JP2017126243A - Input device and character input program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device capable of ensuring an area for outputting a recognized character even when an input/output screen is small.SOLUTION: An input device 1 has a touch panel in a predetermined area on a screen. The input device 1 has a detection section 11 that detects a trail of an operation made on the touch panel responding to the operation of handwriting input in a predetermined area; a character recognition section 12 that recognizes the character using the trail of the detected operation; and a multi recognition result display unit 14 that displays the recognized character in a predetermined area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device and the like.

  The technique of the character input device which recognizes a handwritten character is disclosed (for example, refer patent document 1). In this technique, the character input device obtains stroke information from the stroke start / end region and direction with respect to the input frame for each stroke of the input handwritten character. Then, the character input device collates the obtained stroke information with the stroke information registered in the stroke dictionary, and detects a stroke candidate. And a character input device detects a character candidate from the stroke candidate row | line | column using the handwriting dictionary which registered the combination of the stroke for every character. Thereby, the character input device detects a correct character from the handwritten character overwritten in one input frame.

JP 2001-184458 A JP-A-8-180138 JP-A-5-061596 JP 2000-148322 A

  However, as the screen becomes smaller, there is a problem that it is difficult to secure an area for displaying the recognized character.

  For example, in the conventional technique, a region for inputting handwritten characters and a region for displaying are separated. If the input area and the display area are integrated, if the screen including the input area and the display area is downsized, it is difficult to secure an area for displaying the character-recognized character.

  An object of one aspect is to secure an area for displaying recognized characters even if the screen is downsized.

  In one aspect, the input device is an input device having a touch panel in a predetermined area on the screen, and detects a trajectory of the operation on the touch panel in response to an operation input by handwriting in the predetermined area. A character recognition unit for recognizing a trajectory of the operation detected by the detection unit, and an output unit for outputting the character recognized by the character recognition unit to the predetermined area.

  According to one aspect, even if the screen is reduced in size, it is possible to secure an area for displaying a character-recognized character.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the input device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the input device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of the character input process according to the embodiment. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating another example of the character input process according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart of a character input process according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart of the locus display update process according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a computer that executes a character input program.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an input device and a character input program disclosed in the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

[Configuration of Input Device According to Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the input device according to the embodiment. The input device 1 according to the embodiment detects a trajectory of an operation according to an operation input by handwriting in handwriting input by overwriting in a screen area, and recognizes a character using the detected trajectory of the operation. The input device 1 displays the character-recognized character in a screen area where handwriting is input. The display is an example of output.

  The input device 1 has a screen in which screen input and screen display are integrated, and the screen includes a touch panel. Examples of the input device 1 include a smart watch and a smartphone. The operation principle of the touch panel includes, for example, a resistance film method, a capacitance method, a surface acoustic wave method, an infrared method, and a method of tracking a finger position with a camera. Here, the infrared method, which is an example of the operating principle, emits infrared light parallel to the panel surface from the edge of the panel, and the finger on the opposite side is obtained by acquiring whether the infrared light is blocked by a finger or the like. Sensing the touch position.

  Although the input device 1 has been described as including a touch panel, a pointing device capable of writing input may be used instead of the touch panel. The operating principle of the pointing device includes, for example, an electromagnetic induction method using an electronic pen, a method in which a special pattern printed on paper or the like is read with a camera loaded on the pen tip, and the position of the pen tip is specified, an acceleration sensor, There is a method of measuring the movement of the pen tip with a gyro sensor.

  Here, an example of the input device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the input device according to the embodiment. Here, the input device 1 will be described as a smart watch. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the input device 1 includes a touch panel 100 that writes handwritten characters by touch. The touch panel 100 is mounted on the screen area. The screen area is an area that can be input by touching, and is also a display area for the result of character recognition.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the input device 1 includes a control unit 10 and a storage unit 20.

