HK1008588B - Character input devices - Google Patents

Description

Character input device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a character input device and method for inputting characters such as characters/numerals, and a recording medium loaded with a character input program, and more particularly, to a character input device having a pen input function, a character conversion function, a character recognition function, and a mouse to perform a character input operation, and a method and a recording medium implementing the functions.

Background

Generally, when a document such as a form or a memo (memo) is input to an information device such as an electronic notebook and/or a PDA (personal digital assistant) having a pen input function, input characters handwritten with a pen on a tablet are recognized and input or a software keyboard is displayed on a display screen and a tablet is displayed on which characters appropriately displayed are touched by the pen for input purposes.

In a personal computer, software having a copy and paste function and/or a cut and paste function is installed, and a user inputs characters from a keyboard, designates an arbitrary input character, and copies and pastes the character to a desired position with a mouse, for example.

When a handwritten character input in one stroke is recognized in an information device such as an electronic notebook having a conventional pen input function, the handwriting of a user has a great influence on character recognition. Thus, it takes much time to recognize and input all characters in a document to be input.

Also, when the software keyboard displayed on the input display screen is touched with one stroke, a key area is narrow. And thus difficult to touch with a pen. Thus, the operability is low and it takes much time to input all data in the file to be input.

Also, in order to realize the copy and paste function of the personal computer, for example, it is necessary to perform a process of: selecting a character to be copied, selecting "copy" from the sheet, designating a position to which the copied character is pasted, and then selecting "paste" from the sheet takes much time.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a character input device and method capable of easily, efficiently and quickly inputting characters without typing or writing all desired characters with a pen from a keyboard and converting and recognizing all desired characters; and a recording medium having a character input program for allowing the character input operation.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a character input device comprising:

an input device for providing data, an

Display means for displaying data input by the input means;

it is characterized by also comprising

Specifying means for specifying at least a part of the input and displayed data; and

and an addition means, responsive to the designation means, for adding the designated data to a tail of the data displayed by the display means.

According to such a configuration, characters can be efficiently, quickly, and easily input in various devices.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of electronic circuitry of an electronic notebook as an embodiment of an input device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the overall process performed in the electronic notebook;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a character input process performed in a memo mode of the electronic notebook;

FIGS. 4A-4D show character input and display states (part 1) included in the character input process in the memo mode of the electronic notebook;

FIGS. 5A-5B show a character input and display state (part 2) in the character input process included in the memo mode of the electronic notebook;

fig. 6A and 6B show a character input and display state (part 3) in the character input process included in the memo mode of the electronic notebook;

FIGS. 7A to 7D are views showing character input and display states involved in the character input process in which a software keyboard is displayed in the pen input display unit of the electronic notebook;

fig. 8A and 8B show a character input and display state in a character input process performed using a mouse in a personal computer; and

fig. 9A to 9C show character input and display states included in the character input process in which a software keyboard is displayed in the pen input display unit of the electronic notebook.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of an input device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to sufficiently show the effects of the present invention, an input device of the present invention for performing input processing of a japanese language will be described. Of course, the present invention is not only applicable to japanese languages, but also to english and all other characters, and has advanced effects as well.

First, the japanese language includes three characters: hiragana characters, katakana characters, and chinese characters, which are often used in a mixed manner to combine a series of sentences so that the expressiveness of the sentences is enhanced and the sentences are easy to read, understand, and form.

For example, in an input process using a keyboard, generally, hiragana characters are first input, and a desired part of the input hiragana characters is converted into chinese characters or katakana characters to form a series of sentences.

In order to perform another input method, recently, there is provided an apparatus using a tablet, and when characters are handwritten on the tablet with a pen, the handwritten characters are recognized and converted into text data, thereby inputting a series of sentences.

Next, an embodiment of the input device according to the present invention will be described.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit of an electronic notebook as an embodiment of an input device according to the present invention. The notebook is provided with a CPU (Central processing Unit) 11 which starts a system program loaded in a ROM15 based on a key-in signal inputted from a key-in unit 12 or a position detection signal indicating a stylus touch position inputted from a tablet 13 via a position detector 14, and controls the operation of the relevant circuit elements using a RAM16 as a working RAM.

Of course, the CPU11 is connected to the key-in unit 12, tablet 13, position detector 14, ROM15 and RAM16, and is connected to a liquid crystal dot matrix display unit 18 via, for example, a display driver 17.

The key-in unit 12 is provided with a "menu" key that can be operated to display a menu screen from which any one of the operation modes of the electronic notebook, such as a form mode, a memo mode, an address mode, etc., can be selected.

The tablet 13 is provided with a transparent screen superimposed on the display screen of the display unit 18 and generates an X-direction and a Y-direction voltage signals corresponding to the position of the pen touch.

The position detector 14 detects X and Y coordinates on the display screen of the display unit 18 corresponding to X and Y direction voltage signals according to the position of a stylus input from the tablet 13; and transmits the data on the detected X and Y coordinates of the position of the pen to the CPU 11.

Thus, the CPU11 makes the display unit 18 display thereon the trajectory of the position of the pen touch on the basis of the data on the detected X and Y coordinates of the position of the pen touch transmitted from the position detector 14, and/or determines the contents of the pen touch operation from the contents of the data displayed on the display unit 18.

The ROM15 is loaded with a system program that controls the overall operation of the electronic notebook, controlling a plurality of operating modes. Such as a plurality of sub-programs of a form mode, a memo mode and an address mode, and a character recognition program which is activated when a character is input in each operation mode.

The ROM15 may be an external recording medium.

The RAM16 is provided with a display register 16a in which data to be displayed on the display unit 18 is expanded and stored as bitmap data; a mode register M in which flag data corresponding to a set operation mode is set; a current time register 16 b; an input character storage register 16 c; a memo register 16d and a table data register 16 e.

According to data of the time counted by the time counter built in the CPU11, data on the present year, month, date, day of week, and time are continuously updated and stored in the present time register 16b of the RAM 16.

Character data input by a pen touch operation on the tablet 13 is stored in the input character storage register 16 c.

When the character input processing is performed in each operation mode, the memo data and the table data stored in the input character storage register 16c are transferred to and stored in the memo register 16d and the table data register 16e, respectively.

Data input, set, and retrieved by the input operation of the key input unit 12 and the stroke mode operation performed on the tablet 13 are displayed on the display unit 18 on a real-time basis.

The operation of the electronic notebook of the present invention will be described next with reference to the flowchart of fig. 2 showing the overall operation of the electronic notebook.

When the "menu" key 12a of the key-in unit 12 is operated, a menu selection screen is displayed on the display unit 18 via the display driver 17 to selectively set an operation mode of the electronic notebook (steps S1-S2).

A position of a displayed icon representing one of the operation modes is designated in the displayed menu selection screen by a stylus touch operation on tablet 13, the operation mode selectively designated in the menu selection screen is set to start a corresponding program, and an initial display screen for the selected operation mode is displayed on display unit 18 in place of the menu selection screen (steps S3-S4, S5).

In this case, flag data corresponding to the set operation mode is set in the mode register M of the RAM.

When the memo mode is set in the menu selection setting process at steps S1-S5, a memo mode process is started (steps S6-SA).

When the table mode is set, the table mode processing is started (steps S7-S8).

When the period pattern is set, the period pattern processing is started (steps S9-S10).

When the notebook mode is set, the notebook mode processing is started (step S9 — another mode processing).

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a character input process performed in a memo mode of the electronic notebook.

Fig. 4A to 4D show character input and display states (part 1) in the character input process included in the memo mode of the electronic notebook.

Fig. 5A and 5B show a character input and display state (part 2) in the character input process included in the memo mode of the electronic notebook.

When the operation mode of the notebook computer is set in the memo mode in the menu selection and setting process, the character input process in the memo mode is started, and the handwritten character recognition area 13a is displayed in the area at the lower side of the display screen 18, as shown in fig. 4A.

An arbitrary character or characters are written on the tablet 13 with a pen and displayed in a handwritten character recognition area 13a, and detected coordinate data corresponding to the outline locus of the written character or characters from the position detector 14 is input to the CPU. Then, when no detected coordinate data is inputted at a given time, it is determined that a character or pen input operation of the character is completed, and on the basis of the detected coordinate data corresponding to the trajectory of the pen mode position inputted thereto by the position detector 14, a character recognition process is started, the inputted character is recognized and stored as character data in the input character storage register 16c of the RAM16 (steps a1-a 2-A3).

The recognized character is then displayed in correspondence with the position of the cursor K displayed in the input character display area constituting the upper part of the display unit 18, and the cursor K is moved to the next character input and display position (steps a4, a 5).

Thus, the input and recognition process of handwritten characters through the stylus die operation at steps A1-A5 is repeated so that a certain number of characters are input and displayed. When, for example, a chinese character "who" is to be input, a hiragana character "た" is first found in the input character string displayed in the input character display area of the display unit 18 and touched with a pen P, as shown in fig. 4B. In response to this operation, the displayed hiragana character "た" corresponding to the stroke position is displayed in a reverse manner (steps A6-A7).

When the touch operation with the pen P on the displayed hiragana character "た" is stopped, the detected coordinate data input from the position detector 14 disappears. In response to this operation, the hiragana character "た" displayed in a reverse manner by the stroke mode operation is additionally stored as character data in the input character storage register 16c of the RAM 16. Further, the character data is determined as a hiragana character and displayed in a reverse manner as an unfixed character corresponding to the position of the cursor K, as shown in FIG. 4C (steps A8-A9-A10, A11).

At the same time, the display position of the cursor K is moved to the next character input display position (step a 5).

Next, as shown in fig. 4D, when a hiragana character "water" is found and touched with a pen P in the input character string displayed in the input character display area of the display unit 18, the hiragana character "れ" displayed corresponding to the position of the pen touch is displayed in a reverse manner (steps a6-a 7).

When the touch operation with the pen P on the displayed hiragana character "れ" is stopped, the detected coordinate data from the position detector 14 disappears, and in response to this operation, the hiragana character "れ" displayed in a reverse manner by the pen touch operation is additionally stored as character data in the input character storage register 16c of the RAM 16. Also, the character data is determined to be a hiragana character and displayed in a reverse manner as an unfixed character corresponding to the position of the cursor K, as shown in fig. 5A (steps A8-a9-a10, a 11).

At the same time, the display position of the cursor K is moved to the next character input display position (step a 5).

When the function input key "convert" displayed adjacent to the handwritten character recognition area 13a is touched with the pen P in a state where the input character string "たれ" displayed in the input character display area of the display unit 18 is input and displayed in a reverse manner by performing a character specifying operation with the pen P, the reversely displayed hiragana character "たれ" is converted into the chinese character "who" as shown in fig. 5B, and the unfixed hiragana character "たれ" stored in the input character storage register 16c is also converted into the chinese character "who" and then stored (steps a13-a 14).

When the cursor K is to be moved up, down, left or right in the character input operation, a corresponding cursor key (not shown) of the key-in unit 12 is operated (steps a13-a 14).

Fig. 6 shows a character input and display state (part 3) within the character input process in the memo mode of the notebook.

The input and recognition process of handwritten characters through the stylus die operation at steps a1-a5 is repeated so that a certain number of characters are input and displayed. When, for example, the chinese character "news" is to be input subsequently, the chinese character "news" is first found within the input character string displayed in the input character display area of the display unit 18, and the range of the two characters is touch-typed in a sliding manner along the illustrated arrow X with the pen P, as shown in fig. 6A. In response to this operation, the Chinese character "news" displayed in response to the pen touch range is displayed in a reverse manner (steps A6-A7).

When the touch operation of the pen on the displayed chinese character "news" is stopped, the detected coordinate data input from the position detector 14 disappears. In response to this operation, the chinese character "news" displayed in a reverse manner by the stroke mode operation is additionally stored as character data in the input character storage register 16c of the RAM16 in the order of stroke mode. And, these character data are determined not to be hiragana and displayed in the stroke-mode order corresponding to the position of the cursor K as shown in fig. 6B (steps A8-a9-a10, a 12).

At the same time, the display position of the cursor K is moved to the next character input display position (step a 5).

In this way, a desired character to be input is stroke-typed directly from within the input character string displayed in the input character display area of the display unit 18 and input as a new character.

Thus, according to the electronic notebook of the present invention, when a desired character/symbol/character string portion or range is directly specified in a stroke mode operation from a handwritten character string input on a tablet with a pen, the portion or range is recognized and displayed in an input character display area corresponding to the handwritten character recognition area 13a displayed on the display unit 18, the character/symbol/character string data corresponding to the stroke mode position or stroke mode range is displayed in a reverse manner. Then, when it is detected that the tablet 13 is moved away, the character or character string displayed in a reverse manner by the stroke mode operation is additionally displayed as a new input character or character string corresponding to the display position of the cursor K. In this way, for example, by repeatedly recognizing individual characters of the entire document input as memo data, characters/character strings of the same font, which are particularly difficult to accurately recognize, can be easily input directly to a desired position by a simple operation without typing or handwriting all of the desired character string data. Thus, the efficiency of character input can be greatly improved.

In this embodiment, the direct character input processing by the stroke mode operation has been described using the character string data input and displayed by the character recognition processing, and in a state where the handwritten character recognition area 13a is displayed on the display unit 18, by performing the stroke mode and input operation similar to that in this embodiment, for example, using the character string data input and displayed within the key input processing in the software keyboard 13c displayed in the display unit 18, a direct new character input operation can be easily performed, as shown in fig. 7A to 7D.

Fig. 7A to 7D show character input and display states in a character input process in which a software keyboard 13c is displayed in the pen input display unit of the notebook. As shown in fig. 7A, when a hiragana character "た" is found and touched with a pen P within an input character string displayed in the input character display area of the display unit 18, the hiragana character "た" displayed corresponding to the position of the pen touch is displayed in an inverted manner.

As shown in fig. 7B, in the input character string displayed on the input character display area, a hiragana character "れ" is found and touched with a pen P, the hiragana character "れ" displayed in a reverse manner by the previous pen touch operation is newly input and displayed corresponding to the display position of the cursor K, and the hiragana character "れ" displayed corresponding to this pen touch position is displayed in a reverse manner.

