MXPA99007094A - Means for inputting characters or commands into a computer - Google Patents

Abstract

Means for inputting a hand generated character into a computer comprises means (10) for drawing a character, means for abstracting a sequence of signals as the character is drawn corresponding to components of the character to produce a code representative of that character and means (12) for recognising that code, whereby the character is inputted to the computer (14).

Description

MEANS TO INTRODUCE CHARACTERS OR COMMANDS IN A COMPUTER DESCRIPTION This invention concerns the means for entering characters or commands into a computer or any other information by receiving a device without a keyboard or by using automatic writing skills.

The keyboard of the current computers was initially designed to operate a typewriter. The keys were operated as levels to stamp a die on a paper to print each character. Each key contained two characters one on top of the other, the lowercase letter was reproduced by a normal pressure towards the paper with an ink ribbon between them and the capital letter was obtained by completely lifting the paper cart or die driver in such a way that the impact occurred with the die of the capital letter instead of the lowercase letter. Punctuation and special characters were obtained at! lift the numbers or with additional keys.

The printing method is essentially the same as in a printing press but the purpose of a typewriter is very different from the purpose of a press. Printing, of course, allows the publication of manuscripts and the reproduction of many identical copies of the original manuscript without the effort of handwriting each copy.

The typewriter became in conjunction with the growth of modern commerce a necessity for readable business letters. At that time (and of course in the present), handwriting is highly personal and has shown great variation from one person to another. This made the handwritten letters, agreements, contracts and other legal documents potentially ambiguous or unclear in their meaning. It is this complexity of handwriting that mitigates against approaches to computational analysis of handwriting.

Variations in handwriting represent simple information contained in a mass of redundant details. In modern information and communication, the approach to redundancy in a pattern is to launch a great computational power towards analysis and recognition. Computer equipment for the analysis of handwriting are available but require considerable computing power and therefore are relatively expensive and often can not recognize handwriting or quickly possible, in real time, causing delays to the process of introduction.

The analysis employed in such methods depends on the extraction of dominant features of the handwriting pattern presented to! apparatus and its computer program. It should be noted that the dominant features chosen are often complex and any of them may be specific to a character or letter. This implies that the set of such features is large and complex. In addition there are a number of different ways in which a particular character can be drawn, each can contain different dominant features. Add to this the difficulty that even with only one way of drawing a particular character, the current pattern drawn will vary greatly from one person to another. The result is that such approach to handwriting recognition has so far been limited in its success and often requires a learning process in which the computer program conforms to the user's handwriting or the user learns a way to write that allows the system to work. General expenses in terms of the size of the program and the computational power required are often expensive and impractical when applied to handheld computers or digital personal assistants particularly at the smaller end of the scale or size, power and cost (the high volume in the pocket market, data banks, newspapers, organizers and the like).

Another approach to entering data into a computer from finger movements is embedded in systems that require the user to draw the character in a particular way, free of ambiguity. This result in a kind of shorthand code that has to be learned by the user. The forms of shorthand are usually not familiar or quickly recognizable as the characters they represent. The result is a commercially successful system but somehow removed from natural writing and which needs to be learned and practiced.

Another difficulty associated with current approaches to the introduction of handwriting to a computer is the complexity and expense in the equipment requirements required to feel the movements of the fingers. In both of the attempts described above, moment-to-moment and point-by-point from the movement of the fingers must be felt, digitized and transmitted to the processor that contains the analysis and recognition. In many currently available devices this function is carried out by a pen or stylus moved by the fingers through a touch sensitive screen. The movements of the fingers are detected by this device and transmitted to the processor, which causes a motion image to be displayed on the same screen. Such a complex device is expensive and can represent a significant proportion of the cost for example a handheld computer.

Therefore, it is not easy to enter information generated by the hand into a computer directly.

The printed word, on the other hand, is give and ambiguous. Each character can be standard in shape and scale and be easy to read. The printers ready their texts as a block of a type which is printed towards one or more pages at the same time. This allows the rapid production of many copies of a page. The typewriter, however, needs to be flexible at the level of each character, not at the level of each page. Therefore, one key (one printing operation) per character. Consequently, at present the keyboard has 60 to 70 keys.

The keyboards that send the component parts to each character (a part to a key) have been proposed. Due to the shape of the numbers and printed letters you can be simplified (they can be displayed with 7 and 14 segments displayed) in such a way that the keyboard only needs a relatively small number of keys compared to the standard keyboard. However, such locks are not successfully possible due to the barrier of having to learn a new way of writing which erases the advantages of such a simple keyboard. It should be noted that during conventional touch typing, even though the fingers of both hands cover the keys, only one finger works at a time. With the character constructor fields as mentioned above, a number of fingers must be used simultaneously to print a character and therefore the coordination skills must be learned by the user. This means that the ability to type is required because it is less natural than the one-character scheme used by conventional keyboards.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for entering information generated by the hand into a computer.

According to one aspect of the invention, means are provided to introduce a hand-generated character to a computer including means to draw a character, means to abstract a sequence of signals while the character is drawn corresponding to the character components to produce a character. representation in code of such a character and means to recognize that the code, in which the character is introduced to the computer.

The signal is abstracted preferably corresponds to the quantification of the movement while the character is drawn. The abstracted signal may correspond to a change in the direction in which the character is drawn and / or may correspond to movement beyond one or more thresholds defined in a particular direction at the time the character is drawn and / or a signal abstracted may correspond to a change in the position of the drawing means from one defined area to another are on a drawing surface.

According to a second aspect of the invention means are provided to convert the movement or force generated in the reproduction of a character in a coded signal corresponding to one or more elements of said movement or force that are indicative of the character, wherein the character it is recognizable from said encoded signal.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a device for converting movement into a force applied in at least a part of said device, said movement or force being imparted by the reproduction of a character, to a coded signal corresponding to one or more elements of said movement or force that are indicative of the character, wherein the character is recognizable from said encoded signal.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, means are provided to introduce a hand-generated character to a computer by setting up a monitor, including means to draw a character to produce a sequence of signals corresponding to that character, means to convert produced signals. for a character towards a representative code of such character, means for recognizing the code and the means for providing visual feedback corresponding to the character being introduced while the character is being drawn.

The means according to this aspect of the invention can be used with any handwriting writing recognition system that includes quantitative recognition or any other system of handwriting analysis.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, visual feedback is provided to the writer on a displayed screen. The feedback can take the form of a sequential construction or animation of the character form ia which itself is produced by the coded signal mentioned above. Feedback can be generated by the processor which is connected to the aforementioned input means or input devices or any other means of introduction.

Therefore the displayed screen can show the results of the handwriting typing recognition process as feedback or information to guide the writer. Preferably, it operates step by step at the time when the elements or movements are coded by the input device and induces the computer recognition aspect in the visual feedback process other than the prior art. It does not indicate the moment-to-momentum movement of the fingers or point-by-point of the character while it is drawn, as is the case with the occasional attempts to introduce handwriting to a computer. The user is guided by the interpretation of the movements of the fingers by the system, in such a way that it is easy and naturally to produce the appropriate finger movements that will be coded as the sequence of the elements suitable for the unambiguous writing recognition. .

