AU634222B2 - Processes and devices for performing arithmetic operations in the sense and with the function of an electronic calculator - Google Patents

Abstract

Processes and devices for performing arithmetic operations in the sense and with the function of an electronic calculator, in which the digits are automatically limited to a given number, without manual instruction input, the input of the numbers being either manual or automated. The processes and devices can be used both independently and for preliminary processing with a connected electronic data processing system. In addition to automated limitation of the number of digits, the types of operation are associated in a simplified manner with the numbers, partly by storing a series and by combination, and partly automatically without operating a key for a particular type of operation. A given type of operation is associated with a direction of motion during inputting of the digits by means of a character recognition device, for example addition being input from left to right and subtraction from right to left. The relevant subsets of a set of numbers in written form are determined during reading by a character recognition device by means of a reading range of adjustable size or, in the case of fixed reading range, by means of processes in the processing process as well as by means of the input of a direction for the combination of individual numbers in the set of numbers. In a preferred embodiment, addition or reading of a column of numbers is performed by a character recognition device by joining a single recording movement in the vertical direction by means of a horizontal reading range with a multiplicative association of the operating mode addition, either fully automatically or by a single actuation of the addition operating key.

Description

INTE

INTI

I

OPI

DATE 22/10/90 APPLN. ID 52868 PCT NUMBER PCT/CH90/00079 3ER DIE 4S (PCT) SAOJP DATE 29/11/90

E

(51) Internationale Patentklassifikation 5 G06F 15/02 Al (1I) Internationale Veroffentlichungsnummer: WO 90/11566 (43) Internationales Veriffentlichungsdatum: 4. Oktober 1990 (04.10 (21) Internationales Aktenzeichen: PCT/CH90/00079 (22) Internationales Anmeldedatum: 23. Mt1rz 1990 (23.03.90) Prioritatsdaten: 1083/89-4 2094/89-3 2164/89-9 2961/89-2 .2990/89-9 2991/89-0 3009/89-2 3081/89-0 3393/89-7 3698/89-7 23. Marz 1989 (23.03.89) CH 5. Juni 1989(05.06.89) CH 11. Juni 1989(11.06.89) CH 14. August 1989 (14.08.89) CH 16. August 1989 (16.08.89) CH 16. August 1989 (16.08.89) CH 18. August 1989 (18.08.89) CH 26. August 1989 (26.08.89) CH 19. September 1989 (19.09.89) CH 11. Oktober 1989(11.10.89) CH (74) Anwalt: SCHAAD, BALASS PARTNER; Dufourstrasse 101, Postfach, CH-8034 Zirich (CH).

(81) Bestimmungsstaaten: AT (europaisches Patent), AU, BE (europaiisches Patent), BR, CA, CH (europaisches Patent), DE (europlisches Patent), DK (europaisches Patent), ES (europiiisches Patent), FI, FR (europlisches Patent), GB (europiisches Patent), HU, IT (europiisches Patent), JP, KR, LU (etroptlisches Patent), NL (europaisches Patent), NO, RO, SE (europaisches Patent), SU, US.

Veriffentlicht Mit internationalem Recherchenbericht.

634222 (71X72)Anmelderund Erfinder: HAUSER, Walter, A. [CH/ CH]; Ruchacher, CH-8914 Aeugst am Albis (CH).

(54)Title: PROCESSES AND DEVICES FOR PERFORMING ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS IN THE SENSE AND WITH THE FUNCTION OF AN ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR (54) Bezeichnung: VERFAHREN UND VORRICHTUNGEN ZUR DURCHFOHRUNG ARITHMETISCHER OPERATIO- NEN IM SINNE UND MIT DER FUNKTION EINER ELEKTRONISCHEN RECHENMASCHINE (57) Abstract Processes and devices for performing arithmetic operations in the sense and with the function of an electronic calculator, in which the digits are automatically limited to a given number, without manual instruction input, the input of the numbers being either manual or automated. The processes and devices can be used both independently and for preliminary processing with a connected electronic data processing system. In addition to automated limitation of the number of digits, the types of operation are associated in a simplified manner with the numbers, partly by storing a series and by combination, and partly automatically without operating a key for a particular type of operation. A given type of operation is associated with a direction of motion during inputting of the digits by means of a character recognition device, for example addition being input from left to right and sub:L'action from right to left. The relevant subsets of a set of numbers in written form are determined during reading by a character recognition device by means of a reading range of adjustable size or, in the case of fixed reading range, by means of processes in the processing process as well as by means of the input of a direction for the combination of individual numbers in the set of numbers. In a preferred embodiment, addition or reading of a column of numbers is performed by a character recognition device by joining a single recording movement in the vertical direction by means of a horizontal reading range with a multiplicative association of the operating mode addition, either fully automatically or by a single actuation of the addition operating key.

~1t) Ii) 19 1 .1 3 1z S 1r) Siehe Rackseite r i 11 1k I i anscnrsr~x;i~;;nrraarmsl*wn~l" *caREau 1 TITLE OF THE INVENTION METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC ENTRY OF FIGURES AND CALCULATING THE RESULT IN A CALCULATING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention: This invention generally relates to a method for entry of data into a machine with calculating functions and more particularly to a method for entry of figures with novel methods for automatic delimitation of figures and calculation of result and automatic selection of operations.

Discussion of the Background: While the processing of electronic data by a machine for electronic data processing is very fast, the manual input of data by a keypad to form the electronic data is comparatively slow, not very effective and fatiguing.

One particular area where this is true is where figures have to be entered for calculation into a machine with calculating functions. The figures are, for example, read off a sheet and transformed into electric signals by using the keypad of a calculator. This operation is slowed not only by the time it takes for the operator to manually enter the digits, but also by the necessity for the operator to indicate the end of (or delimit) one number before progressing to the next figure or calculating the result. Likewise, it is necessary for each figure to enter the digits, press a key for rB -2 Enter, a key for a particular arithmetic operation or for Result.

SUMMARY OQF THE INM

T

T IO Accordingly, One object of this invention is to provide a novel method for effectively inputting figures into a machine with calculating functions and for effectively calculating the result.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method for delimiting figures for entry into a machine with calculating functions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method for calculating the result of figures entered into a calculating machine with no manual instruction input for the result after the last digit of a figure has been entered.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method for entry of figures into a machine with calculating functions and for calculation of result with a small number of keystrokes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method for effectively entering figures and operations into a machine with calculating functions and for effectively calculating the result, the figures and operations being entered manually by a keypad.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method for effectively inputting figures and operations into a machine with calculating functions and for effectively

N

A'.

I 3 calculating the result, the figures being input by a character recognition device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method for automatically delimiting figures without a manual instruction input for delimitation of each figure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method for indicating and performing arithmetic operations to figures when utilizing a machine with calculating functions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method for indicating and performing arithmetic operations wherein one of said operations is sequentially performed a plurality of times to a series of figures when utilizing a machine with calculating functions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel Smethod for indicating and performing arithmetic operations Swherein different arithmetic operations are performed to a series of numbers when utilizing a machine with calculating functions.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel method for the input of figures by a character recognition device into a machine with calculating functions utilizing the direction of movement of the scanner to indicate the arithmetic operation.

i -3a- Brief ly these and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a method for entering numeric figures into a machine with electronic calculating functions and for performing arithmetical operations, comprising the steps of: entering individual digits of the numeric figures; delimiting automatically the figures, formed by said digits, by automating a manual instruction input for automatic delimitation of at least one figure; performing an arithmetical operation after the automatic delimitation of the figures, an operation instruction being specified in any moment before performing the operation. A U

S

K

4 criteria to delimit the figure may be a time difference or spatial difference between digits or the use of alternate keypads. (Other criteria may be thought of, but their benefit being to disclose other possibilities for delimiting figures without manual instruction input for each figure.) In addition, the type of arithmetic operation performed may also be determined by the direction of movement of the scanner in connection with a character recognition device.

This invention is intended to help humans input data to a calculating machine by new methods removing the necessity to separately indicate the end of a figure for calculation, as in prior art methods, or repeatedly indicate the arithmetic operation. Where an operation is performed repeatedly on a series of figures, the method requires the operation to be I input only once or not at all. Thus if a column of figures is to be added, either the add operation key can be indicated once followed by the input of the figures, or the direction of scanning in a character recognition device can be utilized to indicate the operation. Thus, most of these features may be utilized either with manual input of digits or by the use of an optical character recognitiion device. The necessity to enter the digits of figures manually can be avoided if an optical character recognition device is utilized reading in the digits while performing the methods according to the invention.

FC

(f s i 5 Available calculators have keypads for manually entering digits anc manually delimiting figures by for example an enter key, operation key or result key.

Entering figures for example by a Hewlett Packard scientific calculator is done by entering the individual digits and pressing the Enter key each time a last digit of a figure has been entered, by this delimiting and entering the figure. This step of having to enter seperately the Enter key is automated by the invention. The user only has to enter the digits, the figure is delimited and entered automatically, without any manual instruction input between two figures.

In other calculators, entering figures and operations is done by entering manually first the digits and then the operation or by first inputting the operation and then the digits of a figure and pressing the key for result after the last digit of the last figure has been input. The digits are delimited to the figure each time when an operation or result key is manually pressed. According to one method of the I invention, first the operation and then the digits of the figure are similarly input but the digits of the figure are again not delimited by pressing a key between two figures or after the last figure. The digits are automatically delimited, without a manual instruction input for the delimitation of each figure, and the result is automatically calculated after each figure, without having to enter a manual instruction input for result each time when result should be calculated or displayed.

6 Calculators have been suggested with OCR software, by which first the digits of a figure are read in by a horizontal movement, followed secondly by a manual input for the operation or result each time when digits of a figure have been read in, by this delimiting the figures formed by the digits, again manually between or after the figures. It was not thought of having done this delimitation automatically in a simple way by the inventive procedure, that is by delimiting automatically the figures, formed by said digits, by automating the manual instruction input for delimitation of at least one figure, for example by the time-discriminant method, and thus without instruction input for each figure. The same is valid for calculating with bar-coded figures as is shown in US-Patent 4.091.270 (Electronic Calculator with optical input means): The bar-coded figure on a document is followed by a bar-coded sign for enter, by this again having to make a S separate manual input between the two figures, as the barcoded sign has to be additionally read in horizontally by the bar-code reading device, instead of automatically delimiting the bar-coded figures by for example the inventive spacediscriminant method. While this US-Patent is applicable for bar-coded figures only, the invention can be applied to both, all uncoded figures read in from documents, and to manual input of digits. There are in fact much larger application possibilities for this invention, which, in addition, do not need any preparation on the document, as it is necessary for cRA.

7 the US-Patent, where the entry sign has to be printed in a bar-coded form on a document.

PCT application PCT/CH91/00191 with priority date September 5, 1990, discloses entry of figures and operations into a calculator, where the delimitation of digits in a figure is done by pressing the key for the last digit of a figure longer then a preset time interval when inputting the last digit of a figure. This idea is somehow similar to the invention as it represents also automatic delimitation of figures. It can also be utilized for performing some methods of this invention, said methods being based on the main claim for automatic delimitation without manual instruction input.

With PCT application CH/91/00191 figures are also delimited automatically but in another new way, by pressing a digit key S longer then a preset time- interval, thus still with a manual instruction input for delimitation of the figure and clearly distinguishable from this invention.

So, the new method, in which no manual instruction input for delimitation of each figure is necessary at all, is cleary distinguishable from existing calculators, from U.S.

Patent No. 4.091.270 and from PCT application CH/91/00191.

The new method of the invention has three steps which clearly show the way of the solution: Only entering digits, delimiting automatically the figures by automating the manual instruction input for delimitation of at least one figure, then performing the operations after the automatic I delimitation.

-2' 8 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1A and 1B show a first embodiment where a series of numbers are delimited by time or space intervals.

Figures 2A and 2B show another embodiment where numbers are stored in memories and automatically operated on sequentially.

Figures 3A and 3B show an embodiment utilizing an optical character recognition device with a reading zone of at least the horizontal size of a figure.

Figures 4A and 4B show another embodiment where the direction of reading of numbers automatically indicates the operation desired.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment utilizing an optical character recognition device with a reading zone of at least the vertical size a figure.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment utilizing the storage of numbers to indicate the operations desired.

