Image masking method, device and equipment for PCB character printing and storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses an image shielding method, device and equipment for PCB character printing and a storage medium, and relates to the field of inkjet printing technology. The method shields or removes the image in the shielding area in the Gerber file image according to different shielding modes, and converts the image into a to-be-printed image. When the to-be-printed image is used for PCB character printing, the image in the shielding area in the Gerber file will not be printed, so that the ink is prevented from being printed on the printing table outside the PCB circuit board.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of inkjet printing technology, and in particular to an image shielding method, apparatus, device, and storage medium for PCB character printing. Background Technology

[0002] Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the most basic component of electronic devices, serving as the support for electronic components. A PCB uses an insulating board as its base material, cut to a specific size, on which circuits, pads / vias, solder mask, characters, and conductive patterns are printed to enable interconnection between electronic components.

[0003] Gerber files are a two-dimensional vector image file format. It's the standard format used in printed circuit board (PCB) industry software to describe PCB images, such as circuit layers, solder mask layers, character layers, drill layers, etc. The first step for a digital printer to print vector Gerber files is to parse the vector file format and convert it into a bitmap file format. This allows the printer to use the bitmap file for printing.

[0004] When creating Gerber files, such as Figure 1 As shown, characters, lines, and other images are often added to the blank edges around the PCB image in a Gerber file. These images, together with the PCB image, constitute the Gerber file image. However, these characters or lines are not images that need to be printed onto the PCB board and have no practical meaning. They are referred to as invalid images below. If a Gerber file with invalid images is used for printing, these invalid images will also be printed and occupy a certain amount of space on the PCB board, resulting in a waste of PCB board material. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, embodiments of the present invention provide an image shielding method, apparatus, device, and storage medium for PCB character printing, in order to solve the problem of invalid images of PCB characters being printed onto the printing table outside the PCB board, causing table contamination in the prior art.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide an image masking method for PCB character printing, the method comprising:

[0007] Obtain the masked area in the Gerber file image, wherein the masked area is an image area that does not need to be printed;

[0008] Determine the shielding mode of the shielded area;

[0009] After modifying the image in the shielded area according to the shielding mode, the image to be printed is obtained;

[0010] Print PCB characters based on the image to be printed.

[0011] Preferably, obtaining the masked region in the Gerber file image includes:

[0012] The margin of the Gerber file image is obtained based on the first external input information. The margin is the distance between the edge of the Gerber file image and the corresponding edge of the PCB image in the Gerber file image. The margin includes any one, two or more of the following: left margin, right margin, top margin and bottom margin.

[0013] The shielding area is obtained based on the margin and the size of the PCB image.

[0014] Preferably, the shielding mode includes:

[0015] Obtain the location and size of the shielded area in the Gerber file image;

[0016] The size of the corresponding shielding block is obtained based on the size of the shielding area, wherein the shielding block is a blank image;

[0017] The shielding block is placed at the location of the shielding area.

[0018] Preferably, the shielding mode includes:

[0019] Obtain the preset image invalidity condition based on the second external input information;

[0020] The image in the shielded area is acquired and recorded as an invalid image;

[0021] When the invalid image meets the preset invalid image condition, the invalid image in the shielded area is removed.

[0022] Preferably, obtaining the image to be printed after modifying the image in the shielded area according to the shielding mode includes:

[0023] Obtain all masked areas in the Gerber file image;

[0024] According to the shielding mode, obtain all shielding blocks corresponding to the shielding areas, and set the shielding blocks at the location of the shielding areas, wherein there is no overlap between the shielding blocks;

[0025] The Gerber file image with the masking block added is converted into a bitmap image, which is the image to be printed.

[0026] Preferably, the printed data corresponding to the shielding block is blank data.

[0027] Preferably, obtaining the image to be printed after modifying the image in the shielded area according to the shielding mode includes:

[0028] Retrieve invalid images from all masked regions in the Gerber file image;

[0029] When the invalid image meets the preset invalid image condition, the invalid image is removed when the Gerber file image is converted into a bitmap image, resulting in a bitmap image that does not contain the invalid image, which is the image to be printed.