Preferably, the visual feedback includes means for producing on a monitor a graphic simulation of a component of a character in response to an abstracted signal. The graphical simulation is preferably modified in response to a subsequent signal for a character.

The graphical simulation preferably further includes an indicator of the position of the means for drawing on a drawing surface. The indicator may include an icon displayed on or near one edge of the last graphical simulation component. Alternatively, the indicator may include an icon that moves around the graphic simulation of a character in response to the movement of drawing means.

The feedback can be a smooth animation produced in a cursive character form that responds during its formation to the flow that is redbered from recognized elements or encoded signals.

The computer or input device seems to the user to cooperate in the writing process and to produce the characters on the screen from the feedback of the movements of the fingers.

Of course, the characters shown on the screen are not representative of the current location or movement of the fingers, but they are synthetic representations of the user's intent, and merely guide the user through the introduction process. From the user's point of view the characters appear to appear as they are written by the user, with the cooperation of the computer.

Such characters can construct the display of a complete word, for example, in standard, clear and coupled cursive writing, each character which has been produced from the sequence of simple elements produced by or abstracted from the operation of the input device.

When the user lifts the pen or signals the end of a word in an appropriate manner, then the processor can immediately replace the cursive character with the same word displayed in a selected typeface appropriate for the application or application program.

In contra-distinction from the prior art of handwriting analysis systems that introduce information describing the character while it is drawn and performing an extraction of outstanding functions (necessarily scales and independent speeds), followed by comparison with a stored library of possible shapes, strokes and their interrelations, both spatial and temporal, to give the best entry to a character of a complete set of carameros, and therefore for the recognized code for the character, the system of the present invention is a coding system where the movements generated while the character is drawn are compared to a single template in such a way that the complacent movements directly produce elements of a code that identifies the character completely at the time the character is completed. At the moment when the character is completed, the reconoddo code has been completely built and adidonal analysis or processing is not required for recognition.

Preferably, recognition occurs character by character in real time. One or more elements of movement or force are preferably unit vectors.

Preferably the analysis of movements or forces towards elements is by means of quantification of said movements or forces towards one or a sequence of vector unit. These elements are preferably of independent speed, are preferably of independent scale and are preferably substantially independent of distortions in the character while playing.

Preferably the elements of a set common to all the characters reproduced, whose set does not contain specific elements of only one or a few characters.

The signal is preferably recognizable by a computer or any other information management device to which the device is connected, where the character can be displayed in a visual display unit operated by the computer or it can be processed in the same manner as a character. from the keyboard.

If the input device were activated by movements similar to those used in writing, then this will provide a method of introducing characters and text to a computer without the need to fully learn a new skill.

What is described here is a device that provides a method of analysis which is mechanical or automatic and does not require an indirect process of analysis and comparison to produce a unique code for a character, in contrast to the prior art.

This automatic generation of a unique character code can be facilitated by visual feedback from a display of recognizable elements of a character in synthesized form from the signal from the input device.

The automatic switch-like method of extracting the coded signal from the movements of the fingers gives rise to a relatively simple and inexpensive input device, contemporary recognition when the manuscript character is completed, low computational power requirements, natural character forms and easy to learn and use, in contrast to previous art.

Therefore, the invention described herein allows the input of data to a computer or other system by means of natural movements of fingers used when writing using simple and inexpensive input devices with high speed of recognition and visual feedback.

There is an advantage to detect movement while it is happening in opposition to the analysis of the finished handwriting space pattern. The movement of a pen when you write the circle of the letter "a" is different from the movement when you write the circle of the letter "p", although the result of the contours is very similar. The Circle of the "a" is usually produced by a counter-clockwise movement while the circle of the "p" is normally made with a clockwise movement. This distinction is lost if the result is that the character of the written letter is considered after it has been written. However, if the writing is analyzed dynamically, while it is written, then the information obtained is much more useful. It will be appreciated that references to motion detection induces detection of applied forces in the generation of said movements.

In a way of practicing the invention, the drawing means will be a pen held by the hand or the like, wherein the pen or one of its parts can be moved to reproduce characters.

It should be conceived that the drawing means of the invention will have a part that can be moved relative to a real or imaginary template when a character is being reproduced and that the drawing means will include means for detecting said movement in relation to the template. The template can be incorporated in the own means of drawing or separately. There are many varied ways in which the movement of said parts of the drawing means can be stopped.

For example it may be possible to have a template around which said part of the drawing means can be moved, wherein the contact of said part of the drawing means in a sensor in a particular part of the template will indicate the direction of movement and again a movement or a sequence of movements will generate the signal corresponding to the character being reproduced by said movements.

Another way is by assuming a pen that has a body, writing point and a real template, the template can be separated from the pen, in the same way that in a surface, it can be fixed to the body of the pen or it can be fixed to the pen. writing point. On the other hand, for a pen having a body and a writing tip, the movement of either or both may be relative to an imaginary template associated with the body, the writing point or the separate surface.

The means for detecting a movement of the drawing means or that part may include contact switch, magnetic sensors or capacitors, optical encoders, light detectors, voltage changes, electric crystalline triggers or any other suitable means.

The system of the invention preferably includes means for signaling the completion of a drawn character. The termination can be signaled to raise the drawing media from the drawing surface. Alternatively, the ending of a character may be indicated by a single movement of the drawing means relative to the character. Another alternative may be to indicate the termination of a movement of the character of one of the drawing means and an icon indicative of the drawing means to a defined position, possibly on the drawing surface or in a defined area on a monitor.

The form of analysis visualized by the invention is also concerned with the time patterns of muscular action, in contrast to the patterns of space of a finished handwriting. It is important to note that all communication occurs through medium muscular action, where the language, body language, touch, action, writing or typing. The first external expression of thought is through muscular action. This invention is intended to allow communication with a computer to occur at the level of the neuromuscular skills of writing.

It will be appreciated, however, that there is a considerable redundancy present in the handwriting. Even when handwriting can be taught in a uniform fashion, variations, embellishment is added when a person develops their handwriting skills, in such a way that the gargoyle letters can be recognized, it is extremely difficult due, for example, to a device Scanning that extracts the characters due to personal variations and embellishment.

In this way an arrangement of the device of the invention is to allow the characters to be reproduced as vector units. In other words, each character while being drawn using the device of the invention preferably produces a signal for such character as one or a sequence of steps. This can be accomplished by limiting or restricting the recording of the movement of one or a series of steps quantified by vector units.

It is important to realize that signals that only describe the position, movement or location of the pen or moving part of the device simply provide a cup of such movement etc., in eledronic, electrical form etc. They by themselves do not provide logical recognition of the form of letter or shape of the introduced character.

What this invention allows is an automatic reduction of movement etc. towards a quantified form. This means that the movement is divided into steps which indicate the sequence of time in vedorial units that characterize the movement etc. The steps themselves do not describe the movement point by point and moment by moment what results from drawing the form of the character. They can be the result of an analysis of the movement etc. which indicates a series of vector units. This series of vector units can not be used to reconstruct the original movements of the fingers, because all the redundant space and time of information is discarded in the process of detection of the sequencing of vector units. All that is left over is the sequence of vector units and the character of the vector units.

The character of the vector units will depend on the design of the device. In the case of a physically square template, the vector unit can be controlled, for example, by being up, down, left or right.

The difference in time between one vector unit and the other is not important and is discarded information. All that matters for the recondening is the sequence, for example: left then down then right then up then down for handwriting in the form of the letter "a".

Also the process of derivation of vector units eliminates the scale or size of the movement or shape of the letter. The same sequence of the same vector unit results from a large "a" to a small "a". In addition, taking into account that the physical movements that activate the opposition movement detectors are smaller than the smallest character that has been drawn, the sequence of vector units will be the same for wide variations or distortions in the original form of the character, letter or resulting movement.

It should be noted that such family of vedorial units (a simple case being: UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT) can represent all the characters that will be introduced to a computer etc. through movements of the fingers.

In other words, each of the numbers, letters etc. it can be analyzed in a sequence of the same set of families of vector units. The individuality of the character lies in the sequence of vector units that they represent a unique code for the character. The different characters do not require analysis towards individual functions as in the previous art.

The analysis of the original movement towards vector units is according to a scheme that compares the movement towards an arrangement of detectors placed in a fixed relation towards real or imaginary templates. This allows the movement to be compared to the geometry of a template in such a way that the placement of the movement will result in a single signal or part of a signal indicating the characteristic direction or movement in a drawing stage of a letter or character etc.

For example, once the moving part has gone beyond the upper detection limit, the vector unit will simply indicate "up" until the moving part has returned back into the detection frame in the direction, when it can be followed by "down". Similarly with horizontal movement. This approach naturally points to a description of operation of the device in terms of a template.

The template is simply the geometry that determines the marking of vector units, and that can be in physical form, for example a square opening inside the writing point of the pen etc. moving, or it can be imaginary, and it is simply the space pattern of the detector changing boundaries in two dimensions or it can be framed in the motion analysis processor that is connected to the input device moved by the fingers.

Any range will result in practical devices that will convert the movement of the fingers and movements of the hand familiar to us as writing into coded signals that logically are recognizable as corresponding to the characters drawn.

For the accuracy of the coding and the elimination of the inaccuracies introduced by personal embellishment, the writer must be guided by feedback visual from an image on the expanded screen, and you can choose natural character forms that can be easily and quickly learned.

Therefore the device allows "typing" or entering text information on a computer or other text driver (for example, typewriters, portable data banks or newspapers, etc.) at handwriting speeds or faster, without the need to learn much more complicated typing skills by touch using a conventional keyboard.

The principle of the operation is based on the quantification of the movement, and should not be confused with the analysis of the handwriting which causes automatic recognition of the normal form of personal handwriting (or even the recognition of forms of character sets). defined or stylized) by a simple analysis of its current complex contour.

The object of a template whether real or imaginary is to record the movement of the device as vector units but not necessarily to restrict the movement of the device to a vector form, where a recognizable signal corresponds to the character that can be produced.

In preferred forms of the invention, the relationship between the template and the part or parts of the device will be flexible, henceforth releasing the device from forming in movements of forced, rectangular or linear angles. In other words, by introducing a flexible link between the relatively mobile parts of the device or between a mobile part of the device and the template, the device can follow both straight lines and curves that will be detected as straight line movements or forces producing units. vedoriales Consequently, the preferred device of the invention has the ability to detect movements or at least part of them by producing a character such as one or a sequence of vector units that produce a signal corresponding to the character a when the character is not reproduced in a template constrained by the geometry of the template.

The flexible link can take any suitable form. For example, when the writing tip of a pen device must be mobile relative to the body of the device, the flexible link can be provided by one or more members by linking the writing tip to the body.

Several considerations can be taken into account to decide the nature of the real or imaginary template.

In a preferred embodiment, the template may be in the form of an annex having spaced positions around its peripheral means to detect the movement of said part of the device from one point to another around the periphery of the annex. The annex can be in any suitable form but will preferably be a square or a circle. Preferably, four detection positions will be provided in equidistant spaces.

The moving part of the device can be a cane or something similar and its movement from one detection point to another can be done by any suitable sensory means, as has been suggested above.

In another preferred characterization the template may be in the form of a confined path around which the moving part of the device can travel, again with spaced detection points as in the first preferred characterization.

In another preferred arrangement, the template is imaginary instead of real and can be characterized in the processor by running the necessary computer program and the mobile part of the device can be detected as long as it is in accordance with the template.

Therefore, the device of this preferred characterization of the invention will include means for recording the movement of said moving part as if it were following the template.

Therefore, the device can be arranged to produce output signals of at least a part that exceeds the imaginary limits of the imaginary template.

It will be appreciated that these signals indicate major changes in direction while being compared to a template or a set of addresses or axes. Is It is possible to derive the signals by indicating the vector units as changes in speed or other time derivatives also as direction or position. Such derivation is disposed to the application of this invention to conventional computer signaling equipment.

For example the flow of data from a computer signaling device such as the mouse, tracking ball, pen and tablet, etc. indicate the relative position of the movement of the fingers moment by moment. If this flow of data is analyzed by a computer or a dedicated processor in such a way that the positions of the fingers are compared with an imaginary template, encoded in an algorithm stored inside the computer or processor or its associated memory as a pattern of limits of excursion in two movements, movements beyond these limits or compliance with the limits of the template can produce the generation of a sequence of signals, indicative of vector units, which uniquely encode the character traced by the fingers that are moving the mouse, tracking ball, pen or tablet or any other signaling device.

This invention will now be described by means of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 schematically shows a system for writing fairy inside a computer; Figures 2A and 2B show a possible characterization of a device for the pen of the present invention; Figures 3A and 3B show possible movements of the pen body of Figure 2 and the resultant sequences of vedorial units around the template; Figure 4 shows alternate forms of a letter, each of which can be represented by the same sequence of constrained movements; Figure 5 shows another possible characterization of the device of the pen of the present invention; Figure 6 shows a sequence of a vector unit resulting from the formation of a letter; Figure 7 shows a variety of shapes of the same letter that can all be produced by the vector unit sequence illustrated in Figure 6; Figures 8A to D schematically show the operation of the pen device using frictional force between its tip and a surface; Figures 9A and 9B show the correspondence of a intended character, vector unit sequence and the animated form of the cursive character used in the visual feedback; Figures 10, 11 and 12 show another form of the pen device according to the present invention.

Figures 13A and 14A are sectional views through another form of the pen device according to the invention; Y Figures 13B and 14B are sections on lines AA and BB respectively of Figures 13A and 14A.

Figure 15 illustrates the principle of using a virtual template with reator to the pen device according to the invention; Figure 16 shows a pocket data bank with a conveinality; Figure 17 shows a data bank with the device of the pen of the invention; Figure 18 shows a flowchart illustrating the method of synthesizing an animated image to be displayed on a screen to provide visual feedback to the writer; Y Figure 19 shows the flow of information in such a system using the input device of the invention and the written visual feedback method; Figure 20 shows the letter "a" reproduced with an adidonal movement to indicate the ending and beginning of the next letter; Figure 21 illustrates the detection of double vector units; Figure 22 shows the detection of double vector units when drawing the letter "g"; Figure 23 illustrates the provision of an icon of the current position of the pen while a letter is drawn; Figure 24 illustrates the provision of a synthesized icon of the position of the pen while the letter is drawn; Figure 25 illustrates how the letters can be drawn starting from the same point; Figure 26 shows the use of guide lines to help introduce the character; Figure 27 illustrates visual feedback compared to the actual movement of a drawing device; Figure 28 illustrates a screen displayed with special areas to signal the termination of a character; Y Figure 29 illustrates the visual feedback with modifications while new vector units are stopped.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a characterization of the invention is schematically shown.

The device of the pen 10 contains a template that constrains the movements carried automatically by the fingers during the handwriting and abstracts from these movements the elements that allow recognition in the computer. The result will be a "pen" that feels the sequence of movement elements in each character while allowing the user to feel as if he is writing in a close to normal manner. The sequence of movements can be recorded electronically via mechanical or optical contacts, electrical or magnetic sensors or other means and sequences encoded by a microprocessor 12 and characters transmitted to a computer as if made from the keyboard and displayed in a visual unit of the computer 14 at the time they are recognized. Alternatively, the sequence can be directly reconoddated for a simple logical recognition onwards.

Taking this concept to a close step to a practical way, one of the simplest forms of a template is a square and the template can be constrained to move around the writing tip of the pen when the writing tip of the pen is held steady. Such a pen will be felt as if it were forced to write square handwriting. Add to this a flexible "soft" link, integrated with the pen, to allow the writing of the circle, for example, of a letter "a" or a "p".

Such an arrangement is shown in section in Figures 2A and B of the accompanying drawings allowing the pen to write a circle while the template moves around the writing tip of the pen in four segmented movements. While the body of the pen 18 is moved in a circle by the fingers, the flexible link 20 will be stretched to draw the template 24 around the tip of the pen. writing 22 of the pen. The forces involved can be somewhat small giving a small tactile feedback to guide the user. While the template is inside the body of the pen, and is smaller than the smallest circle drawn by the user, the template will be pushed against the sides of the writing tip of the pen by a small force of the flexible bond contracted . The relative movement of the writing tip of the pen and the template is, therefore, constrained to the four possible segments of the square template.

Figure 2B shows the pen resting and Figure 2A shows the pen moving in the direction of arrow F.

These segments can be thought of as "vector units1" which can be one of the following: Up, down, left or right or u d l or r, consequently the sequence of movements for circle "a" will be detected as: I, d, r, u and the sequence for the circle "p" will be r, d, l, u Figures 3A and B show respectively how a letter can be drawn with the pen of Figure 2 and the resulting sequence of vedorial units.

This sequence of vector units can be the same with a wide variation of circle shapes as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

In Figure 4 if all the circles were drawn in the direction of the clock combinations starting with the pen writing tip at the top right of the template then all of them would produce the same sequence of vector units: d, I, u, r and yet the user will feel that he was drawing a free circular shape.

In a practical way the shape of this pen the body will be moved by the fingers while the tip will be pressed on a surface and will be held steady. The template can then be integral with, and inside, the body of the pen (a typical template has a size equivalent to 0.5 mm per side) and the tip will simply be the lower end of a cane that extends up a The center hole of the pen, and connected to the body of the pen through a flexible link and therefore can be constrained to move around the sides of a square template. The user may feel that he is writing in a normal way while the movements of the fingers can be converted into sequences of vector units.

It turns out that a square template, for example, can only encode all lowercase letters of the English alphabet and numerals 0 - 9.

For this device to be useful in the production of sequences of movements recognizable by a character computer, it is necessary to explore the conversion of the vector unit of each character into the established characters from a to z and from 0 to 9. Desirable characters are intuitive and simple. It is proposed to write in lowercase letters and change to uppercase letters (for example with a simultaneous keyboard modifier mounted on the body of the pen). A shuffle exchange can allow the introduction of capital letters and special carands! @ ú $ ~ & etc. as it is done with the standard keyboard. Consequently, writing the character "a" while holding the change key will give "A".

Additional modifications to the keys, for example "option", can be used to generate commands to the computer.

It will be noted that many redundant codes of vector units are available for special characters, punctuation and commands.

For example a single "left" movement giving the vector unit L will erase the last input of a character, with the same result as pressing the "delete" key on the keyboard of a computer.

To determine the beginning and end of each character a signal will be generated by a switch inside the body of the boom activated by the pressure of the writing tip of the boom on the surface or by a third key this key will be pressed when "writing "One character and release at the end of the character sequence. The accord becomes fast and automatic with a little practice. The final signal will start the sequence analysis of the vedor unit, a look at the algorithms taking a few microseconds and the character will then appear on the computer screen.

In another characterization of this invention, the termination of the character can be signaled by a small pause (for example while the visual feedback device completes the animation of the cursive form of the intended character on the displayed screen) and at the end of a word is signaled by the writer lifting the pen from the "writing" surface.

An arrangement for a template is shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings. A square template 50 has sensing switches 52 (1, 2, 3 and 4) to detect the position of the writing tip of the pen 54 (more punctually the tip) within the square. These switches 52 are located in the center of each side of the jig and each switch operates when the tip is pressing against a particular side. It is the time sequence of these switch transitions that indicate the movement of the pen relative to the writing tip and the tip of the pen.

This leads us to the reduction in the redundancy of the information contained in the movement. As in the spade area, the variation of the form is removed by reducing the movement towards imaginary units of the vetorium "involving the transparency of the vectorial absolute length - only the Directional component is abstracted. This being affected by the design of the hardware switch), so that in the space of time the variation of time is removed by abstracting only the order of the transitions of the switch and without taking into account the absolute time intervals involved; This is done by the computer program sequence design.

(Note that the dimensions of the tip and the template can often be larger than the actual size of the template.) The actual size is equal to the possible movement of the writing tip or tip of the pen inside the template, this can be typically 0.5 mm x 0.5 mm, compare this with the movement produced a "a" written having a diameter of approximately 3 mm).

The sequence of transitions generated when drawing an "a" with the disposition of Figure 5 will be: 2-4 + 1 -3 + 4-2 + 3-1 +1 -3+ (where + means to turn on the switch and - means to turn it off, the number preceding the symbol indicating the switch number). This is because the sequence of the vector unit for "a" is: I, d, r, u, d starting at the top left of the template (see Figure 6).

Consequently the same sequence of transidons will be generated if the user slowly draws the first curve of the "a" and then accelerates or when it begins quickly and then coarsen. All that matters is the relative order of the vector units.

Also, assuming the miniature box of the template inside the pen is smaller than the smaller "a" drawn, all the "a's" shown in Figure 7 will also be coded as: 2-4 + 1-3 + 4-2 + 3-1 +1 -3+ (Respectively of variations in shape or scale Remember that the fingers move the body of the pen freely and the relative movement of the tip and the template is effected through a flexible link. This means that the drawn character may have curves and yet the template moves around the tip of the pen in series of linear steps.

Referring to the question of the stylization of the shapes of the caramels to facilitate the recognition of sequential movements, it should be remembered that the uppercase forms can be generated automatically by the algorithm that revises in response to the unit sequence of the lower case letters plus the change key or similar. It is important to realize that the location of the pen's body is invisible. The movements of the pen are unseen senses. The pen does not "write", it simply points codes to the computer. The stylized characters that can be used are visual characters. The memory of the eye builds its own image of the character it thinks it is drawing.

Instead of a rigid posidonamiento of the finger on a convendonal keyboard during the touch typing, the pen allows a relaxed operadón. Because the pen does not need to move around the "page" and because the movements can be guided automatically by tactical and / or visual feedback, there is absolutely no need to look down at the pen.

A further characterization of the invention is the device shown schematically in Figures 8A to D, where its tip 200 is kept in contact with a "writing" surface and is moved in relason to a real or virtual template 202 by means of forces friction between the tip and the surface. This will mark the direction of movement of the pen's body over it if it is moved by the fingers and the hand. Figures 8A to D show respectively the movement of the pen downwards, upwards, to the right and to the left. While the tip moves under frictional forces, it touches contacts 211, 212, 213 and 214 respectively and consequently signals a vector unit sequence. Such a pen is free to move on the surface in the same way as a conventional pen.

Referring to Figures 9A and 9B these tables show stylized characters that form a set of characters that are only an example of many possible sets. The optimal set in a particular characterization of the invention will depend on the design of the template and the illogical disposition of exchange and the relationships to the chosen animation sequences to optimize visual feedback as well as personal preferences. This set relies on the flexible link to give a realistic feeling that the letters are being drawn. Obviously the simple square template will not allow excursions (queues) up or down. However the fingers carry out this automatically, the body of the pen follows the fingers, but the tip remains within the frame of the template. Happily each character generates a single vector unit sequence and encodes ambiguously to the white computer.

Obviously, the writer will have to adapt the writing of each char to produce only the vector unit required for error-free recording. However, the abundance of derived codes from sequences of vector units allows multiple ways to draw particular letters, (see the example of the letters "b" and "q" in the set of Figures 9A and 9B).

More importantly, visual feedback will guide the writer effortlessly if the animation construction elements of the cursive forms of the characters are designed to confirm the complete movements at any point and time and launch them for the subsequent required movements.

Due to the link between one's own mental image of what the fingers are doing, these forms of letters seem natural.

After a little preaching, much less than that required to have the ability to use a convendonal keyboard with all these characters, the components of movement are not created individually except in a fast and automatic flow, while the mind goes through the act of writing each charder. The speed can typically be 20 vector units per second.

In Figures 10, 11 and 12 a shape of a pen according to the invention is shown in which the pen has a body 60 which is movable relative to the jig 62 at the tip of the pen 64 which is maintained static on a surface.

The tip of the pen 64 may include a suitably molded plastic or a relatively non-slippery path such as a board.

The advantage of this characterization is that the current movement of the pen around the template and the imaginary movement of the tip of the pen are equivalent. With the pen described above, these movements are contrary in sense and the mental link between the two has to be unlearned. The template can be of any desired shape also with movement sensors of any desired type as described or more modern.

Another refinement, which may be applicable to the four template switches and more complex templates, is to generate the start and end of character signals from the template switches. The start signal can be turned on when at least one of the template switches is on and can be turned off when all four switches in the template are off. This defines a starting point for the tip of the feather in the center of the seedling. Without adidón, the tip of the pen is directed to the center, for example automatically returns to the center after each excursion either by raising the pen or simply by relaxing the pressure then the process of sending the character becomes easy and automatic. The logic of the nest signal can be handled electronically.

More complicated templates can be constructed, where the freedom of movement of the tip of the pen is greater. An analogy may be the complex increase in the gears of the gearboxes when the changes increase.

When a real or physical template is being used, the effective size of the template frame can be reduced to the relative movement of the pen body and the needle or tip of the pen is arbitrarily small. The units vectors can then be sensitized using pressurized transducers or chained gauges on each of the four sides of the template.

The signals of diagonal start of caravan termination can be derived logically from the signals of the templates.

A flexible degree of attachment is desirable to allow a small movement of the pen under the pressure of the fingers that write. This can be achieved by molding the tip of the pen from said plastic material or the like and / or by constructing a small compression movement towards the pressurized transducers or other convenient position.

The movement of the pen in this position is not obviously constrained to a template box, however the signals from the transducers will conform to the same coding frequencies for the same caramels.

The control of the writing can be efeduado by means of an audible feedback generated from the vedoriales circuits of reconodmiento. For example, while the fingers advance in the movements of a particular stylization, an audible signal can be generated when the vector is completed, the frequency of the sound being arranged to be unique to each vector. After a bit of preaching this feedback can be silenced or disabled. The occurrence of an error (unrecognized sequence) for a particular character will turn on this function again for a predetermined number of characters that follow, consequently reinforcing the learning process. As it happens, when a family number is dialed on a tone phone, the error immediately "sounds" wrong and family number groups sound good.

An additional feedback to facilitate both the learning and the normal operation of the device can be a visible indication of the vectors themselves as they are constructed to describe a character. Most computers deploy when they are operating in word processor mode by using a cursor outline on the screen to indicate the point of insertion. This can be replaced with a square representation of a virtual template showing the sectors with the highlighted sides of the square (or any other template contour alternative is used). A character end signal being this graphic replaced with the coded character and it will also move to the next position; ready to display the following vector pattern.

More sophisticated feedback techniques can be used, in which the sequence vector information is used to synthesize a graphic image on the screen that reflects the growth of the character as it is intended by the operator, using a stored program to determine the possibilities available at each stage to guide the introductory character training.

Such a visual feedback system is illustrated in Figure 18 which should be read as a flowchart. Here is how the characters that all start with a "top" vector unit (chosen as an example) can be reproduced on a screen displayed as an image progressively developing the intended character in synthesized, clear, standard, italicized form (represented in square squares) is illustrated.

In the diagram of Figure 18, the sequence of vector units are indicated by the symbols in the circles. Consequently 1 U indicates that the first vector unit is "UP". Similarly, for example, 6L indicates that the sixth vector unit is "LEFT".

At the point of recognition, where the system decodes the movement of the finger to a single vector unit sequence for a specific character, then at the corresponding point on the diagram in Figure 18 the recognized character is indicated by a square box containing the corresponding typeface of the character.

Progressive animation develops each character at the same time that the fingers move by drawing the character while holding the input device. converts these movements into a vector unit sequence. It is this flow of vedorial units that determines the process of animation. Consequently the feedback curve is closed allowing a completely novel method of entering handwriting information into a computer or the like.

