JPS61241886A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the input speed of an image input device by using an image input end detecting means which delivers an image input end detecting signal when the distance between detecting board and the point of an input penis larger than the fixed value. CONSTITUTION:An input pen 1 is distant from a tablet 2 usually by 2-3mm while a single character is handwritten on the tablet 2 by the pen 1. When the character writing action is over, the point of the pen 1 is moved up by >=1cm from the tablet 2. Then a detecting circuit 4 for input end of characters delivers a character input end detecting signal when the pen point is distant from the tablet 2 by >=7-8mm for example. Thus the locus information on the input characters so far stored in an input buffer 3 is led to a pattern recognizing circuit 6 via a reading circuit 5. Then the result of this recognition is delivered. This reduces the operating load and furthermore increases the input speed with an image input device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device for inputting handwritten characters and handwritten figures.

(1) Conventional Technology Japan Today, as word processors and personal computers become more commonplace, there are some people who are not accustomed to operating the middle board or who do not like keyboard operations.This article is aimed at such people. Handwritten character recognition devices have recently begun to be commercialized as Japanese input devices that do not require much skill.
Research is becoming more active, and details on such devices can be found in the December 5, 1983 issue of Nikkei Electronics, in an article titled ``Online handwritten kanji recognition moving toward easing restrictions on handwritten kanji such as kuzushiji.'' Such a handwritten character recognition device, which serves as an image input device, generally processes handwritten images, that is, characters, one by one, on-line. Therefore, when inputting multiple characters, each time the handwritten input for - characters is completed, the writer himself/herself operates a key switch, touch switch, etc. to input information indicating that this handwritten input has been completed. It is necessary to give it to the device that is used.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional image input device as described above, each time one unit of image is input by hand.

The author must manually operate key switches, touch switches, etc. in order to notify the completion of inputting one unit of image, which reduces the operability of this type of image input device, and as a result, it is difficult to input multiple images. The drawback was that the input speed was slow.

B) Means for Solving the Problems The image input device of the present invention includes an input pen for drawing an image, and an image trajectory detection device that detects the movement trajectory of the pen tip by contacting the pen tip of the input pen. The apparatus includes a board, and image input completion detection means for outputting an image input completion detection signal when the separation distance between the detection board and the tip of the input pen becomes a certain distance or more.

(E) Function According to the image human-powered device of the present invention, when the handwritten input of one unit of characters or figures is completed, simply by separating the pen tip of the input pen from the image trajectory detection board by a certain distance or more, It is determined that the image locus is one unit of characters or figures.

(f) Embodiment Figure 1 shows the configuration of a handwritten character recognition device employing the image input device of the present invention. An electromagnetic induction type character trajectory detection board (hereinafter referred to as a tablet) that detects the movement trajectory of the pen tip of an input pen (1). (3) is an input buffer memory that temporarily stores character trajectory information included in the output signal from the tablet. (4) is the above tablet (2)
), a character input completion detection circuit that outputs a character input completion detection signal based on the character trajectory detection undetectable information included in the output signal from the circuit (5), when the character input completion detection signal from circuit (4) is received; , is a readout circuit for transferring and reading out the character locus information previously stored in the input buffer memory (3) to the pattern recognition circuit (6). The pattern recognition circuit (6) extracts a feature pattern from the input character locus information in its feature extraction unit@su, stores this as an input cover pattern in the input cover turn buffer 1 memory 1z, and then inputs it into the identification unit - compares this input cover pattern with a plurality of reference patterns in the reference pattern memory (incorporated), and outputs the character code corresponding to the most similar reference pattern as the code of the handwritten input character at this time.

Here, the image input completion detection means, which is a feature of the present invention, in the apparatus of this embodiment will be described in detail.

In the case of the embodiment of the present invention, an input pen (1), a tablet (2)
) is 6.For example, model number "()T4000" manufactured by Oscon Electronics Co., Ltd.
It uses an electromagnetic induction method such as ``.

The principle of this method is that, as shown in Figure 2 (a), a magnetic flux detection coil C is placed at the tip of the input pen (1), while a plurality of parallel conductive wires are placed on the tablet (2). l,・
... is buried.

Now, as shown in Figure 2 (a1), with the pen tip of the input pen (1) in contact with the tablet (2), the coil O of this pen tip is between the two parallel conducting wires 1 n + /n + t. When located at , this coil C has both groove lines /n.

An induced current will flow in response to the magnetic field generated by the high frequency current flowing through /n+1. Therefore, such a double groove line 1
The position of this coil O is determined from the relationship between the current flowing in n r en +t and the induced current flowing in coil C.

That is, the position of the pen tip of the input pen (1) is detected, and a coordinate signal as character trajectory information is output from the tablet (2).

However, as shown in Figure 2 (bl), this input pen (1)
When the pen tip is at a distance H@ from the tablet (2).

The distance between the conductor 1 n * i n+ < and the coil O increases.

When this distance H exceeds the threshold value Hth (usually 7 to 8 sheaths 1), the magnetic field of effective strength generated in the conductor f ne / n + 1 does not reach the coil O, and as a result, the input pen (1) The position of the pen tip cannot be detected and coordinate signals are not output. That is, this fact becomes information that the character locus cannot be detected.

Therefore, the one-character input completion detection circuit (4) is connected to the tablet (2).
), and when the coordinate signal of one character trajectory is no longer output, that is, when the coordinate signal of one character trajectory is no longer output, that is, when the coordinate signal of one character trajectory is no longer output,
When the pen tip of ) is separated by a specific distance (7 to 8g1) or more, this is detected and a character input completion detection signal is output.

In the device according to the embodiment of the present invention having the above-described character input completion detection means, the input pen (1) is used to input the tablet (21).
When handwriting characters on , write - characters and write
i1. ．． The input pen (1) is usually only about 2 to 3 spaces apart from the tablet (2), and when the writing of this character is completed, the writer lifts the pen tip by more than 1 cm, for example, from the tablet (21). When the pen tip is lifted from the tablet (2) by more than 7 to 8 u, for example, the one character input completion detection circuit (4) outputs a character input completion detection signal. The character locus information of the input characters stored in the readout circuit (5
) to the pattern recognition circuit (61), and this recognition result is output.

In this way, each time the input pen (IIK) completes writing a character on the tablet (2), each character can be input by simply lifting the pen tip above a predetermined height.

The present invention can also be implemented in image input devices that perform force.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an electromagnetic induction type tablet was used as the tablet (1), but the present invention is not limited to this type of tablet.

For example, it is also possible to use a piezoelectric tablet (1), and in this case, a distance sensor such as a photocoupler or laser beam is separately added to detect the distance between the pen tip and the tablet (1). , an image input completion detection signal is obtained according to the output of this distance sensor.

()I Effects of the Invention The image input device of the present invention includes an input pen for drawing an image, an image trajectory detection board that comes into contact with the pen tip of the input pen and detects the movement trajectory of the pen tip, and Image input completion detection means outputs an image input completion detection signal when the distance between the detection board and the tip of the input pen exceeds a certain distance. When handwriting input is completed, simply by moving the pen tip of the input pen a certain distance or more from the image trajectory detection board, the image input completion detection means will determine that the image trajectory up to that point is one unit of characters or figures. , it is possible to reliably input such image information for each unit. With this, in a conventional image input device, for example, in a handwritten character recognition device, this completion signal is given to the device every time the handwritten input for -characters is completed. This eliminates the need to operate key switches, touch switches, etc.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an image input device that reduces the operational burden on the author and can improve the input speed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a handwritten character recognition device as an embodiment of the image input device of the present invention, and FIG.
1 and 2 are diagrams showing the principle of an electromagnetic induction tablet adopted in the device of the present invention. (1)...Input pen, (2)...Tablet),
<3+...Input parameter border memory, (4)...Character input completion detection circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An input pen for drawing an image, an image trajectory detection board that comes into contact with the pen tip of the input pen and detects the movement trajectory of the pen tip, and a connection between the detection board and the pen tip of the input pen. image input completion detection means for outputting an image input completion detection signal when the separation distance becomes a certain distance or more;
An image input device comprising: