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WO2022184593A1 - Système informatisé et procédé destinés à déterminer si un panneau indicateur peut être produit - Google Patents

Système informatisé et procédé destinés à déterminer si un panneau indicateur peut être produit Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022184593A1
WO2022184593A1 PCT/EP2022/054852 EP2022054852W WO2022184593A1 WO 2022184593 A1 WO2022184593 A1 WO 2022184593A1 EP 2022054852 W EP2022054852 W EP 2022054852W WO 2022184593 A1 WO2022184593 A1 WO 2022184593A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
signboard
stroke width
illumination
sign
continuous image
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Ceased
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PCT/EP2022/054852
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English (en)
Inventor
Anders Rensmo
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Publication of WO2022184593A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022184593A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F30/00—Computer-aided design [CAD]
    • G06F30/10—Geometric CAD
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F2119/00—Details relating to the type or aim of the analysis or the optimisation
    • G06F2119/18—Manufacturability analysis or optimisation for manufacturability
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to computerized determination of whether a signboard can be produced, based on characteristics of the signboard. Especially, the invention relates to a computerized system for determining if a signboard can be produced and a corresponding computer- implemented method. The invention also relates to a computer program and a non-volatile data carrier storing such a computer program.
  • each signboard is unique in design, for example comprising the unique logotype of a company.
  • contour cut signboards there is no way of providing useful templates that could serve as basis for new signs and thereby cut time off the process, because one signboard and the next will have very little in common.
  • Contour-cut signboards which may also be referred to as contour-cut signs or signage, are cut out along the edge, or contour, of a design or along another predetermined, custom line.
  • the elements of a contour- cut signboard (one element or separate elements for each included symbol or group of symbols) have little to no border, and the final product has approximately the shape of the logotype, company name, or other chosen shape.
  • the process of making a contour-cut sign involves three main steps: design, printing and cutting.
  • the present disclosure relates to the step of designing the signboard to be produced.
  • KR102122844 B1 and KR102028302 B1 Some examples of related art are found in KR102122844 B1 and KR102028302 B1 .
  • patent document KR20180087636 A discloses a method of receiving a signboard design file having at least one signboard image object, dimension information and a type of signboard for actual signboard production for each signboard image object. It is also possible to select LED illumination of the signboard via the user interface. Thereafter, a price for the signboard is calculated.
  • the object of the present invention is therefore to offer a solution that mitigates the above problem and renders it possible to determine if a signboard according to user input information will be possible to produce, thereby saving both time and money for a system user intending to order the signboard as well as for the manufacturer of the signboard.
  • Embodiments herein further guide the user of the system by determining allowable choices and presenting only the allowable choices for selection via a user interface.
  • the object is achieved by a computer implemented method for determining if a contour-cut signboard or a signboard comprising relief signboard objects can be produced, the method comprising receiving input via a user interface, the input comprising a signboard design file comprising at least one continuous image object, each of the at least one continuous image object being a to scale representation of a symbol of the signboard to be produced; and a signboard dimension parameter, indicative of at least one of a desired width, W, or a desired height, H, for the signboard.
  • the method further comprises identifying the at least one continuous image object in the signboard design file, using processing circuitry.
  • the method further comprises determining a relationship between the width and height of the signboard based on the signboard image file or based on the signboard dimension parameter if this is indicative of both the desired width, W, and the desired height, H, for the signboard, using the processing circuitry, and, for each identified continuous image object, determining, using the processing circuitry, at least one signboard stroke width that the continuous image object would obtain in the signboard, based on the determined relationship between the width and height of the signboard.
  • the method then comprises for each of at least one illumination option in a set of illumination options comparing, using the processing circuitry, each of the at least one signboard stroke width to a preset smallest stroke width that is needed to illuminate the continuous image object representation in the signboard according to the illumination option. Thereafter, the method comprises determining, using the processing circuitry, that the signboard cannot be produced if at least one of the at least one signboard stroke width is less than the preset smallest stroke width , for each of the at least one illumination option.
  • this contributes to ensuring that a signboard designed and/or simulated via the user interface of the system can actually be produced which save both time, money and effort for the system user/signboard client and the manufacturer, as well as removes or at least greatly reduces the risk of having to start over the ordering process.
  • the method may further comprise determining, using the processing circuitry, that the signboard can be produced for at least one illumination option if each of the at least one signboard stroke width is equal to or greater than the preset smallest stroke width for the at least one illumination option.
  • the method may further comprise setting a flag or other suitable metadata associated with the respective illumination option to a value indicating that it is possible to produce the signboard using this illumination option.
  • an illumination option that would make the signboard possible to produce may be referred to as a possible illumination option.
  • the method may also comprise presenting via the user interface only the possible illumination option(s).
  • the method may further comprise visually or audibly presenting the determination of whether the signboard can be produced to a user via the user interface.
  • the user is thereby made aware of whether the signboard can be produced or if adjustments must be made before ordering the signboard.
  • the method comprises generating an alert, using the processing circuitry, and presenting the alert visually or audibly via the user interface.
  • the user is thereby clearly shown it the user that there is a problem with the design of the signboard and the user is given the opportunity to adjust the signboard design input before an order is placed.
  • the method may further comprise prompting the user to adjust one or more of the input parameters. Suitably, this further assists the user in designing a signboard that can be produced before an order is placed.
  • the method may further comprise enabling grouping of continuous image objects, either manually by a user providing input via an input device, or automatically by the system based on relative proximity and/or similarity in stroke width of continuous image objects.
  • the objects in each group may then be processed together, for example may a depth be selected for each group, instead of either selecting a depth for the entire signboard, which may not be desirable, or for each continuous image object, which may be cumbersome if there are many such continuous image objects.
  • the method may further comprise determining at least one depth for the signboard that is possible to produce, using the processing circuitry, by: mapping a determined signboard stroke width, of the continuous image objects comprised in the signboard design file to one or more preset allowed depth value associated with the signboard stroke width; mapping a determined signboard stroke width, of each of the identified continuous image objects to one or more preset allowed depth value associated with the respective signboard stroke width; and/or mapping a determined signboard stroke width, of each group of continuous image objects to one or more preset allowed depth value associated with the respective signboard stroke width.
  • One or more depth value for the entire sign, for each of two or more groups of image objects, or for each image object, that would render the signboard possible to produce may suitably be presented to the user via the user interface, and the user may further be enabled to select one or more of the presented depth values via the user interface.
  • the method may further comprise enabling a user to provide input, via the user interface, to select one or more image object or group that is to be removed from the signboard, thereby enabling a change of the signboard design in the user interface of the system before proceeding.
  • the method may comprise enabling a user to provide input, via the user interface, to select one or more image object or group that is to be not to be illuminated, thereby enabling a user to make a design decision regarding the illumination of the sign, or to exclude a, e.g. , narrow part of the signboard from illumination to increase the chances that the illuminated signboard will be producible.
  • the selection of parts of the signboard that are not going to be illuminated may be made by before the system determines if the signboard can or cannot be produced, or it may be made in response to an alert from the system indicating that the signboard according to the initially input information cannot be produced. Possibly the alert also comprises suggestions on how the input may be amended to make the signboard producible and/or promptings to adjust at least one input parameter.
  • the object is achieved by a computerized system for determining if a contour-cut signboard or a signboard comprising relief signboard objects can be produced, the system comprising a user interface and processing circuitry.
  • the user interface is configured to receive user input comprising a signboard design file comprising at least one continuous image object, each of the at least one continuous image object (201 ) being a to scale representation of a symbol of the signboard to be produced and; and a signboard dimension parameter, indicative of at least one of a desired width or a desired height for the signboard.
  • the processing circuitry is configured to identify the at least one continuous image object in the signboard design file and to determine a relationship between the width and height of the signboard.
  • the processing circuitry is further configured to, for each identified continuous image object, determining at least one signboard stroke width that the continuous image object would obtain in the signboard, based on the determined relationship between the width and height of the signboard.
  • the processing circuitry is further configured to, for each of at least one illumination option in a set of illumination options, comparing each of the at least one signboard stroke width to a preset smallest stroke width that is needed to illuminate the continuous image object representation in the signboard according to the illumination option. Thereafter, the processing circuitry is configured to determine that the signboard cannot be produced if at least one of the at least one signboard stroke width is less than the preset smallest stroke width, WMIN, for each of the at least one illumination option.
  • the object is achieved by a computer program loadable into a non-volatile data carrier communicatively connected to a processing unit.
  • the computer program includes software for executing the above method when the program is run on the processing unit.
  • the object is achieved by a non-volatile data carrier containing the above computer program.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of a system according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 2a and b illustrate an example of continuous image objects comprised in a signboard design file and information that can be derived therefrom;
  • Fig. 3 illustrates an example of two signboard objects produced based on two continuous image objects in a signboard design file
  • Fig. 4 illustrates, by means of a flow diagram, the general method according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a user interface for input into the method and system according to the invention
  • Fig. 6 illustrates, by means of a flow diagram, the method according to at least one optional embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 7 illustrates, by means of a flow diagram, the method according to at least one optional embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates, by means of a flow diagram, the method according to at least one optional embodiment of the invention. All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the respective embodiments, whereas other parts may be omitted or merely suggested. Any reference number appearing in multiple drawings refers to the same object or feature throughout the drawings, unless otherwise indicated. DETAI LED DESCRI PTION
  • Embodiments herein aim to mitigate the problem that designing and ordering a signboard is a process that may become very tedious due to the client not realizing the constraints that the manufacturer faces and thereby trying to order a signboard according to dimensions and options that are incompatible or does not fulfill preset requirements. Almost any signboard can of course be produced, but in some cases the cost would be unreasonable for light sources that would enable the design, it would be extremely hard to achieve illumination of parts of or the entire signboard, or the time and cost for producing the signboard would be unreasonably high.
  • the determining whether a signboard is possible to produce means determining if the signboard fulfills preset requirements, such as the preset smallest stroke width, WMIN , described herein.
  • the preset requirements are system settings that have been entered by the manufacturer or other expert user based on knowledge of e.g. which light sources may be used in different types of signboards, how light spreads in a signboard depending on its shape and dimensions so that the visual impression is that the signboard is illuminated according to the available illumination options, which manufacturing limitations exist, depending on the production facilities of the manufacturer etc.
  • the signboard is preferably a contour-cut signboard or a signboard comprising relief signboard objects.
  • Fig. 5 shows an exemplary user interface 500 for input into the method and system according to the invention. This will now be described to present a use case setting for the method and system.
  • the signboard 510 from the signboard design file 411 is advantageously presented in a virtual 3D environment that the user can manipulate to see what the actual signboard would look like after production, mounted on an example wall, roof or the like, from different angles.
  • the user may be enabled to input, in addition to a signboard design file 41 1 with the logotype or other motive that the user wants to turn into a signboard, an image of the fagade, roof etc. where the signboard is to be mounted, so that an even more realistic pre-visualization may be achieved.
  • the user interface 500 may also be configured to, and the method according to any embodiment herein may further comprise, enabling the user to input a selection of a first and a second point or coordinate in the image and to further input a value indicating the distance between the selected points in the real world.
  • the user interface 500 may also be configured to, and the method according to any embodiment herein may further comprise, enabling the user to capture and thereby input an image of a real world scene with the signboard as depicted in the signboard design file 41 1 overlaid onto the real world scene.
  • processing circuitry 110 may be configured to, and the method may further comprise, re-scaling the presented signboard in the 3D environment, based on the size of the physical signboard, to fit the depicted the fagade, roof etc. where the signboard is to be mounted. Thereby, an even further improved visualization of the signboard is obtained.
  • the user interface may comprise selections of lighting, such as a selection 501 between day or night view, so that the selected illumination of the signboard can be better illustrated.
  • the user may be enabled to zoom in and out via zoom functionality 502, may be presented with a price 503 calculated based on the resulting signboard, may be enabled to add the signboard according to the present selection to the chart 504, and save the present settings 505.
  • a number of pre-settings 530 may be reviewed and possibly adjusted.
  • the user may also be enabled to select, under menu item 520, a border color 521 for the signboard, which may correspond to the front color of the signboard or the color of the fagade on which it is to be mounted, or another selection of colors.
  • the user may further be enabled to input, via input functionality 522, a portion of a logotype, a text portion, a selected group of signboard objects or the like that is to be illuminated, and which type of illumination 523 that is desired.
  • the user interface 500 may be configured to enable selection of the illumination options that are possible to select for the signboard to be producible, as described herein.
  • the user may further be enabled to input, via input functionality 524, one or more desired depth for the signboard or different parts of the signboard.
  • the user may further be enabled to group objects, symbols etc. of the signboard 510 by marking them in the user interface 500 using an input device 130.
  • the input device 130 may be any suitable type of input device having input functionality and display functionality, including but not limited to a handheld user device such as smart phone or a touch pad, or a personal computer. Thereafter, different illumination options and/or depths may be selected for different groups via the user interface 500.
  • the user is further enabled to input at least one of a desired height H and a desired width W for the signboard to be produced, via input functionality 525 and 526, respectively.
  • example user interface 500 illustrated in Fig. 5 is a non-limiting example of how the input functionality and presentation of information according to the present invention may be implemented.
  • the system After the user has input all the required data, the system according to embodiments herein checks if the signboard can be produced according to the user input, or if adjustments are needed. If the signboard cannot be produced according to the provided input, because some part that the user wishes to have illuminated will not be wide enough to comprise a light source e.g., or a desired depth for the signboard or a group of symbols within the signboard is not available for selection for the resulting stroke width of the comprised symbols, the system may alert the user via the user interface and preferably also prompt the user to adjust the input. In some advantageous embodiments, the system further determines allowable input options and suggests adjustments that may be made or allowable options to choose from.
