FR2784473A1 - Manual entry of symbols to computer using character formation guide - Google Patents

Abstract

The guide has marked on its surface a number of geometric elements (201-224) that are used to form characters and other symbols. When a part of the guide is manually selected it emits an electrical signal. When the geometric forms making up a symbol have been selected the symbol can be identified from the set of electrical signals generated by the user selection.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANUAL INPUT OF SYMBOLS

WITH GUIDANCE.

  The present invention relates to a method and a device for

  manual entry of symbols with guidance.

  It applies as well to the fields of data processing, as that of audio-visual, telecommunications, office automation and more generally,

  to any area where it is useful to enter symbols manually.

  Currently known keyboards have a multitude (generally greater than 100) of keys each corresponding to One or to a few symbols. They are bulky and expensive. So they cannot

  adapt to miniature or portable applications.

  Devices with a so-called touch screen and automatic handwriting recognition are quite unreliable because they cannot recognize all handwriting. In portable applications, the user does not always have support and therefore cannot take sufficient care of his writing to obtain recognition. The implementation of the software they require is expensive and consumes processing and

electrical energy.

  In all character entry devices, a long learning process is necessary before you can enter a text of a few lines

without effort of concentration.

  The present invention intends to remedy these drawbacks by presenting: a device of small bulk which can be used by any writer, whatever the qualities of its usual handwriting and

  - a very simple entry method.

  To this end, according to its first aspect, the invention relates to a device for capturing handwritten symbols characterized in that it comprises: - a guide means adapted to guide the writer towards at least one characteristic part of a geometric shape d 'a writing of certain symbols capable of being entered, - a means for manual selection of said characteristic parts adapted to emit a signal representative of each said characteristic part selected manually by the writer and - a symbol determination means suitable for determining symbols written taking into account signals representative of selected parts

manually by the writer.

  Thanks to these provisions, the use of the input device is intuitive, that is to say that it does not require a long learning, since the writer, who knows geometric forms of writing symbols which he wishes to grasp, is guided, according to one of these forms, to a part

characteristic of said shape.

  In addition, the gripping device can be very small.

  since the characteristic parts can be juxtaposed, even superimposed, and formed an overall shape of reduced dimensions. A dimension smaller than

  square centimeter can for example be reached without difficulty.

  According to preferential characteristics of the invention, the manual selection means comprises a visible representation of a path on which geometric shapes for writing certain symbols can be formed.

likely to be seized.

  Thanks to these provisions, the guidance of the writer is purely visual and allows him to quickly select the characteristic parts of

  each symbol he wishes to enter.

  According to particular features of the present invention, the guidance means is adapted to guide the writer exclusively to a single part of the symbol, said part being specifically associated with said symbol and in that the determination means is adapted to determine the symbol written as

  being the symbol specifically associated with said part of said symbol.

  Thanks to these provisions, entering a symbol is done by selecting a single part of this symbol, which is very quick and very simple to implement. According to other particular characteristics, the guide means is adapted to guide the writer towards several parts of said symbol, all of said several parts being specifically associated with a symbol and in that the determination means is adapted to determine the written symbol. as being

  the symbol specifically associated with said set of parts.

  Thanks to these provisions, the writer only has to trace the whole of the symbol, by selecting all the parts which correspond to him, to obtain his

  entered, without having to search if a part of the symbol is characteristic.

  According to other particular characteristics, the manual selection means is adapted to emit a signal representative of several characteristic parts selected simultaneously by the writer, the set of said several parts being specifically associated with a symbol, and in that the determining means is adapted to determine the symbol written as being the symbol specifically associated with said set of selected parts

simultaneously.

  Thanks to these provisions, a keyboard can be formed in accordance with the invention and the number of symbols capable of being entered

is extensive.

  According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for entering symbols, characterized in that, for at least a predetermined proportion greater than a quarter of the symbols capable of being entered, it comprises: - a guiding step during which , the scriptor is guided to at least part of each symbol to be written, - a manual selection step, during which the writer selects at least said part to which he has been guided and each selected part is detected and

4,2784473

  - a symbol determination step during which the

  symbol written according to said selected part.

  According to particular characteristics, during the guiding step, the writer is only guided to a single part of the symbol, said part being specifically associated with said symbol and in that during the determination step, it is determined the symbol written as the symbol

  specifically associated with said part of said symbol.

  According to other particular characteristics, during the guiding step, the writer is guided to several parts of said symbol, all of said several parts being specifically associated with a symbol and in that, during the step of determination, we determine the symbol written as

  being the symbol specifically associated with said set of parts.

  According to other particular characteristics, the method as succinctly set out above comprises the implementation of a path representative of all the symbols of said predetermined proportion of the symbols likely to be entered, and in that, during the guidance step, the writer is guided on parts of said path which correspond to the symbol to be entered. The invention also relates to a television, a remote control, an organizer, a touch screen, a computer, a telephone, a fax machine, a pager, a table, a pointing device, a computer mouse, a watch, a keyboard, a device. for processing, storing, displaying, printing or communicating information comprising an input device as briefly described above or implementing a method such as

succinctly set out above.

  The advantages of these other aspects of the present invention being identical to those of the device succinctly described above, they are not

recalled here.

  The description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings

  for explanatory purposes and in no way limitative, allow a better understanding of

  advantages, aims and characteristics of the present invention.

  Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the present

  invention, suitable for alphanumeric symbols.

  FIG. 2 represents a second embodiment of the

  present invention, suitable for alphanumeric symbols.

  FIG. 3 represents a third embodiment of the

  present invention, suitable for Arabic and Persian languages.

  FIG. 4 represents a fourth embodiment of the

  present invention, suitable for alphanumeric symbols.

  FIG. 5 represents a fifth embodiment of the

  present invention, suitable for alphanumeric symbols.

  FIG. 6 represents a processing device associated with each

  embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

  FIG. 7 represents a flowchart of operation of the processing device illustrated in FIG. 6, adapted to the embodiments

  shown opposite Figures 2 to 5.

  In FIG. 1 are shown, incorporated in the first embodiment of the present invention adapted to the alphanumeric symbols, eight peripheral segments 101 to 108, - an outer radial segment 109, - eight intermediate radial segments 110 to 117, - eight straight side segments from square 118 to 125 and

  - eight internal radial segments 126 to 133.

  Each of these segments has a meaning associated with Table 1 below:

TABLE 1

101 O

102 P

103 B

104 D

U

106 J

107 C

108 S

109 Q

110 ("space" key)

111 V

112 G

113 R

114 ("enter" key)

115 X

116 ("upper / lower case" key)

117 Y

118 Z

119]

120 H

121 A

122 E

123 L

124 [

125 T

126 I

127M

128 ("delete" key)

129K

130 ("letter / number" key)

131 W

132 F

133 N

  It is observed that, in accordance with the invention, for the twenty-six letters of the alphabet considered, certain symbols each associated with a segment comprise in capital letter, in its geometric form, the segment considered. For example, the letter "Q" which is the only one to include the segment

  external oblique 109, is associated with this segment.

  We observe, moreover, that the letters which traditionally comprise, in capital letters, a curved part, are represented by curved segments, with the exception of the letter "G" which differs from the letter "C" mainly by its return final towards the center, and which is therefore associated with segment 112 and the letter "R" which differs from the letter <"P" by its oblique right-hand part and which is, consequently, associated with segment 113. We observe, again , that the letters which traditionally contain an oblique part in capital letters are represented by oblique segments, with the exception of the letter "Z" and "A". Finally, the other letters, which contain neither oblique segment nor curved segment, are represented by straight, vertical or

  horizontal so-called "square side" 118 to 125.

  Of course, a numeric keyboard can also be formed according to the invention. To this end, segment 130 makes it possible to switch the keyboard between the

letters and numbers.

  Preferably, the letters are marked on this keyboard with color codes, for example to differentiate the consonants from the vowels, the

  letters of the function keys, and the numbers of the other symbols.

  Each segment corresponds to a sensor, adapted to emit a signal representing the manual selection of this segment. Each segment can, for example, be made up of a keyboard key or an optical, resistive, acoustic, capacitive sensor or any other type of point or matrix sensor. The path considered can also be displayed on a touch screen, certain areas of which overlap the displayed segments are associated with the symbols corresponding to said segment. The different embodiments

  described above are known to those skilled in the art.

  In FIG. 2, are represented: - eight circular segments 201 to 208, eight radial segments 209 to 216, - eight straight horizontal or vertical segments 217 to 224 and

  - a lower external segment 225.

