Computerized handwriting duplication system

• US 4,817,034 A
• Filed: 02/11/1986
• Issued: 03/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Damilic Corporation
• Original Assignee: esp. Systems
• Inventors: Mack, William M. Jr., Hardin, William F. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/828,400
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 382/2, 382/13, 382/59, 178/18, 178/20, 340/712, 340/728, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/13 Digital output to plotter ; Cooperation and interconnection of the plotter with other functional units

Abstract

A computerized handwriting duplication system includes a general purpose, programmable, digital microcomputer having a buffer memory, a program memory for a computer program, and a memory for storing the digital representation of the coordinates of a signature. The system also includes a digitizer pad for providing to the microcomputer as raw data the X and Y coordinates of points travelled by a pen writing a signature thereon and for providing a keyboard-type of input information to the microcomputer. The computer program comprises routines for receiving a large string of bytes of serial raw data in absolute distances; for converting the data to relative distances beginning from a predetermined starting point and then from the previous adjacent coordinate point; for compressing the data by deleting all coordinate information generated when the cursor pen is out of contact with the digitizer pad; and for smoothing the handwriting by determining new coordinates for all points falling outside a predetermined locus. An X-Y plotter is connected to the microcomputer and is supplied with plotting commands and data points which the computer has refined from the raw data supplied to it by the digitizer pad.

Claims

1. A method of duplicating handwriting comprising producing a set of a plurality of serial, mutually adjacent coordinates of points of raw data by moving a cursor through a plurality of locations on a digitizer pad to produce handwriting, said digitizer pad comprising means for detecting said locations and means for generating the coordinates of each location, said coordinates representative of a plurality of representative points which when connected by a line would replicate said cursor movement and thus replicate said handwriting, wherein said cursor can be placed out of proximity of said digitizer'"'"'s pad, can be placed in proximity, but not touching said digitizer pad, and can touch said digitizer pad, said digitizer pad and cursor producing a signal when said cursor is in contact with said digitizer pad, and wherein said cursor and digitizer pad produce said raw coordinates as data at a predetermined rate irrespective of whether said cursor is in contact with said digitizer pad, and wherein said digitizer pad and cursor provide as indication data a first indication when said cursor is out of proximity of said pad, provide a second indication when said cursor is in proxmity of said pad, but not touching said pad, and provide said signal as a third indication when said cursor is in contact with said pad;

serially storing at a predetermined rate said raw coordinate data and said indication data in a memory means readable by a digital computer;

refining said coordinate point data by compressing said data by deleting all data having either said first indication or said second indication;

serially recalling said plurality of point coordinate data from said memory means; and

driving a writing instrument to traverse serially a path from each point coordinates to the next adjacent point coordinate and thus serially over all of said plurality of point coordinates so as to produce a line connecting together each point coordinate and thus replicating said handwriting.

2. Apparatus for duplicating a handwritten word, such as a signature, comprising

a digitizer pad;

a cursor having a predetermined origin;

a cursor capable of being moved by a user into and out of proximity to said digitizer pad and through a plurality of locations on said digitizer pad, said digitizer pad said digitizer pad comprising means for producing a set of raw data point coordinates of the location of said cursor when said cursor is in proximity to said pad and for producing an indication signal when said cursor is in contact with said pad, said coordinates being in absolute units from said predetermined origin;

a plotter capable of receiving data and capable of being driven by said received data so as to mark a piece of paper;

a programmable computer connected to said pad to receive as inputs said coordinates and said indication signal, and connected to said plotter to provide data thereto to drive said plotter;

a buffer memory for storing data received by said computer from said pad.

a program memory that stores a computer program for operating said computer; and

means for causing the storing of a plurality of raw data point coordinates provided by said digitizer pad in said buffer memory, for causing the compacting of the raw data point coordinates by said computer by deleting those point coordinates having predetermined characteristics causing the refining of said raw data point coordinates by said computer to produce a plurality of refined data points by changing said raw data point coordinates from absolute units to relative units that are a relative distance from another coordinate and for causing the smoothing of the raw date point coordinates, and thus thereby converting the data to a form unable by said plotter.

3. A method of duplicating handwriting comprising:

producing an initial set of a plurality of serial, mutually adjacent coordinates of points of raw data of a handwritten word as the word is being written by moving a cursor through a plurality of locations on a digitizer pad to produce the handwritten word, said digitizer pad comprising means for detecting said locations and means for generating the coordinates of each location, said coordinates representative of a plurality of representative points which when connected by a line would replicate said cursor movement and thus replicate said handwriting, said raw data point coordinates being in absolute units from a predetermined origin;

serially storing said set of raw data point coordinates in a memory means readable by a digital computer;

serially recalling said plurality of refined point coordinates from said memory means;

refining said recalled raw data point coordinates with said computer to produce a plurality of refined data point coordinates by changing said raw data point coordinates from absolute units to relative units that are a relative distance from another coordinate; and

driving a writing instrument to traverse serially a path from each refined point coordinates to the next adjacent refined point coordinate and thus serially over all of said plurality of refined point coordinates so as to produce a line connecting together each point coordinate with the point coordinates adjacent thereto and thus repliciting said handwriting.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said refining step initially comprises determining new coordinates for those raw data points that are outside a predetermined locus thereby producing a smoothened handwriting word by said driving step.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said raw coordinates are produced by a digitizer pad and cursor at a predetermined rate irrespective of whether said cursor is in contact with said digitizer pad, said digitizer pad also providing a first indicator when said cursor is out of proximity of said pad, providing a second indication when said cursor is in proximity of said pad, and providing a third indication when said cursor is in contact with said pad;

and further comprising having said computer send a start signal to said digitizer pads and thereupon commence receiving data from said digitizer pad at said predetermined rate;

and wherein said refining step includes compressing said received data by deleting all data received from said digitizer pad having said first indication and all data received from said digitizer pad having said second indication.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3 and further including:

determining the point coordinates of a starting location for said handwriting on a piece of paper; and

directing said writing instrument to begin replicating said handwriting on said paper at said starting location.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said writing instrument comprises a plotter having a writing implement;

and said method further comprising using said computer to provide said refined point coordinates to said plotter.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 and further comprising assigning a password to said stored coordinates;

and

prior to said step of using said computer to provide said refined coordinates to said plotter, requiring a user to provide said password on a computer input means to said computer, and having said computer verify if said password corresponds to said assigned password.

9. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said writing instrument comprises a plotter having a writing implement;

and said method further comprising using said computer to provide said refined data point coordinates to said plotter;

and further including providing a piece of paper to said plotter; and

directing said plotter to replicate said handwriting on said paper.