As shown in fig. 7C, when the hiragana character string "たれ" directly input by the stroke mode operation is displayed in a reverse manner, the hiragana character string is converted into a chinese character "who" when the "conversion" is input by the stroke mode function, and then stored, as shown in fig. 7D.

In this way, also in the character input process using the software keyboard 13c, the character input operation can be efficiently performed using the input character string.

In this embodiment, a function of displaying the input handwritten characters as a new character by displaying the input handwritten characters and specifying the characters therein in a stroke-die operation may be additionally provided.

Next, ABC character input processing using a mouse will be described. Fig. 8A and 8D each show a character input display state included in a character input process in which a character input from a keyboard is edited using a mouse L.

As shown in fig. 8A, when characters "newsapper" are found in a character string edited on the keyboard displayed in the input character display area of the display unit 18 and designated with the mouse L, they are displayed in a reverse manner at their designated positions.

When the operation of designating the displayed character "newsapper" with the mouse L is stopped, these characters "newsapper" displayed in a reverse manner in the designation processing using the mouse are additionally stored as character data in the input character storage register 16c of the RAM16, and are input and simultaneously displayed corresponding to the position of the cursor K, the display position of which is shifted to the next character input display position.

In this way, these desired characters can be input only by directly specifying them with the mouse L from within the input character string displayed in the input character display area of the display unit 18.

Having described the process of converting hiragana characters to chinese characters with reference to fig. 3-7D, the process of converting a particular ABC character to another corresponding character will next be described as another embodiment. Fig. 9A, 9B, and 9C show character input and display states included in a character input process that includes editing of input characters in one stroke among characters input from a software keyboard.

As shown in fig. 9A, characters and a symbol are input from the software keyboard 13C and displayed in an input display area of the display unit 18. A displayed character "a" is obtained by touching a character "a" on the software keyboard 13C with a pen P, and then "switching" with a function on the software keyboard 13C.

When "a" and "═ are then found out from an input character string displayed in the input display area of the display unit 18, and then range designation is performed with the pen P slid in the direction of the arrow X, the" a "and" ═ of the display corresponding to the pen touch position are displayed in a reverse manner (fig. 9B).

By stopping specifying the displayed characters and symbols "a" and "—", that is, by taking the pen away from the display unit 18, the characters and symbols are additionally stored as character data in the reverse display order in the input character storage register 16c of the RAM16, and are displayed in the pen-specified order corresponding to the display position of the cursor (fig. 9 c). At the same time, the display position of the cursor is moved to the next character input and display position. In this way, the time required for data conversion in the data input process is saved.

The present invention may be embodied in other different forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. For example, the present invention can also be effectively implemented for Arabic/English cursive handwriting.

The above-described embodiments are merely examples of various aspects and should not be construed as a limited understanding. The scope of the invention should be determined from the following claims and not from the specification text. Various changes and modifications falling within the scope of the claims are to be understood as belonging to the present invention.

Claims (6)

1. A character input device includes

Input means (12, 13) for inputting data,

and a display device (18) for displaying data input by the input device (12, 13);

it is characterized by also comprising

Specifying means (13, P) for specifying at least a part of the input and displayed data; and

addition means (A9-A12) responsive to the designation of the data by the designation means (13, P) for adding the designated data to the end of the data displayed by the display means (18) without a user operation of designating an addition position.

2. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein said input device (12, 13) comprises a handwriting input device (13) having a tablet for detecting a handwriting input, wherein said display device (18) displays the handwriting input.

3. The character input device of claim 1, wherein the data includes character data;

the input device includes:

a handwriting input device (13) having a tablet for detecting handwriting input; and

character recognition means (A3) for recognizing characters of character data input by the handwriting input means (13),

wherein the display means (18) includes recognized character display means (A4) for displaying the character recognized by the character recognition means (A3) as displayed data.

4. The character input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a software keyboard display device (13C) for displaying a software keyboard having a character array on the display device; and

the input device includes:

touch detection means (13) comprising a provided tablet superimposed on said display means (18) for detecting a touch input on the tablet; and

and the touch input device is used for responding to the touch operation of the touch input device and inputting a character on the software keyboard as the data corresponding to the touch operation of the touch input device.

5. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein said data includes character data;

the input device (12) includes a keyboard for inputting a character data by operating the keyboard; and

the specifying means includes a mouse device (L) for specifying at least a part of the inputted and displayed data.

6. The character input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising character conversion means (13b) for converting a character into another type of character;

wherein the data adding means (A9-A12) comprises:

checking means (a10) for checking whether or not the character data designated by the designating means (13, P) is likely to be converted into a different character type;

character adding means (a11) for adding the data checked by the checking means (a10) as unconverted character data to the character data displayed on the display means, thereby converting the unconverted character into a different character type by the character converting means.