  We note that the Latin letters, Cyrillic and other types of symbols, letters used in particular in English and French, for example, correspond to successions of segments, for example according to the

table 2:

TABLE 2

A 222 223 224 217 218 219 215 211

B 209 213 201 202 211 203 204

C 208 207 206 205

D 209 213 201 202 203 204

E 223 222 224 215 211

F 223 222 224 215

G 208 207 206 205 204 203 211

H 223 222 215 211 218 219

1 223 222

J 218 219 220

K 209 213 210 212

L 223 222 211

M 223 222 216 210 218 219

N 223 222 216 212 219 218

O 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208

P 209 213 201 202 211

  Q 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 225

R 209 213 201 202 211 212

S 201 208 216 212 204 205

T 209 213 224 217

U 206 205 204 203

V 216 210

W 223 222 214 212 219 218

X 216 212 210 214

Y 216 210 214

Z 224 217 210 214 211 220

  Alternatively, the addition of a segment extending segment 223 towards the

  high, allows to draw characters of Semitic language.

  According to a preferred embodiment, each segment represented in FIG. 2 is made up of two parts: - a relief guidance which makes it possible to guide the support of the writer's finger or of a stick such as a stylus, - a sensitive area in contact with your finger or stylus, such as, for example,

touch screen area.

  Guidance can also be carried out by removing material in

  the segments considered or by adding material between the segments considered.

  As a variant, and according to another embodiment, each segment consists of two parts: - a line which follows or represents its shape and which visually guides the pressing of a finger or a rod and - an area sensitive to finger or stylus contact, such as a

touch screen area.

  The layout can, for example, be screen printed on the touch screen or be carried by a flexible film superimposed on this screen or else carried by the rear face.

of the touch screen.

  The operation of these different embodiments is exposed

opposite Figures 6 and 7.

  In FIG. 3, segments 301 to 324 are represented which jointly form a path on which any Arabic character can be traced. These characters are formed according to the successions of segments below (table

3):

TABLE 3

308,311

308 311 with accent

314 308 311

  308 311 312 with accent or 316 314 313 310 with accent 308 311 312 or 316 314 313 310 313 312 311 317 or 316 315 313 310 or 308 315 316 314 313 313 312 311 317 with accent or 316 315 313 310 with accent or 308 315 316 314 313 with accent

311 312 313 308 309

309 with accent

321 320 322

  321 320 322 with accent or 321 320 318 319 320 322 or 320 318 319 313 308 309 310 317 or 313 308 309 310 317 318

309 310 313 308 311 312 317

  or 315 308 309 310 313 314 or 320 321 313 308 311 312 or 313 308 311 312 317 318 319

313 308 311 312 317 320

302 303 with accent

302 303 304 305 306 307

  or 302 303 304 305 306 307 309 310 313 308 311 312 with accent 313 308 311 312 317 318 319 with accent 313 308 311 312 317 320 with accent

315 308 309 310 313 314

  or 315 308 309 310 313 314 with accent

316 315 313

307 309 310 or 317 318 319

314 313 312 311 308 315

  Although the shapes of the segments are not identical, the embodiment presented with reference to FIG. 3 works in the same way

  than the embodiment presented with reference to FIG. 2.

  In Figure 4 is shown another path on which can be intuitively traced all the Latin capital characters for example for

  write in English or French. This path has 21 segments 1 to 21.

TABLE 4

A 19 9 10 11 17

B 19 1 16 18 4

C 1 7 6 5 4

D 19 1 2 3 4

- E 19 9 17 12

F 19 9 17

G 7 6 5 4 3 17

H 19 10 11 17

1 19 or 10 11 J 19 5 or 10 11 12

K 19 16 18

L 19 12

M 14 20 21 19

N 14 20 22 19

O 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

P 19 1 16

Q 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8

R 19 1 16 18 8

S 7 20 5

T 19 15 9

U 10 11 12 19 or 19 13 14

V 20 21

W 14 23 22 19

X 20 22 21 23

Y 20 21 23

Z 15 21 13

0 9 19 12 11 10

1 21 19

2 7 21 13 19

3 9 16 18 12 or 1 16 18 4

4 14 13 19

9 19 18 4 or 9 19 17 11 12

6 7 6 5 13

7 9 10 11

8 7 20 5 23

9 19 16 1 10 11 4

  Note that, in the example above, all the odd digits are placed to the right of segment 19 while all the even digits are placed to the left of this segment. This feature allows the writer to choose faster

  between two paths resembling the number he wishes to trace.

  Note also that it is not necessary to go through all the segments indicated in table 4 to enter a letter or number, but

  only by those which are jointly characteristic of the symbol entered.

  We also observe that it is not necessary that the extreme parts of segment 19, which extend its central part, are not necessarily

associated with a sensor.

  FIG. 5 represents, in a sixth embodiment of the present invention, adapted to the alphanumeric symbols, the form of a guide means 500 comprising two specialized guide means 501 and 502, which allow a writer to trace: - for the guide means 501, comprising sixteen segments (each segment being formed by one side of one of the raised surfaces, colored in black) each having at least one sensor, the capital letters and - for the guide means 502, comprising seven segments each connected to at least one sensor, the numbers as they are represented on the seven-segment displays, for example used in calculators whose numbers are

  displayed on light emitting diodes.

  The guidance means can be embodied in different ways: visibly, for example by being displayed on a screen supporting a touch screen, - in relief, protruding above the selection sensors, or - in hollow, their outline being in below the surface of the rest of the grip. In FIG. 6, there is shown a processing circuit 607 associated with one of the guide means represented in FIGS. 1 to 5, comprising a set of sensors 601, and linked together by a computer bus 602, a central unit 606, a read only memory ROM 605, a random access memory RAM 604, an input port 603 and an output port 608. This architecture is known to those skilled in the art

microcontroller systems.

  The sensors of the sensor assembly 601 are positioned on the segments of the path on which symbols to be entered can be traced. In the embodiment described and produced, these segments are each provided with at least one sensor which emits a signal representative of a press on its surface. This sensor assembly consists, for example, of a touch screen each of which

  point emits a signal independently of the other points.

  The central unit 606 is here made up of a programmable microcontroller. The input port 603, of known type, allows the central unit to receive the signals emitted by the sensor assembly 601. The read-only memory 603 stores the program instructions necessary for the operation of the central unit 606. The random access memory 604 stores the intermediate processing values necessary for processing the signals entering the input port for

  provide representative symbol signals on output port 608.

  FIG. 7 represents a simplified flowchart of operation of the processing device illustrated in FIG. 6, in combination with one of the modes

  of the invention presented with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

  After the initialization 701, the input test 702 for receiving a signal on the input port 603 is carried out. This test 702 determines whether a signal representative of the pressing of one of the sensors of the sensor assembly 601 is received on the input port 603, or not. When the result of test 702 is negative, this test is repeated. When the result of test 702 is positive, test 703 determines whether the symbol associated with the received signal is a function or control symbol. If the result of the test 703 is positive, during the operation 704, the function linked to the symbol considered is executed. For example, if the signal corresponds to a segment which is associated with an erase key, the following function is performed: - a signal representative of said function is transmitted on the output port 608, - if there is a number in a "receivdata" register of random access memory 604, the last number stored in the receivdata register is deleted from this register, - if there is no number stored in the receivdata register, the last symbol stored in a register " symbols "from RAM 604, is deleted and

- test 702 is repeated.

  Operation 705, carried out if the result of test 703 is negative, consists in that the number of the segment associated with the sensor which emitted a signal is stored in RAM RAM 304, in the "receivdata" register. Then test 706 determines whether the sequence of numbers stored in the receivdata register is characteristic of a symbol capable of being entered, by comparison of said sequence or of each of the segments which constitutes it, with segments of sequences kept in read-only memory 605. We note here that several segments

  number sequences may be characteristic of a given symbol.

  In the embodiment described and shown, the order of the numbers in each sequence segment is not considered, that is to say that all the segments of the sequence stored in receivdata are considered in all possible orders and compared to the sequence segments stored in read-only memory 605. According to a variant, the order of entry for reception of the numbers

  segment in the receivdata register is used to distinguish the symbols entered.

  If the result of test 706 is positive, during operation 707: - the symbol considered is stored in the symbols register of the RAM

604,

  a signal representative of said symbol is transmitted on output port 608, a symbol provision signal is transmitted on said output port 608 and

- test 702 is repeated.

  Although the following devices are not shown,

  combine particularly well with the embodiments described and represented below.

  above: - a television, both to indicate a desired channel, as well as to make a choice offered by an audiovisual program, for example tele-shopping or gaming or as to communicate on a network, for example INTERNET or even to select a audiovisual program loaded remotely, - a compact remote control that allows many symbols to be transmitted remotely, - a compact organizer for storing complex messages, written or encrypted, - a touch screen that allows pointing as well, depending on its functions conventional, that the entry of symbols, - a computer, in particular miniaturized, - a telephone which, thanks to the entry device presented above, can thus preserve messages or transmit them without the user needing to speak , - a fax machine which can enter messages entered manually, without printing being necessary, nor typing them on a secretarial keyboard of t known type, - a pager which makes it possible to note messages and, optionally to send them, - a table whose input device makes it possible to place a meal order in a restaurant - a pointing device or a computer mouse which thus allows , not only pointing but also entering symbols, - a watch whose keyboard, worn on the front or back, allows the entry of symbols, - a miniature keyboard, for example less than one square centimeter, - a device for processing, storing, displaying, printing or communicating information using the device described above to enter data to be processed, stored, displayed, printed or communicated,

  or operating parameters.

17 2784473

Claims (10)

  1. Device for entering handwritten symbols, characterized in that it comprises - a visible representation of a path (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324), on which a writing of each symbol capable of being entered, adapted to guide the writer on the visible representation of said path, towards at least one path part (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324) characteristic of a writing of each symbol capable of being entered, - a means of manual path selection (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324) of said characteristic parts adapted to emit a signal representative of each said part selected manually by the writer and - a symbol determination means suitable for determining written symbols taking into account signals representative of parts selected manually by the writer, and in that said visible representation forms a linear path (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224,   301 to 324) formed of lines of substantially constant thickness.   2 Device for entering handwritten symbols characterized in that it comprises - a visible representation of a path (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324), on which a writing of each symbol can be formed capable of being grasped, adapted to guide the writer on the visible representation of said path, towards at least a part (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324) characteristic of a writing of each symbol capable of '' be entered, - a means of manual path selection (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324) of said characteristic parts adapted to emit a signal representative of each said part selected manually by the writer and - a symbol determination means suitable for determining written symbols taking into account signals representative of parts selected manually by the writer, 1 8 2784473   and in that said visible representation of the path is adapted to guide the writer towards all the parts of said symbol, the set of said parts being specifically associated with a symbol and in that the determination means is adapted to determine the written symbol   as the symbol specifically associated with said set of parts.   3. Device for entering handwritten symbols, characterized in that it comprises - a visible representation of a path (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324), on which a writing of each can be formed symbol capable of being grasped, adapted to guide the writer on the visible representation of said path, towards at least one part (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324) characteristic of a writing of each symbol capable to be entered, - a means of manual path selection (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324) of said characteristic parts adapted to emit a signal representative of each said part selected manually by the writer and - symbol determination means adapted to determine written symbols taking into account signals representative of parts selected manually by the writer, and in that said visible representation is adapted to guide the writer exclusively ent to only one part of the symbol.   4. gripping device according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that   said visible representation forms a linear path (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324)   formed of lines of substantially constant thickness.   5. Gripping device according to any one of claims 1 or 3, characterized in that   said visible representation of the path is adapted to guide the writer towards all the parts of said symbol, all of said parts being specifically associated with a symbol and in that the determination means is adapted to determine the symbol written as being the   symbol specifically associated with said set of parts.   6. gripping device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that 19 2784473   the visible representation is adapted to guide the writer exclusively to a single part of the symbol. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the determination means is adapted so that a symbol part is specifically associated with each symbol and in determining the written symbol as being the symbol specifically associated with the part of selected symbol.   8. Keyboard, characterized in that it comprises an input device according to any one Previous claims   9. Method for entering handwritten symbols, characterized in that it comprises: a step of manual selection of characteristic parts during which the writer manually selects each said characteristic part on a visible representation of a path (1 to 23, 101 to 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324) on which a writing of each symbol capable of being grasped can be formed, said representation guiding the writer towards at least one characteristic part of a writing of each symbol capable of being entered, - a symbol determination step during which written symbols are determined by taking into account said characteristic parts selected by the writer during the manual selection step, and in that, during the step manual selection, the writer is guided exclusively to a single characteristic part of the symbol 10. Method for entering handwritten symbols characterized in that it comprises - a step of manual selection of characteristic parts during which the writer manually selects each said characteristic part on a visible representation of a path (1 to 23, 101 133, 201 to 224, 301 to 324) on which a writing of each symbol liable to be entered can be formed, said representation guiding the writer towards at least one characteristic part of a writing of each symbol liable to be entered , - a symbol determination step during which symbols are determined 2784473   written taking into account said characteristic parts selected by the writer during the manual selection step, and in that, during the symbol determination step, symbols are determined   written taking into account all the parts of the drawing of said symbols.