In other words, the eye sees the shape of the character on the screen while the fingers move in such a way that they produce a vector unit sequence. The computer etc. It seems to cooperate with the user in the process of writing the characters.

In the example illustrated in Figure 18 the letters "I" "h" "b" and "f are reproduced and recognized, you can see from this example that all the basic forms of the characters" a "to" z "and "0" to "9" can be analyzed similarly to vector and animated units in a displayed screen.

It is important to note that the definitions of the forms of the letters in terms of the vector units carry a functional relation to the sequence or metamorphosis of the animation of the cursive forms of the characters synthesized on the screen.

While the vector unit sequence is generated automatically, the animation corresponds to the development of the letter through possible forms in each stage. Consequently referring to Figure 18 the shape of the letter for an I cursive is transformed into the cursive form for the letter h with the adidonal supply of vector units UR D. Similarly, the h is transformed to the form b after a vector unit I Consequently, the cursive typography design used in the animation of the visual feedback contains the structure of the basic writing movements as defined by the vector unit sequences (for example simple changes of the directional average) since they can be easy and automatically detected.

Consequently, the typography design of the visual feedback and the process of its animation is very important. It is agreed that differences in said typography can be designated for different applications, languages, countries and manuscripts and users.

This gives on foot a device that allows the writing of natural forms of the characters that are elegantly guided by visual feedback, consequently placing the brain, fingers, exit pen or input device, computer processor, unfolded screen and eye, all in the same feedback curve.

Figure 19 shows this feedback curve. The flow of information is indicated by arrows 406 (1 to 5). The fingers 400 of the writer develop the writing movements of a character and these movements are detected by the input device 401 which automatically produces signals indicative of the vedorial units characterizing the drawn character. These signals are fed to a processor 402 which synthesizes an animated image in response to the sequence of these vedorial units. The animated character is displayed on a 403 unfolded screen and viewed by the 404 eye of the writer. Consequently the 405 brain of the writer receives feedback in accordance with the development of the sequence of the vector unit in terms of the development of the synthesized image indicative of the writer's intension, and it is instinctively possible to correct the movement of the fingers to cause an adequate recondening in the computer of the drawn character.

The process of recognition of the computer is consequently induced in the total feedback curve that surrounds the user. This is in complete contra-distinction from previous art, where the feedback is merely from the reproduction of current movements of the fingers on the displayed screen and does not include the recognition process itself.

The end of each character is indicated in this example by a small pause in the movement of the pen, shown in figure 18 as a letter p in a circle. However, on-screen animation can produce handwritten cursive script by a simple process of stored instructions responding to the vector unit sequence, and animating the links between the letters.

It should be noted that the animation process can present the user with a cursive line of constant movement in the displayed screen, in response to the signals from the input device, which can be discontinuous in a while. The eye sees what the mind intends, rather than what the fingers are doing. After a very short period of use, the process can become virtually automatic and natural.

At the end of each word the pen or input device can be lifted (as is done with normal writing on paper) to activate a signal (produced automatically from a switch or other sensor means) to the processor system to initiate the transformation of the cursive images completed of the word written on the screen in the corresponding typographic characters of the application program etc. which is the object of the data introduction.

It should be noted that each character is recognized at the time the subsequent pause of the last vector unit has been entered.

In other words, the user will pause momentarily after completing each character, while the processor completes the animation of the cursive character form on the displayed screen. This image of the form of a cursive character is currently a product of the recognition process and has been derived from a unique code of vector units that have already been introduced into the system, and should not be confused with cursive forms indicative of finger movements currently. Unrecognizable displayed in previous art inventions.

In this example the cursive form is displayed on the screen until the entire word is completed to provide useful feedback to the writer.

It must be understood that the form of the cursive letter that has been synthesized and displayed incorporates a functional relationship to the movements of the fingers used in writing the caráder. At this point it will not be so useful to display the "printed" typographic elements.

The structure of the synthesized forms of the characters is based on the vedorial units that characterize the corresponding written characters. This relationship can be observed in the example of the flow chart of Figure 18.

The feedback consequently guides the writer in a very natural way to introduce the correct sequence of vedorial units, without consciously having to pay attention to that level of analysis.

Once the whole word is completed the system has all the information required to display the characters recognized in their final form from typography of "printed" characters to complete the entire printed work.

It is easy to devise computer programs that learn to take a new user through the structure of the stylized set of characters, using graphics and feedback similar to those described above.

It is possible to use a virtual plantufa as opposed to a physical template. The recognition of characters in the systems of physical templates is facilitated by the simplification of the movement by means of physical limits of the template and by the resulting reduction of such movement for independent vedorial units of scales and vetodities.

However, an additional refinement is still possible, where the restriction of movement by a physical barrier is replaced by an imaginary limit for the registration of that movement. If the movements are only reconoded by sensors in parallel directions on the sides of an imaginary, non-physical template, and these movements are quantified by the sensors and / or their associated electronics and algorithms up to a specific excursion limit, and if this limit is smaller than the smallest character drawn, then the final result will be the same for the same stylization of characters as with a physical template.

This will lead us to the design of pens or finger sensitive screens or physically simpler and faster finger movements and will allow the invention to work using introductory devices now available for computers such as the mouse, tracking ball, touch pads, touch sensitive screens, pressure sensitive screens, pens and digitizable tablets and the like.

Further refinements of the invention will be described below with reference to Figures 20 to 29 of the accompanying drawings.

Characters that are to be introduced are defined in terms of the movements required for the appropriate vector unit sequence. Therefore, predetermined styles of carands are presumed. These carands can be very close and in most cases identical to natural forms of characters. The characters can be defined in terms of vedorial units in such a way that each character is represented by a vector unit sequence that is not a break of any longer sequence of the vedor unit for another char. That will allow continuous introduction (for example with a word without necessarily indicating somewhere the completion of a character.) Consequently the ending of a character can be signaled by the last vector unit of the sequence defined for that character.

An example of such a set of vector units is indicated: a = rldrud then r to start. b = uddurdl then r to start c = rldr then r to start d = rldruudd then r to start e = ruldr then r to start or ruld then r to start f = uddu then rr to start g = rtdruddl then r to start h = uddurd then r to start i = d then r to start j = di then r to start k = uddrl then r to start I = udd then r to start m = dudud then r to start n = dud then r to start o = rldru then r to start p = dduurdl then r to start q = rldudd then r to start r = duudr then r to start s = rudl then r to start t = udrld then r to start u = drud then r to start or dru then r to start du then r to start w = dudu then r to start x = rl then r to start y = druddl then r to start z = rlrdl then r to start Figure 20 shows an animated image of the screen corresponding to the movement of a drawing device by drawing the letter "a" according to the set of previous vector units. The last RIGHT movement signals the termination of a single non-embedded code for "a" and therefore the end of the char. This can be used to cause visual animation in the display of a line screen extending to a standard starting point for the next character.

The signaling of the end of a word can be obtained by raising the pen and activating a switch or sensor or otherwise for example pressure buttons, or a vector unit sequence or a special sequence of movement.

Vector units can be derived in the following ways: from motion detector switches in the pen device as described above; from the surplus of the threshold of movement in one direction; from the surplus of a threshold of any combination of time derived from movement in one direction; from movement from one defined area of writing surface to another; of substantial compliance with a direction or axis or template side; of combinations of the above.

Here substantial means of complying that the resolved component of the vector of the movement parallel to the direction, axis or side of the template are larger than those parallel to all other defined directions, axes or template sides in the system.

To facilitate the drawing and recognition of some characters, it may be useful to have the ability to detect duplicate vector units. In other words, when drawing some characters, vector units can be repeated one after the other.

The detection of two vectors in the same direction can be performed by having two detectors with different detection thresholds or two "real or virtual" templates one after another in such a way that the movement produces the detection of the first and then the second vector unit in the same direction. This is illustrated in Figures 21 and 22 of the drawings. In Figure 21 the arrow indicates the direction of movement of the pointer or drawing device. Figure 22 shows how this can be used, for example for the letter "g".

The pen and location devices used in conjunction with computers and associated display screens or monitors frequently use the reproduction on the screen of a line of pixels representing the footprint or location of the drawing device. This is sometimes called "screen ink". Such display can be used in conjunction with the detection of vedorial units that guide the user in the formation of appropriate letter contours.

Referring to Figure 23 of the drawings, it is possible to cause a cone on the monitor screen to move in response to the current movement of the drawing device. The 500 icon can be used to appear adjacent to the animated typeface by providing visual feedback as described above. This allows the user to judge in more detail the movements required to cause the proper recognition of vector units, while confirming the unfolding of the corresponding elements of the animated type 501, 502, 503, 504, for example, corresponding to the introduction of the drawing of the letter "o".

As the locating device moves to produce the display of animated typographic elements on the monitor screen, it is advantageous to indicate the direction of movement of the pen and to give a simulation of the position of the pen by causing the processor to control the monitor that displays an icon at the end of each typographic element animated consecutively. This cone should not be confused with the icon that responds to and represents the current movement of the drawing device. Figure 24 of the drawings illustrates the sequence of images resulting from the introduction of the letter "o". Icon 520 appears at the end of each animated typeset 521, 522, 523 and 524 while the letter "o" is entered.

It is advantageous to arrange the drawing of the characters in such a way that they all start from the same point. This allows the writer to memorize a set of character forms that do not require a mental readjustment of the position of the pen before the introduction of the next character. This leads to increased writing speed. Figure 25 of the drawings show examples of the letters that can be drawn from a common beginning.

At the end of each character it is advantageous to arrange the visual arrangement to move the position of the pen position icon (both current and synthetic) from the final position of the character to the standard start position. This immediately readjusts the writer's assumption of the pen position to facilitate the quick introduction of the next character.

The same results can be obtained by advancing the ink screen to the standard start position, or by causing the animation of a typography element on the monitor to transfer the difference between the final position and the next standard start position. This is shown, for example in Figure 20 of the drawings where the signals of the right vector unit that ends the "a" character and the visual feedback automatically produces a line extending to the common start position.

Figure 26 illustrates the provision of guide lines in a displayed monitor to aid correct input by providing indications of appropriate relative scales and necessary movements in conjunction with the ink screen or the current position icon of the pen. This ensures a more regular drawing of characters and a scale which is consistent with the scale of detection threshold of the vector unit.

The use of extended vector images to provide visual feedback is an alternative way of guiding the user in introducing characters to produce sequences of appropriate vedorial units. The arrested vector unit causes the displayed image of the movement of the locating device to be secured to the corresponding direction and allows the introduction of a line reproduced on the screen representing the extent of the movement. When the movement direction changes sufficiently to store the recognition of a new vector unit, then the displayed line is secured in a new direction. This visual feedback allows simulation of images of the intended forms of the characters to be displayed as straight line segments that correspond to the degree of movement in each direction. Figure 27 illustrates the method.

It is advantageous to use special areas or special guidelines in the displayed screen used in conjunction with the ink screen and / or indicative icon, to signal the end of a character and therefore allow continuous introduction (for example a word) without raising the device of the pen or otherwise need to mark the end of the character and / or to signal control or modify caravans or signals. In this method when the position of the icon indicating the pen and / or ink screen moves towards an area of the displayed surface of the monitor corresponding to a defined area of writing, or when the pen enters the defined area of the supernata ' e writing or when the pen crosses a defined line on any surface a signal is produced by the processor that indicates the end of a charger or other control or command event.

This allows the rapid introduction of cursive characters attached without the need to raise the pen or in any other way point to the end of each character. This is shown in Figure 28 of the drawings in which movements of the ink screen or pen icon in shaded areas 550, mark the end of a character.

Visual feedback may include the modification of displayed character elements at the time when new vector units are detected. Figure 29 of the drawings illustrates this method. The seat of the h is modified to the circle of the b when detecting the vector unit L (left). Subsequently, the circle of the b is modified to the Chinese of the k by stopping the final vector unit R (right).

A practical drawing device can be used in the invention, which has been constructed to test the efficiency of the movement quantification to produce vedorial units from the movements of the fingers for writing, is now described with reference to Figure 13A and B and 14B and B of the accompanying drawings. It will be appreciated that many forms of pens can be produced for use in this invention and that in addition to the introduction devices for the computers can be adapted to wrap the invention described herein.

These drawings show a pen 100 having a tubular body 102. Extending through the lower part of the body is a rod 104 which is pivotally mounted in the body 106, such that when the tip of the rod is held statically on a surface, the body of the pen can move relative to the tip in normal directions to each.

With the body of the pen there are four light sources 108 each being in the intermediate position on one side of an imaginary square template.

Opposed to each light source is an optical fiber 110 for detecting a situation on or off for its own light source, where the signals can be generated for microprocessor recognition. The rod 104 has a square launch plate 112 in the upper part which in a resting position, for example when the rod is centrally aligned with the axis of the pen, all the light sources are detectable by their corresponding optical fibers 110. but when the body of the feather is moved relative to the rod, the square launch plate is moved to obscure two of the light sources corresponding to the direction in which the feather is moved. Figures 13B and 14B show the launcher in the neutral position and in a position where the pen has to be pushed to the top right. The movement of the tip of the pen is constrained by a square template 114 in the form of an opening at the end of the pen body through which the tip of the pen extends. As a result, the pen includes the means to detect direction of movement of the pen when forming the characters to generate a signal that can be recognized by a microprocessor or computer to produce the character on the computer screen.

If the tip of the pen has built-in flexibility, the fingers can develop circular and curved motions while the signals are generated with reference to the square templates.

Figure 15 of the drawings shows a pen device operating schematically with a virtual template. The position of the tip of the pen 150 relative to the center of the virtual template 152 is sensitive in terms of its x, and coordinates as shown. At the time when the body of the pen moves around the tip of the pen by the fingers, the imaginary template moves with the body of the pen and causes a relative movement between the tip of the pen and the template, path or location of the tip of the pen relative to the virtual template is indicated by line 154.

The movement is referred to the sides of the templates, for example it is registered as a mapping of the position of the tip of the pen towards the template, resulting for example in the vector unit LDR, which can be decoded as the "c" .

Assuming that the tip of the pen travels around the outside of the template the template is always smaller than the smallest of the drawn faces, then the sequence of vector units will always decode for the stylized forms of the character and respectively the scale or speed with which they are drawn.

Another characterization of the invention (see Figure 17) consists of a template incorporated in a portable data bank 300 or a portable computer or other product requiring the input of information such as a video recorder, pocket calculator, telephone, central control of the cabel. , washing machines, etc. The sensors of the templates are adivated by the movement of a small stylus 502 held by the fingers.

The stylus can be attached or hinged to the product or it can be removable or detached. This application will allow the space taken by the data input to be greatly reduced while the stylus template 304 replaces the much larger keyboard 310 of a pocket data bank 312 (see Figure 16) having a 314 screen. Be folded down as shown to conserve spade when not in use.

The advantages of this characterization of the invention are such that the product can be made considerably smaller, the stylus can be used with the eyes on the screen 314 and can be used more easily than the usually used roofs, and the information can be introduced more quickly The input device can be manufactured at a considerably lower cost than that of a keyboard of a touch-sensitive screen. Also the information link cable between the portable data bank etc. You can connect with a computer to enter text from the integrated pen device to be entered into the computer.

Claims (39)

Having described the invention as above, we consider as novelty and claim ownership of what is contained in the following: R E I V I N D 1 C A C I O N E S

1. Means for introducing hand-generated characters to a computer including means for drawing a character, means for abstracting a sequence of signals at the time the character is drawn corresponding to the components of the character to produce a code representative of such character and means for recognizing that character. code, where the character is entered into a computer.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein an abstracted signal corresponds to the quantization of movement while the character is drawn.

3. Means as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein an abstracted signal corresponds to the change in the direction while the character is drawn.

4. Means as claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein an abstracted signal corresponds to the movement beyond one or more thresholds defined in a particular direction while the character is drawn.

5. Means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein an abstracted signal corresponds to the change in position of the drawing means from a defined area to a defined one that are on a drawing surface.

6. Means as claimed in claim 3, wherein the abstraction of a change of direction is at an independent speed.

7. Means as claimed in claim 3 or 5, wherein the abstraction of a change of direction is on an independent scale.

8. Means as claimed in claims 3, 6 or 7, wherein the abstraction of a change of direction is substantially independent of distortions or variations in the character as it is drawn.

9. Means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein recognition occurs by character in real time.

10. Means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising means for displaying the recognized character.

11. Means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, further comprising means for providing visual feedback corresponding to the character being entered while the character is drawn.

12. Means as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for visual feedback comprise means for producing on a monitor a graphic simulation of a component of a character in response to an abstract signal.

13. Means as claimed in claim 12, wherein said graphic simulation is modified in response to a subsequent signal or to a sequence for a character.

14. Means as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein said graphical simulation additionally comprises an indicator of the position of the drawing means on the drawing surface.

15. Means as claimed in claim 14, wherein said indicator comprises an icon displayed on or near one end of the last component of the graphic simulation.

16. Means as claimed in claim 14, wherein said indicator comprises an icon that moves around the graphic simulation of a character in response to the movement of the drawing means.

17. Means as claimed in any of claims 12 to 16, further comprising means for displaying the character as a reproduction on the monitor.

18. Means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17 including means for signaling the termination of a carder.

19. Means as claimed in claim 18, wherein the drawing means are arranged to complete the complete signaling of a character by lifting the drawing means from a drawing surface.

20. Means as claimed in claim 18, wherein the ending of a character as indicated by a single movement of the drawing means relative to said character.

21. Means as claimed in claim 18, wherein the termination of a character is indicated by the movement of one of the drawing means and a cone indicative of the drawing means in a defined position.

22. Means as claimed in claim 21, wherein said defined position is in the area of a drawing surface.

23. Means as claimed in claim 21, wherein said defined position is an area defined on a monitor.

Means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 23, wherein the drawing means comprises a device similar to a pen held by hand.

Means as claimed in claim 24, wherein the device has a part which is mobile respecting a template during the reproduction of a character.

Means as claimed in claim 25, wherein the part is movable relative to the imaginary template.

Means as claimed in claim 25 or 26, wherein the part is a body of the device.

Means as claimed in claim 27, wherein the body has a mobile hollow part respected to a template without the hollow part.

Means as claimed in any of claims 25 to 28, wherein the relationship between the last mobile part of the device and the rest of the device and / or template includes flexibility.

Means as claimed in claim 29, wherein the device has a moving tip relative to the body of the device and one or more flexible links affecting the movement of the tip relative to the body.

Means as claimed in any of claims 25 to 30 including means for sensing direction of movement of said device or part of it relative to a real or imaginary template in the reproduction of a carder.

Means as claimed in claim 31, wherein sensor means are spaced apart from said real or imaginary template.

33. Means as claimed in claim 30 or 31, wherein the sensitization means are selected from means responsive to the electrode, photoelectricity or magnetism.

34. Means as claimed in any of claims 25 to 33, wherein the template is generally a square annex.

35. Means as claimed in any of claims 25 to 33, wherein the template is generally a circular annex.

36. Means as claimed in any of claims 25 to 33, wherein the template defines a footprint.

37. Means as claimed in any of claims 25 to 33, wherein the template has a plurality of zones and said part moves from zone to zone in character reproduction.

38. Means as claimed in any of claims 1 to 37, including means for converting a signal for lowercase letter heads into a signal for uppercase characters.

39. Means for introducing a hand-generated character into a computer having a monitor, comprising means for drawing a character to produce a sequence of signals corresponding to that character, means for converting signals produced by a character into a code representative of said character, means for recognize that code and means to provide visual feedback corresponding to the character being entered while the character is drawn.

0. Means as claimed in claim 39, wherein the visual feedback comprises means for producing on the monitor a graphic simulation of a character component in response to each signal of a signal sequence. Means as claimed in claim 39, wherein said graphical simuiadón is modifiable in response to a subsequent signal of a sequence. Means as claimed in claim 39, 40 or 41, wherein said graphical simulation further comprises an indicator of the position of the drawing means on a drawing surface. Means as claimed in claim 42, wherein said indicator comprises an icon displayed at or near the end of the last graphic simulation component. Means as claimed in claim 42, wherein said indicator comprises an icon that moves around the graphic simulator of a character in response to the movement of the drawing means. Means as claimed in any of claims 34 to 44, further comprising means for displaying the character as a reproduction on the monitor. % SUMMARY Means for introducing a hand-generated character into a computer comprising means (10) for drawing a character, means for abstracting a sequence of signals while the character is drawn corresponding to components of the character to produce a code representative of said character and means (12 ) to recognize that code, where the character is entered into the computer (14).