JPH0589280A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To input information of printed or hand-written characters or the like to a system device as the same signal as the key operation input from a keyboard and to enable anybody to easily and efficiently correct information of characters or the like which is not correctly recognized by an OCR. CONSTITUTION:Information of printed or hand-written characters or the like from a picture input part 25 is recognized by a character recognizing part 5, and a keyboard signal generating part 26 generates a keyboard signal by the recognition code and outputs it to the system device. In the case of an unrecognizable character or character string, a synthesizing part 29 synthesizes or substitutes data with an unrecognizability mark generated by an unrecognizability mark generating part 28 in the corresponding position of picture data in an original picture storage part 27 and outputs the result through a recognition result visualizing part 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input system such as a fax order entry system and an OCR order entry system, various data processing devices (computer main body) including a document preparation device, an automatic translation device, and a filing device. The present invention relates to an input device using an optical character reader (OCR) which is used by being connected to a device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a keyboard is frequently used as an input device of a system device such as a data processing device or a filing device, but it takes a long time to get used to the key input operation of the keyboard.

Therefore, as an input means for assisting a key input operation with a keyboard, an OCR for optically reading and inputting a handwritten or printed character or symbol, a handwriting such as a handwritten character directly on a board surface is a group of pressure sensitive sensors. There has been proposed a device including a tablet input device that detects a character corresponding to the handwriting and inputs the character, a voice input device that recognizes a voice and inputs a corresponding character, and the like.

For example, there are the following devices. (1) Recognize the characters input by handwriting from the tablet, determine the recognized characters, convert them into output codes that can be distinguished from the output codes from the keyboard, and output them from the output code and keyboard via an adapter. A character input device that integrates with the output code of the above and outputs to the control processing main body (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-223974).

(2) An information input device in which a handwritten OCR is connected to an information input device capable of inputting information from a voice or a keyboard, and when inputting unreadable Chinese characters etc., handwriting input by the handwritten OCR is possible. (See, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-62368).

(3) Instead of the key input on the keyboard or the push button input on the panel, a handwritten input character or a voice input instruction is recognized and registered in advance in a registration table corresponding to the recognition result. An information processing apparatus for selecting the processing that is performed (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-187340).

(4) A keyboard for outputting character and numeral codes by pressing a key, and a hand scanner and an OCR character read by the hand scanner for generating character and numeral codes and outputting from the keyboard. A personal computer input device that has a character and number recognition unit that outputs a logical sum and treats the input from both the keyboard and the hand scanner as the same input (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 64-64).
-50114).

[0008]

However, each of the above-mentioned devices has the following problems. (1) The system of the output code is different for the character input of the tablet and the keyboard, and the control processing body that receives the output code has to perform the processing to determine the output code of both, so the processing efficiency is improved. Not only is it lowered, but it cannot be used as is in conventional general data processing devices. In addition, since only the characters can be handwritten on the tablet and various control information other than the characters cannot be input like the keyboard, the tablet cannot be completely used in place of the keyboard.

(2) Since voice input, keyboard input, and handwritten OCR input must be input to the main body through separate input interfaces and different recognition processing must be performed respectively, the structure and program of the data processing apparatus main body becomes complicated. It has no versatility.

(3) The pre-registered processing can only be selected by handwritten character input or voice input, and various information cannot be freely input as in the case of key input using a keyboard. Limited to special purposes.

(4) Inputs from the keyboard and the hand scanner are only character and numerical codes, and other control codes cannot be input. In addition, in general data processing devices such as personal computers and word processors, the character and numerical codes are not input from the keyboard interface, and the key pressing position (key code)
Since the ON / OFF information is input and the process of converting the ON / OFF information into a character or numerical code or control code is performed in the main body, inputting the character and numerical codes is not versatile.

As described above, all of the above-mentioned conventional input devices are mainly for key input by the keyboard, and OCR, tablet input device, voice input device, etc. can be used as auxiliary input devices. Similar to the keyboard, it has not been possible to input all kinds of information using input devices other than the keyboard. Further, there has been a problem that the configuration of the data processing apparatus main body side is complicated due to the increase of the input means, the processing load is increased, or the versatility is lacking.

Further, when the characters etc. written on the input sheet cannot be correctly recognized in the information input by the OCR, there are the following problems. (1) When an operator who is different from the person who created the information such as characters performs input work, the correction work becomes difficult if the characters and the like cannot be read. (2) Characters that the creator of the information could not recognize unless they were there could not be corrected. (3) Since it is necessary to search for characters or the like that cannot be correctly recognized in the information that has already been input, it takes time and effort to input the information.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and makes it possible to handle all input information of printing or handwritten characters by OCR in the same manner as key operation input from a keyboard, and at that time, OCR It is also an object to enable anyone to easily and efficiently correct information such as characters that could not be recognized correctly by.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an input device according to the present invention recognizes information input means for inputting information such as printed or handwritten characters, and information input by the means. Input information recognizing means for outputting the recognition code, a keyboard operation code creating means for converting the recognition code from the means into a keyboard operation code, and a keyboard operation code from the means for converting a keyboard signal corresponding to the system device. And a keyboard signal output means for outputting the keyboard signal to a system device such as a data processing device via a keyboard interface.

Further, when the image data storage means for storing the image data of information such as characters input by the information input means and the input information recognition means determine that the characters cannot be correctly recognized, the unrecognizable character or character string. Unrecognizable mark generating means for generating an unrecognizable mark for indicating unrecognizable to the user and prompting for correction, and the unrecognizable mark generated by the means corresponding position of the image data stored in the image data storage means. Is provided with an unrecognizable information output means for combining or replacing and outputting.

Further, the unrecognizable information output means may be a printing means for printing the image data on a sheet, and the printing means forms a correction entry frame for unrecognizable characters or character strings together with the image including the unrecognizable mark. It is preferable to have a means for generating and printing.

[0018]

When the input device according to the present invention inputs and recognizes information such as printed or handwritten characters, the recognition code is converted into a keyboard operation code, and the keyboard operation code is converted into a keyboard signal corresponding to the system device. (Key code and its on / off signal) and sends it to the keyboard signal switching means, and the keyboard signal switching means switches between the keyboard signal and the keyboard signal by the key input from the keyboard and sends it to the keyboard signal output means. Output to a system device such as a data processing device via an interface.

Then, when the input information recognition means determines that the character cannot be correctly recognized, the unrecognizable mark generation means indicates the unrecognizable character or character string as unrecognizable and an unrecognizable mark for prompting correction. The unrecognizable information output means generates and synthesizes or replaces the unrecognizable mark at a position corresponding to the image data stored in the image data storage means, and outputs the unrecognizable mark.

Therefore, the system device side can process information such as printed or handwritten characters in the same way as the information input by the key operation from the keyboard. Therefore, various data processing devices using conventional keyboards can be used. The main body (system unit) can be used by connecting to its keyboard interface without any change. In addition, if there are unrecognizable characters, etc., the image data in which the unrecognizable mark is combined or replaced is output (displayed or printed), so that the unrecognizable character can be easily found and the unrecognizable mark is displayed. In many cases, the characters can be read by referring to the image data before and after the image data, so that even a person who is not the creator of the information can easily perform the correction work.

Further, if the image data is printed on the paper by the unrecognizable information output means, even if the creator of the information is not on the spot, the printed paper can be sent to the creator.
It is possible to correct characters that could not be recognized by AXing or carrying and showing them. If a frame for correction entry of unrecognizable characters or character strings is generated and printed together with an image containing an unrecognizable mark, it is only necessary to correctly enter the unrecognizable character in the entry frame and re-create it. You will be able to easily recognize it by typing.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This input device includes an image input unit 25, a character recognition unit 5, and a keyboard signal generation unit 2
6, an original image storage unit 27, an unrecognizable mark generation unit 28, a synthesizing unit 29, and a recognition result visualization unit 30. Each of these units is realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like.

The image input unit 25 is a scanner for inputting information such as printed or handwritten characters, and the character recognition unit 5 recognizes the input image information and outputs the recognition code. The keyboard signal generation unit 26 converts the recognition code into a keyboard operation code, further converts into a keyboard signal corresponding to the system device, and outputs the keyboard signal to a system device (not shown) via the keyboard interface.

