JPH0636073A - Handwriting editing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify erasing operation and prevent display data to be erased from being erroneously selected by eliminating erasure screen setting operation from erasing operation for display data where both of image data and character pattern data exist mixedly. CONSTITUTION:This handwriting editing device has an erasing function part 17 which erases the image data in an erasure object area unconditionally if the image data in an image data storage area 16 is present in the erasure object area indicated by using a stylus pen 11c, an area dividing part 18 which divides the storage area of the corresponding character data into plural small areas when the character pattern data in a code data storage area 15 is present in the erasure object area, an overlap decision part 19 which compares each of the small areas with the erasure object area and decides the number of small areas overlapping with the erasure object area, and a code data erasing function part 20 which erases the corresponding character pattern data when the number of the overlapping small areas exceeds a specific number.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a handwriting editing device for inputting handwritten characters and performing various kinds of information processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, information processing devices such as workstations and personal computers have traditionally been constructed with a display and a keyboard. In this way, with a device equipped only with a keyboard as an input device, there is no problem when inputting only code data such as characters and numbers, but when operating the application program and other functions of the information processing device. Must remember all commands for operation (for example, commands such as FORMAT in MS-DOS personal computer) and input the command name from the keyboard when necessary. This kind of operation is nothing for enthusiasts and those who have occupations using these information processing devices, but it is very difficult for ordinary people to understand. It is one of the reasons for being shunned.

In order to solve such a problem,
Devices called pointing devices such as mice and trackballs are known. This pointing device can point and select an arbitrary coordinate position on the screen by moving a cursor on the display screen. For example, when the contents of a process or multiple target objects are displayed on the display screen, the operator operates the pointing device to move the cursor to the display position of the desired object, and clicks to select and determine that position. Do the operation. As a result, the process corresponding to the selected object is executed. Therefore, by using this pointing device,
The troublesome command input operation by the key code unit as in the past becomes unnecessary, and the operation can be greatly simplified.

In recent years, an integrated display input device in which a coordinate detection device for inputting coordinate data (hereinafter referred to as a tablet) is overlaid on a display device such as a liquid crystal display has been actively developed. This integrated display / input device can directly indicate an object being displayed by a dedicated input pen (hereinafter referred to as a stylus pen), and the operation can be further simplified as compared with the above pointing device. Further, in this integrated display / input device, when a character or a figure is handwritten on a tablet using a stylus pen, the handwriting can be displayed as it is at the handwritten position. Therefore, the input operation can be performed as if a pencil were running on paper.

Usually, a handwritten character recognition function is added to the input / display function of image data by handwriting so that the characters input by handwriting can be coded and the characters corresponding to the code data can be displayed. Often

Hereinafter, this type of device will be referred to as a handwriting editing device. This handwriting editing device is generally capable of simultaneously displaying both an image input by handwriting and a character corresponding to code data obtained through character recognition. In this case, both data may be displayed adjacently or overlapping depending on the editing method. Therefore, even if it is desired to erase a part or all of one data, it becomes difficult to specify only one data with the stylus pen as an erase target.

Therefore, a method of separately storing both data in a data storage area for two screens is adopted. In this method, the display is performed by taking the logical sum of the data of the two screens stored in each data storage area and overlapping them. Data is erased after the screen to be erased is set in advance.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the construction of a handwriting editing device having a data storage area for these two screens and a data erasing function.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a transparent tablet 1 which is a coordinate detecting device on a display device 1a such as a liquid crystal display device.
It is an integrated display input unit configured by stacking b. Reference numeral 2 denotes a handwritten character recognition unit that performs character recognition on image data of a character handwritten using the stylus pen 1c on the tablet 1b of the integrated display input unit 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a handwritten character recognition unit according to a handwritten character recognition valid / invalid switching signal a input from a host computer (not shown) by designating a function selection icon displayed on the screen with the stylus pen 1c. 2 is a handwriting character recognition switching unit for switching between valid / invalid of the character recognition processing by 2. When the data output from the handwritten character recognition unit 2 is code data as a recognition result, 4 stores image data of a character pattern corresponding to the code data in the code data storage area 5, and the handwritten character recognition unit 2
If the output data is simple image data, the input data storage processing unit stores the image data in the image data storage area 6. Each of the code data storage area 5 and the image data storage area 6 is a bit map memory in which 1 bit is associated with a display pixel, and the image data to be displayed is expanded and held as it is. 7 is a stylus pen 1c for selecting a function selection icon (eraser icon, etc.) on the screen.
The code data storage area 5 or image is activated in response to an erase activation signal b input from the host computer, such as by specifying with, and a rectangular peripheral area of a predetermined vertical and horizontal size centered on the coordinates designated by the stylus pen 1c. An erasing function unit for erasing the data in the data storage area 6. Reference numeral 8 indicates, for example, based on an erase screen setting signal c input from the host computer by designating a function selection icon on the screen with the stylus pen 1c.
This is an erase screen switching unit that switches the erase target of the erase function unit 7 between the code data storage area 5 and the image data storage area 6. Reference numeral 9 denotes a display control unit for taking a logical sum of data stored in the code data storage area 5 and the image data storage area 6 and superimposing them, and displaying the superposed data on the display device 1a of the integrated display input unit 1. Is.

Next, the operation of the handwriting editing device will be described. The tablet 1b has a stylus pen 1 at regular time intervals.
Measure the coordinates indicated by c. The measured coordinate values are sent to the handwritten character recognition unit 2 together with switch information (ON when contacting, OFF when not contacting) indicating whether the stylus pen 1c is in contact with the surface of the tablet 1b.

When the handwritten character recognition function is enabled, the handwritten character recognition unit 2 sets the value of the bit corresponding to each coordinate value to "1" from the coordinate value of a group captured from the tablet 1b. Image data of handwritten characters is generated, character recognition is performed on the image data, and code data as a recognition result is output to the input data storage processing unit 4 together with its attribute information. That is, the handwritten character recognition unit 2 ends handwriting input of one character (input of a group of coordinate values) when the switch information is turned from ON to OFF and the OFF state continues for a predetermined time or longer. Character recognition is started. The input data storage processing unit 4 knows from the attribute information that the input data is code data, generates a character pattern image corresponding to this code data, and stores it in the code data storage area 5.

When the handwritten character recognition function is disabled, the handwritten character recognition unit 2 sets the value of the bit corresponding to each coordinate value to "1" from the coordinate value of a group captured from the tablet 1b. Image data of a handwritten character is generated, and the image data is output to the input data storage processing unit 4 as it is together with the attribute information, that is, without performing character recognition. The input data storage processing unit 4 knows from the attribute information that the input data is simply image data, and stores this image data in the image data storage area 6 as it is.

The data respectively stored in the code data storage area 5 and the image data storage area 6 are simultaneously read by the display control section 9, and the respective bits are logically summed and superposed. After
It is output to the display device 1a of the integrated display input unit 1.

When erasing the data in the code data storage area 5 or the image data storage area 6, the screen to be erased is selected by, for example, designating the erase screen setting icon displayed on the screen with the styram pen 1c. . Then, the deletion screen setting signal c of the value according to the selection contents
Is given to the erasure screen switching unit 8 and either the code data storage area 5 or the image data storage area 6 is set as the erasure target. After that, for example, by designating the eraser icon with the stylus pen 1c, the erase start signal b is input to the erase function unit 7 and the erase function unit 7 is input.
Is started. Then, the erasing function unit 7 sends a command to the input data storage processing unit 4 to invalidate the storage process of the data input from the handwritten character recognition unit 2, and the code data storage area 5 or the code data storage area 5 set as the erasure target. The erasing process for the data in the image data storage area 6 is executed. At this time, erase the data using the Stylum Pen 1
It is performed for a rectangular area having a predetermined vertical and horizontal size centered on the coordinates designated by c. As described above, in the conventional handwriting editing apparatus, the data storage area for two screens, that is, the code data storage area 5 and the image data storage area 6 are provided.
And have. Therefore, in order to erase the data, the data storage area on the side to be erased must be set before the erase function is designated.

However, when such a setting operation of the erasure screen is required, if the setting is erroneous or the setting is ignored, the display data which is not intended to be erased is erased, or the display data to be erased is erased at once. Inconvenience such as not being done occurs. That is, this is because the operator has only one screen and it is difficult to intuitively grasp the necessity of the setting operation of the deletion screen.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and it is possible to eliminate an erasing screen setting operation from an erasing operation of display data, thereby simplifying the erasing operation and An object of the present invention is to provide a handwriting editing device capable of preventing an error in selection of display data to be erased.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the handwriting editing apparatus of the present invention has a tablet for detecting the coordinates designated by the pen-shaped pointing device on the screen of the display device. In a handwriting editing device configured as described above, character recognition means for recognizing a handwritten character on the tablet using the pen-shaped pointing device and outputting code data, and code data output by the character recognition means. A first storage unit having a storage area corresponding to the screen for storing character pattern data corresponding to the screen, and the screen storing image data handwritten using the pen-like pointing device on the tablet. Second storage means having a storage area corresponding to, character pattern data stored in the first storage means, and an image stored in the second storage means A means for displaying the data on the display device in a superimposed manner, and the image data of the first storage means in the erase target area instructed by the pen-shaped instructing device on the screen, A means for erasing this image data from the first storage means, a means for dividing the storage area of the individual character pattern data of the second storage means into a plurality of small areas, each of the divided small areas and the Means for comparing the erasure target area and determining the number of small areas overlapping the erasure target area; and the second storage when the number of small areas overlapping the erasure target area is equal to or larger than a predetermined number. Means for erasing the corresponding character pattern data stored in the means.

[0018]

In the handwriting editing apparatus of the present invention, when the image data of the second storage means, that is, the image data of the handwritten character itself exists in the area to be erased designated by the pen-shaped pointing device, it is unconditional. That is, the image data in the erase target area is erased without selecting the erase screen. Further, regarding the character pattern data of the first storage means corresponding to the code data obtained through character recognition, the storage area of each character pattern data is divided into a plurality of small areas, and each small area and the area to be erased are divided into Is compared to determine the number of small areas that overlap the area to be erased, and when the number is equal to or larger than a predetermined number, the corresponding character pattern data is erased.

Therefore, even if the data of the respective storage means are mixed in the area to be erased, only the image data of the second storage means is erased unless the number of small areas overlapping the area to be erased exceeds a predetermined number. Will be done. Therefore,
The erasing operation can be simplified, and the display data can be erased in a manner very similar to the erasing work using an actual eraser.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a handwriting editing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes an integrated display input section which is constructed by stacking a transparent tablet 11b which is a coordinate detecting device on a display device 11a such as a liquid crystal display device.
Reference numeral 12 denotes a handwritten character recognition unit for performing character recognition on image data of a character handwritten using the stylus pen 11c on the tablet 11b of the integrated display input unit 11. Reference numeral 13 denotes a handwritten character recognition unit according to a handwritten character recognition valid / invalid switching signal a input from a host computer (not shown) by designating a function selection icon displayed on the screen with the stylus pen 11c. 12 is a handwritten character recognition switching unit that switches between valid and invalid character recognition processing by 12. When the data output from the handwritten character recognition unit 12 is code data as a recognition result, 14 stores character pattern data corresponding to the code data in the code data storage area 15 and is output from the handwritten character recognition unit 12. The input data storage processing unit stores the image data in the image data storage area 16 when the data is simple image data. Each of the code data storage area 15 and the image data storage area 16 is a bit map memory in which 1 bit is associated with a display pixel, and an image to be displayed is expanded and held as it is. Reference numeral 17 is activated in response to an erase activation signal b input from the host computer by, for example, designating a function selection icon (eraser icon, etc.) on the screen with the stylus pen 11c, and centered on the coordinates designated by the stylus pen 11c. The erase function unit erases the data in the code data storage area 15 or the image data storage area 16 in a rectangular area having a predetermined vertical and horizontal size (hereinafter, referred to as an erase target area). An area dividing unit 18 divides the area of each character pattern data in the code data storage area 15 into a predetermined number, for example, 16 small areas. Reference numeral 19 denotes the small area divided by the area dividing unit 18 and the stylus pen 11c.
Is an overlap determination unit that determines the number of small areas that overlap with the erase target area by comparing the erase target area designated by. A code data erasing function unit 20 erases the corresponding character pattern data from the code data storage region 15 when the number of small regions which is the determination result input from the overlap determining unit 19 is a predetermined number or more. Reference numeral 21 represents the logical sum of the data stored in the code data storage area 15 and the data stored in the image data storage area 16.
It is a display control unit that displays the superimposed data on the display device 11a of the integrated display input unit 11.

Next, the operation of the handwriting editing device will be described. The tablet 11b measures the coordinates designated by the stylus pen 11c at regular time intervals. The measured coordinate value is switch information indicating whether the stylus pen 11c is in contact with the surface of the tablet 11b.
It is sent to the handwritten character recognition unit 12 together with N and OFF when not in contact.

When the handwritten character recognition function is enabled here, the handwritten character recognition unit 12 operates the tablet 11b.
The image data of handwritten characters in which the value of the bit corresponding to each coordinate value is set to "1" is generated from the collected coordinate value of the coordinate value, and character recognition is performed on this image data as a recognition result. The code data is output to the input data storage processing unit 14 together with the attribute information.
That is, the handwritten character recognition unit 12 ends the handwriting input of one character (input of a set of coordinate values) when the switch information is turned from ON to OFF and the OFF state continues for a predetermined time or longer. Character recognition is started.

The input data storage processing unit 14 knows from the attribute information that the input data is code data, generates character pattern data corresponding to this code data, and stores this in the code data storage area 15. .

When the handwritten character recognition function is disabled, the handwritten character recognition unit 12 sets the value of the bit corresponding to each coordinate value to "1" from the coordinate value of a group captured from the tablet 11b. Image data of handwritten characters is generated, and this image data is output to the input data storage processing unit 14 together with the attribute information as it is, that is, without performing character recognition. Input data storage processing unit 1
4 knows from the attribute information that the input data is mere image data, and stores this image data in the image data storage area 16.

Thereafter, the data stored in the code data storage area 15 and the data stored in the image data storage area 16 are simultaneously read by the display control unit 21, and the respective bits are logically summed and superposed. After that, it is output to the display device 11a of the integrated display input unit 11.

Next, the procedure for erasing the display data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, by designating, for example, an eraser icon displayed on the screen with the styram pen 11c, an erase activation signal b is input from the host computer to the erase function unit 17, and thereby the erase function unit 17 is activated (step 201). .
The erasing function unit 17
After issuing a command from the handwritten character recognition unit 12 to invalidate the storage process of the input data, the process waits for designation of the area to be erased (step 202).

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the operator determines the position of the display data to be erased by the stylus pen 11.
When designated by c, the designated coordinates are input to the erasing function unit 17. As a result, the erasing function unit 17 sets an erasing target area E having a predetermined vertical and horizontal size centered on the input designated coordinates (step 203).

Subsequently, the erasing function section 17 determines whether or not the image data of the image data storage area 16 exists in the erasing target area E (step 204). As a result, if the image data exists, the image data in the erase target area E is erased from the image data storage area 16 (step 205). If there is no image data, nothing is done and the process proceeds to the next step.

After that, the erasing function unit 17 has the area dividing unit 18
And the coordinate data of the erasure target area E is sent to the overlap determination section 19 together with the activation signal.

The area dividing unit 18 judges whether or not character pattern data exists in the erasure target area E of the code data storage area 15 (step 206). If the character pattern data exists, this character pattern data 1 For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the character area is composed of 4 rows and 4 columns.
It is divided into a plurality of small areas (step 207).

Next, the overlap determining section 19 is operated by the area dividing section 18
The small area divided by is compared with the erase target area E obtained from the erase function unit 17 (step 208), and if there is a small area that partially overlaps the erase target area E, the number of the overlapped small area ( In this example, 4 and 8) are stored (step 209).

During this period, if the switch information of the stylus pen 11c is not switched from ON to OFF (step 210), the process returns to step 203 to obtain the coordinates of the next area to be erased and perform the above-mentioned processing again. However, in the second and subsequent cycles, only the number of the small area that overlaps the erase target area for the first time is stored in the storage of the small area number that overlaps the erase target area in step 209. That is,
The overlap determination unit 19 compares the number of the small area obtained by comparison with the next area to be erased with the number of the already stored small area, and stores only the number of the small area that has not been stored so far. Add to. Then, when the switch information of the stylus pen 11c is switched from ON to OFF (step 2
10), the overlap determination unit 19 obtains the number X of small areas in which the numbers are stored, and outputs the result to the code data erasing function unit 20 (step 211).

After that, the code data erasing function unit 20
The number X of small areas input from the overlap determination unit 19 is compared with a predetermined number Xa (step 212). If the number X of small areas is equal to or larger than the predetermined number Xa, the area dividing unit 18 The information on the area to be erased in the code data storage area 15 is obtained and the character pattern data in this area is erased (step 213). If the number X of small areas does not reach the predetermined number Xa, nothing is done and the process ends (step 214).

In this example, when 16 or more of the 16 small areas are overlapped with the area E to be erased, the corresponding character pattern data is erased.

Thus, according to the handwriting editing apparatus of the present embodiment, even if the screen to be erased is not preset, if there is image data in the region to be erased designated by the stylus pen 11c, it is unconditionally erased, If there is character pattern data corresponding to the code data, the area for one character is divided into a plurality of small areas, and the character pattern data corresponding to the area to be erased is limited to a predetermined number or more. I tried to erase. Therefore, even if the image data and the character pattern data are mixed in the erasing target area, only the image data is erased unless the number of small areas overlapping the erasing target area exceeds a predetermined number.

For example, in this embodiment, the stylus pen 1
The area to be erased that can be specified by one instruction by 1c is 1/4 of the area for one character of the character pattern data. Therefore, when the operator tries to erase this, there are two or more areas to be erased. You must specify the area.
Therefore, even if the area to be erased is not intended to be erased and the area to be erased is mistakenly designated, the character pattern data is not erased, and the probability of erasing against the operator's will is greatly reduced. it can.

In this embodiment, the area for one character of the character pattern data is divided into 16 small areas.
Other numbers such as 25 or 25 may be used for division.

[0039]

As described above, according to the handwriting editing apparatus of the present invention, the number of small areas overlapping the erasure target area is equal to or more than a predetermined number even if the data of each storage means are mixed in the erasure target area. Unless otherwise, only the image data in the second storage means will be erased. Therefore, the erasing operation can be simplified, and the display data can be erased in a manner very similar to the erasing operation using the actual eraser.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a handwriting editing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for deleting display data in the handwriting editing device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which an area to be erased is designated using a stylus pen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which an area for one character of character pattern data is divided into 16 small areas of 4 rows and 4 columns.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a conventional handwriting editing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Integrated display input section, 11a ... Display device, 11b ...
Tablet, 12 ... Handwritten character recognition unit, 13 ... Handwritten character recognition switching unit, 14 ... Input data storage processing unit, 15 ... Code data storage area, 16 ... Image data storage area,
Reference numeral 17 ... Erase function unit, 18 ... Area division unit, 19 ... Overlap determination unit, 20 ... Code data erase function unit, 21 ... Display control unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A handwriting editing device configured by stacking a tablet for detecting coordinates designated using a pen-shaped pointing device on a screen of a display device, wherein the pen-shaped pointing device is placed on the tablet. A character recognition means for recognizing a handwritten character by using it and outputting code data; and a storage area corresponding to the screen for storing character pattern data corresponding to the code data output by the character recognition means. A first storage means, a second storage means having a storage area corresponding to the screen for storing image data handwritten on the tablet using the pen-shaped indicating device; Means for displaying the character pattern data stored on the display device by superimposing the character pattern data stored on the image data stored in the second storage means on the screen. When the image data of the first storage means exists in the area to be erased, which is instructed by using the memory-shaped instruction device, means for erasing the image data from the first storage means, and the second storage A means for dividing the storage area of the individual character pattern data of the means into a plurality of small areas, and comparing each divided small area with the area to be erased,
Means for determining the number of small areas overlapping with the erasing target area; and a corresponding character pattern stored in the second storing means when the number of small areas overlapping with the erasing target area exceeds a predetermined number. A handwriting editing device comprising means for erasing data.