JP2001222512A - Electronic calculator with optical character reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable smooth and exact numerical input. SOLUTION: An input means 12 having a ten key 12-2 is further provided with an optical character reader(OCR) 12-1 for optically and directly reading and inputting a described numerical value by scanning that described numerical value. Then, the described numerical value inputted by scanning and the arithmetic result corresponding to a desired arithmetic command can be successively displayed on a display means 14 composed of a liquid crystal display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a calculator for performing four arithmetic operations and the like under a numeric keypad as an input means and an operation command input. More specifically, the present invention optically converts a numerical value described on a sheet of paper or the like. The present invention relates to a calculator with an optical character reading device further provided with a numerical reading function for directly reading.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Calculators (electronic desktop calculators) are usually
Input means including various keys (referred to as numeric keys) for inputting numerical values and inputting operation commands such as four arithmetic operations;
Display means for outputting and displaying input information from the numeric keypad and calculation results and the like, for example, a liquid crystal display, are arranged on the surface of the housing, and storage of input information by the input means, calculation of calculation results, and output to the display means Control means for controlling information are formed in a housing.

[0003] In this type of calculator, input of numerical values and various operation commands is normally performed under manual input with ten keys (input means), and based on the input information, input numerical values, The input operation command is recognized by the control means, and the input information, at least the input numerical value, is displayed on the liquid crystal display (display means) by the output from the control means. The calculation based on the input information from the ten keys is appropriately performed in the control means, and the calculation result can be displayed on the liquid crystal display.

[0004]

Generally, numerical values input to a calculator are manually input by a ten-key pad.
Therefore, when a large amount of numerical values (data) is input, the input time is inevitably increased.

[0005] Particularly, in a book calculation or a spreadsheet calculation in which numerical values listed over a large number of columns are sequentially added to obtain the total, a calculation error due to a numerical value input error or the like is likely to occur. I cannot deny inferiority. Normally, the same calculation is performed a plurality of times to check the result of the calculation.In this case, however, since the calculation up to this check in addition to the input work is one work, the entire calculation work takes a long time. It is inevitable that it will be accompanied.

That is, it cannot be denied that the known calculator is inferior in accuracy and easiness in multi-data calculation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a calculator with an optical character reading device which enables smooth and accurate numerical input.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an input device having a numeric keypad.
The system further includes an optical character reading device that directly reads and inputs the written numerical value by scanning the written numerical value. The numerical value input by scanning and the calculation result corresponding to the desired calculation command can be sequentially displayed by the display means.

[0009] The optical character reading device and the display means for outputting and displaying the input information and the calculation result by the input means are positioned in such a manner that the written numerical value can be scanned while checking the display on the display means. , Are preferably arranged on the housing.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in a calculator 10 with an optical character reading device according to the present invention, an optical character reading device, a so-called OCR (optical character) is provided.
An actor reader) 12-1 is provided as a type of input means 12 together with a numeric keypad 12-2 for manually inputting numerical values and arithmetic command inputs such as four arithmetic operations.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this calculator (calculator with an optical character reading device) 10 includes an input means 12 (numeric keypad 12) like a conventional general calculator (electronic type desktop calculator). -2) In addition to the above, the display means 14 for outputting and displaying the input information by the input means, the calculation result, etc., and the storage of the input information by the input means, the calculation result calculation, and the control of the output information to the display means. Control means 16. This type of calculator 10 usually has a numeric keypad 12-2 serving as input means 12 and a liquid crystal display (LCD) 14 serving as display means, for example, arranged on a surface 18F of a housing 18.
The control means 16 (omitted in FIG. 2) is formed in a form that can be used by being placed on a table or the like by being housed and incorporated in a housing.

As can be seen from FIG.
Has a central processing unit (CPU) 20, stores input information by the input means 12 (numeric keys 12-2), calculates a calculation result, and displays a liquid crystal display (display means) based on a program incorporated in the CPU. Output control and execution of output information to 14 can be performed.

It should be noted that the calculator 10 of the present invention comprises a numeric keypad 12-2.
Is used as the input means 12, and the input information and the calculation result can be displayed on the display means such as the liquid crystal display 14, so that the basic configuration of a conventional general calculator can be applied. , And its basic arithmetic function itself are not different from those of the related art, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

Here, as described above, in the present invention, an OCR (optical character reader) 12-1 is provided as an input means 12 together with a numeric keypad 12-2. In the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the numeric keypad and the liquid crystal display 14 are arranged on the front surface (upper surface) 18F of the housing 18 similarly to the conventional calculator, whereas the OCR is provided on the rear surface ( (Lower surface) 18B.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, in the embodiment of the present invention, the OCR 12-1 is formed and arranged as a form extending in the left-right direction (left-right direction in the figure) of the housing 18, The scanning range is generally set to substantially match the lateral width of the OCR, that is, the length in the longitudinal direction.

The OCR 12-1 is, for example, a numerical value (written numerical value) written on paper or the like by handwriting or printing, etc.
And operation symbols (addition / subtraction / multiplication / division symbols, equal signs, etc.) can be optically directly read under the scanning, and as shown in FIG.
Connected to 16.

As the OCR 12-1, for example,
A publicly known configuration in which light is irradiated to a reading target (described numerical value), the reflected light is imaged on an image sensor (reading means) and converted into an electric signal, so that the written numerical value or the like scanned can be read and recognized. Is available.

Here, since the OCR 12-1 is formed as an operating body different from the calculator itself, such as light irradiation and electric signal conversion, the start / stop of the OCR 12-1 is controlled as shown in FIG. The operation control key 22 is set to the power key (numeric keypad 12) of the calculator itself.
It can be said that it is desirable to provide it separately from the “-2” “ON” key and “OFF” key) from the viewpoint of preventing reading of unnecessary numerical values, that is, preventing malfunction and power saving.

For example, an example of calculating the sum of the numerical values of multiple stages listed in the vertical direction will be described below with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG.

First, the calculator 10 is placed on a paper surface in which a numerical sequence to be calculated is described in a normal use mode, with the surface 18F of the housing facing upward, and the operation control key 22 is turned on. After pressing the "key 22-1, the OCR 12-1 is aligned with the numerical value at the top of the numerical value sequence as shown in FIG.

In the calculator 10 of the present invention, the OC
Since the numerical value scanned by R12-1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 14 each time, the alignment of the OCR to the uppermost numerical value is as follows.
It can be easily confirmed by looking at the display on the liquid crystal display.

After the OCR 12-1 is aligned with the numerical value at the top, if the desired operation is the total of the numerical values, the addition key (“+” key) 24 is depressed, and the calculator 10 is shifted with respect to the paper surface. As shown in FIG. 2, by tracing numerical values in multiple stages downward, the numerical values in the list are sequentially scanned and input. Then, after completing all the scans of the described numerical values,
When the operator presses an equality key (“=” key) 26 for instructing calculation of the calculation result, the sum of the numerical values described in the multi-stage is calculated, and the result, that is, the total value is displayed on the liquid crystal display 14.
Is displayed.

Here, the case of multi-stage addition of numerical values has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to addition alone, and the subtraction key (“−” key) 28 may be pressed as necessary to subtract the corresponding numerical value. Is also possible. In addition, a minus sign (-) is described in advance in a numerical value to be subtracted, so that an operation including addition and subtraction can be performed without pressing the subtraction key 28 without pressing the addition key 24 alone. This can also be performed depending on the program of the CPU 20.

As described above, in the calculator 10 with an optical character reading device according to the present invention, if the numerical value described on paper or the like is read by the OCR 12-1 on the back of the calculator, it is read, that is, Can be input directly, so that manual input of numerical values by the ten keys 12-2 is not required. Therefore, it is possible to input an appropriate numerical value without an input error, and the reliability of the input operation is improved.

Also, all the numerical strings listed in multiple stages can be input by sequential scanning by the OCR 12-1, and the operation result can be calculated by pressing the equal key 26 after the scanning. According to the calculator 10, the time reduction in addition to the above can be easily and reliably achieved.

In other words, the calculator 10 can sufficiently ensure both accuracy and easiness in multi-data calculation.

Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, the housing 18 and the OCR are integrated by disposing the OCR 12-1 on the back surface 18B of the housing. The invention is not limited to this, and the calculator 10 of the present invention may be formed in a separate type in which the OCR is separated from the housing, for example.

However, the calculator 10 can be formed in a size that can be held by one hand, and the calculator itself is moved to
Since it is difficult to scan the numerical value described in −1, it is difficult to simplify the configuration if the OCR is provided integrally with the housing 18 as in this embodiment.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the OCR 12-1 is provided on the rear surface 18B of the housing, whereas the liquid crystal display 14 is provided on the front surface 18F of the housing. By disposing the OCR 12-1 and the liquid crystal display 14 in this positional relationship, the OC
While scanning the written numerical value with R, the read numerical value can be confirmed one by one on the liquid crystal display on the housing surface 18F, so that the workability is further improved, and with the assurance of scanning, The accuracy of the operation is further improved.

The OCR used in the calculator 10
Since the width of 12-1 is fixed, if this width is less than the width of the numerical value, all digits of the numerical value can not be read at once, or this width is adjacent to the numerical value column to be read When it is necessary to extend to a numerical value column, it is conceivable to additionally read up to the numerical value of an adjacent column.