  • the system may be configured to present, and the method may comprise presenting, one or more selectable alternative option for one or more input parameter that would make the signboard possible to produce via the user interface 120, 500.
  • the user interface 120, 500 may additionally be configured to present an option for the user to proceed with the knowledge that that the physical signboard may not be producible according to the input parameters and/or an option to change the signboard into a different type or shape that would fulfil the requirements .
  • the user interface 120, 500 may be configured to enable the user to select to proceed by redesigning the signboard as e.g. a lightbox, without any contour-cut symbols or relief objects and having the signboard objects painted onto the front of the lightbox, in order to make the illuminated signboard producible.
  • the user interface 120, 500 may be configured to enable the user to select any symbols that are too narrow to illuminate as non-illuminated objects, in order to make the illuminated signboard producible.
  • the signboard to be produced is typically an illuminated contour-cut signboard or a signboard comprising relief signboard objects, since it is for these types of signs that problems related to stroke width of symbols and illumination of the same typically arise.
  • the signboard typically has a plane back surface and a plane or substantially plane front surface, including front surfaces that are produced to be slightly concave or convex to enable the signboard to better sustain temperature changes and other whether related factors in an outdoor environment.
  • the signboard is a relief signboard
  • the front is substantially plane only in areas surrounding the relief signboard objects.
  • the signboard symbols or objects, corresponding to the physical representation of the continuous image objects described herein, may be configured to be mounted separately, or be pre-mounted group-wise on common profiles or plates.
  • the light sources are located inside the signboard, i.e. in the enclosure created by the front surface, the back surface and the board or frame that constitutes the depth of the signboard and connects the front surface and the back surface.
  • the light sources used for illumination of the signboard are typically light emitting diodes, LED, in a light emitting diode cable, but other suitable light sources may of course also be applied, depending on the requirements of the signboard and its intended location.
  • the embodiments presented herein are equally applicable irrespective of the type of light source applied.
  • the space required for the light sources to be used within different parts of the signboard depends on the size of the light sources, e.g. the dimensions of the LED cable, possibly including an encapsulation to protect the light source and cooling of the light sources to extend their life span.
  • FIG. 1 we see a schematic overview of a computerized system 100 for determining if a signboard can be produced, according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the computerized system 100 comprises a user interface 120, 500 and processing circuitry 110.
  • the user interface 120, 500 is configured to receive user input comprising a signboard design file 41 1 comprising at least one continuous image object 201 , each of the at least one continuous image object being a to scale representation of a symbol of the signboard to be produced; and a signboard dimension parameter 412, indicative of at least one of a desired width, W, or a desired height, H, for the signboard.
  • the signboard dimension parameter 412 indicative of at least one of a desired width, W, or a desired height, H, for the signboard may comprise a value, in mm or other suitable unit, for the width and/or a corresponding value for the height of the signboard to be produced, input via the user interface 120, 500.
  • the user interface 120, 500 may be configured to enable the user to input, and to receive as the signboard dimension parameter 412 or part of the signboard dimension parameter 412, at least two identified points, or image coordinates, in the signboard design file.
  • the user interface 120, 500 is then further configured to enable the user to input, and to receive as part of the signboard dimension parameter 412, a respective value representing the real world distance between at least one pair of identified points in the signboard design file.
  • the processing circuitry 110 may be configured to derive the height, H, and/or the width, W, for the signboard based on the real world distance data, comprised in the signboard dimension parameter 412, and the signboard design file 411.
  • the signboard dimension parameter 412 is thereby also in this embodiment indicative of at least one of a desired width, W, or a desired height, H, for the signboard.
  • the signboard dimension parameter 412 indicative of at least one of a desired width, W, or a desired height, H may comprise real world distance data and an image of a real world scene with the signboard, as depicted in the signboard design file 411 , overlaid onto the real world scene.
  • the processing circuitry 110 may be configured to derive the height, H, and/or the width, W, for the signboard from the input real world distance data and the size, e.g. in pixels or other suitable measurement unit, of the depicted signboard in the image of the real world scene.
  • the signboard dimension parameter 412 is thereby also in this embodiment indicative of at least one of a desired width, W, or a desired height, H, for the signboard.
  • a user may e.g. use an input device 130 in the form of a handheld user device, as further described herein, configured to display the signboard from the design file 411 overlaid onto an image of the surroundings of the handheld user device, e.g. using a camera of the handheld user device.
  • the user is thereby enabled to move through the real world surroundings and visualize, directly in the depicted real world scene displayed in the user interface 120, 500 or the camera interface in the handheld device, how the signboard would look if placed in the real world scene.
  • the user interface 120, 500 or camera interface may for this purpose be configured to enable the user to re-scale, zoom in or out, rotate, skew, and/or move the depicted signboard, overlaid signboard image, in relation to the background, so that the user can freely select the placement and size of the signboard in the depicted real world scene.
  • the user interface 120, 500 or camera interface is then further configured to capture an image of the depicted real world scene with the overlaid signboard image in response to a user making a selection via the user interface 120,500 or camera interface, e.g. by pressing a button or soft button, or in any other suitable manner known in the art.
  • the handheld device may comprise any type of distance sensor or other functionality configured to determine distances in the real world.
  • the user interface 120, 500 may in turn be configured to receive as input real world distance data from said distance sensor or sensors, or other functionality configured to determine distances in the real world and being accessible to the system 100.
  • the real world distance data may be input by the user, via the user interface 120, 500, as at least one input value representing a real world distance between two points identified in the image, as described herein.
  • the processing circuitry 1 10 may further be configured to identify the location of the depicted signboard in the image, e.g. including detecting edges, corners and/or points on opposite sides of the depicted signboard to determine the size, e.g. in pixels, of the depicted signboard in the real world image, in manners known in the art.
  • the processing circuitry 110 is configured to identify the at least one continuous image object 201 in the signboard design file 41 1.
  • the processing circuitry 1 10 is further configured to determine a relationship between the width and height of the signboard, based on the signboard design file 411 or based on the signboard dimension parameter 412 if this is indicative of both the desired width, W, and the desired height, H, for the signboard and, for each identified continuous image object 201 determine at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN that the continuous image object 201 would obtain in the signboard, based on the determined relationship between the width and height of the signboard.
  • the processing circuitry 110 is configured to, for each of at least one illumination option in a set of illumination options, compare each of the at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN to a preset smallest stroke width, WMIN , that is needed to illuminate the continuous image object representation in the signboard according to the illumination option.
  • the set of illumination options comprises any available illumination options that are preset in the system 100 and typically include at least one, preferably all, of front illumination, back illumination, and side illumination. Each available illumination option is associated with a respective preset smallest stroke width, WMIN . The smallest stroke widths may be the same for some or all available illumination options, or they may differ.
