nov. 10, 2008, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus to define range, and especially to a method and apparatus to define drafting range. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mouse and keyboard are standard input equipments for computer; however, there are much difference among mouse, keyboard and pen in writing and drawing. Therefore, it is necessary for a novice to spend much time to study how to control mouse and keyboard and to remember the positions of the basic character in keyboard. Therefore, a pen mouse is developed for resolving the foregoing problems. 
     When a user uses the pen mouse to draw, the pen mouse can transfer the move distance to the computer timely. The computer can calculate the move distance to decide and show a corresponding position on a display to notify the user. 
     In other words, such input method requires the user to keep a close watch on the display to insure that the display position in the display is correct. It is very inconvenient for a user. Moreover, if the sensitivity of the pen mouse is not good, the range of the writing content shown in the display will be different from what the user wants. 
     Therefore, an apparatus and a method that can resolve the foregoing problems are needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus and a method to define a drafting range. And, based on the drafting range, a ratio of the writing character to display character is automatically set. Then, based on the ratio, the writing character is displayed in the display. 
     In accordance with the foregoing purpose, the present invention discloses a method to define a drafting range based on a curve drew by a user and a writing character is shown in a display based on the drafting range. The curve includes a plurality of points. The method includes the following steps. The first step is to gather coordinate positions of points. Then, these coordinate positions are compared to each other to get a maximum coordinate position and a minimum coordinate position. A drafting range is generated based on the maximum coordinate position and the minimum coordinate position. Next, the drafting range is corresponded to a display range of a display to define a ratio of the drafting range to the display range. Finally, the writing character is adjusted and displays in the display based on the ratio. 
     In another embodiment, a pen mouse is used to draw the curve. The position of the pen mouse starting to draft is sensed. Then, the distance between the minimum coordinate position and the position of the pen mouse starting to draft is determined. Finally, the distance is adjusted based on the ratio to show the writing character in the display. 
     Moreover, the present invention discloses an apparatus to define a drafting range based on a curve drawn by a user and a writing character is shown in a display based on the drafting range. The curve includes a plurality of points. The apparatus includes a gathering module to gather coordinate positions of points, a comparing module to compare these coordinate positions to each other to get a maximum coordinate position and a minimum coordinate position, a generating module to generate a drafting range based on the maximum coordinate position and the minimum coordinate position, a calculating module to correspond the drafting range to a display range of a display to define a ratio of the drafting range to the display range and a display module to adjust the writing character and display the adjusted writing character in the display based on the ratio. 
     Accordingly, the drafting range is corresponded to the display range, then, the writing character is adjusted and displays in a display based on a ratio of the drafting range to the display range. Therefore, an exact drafting range and position can be displayed in the display. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a flow chart to define a drafting range and a drafting position according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  to  FIG. 2D  is the drafting range drawn by users. 
         FIG. 3  is detailed steps of comparing the drafting positions. 
         FIG. 4  is to correspond the drafting range to a display range of a display to define a ratio. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart of applying the method in a Document Camera. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of using a pen mouse to define the drafting range. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of display content of  FIG. 6  in a display. 
         FIG. 8  is an apparatus to define a drafting range and a drafting position according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Using pen mouse to input information requires the user to keep a close watch on the display to insure that the display position in the display is correct. It is very inconvenient for a user. Moreover, if the sensitivity of the pen mouse is not good, the position of the content shown in the display will be different from what the user wants. Therefore, the present invention provides an apparatus and method to define drafting range and position that can adjust and display the writing character in a display based on a ratio of the drafting range to the display range. The method calculates the relationship between points that a user draws to define the drafting range and to calculate a ratio of the drafting range to the display range of the display. Then, the writing character is displayed in the display based on the ratio. 
       FIG. 1  is a flow chart to define a drafting range and a drafting position according to the present invention. In step  101 , a flow  100  is started to define the drafting range and the drafting position. 
     In step  102 , coordinate positions of points that a user draws to define a drafting range are gathered. In an embodiment, a user can use a pen mouse to draw a range that the user wants to draft. A curve can be drawn by the user to define the range as shown in the  FIG. 2A to 2D . 
     In step  103 , these coordinate positions are compared to each other to get a maximum coordinate position and a minimum coordinate position. The minimum coordinate position means that the position has a minimum X-direction coordinate value and a minimum Y-direction coordinate value, (minX, minY). The maximum coordinate position means that the position has a maximum X-direction coordinate value and a maximum Y-direction coordinate value, (max X, max Y).  FIG. 3  illustrates a detailed flow chart of this step. In step  1031 , the position the user starts to use the pen mouse to draw a drafting range is set as a maximum coordinate position and a minimum coordinate position. The maximum coordinate position and a minimum coordinate position are recorded in a memory. Next, a determination step  104  is performed to determine whether or not the drawing process is ended. For example, when the pen mouse leaves a sensor board, the drawing process is ended. 
