JP2008234277A - Character input system, character input device, character input method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for facilitating input of a character in a miniaturized information processing terminal. <P>SOLUTION: This system is adapted to recognize a character based on the trace of a reflected light obtained by reflecting a light emitted by a light emitting means by a reflection means, and process the recognized character as an input character. The recognition of the character is performed by dividing the trace of the reflected light while the reflection means is continuously located in a recognition area is divided as one stroke of the character. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for inputting characters to an information processing terminal, and more particularly to a technique for recognizing and inputting characters drawn in space.

  Many portable terminal devices such as mobile phones, PHS (Personal Handy phone System), PDA (Personal Data Assistance, Personal Digital Assistants) can send and receive e-mails.

  In recent years, many portable terminal devices have been reduced in size so that they are convenient to carry. When inputting and transmitting the content to be transmitted by e-mail, the operation unit for inputting is small, so that the normal desktop type is used. Compared to the case of inputting from a keyboard used in a computer, it is often accompanied by considerable difficulty. This is especially true for people with disabilities such as the physically handicapped.

  Further, the technique of drawing and inputting characters on the touch panel using a touch pen can be operated relatively easily, but is not suitable for downsizing the apparatus because it is necessary to secure the size of the touch panel itself.

  As a method for solving the above problems, there is a conventional method of drawing a character on a space using a pen that emits infrared light, photographing the drawn character with a camera, and recognizing it as character information (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

On the other hand, a technique for drawing a character in a space using a non-light emitting pen, photographing the drawn character with a camera, and inputting the drawn character is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2001-005600 A JP 2002-196873 A

  According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, a power source unit, an infrared light emitting element, and a circuit for connecting them are also required on the pen side to emit infrared light, which increases the cost of the entire terminal. In addition, since the infrared light emission and non-light emission are performed by operating the switch provided on the pen, depending on the user's operation, the characters to be input are connected like a single stroke, and characters with a large number of strokes are crushed. There were various problems, such as being unable to recognize or being mistakenly recognized by the connected part.

  Moreover, since the technique described in Patent Document 2 connects the characters to be input as if they were one-stroke writing, it can be used as a personal authentication device. Cannot be used for input. In addition, there are various problems such as characters that have a large number of strokes are crushed and cannot be recognized, or are erroneously recognized by connected portions.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to make it easier to input characters to the information processing terminal device and to reduce the burden on the user. The object is to provide a technique for reducing the portability by reducing the size of the information processing terminal device.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique for improving the recognition accuracy of characters drawn in space.

  The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a character input system, which is a character input system based on a light emitting means for emitting light, a reflecting means for reflecting the emitted light, and a locus of light reflected by the reflecting means. Recognizing means for recognizing the character and input processing means for processing the recognized character as an input character, the recognizing means for reflecting light while the reflecting means is continuously located in the recognition area. Characterized by recognizing characters by dividing the locus as a stroke of characters.

  The present invention for solving the above problems is a character input device, which is a light emitting means for emitting light, a recognition means for recognizing a character based on a locus of reflected light of the light, and inputting the recognized character. Input processing means for processing as characters, and the recognition means divides the locus of reflected light as a character stroke while the reflector that reflects the light is continuously located in the recognition area. It is characterized by recognizing characters.

  The present invention for solving the above problems is a character input method, wherein a light emission step for emitting light and a locus of reflected light while the reflected light of the light is continuously located in a recognition area are provided. It has a recognition step of recognizing a character as one stroke and recognizing the character based on at least one or more recognized strokes, and an input processing step of processing the recognized character as an input character.

  The present invention for solving the above-described problem is a program for a character input device, wherein the program continuously emits light to the character input device, and the reflected light of the light continuously enters a recognition area. A recognition step of recognizing a locus of reflected light while being positioned as one stroke of a character, recognizing a character based on at least one stroke number recognized, and an input processing step of processing the recognized character as an input character And processing.

