US 3,982,165 A · Apparatus for digitizing and plotting

Abstract

An apparatus capable of digitizing or plotting coordinate locations and lines utilizes an automatically controlled carriage that is translated over the supporting surface of a digitizing and plotting table and a free cursor for identifying specific coordinate locations on the table. Radiation means, such as electromagnetic coils, are mounted on the carriage and the cursor to produce signals indicative of the relative positioning of the carriage and cursor during a digitizing mode of operation. The position signals are transmitted to controlled drive motors which cause the carriage to follow the cursor over the supporting surface. Encoders, also operated by the drive motors, allow the position of the carriage and, hence, the cursor to be recorded for subsequent usage. A plotting instrument such as a pen is mounted on the carriage so that the apparatus can be used in a plotting mode of operation to generate graphic information.

Claims17

Dependent claims

In a device having a support table and a carriage translatable by means of a servomotor over an exposed supporting surface defined on the table, the improvement comprising:

a manually movable cursor freely positionable on the exposed supporting surface of the table and having a visible index to identify coordinate locations on the surface;
electromagnetic radiation means carried above the exposed supporting surface of the table on both the carriage and the movable cursor for detecting the positioning of the cursor and carriage relative to one another and producing corresponding relative position signals identifying the location of the index relative to the carriage, the radiation means being mounted in unobstructing relationship with the visible index of the cursor when viewed from above the supporting surface;
and
drive means connected to the support table and the carriage and responsive to the position signals from the electromagnetic radiation means for moving the carriage toward a preselected position relative to the cursor on the exposed supporting surface of the table.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for digitizing and plotting

Life of this patent

Apparatus for digitizing and plotting

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17