  • the set of illumination options may be preset and stored in a memory accessible to the system 100, for example in the memory 130.
  • the preset smallest stroke width, WMIN that is needed to illuminate the continuous image object representation in the signboard, also referred to herein as a signboard object, according to an available illumination option may be defined as the smallest width that can fit a light source, such as a LED or a fiber optic cable, into the signboard object using the illumination option.
  • the preset smallest stroke width, WMIN that is needed to illuminate the continuous image object representation in the signboard according an available illumination option
  • WMIN the preset smallest stroke width
  • WMIN the preset smallest stroke width that is needed to illuminate the continuous image object representation in the signboard according an available illumination option
  • WMIN the preset smallest stroke width
  • the signboard has a back plate in the form of an illuminated box and the signboard object is in the form of a relief on the illuminated box that is illuminated by the box illumination.
  • the depth of signboard object i.e.
  • the depth of the relief may be taken into account in combination with the at least signboard stroke width to determine whether the light spreads sufficiently well into the signboard object for illumination, when illumination according to the specified illumination option is applied.
  • the processing circuitry is thereafter configured to determine that the signboard cannot be produced if at least one of the at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN is less than the preset smallest stroke width, WMIN , for each of the at least one illumination option. In other words, if there is at least one passage in the image objects that is too narrow for any of the available illumination options to be possible to use, the processing circuitry determines that the signboard cannot be produced.
  • the processing circuitry 110 is further configured to remove extreme and/or outlier signboard stroke width values, e.g.
  • stroke width values related to e.g. a corner, a very thin end of a letter, or a very short thin passage of a symbol may advantageously not affect the determination of whether the illuminated sign can be produced.
  • Each continuous image object may be defined by a stroke that defines the area of an object or symbol (e.g. a letter, number, or other shape).
  • the stroke, or continuous image object has a stroke width property which defines the thickness, or the width, of the object or symbol at a given point along the extension of the continuous image object.
  • the stroke width may vary along the extension of the stroke, whereby the continuous image object has different width at different locations along its extension.
  • the stroke width is defined as the distance between the two edges of a stroke, i.e. the distance between the two edges of the continuous image object, measured perpendicular to the stroke centerline, i.e. perpendicular to the extension direction of the continuous object, at any given position along its extension. Examples of stroke widths are found in Figs.
  • the processing circuitry 110 is further configured to determine that the signboard can be produced with at least one illumination option if each compared stroke width is equal to or greater than the preset smallest stroke width, W MIN , available for the at least one illumination option.
  • the user interface 120, 500 may further be configured to visually or audibly present the determination of whether the signboard can be produced.
  • the processing circuitry 1 10 may further be configured to generate an alert signal if it is determined that the signboard cannot be produced, and wherein user interface the 120, 500 is configured to receive the alert signal from the processing circuitry 1 10 and, in response to receiving the alert signal, presenting an alert visually or audibly.
  • the processing circuitry 110 may further be configured to generate control commands configured to cause the user interface 120 to prompt the user to adjust one or more of the input signboard dimension parameter 412, i.e. adjust one or more of the input desired width, W, and/or desired height, H, and/or another relevant input parameter or value via the user interface 120, 500 if it is determined that the signboard cannot be produced.
  • the processing circuitry 110 may be configured to generate control commands configured to cause the user interface 120 to enable selection of an option to continue with the design process, even though the system has alerted the user that the signboard may not be producible according to the current settings.
  • the system 100 may further comprise an input device 130 communicatively connected to the processing circuitry 1 10 via the user interface 120, 500.
  • the processing circuitry 110 is then configured to receive an input signal S from the user interface 120, 500, generated in response to a user interacting with input device 130, the input signal S being indicative of input received via the user interface.
  • the processing circuitry 110 is further configured to adjust information presented via the user interface 120, 500 based on the received input signal S.
  • the user interface 120 may in one or more embodiments be configured to enable a user to divide the image objects into two or more groups via the user interface 120, 500 by providing selection input, generated by the user interacting with the input device 130.
  • the processing circuitry 1 10 may be configured to divide the image objects 201 into two or more groups based on the relative proximity and/or similarity in stroke width of the image objects 201. In other words, continuous image objects that are close together compared to other continuous image objects or and/or have similar stroke width, e.g. similar dominating or median stroke width, are grouped together by the system.
  • the user interface 120, 500 may further be configured to enable a user to provide input to select one or more image object or group that is to be removed from the signboard, thereby enabling a change of the signboard design in the user interface 120, 500 before proceeding.
  • the user interface 120, 500 may be configured to enable the user to provide input to select one or more image object or group that is to be not to be illuminated, thereby enabling a user to make a design decision regarding the illumination of the resulting signboard, or to exclude a part of the signboard, e.g. a small detail or narrow part, from illumination to increase the chances that the illuminated signboard will be producible.
  • the selection of parts of the signboard that are not going to be illuminated may be made by before the system determines if the signboard can or cannot be produced, or it may be made in response to an alert or presented information from the system indicating that the signboard according to the initially input information cannot be produced. Possibly the alert or presented information also comprises suggestions on how the input may be amended to make the signboard producible and/or promptings to adjust at least one input parameter.
  • the user interface 120 may further be configured to present the illumination options that are set as possible, i.e. the illumination options that would render the signboard possible to produce, and to enable a user to select one or more of the presented illumination options via the user interface 120, 500.
  • the user interface 120 may be configured to present possible, selectable, illumination options separately for each group. The illumination options that are possible may differ between the two or more groups, since the stroke widths of the image objects comprised in each group may differ.
  • the user interface 120, 500 may be configured to update the presentation of possible, selectable, illumination options 120 in response to a user making a selection of an illumination option.
  • the user interface 120, 500 is in these embodiments configured to update the presentation of the possible, selectable, illumination options based on preset rules and conditions defining co-dependencies between different illumination options.
  • the preset rules and conditions may be based on which illumination options are reasonable rather than possible.
  • a signboard comprises a contour-cut object with relief objects enclosed by and protruding from the front surface of the contour-cut object, then a front illumination of the enclosing contour-cut object will provide a front illumination of the relief objects.
  • a separate front illumination of the relief objects will not provide any significant illumination effect and the rules and conditions may in this case include that a selection of the illumination option “front illumination” for the enclosing contour-cut object will disable the illumination option “front illumination” for the relief objects.
  • the processing circuitry 110 may further be configured to determine at least one depth for the signboard that is possible to produce, by: mapping a determined signboard stroke width, WSTROKE_SIGN , of the continuous image objects comprised in the signboard design file to one or more preset allowed depth value associated with the signboard stroke width, WSTROKE_SIGN ; mapping a determined signboard stroke width, WSTROKE_SIGN , of each of the identified continuous image objects to one or more preset allowed depth value associated with the respective signboard stroke width, WSTROKE_SIGN ; and/or mapping a determined signboard stroke width, WSTROKE_SIGN , of each group of continuous image objects to one or more preset allowed depth value associated with the respective signboard stroke width, WSTROKE_SIGN .
  • the user interface 120 may further be configured to present one or more depth value for the entire sign, for each of two or more groups of image objects, or for each image object, that would render the signboard possible to produce, and enable a user to select one or more of the presented depth values.
  • the one or more available illumination option for the signboard may comprise a selection of front illumination and/or back illumination and/or side illumination, i.e. illumination along the depth of the signboard symbols.
  • the processing circuitry (110) may be configured to determine an alternative combination of one or more illumination option that would render the same visual illumination effect, and present the alternative via the user interface (120).
  • the processing circuitry (110) may in any embodiment herein further be configured to estimate a cost for the signboard, or alternative signboards, based on the user input and possibly further input parameters and/or signboard template values, and present the estimated cost or cost alternatives via the user interface (120).
  • the processing circuitry 1 10 is configured to effect the above-described procedure in an automatic manner by executing a computer program 145. Therefore, the system 100 may include a memory unit 140, i.e. a non-volatile data carrier, storing the computer program 145, which, in turn, contains software for making the processing circuitry 1 10, which may be implemented in the form of at least one processing unit, execute the actions mentioned in this disclosure when the computer program 145 is run on the at least one processing unit.
  • a memory unit 140 i.e. a non-volatile data carrier
  • Fig. 4 is a flow diagram showing a method for determining if a signboard can be produced, the method comprising: In step 410: Receiving input via a user interface 120, 500, the input comprising: a signboard design file 411 comprising at least one continuous image object 201 , each of the at least one continuous image object 201 being a to scale representation of a symbol of the signboard to be produced, and a signboard dimension parameter 412 comprising a desired width, W, and/or a desired height, H, for the signboard.
  • a signboard design file 411 comprising at least one continuous image object 201 , each of the at least one continuous image object 201 being a to scale representation of a symbol of the signboard to be produced
  • a signboard dimension parameter 412 comprising a desired width, W, and/or a desired height, H, for the signboard.
  • the signboard design file 411 comprises vectorized graphics that are a to scale representation of the symbols of the signboard to be produced.
  • the signboard design file is typically of a vectorized image file type including, but not limited to, .eps, .svg, .ai and .pdf file types.
  • the signboard dimension parameter 412 indicative of at least one of a desired width, W, or a desired height, H, for the signboard may comprise a value, in mm or other suitable unit, for the width and/or a corresponding value for the height of the signboard to be produced, input via the user interface 120, 500.
  • the method may comprise, via a user interface 120, 500, enabling the user to input, and receiving as the signboard dimension parameter 412 or part of the signboard dimension parameter 412, at least two identified points, or image coordinates, in the signboard design file.
  • the method further comprises, via a user interface 120, 500, enabling the user to input, and receiving as part of the signboard dimension parameter 412, a respective value representing the real world distance between at least one pair of identified points in the signboard design file.
  • the method may comprise deriving the height, H, and/or the width, W, for the signboard based on the real world distance data, comprised in the signboard dimension parameter 412, and the signboard design file 411 using the processing circuitry 1 10.
  • the signboard dimension parameter 412 is thereby also in this embodiment indicative of at least one of a desired width, W, or a desired height, H, for the signboard.
  • the signboard dimension parameter 412 indicative of at least one of a desired width, W, or a desired height, H may comprise real world distance data and an image of a real world scene with the signboard, as depicted in the signboard design file 41 1 , overlaid onto the real world scene.
  • the method may comprise deriving the height, H, and/or the width, W, for the signboard from the input real world distance data and the size, e.g. in pixels or other suitable measurement unit, of the depicted signboard in the image of the real world scene, using the processing circuitry 110.
  • the signboard dimension parameter 412 is thereby also in this embodiment indicative of at least one of a desired width, W, or a desired height, H, for the signboard.
  • a user may e.g. use an input device 130 in the form of a handheld user device, as further described herein, configured to display the signboard from the design file 411 overlaid onto an image of the surroundings of the handheld user device, e.g. using a camera of the handheld user device.
  • the user is thereby enabled to move through the real world surroundings and visualize, directly in the depicted real world scene displayed in the user interface 120, 500 or the camera interface in the handheld device, how the signboard would look if placed in the real world scene.
  • the method may for this purpose include enabling the user, via the user interface 120, 500 or an interface of the camera, to re-scale, zoom in or out, skew, and/or move the depicted signboard, overlaid signboard image, in relation to the background, so that the user can freely select the placement and size of the signboard in the depicted real world scene.
  • the method according to this embodiment suitably further comprises capturing an image of the depicted real world scene with the overlaid signboard image in response to a user making a selection via the user interface 120,500 or camera interface, e.g. by pressing a button or soft button, or in any other suitable manner known in the art.
  • the handheld device may comprise any type of distance sensor or other functionality configured to determine distances in the real world.
  • the method may in turn comprise receiving as input real world distance data, via the user interface 120, 500 or via the processing circuitry 1 10, from said distance sensor or sensors, or other functionality configured to determine distances in the real world and accessible to the system 100.
  • the method may comprise receiving input real world distance data in the form of user input, via the user interface 120, 500, comprising at least one input value representing a real world distance between two points identified in the image, as described herein.
  • the methos may further comprise identifying, using the processing circuitry 110, the location of the depicted signboard in the image, e.g. including detecting edges, corners and/or points on opposite sides of the depicted signboard to determine the size, e.g. in pixels, of the depicted signboard in the real world image, in manners known in the art.
  • the method further comprises:
  • step 415 Determining a relationship between the width and height of the signboard, based on the signboard design file 411 , or the signboard dimension parameter 412 if the signboard dimension parameter 412 is indicative of both the desired width, W, and the desired height, H, for the signboard.
  • the signboard dimension parameter 412 is indicative of both the desired width, W, and the desired height, H, for the signboard, the relationship, or ratio, between the desired width, W, and the desired height, H, can be derived directly from the signboard dimension parameter 412.
  • the relationship, or ratio, between the desired width and height can instead be derived from the signboard design file 411 , since is comprises a to scale representation of the signboard symbols.
  • the signboard dimension parameter 412 comprises either a desired width W or a desired height H for the physical signboard to be produced, because the relationship between the width W and height H of the signboard can be derived from the signboard design file 411 as the ratio between the height and width of the to scale representation of the signboard symbols, i.e.
  • the ratio may be determined in any manner known in the art. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 2b, the ratio between the height and the width can be found by defining a rectangle enclosing the outermost borders of the continuous image objects 201 in the signboard design file 411 , or in other words to determine the maximum x and y values (x_max, y_max) and the minimum x and y values (x_min, y_min) that coincide with a continuous image object 201 in the signboard design file 411.
  • the x, y coordinates are defined in a local coordinate system (x, y) of the signboard design file 411.
  • the signboard image file may first be converted from vector graphics to a polygonal representation, wherein the x,y coordinate for each vertex is known and the extreme values in x and y direction, respectively, are easily determined.
  • Step 415 may therefore comprise determining, and the processing circuitry 110 may be configured to determine, the maximum x and y values (x_max, y_max) and the minimum x and y values (x_min, y_min) that coincide with a continuous image object 201 in the signboard design file 411 , defined in a local coordinate system (x, y).
  • step 420 Identifying each of the at least one continuous image object 201 in the signboard design file 411 , using processing circuitry 1 10.
  • two or more continuous image objects 201 may be defined as a single continuous image object 201 if one completely encloses the other object(s) or if the two or more continuous image objects 201 overlap each other in one or more image point. This may for example be the case for two objects of different colors, which the system may be configured to identify as different objects, wherein larger of the objects encloses the smaller of the objects.
  • the smaller object may be intended to form a pattern or image on the larger object in the signboard, but they are intended to form one signboard object.
  • the smaller object (which may comprise narrow details) is not taken into consideration in the assessment of stroke widths.
  • the stroke widths for the continuous image object will hence coincide with those of the larger object.
  • the drawn on symbol on the surface of the larger object will not affect if illumination of the signboard is possible, and hence if the signboard can be produced according to the selected settings.
  • false determinations in step 470 due to the stroke width of the smaller object erroneously being included in the comparison with the smallest allowed stroke width, is avoided.
  • the method may in these embodiments comprise identifying, and the processing circuitry may be configured to identify, two or more continuous image objects 201 as a single continuous image object if one of the continuous image objects 201 completely encloses the other object(s) or if the two or more continuous image objects 201 overlap each other in one or more image point.
  • the method may further comprise identifying, and the processing circuitry may be configured to identify, two or more continuous image objects 201 as a single continuous image object also based on a respective depth assigned to/selected for the two or more continuous image objects 201 , wherein they are identified as the same/a single continuous image objects if they also are assigned the same depth.
  • this ensures that objects in the signboard image file 411 that are only intended to be ornaments “drawn” on a signboard object, or parts of objects that appear different in the signboard design file due to their coloring, and optionally also have the same height assigned, are not treated as separate objects. Again, this contributes to avoiding false determinations in step 470, due to the stroke width of the smaller object or part of an object erroneously being included in the comparison with the smallest allowed stroke width.
  • Step 420 may in some embodiments comprise assigning each identified continuous image object 201 a unique I D, so that they can be easily distinguished from each other in the continued processing. Step 415 and 420 may be performed in any order, or simultaneously.
  • the method further comprises:
  • step 430 For each identified continuous image object in the signboard design file 41 1 , determining at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN that the continuous image object 201 would obtain in the signboard, based on the determined relationship between the width and height of the signboard.
  • the determination of the at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN that the continuous image object 201 would obtain in the signboard comprises: determining at least one image stroke width, WSTROKEJMAGE, of the continuous image object 201 in the signboard design file 41 1 ; and scaling the at least one image stroke width, WSTROKEJMAGE, using the determined relationship between the width and height of the signboard, thereby obtaining the at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN that the continuous image object 201 would obtain in the signboard.
  • the processing circuitry may further be configured to determine at least one image stroke width, WSTROKEJMAGE, of the continuous image object 201 in the signboard design file 41 1 ; and scale the at least one image stroke width, WSTROKEJMAGE, using the determined relationship between the width and height of the signboard
  • step 440 Determining if the current continuous image object 201 is the last of the identified continuous image objects 201.
  • Step 430 the method returns to Step 430 for the next continuous image object 201 .
  • Step 450 the method continues in Step 450 for the next continuous image object 201.
  • the method further comprises, for each of at least one illumination option in a set of illumination options comparing, using the processing circuitry 110, each of the at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN to a preset smallest stroke width, WMIN , that is needed to illuminate the continuous image object representation in the signboard according to the illumination option.
  • the comparison may include performing steps 450 and 460, comprising: In step 450: Determining if at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN is smaller than a preset smallest stroke width WMIN that is needed to illuminate the continuous image object representation in the signboard according to the current illumination option .
  • the method comprises removing, using the processing circuitry 110, extreme and/or outlier signboard stroke width values, e.g. using histograms, before the determination of step 450.
  • stroke width values related to e.g. a corner, a very thin end of a letter, or a very short thin passage of a symbol which does not necessarily need to be illuminated for the illumination effect to be satisfactory, may advantageously be removed before a determination is made of whether the illuminated sign can be produced.
  • determining if at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN is smaller than the preset smallest stroke width WMIN comprises determining if each of the at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN is smaller than the preset smallest stroke width WMIN , including checking in Step 460 if there are still signboard stroke widths left to compare.
  • Step 450 if the comparison in Step 450 shows that the currently compared signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN is smaller than the preset smallest stroke width WMIN for the current illumination option, the method may further include setting the current illumination option as not possible in Step 455. Alternatively, if the comparison in Step 450 shows that the currently compared signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN is not smaller than the preset smallest stroke width WMIN for the current illumination option, the method continues in step 460. As further shown in Step 460 Fig. 4, if there are still signboard stroke widths left to compare for the current illumination option, the method returns to Step 450.
  • Step 460 meaning that the currently compared signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN is not smaller than the preset smallest stroke width WMIN for the current illumination option, and it is the last signboard stroke width (none left to compare), the method may further comprise setting the current illumination option as possible in Step 465.
  • this illumination option is possible to use to produce an illuminated signboard according to the input design file and desired signboard dimensions.
  • Setting the current illumination option as possible or not possible may e.g. mean setting a flag associated with the illumination option to a value indicative of “possible” or “not possible” or associating this information with the current illumination option in the system in any other suitable manner.
  • the flag or other indicative data may be stored in association with the respective illumination option in a memory accessible to the system 100, for example in the memory 130.
  • the iterative loop of steps 450 and 460, hence also including Step 455 or 465, if applied, is performed for each of at least one illumination option in the set of illumination options.
  • the method may comprise identifying a narrowest one of the determined at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN .
  • comparing the at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN to the preset smallest stroke width WMIN may comprise comparing only the identified narrowest one of the determined at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN to the preset smallest stroke width, WMIN .
  • the method further comprises: In Step 467, checking if at least one illumination option is possible, i.e. if the signboard can be produced with at least one illumination option.
  • the checking may comprise checking, for each illumination option, if at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN is determined to be smaller than the preset smallest stroke width, WMIN , that is needed to illuminate the continuous image object representation in the signboard according to the illumination options. If this is true, the method continues in Step 470.
  • the method continues in Step 480.
  • the method may optionally continue in Step 480.
  • step 467 of determining if at least one illumination option is possible may instead comprise checking if at least one illumination option has been set to possible, i.e. is associated with a value indicating possibility to produce the signboard using this illumination option. If at least one illumination option has been set to possible, the method may optionally continue in Step 480.
  • step 470 Determining that the signboard cannot be produced.