  The present invention includes a light emitting unit capable of outputting light, a light emission control unit for controlling light emission / non-light emission of the light emission unit, and a position of the light reflection unit and the light reflection unit at the tip which can be held like a pen. A light reflecting means having a recognition mark for recognizing the image, a camera image input means for imaging using a sensor element such as CCD or CMOS, and outputting the captured image as image data, and a plurality of frames of image data. When the recognition mark provided at the tip of the light reflecting means is recognized from the image data inputted from the camera image input means and the image composition means to synthesize, the light emission controller emits light, and the image composition means The image recognition means for comparing the synthesized data synthesized in step 1 and the character recognition pattern registered in advance and outputting the most approximate result, the synthesized data synthesized by the image synthesis means and the image recognition means The display control means for outputting display data from the output result, the display means capable of displaying the display data output from the display control means, and the image displayed by the operator on the display means determined to be the same as the data input from the camera In this case, an input processing means for confirming as input data and a database including a memory for storing a character recognition pattern are provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to input a character input by a troublesome button operation found in a conventional miniaturized terminal as if it were a touch pen.

  In addition, according to the present invention, as described above, a touch panel is not required, so that the size of the terminal can be reduced, and portability can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, there is no need to provide a device for emitting light such as an infrared light emitting device inside the pen as a character input means, and there is an effect that it is not necessary to provide a power source on the pen side.

  In the case of a configuration in which a character to be input is drawn on the space, it is not possible to distinguish the cuts for each stroke of the character, but it is possible to distinguish each stroke by controlling the light emission and non-light emission. Pattern matching is easy.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the character input system of the present invention is a system in which a mobile terminal captures characters drawn in space, further recognizes and inputs characters, and emits light from the mobile terminal. The character is recognized by separating the reflected light trajectory as a stroke of the character while the reflector that reflects the light is continuously located in the recognition area, and the recognized character is processed as an input character. is there. In addition, the recognition of the character by this invention includes estimating a character.

  In order to explain the features of the present invention, it will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

  A first embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a main part of the configuration of a character input system according to the present invention.

  The character input system according to the present embodiment includes a mobile terminal device and an infrared light reflecting pen. In the present specification, a description is given using a mobile terminal device, but a device other than the mobile terminal device may be used as long as it recognizes and inputs characters drawn in space. In addition, the portable terminal device and the infrared light reflecting pen may or may not be integrated, but the configuration in which the infrared light reflecting pen can be stored in the portable terminal device is considered in terms of practicality. preferable.

  The infrared light reflecting pen is used when inputting characters, and has an infrared light reflecting portion 3 and a recognition mark 4 as shown in FIG. In the present specification, a pen is described. However, as shown in FIG. 10B, for example, the shape of the pen is not necessarily required.

  The infrared light reflection unit 3 reflects infrared light.

  The recognition mark 4 is provided in the vicinity of the infrared light reflector 3 and is formed of multiple circles. In this specification, the recognition mark 4 is described using a multiple circle. However, other recognition marks 4 may be used as long as they can be recognized by the camera of the portable terminal, or the infrared light reflection unit 3 itself.

  The portable terminal device includes an infrared light emission unit 1, an infrared light emission control unit 2, a camera 5, an image composition unit 6, an image recognition processing unit 7, a character recognition pattern 8, a database 9, and a display. A control unit 10, an input processing unit 11, and a display unit 12 are included.

  The infrared light emitting unit 1 emits infrared light. In this specification, description is made using a configuration that emits infrared light, but the configuration is not limited thereto, and any configuration that emits light may be used.

  The infrared light emission control unit 2 controls light emission / non-light emission of the infrared light emission unit 1. The infrared light emission control unit 2 causes the infrared light emitting unit 1 to emit light when the recognition mark 4 is located within the fixed focal area of the camera 5, and conversely, when the recognition mark 4 is located outside the fixed focal area. 1 is made to emit no light.

  The camera 5 captures an image of a subject using a CCD image sensor (Charge Coupled Device Image Sensor) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, and converts the image signal into a digital signal for output.

  The image composition unit 6 stores the digital signal (image data) output from the camera 5 in units of frames for a certain period. The image synthesizing unit 6 has a timer until the timeout occurs, and accumulates and synthesizes image data output from the camera 5 while the infrared light emitting unit 1 emits light. The image composition unit 6 outputs image data output from the camera 5 until the time-out occurs and the infrared light emitting unit 1 does not emit light.

  The database 9 is a memory and stores character recognition patterns.

  The image recognition processing unit 7 compares the synthesized data synthesized by the image synthesizing unit 6 with the character recognition pattern 8 stored in the database 9 in advance, and outputs the closest character as candidate data. Further, the image data output from the image composition unit 6 while the infrared light emitting unit 1 is not emitting light is compared with the character recognition pattern 8 stored in the database 9 in advance, and the closest character is found. When the recognition mark is recognized, that is, when the recognition mark is detected from the image data, the infrared light emission control unit 2 is notified of the detection. Further, when there is no recognition mark in the image data, it is notified that the recognition mark has not been detected. The image recognition processing unit 7 may recognize not only characters but also information such as graphics.

  The display control unit 10 causes the combined data combined by the image combining unit 6 and the character candidate data output from the image recognition processing unit 7 to be output as display data.

  The display unit 12 is a display device such as an LCD (liquid crystal monitor), and displays display data output from the screen display control unit 10. The display unit 12 is provided with a captured image display area and a character display area. In the captured image display area, an image currently captured by the camera 5 is displayed. On the other hand, recognized character candidates are displayed in the character display area.

  The input processing unit 11 inputs the result of the operator's determination as to whether the character displayed on the display unit 12 matches the character data input from the camera, as in the case of the character. Confirm with and process as input characters.

  The above configuration has been described by paying attention to functions, and these functions are realized by executing a software program on hardware including a CPU and a memory.

  Subsequently, the operation will be described.

  FIG. 2 shows the flow of infrared light emission control used in the present embodiment.

  The operator holds the infrared light reflecting pen in the fixed focus area of the camera as preparation for starting character input (step S0).

  The camera 5 is controlled to focus on the recognition mark 4 at the tip of the infrared light reflecting pen (step S1).

  When the focus is locked, the image recognition processing unit 7 takes in the imaging data of the recognition mark 4 at the tip of the infrared light reflecting pen from the camera 5 and starts detecting the recognition mark (steps S2 and S3).

  When the recognition mark detection of the image recognition processing unit 7 is completed, the infrared light emission control unit 2 controls the infrared light emission unit 1 to emit light (step S4).

  The operator draws a character to be input while inserting the infrared light reflection pen into the fixed focus area in the space with the fixed focus area of the camera 5 as a character input surface. Referring to FIG. 9, a fixed focal area of the camera 5 and an irradiation image of infrared light are shown. At this time, the image recognition processing unit 7 continuously detects the recognition mark. (Step S5) When the recognition mark is removed from the fixed focus area, the infrared light emission control unit 2 stops emitting the infrared light.

  Next, the flow of character input will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the operator holds the infrared light reflecting pen in the imaging area of the camera (step S10).

  When the recognition mark 4 of the infrared light reflecting pen is inserted into the fixed focus area, emission of infrared light is started. The infrared light is reflected by the infrared light reflector 3 and input to the camera 5. The operator must input characters by displaying the first aiming point (sighting mark) of the first stroke of the first character as shown in FIG. 8 in the captured image display area as shown in FIG. Then, characters are drawn in the space (step S11). Note that the locus of the infrared light reflecting pen may or may not be displayed in the captured image display area of the display unit 12, but will be described using the case where it is displayed in the following description.