  The control unit 10 has an internal memory for storing programs defining various processing procedures and control data, and executes various processes using these. And the control part 10 respond | corresponds to the electronic circuit of integrated circuits, such as ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), for example. Or the control part 10 respond | corresponds to electronic circuits, such as CPU (Central Processing Unit) and MPU (Micro Processing Unit). Furthermore, the control unit 10 includes a detection unit 11, a character recognition unit 12, a multiple recognition control unit 13, a multiple recognition result display unit 14, a recognition result selection unit 15, a character determination unit 16, and a locus display update unit 17. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 is an example of an output unit. The trajectory display update unit 17 is an example of a trajectory output update unit.

  The storage unit 20 corresponds to a storage device such as a nonvolatile semiconductor memory element such as a flash memory or a FRAM (registered trademark) (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory).

  The detection unit 11 detects a trajectory of an operation on the touch panel 100 in accordance with an operation input by handwriting. As an example, the detection unit 11 acquires the coordinate value of the position where the finger is touched at every predetermined time interval while the finger is touching the touch panel 100. The detection unit 11 detects an operation trajectory obtained from the acquired series of coordinate values. That is, the trajectory here refers to a stroke in which the user continuously presses the finger against the screen area when the user inputs with the finger.

  The character recognizing unit 12 recognizes a character by using the operation locus detected by the detecting unit 11. For example, each time the operation track is detected by the detection unit 11, the character recognition unit 12 sets a trajectory group in which the currently detected operation track and the past operation track are overwritten as a character candidate overwritten character pattern. And the overwritten character pattern is recognized as a character. As an example, the character recognizing unit 12 may recognize a locus group to be overwritten as a character by using the technique of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-184458. That is, the character recognition unit 12 obtains stroke information from the start / end region and direction of the stroke with respect to the screen region (input frame) for each locus (stroke) of the handwritten character detected by the detection unit 11. The character recognition unit 12 collates the obtained stroke information with the stroke information registered in the stroke dictionary, and detects stroke candidates. The character recognizing unit 12 recognizes a character by detecting a character candidate from a sequence of stroke candidates using a handwriting dictionary in which a combination of strokes for each character is registered. Note that character recognition by the character recognition unit 12 is not limited to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-184458, and any technique may be adopted.

  The multiple recognition control unit 13 controls the character recognition unit 12 that recognizes each of the plurality of character types to operate in parallel. A character type means, for example, hiragana, alphabetic characters, or numbers. For example, the multiple recognition control unit 13 operates in parallel with a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana, a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for alphabetic characters, and a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for numbers. To control. The multiple recognition control unit 13 has been described as controlling the character recognition unit 12 that recognizes each of the plurality of character types to operate in parallel, but is not limited thereto. The multiple recognition control unit 13 may control the character recognition unit 12 that recognizes each of the plurality of character types to operate in order.

  The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays each recognition result from the character recognition unit 12 controlled by the multiple recognition control unit 13. For example, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays a recognition result for hiragana, a recognition result for alphabetic characters, and a recognition result for numbers in a character string display area in the screen area. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 may not display the character-recognized character when the reliability of character recognition is lower than a predetermined degree. The predetermined degree is, for example, 60%, but is not limited to this. In addition, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 may display the recognition results in descending order of the reliability of character recognition. Thereby, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 can save the screen area by displaying the character recognition result superimposed on the screen area where the handwritten character is input.

  The recognition result selection unit 15 causes the user to select a desired recognition result from the plurality of recognition results displayed on the multiple recognition result display unit 14. Here, in the input, whether the input is a handwritten character or a selection input may be determined using the length or touch time of the touch track, or the length and touch time of the touch track. In the embodiment, a case will be described in which determination is performed using the length of the touch trajectory. That is, the recognition result selection unit 15 determines that the input is a selection input when the length of the touch track is less than the threshold, and outputs a recognition result corresponding to the selected and input position to the character determination unit 16.

  The character determination unit 16 determines the recognition result selected by the recognition result selection unit 15 as a character input result.

