JP3594625B2 - Character input device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a character input device by handwriting.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For handwriting input of characters using a character input device, input is directly performed on an application without providing an input area, or an input area is provided in a set position or a position to be input on an application, and input is performed in the area. And so on.
[0003]
When inputting directly on the application, there is a problem in that each character is cut out from characters that are continuously input, so that the recognition rate is not increased, and there is a problem that the input area is reduced depending on the application.
[0004]
Further, when an input area is provided at a set position, there is a problem that a character input position is shifted from a work position on the application.
[0005]
At present, a method is often used in which an input area is provided to obtain a sufficient recognition rate, an input frame is displayed there, and characters are input in the frame.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional method of providing an input area has a problem that it is difficult to perform an operation because the input area hides an area of the application. Further, when the input area is set so that the application can be viewed as it is, there is a problem that a character pattern to be input is difficult to see.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a character input device capable of inputting handwritten characters without hindering work on an application.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A character input device comprising a character input region setting means for setting a character input region, wherein the character input device converts image data constituting an image of a background region hidden by the character input region and superimposes and displays the image data on the character input region.
The character input device selects four adjacent pixels in the background display of the character input area set by the character input area setting means, and calculates an average pixel value of the image data of the background area hidden by the four pixels. , The pixel value of one pixel selected from the four pixels is replaced with the average pixel value, and the pixel values of the remaining pixels of the four pixels excluding the selected one pixel are replaced with the pixel values of the background display of the character input area. A character input device characterized by being left as it is.
[0011]
【Example】
(Example 1)
Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows a main configuration of this embodiment and peripheral devices. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a character input device of the present embodiment. Reference numeral 12 denotes a character recognition device that recognizes a character input based on input coordinate information obtained by the character input device 11. Reference numeral 13 denotes an application, which performs an operation specified by a user while using the character input device 11 and the character recognition device 12. The character input device 11 includes a coordinate position input unit 14, a character detection unit 15, a character input area setting unit 16, and an input area background display unit 17. The coordinate position input means 14 is for the user to input handwritten characters by hand or to specify coordinate positions, and is composed of, for example, a tablet and an input pen. When the character input device 11 is activated by the application 13 as needed, the character input area setting means 16 provides an input area and displays an input frame. The input area background display means 17 displays the image of the application hidden by the character input area by performing pixel value conversion such as grayscale conversion in the input area. Information input by the user to the coordinate position input unit 14 is collected by the character detection unit 15 and sent to the character recognition device 12. The character recognition device 12 recognizes the character input by the user based on the information and sends the character to the application 13.
[0013]
Next, the operation of the character input device 11 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the character input device 11 is activated by the application 13, the character input mode of step 21 is set. First, the character input area setting means 16 sets a character input area as determined in advance or specified by the application 13 (step 22). Subsequently, the input area background display means 17 obtains an image of the area of the application hidden by the character input area (step 23), and applies the shading conversion to the obtained image so that the image can be distinguished from the input character pattern. It is displayed as the background of the input area (step 24). Further, the character input area setting means 16 displays an input frame in this input area to enable a user to input (step 25). Here, the character input device 11 enters an event waiting state as to whether the application rewrites the screen, whether the user has input coordinates in the character input area, or whether the application ends the character input mode (step 26). When the application rewrites the screen (step 2a), similarly to steps 23 and 24, the input area background display means 17 acquires an image of the area to be hidden (step 2b) and displays it as the background of the character input area (step 2b). 2c). When the user inputs coordinates in the character input area (step 2d), the character detection unit 15 obtains input coordinate information from the coordinate position input unit 14 and passes it to the character recognition device 12 (step 2e). When ending the character input mode (step 2f), the character input device 11 ends the operation and returns to the processing of the application 13. In steps 24 and 2c, grayscale conversion is performed as conversion of pixel values. In the grayscale conversion, the average of these pixel values is calculated for a number of adjacent pixels corresponding to the density after the conversion, a representative one pixel selected from these pixels is set to this average value, and the remaining pixels are used for the character input area. The background color. For example, in the case of density conversion for reducing the density to 25%, four adjacent pixels in the background display 34 of the character input area 32 in FIG. 3 are selected, and four pixels of the application screen 31 which is a background area hidden by the four pixels are selected. The average pixel value is calculated, and the pixel value of the lower left pixel in the four pixels selected in the background display 34 of the character input area 32 is replaced with this average pixel value. The pixel value of the display 34 remains unchanged. This process is performed by scanning the entire image.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is a screen display when a word processor is used as the application 13 and a character input area is set on the application. In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a screen display of a word processor as an application. 32 is a character input area set on the application, and 33 is a character input frame in the character input area. Reference numeral 34 denotes a background display, in which a display portion of the application hidden by providing the character input area 32 is subjected to shading conversion using a representative point by the input background display means 17 so as to be distinguished from the input character pattern. . FIG. 4 shows a screen display according to a conventional technique for comparison. Reference numerals 41, 42, and 43 denote an application screen display, a character input area, and a character input frame, similarly to 31, 32, and 33, respectively. Unlike FIG. 3, the character input area 42 hides a part of the application screen 41.
[0015]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a user inputs a character by handwriting, a character input area is provided on an application screen such as a word processor and a character input for displaying an input frame is performed. Screen can also be viewed.
[0016]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, a special tablet may be used as a character input area setting means, which is used by being superimposed on an application screen, and which is made translucent to serve as an input area background display means.
[0017]
In the embodiment, the grayscale conversion using the representative point is used as the conversion of the pixel value. However, the grayscale conversion for changing the dynamic range of the pixel display color or the color tone conversion may be used.
[0018]
In the embodiment, the background display is changed in order to distinguish the background display from the character input frame or the written character pattern.However, the setting is made so as to distinguish the shading and the color tone of the input frame and the character pattern from the background display. You may.
[0019]
Further, in the embodiment, the case where a word processor is used as an application and character input is performed by handwriting is described, but in addition, when a character input to a spreadsheet application, a drawing creation application, or an operating system is performed by handwriting, Can also be used. Further, in FIG. 3, the character input area is provided horizontally at the current input position, but the position, direction, size, etc. of the character input area may be arbitrary.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when performing handwritten character input on an application or the like, character input can be performed without hindering work on the application.
[0021]
In addition, since a character input frame can be displayed in the character input area, it is possible to avoid a reduction in the character recognition rate due to character cutout that occurs when no character input frame is provided.
[0022]
Further, since the application area hidden by the character input area can be viewed, the character input area can be provided at an arbitrary position on the application in an arbitrary size and in an arbitrary direction. In particular, when an input frame is provided at a position on the application where the user wants to input, continuity of work on the application is maintained and natural input can be performed. In addition, since a character input area of an arbitrary size can be created, input can be performed with a character size most suitable for the writer.
[0023]
As described above, there is a great practical effect when performing handwritten character input.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention and peripheral devices.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display according to the present embodiment on a word processor application.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen display example according to the related art for comparison.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 11 character input device 12 character recognition device 13 application 14 coordinate position input means 15 character detection means 16 character input area setting means 17 input area background display means 31 application screen display 32 character input area 33 character input frame 34 background display 41 application Screen display 42 Character input area 43 Character input frame

Claims (1)

A character input device comprising a character input region setting means for setting a character input region, wherein the character input device converts image data constituting an image of a background region hidden by the character input region and superimposes and displays the image data on the character input region.
The character input device selects four adjacent pixels in the background display of the character input area set by the character input area setting means, and calculates an average pixel value of image data of the background area hidden by the four pixels. , The pixel value of one pixel selected from the four pixels is replaced with the average pixel value, and the pixel values of the remaining pixels of the four pixels excluding the selected one pixel are replaced with the pixel values of the background display of the character input area. A character input device characterized by being left as it is.

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