  At this time, since the infrared light is not emitted when the infrared light reflecting pen moves out of the fixed focal area, the aiming point is not displayed on the display unit 12, and this is a break for each image (step S12). When the infrared light reflecting pen is inserted again into the fixed focus area and the recognition mark is detected, it is recognized that the infrared light reflecting pen is in the fixed focus area, and the infrared light emission control unit 2 detects the infrared light. Light emission is started, and the image recognition processing unit 7 captures camera image data as a character recognition image.

  When the operator finishes drawing one character, the operator confirms the character display area of the display unit 12 whether the character drawn in the space has been correctly recognized (step S13).

  If the recognition result is wrong, a cancellation code determined in advance is input with an infrared light reflecting pen in the same manner as the characters for cancellation. As an example of the cancellation code, it is conceivable to assign a graphic such as “×” or “Δ” and store it in the database 9 (step S14).

  When the recognition result is correct, in order to confirm, a predetermined confirmation code is input with an infrared light reflecting pen in the same manner as a character. As an example of the code for confirmation, it is conceivable that graphics such as “◯” and “Re” are assigned in advance for confirmation and stored in the database 9 as in the case of cancellation (step S15).

  A desired character is input while repeating these operations (step S16).

  Next, the operation on the mobile terminal side will be described.

  4 and 5 show the character input operation on the portable terminal side.

  When character input is selected, the mobile terminal side activates the camera 5 (step R1).

  A timer for determining the maximum period for inputting one character is started (step R2). Note that an arbitrary time is set in advance as the time-out time.

  The image data captured by the camera 5 is transferred to the image composition unit 6 (step R3).

  The image composition unit 6 stores the captured data for each frame (step R4).

  Until the timer started in step R2 expires, image synthesis of the captured data stored for each frame is continued (step R5). The locus of the high-contrast portion of the infrared light reflection unit 3 in the image data captured by the camera 5 is recognized and stored in the memory as synthesized data. Here, as an example of inputting the alphabet “A”, for example, the image composition unit 6 captures 6 frames as shown in FIG. 6 while inputting one character. The reason why the characters are linear within one frame is that reflected light of infrared light becomes an afterimage. When 6 frames of image data are stored and combined, the high contrast portion of the infrared light reflecting portion 3 appears as characters. The composite data is sequentially sent to the display control unit 10 and displayed in the captured image display area of the display unit 12. The operator can confirm the character input status by confirming this display. The synthesized data generated in this way is compared with the character recognition pattern and approximated character data is transferred as candidate data to the display control unit 10 (step R6).

  The display control unit 10 displays characters corresponding to the candidate data in the character display area of the display unit 12 of the mobile terminal (step R7).

  The display is continued until a confirmation code is input from the operator after the display (step R8) or a cancel code is input (step R9). When the cancel code is recognized, the capturing of the image data of the camera 5 is newly started (step R10).

  When the confirmation code is received, the character data is transferred to the input processing unit 11 as candidate data (step R11).

  When the character input is to be ended (step R12), the character input timer is ended (step R13), and the camera is stopped (step R14).

  As described above, according to the present invention, the combination of the infrared light emitting unit and the infrared light reflecting pen as the character input means of the information terminal device and the image recognition by the camera, the cumbersome button operation found in the conventional small terminal. It becomes possible to change the character input to a method of inputting at intervals of the touch pen.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a touch panel required in the conventional touch pen method is no longer necessary, and a dedicated device is newly added by using a camera and an infrared light emitting module that are often mounted on recent mobile phones. No need to install. In addition, since the touch panel is not necessary, the size of the terminal can be reduced.

  Furthermore, when infrared rays are used, there is an effect that surrounding people cannot see the input content.

  In addition, since light is used, there is an effect that the input can be performed without being influenced by the darkness even in a dark place around the camera.

  Compared to a configuration in which an infrared light emitting device is provided inside the pen as a means for drawing characters, the present invention eliminates the need for a power source on the pen side, so input without worrying about the remaining battery power on the pen side. There is an effect that can be.

  In the case of a configuration in which an input character is drawn on a space, it is not possible to distinguish between cuts for each character stroke, but it is possible to distinguish each stroke by controlling the emission and non-emission of infrared light. Matching is facilitated and the accuracy of character recognition is improved.