However, any of these can be solved by the program of the CPU 20 constituting the control means 16. For example, if it is possible to recognize a multi-digit described numerical value read in a plurality of times as a single numerical value, a large number can be obtained. It is possible to read the written numerical value of the digit, and if a column of the target numerical value is surrounded by a rectangular frame, and only the written numerical value in this rectangular frame is detected and recognized and a predetermined operation is performed, adjacent It is possible to sufficiently prevent the numerical values described in the columns from being erroneously incorporated into the calculation.

In any case, these cannot be appropriately dealt with and solved by the contents of the program incorporated in the CPU 20, and the basic philosophy of the present invention is to provide the calculator 10 with a numerical reading function by providing the OCR 12-1. It cannot be a hindrance to

Here, when the numerical value of the number of digits exceeding the display digit on the liquid crystal display 14 is read by the OCR 12-1, the display of all the digits on the liquid crystal display cannot be expected. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, a left / right scroll key 30 is provided separately from the numeric keypad 12-2, and by using the left / right stroke keys, the display position of a multi-digit numerical value exceeding the number of display digits on the liquid crystal display 14 can be set. Should be selectable and changeable.

According to such a configuration, since all digits of the read numerical value can be confirmed on the liquid crystal display 14, the reliability of numerical value input and the reliability of arithmetic operations are further improved.

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, if the storage means 32 is provided under the connection to the control means 16 and the inputted numerical values can be sequentially stored by this storage means, the OCR 12
After reading multi-level numerical values by -1, it is also possible to sequentially re-display the numerical values. In this case, the redisplay of the input numerical value is performed by the up / down scroll key 34 provided separately from the numeric keypad 12-2 (see FIG. 2).

With such a configuration, all the read numerical values can be confirmed again, so that the reliability of inputting numerical values and the reliability of calculation can be further improved. In addition, it is possible to arbitrarily change a part of the redisplayed numerical value by inputting numerical values using the numeric keypad 12-2, so that it is easy to use the numerical value once read for calculation of other data. Becomes possible.

The input numerical value is stored in the OCR12-1.
It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the numerical value read by the numeric keypad and can be applied to the numerical value input by the ten keys 12-2. Then, if the numerical value input by the ten key 12-2 is also stored in the storage means 32, the reliability of the numerical input at the time of manual input by the ten key is improved.

In the above, an example in which the numerical values are scanned downward and sequentially read is described.
The reading of the numerical value by -1 is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to sequentially read necessary numerical values from a plurality of slips or the like and calculate the sum or the like. In this case, by turning over the slips one by one and aligning and reading the OCR 12-1 with the target written numerical value, it is possible to easily calculate the sum of those numerical values.

The calculator 10 is not limited to the downward scanning with respect to the paper surface and the like, and it is also possible for the calculator 10 to sequentially scan and input the numerical values from left to right, for example.

For example, in a bill or tabulation table in the form of a table as shown in FIG. 4 in which “unit price” and “quantity” are arranged in the horizontal direction, the numerical value to be calculated, that is, the numerical value to be read is They are listed side by side from left to right. In this case, the calculator 10 is placed on a sheet of paper or the like in the horizontal direction as shown in the figure, and the calculator is moved from the leftmost portion of the target several prices to the right, so that the numerical value is calculated by the OCR 12-1. Scan and read sequentially.

In this case, since the amount is calculated by multiplying the unit price and the quantity, the multiplication key (“x” key) 36 for instructing the multiplication must be pressed before scanning the numerical value. Is required.

Then, after all the numerical values required for the operation in the corresponding stage have been scanned, the multiplication value is calculated by pressing the equality key 26, and the calculation result is displayed on the liquid crystal display 14. You.

As described above, since the width of the OCR 12-1 is fixed, when a numerical value is described in a plurality of stages, a plurality of stages corresponding to the width of the OCR, for example, in the table shown in FIG. The numerical values described in the column are all read by the single scan. However, in this case, the first-stage operation value is displayed under the first depression of the equality key 26, and the second-stage operation value is displayed under the second depression. In this case, the calculated values of each stage may be sequentially displayed according to the number of times the equality key is pressed, so that the calculations for five stages can be smoothly performed by reading the numerical values described in the OCR 12-1. In addition, workability can be improved by reducing the number of scans.

After depressing the addition key 24 of the numeric keypad 12-2, the calculated value (amount column) of each stage calculated and described for each stage is changed to the OCR 12-1 in the same manner as in FIG. By sequentially scanning from the top to the bottom, the total sum of each operation value can be easily calculated.

Although a description thereof is omitted in this embodiment, the division key (“÷” key) 38 of the ten key 12-2 is used.
By pressing and giving the operation command, the numerical value read by the OCR 12-1 can naturally be applied to the division (see FIG. 2).

The embodiments described above are for explaining the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way. All the modifications and alterations within the technical scope of the present invention are also included in this embodiment. It goes without saying that it is included in the invention.

[0048]

As described above, according to the calculator with the optical character reading device according to the present invention, the numerical value written on paper or the like is scanned by the optical character reading device, so that the input of the written numerical value can be directly performed. It is not necessary to manually input numerical values using the numeric keypad. Therefore, it is possible to input an appropriate numerical value without an input error, and the reliability of the input operation is improved.

The numerical values listed in multiple stages can all be input by sequential scanning by the optical character reading device, and the calculation result based on the calculation command is appropriately calculated. According to this calculator, the time can be reduced easily and reliably.

That is, this calculator can sufficiently ensure both accuracy and easiness in multi-data calculation.

If the optical character reading device is provided on the rear surface of the housing and the display means is provided on the surface of the housing, the optical character reading device on the rear surface of the housing scans the written numerical value, Since the read numerical values can be confirmed one by one on the display means on the surface of the housing, the operability is further improved, and the accuracy of the calculation is further improved with the certainty of the scanning.

If the display position of a multi-digit numerical value exceeding the number of display digits on the display means can be arbitrarily selected and changed by the left and right stroke keys provided separately from the ten keys, the number of display digits on the display means can be changed. Even when a multi-digit numerical value exceeding is read, all digits of the read numerical value can be confirmed by the display means, so that the reliability of numerical value input and the reliability of calculation are further improved.

Further, by providing storage means, it is possible to sequentially store the input numerical values, and if the input numerical values can be selectively displayed sequentially by an up / down scroll key provided separately from the numeric keypad, the input numerical values can be stored. Since all the numerical values can be confirmed again, the reliability of the numerical value input and thus the reliability of the calculation are further improved. In addition, it is possible to arbitrarily change a part of the redisplayed numerical value by inputting numerical values using the numeric keypad, so it is easy to use the numerical value once input for calculation of other data Becomes

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a basic circuit configuration of a calculator with an optical character reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the front side of a calculator with an optical character reading device, illustrating scanning of numerical values described from above to below.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the back side of a calculator with an optical character reading device, illustrating a case of scanning numerical values from above to below.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the front side of a calculator with an optical character reading device, illustrating scanning of numerical values from left to right.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Calculator with optical character reading device 12 Input means 12-1 Optical character reading device (OCR) 12-2 Numeric keys 14 Display means (liquid crystal display) 16 Control means 18 Housing 18F Housing surface 18B Housing back 30 Scroll left / right Key 32 Recording means 34 Up / down scroll key

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Input means having a numeric keypad for inputting numerical values and calculation commands such as four arithmetic operations; input information by the input means; display means for outputting and displaying calculation results; and input information by the input means. And a control means for calculating the calculation result and controlling the output information to the display means. The input means scans the written numerical value to directly read the written numerical value directly. A calculator with an optical character reading device, further comprising an optical character reading device for inputting, wherein a numerical value input by scanning and a calculation result corresponding to a desired calculation command can be sequentially displayed by a display means. 2. An input means having a numeric keypad for inputting numerical values and calculation commands such as four arithmetic operations; input information by the input means; and display means for outputting and displaying a calculation result and the like; and input information by the input means. And a control means for calculating the calculation result and controlling the output information to the display means. The input means scans the written numerical value to directly read the written numerical value directly. The optical character reading device further comprises an optical character reading device for inputting, the numerical value input by scanning, and a calculation result corresponding to a desired calculation command can be sequentially displayed by the display means, and the optical character reading device and the display means are Optical character reading characterized by being arranged on the housing in a positional relationship that enables the written numerical value to be scanned while checking the display on the display means. Apparatus with a calculator. 3. The calculator with an optical character reading device according to claim 2, wherein the numeric keypad and the display means of the input means are arranged on the surface of the housing, and the optical character reading device is arranged on the rear surface of the housing. 4. A left / right scroll key is provided separately from the numeric keypad, and the left / right scroll keys are used to arbitrarily select a display position of a multi-digit numerical value exceeding the number of display digits on the display means.
4. The calculator with an optical character reader according to claim 1, wherein the calculator is changeable. 5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for sequentially storing the input numerical values, and selectively displaying the input numerical values sequentially using an up / down scroll key provided separately from the numeric keypad. A calculator with an optical character reader according to any one of the above.