[0030] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention provide an image shielding device for PCB character printing, the device comprising:

[0031] The acquisition module is used to acquire the masked area in the Gerber file image, wherein the masked area is an image area that does not need to be printed;

[0032] The determination module is used to determine the shielding mode of the shielding area;

[0033] The modification module is used to modify the image in the shielded area according to the shielding mode and then obtain the image to be printed;

[0034] The printing module is used to print PCB characters based on the image to be printed.

[0035] Thirdly, embodiments of the present invention provide a PCB character printing device, including: at least one processor, at least one memory, and computer program instructions stored in the memory, which, when executed by the processor, implement the method of the first aspect described above.

[0036] Fourthly, embodiments of the present invention provide a storage medium storing computer program instructions, which, when executed by a processor, implement the method of the first aspect described above.

[0037] In summary, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0038] The image masking method, apparatus, device, and storage medium for PCB character printing provided in this invention obtains the masking area in a Gerber file image, and after masking or removing the image within the masking area according to different masking modes, converts it into an image to be printed. When printing PCB characters based on the image to be printed, the image within the masking area in the Gerber file will not be printed, thereby avoiding ink printing onto the printing table surface outside the PCB board material. Attached Figure Description

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the embodiments of the present invention will be briefly introduced below. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort, and these are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a Gerber file image in the background technology.

[0041] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating an image masking method for PCB character printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the invalid image and the shielded area in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the shielding area according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the margin setting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the shielding area according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the first shielding mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the shielding block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an image shielding device for PCB character printing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the PCB character printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0050] The features and exemplary embodiments of various aspects of the present invention will now be described in detail. To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only configured to explain the present invention and are not configured to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can be practiced without some of these specific details. The following description of the embodiments is merely intended to provide a better understanding of the present invention by illustrating examples of the invention.

[0051] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising..." does not exclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0052] Example 1

[0053] This invention provides an image masking method for PCB character printing, applicable to applications using inkjet printing technology for character printing on PCB circuit boards. PCB character printing involves printing characters, lines, and color blocks (collectively referred to as character printing) onto a PCB circuit board using inkjet printing equipment. During printing, a Gerber file created using pre-printed computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software is first generated. This Gerber file is then parsed and converted into printing data using auxiliary software. An image acquisition device, such as a CCD camera, is used to position the PCB circuit board on the printing platform. Specific ink is then sprayed onto the printed circuit board using inkjet technology, thus completing the PCB character printing process. When creating the Gerber file, if... Figure 1 As shown, when creating Gerber files, lines or characters are often added to the blank areas around the PCB image. However, these characters and lines are not intended to be printed onto the PCB board. Therefore, they can be masked or removed before or during the conversion of the Gerber file to a bitmap file, so that they will not be printed in the subsequent PCB character printing process.

[0054] Please see Figure 2This invention provides an image masking method for PCB character printing, the method comprising:

[0055] S1: Obtain the masked area in the Gerber file image, wherein the masked area is an image area that does not need to be printed;

[0056] S2: Determine the shielding mode of the shielding area;

[0057] S3: Modify the image in the shielded area according to the shielding mode, and then obtain the image to be printed;

[0058] S4: Print PCB characters according to the image to be printed.

[0059] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, when PCB designers create Gerber files, they often add characters 31 or lines 32 for marking in the blank areas around the PCB image 2 (a vector image containing multiple layers, such as circuit layers, solder mask layers, character layers, drill layers, etc.). These characters 31 or lines 32, together with PCB image 2, constitute the image in the Gerber file (denoted as Gerber file image 1). During subsequent PCB manufacturing, printing the characters 31 or lines 32 outside of PCB image 2 onto the PCB board has no effect or meaning; therefore, it is called invalid image 3. The area containing invalid image 3 is the shielding area. To save PCB material, the invalid image within the shielding area does not need to be printed.

[0060] In one embodiment, the size or dimensions of the shielding area can be determined based on the location of the invalid image, such as... Figure 3 As shown, invalid image 3 in Gerber file image 1 is located at the center of the top, bottom, left, and right sides of PCB image 2. The size of the shielding area 30 can be slightly larger or larger than the size of the invalid image 3. The size of the shielding area 30 can also be set by the user according to actual conditions. For example, the user can use the software's human-computer interaction interface to select the position and size of the shielding area using the mouse, based on the position and size of the invalid image. Alternatively, the size of the shielding area 30 can be automatically set by the system based on the size of the invalid image 3. For example, image recognition technology can be used to obtain the coordinates and size of the invalid image, and the position and size of the shielding area can be determined based on these coordinates and the size of the invalid image.

[0061] In one embodiment, areas in the Gerber file image other than the PCB image are defined as shielded areas. Specifically, obtaining the shielded areas in the Gerber file image includes:

[0062] Obtain the image region of the Gerber file image, and denote it as the first image region;

[0063] The image region of the PCB circuit board image is obtained and denoted as the second image region;

[0064] The image area in the first image area other than the second image area is designated as the shielding area.

[0065] Specific examples Figure 4 As shown, the Gerber file image area is denoted as the first image area 10, and the area where the PCB image is located is denoted as the second image area 20. Then, all image areas in the first image area 10 except for the second image area 20 corresponding to the PCB image are considered as the shielding area 30.

[0066] In one embodiment, the shielding area can also be obtained based on the margins of the Gerber file image set by the user. Here, the margin refers to the distance between the edge of the Gerber file image and the edge of the PCB image. For example, as shown... Figure 5 As shown, import the Gerber file into CAM software or a custom Gerber file creation / editing software. The software's user interface displays the Gerber file image, and the user interface for setting margins allows you to input the values ​​for the left, right, top, and bottom margins. The software will then generate the margins in the Gerber file image based on these input values. Figure 6 As shown, the left, right, top, and bottom margins are the distances between the left edge 11, right edge 12, top edge 13, and bottom edge 14 of Gerber file image 1 and the left edge 21, right edge 22, top edge 23, and bottom edge 24 of PCB image 2, respectively. The values ​​of the left, right, top, and bottom margins can be set by the user based on actual conditions or according to the first external input information. Only one, two, or more of the four margins can be set. The software exports the Gerber file image based on the set margin values. In this Gerber file image, as shown... Figure 6As shown, the distance between each edge of the PCB image and the corresponding edge of the Gerber file image is determined by the margin value set by the user or the first external input information. In this case, the shielding area in the Gerber file image is the edge area around the PCB image defined according to these margin values. The size of these edge areas (shielding areas) in the Gerber file image can be calculated based on the margin values ​​and the size of the PCB image. For example, assuming the size of PCB image 2 is: height P1, width P2, then the size of the shielding area at the top edge is defined as 19.967 × (P2 + 2 × 9.984), the size of the shielding area at the bottom edge is 9.984 × (P2 + 2 × 9.984), the size of the shielding area at the left edge is 9.984 × P1, and the size of the shielding area at the right edge is 9.984 × P2.

[0067] After obtaining the masking area, invalid images within the masking area are masked or removed to prevent them from being printed. In this embodiment, two different masking modes are provided for masking invalid images, referred to as the first masking mode and the second masking mode, respectively.

[0068] In one embodiment, the first shielding mode is:

[0069] Obtain the location and size of the shielded area in the Gerber file image;

[0070] The size of the corresponding shielding block is obtained based on the size of the shielding area, wherein the shielding block is a blank image;

[0071] The shielding block is placed at the location of the shielding area.

[0072] Specifically, in this embodiment, the first masking mode for invalid images mainly involves acquiring a masking block of the same size as the masking area, covering the masking area with the masking block, thereby masking the invalid image within the masking area. Here, the masking block is a blank image; during printing, the print data corresponding to a blank image is blank data, and therefore it will not be printed. For example, as shown... Figure 7As shown, a rectangular coordinate system is established with the vertex between the left and lower edges in the Gerber file image 1 as the origin. Based on the shielding regions 301, 302, 303, and 304 obtained in step S1, the coordinates of the lower left vertex (i.e., the vertex between the left and lower edges) of each shielding region are C1:(x1, y1), C2:(x2, y2), C3:(x3, y3), and C4:(x4, y4), respectively. Let the size of shielding region 301 be: height L1, width W1; shielding region 302 be: height L2, width W2; shielding region 303 be: height L3, width W3; and shielding region 304 be: height L4, width W4. Correspondingly, the shielding block 501 corresponding to shielding region 301 is obtained, with a size of: height L1, width W1. A shielding block 501 is placed in the Gerber file image, with its lower left vertex coordinates matching the lower left vertex coordinates (x1, y1) of the shielded area. The shielding block 503 corresponding to the shielded area 303 is obtained, with a height of L3 and a width of W3. This shielding block 503 is also placed in the Gerber file image, with its lower left vertex coordinates matching the lower left vertex coordinates (x3, y3) of the shielded area. This process is repeated, placing shielding blocks corresponding to the shielded areas at their respective positions. Furthermore, the size of the shielding blocks can be adjusted according to actual conditions and does not necessarily have to be the same as the size of their corresponding shielded areas, but it must completely cover the invalid image. Preferably, there are no overlapping areas between the shielding blocks.

[0073] In one embodiment, when the shielding area is obtained based on the user-set margin of the Gerber file image, a shielding block can be added to the Gerber file image according to that margin. For example... Figure 8As shown, let the left margin obtained through the first external input information be a1, the right margin be a2, the top margin be a3, and the bottom margin be a4. The size of PCB image 2 is: height P1, width P2. Then, a shielding block 601 with height P1+a4 and width a1 is set on the left edge of the PCB image (the lower left vertex of shielding block 601 coincides with the lower left vertex of the Gerber file image). A shielding block 603 with height a3 and width P2+a1 is set on the upper edge of PCB image 2 (the lower left vertex of shielding block 603 coincides with the lower left vertex of the Gerber file image). A shielding block 602 (with its upper left vertex coinciding with the upper right vertex of shielding block 603) with a height of P1+a3 and a width of a2 is set at the right edge of PCB image 2. A shielding block 604 (with its upper right vertex coinciding with the lower right vertex of shielding block 602) with a height of a4 and a width of P2+a2 is set at the lower edge of PCB image 2. Shielding blocks 601, 602, 603, and 604 cover the non-PCB image areas in the Gerber file image. Furthermore, shielding blocks 601, 602, 603, and 604 can be adjusted according to the actual situation.

[0074] When there are many invalid images around PCB image 2, if shielding blocks are set according to the shielding area corresponding to each invalid image, the more invalid images there are, the lower the efficiency. In this case, it can be done as follows: Figure 8 As shown, all areas in the Gerber file except the PCB image are treated as shielded areas, and the size of the shielding blocks is set accordingly based on the input margins. Figure 5 As shown, after inputting the values ​​of each margin in the system software, the system automatically calculates the shielding area around the PCB image, and as follows... Figure 8 The corresponding shielding blocks shown cover the shielding area around the PCB image, which is more efficient at shielding invalid images.

[0075] Preferably, modifying the image in the shielded area of ​​the Gerber file image according to the first shielding mode to obtain the image to be printed includes:

[0076] Obtain all masked areas in the Gerber file image;

[0077] According to the shielding mode, obtain all shielding blocks corresponding to the shielding areas, and set the shielding blocks at the location of the shielding areas, wherein there is no overlap between the shielding blocks;

[0078] The Gerber file image with the masking block added is converted into a bitmap image, which is the image to be printed.

[0079] Specifically, after obtaining the shielded areas containing all invalid images in the Gerber file image, shielding blocks are set to cover these areas according to the first shielding mode described above, resulting in a Gerber file with added shielding blocks. Adding shielding blocks to the Gerber file is a pre-printing process and is unrelated to the PCB character printing workflow. When the Gerber file is converted to a bitmap file (the image to be printed), the image in the bitmap file will not display the invalid images but will instead display the shielding blocks. The printing data corresponding to the shielding blocks will be blank, therefore, invalid images will not be printed during PCB character printing.

[0080] In one embodiment, the second shielding mode is:

[0081] Obtain the preset image invalidity condition based on the second external input information;

[0082] The image in the shielded area is acquired and recorded as an invalid image;

[0083] When the invalid image meets the preset invalid image condition, the invalid image in the shielded area is removed.

[0084] Specifically, firstly, information about the image to be blocked is obtained based on the second external input information (such as image information input by the user), denoted as the preset image invalidity condition. For example, if the preset image invalidity condition obtained based on the second external input information is: the image to be blocked is a line segment image of length b, then invalid images in the blocking area are obtained. If the second invalid image is a line segment image of length b, the preset image invalidity condition is met, and the line segment image of length b will be removed. If the preset image invalidity condition obtained based on the second external input information is: the image to be blocked is a line segment image, then invalid images in the blocking area will be removed as long as they are line segments. If the preset image invalidity condition obtained based on the second external input information is: the image to be blocked is all images, then invalid images in the blocking area will be removed as long as they are all images in the blocking area.

[0085] Preferably, modifying the image of the shielded area in the Gerber file image according to the second shielding mode to obtain the image to be printed includes:

[0086] Retrieve invalid images from all masked regions in the Gerber file image;

[0087] When the invalid image meets the preset invalid image condition, the invalid image is removed when the Gerber file image is converted into a bitmap image, resulting in a bitmap image that does not contain the invalid image, which is the image to be printed.

[0088] Specifically, the second masking mode does not add masking blocks to the Gerber file image, but rather removes or modifies the pixels corresponding to the invalid image to blank pixels when the Gerber file is converted to a bitmap file, thereby removing the invalid bitmap image corresponding to the invalid image in the Gerber file from the bitmap. When printing PCB characters based on this bitmap image (the image to be printed) with the invalid image removed, there are no images (pixels) around the PCB image (bitmap image), so only the PCB image (bitmap image) is printed with ink.

[0089] In summary, the image masking method for PCB character printing provided by the embodiments of the present invention obtains the masking area in the Gerber file image, and after masking or removing the image in the masking area according to different masking modes, converts it into an image to be printed. When printing PCB characters based on the image to be printed, the image in the masking area in the Gerber file will not be printed, thereby avoiding ink printing onto the printing table surface outside the PCB board material.

[0090] Example 2

[0091] Please see Figure 9 This invention provides an image shielding device 200 for PCB character printing, the device 200 comprising:

[0092] The acquisition module 201 is used to acquire the masked area in the Gerber file image, wherein the masked area is an image area that does not need to be printed;

[0093] The determining module 202 is used to determine the shielding mode of the shielding area;

[0094] Modification module 203 is used to modify the image in the shielded area according to the shielding mode and then obtain the image to be printed;

[0095] The printing module 204 is used to print PCB characters based on the image to be printed.

[0096] Preferably, the acquisition module 201 includes:

[0097] The margin acquisition unit is used to acquire the margin of the Gerber file image according to the first external input information. The margin is the distance between the edge of the Gerber file image and the corresponding edge of the PCB image in the Gerber file image. The margin includes any one, two or more of the following: left margin, right margin, top margin and bottom margin.

[0098] The first shielding area acquisition unit is used to acquire the shielding area based on the margin and the size of the PCB image.

[0099] Preferably, the shielding mode in the determining module 202 includes:

[0100] The first acquisition unit is used to acquire the position of the shielded area in the Gerber file image and the size of the shielded area;

[0101] The second acquisition unit is used to acquire the size of the corresponding shielding block according to the size of the shielding area, wherein the shielding block is a blank image;

[0102] The first setting unit is used to set the shielding block at the position of the shielding area.

[0103] Preferably, the shielding mode in the determining module 202 includes:

[0104] A preset image invalidity condition acquisition unit is used to acquire preset image invalidity conditions based on second external input information;

[0105] The first invalid image acquisition unit is used to acquire images in the shielded area, which are denoted as invalid images.

[0106] The removal unit is used to remove the invalid image from the shielded area when the invalid image meets the preset invalid image condition.

[0107] Preferably, the modification unit 203 includes:

[0108] The second shielded area acquisition unit is used to acquire all shielded areas in the Gerber file image;

[0109] The second setting unit is used to obtain the shielding blocks corresponding to all the shielding areas according to the shielding mode, and set the shielding blocks at the location of the shielding area, wherein there is no overlapping part between the shielding blocks;

[0110] The conversion unit is used to convert the Gerber file image with the masking block added into a bitmap image, which is the image to be printed.

[0111] Preferably, the modification module 203 includes:

[0112] The second invalid image acquisition unit is used to acquire invalid images in all masked areas of the Gerber file image;

[0113] The removal and conversion unit is used to remove the invalid image when converting the Gerber file image into a bitmap image if the invalid image meets the preset invalid image condition, so as to obtain a bitmap image that does not contain the invalid image, which is the image to be printed.

[0114] In summary, the image shielding device for PCB character printing provided in this embodiment of the invention obtains the shielding area in a Gerber file image, and after shielding or removing the image within the shielding area according to different shielding modes, converts it into an image to be printed. When PCB characters are printed based on this image to be printed, the image within the shielding area in the Gerber file will not be printed, thereby avoiding ink printing onto the printing table surface outside the PCB board material.

[0115] Example 3

[0116] In addition, the image masking method for PCB character printing in this embodiment of the invention can be implemented by a PCB character printing device. Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the hardware structure of the PCB character printing device provided in an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0117] The PCB character printing device may include a processor 301 and a memory 302 storing computer program instructions.

[0118] Specifically, the processor 301 may include a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits that can be configured to implement the embodiments of the present invention.

[0119] Memory 302 may include mass storage for data or instructions. For example, and not limitingly, memory 302 may include a hard disk drive (HDD), floppy disk drive, flash memory, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, magnetic tape, or Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive, or a combination of two or more of these. Where appropriate, memory 302 may include removable or non-removable (or fixed) media. Where appropriate, memory 302 may be internal or external to a data processing device. In a particular embodiment, memory 302 is a non-volatile solid-state memory. In a particular embodiment, memory 302 includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate, the ROM may be a mask-programmed ROM, a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), an electrically rewritable ROM (EAROM), or flash memory, or a combination of two or more of these.

[0120] The processor 301 reads and executes computer program instructions stored in the memory 302 to implement any of the image masking methods for PCB character printing in the above embodiments.

[0121] In one example, the PCB character printing device may also include a communication interface 303 and a bus 310. For example, Figure 10 As shown, the processor 301, memory 302, and communication interface 303 are connected through bus 310 and complete communication with each other.

[0122] The communication interface 303 is mainly used to realize communication between various modules, devices, units and / or equipment in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0123] Bus 310 includes hardware, software, or both, that couples components of a PCB character printing device together. For example, and not limitingly, bus 310 may include an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or other graphics bus, an Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, a Front Side Bus (FSB), HyperTransport (HT) interconnect, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an Infinite Bandwidth Interconnect, a Low Pin Count (LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Microchannel Architecture (MCA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, a PCI-Express (PCI-X) bus, a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association Local (VLB) bus, or other suitable buses, or combinations of two or more of these. Where appropriate, bus 310 may include one or more buses. While specific buses are described and illustrated in embodiments of the invention, the invention contemplates any suitable bus or interconnect.

[0124] Example 4

[0125] Furthermore, in conjunction with the image masking method for PCB character printing in the above embodiments, this invention can be implemented using a computer-readable storage medium. This computer-readable storage medium stores computer program instructions; when executed by the processor 301, these computer program instructions implement any of the image masking methods for PCB character printing in the above embodiments.

[0126] In summary, the image masking method, apparatus, device, and storage medium for PCB character printing provided by the embodiments of the present invention obtains the masking area in a Gerber file image, and after masking or removing the image within the masking area according to different masking modes, converts it into an image to be printed. When PCB characters are printed based on the image to be printed, the image within the masking area in the Gerber file will not be printed, thereby avoiding ink printing onto the printing table surface outside the PCB circuit board material.

[0127] It should be clarified that the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations and processes described above and shown in the figures. For the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of known methods are omitted here. In the above embodiments, several specific steps are described and shown as examples. However, the method process of the present invention is not limited to the specific steps described and shown. Those skilled in the art can make various changes, modifications, and additions, or change the order of steps, after understanding the spirit of the present invention.

[0128] The functional blocks shown in the above-described structural diagram can be implemented as hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. When implemented in hardware, they can be, for example, electronic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), appropriate firmware, plug-ins, function cards, etc. When implemented in software, the elements of this invention are programs or code segments used to perform the required tasks. The programs or code segments can be stored on a machine-readable medium or transmitted over a transmission medium or communication link via data signals carried in a carrier wave. "Machine-readable medium" can include any medium capable of storing or transmitting information. Examples of machine-readable media include electronic circuits, semiconductor memory devices, ROM, flash memory, erasable ROM (EROM), floppy disks, CD-ROMs, optical disks, hard disks, fiber optic media, radio frequency (RF) links, etc. Code segments can be downloaded via computer networks such as the Internet, intranets, etc.

[0129] It should also be noted that the exemplary embodiments mentioned in this invention describe methods or systems based on a series of steps or apparatus. However, this invention is not limited to the order of the steps described above; that is, the steps can be performed in the order mentioned in the embodiments, or in a different order, or several steps can be performed simultaneously.

[0130] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, modules, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here. It should be understood that the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An image masking method for PCB character printing, characterized in that, The method includes: Obtain the masked area in the Gerber file image, wherein the masked area is an image area that does not need to be printed; Determine the shielding mode of the shielded area; After modifying the image in the shielded area according to the shielding mode, the image to be printed is obtained; Print PCB characters according to the image to be printed; The process of obtaining the masked region in the Gerber file image includes: The margin of the Gerber file image is obtained based on the first external input information. The margin is the distance between the edge of the Gerber file image and the corresponding edge of the PCB image in the Gerber file image. The margin includes any one or more of the following: left margin, right margin, top margin and bottom margin. The shielding area is obtained based on the margin and the size of the PCB image; The shielding modes include: Obtain the location and size of the shielded area in the Gerber file image; The size of the corresponding shielding block is obtained based on the size of the shielding area, wherein the shielding block is a blank image; The shielding block is placed at the location of the shielding area.

2. The image masking method for PCB character printing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of modifying the image in the shielded area according to the shielding mode and then obtaining the image to be printed includes: Obtain all masked areas in the Gerber file image; According to the shielding mode, obtain all shielding blocks corresponding to the shielding areas, and set the shielding blocks at the location of the shielding areas, wherein there is no overlap between the shielding blocks; The Gerber file image with the masking block added is converted into a bitmap image, which is the image to be printed.

3. The image masking method for PCB character printing according to claim 2, characterized in that, The printed data corresponding to the shielding block is blank data.

4. An image masking method for PCB character printing, characterized in that, The method includes: Obtain the masked area in the Gerber file image, wherein the masked area is an image area that does not need to be printed; Determine the shielding mode of the shielded area; After modifying the image in the shielded area according to the shielding mode, the image to be printed is obtained; Print PCB characters according to the image to be printed; The process of obtaining the masked region in the Gerber file image includes: The margin of the Gerber file image is obtained based on the first external input information. The margin is the distance between the edge of the Gerber file image and the corresponding edge of the PCB image in the Gerber file image. The margin includes any one or more of the following: left margin, right margin, top margin and bottom margin. The shielding area is obtained based on the margin and the size of the PCB image; The shielding modes include: Obtain the preset image invalidity condition based on the second external input information; The image in the shielded area is acquired and recorded as an invalid image; When the invalid image meets the preset invalid image condition, the invalid image in the shielded area is removed.

5. The image masking method for PCB character printing according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of modifying the image in the shielded area according to the shielding mode and then obtaining the image to be printed includes: Retrieve invalid images from all masked regions in the Gerber file image; When the invalid image meets the preset invalid image condition, the invalid image is removed when the Gerber file image is converted into a bitmap image, resulting in a bitmap image that does not contain the invalid image, which is the image to be printed.

6. An image shielding device for PCB character printing, characterized in that, The device includes: The acquisition module is used to acquire the masked area in the Gerber file image, wherein the masked area is an image area that does not need to be printed; The determination module is used to determine the shielding mode of the shielding area; The modification module is used to modify the image in the shielded area according to the shielding mode and then obtain the image to be printed; The printing module is used to print PCB characters based on the image to be printed; The process of obtaining the masked region in the Gerber file image includes: The margin of the Gerber file image is obtained based on the first external input information. The margin is the distance between the edge of the Gerber file image and the corresponding edge of the PCB image in the Gerber file image. The margin includes any one or more of the following: left margin, right margin, top margin and bottom margin. The shielding area is obtained based on the margin and the size of the PCB image; The shielding modes include: Obtain the location and size of the shielded area in the Gerber file image; The size of the corresponding shielding block is obtained based on the size of the shielding area, wherein the shielding block is a blank image; The shielding block is placed at the location of the shielding area.

7. A PCB character printing device, characterized in that, include: At least one processor, at least one memory, and computer program instructions stored in the memory, which, when executed by the processor, implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-5.

8. A storage medium storing computer program instructions thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program instructions are executed by a processor, the method as described in any one of claims 1-5 is implemented.

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