JP3268029B2 - Handwriting input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a handwriting input device provided with a tablet having a transparent panel on a display screen and capable of inputting information to a computer by handwriting on the tablet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, small information devices such as electronic organizers,
2. Description of the Related Art In a portable computer for consumer use, a dedicated terminal device for a computer, and the like, an information device capable of performing handwriting input via, for example, a pressure-sensitive tablet, instead of key input via a keyboard, has been developed. The advantage of handwriting input is simpler than key input via keyboard,
Another advantage is that data can be input easily with the same feeling as a writing instrument.

The above-mentioned pressure-sensitive tablet has a pair of opposing transparent resistance films, and a constant voltage is applied to one of the transparent resistance films. Since the two transparent resistive films come into contact and are electrically connected by the pen pressure by handwriting, the constant voltage is divided according to the input position. Thus, the two-dimensional coordinate data is output to the microcomputer.

As a handwriting input device, in addition to the above-mentioned pressure-sensitive tablet using pen pressure, an electromagnetic induction tablet using an excitation pen is also known.

A handwritten character input by such a handwriting input device is displayed on a display screen as a dot pattern of equal magnification using two-dimensional coordinate data,
Alternatively, the image is reduced and displayed according to the designated display magnification.

[0006]

However, in the above-described conventional handwriting input device, when a handwritten character is displayed on the display screen as a dot pattern of the same magnification, one of the display screens is displayed.
Although it depends on the size of the dot, the display character by handwriting input is usually larger than the display character by key input. For this reason, if the display character by handwriting input and the display character by key input are mixed, the size balance of the character will be lost, and the screen will be difficult to see.

[0007] In addition, there is another problem that as the size of characters displayed by handwriting input increases, the amount of data that can be displayed on one screen must be reduced accordingly.

Further, for example, when trying to write necessary data in a blank space of a list, if a small character matching the size of the blank space is to be written from the handwriting stage, a character with a large number of strokes or a complicated pattern is input. Becomes difficult. In addition, if a handwritten character is to be reduced and displayed in a blank space by designating a display magnification, there is a problem that the operation is complicated and the simplicity of handwriting input is lost.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a handwriting input device according to the present invention includes a transparent panel, and a position on a display screen (for example, a liquid crystal panel) is changed by handwriting on the transparent panel. Handwriting input means (for example, a touch panel and an A / D converter) for outputting specified two-dimensional coordinate data, and display means (for example, a liquid crystal display device) for displaying desired information on the display screen according to the two-dimensional coordinate data A handwritten display range specifying means (for example, CPU and ROM) for creating a handwritten display range capable of displaying handwritten information by specifying an arbitrary position on the display screen; Enlarged frame display means (for example, CPU and ROM) for displaying the drawn frame on the display screen, and the inside of the frame via the handwriting input means. Reduced data generation means (for example, CPU, ROM, RAM, and display memory) for generating reduced data obtained by reducing handwritten information in accordance with the handwritten display range, and data generated by the reduced data generation means. Display control means (for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a display memory, and a display unit) for displaying in the handwritten display range;
Information including characters is displayed on the display screen
Not any position and range is specified, this specified
An instruction for handwriting input is given to the handwriting display area
And the above-mentioned display screen is handwritten by the above described enlarged frame display means.
Enlargement for handwriting input enlarged by a specified magnification from the display range
Switch to the display screen including the frame and display it, and enter the above handwriting
The handwriting input means makes an input in the
When an instruction to finish writing is given,
The handwritten information entered and displayed in the
The original hand for the predetermined magnification enlarged by the small data generation means
Generate reduced data reduced according to the writing display range,
Increase this reduced data so that it fits in the handwritten display area.
The information is displayed on the display means by the display control means .

[0010]

According to the above arrangement, the handwritten display range specifying means specifies the handwritten display range in which the handwritten information can be displayed, for example, based on the designation of the handwritten start position via the handwritten input means. . This handwritten display range is
It is determined based on the correlation between the size of the frame on which the information is actually handwritten and the size of the display screen. The enlargement frame display means displays a frame obtained by enlarging the handwritten display range at a predetermined magnification.

[0011] This allows the operator to hand-write information in a frame that is larger than the handwritten display range, instead of directly handwriting information in the handwritten display range on the display screen. Handwriting input of characters, complicated patterns, and the like can be easily performed. Further, since the frame is widened, it becomes easy to increase the amount of information to be handwritten.

The handwritten display range is not limited to a blank space or a blank space, but may be a range in which some information is already displayed. Therefore, it is possible to overwrite the already displayed information, so that it can be used as easily as a notepad.

Next, the information handwritten in the frame is converted into two-dimensional coordinate data from the handwriting input means to the reduced data generating means and output. The reduced data generation unit generates reduced data by reducing the two-dimensional coordinate data at a predetermined reduction ratio, and sends the reduced data to the display unit. As a result, the information handwritten in the frame is displayed in the handwritten display range.

Thus, for example, a handwritten character is displayed in a reduced size in the frame, so that it is easy to maintain a balance between the character input through the keyboard and the size of the character. Therefore, the handwriting input device according to the present invention can provide an easy-to-view screen display.

[0015]

1 to 12 show an embodiment of the present invention.
The description will be made based on the following.

First, the configuration of a handwriting input device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Display unit 5 as display means
Although not specifically shown, the liquid crystal display device includes, for example, a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel as a display screen and an electrode driver for applying a liquid crystal driving voltage to a transparent electrode formed on the liquid crystal panel.

On the display screen, a transparent analog touch panel 8 is superimposed. On the touch panel 8,
A touch panel control circuit 9 is connected, and a control voltage for knowing two-dimensional coordinates of a handwriting input position on the touch panel 8 is applied. The output of the touch panel 8 is
It is connected to an A / D converter 10 configured as an LSI. The A / D converter 10 converts the analog position information output from the touch panel 8 into a digital value,
It outputs two-dimensional coordinate data that can be processed by a PU (central processing unit) 1.

The display unit 5 is connected to a display memory 6 for temporarily storing display data necessary for displaying handwritten input information (hereinafter referred to as handwritten information).

Furthermore, a ROM (read only memory) 2 in which a program for controlling the operation of the handwriting input device is written, a RAM (read / write memory) used as a work area of the CPU 1 and a storage area for data input by an operator. 3.) An I / O LSI 4 to which a keyboard 7A and a communication port 7B are connected is provided.

These ROM 2, RAM 3, display memory 6, touch panel control circuit 9, and A / D converter 1
0 is mutually connected with CPU1 via a bus.
Therefore, the CPU 1 controls the operation of the handwriting input device in accordance with the program written in the ROM 2, and also controls the keyboard 7 </ b> A according to the contents of the I / O LSI 4.
And the input / output via the communication port 7B.

In the above configuration, as an example of the function of the handwriting input device, a case where handwritten information is written in a displayed weekly schedule table will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the handwriting input device of the present embodiment can display a schedule for one week on a display screen. In this case, all scheduled items are performed by key input via the keyboard 7A. Here, let us consider a case in which a new schedule is entered on 29 (Fri), and a handwritten input is quickly performed in a blank space in the right column of 29 (Fri) by utilizing the simplicity of handwriting input.

First, a predetermined portion such as the upper left corner of the blank portion is touched. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the display color of the blank portion changes with respect to the background color and is specified as a handwritten display range. Next, when the [pencil] icon 11 displayed at the top of the screen of FIG. 3 is touched, the mode changes to the handwriting input mode, and the screen of FIG. 3 changes to the screen of FIG.

In FIG. 4, the area to be actually handwritten is indicated by a frame 17.
Will be displayed as The height and width of the frame 17 are each enlarged twice, for example, with respect to the height and width of the blank portion so that the operator can easily write. This facilitates handwriting input of a character having a large number of strokes or a complicated pattern as compared with a case where small characters are directly input by handwriting according to the size of the blank portion. For example, as shown in FIG.
The size per character to be handwritten in the frame 17 can be four times as large as when directly writing in the blank portion. Also,
Since the frame 17 is wide, the number of characters can be easily increased.