  Further, by using infrared rays as an input device, there is an effect that surrounding human beings cannot see the input content and that the input can be performed without being influenced even in a dark place around the camera.

  In the present invention, in addition to the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 in order to accurately capture the imaging range of the camera when drawing characters with the infrared light reflecting pen pointing toward the camera. In addition, a method of inputting the captured image and the frame indicating the imaging range in the captured image display area of the display unit 12 in real time can be considered. Since the operator can confirm in real time whether or not the infrared light reflecting pen is in the frame indicating the imaging range, the input can be performed more reliably.

  Further, the present invention may be configured such that a candidate character is displayed every time one stroke of the character is drawn.

  Further, according to the present invention, the infrared light emitting unit is not a pen type, but has a form suitable for the use situation of the operator, for example, a list type form as shown in FIG. The range of use can be expanded.

  Further, as is apparent from the above description, the terminal of the present invention described above can be configured by hardware, but can also be realized by a computer program. In such a configuration, functions and operations similar to those of the above-described embodiment are realized by a processor that operates according to a program stored in a program memory. Note that only a part of the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by a computer program.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the input system of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the flow of infrared light emission control of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the flow of character input in the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a character input operation on the portable terminal side. FIG. 5 shows a character input operation on the mobile terminal side. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an image frame stored while inputting one character. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a state when characters are input. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the display unit. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the camera 5 fixed focus area and the infrared light irradiation area. FIG. 10 shows an example of an infrared light reflecting pen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Infrared light emission part 2 Infrared light emission control part 3 Infrared light reflection part 4 Recognition mark 5 Camera 6 Image composition part 7 Image recognition process part 8 Character recognition pattern 9 Database 10 Display control part 11 Input process part 12 Display part

Claims (12)

A character input system,
A light emitting means for emitting light;
Reflecting means for reflecting the emitted light;
Recognizing means for recognizing characters based on the locus of reflected light by the reflecting means;
Input processing means for processing the recognized character as an input character,
The character recognition system, wherein the recognition means recognizes a character by dividing a locus of reflected light while the reflection means is continuously located in a recognition area as a character stroke.   The character input system according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit starts emitting the light when the reflecting unit is located in the recognition area.   3. The character input system according to claim 1, wherein the recognizing unit captures the locus of the reflected light as an image and synthesizes the captured image to recognize a character. 4.   The character input system according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays the recognition area. A character input device,
A light emitting means for emitting light;
Recognizing means for recognizing characters based on the locus of reflected light of the light;
Input processing means for processing the recognized character as an input character,
The recognizing means recognizes a character by dividing a locus of reflected light as a character stroke while a reflector that reflects the light is continuously located in a recognition area. Character input device.   The character input device according to claim 4, wherein the light emitting means starts emitting the light when the reflector is located in the recognition area.   6. The character input device according to claim 4, wherein the recognizing unit captures the locus of the reflected light as an image and synthesizes the captured image to recognize a character.   The character input device according to claim 5, further comprising a display unit that displays the recognition area. A character input method,
A light emitting step for emitting light;
A recognition step of recognizing a trajectory of reflected light while the reflected light of the light is continuously located in a recognition area as one stroke of a character, and recognizing the character based on at least one stroke number recognized;
An input processing step of processing the recognized character as an input character.   The character input method according to claim 9, wherein the light emitting step starts emitting the light when a reflector that reflects the light is positioned in the recognition area.   The character input method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the recognition step captures the locus of the reflected light as an image and synthesizes the captured image to recognize a character. A program for a character input device, the program being stored in the character input device,
A light emitting step for emitting light;
A recognition step of recognizing a trajectory of reflected light while the reflected light of the light is continuously located in a recognition area as one stroke of a character, and recognizing the character based on at least one stroke number recognized;
An input processing step of processing the recognized character as an input character.

Images