The original image storage unit 27 is a memory for storing image data of information such as characters input by the image input unit 25, and the unrecognizable mark generation unit 28 correctly recognizes characters in the input information by the character recognition unit 5. Processing is performed to indicate that the character or character string determined to be unrecognizable is unrecognizable and to generate an unrecognizable mark for prompting correction. The synthesizing unit 29 performs a process of synthesizing or replacing the generated unrecognizable mark with a corresponding position of the image data stored in the image storage unit 27, and the recognition result visualization unit 30 synthesizes or replaces the unrecognizable mark. The display data of the image data is sent to the system device, and the information is displayed on the display of the system device.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing at the time of inputting information by this input device. First, a document in which printed or handwritten characters are written is input to the image input unit 25.
When read by, the character recognition unit 5 recognizes characters from the input information. If there is no unrecognizable character or character string as a result of the character recognition, the keyboard signal generation unit 26 converts the corresponding recognition code into a keyboard operation code and outputs it as a keyboard signal to the system unit.
Finish the process. Further, if there is an unrecognizable character or the like, the unrecognizable mark generation unit 28 generates an unrecognizable mark for the character or the like, and the unrecognizable mark corresponds to the image data of the original document stored in the original image storage unit 27. The combining unit 29 combines or replaces the image data at the position, and the recognition result visualization unit 30 displays the image data on the display of the system device.

For example, when a manuscript as shown in FIG. 3A is input and it is determined that the characters (images) indicated by a and b are unrecognizable, as shown in FIG. 3B. The unrecognizable mark 31 is generated and replaced with the corresponding position of the image data of the document, and the image as shown in FIG. 3C is displayed. Note that the unrecognizable mark may have any shape as long as it indicates unrecognizable and prompts the operator to make a correction, and may be, for example, the one shown in FIG. In this way, the position of unrecognizable characters can be known on the original image, and even if you are not the creator of the information, you can easily read the information and make corrections depending on the relationship before and after the sentence and similar characters. Become.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the apparatus in this embodiment, and the portions common to FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. This input device includes a print signal generation unit 32 and a print signal switching unit 33 in place of the recognition result visualization unit 30 shown in FIG. 1, and a switching unit 35 is newly provided.

The switching unit 35 has the keyboard 1
2 is connected to switch the keyboard signals sent from the keyboard signal generation unit 26 and the keyboard 12 and send them to the system unit 3. A print device (printer) 34 and a system device are connected to the print signal switching unit 33, and print data from the system device 3 and print data generated by the print signal generation unit 32 from the image data are switched to print. Output to the device 34.

That is, the image data in which the unrecognizable mark is combined or replaced by the synthesizing unit 29 is converted into a signal that can be sent to the printing device 34 by the print signal generating unit 32, and the signal is sent to the print signal switching unit 33. The switching unit 33 determines that there is no print signal from the system device 3 and sends the signal sent from the print signal generation unit 32 to the printing device 34. Then, the printing device 34 prints on the paper the same image data as that displayed on the recognition result visualization unit 30 in the first embodiment.

It should be noted that the print signal switching unit 33 may be provided with a memory for accumulating each print data sent by the system device 3 and the print signal generating unit 32.
Further, if a facsimile transmission device can be connected in addition to the printing device 34, image data including an unrecognizable mark in the input information can be transmitted to a remote place and printed out, so that the manuscript creator can be separated. This is convenient when you are in a different place.

If the image data can be printed on the paper in this way, it becomes easy to correct characters and the like that cannot be recognized even if the creator of the information is not there. Also,
A person who cannot use the system unit or a person at a remote place can perform the correction work offline at a time and place different from the operator who inputs the information. Further, the printed matter can be used to perform the correction work collectively.

Next, the input of information by the input device according to the present invention and the switching of the input with the connected keyboard will be described in more detail. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a data processing device using the input device according to the present invention.

In this data processing device, the input device 1 is connected via a keyboard interface (I / F) cable 2,
The input device 1 is connected to a system device 3 having a document creation function, a data processing function, etc., and the input device 1 optically outputs information such as characters printed or handwritten on a sheet (paper or the like) inserted from the insertion opening 1a. It has a function to read it and convert it to a keyboard signal.

A keyboard 12 is connected to the input device 1 via a keyboard interface (I / F) cable 13, and a keyboard signal generated by a key input from the keyboard 12 is a keyboard interface (I / F) of the input device 1. ) It is sent to the system unit 3 via the cable 2. Then, on the upper surface of the input device 1, a miniature light bulb or an LED for informing the operator by turning on or off whether or not a key input from the keyboard 12 is possible.
An illuminated switch (push button switch or touch switch) 20 including a keyboard input permission notification lamp such as the above is provided.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the input device 1 shown in FIG. 5 together with the system device 3. The input device 1 includes a character input section 4, a character recognition section 5, and a keyboard operation code creation section 6. , A keyboard operation code creation information storage unit 7, a keyboard signal creation unit 8, a keyboard signal creation information storage unit 9, a keyboard signal output unit 10, a keyboard control information storage unit 14, a keyboard signal switching unit 15, and a keyboard input permission notification unit 16 It has each function of.
Also, the voice input unit 11 may be provided.

The character input unit 4 optically reads information such as characters printed or handwritten on a sheet with a scanner, binarizes the information, and sends it to the character recognition unit 5. The character recognition unit 5 performs character recognition processing by OCR on the binarized information received from the character input unit 4, and sends the recognition code to the keyboard operation code creation unit 6.

The keyboard operation code creation unit 6 uses the information stored in the keyboard operation code creation information storage unit 7 to recognize the recognition code sent from the character recognition unit 5 as a keyboard operation code (corresponding to key operation). Code) and sends it to the keyboard signal creation unit 8. The keyboard operation code creation information storage unit 7 stores information referenced by the keyboard operation code creation unit 6 in a table format,
For all information such as characters that can be recognized by the character recognition unit 5, keyboard operation codes in which those recognition codes are used as indexes are registered.

The keyboard signal creation unit 8 uses the keyboard operation code sent from the keyboard operation code creation unit 6 based on the information stored in the keyboard signal creation information storage unit 9 to generate a keyboard signal (key on the keyboard). The key code at the time of pressing and the corresponding ON / OFF signal are converted) and sent to the keyboard signal output unit 10. The keyboard signal creation information storage unit 9 stores information referred to by the keyboard signal creation unit 8 and registers each keyboard signal data corresponding to each keyboard operation code (1 key input) on the keyboard in a table format. There is.

The keyboard signal data is, for example,
When the character "A" is input to the system unit from the keyboard, the keyboard is pressed to the system unit together with the physical position (key code) of the character "A" in the keyboard layout on the keyboard. Data indicating that the key is pressed (on) and released (off) is notified, and is the notification information regarding key press and key release determined for each key on the keyboard.

The keyboard signal output unit 10 outputs the keyboard signal data received from the keyboard signal generation unit 8 to the system unit 3 via the keyboard I / F cable 2 for exchanging data between the system unit 3 and the keyboard. .. The keyboard control information storage unit 14 stores information set by the character input unit 4 at the start and end of character input, and the keyboard signal switching unit 15 refers to the information.

The keyboard signal switching unit 15 switches between the keyboard signal from the keyboard 12 and the keyboard signal data from the keyboard signal creating unit 8 according to the keyboard control information, and outputs it to the keyboard signal output unit 10. The keyboard input permission notifying unit 16 notifies the keyboard input permission in the illuminated switch 20 when a key input from the keyboard 12 is possible based on the keyboard input control information set in the keyboard control information storage unit 14 by the character input unit 4. Turn on the lamp.

As shown by the broken line in FIG. 6, the input device 1
The voice input unit 11 is connected to the character recognition unit 5 of FIG.
If it is sent to, it is possible to input information by voice.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a storage format of keyboard operation code creation information, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a storage format of keyboard signal creation information. The keyboard operation code creation information consists of recognition data and keyboard operation data. The recognition data is information such as characters and symbols corresponding to each key on the keyboard (for example,
“0”, “A”, “A”, etc.), and the keyboard operation data is information on keyboard operation for inputting the respective information.

For example, the keyboard operation data for inputting “0” corresponding to the recognition data “0” has the number of key operations = 2 (indicating that two key operations are required) as operation data control information. , A pointer to the'alphanumeric 'key in the keyboard signal creation information indicating the operation of the'alphanumeric' key,
Keyboard signal creation information indicating the operation of the "0" key, and is composed of a pointer pointing to the "0" key.

Further, the keyboard operation data for inputting "A" corresponding to the recognition data "A" is key operation number = 2 as operation data control information and keyboard signal generation information indicating operation of the "Katakana" key. From the pointer that points to the "Katakana" key and the pointer that points to the "3" key in the keyboard signal creation information that indicates the operation of the "3" key (since the "A" key also serves as the "3" key) Become.

The keyboard signal generation information is composed of keyboard signals when each key is pressed and released, as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of each part of the input device 1 shown in FIG. 6 will be described. When character input from the character input unit 4 is started, prohibition information is set in the keyboard control information storage unit 14 and at the same time prohibition information is set in the keyboard input permission notification unit 16. Keyboard input permission notification unit 1
6 uses this prohibition information to keep the keyboard input permission notification lamp in the illuminated switch 20 in the off state to notify the operator that no key input from the keyboard 12 is possible.

Then, the character recognition unit 5 outputs the keyboard operation code creation information storage unit 7 as a result for the recognized character.
Outputs a pointer that points to keyboard operation data corresponding to the corresponding character inside.

As shown in FIG. 9, this keyboard operation data has the number of key operations as the operation data control information and the operation information of the key as the operation data. The number of key operations is the number of actually recognized characters. It is the number of key operations when inputting from the keyboard, and the operation data corresponds to an input operation procedure, and the key operations (types of input keys) are arranged by the number of key operations in the order of input. A pointer pointing to the corresponding key stored in the keyboard signal creation information storage unit 9 is set in the key operation information.

When the keyboard operation code creating section 6 receives the pointer from the character recognizing section 5, it retrieves the number of key operations and the operation data corresponding to the pointer, and operates the key operation information (keyboard in order from the operation data by the number of key operations). A pointer to signal creation information) is input and output to the keyboard signal creation unit 8.

The keyboard signal generation unit 8 sequentially outputs the code of the corresponding key and the keyboard signal indicating the pressing and releasing of the key to the keyboard signal switching unit 15 by the pointer from the keyboard operation code generation unit 6. The keyboard signal switching unit 15 determines whether to output or invalidate the keyboard signal from the keyboard 12 according to the prohibition or permission information stored in the keyboard control information storage unit 14 controlled by the character input unit 4.

In this case, since the input from the character input unit 4 is valid, the keyboard signal from the keyboard signal generation unit 8 is sent to the keyboard signal output unit 10. Then, the keyboard signal output unit 10 outputs the keyboard signal to the system unit 3 via the keyboard I / F cable 2.

Next, when the input operation by the character input unit 4 is completed, the keyboard input permission information is set in the keyboard control information and, at the same time, the keyboard input permission notification unit 16
Also, the permission information is set. The keyboard input permission notification unit 16 turns on the keyboard input permission notification lamp in the illuminated switch 20 according to the permission information to notify the operator that key input from the keyboard 12 is possible.

Here, when the operator inputs a key from the keyboard 12, a keyboard signal by the key input is sent to the keyboard signal switching unit 15, and the keyboard signal switching unit 15 receives the permission information from the keyboard control information storage unit 14. This time, the keyboard signal sent from the keyboard 12 is sent to the keyboard signal output unit 10, and the keyboard signal output unit 10 outputs the keyboard signal to the system unit 3 via the keyboard I / F cable 2.

Next, the process of inputting information by the input device 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. While the information input by the optical reading from the character input unit 4 is not started, the input permission information is set and stored in the keyboard control information storage unit 14, and the input permission information is set in the keyboard input permission notification unit 16. Turn on the input permission notification lamp.

Then, the keyboard signal switching section 15 refers to the information stored in the keyboard control information storage section 14 to judge whether or not the information is prohibition information. It is determined that the state is valid, the input from the keyboard 12 is validated, and if there is an input from the keyboard 12, the keyboard signal is output.
It is output to 0, and the process returns to the keyboard control information reference process.

After that, when there is input character data in the character input unit 4, the input of the character is started, the input prohibition information is set in the keyboard input permission notifying unit 16, the keyboard input permission notifying lamp is turned off, and the keyboard control information is stored. Input prohibition information is set in the section 14.

Then, the keyboard signal creation unit 8 sends a keyboard signal corresponding to the character recognized from the information read from the character input unit 4 to the keyboard signal switching unit 15, and the keyboard signal switching unit 15 sends the keyboard control information storage unit. The information stored in 14 is referenced to determine whether the information is prohibited information. This time, since the information is prohibition information, it is determined to be in the prohibition state, the input from the keyboard 12 is invalidated, and the keyboard signal switching unit 15 sends the keyboard signal received from the keyboard signal generation unit 8 to the keyboard signal output unit 10.

Next, an example of actual character input processing in the input device 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Here, a case of inputting the katakana “A” will be described.

First, when the reading of the character input unit 4 is started, the character input unit 4 causes the keyboard control information storage unit 14 to operate.
The prohibition information is set to the key, the keyboard input permission notification lamp is turned off, and the key input from the keyboard 12 is invalidated. Then, when the character input unit 4 reads the katakana "A" written on the sheet and sends it to the character recognition unit 5, the character recognition unit 5 recognizes the katakana "A" and recognizes the recognition data "" for the keyboard operation creation information. A pointer pointing to "a" is sent to the keyboard operation code creation unit 6.

The keyboard operation code creation unit 6 also includes data on the number of times of key operation as keyboard operation data corresponding to the recognition data "A" in the information stored in the keyboard operation code creation information storage unit 7, The pointers for the operation of the "katakana" key and the operation of the "3" key are sent to the keyboard signal generation unit 8.

In the keyboard signal creation unit 8, the keyboard signal when the "Katakana" key is pressed, the keyboard signal when the "Katakana" key is released, and "" in the information stored in the keyboard signal creation information storage unit 9 by the pointer. The keyboard signal when the 3'key is pressed and the keyboard signal when the '3' key is released are output to the keyboard signal output unit 10.

In this way, since information such as characters input by means other than key input is output to the system unit as a keyboard signal as if the key input was made from the keyboard, the system unit also inputs information from other than the keyboard. It can be processed as the same data as the key operation input from the keyboard.

When the information input from the character input unit 4 is completed, the character input unit 4 sets the input permission information in the keyboard control information storage unit 14, lights the keyboard input permission notification lamp, and inputs the key from the keyboard 12. To enable. If there is a key input from the keyboard 12, a keyboard signal corresponding to the input key is output to the keyboard signal output unit 10 via the keyboard signal switching unit 15.

Therefore, the operator can know the state in which the key input is possible by turning on the illumination type switch 20, so that the operator may erroneously start the key input before the information input of the character input section 4 is completed. It can be prevented. Note that this embodiment also includes a processing unit for the case where there is an unrecognizable character similar to that shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4, but the illustration and description thereof are omitted.

The effects of the input device 1 of this embodiment will be listed below. First, as to the improvement of the man-machine interface, (1) it is not necessary to remember the key layout, so that the input becomes easy. (2) The skill of key operation becomes unnecessary. (3) Not only characters but also various control information (for example, by handwriting input) without using an unfamiliar keyboard
Half-width characters, double-width characters, line feeds, page breaks, conversions, etc.) can be quickly input by combining characters, symbols, marks, etc.

(4) There is no risk of erroneous input unless the character or the like is input by mistake. (5) It is possible to easily perform a fixed input operation such as starting a business program that is used everyday, by reading a card on which a series of operation information is printed and starting the apparatus. (6) Even persons with disabilities can easily input characters and the like.

(7) When the input from the keyboard is easier and more convenient, it can be used, so that the flexibility of the input work is increased. (8) The keyboard device and the optical reading device can be connected to the system device by one connection cord (keyboard I / F cable), and the input work by the optical reading device and the keyboard device can be performed alternately.

(9) Since it is possible to know the state in which the key input from the keyboard is possible, it is not necessary to perform an unnecessary operation such as key input in the key input prohibited state. (10) Sending incomplete information (key input is invalid until input becomes possible) to the data processing device side because key input does not have to be performed even in the key input prohibited state. There is no need to re-enter complete information as well as avoiding malfunctions.

With respect to the hardware aspect, (11) Since all input information is input as keyboard signals from the keyboard I / F, there is an increase in the load of different recognition processing on the system device side depending on the input means. Absent. (12) It can be used as it is for most data processing devices using a general keyboard, and has versatility.

(13) Miniaturization can be facilitated without deteriorating operability. (14) When applied to a filing device, the amount of data can be small because a code, not an image, can be input during filing processing, and resources such as a memory in the system device can be effectively used.

In the above example, a lamp such as an LED in an illuminated switch used for notification of keyboard input completion, which will be described later, is used as means for notifying whether or not a key input from the keyboard is possible, Although it is turned on when the key input is possible and turned off when the key is prohibited, a dedicated lamp or the like may be provided, or the key may be turned off when the key is enabled and turned on when the key is prohibited.

Further, instead of the lamp, a notification means such as a buzzer is provided to generate a buzzer sound when the key input prohibited state is changed to the enabled state, or both the lamp and buzzer notification means are provided. May be provided and both may be used together. Alternatively, whether or not input from the keyboard is possible may be displayed on the LCD display or the like by characters or figures.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the input device in this embodiment, and the portions common to FIGS. 1 and 4 are designated by the same reference numerals. The unrecognizable character extraction unit 36 of this input device extracts characters that cannot be recognized by the character recognition unit 5 from the image data stored in the original image storage unit 27, and the correction frame image generation unit 37 extracts the extracted characters. A correction entry frame is generated according to and the number of characters. Then, when the image data in the original image storage unit 27, the unrecognizable mark, and the correction entry frame are combined by the combining unit 29, the print signal generating unit 3
2, a print signal is generated and sent to the printing device 34 via the print signal switching unit 33 to print on a sheet.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a correction entry frame generated in the correction frame image generating section 37, in which unrecognizable characters or character strings and their correction entry columns are generated in a list form. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example in which a correction entry frame is printed together with input information. An image in which the unrecognizable mark is replaced with the information thus read, the unrecognizable character replaced with the unrecognizable mark, and the image Print a correction box with correction fields.

In this way, the information read on the same paper and the frame for correcting unrecognizable characters in the information are printed, so that it is not necessary to add or correct the original. In addition, since the characters to be corrected are shown in a list, there is no omission of correction, and no correction work is required. Furthermore, if the data synthesized by the synthesizing unit 29 can be transmitted by facsimile, it is possible to send a printing paper, which is easy to correct, to a creator of information at a remote place.

[0077]

As described above, according to the input device of the present invention, all the input information of printing or handwritten characters by OCR can be handled exactly like the key operation input from the keyboard, and at that time, In addition, anyone can easily and efficiently correct information such as characters that could not be correctly recognized by OCR.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of inputting information by the input device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which image data including an unrecognizable mark is displayed by the processing shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a data processing device using the input device according to the present invention.

6 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the input device 1 shown in FIG. 5 together with a system device 3. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a storage format of keyboard operation code creation information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a storage format of keyboard signal creation information.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a storage format of keyboard operation data.

10 is a flowchart showing an information input process of the input device 1. FIG.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining an example of actual character input processing by the input device 1.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

13 is a diagram showing an example of a correction entry frame generated by a correction frame image generation unit 37 shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print format in which a correction entry frame for unrecognizable characters is printed on a sheet together with an image of a read original.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 input device 2, 13 keyboard interface (I / F) cable 3 system device 4 character input unit 5 character recognition unit 6 keyboard operation code creation unit 7 keyboard operation code creation information storage unit 8 keyboard signal creation unit 9 keyboard signal creation information storage Part 10 Keyboard signal output part 11 Voice input part 12 Keyboard 14 Keyboard control information storage part 15 Keyboard signal switching part 16 Keyboard input permission notification part 25 Image input part 26 Keyboard signal generation part 27 Original image storage part 28 Unrecognizable mark generation part 29 Synthesis unit 30 Recognition result visualization unit 31 Unrecognizable mark 32 Print signal generation unit 33 Print signal switching unit 34 Printing device 35 Switching unit 36 Unrecognizable character extraction unit 37 Corrected frame image generation unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An information input means for inputting information such as printed or handwritten characters, an input information recognition means for recognizing the information input by the means and outputting a recognition code thereof, and a recognition from the means. Keyboard operation code creating means for converting a code into a keyboard operation code, keyboard signal creating means for converting a keyboard operation code from the means into a keyboard signal corresponding to a system device, and data processing of the keyboard signal via a keyboard interface. A keyboard signal output means for outputting to a system device such as a device, an image data storage means for storing image data of information such as characters input by the information input means, and the input information recognition means cannot correctly recognize characters. When I judge that
An unrecognizable mark generating means for generating an unrecognizable mark for indicating that the unrecognizable character or character string is unrecognizable and for prompting correction, and storing the unrecognizable mark generated by the means in the image data storage means. An input device comprising unrecognizable information output means for synthesizing or substituting and outputting the corresponding image data at a corresponding position. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the unrecognizable information output unit is a printing unit that prints image data on a sheet. 3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the printing means has means for generating and printing a correction entry frame of unrecognizable characters or character strings together with the image including the unrecognizable mark. An input device characterized by the above.