  • step 480 Determining that the signboard can be produced.
  • the determination in Step 430 of the at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN that the continuous image object 201 would obtain in the signboard, and the determination in Step 450 if at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN is smaller than a preset smallest stroke width WMIN that is needed to illuminate the continuous image object representation in the signboard according to the current illumination option are performed as a single step.
  • the determination of step 430 and 450 comprises rendering the vectorized signboard image file into a bitmap and performing image processing on the bitmap. The accuracy of the determination is related to the resolution of the bitmap, wherein a higher resolution provides a higher degree of accuracy.
  • the method according to these embodiments comprises: identifying continuous image objects in the bitmap representation of the signboard image file; counting the number of continuous image objects and optionally providing each with a unique I D for ease of identification; generating a distance map based on the bitmap image; identifying continuous image objects in the distance map, wherein each continuous image object comprises a continuous group of pixels representing at least a preset distance to the edge of the corresponding continuous image object in the bitmap representation in which it is comprised.
  • the preset distance to the edge is set such that it defines the smallest distance allowed in a continuous image object in the distance map for illumination to be possible in the signboard symbol/signboard object which the continuous image object in question represents.
  • the method according to these embodiments further comprises, for each continuous image object in the bitmap, counting the number of continuous image objects in the distance map that are located in corresponding pixel positions as the continuous image object in the bitmap. If the number of continuous image objects in the distance map is higher than the number of continuous image objects in the bitmap, this means that there is at least one passage in the signboard symbol/signboard object which the continuous image object in question represents that is too narrow for illumination to be possible. In this case, the method continues in Step 470. If the number of continuous image objects are the same in the bitmap and the distance map for all continuous image objects in the bitmap, the method may instead optionally continue in Step 480.
  • the method may further comprise visually or audibly presenting the determination of whether the signboard can be produced to a user via the user interface 120, 500.
  • Fig. 6 one or more optional method embodiments are shown that may be combined with any or all of the method embodiments presented in connection with Fig. 4.
  • Step 470 of determining that the signboard cannot be produced comprises:
  • step 600 Generating an alert, using the processing circuitry 110.
  • Step 600 may further comprise presenting the alert and/or presenting the determination that the signboard cannot be produced visually or audibly via the user interface 120, 500.
  • the method may in these embodiments further comprise enabling, via the user interface 120, 500, selection of an option to continue with the design process, even though the system has alerted the user that the signboard may not be producible according to the current settings.
  • step 610 Prompting the user to adjust one or more of the input signboard dimension parameter 412 or other relevant input parameter or value that affects whether or not the illuminated signboard can be produced, via the user interface 120, 500.
  • Prompting the user to adjust one or more of the input signboard dimension parameter 412 or other relevant input parameter or value that affects whether or not the illuminated signboard can be produced may comprise suggesting adjustments of one or more parameter that would render the signboard producible.
  • Fig. 7 one or more optional method embodiments are shown that may be combined with any or all of the method embodiments presented in connection with Fig. 4 and/or 6.
  • Step 430 of determining at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN that the continuous image object 201 would obtain in the signboard comprises:
  • step 700 Determining, using the processing circuitry 110, the dominating stroke width among the at least one signboard stroke width WSTROKE_SIGN .
  • the dominating stroke width is the stroke width that is most common in the continuous image object 201.
  • the dominating stroke width may be determined in any suitable manner, including but not limited to using a median value of the values of the at least one signboard stroke width, or by determining the stroke width value of the values of the at least one signboard stroke width that is present in most points along the circumference of the continuous image object.
  • step 710 Determining, using the processing circuitry 110, at least one depth value for the signboard that is possible to produce for the dominating stroke width.
  • the dominating stroke width and the allowable depth value(s) associated with it may be determined for each identified continuous image object, for each group of identified continuous image object if such groups have been determined, or for the entire signboard, i.e. commonly for all identified continuous image objects.
  • Step 710 may in these embodiments comprise mapping the value of the dominating stroke width to at least one allowable depth values for the signboard.
  • Step 71 0 may comprise mapping a determined signboard stroke width, WSTROKE_SIGN, of the image objects comprised in the signboard design file to one or more preset allowed depth value associated with the signboard stroke width, WSTROKE_SIGN .
  • Step 710 may comprise mapping a determined signboard stroke width, WSTROKE_SIGN, of each of the identified image objects to one or more preset allowed depth value associated with the respective signboard stroke width, WSTROKE_SIGN .
  • Step 710 may comprise mapping a determined signboard stroke width, WSTROKE_SIGN , of each group of continuous image objects to one or more preset allowed depth value associated with the respective signboard stroke Width, WsTROKE_SIGN-
  • step 720 Presenting the determined at least one possible depth value via the user interface 120.
  • Step 720 may further comprise enabling a user to select one or more of the presented depth values via the user interface 120, 500. Thereby, the user is enabled to select only depths that would make the signboard possible to produce. Again, this saves time and money in the signboard design and ordering process.
  • Fig. 8 one or more optional method embodiments are shown that may be combined with any or all of the method embodiments presented in connection with Fig. 4 and/or 7.
  • Step 480 of determining that the signboard can be produced comprises:
  • step 800 Presenting the determination that the signboard can be produced visually or audibly via the user interface 120, 500 and/or presenting available, selectable, options to the user via the user interface 120, 500. If available, selectable, options are presented to the user, i.e. being displayed via the user interface 120, 500, step 800 suitably comprises presenting and enabling selection of the at least one illumination option determined as possible in the preceding method steps via the user interface 120, 500. If two or more groups of image objects have been defined in any manner described herein step 800 suitably comprises presenting and enabling selection of illumination options separately for each group via the user interface 120, 500. The illumination options that are possible may differ between the two or more groups, since the stroke widths of the image objects comprised in each group may differ, or they may be the same.
  • step 800 may comprise updating the possible, selectable, illumination options 120 that are presented via the user interface 120, 500 in response to a user making a selection of an illumination option. Updating of the possible, selectable, illumination options 120 that are presented via the user interface 120, 500 in response to a user making a selection of an illumination option is in these embodiments based on preset rules and conditions defining co-dependencies between different illumination options. The preset rules and conditions may be based on which illumination options are reasonable rather than possible.
  • a signboard comprises a contour-cut object with relief objects enclosed by and protruding from the front surface of the contour-cut object
  • a front illumination of the enclosing contour-cut object will provide a front illumination of the relief objects. Therefore, a separate front illumination of the relief objects will not provide any significant illumination effect and the rules and conditions may in this case include that a selection of the illumination option “front illumination” for the enclosing contour-cut object will disable the illumination option “front illumination” for the relief objects.
  • method step 800 the user is ensured that the signboard can be produced and/or is enabled to continue the design process in an efficient and intuitive manner.
  • the method may further comprise grouping the continuous image objects into two or more groups. Thereafter, a group of continuous image objects may be processed instead of single continuous image object in different embodiments of the invention, e.g. to determine a suitable depth for the group of continuous image objects.
  • groups with signboard objects/symbols with different stroke width may thereby obtain different depths, which provides a greater flexibility in design. For instance, a smaller depth may be applied to a group with smaller stroke widths or dominating stroke width, while a larger depth may be applied to a group with larger stroke widths or dominating stroke width.
  • the method may comprise enabling a user to divide the continuous image objects into two or more groups via the user interface 120, 500 by providing selection input, generated by the user interacting with an input device 130 connected to the user interface 120, 500.
  • the user may use a cursor or touch functionality to click in or draw an outline around a number of continuous image objects to be included in a group.
  • the method may comprise dividing the image objects into two or more groups, using the processing circuitry 110. The determination of which continuous image objects are to be grouped together may be based on the relative proximity and/or similarity in stroke width of the continuous image objects.
  • the method may further comprise dividing the image objects into two or more groups, using the processing circuitry 110, based on the relative proximity or similarity in stroke width of the image objects.
  • Examples of groups 210, 211 , 212, obtained by user input or calculations by the processing circuitry 1 10, are illustrated in Fig. 2a.
  • the method may further comprise enabling a user to provide input, via the user interface 120, 500, to select one or more image object or group that is to be removed from the signboard, thereby enabling a change of the signboard design in the user interface 120, 500 before proceeding.
  • the method may comprise enabling a user to provide input, via the user interface 120, 500, to select one or more image object or group that is to be not to be illuminated, thereby enabling a user to make a design decision regarding the illumination of the resulting signboard, or to exclude a part of the signboard, e.g.
  • the selection of parts of the signboard that are not going to be illuminated may be made by before the system determines if the signboard can or cannot be produced, or it may be made in response to an alert or presented information from the system indicating that the signboard according to the initially input information cannot be produced. Possibly the alert or presented information also comprises suggestions on how the input may be amended to make the signboard producible and/or promptings to adjust at least one input parameter.
  • the system 100 may be configured to perform the steps and functions according to any method embodiment presented herein.
  • All of the process steps, as well as any sub-sequence of steps, described with reference to Figs. 4, 6, 7 and 8 may be controlled by means of a programmed processor/processing unit.
  • the embodi ments of the invention described above with reference to the drawings comprise processor and processes performed in at least one processor, the invention thus also extends to computer programs, particularly computer programs on or in a carrier, adapted for putting the invention into practice.
  • the program may be in the form of source code, object code, a code inter mediate source and object code such as in partially compiled form, or in any other form suitable for use in the implementation of the process according to the invention.
  • the program may either be a part of an operating system or be a separate application.
  • the carrier may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program.
  • the carrier may comprise a storage medium, such as a Flash memory, a ROM (Read Only Memory), for example a DVD (Digital Video/Versatile Disk), a CD (Compact Disc) or a semi conductor ROM , an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), or a magnetic recording medium, for example a floppy disc or hard disc.
  • the carrier may be a transmissible carrier such as an electrical or optical signal which may be conveyed via electrical or optical cable or by radio or by other means.
  • the carrier When the program is embodied in a signal, which may be conveyed, directly by a cable or other device or means, the carrier may be constituted by such cable or device or means.
  • the carrier may be an integrated circuit in which the program is embedded, the integrated circuit being adapted for performing, or for use in the performance of, the relevant processes.

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Abstract

Système informatisé et procédé implémenté par ordinateur correspondant destinés à déterminer si un panneau indicateur à contour coupé ou un panneau indicateur comprenant des objets de panneau indicateur en relief peut être produit, par : la réception d'un fichier de conception de panneau indicateur (411) comprenant au moins un objet d'image continu (201), chacun desdits objets d'image continus (201) étant une représentation à l'échelle d'un symbole du panneau indicateur à produire et un paramètre de dimension de panneau indicateur (412), indiquant une largeur souhaitée, W et/ou une hauteur souhaitée, H, pour le panneau indicateur; l'identification desdits objets d'image continus (210) dans le fichier de conception de panneau indicateur (411), à l'aide d'une circuiterie de traitement (110); la détermination d'au moins une largeur de segment de panneau indicateur (WSTROKE_SIGN) que l'objet d'image continue (201) obtiendrait dans le panneau indicateur, sur la base du paramètre de dimension de panneau indicateur (412); et la détermination que le panneau indicateur ne peut pas être produit si au moins l'une desdites largeurs de segment de panneau indicateur (WSTROKE_SIGN) est inférieure à la largeur de segment minimale prédéfinie, WMIN, pour une ou plusieurs options d'éclairage dans un ensemble d'options d'éclairage.
PCT/EP2022/054852 2021-03-01 2022-02-25 Système informatisé et procédé destinés à déterminer si un panneau indicateur peut être produit Ceased WO2022184593A1 (fr)

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Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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EP0607261B1 (fr) * 1991-10-01 1999-07-28 Artlite Corporation Limited Plaque de signalisation pour enseigne lumineuse
US20020095236A1 (en) * 1987-07-28 2002-07-18 David M. Dundorf Computer-produced carved signs and method and apparatus for making same
WO2004044792A1 (fr) * 2002-11-12 2004-05-27 Ekolite Co., Inc. Systeme et procede de production d'un panneau publicitaire tridimensionnel par infographie, ainsi que dispositif electronique et terminal de communication mobile possedant un dispositif d'affichage mettant en oeuvre ce systeme et ce procede
KR20180087636A (ko) 2017-01-25 2018-08-02 주식회사 오투오 간판 자동 견적 서비스 장치 및 그 방법
KR102028302B1 (ko) 2019-03-18 2019-10-02 유형철 간판 구매시스템
KR102122844B1 (ko) 2019-05-13 2020-06-15 비전플레이스 주식회사 증강 현실을 이용한 간판 시뮬레이션 방법 및 그 장치

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020095236A1 (en) * 1987-07-28 2002-07-18 David M. Dundorf Computer-produced carved signs and method and apparatus for making same
EP0607261B1 (fr) * 1991-10-01 1999-07-28 Artlite Corporation Limited Plaque de signalisation pour enseigne lumineuse
WO2004044792A1 (fr) * 2002-11-12 2004-05-27 Ekolite Co., Inc. Systeme et procede de production d'un panneau publicitaire tridimensionnel par infographie, ainsi que dispositif electronique et terminal de communication mobile possedant un dispositif d'affichage mettant en oeuvre ce systeme et ce procede
KR20180087636A (ko) 2017-01-25 2018-08-02 주식회사 오투오 간판 자동 견적 서비스 장치 및 그 방법
KR102028302B1 (ko) 2019-03-18 2019-10-02 유형철 간판 구매시스템
KR102122844B1 (ko) 2019-05-13 2020-06-15 비전플레이스 주식회사 증강 현실을 이용한 간판 시뮬레이션 방법 및 그 장치

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