JPH02100712A - Handwriting input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a pen from being lost by indicating that the pen is not stored in a storage part when a power switch is turned off unless the pen is stored. CONSTITUTION:When the pen 4 is stored properly, namely, when the power switch 11 is turned off after the pen 4 is stored in the storage part 6, neither the display part 3 nor buzzer 17 of an indication part 16 is driven. A control part 14 drives the indication part 16 according to the output of a storage detection part 7 which detects the state and a power switch detection part 13 to display, for example, 'Pen is not stored.' on the display part 3 while making the buzzer 17 sound, thereby informing a user. The user is made to take notice that the pen 4 is not stored and the pen 4 is prevented from being left unstored.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a handwriting input device having a function of preventing a pen for handwriting input from being lost.

(Prior Art) In a conventional general handwriting input device, a pen for handwriting input is stored in an arbitrary storage location when not in use, and when used, the pen is taken out and handwritten input is performed.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the above conventional configuration, the pen must be stored again at a desired location after use, but such storage tends to cause the pen to become loose and the pen to be easily lost. there were. For this reason, there is a device that connects the pen to the main body of the device with a string to prevent the pen from being lost, but this method has the disadvantage that the string gets in the way when the pen is used, making it difficult to use.

The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a handwriting input device that can prevent the loss of a pen and does not impair the usability of the pen.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) A handwriting input device of the present invention is configured to input information by handwriting with a pen for handwriting input, and includes a storage portion for storing the pen; a pen storage detection section that detects whether the pen is stored in the storage section; a power switch detection section that detects whether the power switch is turned off; and a state in which the pen is not stored in the storage section. and a notification section that notifies that the pen is not stored when the pen storage detection section and the power switch detection section detect that the power switch is turned off.

(Function) When using, take the pen out of the storage compartment and input by hand.
After use, place the pen in the storage compartment and turn off the power switch. At this time, the pen storage detection section detects whether or not the pen is stored, and if the user turns off the power switch without storing the pen in the storage section, the pen will be stored. The notification section notifies the user that the system is not installed.

(Example) Hereinafter, a first example in which the present invention is applied to an electronic notebook will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

First, in FIG. 2 showing a perspective view of the overall appearance, reference numeral 1 denotes the main body of the electronic notebook, which can be folded by a hinge section 2 at the center. The left side portion 1a of the main body 1 is provided with a display section 3 and various operation switches such as a power switch 11 to be described later, while the right side portion 1b is provided with a handwriting input section for handwriting input using a pen 4 for handwriting input. 5, and a cylindrical storage section 6 for storing the pen 4. A pen storage detection section 7 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is provided at the bottom of the storage section 6.

The pen storage detection section 7 includes a movable contact piece 9 that can protrude into the storage section 6 through a hole 8 formed at the lower part of the storage section 6;
The switch is configured as a switch including this movable contact piece 9 and a contactable fixed contact piece 10. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, when the pen 4 is not stored, the movable contact piece 9
protrudes into the storage portion 6 and becomes separated from the fixed contact piece ]0, and when the pen 4 is stored as shown in FIG. 4, the movable contact piece 9 is pushed to the left by the pen 4 and comes into contact with the fixed contact piece 10.

On the other hand, in FIG. 1 showing the overall electrical configuration, 11 is a power switch that turns on and off the main power supply 12; 3 is a power switch detection unit that detects whether or not the power switch 11 is turned off; The output signal of the power switch detection section 13 and the output signal of the pen storage detection section 7 are input to the control section 14 . This control unit 14 is configured to receive power from a backup power supply 15 when the main power supply 12 is turned off. On the other hand, reference numeral 16 denotes a notification section which notifies the user of an event when the power switch 11 is turned off while the pen 4 is not stored in the storage section 6, and is driven by the control section 14. In this embodiment, the notification section 16 includes a buzzer 17 and the display section 3.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained. When using,
The pen 4 is taken out from the storage part 6 and handwritten input is performed on the handwriting input part 5. After use, the pen 4 is stored in the storage part 6 again and the power switch 11 is turned off. At this time, the power switch detection section 13 detects whether the power switch 11 is turned off, and the pen storage detection section 7 detects whether the pen 4 is stored in the storage section 6 or a cup in the following manner.

That is, when the pen 4 is in use (when the pen 4 is not stored as shown in FIG. 3), the movable liquid 19 protrudes into the storage portion 6 and is separated from the fixed contact piece 10. As a result, the pen storage detection section 7 is turned off and detects that the pen 4 is not stored. Thereafter, when the pen 4 is stored as shown in FIG. 4, the movable contact piece 9 is pushed leftward by the pen 4 and comes into contact with the fixed contact piece 10, thereby turning the pen storage detection section 7 on. Then, it is detected that the pen 4 is stored.

When the pen 4 is properly stored, that is, when the power switch 11 is turned off after the pen 4 is stored in the storage section 6, the display section 3 of the notification section 16 and the buzzer 17 are not driven. However, without storing pen 4, the power switch 1
1 is turned off, the control unit 14 drives the notification unit 16 based on the output signals from the pen storage detection unit 7 and the power switch detection unit 13 that detect the event, and at the same time makes the buzzer 17 sound. For example, "Ben not stored" is displayed on the display unit 3 to notify the user. This notification operation makes the user aware that the pen 4 is not stored, urges the user to store the pen 4, prevents the pen 4 from being left unstored, and prevents the user from storing the pen 4. To prevent loss of information.

Moreover, in this case, since the notification operation prevents the pen 4 from being lost, there is no need to connect the pen 4 to the main body 1 with a string as in the past, which is a problem in the past where the string gets in the way when using the pen 4. The problem is also resolved, and the usability of the pen 4 is not impaired.

On the other hand, FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this second embodiment, the movable contact piece 18 and the fixed contact piece 19 of the bent storage detection section 7 are arranged vertically. Then, both contact pieces 1
The tip portions 8 and 19 are configured to protrude into the storage portion 6 from a hole 20 at the lower end of the storage portion 6. In this case, pen 4
When in use (when the pen 4 is not stored in the storage part 6 as shown in FIG. 5), the movable contact piece 18 is moved from the fixed contact piece 1.
As a result, the pen storage detection section 7 turns off and detects that the pen 4 is not stored. After that, as shown in Fig. 6, the pen 4
When the pen 4 is stored, the movable contact piece 18 is moved by the lower end of the pen 4.
is pressed downward and comes into contact with the fixed contact piece 19, whereby the pen storage detection section 7 is turned on and detects that the pen 4 is stored.

In the above embodiment, the notification section 16 is connected to the display section 3 and the buzzer 1.
7, displays (visually) and sounds (visual) to indicate that pen 4 is not stored.
Since the notification is provided both aurally and visually, it has the advantage of ensuring complete notification to the user, but the notification section may be configured with only either the display section 3 or the buzzer 17; in this case, However, the intended purpose of the present invention can be achieved.

Further, the pen storage detection section 7 is configured to detect whether the pen 4 is stored or not stored depending on whether or not the pen 4 contacts the movable contact pieces 9, 18 (actuators) as in each of the above embodiments (contact). The switch is not limited to a contact type switch, and may be configured using a non-contact type switch such as a photoelectric switch or a proximity switch.

In addition, the handwriting input device of the present invention is not limited to electronic notebooks.
Various modifications are possible, such as being widely applicable to electronic dictionaries, various computers, word processors, etc.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, the present invention is configured to notify that the pen is not stored when the power switch is turned off while the pen is not stored in the storage section. The notification operation allows the user to notice that the pen is not stored, thereby preventing the pen from being left unstored and preventing the pen from being lost. Moreover, since there is no need to connect the pen to the main body of the device with a string like in the past, the conventional problem of the string getting in the way when using the pen can be solved.
It does not impair the usability of the pen.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 4 show the first embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the overall appearance, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the vent when it is not stored. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the storage sensor for the storage tray, and FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 when the storage container is stored. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the second embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4. In the drawing, 3 is a display section, 4 is a pen, 5 is a handwriting input section, 6
is the storage section, 7 is the pen storage detection section, 11 is the power switch,
13 is a power switch detection section, 14 is a control section, 16 is a notification section, and 17 is a buzzer. Applicant: Toshiba Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an apparatus in which information is input by handwriting with a pen for handwriting input, a storage part for storing the pen, and a pen storage detection part for detecting whether or not the pen is stored in the storage part. , a power switch detection section that detects whether the power switch is turned off; and a pen storage detection section and the power switch detection section that detect that the power switch is turned off while the pen is not stored in the storage section. A handwriting input device comprising: a notifying section that notifies the user that the pen is not stored when the pen is detected by the notifying section.