JP2000163426A - Writing tool type electronic dictionary device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic dictionary device which can be used like a pencil and a fountain pen. SOLUTION: A corresponding equivalent is displayed at a display part 28 by gripping a pen in a hand, tracing an unknown word in a document with the character read part at the tip of the pen, and inputting a dictionary retrieval command through an operation part 28 provided to a body part 2. Further, next and previous equivalent candidates are displayed at the display part 31 by operating operation parts 29, 210, and 211 provided to the body part 2. Consequently, the equivalent to the unknown word in the document can be displayed at the display part by the simple operation for holding the pen in one hand and moving the hand and its meaning can be known.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a writing implement type electronic dictionary device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When learning a language or reading a document in a foreign language, if a word that cannot be understood appears, use a dictionary or use an electronic dictionary device of a small calculator type or a card calculator type to use alphabetical characters. And inputting a translation instruction to display a translated word on the display unit to know the meaning.

[0003]

However, in the case of such a conventional small or card-type electronic dictionary device, a translated word is not displayed unless a spelling of an unknown word is entered by a key and a translation instruction is not given. However, when typing a word that you do not understand, it is easy to make a mistake in spelling, and even if you use it, there is the inconvenience that you can not operate it unless it is stably placed somewhere.

[0004] For example, assuming that a document is being read on a train, the document is opened on the lap, and a small electronic dictionary device is further placed thereon (usually for a right-handed person).
While key input operation is performed with the right hand while holding down the device with the left hand, there is a problem that the key input of the spelling of a word is easy to make a mistake, and there is a problem that the operation is not stable unless both hands are used.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and is compact and usable with only one hand.
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a writing implement type electronic dictionary device which is easy to use.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a writing implement type electronic dictionary device comprising: a character reading section on a pen tip; a display section for displaying a read character string and a translated word on a body; An operation unit for giving a dictionary search command to the user and an operation unit for instructing display of the next / previous candidate of the translated word, a read character recognition unit and a dictionary database are built in, and the outer shape is a writing implement.

In the writing implement type electronic dictionary device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the electronic dictionary device is gripped by hand, traces over an unknown word in the document by the character reading portion of the pen tip portion, and operates on the body portion. When a dictionary search command is given by the section, the corresponding translated word can be displayed on the display section. By operating the next candidate / previous candidate using the operation unit provided on the body,
The next / previous candidate of the translated word can be sequentially displayed on the display unit to find an appropriate translated word.

[0008] With this, it is possible to display a translation of an unknown word in the document on the display unit by a simple operation with the same one hand while holding it with one hand, and to view the word. It is possible to know the translated word without fear of input error and without interrupting thinking for grasping the contents of the document being read.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the writing implement type electronic dictionary device of the first aspect, the body further includes an operation unit for instructing start / end of character reading. A character reading start instruction is given to the head character by the operation unit by the operation unit, and a character reading end instruction is given at the end of the word, so that only the target word can be read reliably and its translated word can be found.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the writing implement type electronic dictionary device according to the first aspect of the present invention, a pressure-sensitive switch is provided on the pen tip, and the character reading section of the pen tip is pressed against the paper surface. Character reading operation only while
The reading operation is stopped when the pressure-sensitive switch is released.Holding the device with one hand and tracing while strongly pressing the character reading part on the corresponding character string, The columns can be read and the read operation is simple.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the writing implement type electronic dictionary device of the second aspect, an operation unit for instructing start / end of the character reading is provided at a position on the body which is easily operated by a user's index finger. Thus, the user can read the character string of the target word with the operational feeling of drawing a line with a writing instrument.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the writing implement type electronic dictionary device of the second to fourth aspects, the display unit is provided on a side of the torso on which a user's thumb is applied, and an operation unit for giving the dictionary search command. And an operation unit for instructing display of the next candidate / previous candidate of the translated word is provided at a position in the body that is easy to operate with the thumb of the user. Check and give a dictionary search command. In this case, operate the operation unit with your thumb while looking at the display on the display unit to give a dictionary search command, and confirm that the translated word is displayed on the display unit in the same state. In addition, the display of the next / previous candidate of the translated word displayed on the display unit can be operated in the same state, which is convenient.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the writing implement type electronic dictionary device of the first to fifth aspects, a reading character size changing means for changing the size of a readable character by the character reading section of the pen tip portion is provided, and The body is provided with a change operation unit of the read character size changing means, and can be used for a document having a large character size and a document having a small character size.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an external appearance of a writing implement type electronic dictionary device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration.

First, the external structure will be described with reference to FIG. This writing implement type electronic dictionary device is provided with a character reading port 11 in a pen tip portion 1 and a font selection key 21, a character size adjustment key 22, a reading standby key 23, a reading start key 24, a reading An operation key group of a cancel key 25, a left delete key 26, a right delete key 27, a translation execution key 28, an advance key 29, a return key 210, and a return key 211 is provided. Reference numeral 212 denotes a slip stopper for the finger. A display unit 31 is provided on the upper half 3 of the apparatus, and a power switch 41 is provided on the top 4 of the apparatus.

The arrangement relationship of the operation key group will be described.
When the user holds the device in his right hand, the display unit 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes a portion where the user's line of sight is poured. This portion faces the user, and the thumb A is attached to the display unit 31 with the pen tip 1 facing left (the state shown in FIG. 1). It is assumed that the index finger B supports the position at an angle rotated upward by approximately 120 degrees, and the middle finger C supports the lower position at an angle rotated further by 120 degrees. A group of operation keys suitable for the surfaces to be touched by the fingers A, B, and C are assigned. That is, the reading standby key 23, the reading start key 24, and the reading character cancel key 25 are set as positions where the respective operations are easy to perform when performing an operation of tracing a character string in a document while holding the apparatus, and the index finger B is used. Is provided at a position where the index finger B can easily reach.

The left delete key 26, the right delete key 27, the translation execution, and the position where the thumb A can easily reach on the side of the thumb where the thumb is easy to operate while looking at the display on the display unit 31. Key 28, one step key 29,
An operation key group of a single return key 210 and a return key 211 is provided. Also, on the side where the middle finger C touches, the font selection key 2 is located at a position where the middle finger C can easily reach.
1 and a character size adjustment key 22 are provided. In addition, although it is not necessary to specify the side to which the middle finger C is applied and arrange these keys, since many keys necessary for those sides are provided on the other side, they are provided on this side due to space. .

Next, the internal configuration of the present apparatus will be described. As shown in FIG.
1, a character reading unit 12 composed of an image scanner is built in, a central processing unit (CPU) for executing arithmetic processing of various functions in the center of the body 2 and controlling each unit, font image data, a dictionary database ROM, such as
RA for scanned image data, recognized characters, translated words, etc.
M, input / output interface, power supply unit 1 in the upper body
A battery 3 is built in.

The functions executed by the present apparatus are separately shown, and are constituted by the following functional units. A read character image buffer 51 for temporarily storing image data of a word character string read by the character reading unit 12 formed by the image scanner through the character reading port 11, a font database unit 52 for storing font image data of a plurality of fonts, a read character An image comparison / character extraction unit 53 that compares the image data with font image data registered in the font database unit 52 and extracts a character string of the read word, and the characters of the word extracted by the image comparison / character extraction unit 53 An extraction character buffer 54 for temporarily storing the columns and a display control unit 55 for displaying the character strings stored in the extraction character buffer 54 on the display unit 31 are provided.

An unnecessary character deletion unit 56 for deleting unnecessary characters from the character string held in the extracted character buffer 54, a word database unit 57 in which dictionary data is registered, and an unnecessary character deletion unit 56 The character string includes a translation unit 58 that searches the word database unit 57 and extracts a translated word, and a translated word buffer 59 that temporarily stores the extracted translated word data. The translated word data held in the translated word buffer 59 is displayed on the display unit 31 by the display control unit 55.

Further, an I / O unit 60 for receiving various key operation inputs for starting the operation of these various function units, and an overall control unit 6 for controlling the whole of the various function units in an integrated manner.
1 is provided.

Next, the operation of the writing implement type electronic dictionary device having the above configuration will be described. First, the power of the apparatus is turned on by a power switch 41.

Then, in order to set a reading width appropriate for the font and size of the word to be read and to select font data to be used for recognition, a font designation command is input by the middle finger C using the font selection key 21. Then, with respect to the font name displayed on the display unit 31, the user operates the translation word selection key (also serving as a general selection key) 29, 210, 211 with the thumb A to scroll the font name. When the relevant font name is displayed, a translation execution key (which also functions as a normal enter key) 28 is pressed to input a font determination command. Thereby, the image comparison / character extraction unit 5
In 3, a font to be searched in the font database unit 52 is determined.

A command to change the character size is input by the character size adjustment key 22, and the translated word selection key 2 is input to the font size displayed on the display unit 31 by the thumb A
The font size is determined by operating 9, 210 and 211 to scroll the font size and pressing the translation execution key 28 when the corresponding font size is displayed. As a result, the character reading unit 12 reads the reading port 1
The width of 1 is adjusted or the emission width of the light emitting unit is adjusted to cover the height of the character to be read.

After the appropriate setting of the character size and font used for the document to be read, if the user encounters a word whose meaning is not understood while reading the document, the index finger B of the hand holding the apparatus can be used. The character reading port 11 is assigned to the head position of the character string of the target word with the reading start key 24.
While pressing, the image of the character string is read by tracing the character string in a straight line up to the last character of the word, and when the last character is reached, the reading start key 24 is released to inform the apparatus of the end of reading. The image data of the character string read by this reading operation is temporarily stored in the read character image buffer 51 sequentially.

Upon recognizing the end of the reading, the image comparing / character extracting section 53 of the present apparatus searches the font database section 52 and reads the read character image buffer 51.
Then, a character string image that matches the character string image data stored in the character string image is extracted, the character string image is recognized as a meaningful character string, and the extracted character string is temporarily stored in the extracted character buffer 54.

The character string held in the extracted character buffer 54 is displayed on the display unit 31 by the display control unit 55, and the user confirms it.

The user checks the character string read and recognized by viewing the display on the display unit 31. If an unnecessary character is included, the user operates the unnecessary character deletion keys 26 and 27 with the thumb A. To delete unnecessary characters. This unnecessary character deletion key 2
6 and 27 are received by the unnecessary character deletion unit 56, the corresponding characters are deleted from the data stored in the extracted character buffer 54, and the character string after the deletion is displayed on the display unit 31.
To be displayed.

After confirming that the character string of the word requiring the translation is correctly displayed on the display unit 31, the user operates the translation execution key 28 with the thumb A to execute the dictionary search. The operation of the translation execution key 28 is performed by the translation unit 58
Is received, the word database unit 57 is searched for the character string of the read word displayed on the display unit 31,
Finds a translation for the corresponding word and translates it into buffer 5
9 is temporarily held. The amount of translated word information to be extracted and stored in the translation word buffer 59 depends on the capacity of the translation word buffer 59. Usually, however, if the information that can be held to the full capacity is extracted, the other translated words will be extracted. The response can be made faster during the selection operation.

When the translated word is held in the translated word buffer 59, the first translated word or a certain amount of information from the beginning is passed to the display control unit 55 and displayed on the display unit 31.

If the translated word displayed on the display unit 31 is not appropriate, the user uses the thumb A to select the translated word selection key 29,2.
By operating the buttons 10 and 211, the previous translation and the previous translation are selected one by one and displayed on the display unit 31, and if it is desired to return to the first translation, the return key 211 is pressed to return to the first translation. Check for appropriate translations.

The user looks at the translation displayed on the display unit 31, and if the translation is appropriate, confirms the translation, and presses the read character cancel key 25 to prepare for the translation of the next word.

In order to keep the power of the character reading unit 12 and the display unit 31 consuming a large amount of power when the character reading is not performed, the reading standby key 23 is pressed to enter the standby state.

The above operation will be specifically described by exemplifying one word. As shown in FIG. 3A, Times New Ro
Assuming that the user is reading a document printed in the font of man with a font size of 10 pt, the user first sets the font using the font selection key 21 and the character size adjustment key 22.

If the user does not understand the word “post office” in the document while reading the document,
Tracing over the word will require a translation. However, it is assumed that a character string “a post office n” including characters before and after this word is scanned at the time of character reading due to small characters.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 3B, the display unit 31 displays "a post o"
ffice n ”will be displayed. Note that a character “TM” is displayed at the top of the display unit 31 to indicate the font.

As shown in FIG. 13C, the user looks at this display and, in order to narrow down the character string of the target word,
Delete unnecessary characters "a" and "n" before and after
Perform the translation, leaving only "office".

As a result, "post office" is finally displayed on the display unit 31 as a translated word, as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, when there are a plurality of translations for a word, the number and the number indicating the number of the translation that is currently displayed are displayed on the display unit 31. It is displayed.

As described above, in the writing implement type electronic dictionary apparatus according to the present embodiment, when there is a word which cannot be understood when reading a document, the present apparatus is held in the same way as the writing implement. Just by tracing over the word, the translated word can be displayed on the display unit 31 and checked, and while reading the document, it can be used as if drawing a line with a writing instrument, Unlike the conventional calculator-type or card-type electronic dictionary device, the key input operation of words is not required, and it is possible to hold it with one hand and perform the necessary operation with the same finger, so it is disturbing while reading the document Without
Easy to use.

When the writing instrument is used as if gripping, the operation keys are arranged near the positions of the thumb, index finger and middle finger, and are suitable for operation with each finger. Good thing.

In the above embodiment, the reading start key is operated by a finger operation.
It is also possible to use a pressure-sensitive switch 62 that switches on to start the reading operation when the part is pressed slightly strongly on the paper surface, and stops reading when the pressing is stopped.

If it is necessary to simplify the functions, a font selection key 21, a character size adjustment key 22, a read standby key 23, a read character cancel key 25,
The unnecessary character deletion keys 26 and 27 can be omitted.

[0043]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the user grasps the word and traces it on a word which cannot be identified in the document by the character reading section of the pen tip. When a search command is given, the corresponding translation can be displayed on the display unit. By operating the next candidate / previous candidate using the operation unit provided on the body, the next candidate / translation candidate can be displayed.
The previous candidate can be sequentially displayed on the display unit to find the appropriate translation, so that while holding it with one hand, perform a simple operation with the same one hand to display the translation of the unknown word in the document Part of the document, there is no need to key in the word spelling, there is no risk of keying mistakes, and it is not disturbing to have the same feeling as a writing instrument, and it is also possible to grasp the contents of the document being read. You can know the translation without almost interrupting your thoughts.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the writing implement type electronic dictionary device of the first aspect, since the body further includes an operation section for instructing start / end of character reading, the head of an unknown word is read. A character reading start instruction is given to the character by the operation unit by the operation unit, and a character reading end instruction is given at the end of the word, so that only the target word can be reliably read and its translated word can be found.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the writing implement type electronic dictionary device of the first aspect, a pressure-sensitive switch is provided on the pen tip portion, and the character reading section of the pen tip portion is pressed against the paper surface so as to be pressure-sensitive. The character reading operation is performed only while the switch is turned on, and the reading operation is stopped when the pressure-sensitive switch is released, so hold the device with one hand and place the character reading part on the corresponding character string strongly. The character string of the target word can be read by the tracing operation while pressing, and the reading operation is easy.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the writing implement type electronic dictionary device of the second aspect, the operation unit for instructing the start / end of the character reading is provided at a position on the body which is easy to operate with the index finger of the user. Therefore, the reading operation of the character string of the target word can be performed with the operational feeling of drawing a line with a writing instrument.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the writing implement type electronic dictionary device of the second to fourth aspects, the display unit is provided on the side of the torso on the user's thumb, and an operation unit for giving a dictionary search command; Since the operation unit for instructing the display of the next candidate / previous candidate of the translated word is provided at a position on the body that is easy to operate with the thumb of the user, the spelling of the read characters displayed on the display unit is normally checked, and the dictionary is searched. A command is given, but in that case, a dictionary search command is given by operating the operation unit with the thumb while looking at the display on the display unit, and it can be confirmed in the same state that the translated word is displayed on the display unit, Also, the display of the next candidate / previous candidate of the translated word displayed on the display unit can be operated in the same state, and the usability is further improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the writing implement type electronic dictionary device of the first to fifth aspects, the character reading section of the pen tip portion has read character size changing means for changing the size of readable characters. In addition, since the change operation section of the read character size changing means is provided on the body, it can be used for both large and small characters.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view and a plan view showing a structure of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 pen tip 2 torso 3 upper torso 4 torso 11 character reading port 12 character reading section 13 reading character image buffer 21 font selection key 22 character size adjustment key 23 reading standby key 24 reading start key 25 reading character cancel key 26 left delete key 27 right delete key 28 translation execution key 29 advance key 210 return key 211 first return key 31 display unit 41 power switch 51 read character image buffer 52 font database unit 53 image comparison / character extraction unit 54 extracted character buffer 55 Display control unit 56 Unnecessary character deletion unit 57 Word database unit 58 Translation unit 59 Translation word buffer 60 I / O unit 61 Overall control unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A character reading unit on a pen tip, a display unit for displaying a read character string and a translated word on a body, an operation unit for giving a dictionary search command for the read character string, and a display of next / previous candidates for a translated word A writing implement type electronic dictionary device comprising an operation unit for giving an instruction, incorporating a read character recognition unit and a dictionary database, and having an outer shape in the form of a writing implement. 2. The writing implement type electronic dictionary device according to claim 1, wherein an operation unit for instructing start / end of character reading is provided on the body. 3. A pressure-sensitive switch is provided on the pen tip, and a character reading operation is performed only when the pressure-sensitive switch is turned on by pressing a character reading portion of the pen-tip against a sheet of paper, and the pressure-sensitive switch is released. The writing implement type electronic dictionary device according to claim 1, wherein the reading operation is stopped when the writing is performed. 4. The writing implement type electronic dictionary device according to claim 2, wherein an operation unit for instructing the start / end of the character reading is provided at a position on the body that is easy to operate with a forefinger of a user. . 5. An operation unit for providing the dictionary search command and an operation unit for instructing display of the next candidate / previous candidate of the translated word, wherein the display unit is provided on the side of the torso on which the user's thumb touches. The writing implement type electronic dictionary device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the writing implement type electronic dictionary device is provided at a position where it can be easily operated by a user's thumb in the section. 6. A reading character size changing means for changing a readable character size of a character reading part of the pen tip part, and a change operation part of the reading character size changing means is provided on the body part. The writing implement type electronic dictionary device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein