Graphics input apparatus

Abstract

The graphics input apparatus enables an operator to input a two or three-dimensional schematic figure into a computer simply by hand-writing a two-dimensioanl figure in a picture plane of a display device such as a cathode ray tube. The graphics input apparatus is provided with a display device, a memory, a position indicator for indicating predetermined positions in the picture plane of the display device, and a cursor display for displaying a cursor at the position indicated by the position indicator. Element inputting means displays a starting point at the indicated position of the cursor, assigning a specified node number to a node in the vicinity of the starting node if the node has not been specifically numbered, storing the node number in memory, displaying the elements at the position to which the cursor is moved by the position indicator, further displaying an ending point, assigning a specified node number to a node in the vicinity of the ending point if the node is not already numbered, storing the node number of the nodes in the vicinity of the ending point and making the memory store information on connection between the starting point and the ending point. Shape recognition means recognizes the shape of the elements in a predetermined manner.