Writing device for storing handwriting

• US 5,215,397 A
• Filed: 03/30/1992
• Issued: 06/01/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yashima Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yashima Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Fukuda, Takashi, Taguchi, Toshio, Agusa, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): DeMille, Danton D.
• Application Number:
  US07/859,680
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 73/862.54, 73/862.04, 73/865.4, 382/3, 382/59, 401/194, 401/195
• US Class Current: 401/194
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/12 Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof

Abstract

When characters and the like are written with a writing device, handwriting is detected by a handwriting detection circuit based on outputs from optical sensors and stress sensors and is stored in a handwriting memory section. The handwriting memory section stores the handwriting whereby it can be used as input data for a computer and the like without reductions in the convenience in using the writing device.

Claims

1. A writing device for storing locus data which represents contacting movements which occur when said writing device moves during contact with a writing surface and non-contacting movements which occur when said writing device is not in contact with a writing surface, said writing device comprising:

writing means;

stress sensor means for detecting force applied to said writing means while said writing means is moved in contact with said writing surface for sensing handwriting on said writing surface;

optical sensing means for optically detecting relative positions of said writing means and handwriting written thereby when said writing means has been moved while not in contact with said writing surface;

locus detection means for detecting said contacting movements and said non-contacting movements of said writing means based upon signals output from said stress sensor means and said optical sensing means, and providing locus data representative thereof;

storing means for storing said detected locus data; and

casing means for housing said writing means, said stress sensor means, said optical sensing means, and said storing means therein.

2. A writing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said casing means is arranged with two casing part means which are removably mountable to one another and said storing means is housed in one of said casing part means.

3. A writing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said optical sensing means includes a lens, an optical fiber and a charge coupled device chip.

4. A writing device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said optical sensing means includes three lenses which are disposed at every 120 degrees in shifted positions with respect to said writing means.

5. A writing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said optical sensing means includes a lens which surrounds said writing means and a charge coupled device chip which also surrounds said writing means.

6. A writing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said optical sensing means includes only a charge coupled device chip which surrounds said writing means.

7. A writing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said optical sensing means includes at least one pair of lenses which are disposed symmetrically with respect to said writing means, a charge coupled device chip and image compensation means for obtaining an image of a leading edge of said writing means based on image signals corresponding to each lens obtained by said charge coupled device chip.