  The trajectory display update unit 17 displays the operation trajectory detected by the detection unit 11 on the screen area following the operation, and updates the display of the operation trajectory so as to become lighter (lighter) as time passes. . For example, when a timer event occurs every predetermined time interval, the trajectory display update unit 17 updates the displayed trajectory display attributes (light / dark) so as to be light (light). The trajectory display update unit 17 updates the displayed trajectory display according to the display attribute. As an example, the predetermined time interval is 100 milliseconds, but is not limited thereto.

[Example of character input processing]
Next, an example of the character input process according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3A. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of the character input process according to the embodiment. 3A is an example of processing when the user writes “123” by overwriting on the screen area g0 of the touch panel 100. FIG.

  The user inputs handwriting “1” in the screen area g0. Then, the detection part 11 detects the locus | trajectory of operation to the touch panel 100 according to the operation input by handwriting.

  The multiple recognition control unit 13 operates in parallel with a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana, a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for alphabetic characters, and a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for numbers. Control. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana recognizes “shi” as a character using an operation trajectory. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes a character with respect to an alphabetic character recognizes the character “l” by using an operation locus. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes a character with a number as a target recognizes the character “1” using the locus of the operation.

  The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays each recognition result from the character recognition unit 12 controlled by the multiple recognition control unit 13 in the character string display region g1. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays the recognition results in the order of the high reliability of character recognition. Here, it is assumed that the reliability of character recognition is higher in the order of character recognition for numbers, character recognition for English characters, and character recognition for hiragana. Then, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays “1”, which is a recognition result of characters targeted for numbers, in the first character string display region g1. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays “l”, which is a recognition result of characters targeted for English characters, in the second character string display region g1. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays “shi”, which is a recognition result of characters targeted for hiragana, in the third character string display region g1.

  Next, the user inputs “2” by handwriting in the screen area g0. Then, the detection part 11 detects the locus | trajectory of operation to a touch panel according to the operation input by handwriting. In parallel, the trajectory display update unit 17 updates the display “1” of the operation trajectory so as to become lighter as time elapses. As a result, the displayed “1” is displayed lightly as time passes.

  The multiple recognition control unit 13 operates in parallel with a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana, a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for alphabetic characters, and a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for numbers. Control. The character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana characters recognizes “te” using the trajectory of the operation. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes a character with respect to an alphabetic character recognizes the character “z” by using an operation locus. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes a character with a number as a target recognizes the character “2” using the locus of the operation.

  The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays each recognition result from the character recognition unit 12 controlled by the multiple recognition control unit 13 in the character string display region g1. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 adds “2”, which is a character recognition result for a number, to the first character string display area g1, and displays “12”. The multi-recognition result display unit 14 adds “z”, which is a recognition result of characters intended for English characters, to the second character string display region g1, and displays “lz”. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 adds “te”, which is a character recognition result for hiragana, to the third character string display region g1, and displays “t”.

  Next, the user inputs “3” by handwriting over the screen area g0. Then, the detection part 11 detects the locus | trajectory of operation to the touch panel 100 according to the operation input by handwriting. In parallel, the trajectory display update unit 17 updates the operation trajectory displays “1” and “2” so as to become lighter as time elapses. As a result, the displayed “1” and “2” are displayed lightly as time passes.

  The multiple recognition control unit 13 operates in parallel with a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana, a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for alphabetic characters, and a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for numbers. Control. The character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana recognizes “RO” using the operation trajectory. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes a character with respect to an alphabetic character recognizes the character “j” by using an operation locus. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes a character for a number recognizes “3” using the locus of the operation.

  The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays each recognition result from the character recognition unit 12 controlled by the multiple recognition control unit 13 in the character string display region g1. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 adds “3”, which is a character recognition result for a number, to the first character string display area g1, and displays “123”. The multi-recognition result display unit 14 adds “j”, which is a recognition result of characters targeted for alphabetic characters, to the second character string display region g1, and displays “lzj”. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 adds “RO”, which is a recognition result of characters targeted for hiragana, to the third character string display area g1, and displays “SERO”.

  Next, the user selects and inputs a selectable area g2 on the left side of the character string display area g1. One example of the selection input operation is a tap operation. Here, the user taps the selectable area g2 on the left side of the first character string display area g1. Then, the recognition result selection unit 15 determines that the input is a selection input, and outputs the recognition result “123” corresponding to the position selected and input to the character determination unit 16. Then, the character determination unit 16 determines the recognition result “123” as the character input result.

[Another example of character input processing]
Next, another example of character input processing according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3B. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating another example of the character input process according to the embodiment. An example of FIG. 3B is a processing example in the case where the user writes “A” in the screen area g0 of the touch panel 100 by overwriting.

  The user inputs “a” in handwriting in the screen area g0. Then, the detection part 11 detects the locus | trajectory of operation to the touch panel 100 according to the operation input by handwriting.

  The multiple recognition control unit 13 operates in parallel with a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana, a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for alphabetic characters, and a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for numbers. Control. The character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana recognizes “A” using a plurality of operation trajectories. The character recognition unit 12 for recognizing an alphabetic character as a target recognizes the character using a plurality of operation trajectories. The character recognition unit 12 for recognizing characters for numbers recognizes characters using a plurality of operation trajectories.

  The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays each recognition result from the character recognition unit 12 controlled by the multiple recognition control unit 13 in the character string display region g1. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays the recognition results in the order of the high reliability of character recognition. When the reliability of character recognition is lower than a predetermined degree, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 does not display a character recognized character. Here, it is assumed that the reliability of character recognition for numbers and character recognition for English characters is lower than a predetermined degree. For this reason, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 does not display character recognition for numbers and alphabetic characters in the character string display region g1. On the other hand, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays “A”, which is a character recognition result for hiragana, in the first character string display region g1.

  Next, the user inputs “I” by handwriting over the screen area g0. Then, the detection part 11 detects the locus | trajectory of operation to the touch panel 100 according to the operation input by handwriting. In parallel, the trajectory display update unit 17 updates the display of the operation trajectory “A” so as to become lighter as time elapses. As a result, the displayed “A” is lightly displayed as time passes.

  The multiple recognition control unit 13 operates in parallel with a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana, a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for alphabetic characters, and a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for numbers. Control. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana recognizes “i” using the operation trajectory. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes characters for alphabetic characters recognizes characters using an operation trajectory. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes a character using a number as a target recognizes the character using an operation trajectory.

  The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays each recognition result from the character recognition unit 12 controlled by the multiple recognition control unit 13 in the character string display region g1. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays the recognition results in the order of the high reliability of character recognition. When the reliability of character recognition is lower than a predetermined degree, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 does not display a character recognized character. Here, it is assumed that the reliability of character recognition for numbers and character recognition for English characters is lower than a predetermined degree. For this reason, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 does not display character recognition for numbers and alphabetic characters in the character string display region g1. On the other hand, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 adds “i”, which is a character recognition result for hiragana, to the first character string display area g1, and displays “ai”.

  Next, the user inputs by handwriting “U” in the screen area g0 by overwriting. Then, the detection part 11 detects the locus | trajectory of operation to a touch panel according to the operation input by handwriting. In parallel, the trajectory display update unit 17 updates the display of the operation trajectory “A” and “I” so as to fade as time passes. As a result, the displayed “A” and “I” are displayed lightly as time passes.

  The multiple recognition control unit 13 operates in parallel with a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for hiragana, a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for alphabetic characters, and a character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters for numbers. Control. The character recognition unit 12 that recognizes characters with hiragana as a target recognizes the characters “U” using the operation trajectory. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes characters for alphabetic characters recognizes characters using an operation trajectory. The character recognizing unit 12 that recognizes a character using a number as a target recognizes the character using an operation trajectory.

  The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays each recognition result from the character recognition unit 12 controlled by the multiple recognition control unit 13 in the character string display region g1. The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays the recognition results in the order of the high reliability of character recognition. When the reliability of character recognition is lower than a predetermined degree, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 does not display a character recognized character. Here, it is assumed that the reliability of character recognition for numbers and character recognition for English characters is lower than a predetermined degree. For this reason, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 does not display character recognition for numbers and alphabetic characters in the character string display region g1. On the other hand, the multiple recognition result display unit 14 adds “u”, which is a recognition result of characters targeting hiragana, to the first character string display region g1, and displays “a”.

