JPH0392919A - Electronic pen and holder for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To electronically easily record the handwriting of a memo sheet by housing the plural pairs of sensors provided in an orthogonally axial direction and in the intermediate direction of the orthogonally axial direction, code conversion circuit to control the operation of the respective sensor pairs, to fetch the outputs of the sensors and to convert the hand-writing to a prescribed code, and storage device, which store the output of the code conversion circuit, in a case. CONSTITUTION:In an electronic pen 5, the four pairs of the sensors are provided in the orghogonally axial direction and in the intermediate direction at least when they are observed from the upper direction of a core 1, and the respective sensors are constituted by combining light emitting elements and light receiving elements, for which plural elements are serially connected, for example. Concerning handwriting 7, the length of the handwriting is optically detected from reflected light by respective pairs 2-11 and 2-12, etc., of the sensors and fetched into the light receiving elements. Next, the output of the respective sensors are impressed to a code conversion circuit 3 and from the combination of the respective sensor outputs, the direction and length of the handwriting are calculated concerning the character of the handwriting and converted to the code at every character. Converted code signals are next stored in a storage device 4. Thus, the handwriting of the memosheet can be electronically easily recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] The present invention relates to an electronic writing instrument that detects and stores handwriting made with a ballpoint pen or the like, and provides an electronic writing instrument and a holder for the electronic writing instrument that can easily electronically record handwriting on memo paper, such as scribbled handwriting. In order to optically detect the handwriting drawn on paper by the lead of a ballpoint pen or pencil attached to the tip, multiple sets of sensors installed at least in the orthogonal axis direction and an intermediate direction thereof, and each sensor are used. An electronic writing instrument comprising a code conversion circuit that controls the operation of the set, captures sensor output and converts handwriting into a predetermined code, and a storage device that stores the output of the code conversion circuit, and houses them in a case; Furthermore, there is a holder that holds it.

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an electronic writing instrument that detects and stores handwriting made with a ballpoint pen or the like.

If the information scribbled on memo paper needed to be recorded and filed, it was necessary to use a special computer. Since it is easy to get lost if left on a desk, there was a desire to develop something that could easily store written information on the size of a memo pad.

However, in addition to preparing notes for important meetings, I often scribble information about phone calls received during office work on memo pads to help me remember them. Such events occur at irregular times, and paper of appropriate size is often used instead of a predetermined size.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] When transcribing notes scribbled on memo paper for filing purposes, it is necessary to use a computer or word processor using a keyboard, which is laborious and can take a long time. Normally, it is not possible to operate a computer or other device without changing the same desk or chair that is in use, so there have been cases where memo paper has been lost and important matters have not been addressed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide an electronic writing instrument and a holder thereof, which enable easy electronic recording of scribbled handwriting on memo paper.

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle structure of the present invention. In Figure 1, 1 is a ballpoint pen or pencil lead, 2-11.2-
12.2-21.2-22...2-42 is a sensor, 3
4 is a code conversion circuit, 4 is a storage device, 5 is an overall representation of a case containing an electronic writing instrument, 6 is paper, and 7 is handwriting.

The ballpoint pen or pencil lead 1 attached to the tip is used 6
In order to optically detect the handwriting 7 drawn above, four sets of sensors 2-1 are provided at least in the orthogonal axis direction and in the intermediate direction thereof.
1. 2-12. 2-21-.-2-42, a code conversion circuit 3 that controls the operation of each sensor group, takes in the sensor output and converts handwriting into a predetermined code, and a storage device that stores the output of the code conversion circuit 3. 4 and housed in the case 5.

Further, it is effective to provide a collation circuit for collating the data stored in the storage device 4 with data stored in a dictionary in advance, and a display device for displaying the collation result output of the collation circuit.

[Operation] Initially, characters are drawn on the yōgi 6 with the lead 1 of a ballpoint pen or pencil. At least four sets of sensors in the electronic writing instrument 5 are provided in the orthogonal axis direction and an intermediate direction when viewed from above the lead 1, and each sensor is configured by combining, for example, a light emitting element and a light receiving element in which a plurality of elements are connected in series. do. The length of the handwriting 7 is optically detected from the reflected light by each set of sensors 2-11, 2-12, etc., and is taken into the light receiving element. Next, the output of each sensor is applied to the code conversion circuit 3, the direction and length of the handwritten characters are determined from the combination of the sensor outputs, and each character is converted into a code. The converted code signal is then stored in the storage device 4. At this time, it is effective to provide a clock generation circuit within the code conversion circuit and utilize the clock for each timing of sensor readout, code conversion, and data storage. The data in the storage device 4 is displayed on a display device or printed using a printer, if necessary.

(Embodiment) Fig. 2 is a top view showing the structure and arrangement of sensors as an embodiment of the present invention.In Fig. 2, 2-11 is a sensor 2-
1 is a light emitting element, and 2-12 is a light receiving element.

Also 2-21. 2-22 constitutes another sensor set.

Similarly, four sensor groups are shown below. Each light-receiving element has, for example, a plurality of CCD elements arranged, and receives light-receiving signals by sequentially shifting them in accordance with a clock.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating detection of the katakana "a". ■ is the first stroke and the length is 3 units, ■ is the second stroke and the length is 2 units.
The unit, ■, is the third stroke and the length is 1! , ■ is the 4th stroke and the length is 2 units. The direction of image I is exactly the direction O of sensor 2-1.
Suppose it was ゜. When the writing instrument is moved by detecting the image I, the direction O0 can be determined since each set of the other sensors 2-2 to 2-4 has a detection output of zero in the arrangement shown in FIG. The length is determined by the number of COD elements into which the signal is taken.
”. Next, the writing instrument follows the handwriting marked ■, and the direction is determined to be 225 degrees and the length to be 2. It is determined that the handwriting in (■) has a direction of 270 degrees and a length of 1. The direction of the handwriting of ■ is 22.
5', the length is determined to be 2. These direction and length data are then applied to a code conversion circuit and converted into a code.

Note that if a position symbol is attached to the writing instrument case as a reference when holding the writing instrument in the hand, the sensor that detects the first stroke of handwriting can be limited, and code conversion becomes easier. If a character cannot be displayed in one stroke, indicate the point where the strokes intersect as one stroke. One character can be combined with multiple strokes. Therefore, if a larger number of sensor sets than 4Mi are prepared, complex characters such as Chinese characters can be detected. Furthermore, in the case of kanji, it is effective for character identification to include processing that limits the range occupied by strokes in advance.

Next, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating code conversion in the code conversion circuit. In FIG. 4, the direction and the corresponding code,
The lengths and corresponding codes are shown in a table. For example, direction 9
0'' is determined as code C, and the length 311 is determined as code C. Therefore, in the case of "A" shown in Fig. 3, the I stroke is 0.
°． For 31st night, the code is A C % 2nd stroke is 225°
, the length is 2H, so the code Fb, the third stroke is 270',
Since the length is 1ml, the code is las 4th stroke is 225'
, the length is 2 fl, so the code is Fb. Then, the data stored in the necessary storage device 4 is obtained by concatenating these codes as A c −+ F b −# Ga → F b
becomes.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the electronic writing instrument described above housed in the case 5. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 8 indicates a microprocessor MPU, 9 a battery, 1O a connection bottle with a holder of an electronic writing instrument, and 11 a switch. The microprocessor 8 controls the processing operation for storing the above-mentioned code string in the storage device 4, and the switch l1 is operated every time one character is recognized and is used to distinguish the processing from the next character. . The battery 9 is used to operate the microprocessor 8, code conversion circuit 3, sensor, etc.

Since the electronic writing instrument case 5 is used by being held with the fingers, the storage device 4 has a capacity of about 10 to 20 characters.

Therefore, after the electronic writing instrument has stored a predetermined number of characters, when the electronic writing instrument is inserted into the holder 12 shown in FIG.
Character data is transferred to 4. 500 in storage device 14
It is desirable that about 1000 characters can be stored. Note that 15 in FIG. 6 indicates a battery.

These devices store data about handwritten characters, but when actually used, the data is displayed on a display device or printed on paper by a printer, so it requires a dictionary, matching circuit, and display. The device is used by being provided in a housing other than the one described above. The holder data is transmitted to the housing and processed. In the dictionary, the fonts of standard characters are read in advance using the above-mentioned writing instrument, and the data is stored from the holder and used for discipline. The data read from the storage device 14 and the data read from the dictionary are then compared in a matching circuit. When it is confirmed that the character is a predetermined character, it can be easily displayed on a display device such as a cathode ray tube using a known character generator. It is also possible to print on paper using a printer.

[Effects of the Invention] In this way, according to the present invention, even if the memo paper is housed in a portable case, "
By following the handwriting, you can easily decipher the characters and memorize the data. Therefore, it is possible to print on paper of a predetermined size if necessary, so there is no need to lose valuable data as in the past. If a storage device with a large capacity is used, information can be reliably stored and taken home even in places where there is not enough storage for reliable display.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the principle structure of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a top view showing the arrangement of the sensor in Fig. 1 as an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 3 is an explanation of detecting the katakana "a". 4 is a diagram showing a conversion example of the code conversion circuit, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the electronic writing instrument case, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the holder of the electronic writing instrument. 1-.1 Ballpoint pen or pencil lead 2-11.2-12. 2-2t-2-42--sensor 3-code conversion circuit 4--storage device 5-case 12--retainer

Claims (1)

[Claims] I. A ballpoint pen or pencil lead attached to the tip (1
) to optically detect the handwriting (7) drawn on the paper (6), a plurality of sets of sensors (2-11) (2-12) (2 -21
)...(2-42) and a code conversion circuit (3) that controls the operation of each sensor group, takes in the sensor output, and converts the handwriting (7) into a predetermined code.
and a storage device (4) for storing the output of the code conversion circuit (2).
An electronic writing instrument characterized by comprising: and housing them in a case (5). II, a connector connectable to the electronic writing instrument according to claim 1, and a large-capacity storage device that receives and stores a conversion code temporarily stored in a storage device within the writing instrument, and holds the electronic writing instrument; A holder for an electronic writing instrument characterized by the following features: