Image analysis – Editing – error checking – or correction
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-10
2001-08-28
Bella, Matthew C. (Department: 2721)
Image analysis
Editing, error checking, or correction
C382S111000, C112S454000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282329
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pattern editing system for editing a pattern data using an image of repeated patterns.
Conventionally, attempts have been made to show a final form of clothes on a displaying device without actually making the clothes. An exemplary method for such attempts applied to a dress design displaying device is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. HEI 8-272849, teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. In such a method, firstly, a piece of clothes is made using unfigured clothes material, then an image of the clothes is captured with a camera. An image of the unfigured clothes captured by the camera is then stored in a storage of a computer. Beside the image of the clothes, images of a plurality of figured materials are taken and also stored in the storage of the computer. Then, each of the image of the figured materials is composed with the image of the clothes and displayed to show the finished image (i.e., the final form) of the clothes.
In such a method, a problem arises in that when an image of the figured material is relatively small, the image of the pattern should be arranged to form repeated patterns to cover the clothes. However, at a border at which two images of the figured material are next to each other, the patterns may be shifted from each other (i.e., may not be continuously connected).
In particular, if the figured material includes repeated patterns, it is preferable that, by connecting one of the repeated patterns, the same repeated patterns are to be constituted. However, the captured image of the pattern may include a distortion, and it may be difficult to extract a rectangular image including a unit pattern. Even if a rectangular pattern is extracted, due to the distortion, the adjoining patterns may have offset.
To avoid such a problem, it has been necessary to create an image of a sufficiently large figured clothes material which may cover the image of the clothes. Such an image requires a large data storage area. Further, it is difficult to capture an image of such a large material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved pattern editing system which enables extraction of a unit pattern having no distortion from a clothes material having repeated patterns which may include distortion.
For the above object, according to the invention, there is provided a pattern editing system, comprising: an extracting device which extracts a unit pattern from a pattern image including repeatedly arranged patterns; a displaying device which displays the unit pattern extracted by the extracting device; and a correcting device which deforms the unit pattern as displayed to correct distortion of the unit pattern.
Since an accurate unit pattern distortion of which is cancelled is extracted, even if the repeated patterns are to cover a relatively large area, smoothly connected repeated patterns can be formed by arranging the unit pattern repeatedly.
Optionally, the pattern editing system may be provided with a data storing device which stores data of the unit pattern whose distortion has been corrected. Since the repeated patterns can be represented by the unit pattern, less data storage is required.
Further optionally, the displaying device is capable of arranging the corrected unit pattern repeatedly to display repeatedly arranged patterns.
Preferably, the pattern editing system may be provided with another data storing device which stores image data representing a shape of clothes; and an image composing device which generates a composite image by composing an image corresponding to the image data stored in the another data storing device and an image of the repeatedly arranged patterns, wherein the displaying device displays the composite image.
Thus, if the pattern editing system is applied to a dress design display device, the final form of the dress or clothes is displayed by composing the repeated patterns and the shape of the clothes.
Further optionally, the extracting device may include: a designation device which is manually operable to designate a quadrilateral area including the unit pattern to be extracted from the pattern image displayed on the displaying device; and a conversion device which converts the quadrilateral area designated by the designating device into a rectangle. In this case, the correcting device may include: a dividing device which divides the rectangle into a plurality of quadrilateral areas; and a deforming device which deforms an image included in each of the plurality of quadrilateral areas.
Optionally, the dividing device may be a mouse, and a point within the rectangle may be selectable and movable with use of the mouse. In this case, the image included in each of the plurality of quadrilateral areas may be deformed as the point within the rectangle is moved.
In this condition, the point is one of apices of the plurality of quadrilateral areas except apices of the rectangle.
Further optionally, the conversion device may convert the designated quadrilateral area into the rectangle by assigning image data of each point in the quadrilateral to a corresponding point in the rectangle in accordance with a predetermined algorithm.
Yet optionally, the deforming device may comprise: a transforming device which changes shapes of the plurality of quadrilateral areas; and an assigning device which assigns image data of each of the plurality of quadrilateral areas whose shapes have not yet been changed by the transforming device to corresponding one of the plurality of quadrilateral areas whose shapes have been changed by the transforming device.
Still optionally, the displaying device may arrange the unit pattern deformed by the correcting device repeatedly on a same plane to form repeated patterns.
Thus, when the deformation is not completely done, degree of distortion of the unit pattern can be recognized easily. If the distortion is corrected, the repeated patterns are connected smoothly.
Alternatively or optionally, the displaying device arranges the unit pattern extracted by the extracting device repeatedly on a same plane to form repeated patterns.
If the unit pattern has distortion, it can be recognized easily since the distortion causes offset between unit patterns arranged next to each other.
It is preferable that the deformation of the unit pattern made by the correcting device is reflected in the repeated patterns displayed on the displaying device. In such a case, a user can recognize the degree of distortion of the unit pattern based on the offset between the displayed patterns, and can correct the distortion of the unit pattern easily and accurately.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a pattern editing system, comprising: means for extracting a unit pattern from a pattern image including repeatedly arranged patterns; means for displaying the unit pattern extracted by the extracting means; and means for deforming the unit pattern displayed by the displaying means.
Optionally, the extracting means may include: means for designating a quadrilateral area including the unit pattern to be extracted from the pattern image; and means for converting the quadrilateral area designated by the designating means into a rectangle, and in this case, the deforming means preferably includes: means for dividing the rectangle into a plurality of sub-areas; and means for transforming an image included in each of the sub-areas.
Further optionally, the transforming means may comprise: means for changing shapes of the plurality of sub-areas; and means for assigning image data of each of the plurality of sub-areas whose shapes have not yet been changed by the changing means to corresponding one of the plurality of sub-areas whose shapes have been changed by the changing means.
According to further aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer accessible memory storing a program representative of a pattern editing method for operating a pattern editing system, the method comprising the ste
Bella Matthew C.
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Desire Gregory
Pitney Hardin Kipp & Szuch LLP
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