The other [Cancel] icon 13, [Eraser] icon 14, displayed at the top of the screen in FIG.
[Ruler] icon 15 and [Thickness] icon 16
Are used for canceling the handwriting input mode, erasing the handwritten input character, drawing a straight line between the start point and the end point of the touch, and changing the thickness of the handwritten input character, respectively.

For example, when erasing or rewriting the handwritten information displayed on the weekly schedule table, touch a predetermined place in the column where the handwriting has been input and touch the [pencil] icon 11
When is touched, the input handwritten information is displayed in the frame 17. Here, when the [Eraser] icon 14 is touched, the frame 17 becomes blank. Thus, the input handwritten information can be deleted or rewritten. FIG. 5 shows a case where the [thickness] icon 16 is selected so that the characters input by handwriting are displayed as thin lines.

In order to display the handwritten information on the weekly schedule table, when the [END] icon 12 shown in FIG. 5 is touched, the length and width of the handwritten information are automatically reduced to 1/2, contrary to the enlargement ratio of the frame 17. The image is reduced and displayed in the blank portion designated in FIG. 3 as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the user touches a predetermined portion of the scheduled entry column of the weekly schedule table and performs handwriting input in the same manner as described above, the handwritten information is displayed over the entered information. If this function is used, as shown in FIG.
The cancellation of the schedule is displayed like the left column of (Mon),
As shown in the right column of (Wed), it is easy to use the method to call attention by marking important items with ○.

Next, as another example of the function of the handwriting input device, a case where handwritten information is displayed in the margin of the screen shown in FIG. 7 will be described. For example, when it is desired to display handwritten information in the margin below the data of “technical concept report”, if the user touches the beginning of the line below the character of “technique”, the display color of the touched portion changes as shown in FIG. . In FIG. 8, when the [pencil] icon 22 is touched, the screen in FIG. 8 changes to the handwriting input screen shown in FIG. 9, and a frame 20 is displayed.

In the frame 20, the length and width of the blank area 18 indicated by a dotted line in FIG. Thus, for a blank area 18 having a width of half the width of the horizontal-screen by two rows in the vertical direction, a frame 20 having a total width of four horizontal lines and the entire width of the horizontal-screen is four times as large. Handwritten the size of the characters, and [End]
By simply touching the icon 21, a display equivalent to the case where the handwriting is directly performed on the blank area 18 can be performed as shown in FIG. 10. Note that the width of the blank range 18 specified as the handwritten display range and the width of the corresponding frame 20 are determined by a mutual relationship in consideration of the size of the display screen.

For example, "March 15, 1992"
When you want to display handwritten information in the right margin of the data, touch the right of the character "day". In this case, similarly, a frame 20 is displayed in which the vertical and horizontal directions of the blank area 19 indicated by the dotted line in FIG. The size of the specified blank range 19 is also determined by the correlation between the size of the corresponding frame 20 and the size of the display screen. As described above, desired handwritten information can be displayed in a margin at an arbitrary position.

Hereinafter, the operation of the handwriting input device of the present invention will be described in detail focusing on the control operation of the CPU 1 based on the flowchart of FIG. S1 is a wait state for receiving a touch on a predetermined portion of the touch panel 8. In S2,
The content of the touch is determined, for example, whether the upper left corner of the column constituting the table is touched, the icon is touched, or the margin of the screen is touched.

Next, when a column in the table is touched in S3, one section corresponding to the touched column is specified as a handwritten range, and its display color is changed. When the margin of the screen is touched, the handwriting range is specified according to the touched location on the screen, and the display color of the touched location is changed. In S3, the touched location, that is, the two-dimensional coordinate data indicating the position of the upper left corner of the handwriting range is stored in the RAM 3 as the handwriting start position. In this case, even if the handwriting range has already been designated, if a touch is made again, the handwriting start position stored in the RAM 3 is updated.

At step S4, the [pencil] icon 11 or 20
Is touched, it is determined whether or not the handwriting range is specified. If not, the process returns to S1.
If the handwriting range has been specified, the process proceeds to S5 to enter the handwriting input mode, in which the specified handwriting range is enlarged at a predetermined magnification, and the display unit 5 displays the frame 17 or 20. If the display data for displaying the frame 17 or 20 is stored in the ROM 2 in advance corresponding to the size of the handwriting range,
The burden on the CPU 1 can be reduced.

Step S6 is a waiting state for accepting handwriting input or icon input thereafter. When the [Cancel] icon 13 is touched in S7, the handwriting input mode is released,
Return to S1. In S8-10, [Eraser] icon 1
4. [Ruler] icon 15 or [Thickness] icon 1
When 6 is touched, the processing mode described above is set, and the process returns to S6 to wait for the next input.

In S11, the operator operates the frame 17 with a dedicated pen or the like.
Or, when desired information is handwritten in the touch panel 20, the touch panel 8 displays analog position information corresponding to the handwritten position as A /
Output to the D converter 10. The A / D converter 10 converts the position information into a digital value and sends it to the CPU 1 as two-dimensional coordinate data. The CPU 1 calculates two-dimensional coordinate data,
For example, display data (dot matrix data) is created in consideration of the selection of the [thickness] icon 16, the display data is stored in the RAM 3 and the display memory 6, and a display based on the display data is performed on the display unit 5. Let Thereby, the handwritten information is displayed in the frame 17 or 20.

Subsequently, when the [End] icon 12 or 21 is touched in S12, the CPU 1 reads the display data from the RAM 3, reduces the display data vertically and horizontally, for example, to 1/2, and creates reduced display data. I do. Further, the CPU 1 stores the reduced display data in the RAM 3 in S13, and also executes S3 in S14.
Then, the handwritten start position previously stored in the RAM 3 and the reduced display data are combined and stored in the display memory 6, and the display unit 5 reduces the handwritten information based on the reduced display data and the handwritten start position. Is displayed. Since the reduced display data has a small data amount, the display memory 6
Helps to reduce the storage capacity of

Finally, in S15, the contents of the display memory 6 are cleared, and the process returns to S1, where all the processing for reducing and displaying the handwritten information is completed.

The reduced display data is stored in the RAM 3 in the format shown in FIG. 12, for example, and called up as required. That is, the format configuration includes, from the top, the screen No., the size of the entire handwritten data per screen, the handwriting start position (two-dimensional coordinate data corresponding to the upper left corner of the handwritten range), and the display size (vertical and horizontal of the handwritten range). ) And reduced display data.

The screen No. indicates on which screen the reduced handwritten information is displayed. For example, the screen No. is different between the handwritten information reduced and displayed on the screen of FIG. 6 and the handwritten information reduced and displayed on the screen of FIG. 10, and each handwritten information is displayed only on the specified screen No. Is done. The screen No. is a search item when displaying handwritten information, and reduced display data having the same screen No. is read out, and a process of displaying the reduced display data at the designated position is performed.

As described above, by reducing and displaying handwritten information in large characters, the size of the characters input by handwriting and the size of the characters input by key are balanced, and an easy-to-view display screen is obtained. . Further, the operator can easily hand-write a complicated pattern in the frame 17 or 20 as much as the hand-writing of a complicated pattern becomes easy.

The vertical and horizontal magnifications of the frame 17 or 20 may be set higher in advance, or the vertical and horizontal magnifications may be different. Further, a configuration in which a predetermined portion of the frame 17 is touched and displayed again after being enlarged is also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0043]

As described above, the handwriting input device according to the present invention includes a transparent panel, and outputs handwritten two-dimensional coordinate data for specifying a position on a display screen by a handwriting operation on the transparent panel. Display means for displaying desired information on the display screen according to the two-dimensional coordinate data, and by specifying an arbitrary position on the display screen,
Handwritten display range specifying means for creating a handwritten display range capable of displaying handwritten information, enlarged frame display means for displaying a frame enlarged from the handwritten display range on the display screen, and via the handwritten input means Reduced data generation means for generating reduced data obtained by reducing information handwritten in the frame in accordance with the handwritten display range, and display control means for displaying data generated by the reduced data generation means in the handwritten display range And the above handwritten display
Information including characters is displayed on the display screen by the range specifying means.
Any position and range that are not
Is not instructed for the handwritten display area
When the display screen is displayed,
For handwriting input enlarged by a predetermined magnification from the writing display range
Switch to the display screen containing the enlarged frame and display it,
Input by the above handwriting input means in the input enlargement frame
When the end of handwriting input is instructed,
The handwritten information input and displayed in the magnifying frame
The predetermined magnification enlarged by the reduced data generating means.
Generate reduced data that has been reduced to fit the original handwritten display range.
This reduced data fits within the above handwritten display range.
To display on the display means by the display control means,
It is a structure called .

Therefore, the operator can hand-write information in a frame that is larger than the handwritten display range, instead of directly handwriting information in the handwritten display range on the display screen. Handwriting input of characters, complicated patterns, and the like can be easily performed. Further, since the frame is widened, it becomes easy to increase the amount of information to be handwritten.

Note that the specification of the handwritten display range is not limited to a blank or a blank space, but it is also possible to specify a range in which some information is already displayed. Therefore, it is possible to overwrite the information already displayed. It can be used as easily as a notepad.

Further, for example, since the handwritten characters are displayed in a reduced size in the frame, it is easy to keep the balance between the characters input through the keyboard and the size, and to provide a screen display which is easy to see. It has various effects that can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a handwriting input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a weekly schedule table.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing that a handwritten display range is specified in the weekly schedule table of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing that a frame for handwriting desired information is displayed, corresponding to the handwritten display range in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing that information is handwritten in the frame of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing that the handwritten information of FIG. 5 is displayed on the weekly schedule table of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of other information stored in the handwriting input device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing that a handwritten display range is specified in the display example of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing that a frame for handwriting desired information is displayed, corresponding to the handwritten display range in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing that handwritten information has been added to the display example of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of the handwriting input device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage format of handwritten information.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU (handwritten display range specifying means, enlarged frame display means, reduced data generation means , and display control means ) 2 ROM (handwritten display range identification means, enlarged frame display means, reduced data generation means , and display control means ) 3 RAM (Reduced data generation means and display control means
Stage) 5 display section (display means, and display control means) 6 display memory (reduced data generating means, and a display
Control means ) 8 touch panel (handwriting input means) 10 A / D converter (handwriting input means) 17 frame 18 blank range (handwriting display range) 19 blank range (handwriting display range) 20 frames

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/03 G06F 3/033-3/037 G06F 3/14-3/153

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A handwriting input means for outputting two-dimensional coordinate data specifying a position on a display screen by a handwriting operation on the transparent panel; and providing desired information on the display screen in accordance with the two-dimensional coordinate data. Display means for displaying; a handwritten display range identifying means for creating a handwritten display area capable of displaying handwritten information by identifying an arbitrary position on the display screen; and a frame enlarged from the handwritten display area On the display screen, and reduced data generating means for generating reduced data obtained by reducing information handwritten in the frame via the handwriting input means in accordance with the handwritten display range, the data generated by the reduced data generating means and display control means for displaying on the handwriting display range, Ru with a
A handwriting input device that includes characters on a display screen by the handwriting display range specifying means.
Any position or range where no information is displayed is specified.
Handwritten into the specified handwritten display area.
When a force instruction is given, the display screen is displayed by the enlarged frame display means on the handwritten display.
Enlargement frame for handwriting input enlarged by a predetermined magnification from the range
Switch to the display screen displays including, entering at the handwriting input unit to the expansion frame for the handwriting input
When power is applied and an instruction to end handwriting input is given, the handwriting input displayed in the handwriting input magnifying frame is displayed.
The expanded information is expanded by the reduced data generating means.
Reduced to fit the original handwritten display range
Generate small data and increase this reduced data so that it fits in the handwritten display area.
A handwriting input device characterized by displaying on the display means by the display control means .