  Next, the user selects and inputs a selectable area g2 on the left side of the character string display area g1. One example of the selection input operation is a tap operation. Here, the user taps the selectable area g2 on the left side of the first character string display area g1. Then, the recognition result selection unit 15 determines that the input is a selection input, and outputs a recognition result “that” corresponding to the selected and input position to the character determination unit 16. Then, the character confirming unit 16 confirms the recognition result “that” as the character input result.

[Character input process flowchart]
Next, an example of a processing procedure of character input processing according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart of a character input process according to the embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, the detection unit 11 determines whether or not the input is a touch input indicating that the input is to the touch panel 100 (step S <b> 11). When it determines with not being a touch input (step S11; No), the detection part 11 repeats a determination process until there exists a touch input.

  On the other hand, when it determines with it being touch input (step S11; Yes), the detection part 11 calculates the length L of the locus | trajectory by a touch (step S12). The detection unit 11 determines whether or not the length L of the trajectory is equal to or greater than a threshold value (step S13).

  When it is determined that the length L of the trajectory is equal to or greater than the threshold (step S13; Yes), the character recognition unit 12 accumulates data indicating the trajectory by touch (trajectory data) and overwrites the trajectory with the overwritten character. Accumulated as a pattern (step S14). For example, the character recognition unit 12 accumulates a trajectory group in which a trajectory by touch and a past trajectory are overwritten as an overwritten character pattern of character candidates.

  Then, the character recognition unit 12 recognizes the accumulated overwritten character pattern as a character with different character types (step S15).

  The multiple recognition result display unit 14 displays each character recognition result (step S16). Then, the character input process ends.

  In step S13, when it is determined that the length L of the locus is less than the threshold (step S13; No), it is determined whether the recognition result selection unit 15 and the touch input position are in a selectable region ( Step S17). If it is determined that the position of the touch input is not a selectable region (step S17; No), the recognition result selection unit 15 determines that no recognition result has been selected, and proceeds to step S14.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the position of the touch input is the selectable area (step S17; Yes), the character determination unit 16 determines that the recognition result is selected, and the character corresponding to the selected position. The column is determined as the input character string (step S18). Then, the character input process ends.

[Flowchart of locus display update processing]
Next, an example of the processing procedure of the locus display update processing according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flowchart of the locus display update process according to the embodiment. Note that a timer event occurs every predetermined time interval, and the subsequent processing is started.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the trajectory display update unit 17 determines whether or not the display for all trajectories has been updated with respect to the trajectory data accumulated by the character recognition unit 12 (step S21). When it is determined that the display for all the trajectories has not been updated (step S21; No), the trajectory display update unit 17 extracts one trajectory data accumulated by the character recognition unit 12 (step S22).

  The trajectory display update unit 17 updates the display attribute of the trajectory indicated by the extracted trajectory data so that the display becomes light (step S23). Then, the trajectory display update unit 17 updates the trajectory display according to the display attribute (step S24). And the locus | trajectory display update part 17 transfers to step S21.

  On the other hand, when it determines with the display with respect to all the locus | trajectories having been updated (step S21; Yes), the locus | trajectory display update part 17 complete | finishes a locus | trajectory display update process.

[Effect of Example]
Thus, in the above embodiment, the input device 1 has a touch panel in a predetermined area on the screen. The input device 1 detects a trajectory of an operation on the touch panel in response to an operation input by handwriting in a predetermined area. The input device 1 recognizes characters using the detected operation trajectory. The input device 1 displays the character recognized character in a predetermined area. According to such a configuration, the input device 1 can secure a region for displaying a character-recognized character in a region for handwritten input even when the screen is downsized.

  In the above embodiment, the input device 1 displays the detected operation locus in a predetermined area following the operation input by handwriting, and displays the displayed operation locus for a preset time. Update to lighten over time. According to such a configuration, the input device 1 can suppress the display of the locus of a predetermined region from being disturbed by fading the display of the locus as time passes, and can allow the user to input characters comfortably.

  Moreover, in the said Example, the input device 1 recognizes the pattern of the character candidate by which each detected locus | trajectory was overwritten as a character. According to such a configuration, even when the screen is downsized, the input device 1 can recognize characters by using the locus of overwritten handwritten characters.

  Moreover, in the said Example, the input device 1 controls the several character recognition part which recognizes a character for every several character type so that it may operate | move in parallel or sequentially. According to such a configuration, the input device 1 can recognize characters corresponding to a plurality of character types without switching the character type mode in advance.

  Moreover, in the said Example, the input device 1 displays each character recognized for every character type by the some character recognition part in the partial area | region of a predetermined | prescribed area | region. According to such a configuration, the input device 1 can save the screen area by displaying each character recognized character on the predetermined area where handwriting is input. That is, the input device 1 can secure an area for displaying the recognized character even in a downsized screen.

  Moreover, in the said Example, the input device 1 isolate | separates the character display area which displays each character recognized, and the selectable area | region corresponding to each character recognized in the partial area. According to this configuration, the input device 1 can reliably select a character desired by the user from a plurality of character types.

  Moreover, in the said Example, the input device 1 does not display the character whose reliability of character recognition is lower than a predetermined | prescribed degree about each character by which character recognition was carried out. According to such a configuration, the input device 1 can reduce selection candidates by not displaying characters whose reliability of character recognition is lower than a predetermined degree.

  Moreover, in the said Example, the input device 1 displays each character by which character recognition was carried out in a character display area in order with the high reliability of character recognition. According to such a configuration, the input device 1 can facilitate the user to select a desired character.

[Others]
The input device 1 can be realized by mounting each function such as the control unit 10 and the storage unit 20 on an information processing apparatus such as a known personal computer or workstation.

  In addition, each component of the illustrated apparatus does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the specific mode of device distribution / integration is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or part of the device is functionally or physically distributed / integrated in arbitrary units depending on various loads and usage conditions. Can be configured. For example, the character recognition unit 12 and the multiple recognition control unit 13 may be integrated as one unit. On the other hand, the character recognition unit 12 may be distributed into a character recognition unit for hiragana, a character recognition unit for English characters, and a character recognition unit for numbers. The recognition result selection unit 15 is distributed to a determination unit that determines whether the input is a recognition result selection input or a handwritten character input, and a processing control unit that controls selection input processing or handwritten character input processing based on the determination. You may do it. The storage unit 20 may be connected as an external device of the input device 1 via a network.

  The various processes described in the above embodiments can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. Therefore, an example of a computer that executes a character input program that realizes the same function as the input device 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described below. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a computer that executes a character input program.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, the computer 200 includes a CPU 203 that executes various arithmetic processes, an input device 215 that receives input of data from the user, and a display control unit 207 that controls the display device 209. The computer 200 also includes a drive device 213 that reads a program and the like from a storage medium, and a communication control unit 217 that exchanges data with other computers via a network. The computer 200 also includes a memory 201 that temporarily stores various types of information and an HDD 205. The memory 201, CPU 203, HDD 205, display control unit 207, drive device 213, input device 215, and communication control unit 217 are connected by a bus 219.

  The drive device 213 is a device for the removable disk 211, for example.

  The CPU 203 reads the character input program 205a, expands it in the memory 201, and executes it as a process. Such a process corresponds to each functional unit of the input device 1. The character input process related information 205 b corresponds to information stored in the storage unit 20. For example, the removable disk 211 stores information such as the character input program 205a.

  Note that the character input program 205a does not necessarily have to be stored in the HDD 205 from the beginning. For example, the program is stored in a “portable physical medium” such as a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, a DVD disk, a magneto-optical disk, or an IC card inserted into the computer 200. Then, the computer 200 may read and execute the character input program 205a from these.

  The following supplementary notes are further disclosed with respect to the embodiments including the above examples.

(Appendix 1) An input device having a touch panel in a predetermined area on a screen,
A detection unit that detects a trajectory of an operation on the touch panel in response to an operation input by handwriting in the predetermined region;
A character recognition unit for recognizing characters using an operation trajectory detected by the detection unit;
An output unit for outputting the character recognized by the character recognition unit to the predetermined area;
An input device comprising:

(Supplementary Note 2) The operation locus detected by the detection unit is output to the predetermined area following the operation input by handwriting, and the output of the operation locus output is output at a preset time. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a trajectory output update unit that updates the information so as to become lighter as time elapses.

(Supplementary note 3) The input device according to Supplementary note 1, wherein the character recognition unit recognizes a character candidate pattern in which each locus detected by the detection unit is overwritten as a character.

(Additional remark 4) The input device of Additional remark 1 characterized by further having a multiple recognition control part which controls so that a plurality of character recognition parts which recognize a character for every plurality of character types operate in parallel or sequentially.

(Supplementary note 5) The input device according to supplementary note 4, wherein the output unit outputs each character recognized for each character type by a plurality of character recognition units to a partial region of the predetermined region.

(Additional remark 6) The said output part separates the character output area | region which outputs each character recognized by the said character, and the selectable area | region corresponding to each said character recognized character, and secures it in the said partial area. The input device according to appendix 5, characterized by:

(Additional remark 7) The said output part does not output the character whose reliability of character recognition is lower than predetermined | prescribed degree about each character by which the said character recognition was carried out. The input device of Additional remark 5 characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Additional remark 8) The said output part outputs to the said character output area | region in order with the high reliability of character recognition about each character by which the said character recognition was carried out. The input device of Additional remark 6 characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Additional remark 9) The locus | trajectory of operation is detected according to the operation input by handwriting to the touch panel which has a predetermined area | region on a screen,
Character recognition using the detected operation trajectory,
A character input program for causing a computer to execute a process of outputting the character-recognized character to the predetermined area.

(Supplementary note 10)
In response to a handwritten input operation on the touch panel in a predetermined area on the screen, the locus of the operation is detected,
Character recognition using the detected operation trajectory,
A character input method comprising: executing each process of outputting the character-recognized character to the predetermined area.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input device 10 Control part 11 Detection part 12 Character recognition part 13 Multiple recognition control part 14 Multiple recognition result display part 15 Recognition result selection part 16 Character confirmation part 17 Trajectory display update part 20 Storage part 100 Touch panel

Claims (9)

An input device having a touch panel in a predetermined area on the screen,
A detection unit that detects a trajectory of an operation on the touch panel in response to an operation input by handwriting in the predetermined region;
A character recognition unit for recognizing characters using an operation trajectory detected by the detection unit;
An output unit for outputting the character recognized by the character recognition unit to the predetermined area;
An input device comprising: The operation trajectory detected by the detection unit is output to the predetermined area following the operation input by handwriting, and the output of the output operation trajectory is output in accordance with the passage of a preset time. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a trajectory output update unit that updates the information so as to become lighter. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the character recognition unit recognizes, as a character, a character candidate pattern in which each locus detected by the detection unit is overwritten. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a multiple recognition control unit configured to control a plurality of character recognition units that recognize characters for a plurality of character types so as to operate in parallel or sequentially. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the output unit outputs each character recognized for each character type by a plurality of character recognition units to a partial region of the predetermined region. The output unit separates a character output area for outputting the character-recognized characters and a selectable area corresponding to the character-recognized characters, and secures them in the partial area. The input device according to claim 5. The input device according to claim 5, wherein the output unit does not output a character having a character recognition reliability lower than a predetermined degree for each character recognized. The input device according to claim 6, wherein the output unit outputs the recognized characters to the character output area in descending order of reliability of character recognition. In response to a handwritten input operation on the touch panel in a predetermined area on the screen, the locus of the operation is detected,
Character recognition using the detected operation trajectory,
A character input program for causing a computer to execute a process of outputting the character-recognized character to the predetermined area.