Device for managing drawing data including raster data, method, and program therefor

Abstract

To provide a device, method and program for recognizing a value of dimension within a drawing represented by drawing data for managing the drawing data including raster data.SOLUTION: A device acquires drawing data of a raster type (S201), vectorizes the drawing data to be converted into vector data (S202), generates dimension line data associated with first and second nodes included in the vector data (S203), specifies, from the vector data, one or more coupled edges adjacent to a dimension line represented by the dimension line data (S204), applies character recognition to a corresponding region within the drawing data corresponding to a region including the specified one or more coupled edges (S205), and stores a recognized character as a dimension in association with the dimension line data (S206).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method, and a program for managing drawing data including raster data. [Background technology]

[0002] Just as there are about 30,000 parts in one automobile, a wide variety of parts are required in the manufacturing industry. Generally, manufacturers do not process all of these different types of parts in-house, but outsource the manufacturing to external processing companies.

[0003] When outsourcing manufacturing, manufacturers provide processors with part drawings showing the parts to be outsourced in electronic form or paper form printed from said electronic form for the purposes of quotations, orders, etc., and said electronic media is managed mainly as data in PDF format. In addition, processors that receive part drawings in paper form scan them and manage them mainly as data in PDF format. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] PDF format drawing data can be either with layers or without layers. In the former case, some of the lines, letters, and symbols in the drawing represented by the drawing data can be distinguished by representing them with data in a layer corresponding to their type.

[0005] However, the PDF-format drawing data managed as described above is often obtained by, for example, printing the data, adding handwritten characters or symbols, and then scanning it, and therefore often does not have layers, so information about the types of lines, characters, and symbols in the drawing is often not retained.

[0006] In the manufacturing industry, drawing data representing parts includes data on shape and dimensions, part name, drawing number, serial number, material, surface treatment, etc. For example, if it were possible to recognize what a certain number represents, various advantages would be expected in software for managing drawing data, such as improved searchability and easier extraction of similar drawings. In particular, there would be great advantages if it were possible to distinguish dimensional values ​​from other numerical values.

[0007] Although the above description is given taking PDF format image data as an example, the present invention is widely applicable to drawing data representing parts that includes raster data, and is also suitable for data that does not have layers. Examples include data formats such as JPG and TIFF. Raster data is data that includes multiple pixels. JPG or TIFF format image data generally includes only raster data, but PDF format image data may include vector data or text data in addition to raster data.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and its object is to make it possible to recognize the values ​​of dimensions within a drawing represented by drawing data in an apparatus, method, and program for managing drawing data including raster data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve this object, a first aspect of the present invention is a method for managing drawing data including raster data, comprising the steps of vectorizing the drawing data to generate vector data, generating dimension line data associated with first and second nodes included in the vector data, performing character recognition on corresponding areas in the drawing data that correspond to adjacent areas adjacent to dimension lines represented by the dimension line data, and associating characters obtained by the character recognition with the dimension line data and storing them as dimension values.

[0010] Also, a second aspect of the present invention is a method of the first aspect, wherein the step of generating the dimension line data includes the steps of detecting a plurality of tip vertex symbols from the drawing data, determining at least a pair of tip vertex symbols from the detected plurality of tip vertex symbols, and identifying first and second nodes in the vector data corresponding to first and second tip vertices of the pair of tip vertex symbols.

[0011] A third aspect of the present invention is the method of the second aspect, wherein the tip vertex symbol is an arrow.

[0012] Also, a fourth aspect of the present invention is the method according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising the step of determining an orientation of the adjacent region or the corresponding region.

[0013] Also, a fifth aspect of the present invention is a method of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the proximity area is an area including one or more connected edges that are proximate to a dimension line represented by the dimension line data.

[0014] Further, a sixth aspect of the present invention is a method of the fifth aspect, wherein the proximity region is a region including one or more connected edges located within a predetermined range in a direction perpendicular to an edge connecting the first and second nodes or a line segment extending beyond one of the nodes of the edges.

[0015] Furthermore, a seventh aspect of the present invention is a method of any one of the first to sixth aspects, further comprising a step of using the dimensional values ​​to calculate the number of pixels per mm in a drawing represented by the drawing data.

[0016] An eighth aspect of the present invention is the method according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising the step of performing a thinning process on said drawing data before said vectorization.

[0017] A ninth aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute a method for managing drawing data including raster data, the method including the steps of vectorizing the drawing data to generate vector data, generating dimension line data associated with first and second nodes included in the vector data, performing character recognition on corresponding areas in the drawing data that correspond to adjacent areas adjacent to dimension lines represented by the dimension line data, and associating the characters obtained by the character recognition with the dimension line data and storing them as dimension values.

[0018] A tenth aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for managing drawing data including raster data, which vectorizes the drawing data to generate vector data and dimension line data associated with first and second nodes included in the vector data, performs character recognition on corresponding areas in the drawing data that correspond to adjacent areas close to dimension lines represented by the dimension line data, and associates the characters obtained by the character recognition with the dimension line data and stores them as dimension values. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to one aspect of the present invention, drawing data including raster data is vectorized to generate dimension line data associated with first and second nodes included in the vector data, character recognition is performed on corresponding areas in the drawing data that correspond to nearby areas close to the dimension lines represented by the dimension line data, and the obtained characters are associated with the dimension line data and stored as dimension values, making it possible to recognize the values ​​of dimensions in the drawing represented by the drawing data. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an apparatus for managing drawing data according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of a method for managing drawing data according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of an example of a drawing displayed based on drawing data according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of dimension line data according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting on the drawing of FIG. 3 a number of connected edges identified as being proximate to the dimension lines shown in the drawing. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which dimension values ​​are added to dimension line data according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 5 is a diagram showing a flow of a method for detecting a dimension line according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram in which a number of arrows included in the drawing of FIG. 3 are highlighted and drawn on the drawing. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of data describing arrows included in the drawing of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0022] (First embodiment) 1 shows an apparatus for managing drawing data according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 100 communicates with a manufacturer terminal 110 used by a manufacturer via an IP network such as the Internet, enabling management of drawing data. The apparatus 100 also communicates with a processor terminal 120 used by a processor in a similar manner, enabling the apparatus 100 to provide a drawing management service to the processor. There are no particular limitations on the user of the drawing management service, but in this embodiment, an example will be described in which the manufacturer uses the drawing management service.

[0023] The device 100 includes a communication unit 101 such as a communication interface, a processing unit 102 such as a processor or CPU, and a storage unit 103 including a storage device or storage medium such as a memory or a hard disk, and can be configured by executing a program for performing each process. The device 100 may include one or more devices, computers, or servers. The program may include one or more programs, and may be recorded in a computer-readable storage medium to form a non-transient program product. The program may be stored in a storage device or storage medium such as the storage unit 103 or a database 104 accessible from the device 100 via an IP network, and may be executed by the processing unit 102. Data described below as being stored in the storage unit 103 may be stored in the database 104, and vice versa.

[0024] First, the device 100 acquires drawing data in raster format (S201). For example, the drawing data is stored in the storage unit 103 by a purchasing person of a manufacturer uploading and registering the data from a web page provided by the device 100, and the data is acquired by reading the data. Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged view of an example of a drawing displayed by the drawing data.

[0025] Next, the device 100 vectorizes the drawing data and converts it into vector data (S202). In this specification, "vectorization" refers to conversion into data representing a plurality of points (hereinafter also referred to as "nodes") and one or a plurality of line segments (hereinafter also referred to as "edges") connecting at least two of the plurality of points. The obtained vector data may be a file separate from the drawing data, or a layer may be added to a file containing the drawing data, and the vector data may be data in a layer different from the drawing data.

[0026] In the vector data, each edge can be expressed as follows, for example. [ [x1, y1], [x2, y2] ] Here, the bottom left corner of the drawing represented by the drawing data is taken as the origin, the x-axis is taken horizontally, and the y-axis is taken vertically, and each node of the edge is expressed in the format [x, y]. The line segment drawn in Figure 3 is not necessarily a single edge as vector data, and may be converted into multiple edges.

[0027] The drawing data may be thinned before vectorization. For example, each pixel of the raster data included in the drawing data may be binarized or multi-valued as necessary, and the width of continuous areas that have the same value may be narrowed, thereby improving the accuracy of nodes and edges.

[0028] Next, the device 100 generates dimension line data associated with the first and second nodes included in the vector data (S203). FIG. 4 shows an example of dimension line data according to an embodiment of the present invention. The dimension line data is JSON format data representing a dimension line with a diameter of 24 mm shown in FIG. 3, where "Dimension" indicates that it is dimension line data, and information about the dimension line is described as the value of the key "dimension_chains". The value of the key "projection_lines" describes two dimension extension lines associated with the dimension line. The value of the key "dimension_chains" includes the coordinates of a first node "p1" that is one apex of the detected dimension line and the coordinates of a second node "p2" that is the other apex. The key "arrow_heads" indicates the directions of the first and second arrows of the dimension line. The detection of the dimension line will be described in detail later.

[0029] Thereafter, the device 100 identifies one or more connected edges adjacent to the dimension line represented by the dimension line data from the vector data (S204). More specifically, it is preferable that edges including an edge intersecting an edge connecting the first and second nodes of the dimension line data, edges including a node or edge that is too close (for example, within 3 pixels) to an edge connecting the first and second nodes of the dimension line data, etc. are not included in the one or more connected edges adjacent to the dimension line.

[0030] Then, the device 100 performs character recognition on a corresponding area in the drawing data corresponding to the adjacent area including the identified one or more connected edges (S205), and stores the recognized characters as dimensions in association with the dimension line data (S206). Since the recognition accuracy can be improved if the direction of the characters is known when performing character recognition, the orientation of the corresponding area may be determined. As an example, the direction of the edge connecting the first and second nodes may be determined as the orientation of the adjacent area or the corresponding area. Also, as another example, the direction of the long side of the adjacent area or the corresponding area may be determined as the orientation of the adjacent area or the corresponding area. Details of identifying one or more connected edges will be described later. Here, "connected" means having a common node between edges.

[0031] Since connected edges adjacent to a dimension line are highly likely to represent dimensions, the value of the dimension contained in the drawing data can be recognized in this manner. Here, one or more connected edges are identified, and attention is paid to a corresponding area in the drawing data that corresponds to an area including the one or more connected edges, but even if attention is paid to a corresponding area in the drawing data that corresponds to an adjacent area adjacent to a dimension line represented by the dimension line data, the characters in the corresponding area are not unlikely to represent a value of the dimension, and the value of the dimension contained in the drawing data can be recognized.

[0032] Although not limited to this, by being able to store values ​​of dimensions contained in drawing data, device 100 can, for example, enable a user of the drawing management service provided by device 100 to search for drawing data by specifying at least one of a maximum dimension, a minimum dimension, and a dimensional range contained in a part.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a drawing of multiple connected edges identified as being close to the detected dimension line, and a region 500 is identified as a region including these edges. FIG. 6 shows a key "dimensions" in which the coordinates of four vertices of a region including one or more connected edges, the characters resulting from character recognition for the region, and the numerical value represented by the characters are added to the value of the key "dimensions_chains". The key "pixel_per_millimeter" describes the result of calculating how many pixels 1 mm corresponds to in this drawing data from the number of pixels of the dimension line and the dimension value of the dimension line. For example, for each of the multiple generated dimension line data, the value of the number of pixels per mm may be calculated from the dimension value associated with the dimension line data, and the median value of the multiple calculation results obtained may be set as the value of the key "pixel_per_millimeter". Using this value, the dimension of any part in the part can be calculated.

[0034] Dimension Line Detection Details FIG. 7 shows the flow of a method for detecting a dimension line according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the device 100 detects a plurality of arrows from the drawing data by pattern recognition using image processing (S701). FIG. 8 shows the detected plurality of arrows highlighted and drawn on the drawing. FIG. 9 shows an example of data describing the detected arrows. The data is described in JSON format, with the value of the key "head" representing the vertex coordinates of the arrow and the value of the key "dir" representing the direction of the arrow. The arrow corresponds to the arrow above the dimension line with a diameter of 24 mm.

[0035] Then, the device 100 determines at least one pair of arrows among the detected arrows (S702), and identifies first and second nodes in the vector data corresponding to first and second tip vertices of the first and second arrows of the pair of arrows (S703). Once the first and second nodes corresponding to the tip vertices are identified, the device 100 can generate dimension line data associated with the first and second nodes.

[0036] By defining the same coordinate system for the drawing data as for the vector data, it is possible to identify the first and second nodes corresponding to the coordinates of the first and second tip vertices. At this time, although there is not necessarily a node at coordinates that completely match the coordinates of the first and second tip vertices of the determined pair of arrows, for example, it is possible to identify the nodes adjacent or closest to the first and second tip vertices as the first and second nodes, respectively. In addition, it is not necessary for the coordinate system defined for the vector data and the coordinate system defined for the drawing data to be completely identical, and it is sufficient if the coordinate points can be converted between them.

[0037] The tip vertex of a dimension line may be represented by a symbol other than an arrow, such as a black dot, in which case the substitute symbol is detected by image processing. The description of the key "arrow_heads" shown in Figure 4 is appropriately changed to match the substitute symbol. The description of the arrow example in this specification is similarly applicable to tip vertex symbols in general, including arrows.

[0038] Specific details of one or more connected edges Regarding the dimension line with a diameter of 24 mm that was the focus of the above explanation, if one or more connected edges located within a specified range in a direction perpendicular to the edge connecting the first and second nodes are detected, there is a high possibility that they will correspond to the dimension value.

[0039] When the line length between the nodes is short, such as a dimension line with a length of 8 mm, the arrow may point inward. The example in Figure 8 is different, but in such cases, the dimension value is not drawn in a direction perpendicular to the edge connecting the nodes, but is drawn close to a line segment that extends beyond one of the nodes of the edge. In such cases, it is necessary to detect one or more connected edges located within a specified range in the direction perpendicular to the extended line segment.

[0040] The accuracy of identifying the adjacent area and the corresponding corresponding area can be improved by excluding, as not being adjacent, one or more edges that are adjacent to the dimension line represented by the dimension line data, edges that connect the nodes of the dimension line data or edges whose vertical distance from a line segment extending the edge beyond one of the nodes is more than a predetermined value away from the median of the sequence of distance estimation results obtained for those edges.

[0041] In the above-mentioned embodiments, it should be noted that unless there is a statement of "only" such as "based only on", "depending only on", or "only in the case of", it is assumed in this specification that additional information may be taken into consideration. Also, as an example, it should be noted that the statement "do b when a" does not necessarily mean "always do b when a" or "do b immediately after a" unless expressly stated. Also, the statement "each a constituting A" does not necessarily mean that A is composed of multiple components, but includes the case where the component is singular.

[0042] Also, just to be clear, even if there is an aspect of a method, program, terminal, device, server or system (hereinafter referred to as a "method, etc.") that performs an operation different from that described in this specification, each aspect of the present invention is directed to an operation that is the same as any of the operations described in this specification, and the existence of an operation different from that described in this specification does not make the method, etc. outside the scope of each aspect of the present invention.

[0043] Moreover, the "start" and "end" shown in FIG. 2 are merely examples, and do not necessarily mean that the method according to this embodiment starts at S201 or ends at S206. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 100 devices 101 Communications Department 102 Processing section 103 Storage section 104 Database 110 Manufacturer terminal 120 Processor Terminal 500 Supported Areas

Claims

1. 1. A method for managing drawing data including raster data, comprising: vectorizing the drawing data to generate vector data; generating dimension line data associated with first and second nodes included in the vector data; performing character recognition on a corresponding area in the drawing data that corresponds to a nearby area adjacent to the dimension line represented by the dimension line data; a step of storing the characters obtained by the character recognition as dimension values ​​in association with the dimension line data; Includes.

2. 2. The method of claim 1, The step of generating dimension line data includes: detecting a plurality of tip vertex symbols from the drawing data; determining at least one pair of tip vertex symbols from the detected plurality of tip vertex symbols; identifying first and second nodes in the vector data corresponding to first and second tip vertices of the pair of tip vertex symbols; Includes.

3. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: The tip vertex symbol is an arrow.

4. 4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: The method further includes determining an orientation of the proximate region or the corresponding region.

5. 5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: The proximate region is a region that includes one or more connected edges that are proximate to the dimension line represented by the dimension line data.

6. 6. The method of claim 5, The proximity region is a region that includes one or more connected edges located within a predetermined range in a direction perpendicular to an edge connecting the first and second nodes or a line segment extending beyond one of the nodes of the edges.

7. 7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: The method further includes a step of performing a thinning process on the drawing data before the vectorization.

8. A program for causing a computer to execute a method for managing drawing data including raster data, the method comprising: vectorizing the drawing data to generate vector data; generating dimension line data associated with first and second nodes included in the vector data; performing character recognition on a corresponding area in the drawing data that corresponds to a nearby area adjacent to the dimension line represented by the dimension line data; a step of storing the characters obtained by the character recognition as dimension values ​​in association with the dimension line data; Includes.

9. An apparatus for managing drawing data including raster data, comprising: vectorizing the drawing data to generate vector data and dimension line data associated with first and second nodes included in the vector data; performing character recognition on a corresponding area in the drawing data that corresponds to a nearby area close to the dimension line represented by the dimension line data; The characters obtained by the character recognition are associated with the dimension line data and stored as dimension values.

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