GB2286472A - Ideographic language character input apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Input apparatus for ideographic language characters, comprises entry means for a character identification code determined according to the pronunciation (a tone, entered using e.g. an English letter key), strokes (first and last, entered using e.g. six stroke-type keys 11 - 16) and configuration (whether or not it has distinctive left and right parts, entered using e.g. one of two keys 17, 18). Memory means stores data representative of the graphic representations of a predetermined set of characters and a table of their corresponding said identification codes, and a microprocessor searches through the identification code table for the same one as received by the entry means and retrieves the corresponding data representative of the graphic representation of the character which is displayed. <IMAGE>

Description

IDEOGRAPHIC LANGUAGE CHARACTER INPUT APPARATUS The present invention relates to apparatus for the input of ideographic language characters, particularly but not exclusively Chinese characters, into computers or any other electronic data processing devices.

Chinese characters are pictorial or symbolic and each is formed by one or more strokes (dots and lines) arranged to form a unique symbol. In handwriting, the strokes of each character follow a specific conventional order. Unlike alphabetic languages, in which words are formed by a chain of letters of a limited set, written Chinese language simply has too many different symbols for a normal computer keyboard to handle.

In order to make use of computers or the like such as word processors and electronic diaries and dictionaries in Chinese language, many input coding schemes for Chinese characters have been proposed. It is observed that most of these existing schemes are difficult and time-consuming to learn and not easy to use.

According to the invention, there is provided input apparatus for ideographic language characters, which input apparatus comprises entry means adapted to receive an identification code for a character, which identification code is determined according to the pronunciation, strokes and configuration of the character, memory means storing data representative of the graphic representations of a predetermined set of characters and a table of their corresponding said identification codes, a microprocessor adapted to search through the identification code table for the same one as received by the entry means and to retrieve the corresponding data representative of the graphic representation of the character, and display means adapted to display the character according to the said retrieved data.

Preferably, the pronunciation of the character based on which the identification code is determined is represented by the first letter of the equivalent transliteration expressed in the alphabet.

It is preferred that the strokes of the character based on which the identification code is determined are the first and the final strokes of the character when conventionally handwritten.

For convenience, the character strokes based on which the identification code is determined are classified into six general stroke types.

In a specific embodiment, the six general stroke types are dot, vertical bar, horizontal bar, slash, back-slash and combined vertical and horizontal bars in the form of letter Preferably, the configuration of the character based on which the identification code is determined is divided into two general categories, the first category being for characters that have distinctive left and right parts and the second category being for characters that do not have distinctive left and right parts.

In a preferred embodiment, the entry means is provided by a keyboard or keypad.

It is preferred that the display means is provided by a liquid crystal display.

The ideographic language characters to be processed by the input apparatus may be Chinese characters.

The subject invention also provides an electronic data processing device incorporating the input apparatus.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a keyboard, forming a part of an embodiment of input apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a set of Chinese characters with their corresponding input identification codes for use with the input apparatus; and Figures 3 and 4 depict two characters of the set of Chinese characters of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a keyboard (keypad) 10 forming a part of the input apparatus according to the invention, which is designed to assemble Chinese characters of the traditional handwritten version. The keyboard 10 has seventeen keys, including keys 11 to 16 designating six selected general stroke types of Chinese characters and keys 17 and 18 designating two pre-defined general configuration of Chinese characters. The keys 11 to 16 designate, in turn, back-slash (stroke) "\", dot ""', combined vertical and horizontal bars resembling letter L "Ltt, vertical bar "|", "I", horizontal bar "-" and slash (back- stroke) "/". The key 17 "" designates Chinese characters that have distinctive left and right parts, and the key 18 "6" designates Chinese characters that do not have distinctive left and right parts.

The keyboard 10 is to be used in combination with a computer, such as a personal, desk-top or notebook computer or a work station. Software in the form of a computer program, for effecting the operation of the subject input apparatus, stored on a floppy disk must be pre-loaded onto the computer hard disk. The original computer keyboard is also to be used.

According to the operation of the input apparatus, Chinese characters are codified according to four criteria, namely pronunciation, first stroke, final stroke and configuration.

In terms of phonetics, a Chinese character has up to nine tones in Cantonese and five tones in Mandarin (Putonghua).

For each of the dialects, the most commonly used tone in pronunciation, expressed as transliteration in English letters, is based upon. The first letter of the alphabetic transliteration is taken to be the first criterion for codifying Chinese characters.

In terms of handwriting, a Chinese character is made up by a number of strokes, which are written in a specific conventional order, to form a graphic representation or pattern. Most, if not all, of the strokes of Chinese characters fall within a limited number of basic strokes.

From amongst these basic strokes, a set of six stroke types is chosen as the basis for the operation of the subject input apparatus, as designated by the keys 11 to 16 on the keyboard 10. The first and the final strokes, according to the conventional stroke writing order, are taken as the second and the third criteria, respectively, for codifying Chinese characters.

Chinese characters are symbolic, and most of them has a configuration formed by disconnected or distinctive parts, such as left and right parts, upper and lower parts and inner and outer parts, etc. For the operation of the input apparatus, Chinese characters are divided into a first group in which they have distinctive left and right parts and a second group for all the rest not having distinctive left and right parts. These two groups are designated by the keys 17 and 18, respectively, on the keyboard 10, defining the fourth criterion for codifying Chinese characters.

According to the coding scheme described above, each Chinese character is characterised by an identification code requiring four key strokes which are determined by the corresponding said coding criteria1 the first being effected with the use of the computer keyboard and the rest using the additional keyboard 10.

The input apparatus software or its operating computer program contains a set of 5,000 commonly used Chinese characters, together with a table of their corresponding identification codes which are formulated according to the aforesaid coding scheme. The computer program is written for use with most Chinese language software operating in MS-DOS and/or Chinese WINDOWS (trade marks) environments.

In operation, in order to type in or input a Chinese character, the user must firstly determine the identification code for that character according to the coding scheme as described above. Figure 2 shows the identification codes for certain Chinese characters which form two sentences and are arranged in corresponding columns. For a better understanding of the coding scheme, reference is also made to Figures 3 and 4 which depictthe first two characters of the left column. The conventional stroke order of these two characters is illustrated by the numbered arrows shown lying adjacent the corresponding strokes.

The character of Figure 3 is pronounced as "YU" in Cantonese, for which the first coding stroke is "Y". Its first and final key strokes are "/" and "-" and hence the second and third coding key strokes, respectively. This character has distinctive left and right parts, and accordingly the fourth coding key stroke is fizz The character of Figure 4 is pronounced as "GWOR" in Cantonese, for which the first coding stroke is "G". Its first and final key strokes are "i" and " & " and hence the second and third coding key strokes, respectively. This character does not have distinctive left and right parts, and accordingly the fourth coding key stroke is "6".

Returning to the input operation, once the last coding key stroke has been effected, the computer CPU (microprocessor) will search through the identification code table stored on the computer hard disk for the same code, retrieve the associated graphic representation data and then displace the corresponding Chinese character on the monitor screen at a predetermined position, typically at the bottom left corner, for the user to review. Alternatively, a liquid crystal display or LCD display may be provided on the keyboard 10 itself, which is dedicated to display the Chinese characters on entry. The "Enter" key on the keyboard 10 should finally be pressed in order to confirm the displaced Chinese character, and the same will instantly be moved to the current cursor position on the screen.

In case there are two or more Chinese characters having the same identification code, it is necessary for the user to move the cursor to the desired character and then press the "Enter" key or to press the appropriate numeral key on the computer keyboard in order to choose the appropriate character.

As shown in Figure 1, the keyboard 10 includes a key 19 for permitting the use of Mandarin pronunciation to determine the first key stroke of identification codes, and further includes another key 20 for the second and third identification code key strokes to be determined according to the simplified version of Chinese characters.

The keyboard 10 is equipped with three functional keys 21, 22 and 23 for retrieving pre-stored Chinese poems, Chinese proverbs and Chinese popular songs, respectively. The functions are performed by firstly effecting the four key strokes of the identification code of the first Chinese character of the body of the poem or proverb or the name of the song, and then (without pressing the "Enter" key) the corresponding first key strokes of the identification codes of the second and third Chinese characters, and finally followed by the appropriate function key 21, 22 or 23.

In a different embodiment, the original keyboard of the computer may be utilised to perform all the keying functions, including the functions of the additional keyboard 10 of the described input apparatus. This may be achieved by using the numeric keypad on the right side of the computer keyboard, with its keys marked by the appropriate stickers. It is envisaged that the keyboard 10 of the described input apparatus may be replaced by any other suitable entry means, for example a pen-based input system, or a pointing device, such as a mouse, operating in combination with an appropriate screen display on the computer monitor.

It is also envisaged that the built-in set of Chinese characters with their corresponding identification codes may be provided in the form of a ROM chip for use on or in connection with the mother board of the computer.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. Input apparatus for ideographic language characters, which input apparatus comprises entry means adapted to receive an identification code for a character, which identification code is determined according to the pronunciation, strokes and configuration of the character, memory means storing data representative of the graphic representations of a predetermined set of characters and a table of their corresponding said identification codes, a microprocessor adapted to search through the identification code table for the same one as received by the entry means and to retrieve the corresponding data representative of the graphic representation of the character, and display means adapted to display the character according to the said retrieved data.

2. Input apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pronunciation of the character based on which the identification code is determined is represented by the first letter of the equivalent transliteration expressed in the alphabet.

3. Input apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the strokes of the character based on which the identification code is determined are the first and the final strokes of the character when conventionally handwritten.

4. Input apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the character strokes based on which the identification code is determined are classified into six general stroke types.

5. Input apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the six general stroke types are dot, vertical bar, horizontal bar, slash, back-slash and combined vertical and horizontal bars in the form of letter "L".

6. Input apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the configuration of the character based on which the identification code is determined is divided into two general categories, the first category being for characters that have distinctive left and right parts and the second category being for characters that do not have distinctive left and right parts.

7. Input apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the entry means is provided by a keyboard or keypad.

8. Input apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display means is provided by a liquid crystal display.

9. Input apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ideographic language characters are Chinese characters.

10. Input apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

11. An electronic data processing device incorporating input apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.