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WO1993020492A1 - Systeme de decoupage de contour - Google Patents

Systeme de decoupage de contour Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1993020492A1
WO1993020492A1 PCT/GB1993/000529 GB9300529W WO9320492A1 WO 1993020492 A1 WO1993020492 A1 WO 1993020492A1 GB 9300529 W GB9300529 W GB 9300529W WO 9320492 A1 WO9320492 A1 WO 9320492A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
image
cutting
substrate
cut
pcs
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB1993/000529
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Choon Yong
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WALDREN ROBIN MICHAEL
Nutek Pte Ltd
Original Assignee
WALDREN ROBIN MICHAEL
Nutek Pte Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB929207190A external-priority patent/GB9207190D0/en
Application filed by WALDREN ROBIN MICHAEL, Nutek Pte Ltd filed Critical WALDREN ROBIN MICHAEL
Publication of WO1993020492A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993020492A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
    • G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
    • G05B19/42—Recording and playback systems, i.e. in which the programme is recorded from a cycle of operations, e.g. the cycle of operations being manually controlled, after which this record is played back on the same machine
    • G05B19/4202—Recording and playback systems, i.e. in which the programme is recorded from a cycle of operations, e.g. the cycle of operations being manually controlled, after which this record is played back on the same machine preparation of the programme medium using a drawing, a model
    • G05B19/4207—Recording and playback systems, i.e. in which the programme is recorded from a cycle of operations, e.g. the cycle of operations being manually controlled, after which this record is played back on the same machine preparation of the programme medium using a drawing, a model in which a model is traced or scanned and corresponding data recorded

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an automatic contour cutting system for cutting a substrate so that its outline corresponds to that of an observed image.
  • An automatic contour cutting system for cutting a substrate so that its outline corresponds to that of an observed image.
  • Silhouette pictures have been known for a long time.
  • a dark substrate such as card is cut in profile to correspond to a silhouette picture of a sitter.
  • the silhouette picture may then be mounted on a suitable background and/or in a frame.
  • An example of such a silhouette picture is shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
  • the present invention provides a contour cutting system, said system comprising an electronic image detector, a cutting device and means for processing signals from the image detector to drive the cutting device to cut a profile in a substrate in correspondence with an outline of an image detected by the image detector.
  • the Applicant may also claim a method of contour cutting, the method comprising viewing a subject with an electronic image detector and processing signals from the image detector to drive a cutting device to cut a substrate in correspondence with an outline of an image of the subject as viewed by the image detector.
  • One preferred application for systems according to the present invention is in the reproduction of silhouette pictures of people, for example as a machine situated in a retail outlet or public place.
  • the cut outline may, for example, correspond to a profile of the subject.
  • the subject is preferably back-lit.
  • the cut outline may correspond to a kind of portrait image of the subject.
  • the subject is preferably side-lit or obliquely lit.
  • the image detector is a solid-state imaging device such as of the charge-coupled device (CCD) type. It is also preferred to use an imaging device having a lower resolution (number of pixels) than the resolution (number of cutting steps of the cutting device).
  • CCD charge-coupled device
  • the system comprises electronic means for magnifying the image received by the imaging device to the order of size required by the cutting device, optionally with a facility for providing offsets (displacement) in the x and/or y orthogonal directions.
  • the system preferably also is provided with electronic means for performing a ve ⁇ torisation routine.
  • the electronic means may also be arranged to alter the received image to produce a stylised resultant image and/or to superimpose other features such as fashion accessories, on or adjacent the resultant image.
  • the system may be endowed with the capability to do both these things.
  • the substrate may be any suitable planar medium such as paper, card, vinyl paper or the like, the contour being cut out of the substrate. If the substrate is a hard material, the image contour may be produced as the edge bounding an etched area. Such etching may for example be performed by sand blasting or milling or grinding, eg. with a diamond tipped stylus or by any other suitable means.
  • the substrate is a hard material to be etched, it may be substantially planar or in block form and may be any appropriate opaque, translucent or clear material, eg. glass.
  • Figure 1 shows a typical silhouette picture
  • Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a system according to the present invention
  • Figure 3 shows a set-up of the system shown in Figure 2, ready for use
  • Figure 4 shows the sequence of electronic operations for the functioning of the system shown in Figure 2;
  • Figure 5 is a diagram explaining the basis of a vectorization process;
  • Figure 6 shows the jagged outline resulting from use of an imperfect vectorization process
  • Figure 7 is a diagram for explaining an improved three-point vectorization process utilised by the system shown in Figure 2;
  • Figure 8 is a diagram for explaining how the improved vectorization process deals with cutting a profile of the lips of a subject
  • Figure 9 shows an arrangement of the system illustrated in Figure 2 for producing a portrait of a subject
  • Figure 10 shows a typical portrait resulting from the arrangement shown in Figure 9;
  • Figure 11 and 11B show the result of a modified embodiment for producing sand-bladed images on glass blocks
  • Figures 12A and 12B show the result of another modified embodiment for modifying the received image electronically to produce a stylised image
  • Figures 13A and 13B show the result of yet another modified embodiment for superimposing fashion accessories on the resultant image.
  • Some important features of the preferred embodiment include a motor driven mirror with CCD camera to mark position of the eyelashes. Special software helps the operator to mark position of the lips to obtain area where vectorisation would otherwise deteriorate the resolution of lip area where it is most critical for recognition.
  • the applicant has undertaken significant development to be able to enhance the resolution of a 512 x 512 pixel CCD camera. Low resolution CCD cameras are preferred because they are relatively inexpensive, although higher resolution imaging devices may also be employed, eg. having 1024 x 1024 pixels.
  • FIG. 2 The main components of the system of the preferred embodiment are shown in Figure 2. It comprises a solid-state imaging device in the form of a charge-coupled-device (CCD) camera 1 which provides electronic signals corresponding to a viewed image such as a person.
  • CCD charge-coupled-device
  • the signals from the CCD camera are processed by an image frame grabber 3 to drive a cutting machine 5 via a microcomputer and interface circuit 7.
  • the image detected by the CCD camera is also displayed on a video monitor 9.
  • the image frame grabber 3 comprises an analogue-to-digital (D/A) converter or digitizer 11 which transfers the signals from the CCD camera to a frame memory 13 for storing data corresponding to image frames.
  • the frame memory has one output 15 to the microcomputer interface circuit 7 and a second output 17 to display logic circuitry 19.
  • the display logic circuitry supplies image signals to the video monitor 9.
  • the system is used as shown in Figure 3.
  • a subject 21 is seated in front of a light source 23.
  • the back-lit subject silhouette image is received by the CCD camera 1 and provides signals corresponding to an image frame to the microcomputer and interface circuit 7 via the image frame grabber (not shown in Figure 3).
  • the microcomputer drives the cutting machine via the interface circuit to cut a substrate in the form of the image profile.
  • the machine is designed for retail sales of instant silhouette images of subject customers, eg. in souvenir shops on tourist sites.
  • the customer will be able to use the equipment in a booth were he or she will be seated on a seat provided.
  • the customer will look at a video monitor on which his or her own profile will be displayed.
  • the machine operator will position the camera through a joystick to centralise the image.
  • the operator can also provide picture frames, postcards, special attractions cards, local scene cards, epoxy casts and the like.
  • the embodiment use a cutting plotter sold under the a KANTO Machinery Trade Mark PREART ex Kanto Machinery Corp. of Japan.
  • This cutter has its own processor and ROM subroutine and buffer memories. It takes position commands from the system software and and makes its own decisions during acute turns to accommodate the swivel of its offset centre blade.
  • the preferred CCD camera has a 512 x 512 pixel array resolution device.
  • the Kanto cutter has a resolution of 3600 steps across a width of six inches of vinyl paper.
  • the length of the cut piece is only limited by the system software. Obviously, a one-to-one transformation would only use one twelfth of the paper and produce a cut image of the size of a postage stamp.
  • the system has a magnification factor written into the software. This is able to transform the coordinates onto a 3600 x 3600 array, and then add in an offset constant and position the image at the centre of the paper. In other words, mathematically each coordinate is expressed thus:
  • the Applicant has ' devised a "3-point average” vectorisation routine to smooth-out the steps. This routine takes 3 consecutive points in the image, finds an average and assigns this as the vectorisation point.
  • Point X. average of A, B & C
  • the routine marks the point between the upper and lower lips and instructs by means of the software that 5 pixels above and below that point "do not take average” that is to say, present it as it is. This has proved particularly successful in overcoming the aforementioned problem.
  • the system of the present invention may be used to cut an outline corresponding to the boundary between light and dark areas of a side-illuminated of obliquely-illuminated subject. This results in an aesthetically pleasing cut image of the subject, as if painted by an artist.
  • the arrangement for producing such a cut image is shown in Figure 9.
  • the subject 21 is seated in front of a white board 33 and illuminated obliquely by the light source 23.
  • the CCD camera 1 is located in front of the subject to view both the light (illuminated) part 35 and the dark (in shadow) part 37. After contour cutting, the resultant image is as shown in Figure 10.
  • the embodiments described above cuts the outline from a planar blank such as vinyl paper.
  • the outline may be produced by sand-blasting an area of a solid substrate, in this case a glass block. Examples are shown in Figures 11A and 11B. It can be seen that appropriate lighting of the subject also enables reproduction of image detail within the boundary of the overall profile contour, as with the image shown in Figure 10.
  • Figures 12A and 12B show how embellishments to the basic image may be made to enhance the appearance of the subject.
  • Figure 12A shows the basic image which would be cut, eg. on vinyl paper.
  • the system software may be used to reverse the image, to add (for example) hair highlights 43, new hairstyle 45, hat 47 and adjacent decorative features 49.
  • the software may be used to superimpose accessories on an image as shown in Figures 13A (on sandblasted glass) and 13B (cut paper contour). These may (for example) be headbands 51, 53, 55 and ear-rings 57, 59.
  • a physical object or pattern is photographed by using the CCD camera.
  • the analogue image grabbed by the camera is digitized into a digital image which are then stored in the frame memory as an original pattern image.
  • a grabbed image may contain some noises. Therefore, after capturing the image, the image signals are then "smoothed" to remove noise and thus helping the process of thresholding described in the following step.
  • the purpose of the system is to extract the profile or contour of the object or pattern and to transform the raster data to vectors; in other words, the system deals with lines (profile or contour) only.
  • the original pattern image is first thresholded into a binary image which is classified into two parts, the subject and the background.
  • the binarized image is then processed to extract the outline of the image. This is done by scanning the pattern image stored in the frame memory from left to right and from top to bottom.
  • the original image is then reduced into some lines (profile or contour) but these data still consist of discrete raster points. It is convenient to store the points before the process of raster to vector conversion proceeds.
  • the vectorization technique used is chain encoding. After a point is is vectorized, the grey level of that point is changed to the same value as that of the background in order to erase it and prevent from being redundantly searched.
  • the vector point which is the direction code of the neighbouring pixel is converted to a normal x,y coordinate. This is done because the cutting machine moves or performs its plotting or cutting functions with respect to normal x,y- ⁇ oordinates.
  • the system will store x,y- ⁇ oordinates. As a result, the system will store all the coordinates sequentially in the same order as they were searched.
  • the profile can be plotted or cut by the cutting machine.
  • PROFILE CUTTING SYSTEM is a based on a software development HRT-512-8 Video Frame Grabber library function.
  • the software development of the PCS is written in Microsoft C, version 6.0. However it will be appreciated that the system may be realised in any appropriate computer language, high or low level.
  • the main objective was to develop a vision system which functions as the ' eye' of the UCS.
  • This system must be able to capture a live image, process the image to obtain its profile and finally cut the profile with the specified cutting machine.
  • PROFILE CUTTING SYSTEM uses: -
  • the Equipment used is: -
  • the HRT-512-8 card is shipped with the factory setting of OD400H for the base segment address of the digitizer. This are the default setting that the PCS software is set up for.
  • the connectors used are as follows:
  • Top RCA jack is for NTSCPAL video input.
  • Bottom RCA jack is for video output (monitor).
  • Top dial is for video offset (brightness).
  • Bottom dial is for video gain (contrast).
  • PATH C: ⁇ C600 ⁇ BINB;C: ⁇ C600 ⁇ BIN;
  • SET-LIB C: ⁇ C6001 ⁇ LIB;
  • SET INCLUDE C: ⁇ C6001 ⁇ INCLUDE;
  • SET HELPFILES C: ⁇ C600 ⁇ HELP ⁇ *.
  • SET INIT C: ⁇ C6001 ⁇ INIT;
  • PCS A "MAKE” file called PCS is provided solely for Microsoft C version 6.0. These files are to be used with the "MAKE” utility program supplied with the Microsoft C compiler. If the utility program displayed errors, the "MAKE” file that is provided by the PCS software is used. This file (PCS) will regenerate the object modules the PCS. EXE program if any changes have been made to source code. To regenerate the PCS. EXE program after source code has been modified, the following command typed: -
  • the Microsoft utility will replace any object files which are no longer current and relink them together to produce the new executable program.
  • a source code file Once a source code file has been created and modified, both the make file and the link file have to be modified accordingly.
  • PCS make file
  • the editor Within the make file (PCS), the editor is used to add another two lines like those already present to invoke the Microsoft-compiler.
  • C version 6.0 An example for C version 6.0 is shown below:
  • NEWFILE. OBJ NEWILE. C CL $(C_SET) $**
  • the file contains the routine that generates the main menu. It also generates help messages regarding the available options present in the main menu.
  • This file contains miscellaneous routines to supplement the main menu, such as freeing memory spaces allocated during the execution of the software, time delay and clearing of the menu display. It also contains routines that create graphics cursor, selecting graphics font and displaying characters keyed-in from the keyboard in the selected graphics font.
  • This file contains routines that display the live image on the video monitor and clearing the video monitor' s screen. It also contains routine to draw a cursor on the video monitor which is used to locate the position of where to add the eye-lashes.
  • This file is the foundation of the vision system. It contains routines to capture and process the image according to the requirements of these system.
  • This file contains a routine to produce a hardcopy of the image profile. It also calls on module BASE which add a' sculpture base' to the image profile, and module FRAME which add a frame to the image profile.
  • This file contains routine to add eye lashes to the image profile. This file is called by module TRACE.
  • This file contains routine to add a ' sculpture base' to the image profile. This file is called by module CUT.
  • This file contains routine to add a frame to the image profile. This file is called by module CUT.
  • the system memory must be large enough for the allocation of memory spaces.
  • the size of the system hard disk must also be large enough to cater for the storing of the image files, it is recommended that all image files (extension . tif) be saved in a Floppy disk whereas all image data files (extension . dat and extension . ⁇ de) present in the directory C: ⁇ PCS be deleted so as not to waste the memory space of the hard disk.
  • the graphics adapter of the host system should be VGA or better since both the software package and the frame grabber used required this type of graphics adapter.
  • VGA System will not operate if the VGA card is absent since both software package and video frame grabber card require a VGA card to operate.
  • the camera and lens must be regularly clean of dust since it will affect the image processing. When system is not in use the camera lens should preferably be covered.
  • the video input and video output of the frame grabber card must be correctly connected. These relevant connectors should be secured to the RCA jacks if possible. It is also preferred that the frame grabber card be tested to check whether it is functioning properly by running the software package that comes together with the purchase of the frame grabber.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Image Processing (AREA)

Abstract

Un système de découpage de contour comporte un détecteur électronique d'image (1) et un dispositif de découpe (5). Des dispositifs (3, 7) sont prévus pour traiter les signaux reçus depuis le détecteur d'image pour commander le dispositif de découpe de manière à ce qu'il découpe un substrat en suivant le contour d'une image détectée par le détecteur d'image.
PCT/GB1993/000529 1992-04-01 1993-03-15 Systeme de decoupage de contour Ceased WO1993020492A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB929207190A GB9207190D0 (en) 1992-04-01 1992-04-01 Contour cutting system
GB9207190.1 1992-04-01
GB9222345.2 1992-10-23
GB929222345A GB9222345D0 (en) 1992-04-01 1992-10-23 Contour cutting system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993020492A1 true WO1993020492A1 (fr) 1993-10-14

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1993/000529 Ceased WO1993020492A1 (fr) 1992-04-01 1993-03-15 Systeme de decoupage de contour

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU3646693A (fr)
WO (1) WO1993020492A1 (fr)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4385360A (en) * 1980-08-04 1983-05-24 Micro-Power Computer Systems Computer-controlled reproduction device
WO1983004114A1 (fr) * 1982-05-18 1983-11-24 Gareth David Thomas Procede et appareil permettant d'effectuer des operations sur des surfaces tridimensionnelles
EP0273826A1 (fr) * 1986-12-23 1988-07-06 Le Cren, Roger Perfectionnements aux procédés de gravure automatique
GB2221060A (en) * 1988-07-21 1990-01-24 Ind Tech Res Inst Controlling laser cutting
EP0380432A2 (fr) * 1989-01-23 1990-08-01 Vision Numeric Procédé et dispositif de réalisation d'un objet à partir d'une saisie tridimensionnelle de formes
EP0398352A2 (fr) * 1989-05-19 1990-11-22 Petio Co., Ltd. Un système automatique de gravure
FR2661995A1 (fr) * 1990-05-11 1991-11-15 Metzger Gerard Procede de decoupe et/ou de gravure assistee par ordinateur et machine pour la mise en óoeuvre de ce procede.

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4385360A (en) * 1980-08-04 1983-05-24 Micro-Power Computer Systems Computer-controlled reproduction device
WO1983004114A1 (fr) * 1982-05-18 1983-11-24 Gareth David Thomas Procede et appareil permettant d'effectuer des operations sur des surfaces tridimensionnelles
EP0273826A1 (fr) * 1986-12-23 1988-07-06 Le Cren, Roger Perfectionnements aux procédés de gravure automatique
GB2221060A (en) * 1988-07-21 1990-01-24 Ind Tech Res Inst Controlling laser cutting
EP0380432A2 (fr) * 1989-01-23 1990-08-01 Vision Numeric Procédé et dispositif de réalisation d'un objet à partir d'une saisie tridimensionnelle de formes
EP0398352A2 (fr) * 1989-05-19 1990-11-22 Petio Co., Ltd. Un système automatique de gravure
FR2661995A1 (fr) * 1990-05-11 1991-11-15 Metzger Gerard Procede de decoupe et/ou de gravure assistee par ordinateur et machine pour la mise en óoeuvre de ce procede.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3646693A (en) 1993-11-08

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