     In step  1032 , if the drawing process is not ended in step  104 , the present coordinate position drawn by the user is compared with the maximum coordinate position and the minimum coordinate position. That is, if the drawing process is not ended, these coordinate positions drawn by the user are sequentially compared with the maximum coordinate position and the minimum coordinate position stored in the memory. 
     Next, step  1033  is to renew the maximum coordinate position and the minimum coordinate position stored in the memory. In an embodiment, when a coordinate position drawn by the user is less than the minimum coordinate position stored in the memory, this coordinate position replaces the minimum coordinate position and stores in the memory. On the other hand, when a coordinate position drawn by the user is larger than the maximum coordinate position stored in the memory, this coordinate position replaces the maximum coordinate position and stores in the memory. The step  1032  and step  1033  are repeatedly performed until the drawing process is ended. At this time, the two coordinate positions recorded in the memory are the maximum coordinate position and the minimum coordinate position of the drafting range defined by the user. 
     Next, step  104  is performed again to determine whether or not the drawing process is ended. If the drawing process is not ended in step  104 , the step  1032  is performed again to compare the present coordinate position with the maximum coordinate position and the minimum coordinate position. On the other hand, if the drawing process is ended in step  104 , step  105  is performed. 
     In step  105 , a drafting range is generated based on the maximum coordinate position and the minimum coordinate position stored in the memory. The minimum coordinate position is the origin position. For example, the maximum coordinate position is (25, 32) and the minimum coordinate position is (12, 13). The drafting range is from coordinate position  12  to coordinate position  25  in the X-direction and from coordinate position  13  to coordinate position  23  in the Y-direction. The origin coordinate position is (12, 13). 
     Next, in step  106 , the drafting range is corresponded to a display range of a display as shown in the  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the maximum coordinate position is (max X, max Y) and the minimum coordinate position is (min X, min Y) based on the drafting range drew by the user. Accordingly, four coordinate position (min X, min Y), (max X, min Y), (min X, max Y) and (max X, max Y) define this rectangular drafting range. In this step, the four coordinate position (min X, min Y), (max X, min Y), (min X, max Y) and (max X, max Y) corresponds to four end points  402 ,  404 ,  401  and  403  in the display respectively. 
     In step  107 , a ratio of the drafting range to the display range is defined. The writing character written in the drafting range is adjusted and displays in the display based on the ratio. Finally, in step  108 , the flow  100  is ended. 
     The present invention method is also applied to a document camera to cooperate with a pen mouse to define a drafting range and a drafting position as shown in the  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of using a pen mouse to define the drafting range. 
     Refer to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . In step  501 , a user starts to write. In an embodiment, a user uses a pen mouse  602  to write in a defined drafting range. The drafting range is set in a range  606 . For example, lasers  605  of the document camera define a range  606 . The range  606  is a reference range for placing a document for projecting by the document camera. A user can adopt the method described in the steps  103  to  105  in flow  100  to define the drafting range  601 . 
     Next, in step  502 , the document camera is powered. In step  503 , an image writing in the drafting range  601  is gathered. In an embodiment, when the document camera is powered, the document camera gathers this image. An image sensor device gathers this image and output image signal. CCD or CMOS constitutes the image sensor device. 
     In step  504 , a position of light point projected by the pen mouse is detected. Finally, step  505  performs a corresponding positions process. In an embodiment, a distance between a light point  603  position projected by the pen mouse  602  and origin position  604  of the drafting range  601  is calculated to get a corresponding coordinate position of the light point  603 . Moreover, a ration defined by lasers  605  decides the position and size when a writing character in the drafting range  601  is displayed in a display as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 8  is an apparatus to define a drafting range and a drafting position according to the present invention. The apparatus includes a gathering module  801 , a comparing module  802 , a generating module  803 , a calculating module  804  and a display module  805 . 
     The gathering module  801  gathers coordinate positions of points that a user draws to define a drafting range. In an embodiment, a user can use a pen mouse to draw a range that the user wants to draft. A curve can be drawn by the user to define the range as shown in the  FIG. 2A to 2D . 
     The comparing module  802  compares these coordinate positions gathered by the gathering module  801  to each other to get a maximum coordinate position and a minimum coordinate position. In an embodiment, the position of the user starts to use a pen mouse to draw a drafting range is set as a maximum coordinate position and a minimum coordinate position. The present coordinate position drawn by the user is compared with the maximum coordinate position and the minimum coordinate position to renew the maximum coordinate position and the minimum coordinate position until the drawing process is ended. 
     The generating module  803  generates a drafting range based on the maximum coordinate position and the minimum coordinate position. The minimum coordinate position is an origin of the drafting range. 
     The calculating module  804  corresponds the drafting range to a display range of a display to define a ratio of the drafting range to the display range. 
     The display module  805  adjusts the writing character and display the adjusted writing character in the display based on the ratio. 
     Accordingly, the drafting range is corresponded to the display range, then, the writing character is adjusted and displays in a display based on a ratio of the drafting range to the display range. Therefore, an exactly drafting range and position can be displayed in the display. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.