Figure 7 shows a special embodiment of Figure 6 combined with Reverse Polish Notation.

Figures 8A and 8B show an embodiment where delimiting of digits causes an interruption of further processing.

/i- L s i 9 9 Figure 9 shows an embodiment where the input of vertical direction defines that numbers have to be combined vertically.

Figure 10 shows a calculating device for scanning in numbers vertically.

Figures 11A and 11B indicate how directions of movement of the scanner determine operations.

Figure 12 shows the arrangement of numbers into relevant subsets.

Figures 13A-13D show an indication of how direction affects the mathematical operation chosen.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMETS Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figures 1A and 1B show a method of automatically delimiting numbers. In Figure 1A, two numbers 3 S are shown, one of which contains five digits and one of which contains four digits. In order to separate the two numbers automatically without any manual instruction input for delimitation, it is necessary to see that a time interval 2 can separate the two groups of digits when entering the digits either manually or by a character recognition device. It is possible to automatically delimit the numbers (that is, separate the digits into numbers) by recognizing that this time interval is greater than a preset time interval 1.

Likewise, in Figure 1B, a similar delimiting may be determined among the numbers 4 according to their spatial arrangement.

/4 i /o 10 In this case, they are arranged horizontally, on imaginable separate lines 5, called Y1, Y2, and Y3. Thus, according to the present invention, the digits of a number are not delimited by the manual pressing of an operation key or an enter key or a key for result, but instead the numbers are delimited automatically without any manual instruction Lnput for delimitation. This speeds up the operation of the entry and of the calculation of result, allows the operator to pay full attention to the digits and opens new additional methods for calculation, which are based on this method for automatic delimitation without manual instruction input.

Thus, the automatic delimiting by automating the manual instruction input for delimitation of numbers may take place by looking for a set time interval, a certain spatial or spatially different arrangement of numbers or may also be determined by defining a number of digits which should be expected after a comma. Again, these are only first methods for implementing the invention as of Claim 1. This input system may be utilized either for manual input or by using an optical character recognition device.

The following advantages are evident by utilizing these principles. The first is the elimination of a manual pressing of an enter kev in those methods where the numbers are manually delimited by that key as per prior art. The second is the elimination of a manual pressing of a result key in those prior art methods where operations are entered before the figure and the result command afterwards. The third is that >NT A %VT 4. The basic Applica n(s) referred to in paragraph 2 of this Declaration wee/were the first Application(s) made in a Convertion country In respect of the invention, the subject of the Application.

DECLARED/at. e-- D E C L A R E D a Personal Signature da of of Declarant (no seal, witness or legalsation), Walter A. Haus r (Signature of Declaran) 11 i where a series of numbers utilize a repeated operation, for example where a column of numbers is to be added, it avoids the necessity to repeatedly press the operation key. According to the present invention either the operation is automatically assigned or a single input of the operation key is stored so that it is automatically carried out each time a figure is automatically delimited.

Similarly, as shown in Figure 2A, memory 6 may be provided for storing figures which have operative connections 8 to operation keys 7. By pressing a key for a specific operation, the operation is performed automatically for each stored figure. Thus, in Figure 2B, the multiplication i operation is applied sequentially by connections 11 to the numbers 78, 12 and 66 which are stored in memory As can be seen, in utilizing these procedures, the operation key must be pressed either not at all or at most S' once resulting in a saving of effort and time. Thus, both 2i manual or automated input of digits causes the automatic delimiting of the numbers without any additional manual instruction input for delimitation of figures, so that in case of manual input of digits the fingers on the digit keys no longer have to be moved to either an operation, enter or result key and the position of the fingers on the digit keypad remains more constant and allows for better concentration of the operator in following the numbers to be entered and in checking the entered numbers. In case of automatic input by a character recognition device neither a hand nor a finger has c -T25 i©

I

-12to be moved from the reading device to an operation or result key.

The input of an operation may also be simplified if an i optical character recognition device is utilized to input the datc. and the movement direction of the device while reading the figure is detected and used to determine the arithmetic It operation. For example, the movements of up, down, left and right can be assigned to addition, subtraction; multiplication and division. (See Figure 11A and 11B). This is shown in relation to actual numbers in Figure 4B. There, the reading of number 24 from right to left indicates that it should be subftracted while reading of number 23 from left to right indicates addition. This is a simple way of adding and subtracting numbers without having to e.nter each operation.

Figure 4A likewise shows -how~ four different movements can be used -for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

H Thus, number 20 is read from bottom to top indicating s subtraction while number 19 is read from top to bottom V indicating addition. Number 21 is read from left to right indicating multiplication while number 22 is read from right to left indicating division. This determination of operatic'n utilizing directional movement ;a-ay be done automatically or may be as a back-up only if a manual input key 'is not pressed.

It is further possible to utilize this invention in regard to mixed arithm~etic operations, that is where different operations are performed on different numbers in sequence, either for manual input of digits or with an optical character 13 recognition device. When applying a method where the operation j is first entered and then the digits of a figure afterwards as ji per some prior art methods, the depressing of the result key j is no longer nesessary with the invention, because the last Sfigure ia also delimited automatically, without manual !ii instruction input, and this automatically results in Ij performing the operation and thus in calculating the result.

i The result is not only calculated automatically after the last digit of the last figure but also every time after each figure has been automatically delimited. A simple and convenient method is achieved if for this method the entered operation is not only stored for the calculation by the next delimited figure but is stored as long as not countermanded by the entry of another operation. This allows to go on calculating without having to enter any operation as long as the figures entered are to be processed by the same stored operation. If another operation has to be performed, the operator will enter the new operation which will be stored instead and will be applied to all next delimited figures, again as long as no other operation is input. Each figure is delimited automatically and result calculated automatically also, both without a manual instruction input: An operation has to be input only once if it has to be performed sequentially on figures.

Utilizing the invention in another way for mixed arithmetic operations can also be done by entering the digits and storing in memory 30 the automatically delimited numbers including the order of entry, such as shown in Figure 6. The

L.;

-v II I; 14 operations then can be entered one by one and are applied to the stored figures in the order of entry. For example, the first stored number 123 and the second number 456 are multiplied together by first entered operation 32. The result of this is then added to the third number 789 by the second entry of an operation 33 and the fourth number 123 is then subtracted from the result by the entry of an operation 34.

Thus with the order of storage also the arithmetical order of calculation is stored, what allows to use this method without having to display the figures on a screen to determine what figures should be arithmetically combined.

Further, the invention can be utilized in a method where individual numbers are recognized by an optical character recognition device which has a reading zone of at least the height of a number to be processed. Figure 5 shows such an ii embodiment. Three numbers 25 are scanned by one horizontal recording movement 26 with an optical character device 28 having the size of at least the height of the numbers 25. Each of the three numbers are automatically delimited without manual instruction input either by the time- or spacediscriminant method 27. The delimited numbers are stored in a 4i memory and the multiplication operation is input once and automatically applied to all three stored figures and the result is calculated 29. Multiplication could also be first entered and stored by a single input and the stored multiplication would then be automatically applied to each figure 25 upon automatic delimitation of each figure. For both 1- 15 ways of the invention, the numbers 25 can be scanned in either I by one single horizontal movement recording all three numbers together in one step or by recording each of the numbers ji seperately, step by step.

Still further, the invention can be utilized in a method where individual numbers are recognized by an optical character recognition device which has a reading device of at least the horizontal size of a number to be read in. An application of this method is shown in Figure 3a), A number 13 iis scanned in by a vertical scanning movement 14. By this, the Srecording path can be shortened to the height of the figures.

Other methods using a reading device of at least the i horizontal size of a figure combined with automatic delimitation of figures without manual instruction input for delimitation are conceivable. But the method shown 'n Figure 3 ij a) and b) of vertically reading in with a reading device of at S* least the horizontal size of a figure is extremely suitable i for adding a column of numbers in written form according to Smethods of the invention. In Figure 3B, the column of numbers 15 is recorded by moving the horizontally oriented reading Lu zone 12 vertically 16 so that the digits are recognized and automatically delimited. The addition operation 18 is automatically assigned to the figures by pressing the operation key once or by automatic determination of the direction of movement or by pressing no key at all when using a simple adding machine where delimited numbers are processed 16 by the adding operation automatically. The various numbers are combined 17 with one another to reach a result.

If a re-addition has to be done or other result has to be checked, the calculated result can be automatically checked by reading in also the written result and pressing a particular key or recognizing a line in a column of numbers to mark the result, by this automatically checking the calculated result with the written result. A warning signal may be generated if they do not agree.

In utilizing the method of Figure 3b, the recording path is limited to the height of the column of numbers and is considerably reduced in comparison with recording each number of a column by a horizontal recording movement. Additionally, if such vertically arranged numbers would be read in i| horizontally one by one, the operator would have to be certain that all information of every number is correctly recorded horizontally, one after one, which requires either a high degree of concentration or additional technical equipment.

With the invention the correct recording of information is i i limited to the column of figures as a whole, which can be achieved with the horizontally arranged reading zone 12 in a simple manner. The visual concentration is limited to the column of figures, and no longer to each individual number. A first implementation into an apparatus for performing such a method is shown in Figure 10 and includes a reading zone 52 which is at least as wide as a column of numbers, preferably with a standard size which permits the recording of virtually o, i 17 all columns of numbers in written form. The device also contains an arithmetic unit for performing the various arithmetic operations, a device for automatic delimitation of digits and a display 55 for representing the result or input of numbers and operators, as well as optionally a keypad for the manual input of operations and digits. Although this figure shows such functions all being integrated into a single unit, some of these may be separately located. A cable may be connected between the parts for transmittal of signals.

The device in Figure 10 can be provided with a window through which the numbers in the columns can be seen. This allows for easy recording and checking of the input numbers and digits.

It can be difficult regardless of whether the numbers are arranged in the vertical or horizontal direction, to not accidentally scan digits which are not part of the number. A method can be employed so that the reading zone is adjusted mechanically to the necessary size by means of a slider or S electronically so that the undesired figures are not processed. This size is indicated by 53 in Figure 10. The U. size of the scanning zone can be displayed or indicated on the housing so that the relationship between the reading zone 56 and the numbers being scanned is easily seen.

If an adjustable reading zone is not used, undesired numbers can be avoided by automatically triggering an interruption. In Figure 8A, the delimiting 41 of the first number triggers an interruption in the recognition process so I ""bL i i -rma~- 18 that no further figures, such as at 40 are included. After the end of an interruption in the recording movement 42, the interruption in the processing is cancelled so that a new number 43 can be input and processed. In a preferred method shown in Figure 8B, a line 44 within the framework of the character recognition is sensed and only the digits of the first number 46 on the line and no others are delimited to a number and thus processed arithmetically in regard to this line. The same is valid for next line 47 etc. This method is suitable for vertically arranged numbers where other undesired digits of numbers such as 45 are found on the same line.

For numbers which are recorded horizontally, there is a similar problem in that undesired numbers in a second row may also be recorded. In a similar fashion, a line sensing may be carried out with the processing being interrupted for data of a line which has been sensed secondly.

The advantage of this method is that only the relevant figures are entered even with a comparatively large reading zone and that this is done in a simple manner for the user. It SI is only necessary for the user to guide the reading zone so that the limiting of the reading zone to one size is used to correctly select the figures while everything else is performed automatically. Furthermore, the detection of vertical movement can trigger the interruption of the processing of the first figure found or the detection of the horizontal movement can trigger the interruption of the processing after the last figure of the first line.

1^ 19 In a further use of the present invention where the reading zone is larger than the relevant digits, all of the digits are first delimited as numbers. If the numbers are ordered, for example, in two columns which are both within the reading zone, by way of a separate step, the combination direction is input by means of a key 49 (Figure The combination direction defines a direction in which the numbers are to be combined. Thus, if the numbers in a column are to be combined with one another not horizontally but vertically, the vertical key is pressed. The operation type can then be assigned to those numbers in the manner described previously.

Thus, if addition is performed, the addition key may be S: pressed once and this can be assigned to all numbers of both columns. The total of the first column may be displayed by pressing a result key once and the total of the second column may be displayed by pressing the result key twice. Or, both totals can be displayed simultaneously. If the numbers are to S be calculated horizontally, the horizontal key is pressed.

It is also possible to perform these methods without the I use of a screen in order to lower the cost of the device. It is also possible to display the results on another apparatus which is connected to the scanner, such as by using a personal computer.

The combination direction can also be determined by the type of movement direction or it car simultaneously determine the operation type. See Figure 13. Diverse combinations are conceivable. For example, the input of the addition operation 20 can also bring about vertical combination while the input of the multiplication operation can bring about a horizontal combination direction. Further, in the example above in which two columns of numbers were recognized and added in the vertical direction, pressing a key for the horizontal combination could trigger the horizontal addition.

The combination direction is established in recognizing a set of figures which is divided either vertically or j horizontally into relevant subsets. It is clear, however, such numbers must be ordered. Thus, some assignment must be possible in the horizontal direction, for example sensing a i line, and likewise, the column must be sensed in the vertical I direction within allowable deviations. A column sensing can be performed analogously to the line sensing carried out within the framework of the character recognition. The digits delimited as a number are viewed, for example as digit arrangements 64 shown in Figure 12, Analogously to the line sensing, a common line is searched for these digit 'arrangements, not a horizontal line as with line sensing 63, but rather a vertical line 65 at the right edge of the ,numbers.

Automatic delimitation without manual instruction input for delimitation of a figure can be combined with manual delimitation to the following three modes.

1. A fully automatic mode in which the digits are input automatically and are automatically delimited as numbers Swithout manual instruction input for delimitation of a number; 21 2. A semiautomatic operating mode in which the digits are input manually but are automatically delimited as numbers without manual instruction input for delimitation of a number; and 3. a conventional operating mode in which the digits are input manually and are manually delimited by a manual instruction input as numbers.

Checking the correctness of the figures which have already been entered can be facilitated if a digit which does not meet the limit for recognition reliability is marked. A correction can then be made manually after being returned automatically to the questionable digit. In this manner, all questionable digits can be considered for correctness.

The methods and devices described and illustrated in SFigures 1 to 13 are only first examples of possible implementations of the patent claims according to the invention.

i

Claims (1)

1. 4. 4 30 28) The method according to claim 13, wherein I said optical character recognition device includes an adjustable scanner zone which can be adjusted to the size of a figure and thus delimits the numeric figure or figure arrangements at least partially. 29) The method according to claim 13, wherein a result symbol is recognized by an optical character recognition device: a subsequent numeric figure is read in and stored, the stored result being checked automatically against a calculation of the foregoing numeric figures. 30) The method according to Claim 29, wherein the numeric figures i are read in vertically for re-addition. 31) The method according to Claim 1, further comprising the step of using a result of the arithmetic operation as an input into an electronic data processing program to provide an automatic input without reentering the result. 1 31 32) Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 1, !K including a device for the automatic delimitation of numeric figures without manual instruction input for delimitation of each numeric figure, an input device for digits, either manual or automatic, a display or a screen for displaying a result or additionally the numeric figures and operators, an arithmetic unit for performing operations on said numeric figures, each being integrated in or connected to said apparatus. 33) Apparatus according to claim 32, including a keypad for input of the operation types integrated in or connected to the apparatus. '1 i 'i 34) Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein S the device for automatic delimitation of a numeric figure, formed i. by individual digits, is based on a time-discriminant method. 35) Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the device for automatic delimitation of a numeric figure, formed 'by individual digits, is based on a space-discriminant method. TC -1 32 36) Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the device for automatic delimitation of a numeric figure, formed by individualdigits, is based on the detection of a predetermined number of digits following a comma. 37) Apparatus for performing the method according to claim including i a key and or a circuit for storing the operation type before entering the numeric figures, a delimiter device for the automatic delimitation of numeric figures without manual instruction input for delimitation of each numeric figure, an input device for input of digits, either manual or automated, a display or a screen for displaying the result or additionally the numeric figures and operator and an arithmetic unit each being integrated in or connected to said apparatus. 38) Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 6, including; S a key and or a circuit for the application of an operation to a plurality of stored numeric figures, a delimiter device for the automatic delimitation of numeric figures without manual instruction input for delimitation of each numeric figure, r 33 an input device for input of digits, either manual or automated, a display or a screen for displaying the result or additionally the numeric figures and operators and an arithmetic unit, each being integrated in or connected to said apparatus. 39) Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 7, including a key and or a circuit for storing an operation before entering the numeric figures, a delimiter device for the automatic delimitation of numeric figures, without manual instruction input for delimitation of each numeric figure, a circuit for automatic calculation of result after delimitation of at least the last delimited numeric figure, without further manual instruction input, an input device for input of digits, either manual or t automatic, a display or a screen for displaying the result or additionally the numeric figures and operators and an arithmetic unit, i i, each being integrated in or connected to said apparatus. Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 8, including a key and/or a circuit for storing a plurality of operations and their order of entry, a delimiter device for the automatic delimitation of numeric figures without manual instruction input for delimitation of each numeric figure, a circuit for automatic L 34 I,, I calculation of result after delimitation of at least the last delimited numeric figure, without further manual instruction input, an input device for input of digits, either manual or automated, a display or a screen for displaying the result or additionally the numeric figures and operators and an arithmetic unit, each being integrated in or connected to said apparatus. 41) Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 12, including a keypad for the manual input or correction of digits, a delimiter device for the automatic delimitation of digits to a numeric figure without manual instruction input for each numeric figure, a display or a screen for displaying the result or additionally the numeric figures and operators and an arithmetic unit each being integrated in or connected to said apparatus. 42) Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 13, including a delimiter device for the automatic delimitation of digits to numeric figures without manual instruction input for each numeric figure, a recognition device for optical digit recognition, a display or a screen for displaying the result or additionally the numeric figures and operator an arithmetic unit, each being integrated in or connected to said apparatus. g I ii 43) Apparatus for performing the method according to claim including a key and or a circuit for the application of an operation to a plurality of stored numeric figures, a delimiter device for the automatic delimitation of digits to a numeric figure without i i manual instruction action input for each numeric figure, a t recognition device for optical digit recognition, a display or a i screen for displaying the result or additionally the numeric figures and operators and an arithmetic unit, li K each being integrated in or connected in or connected to said ii apparatus. 44) Apparatus according to claim 42, including an arithmetic unit only for performing additions and a direct .1 circuit to the adding arithmetic unit :B is integrated into or connected to an adding machine. Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 26, S, including a key and/or a circuit for the input of the combination direction, a delimiter device for the automatic delimitation of digits to a numeric figure, without manual instruction input for each numeric ~figure, a recognition device for digit recognition a display or a U 36- li screen for displaying the result or additionally the numeric i -figures and operators and an arithmetic unit, iieach being integrated in or connected to said apparatus. 46) Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 14, including li N a delimiter device for the automatic delimitation of digits to a numeric figure without maIrual instruction input for each numeric figure, a recognition device for optical digit recognition of which a reading zone has at least a horizontal size of a numeric figure, a display or a screen for displaying the result or additionally the numeric figures and operators, an arithmetic unit, each being integrated in or connected to said apparatus. 7 47) Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 16, S including a delimiter device for the automatic delimitation of digits to numeric figure without manual instruction input for each numeric figure, a recognition device for optical digit recognition of which a reading zone has at least a height of a numeric figure, a display or a screen for displaying the result or additionally the numeric figures and operators, an arithmetic unit, each being integrated in or connected to said apparatus. 37 i48) Apparatus for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein Si the device has an audible or visual signal device for indicating Sthe completion of the automatic delimitation of digits to a numeric figure without manual instruction input for each numeric figure. 49) Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 18, i |i including Sa detection device for detecting recording movement, a delimiter L- device for automatic delimitation of digits to a numeric figure without manual instruction input for a numeric figure a !i recognition device for optical digit recognition a display or a screen for displaying the result or additionally the numeric figures and operator and an arithmetic unit, each being integrated in or connected to said apparatus. it h .50) Apparatus for performing the method according to claim 27, wherein the apparatus has a mechanically or electronically adjustable reading zone. 51) Apparatus according to any one of claims 42, 46 or 47 including a keypad for input of the operation type, with or without the operation type of addition. Dated this 4th day of December 1992 WALTER A. HAUSER Attorney: PETER HEATHCOTE /Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of SHELSTON WATERS