Image reproducing method and apparatus capable of storing and reproducing handwriting

• US 5,748,808 A
• Filed: 12/06/1994
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yashima Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yashima Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Hiroki, Taguchi, Toshio, Agusa, Kiyoshi, Yamamoto, Shin-ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Couso, Jose L.
• Application Number:
  US08/354,130
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 382/177, 382/178, 382/179, 382/187, 382/188, 382/202, 382/312, 382/313, 382/314, 382/315, 382/316
• US Class Current: 382/312
• CPC Class Codes: B02B 3/04 by means of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/12 Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof

Abstract

A handwriting storing and reproducing method which takes small images including a leading edge for writing and stores the small images in a time sequential manner following a movement of a writing device. The method then reads out the stored small images and overlaps a just read out small image to a previously read out small image so as to obtain a partial image when both small images include portions which include partial handwritings coincident to one another. Thereafter, the method overlaps one partial image to another partial image so as to obtain a larger image when both partial images include portions which include partial handwritings coincident to one another.

Claims

1. A handwriting storing and reproducing apparatus comprising;

writing device means for storing handwriting, including a writing section for writing handwriting on a medium for recording, an optical handwriting detection means for taking an image at a predetermined interval in a vicinity of said writing section on the medium and for sequentially detecting small images within a predetermined region which includes said writing section, and a storing means for sequentially storing the detected small images,

reading out means for sequentially reading out the small images from said storing means,

comparing means for comparing a just read out small image with a previously read out small image, and for judging whether or not both small image include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and

image processing means for overlapping the just read out small image to the previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain a new image and to determine the new image as the previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and for repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a small image.

2. A handwriting storing and reproducing apparatus comprising;

writing device means for storing handwriting, including a writing section for writing handwriting on a medium for recording, an optical handwriting detection means for taking an image at a predetermined interval in a vicinity of said writing section on the medium and for sequentially detecting small images within a predetermined region which includes said writing section, and a storing means for sequentially storing the detected small images,

reading out means for sequentially reading out the small images from said storing means,

comparing means for comparing a just read out small image with a previously read out small image, and for judging whether or not both small images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

first image processing means for overlapping the just read out small image to the previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain a new image and to determine the new image as the previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and for repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a small image so as to reproduce a partial image which is larger than the small image, when said comparing means judges that both small images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and

second image processing means for overlapping the just read out small image to another previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain another new image and to determine the another new image as the another previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and for repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a small image so as to reproduce another partial image which is larger than the small image.

3. A handwriting storing and reproducing apparatus comprising;

writing device means for storing handwriting, including a writing section for writing the handwriting on a medium for recording, an optical handwriting detection means for taking an image at a predetermined interval in a vicinity of said writing section on the medium and for sequentially detecting small images within a predetermined region which includes said writing section, and a storing means for sequentially storing the detected small images,

reading out means for sequentially reading out the small images from said storing means,

first comparing means for comparing a just read out small image with a previously read out small image, and for judging whether or not both small images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

first image processing means for overlapping the just read out small image to the previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain a new image and to determine the new image as the previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and for repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a small image so as to reproduce a partial image which is larger than the small image, when said first comparing means judges that both small images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

second image processing means for overlapping the just read out small image to another previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain another new image and to determine the another new image as the another previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and for repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a small image so as to reproduce another partial image which is larger than the small image, after said first comparing means has judged that both small images do not include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

second comparing means for comparing one of the partial images with another partial image, and for judging whether or not both partial images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and

third image processing means for overlapping the one of the partial images to the another partial image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the one of the partial images is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the another partial image, so as to obtain a larger image and to determine the larger image as the another partial image, when both partial images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another.

4. A handwriting storing and reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising;

moving vector obtaining means for obtaining a moving vector based upon plural sequential small images, and

fourth image processing means for determining a relative position between the one of the partial images to the another partial image based upon the moving vector and for disposing both partial images based upon the relative position, so as to obtain a larger image, when both partial images include no partial handwriting which are coincident to one another.

5. A handwriting storing and reproducing apparatus comprising;

a writing section for writing the handwriting on a medium for recording,

optical handwriting detection means for taking images at a predetermined interval in a vicinity of said writing section on the medium and for sequentially detecting small images within a predetermined region which includes said writing section,

storing means for sequentially storing the detected small images,

reading out means for sequentially reading out the small images from said storing means,

first comparing means for comparing a just read out small image with a previously read out small image, and for judging whether or not both small images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

first image processing means for overlapping the just read out small image to the previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain a new image and to determine the new image as the previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and for repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a small image so as to reproduce a partial image which is larger than the small image, when said first comparing means judges that both small images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

second image processing means for overlapping the just read out small image to another previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain another new image and to determine the another new image as the another previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and for repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a small image so as to reproduce another partial image which is larger than the small image, after said first comparing means has judged that both small images do not include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

second comparing means for comparing one of the partial images with another partial image, and for judging whether or not both partial images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and

third image processing means for overlapping the one of the partial images to the another partial image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the one of the partial images is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the another partial image, so as to obtain a larger image and to determine the larger image as the another partial image, when both partial images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another.

6. A handwriting storing and reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising;

moving vector obtaining means for obtaining a moving vector based upon plural sequential small images, and

fourth image processing means for determining a relative position between the one of the partial images to the another partial image based upon the moving vector and for disposing both partial images based upon the relative position, so as to obtain a larger image, when both partial images include no partial handwriting which are coincident to one another.

7. A handwriting storing and reproducing apparatus comprising;

a writing section for writing the handwriting on a medium for recording,

handwriting storing means for storing handwriting, which includes an optical handwriting detection means for optically detecting small images within a predetermined region in a time sequential manner, and a storing means for sequentially storing the detected small images,

reading out means for sequentially reading out the small images from said storing means,

first comparing means for comparing a just read out small image with a previously read out small image, and for judging whether or not both small images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

first image processing means for overlapping the just read out small image to the previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain a new image and to determine the new image as the previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and for repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a small image so as to reproduce a partial image which is larger than the small image, when said first comparing means judges that both small images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

second image processing means for overlapping the just read out small image to another previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain another new image and to determine the another new image as the another previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and for repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a small image so as to reproduce another partial image which is larger than the small image, after said first comparing means has judged that both small images do not include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

second comparing means for comparing one of the partial images with another partial image, and for judging whether or not both partial images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and

third image processing means for overlapping the one of the partial images to the another partial image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the one of the partial images is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the another partial image, so as to obtain a larger image and to determine the larger image as the another partial image, when both partial images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another.

8. A handwriting storing and reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising;

moving vector obtaining means for obtaining a moving vector based upon plural sequential small images, and

fourth image processing means for determining a relative position between the one of the partial images to the another partial image based upon the moving vector and for disposing both partial images based upon the relative position, so as to obtain a larger image, when both partial images include no partial handwriting which are coincident to one another.

9. A handwriting reproducing method which reproduces the handwriting of a writing device means which records handwriting on a surface of a medium with a writing section, takes small images of a vicinal region with respect to said writing section with an image-pickup means thereof in a time sequential manner following a movement of said writing section which image-pickup means is housed within a main body of said writing device means, and stores the small images sequentially, said method comprising the steps of;

reading out the small images sequentially,

comparing a just read out small image with a previously read out small image,

judging whether or not both small image include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

overlapping the just read out small image to the previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain a new image and to determine the new image as the previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and

repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a small image.

10. A handwriting reproducing method which reproduces the handwriting of a writing device means which records handwriting on a surface of a medium with a writing section, takes small images of a vicinal region of the writing section with an image-pickup means thereof in a time sequential manner following a movement of the writing section which image-pickup means is housed within a main body of said writing device means, and stores the small images sequentially, said method comprising the steps of;

reading out the small images sequentially,

comparing a just read out small image with a previously read out small image,

judging whether or not both small image include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

overlapping the just read out small image to the previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain a new image and to determine the new image as the previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

repeating the overlapping when it is judged that both small images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

overlapping the just read out small image to another previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain another new image and to determine the another new image as the another previously read out small image, when both small images include no partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and

repeating the second overlapping at every reading out of a small image so as to reproduce another partial image which is larger than the small image, after it has judged that both small images do not include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another.

11. A handwriting reproducing method which reproduces the handwriting of a writing device means which records the handwriting with a writing section thereof on a surface of a medium, takes small images of a vicinal region of said writing section with an image-pickup means thereof in a time sequential manner following a movement of said writing section which image-pickup means is housed within a main body of said writing device means, and stores the small images sequentially, said method comprising the steps of;

reading out the small images sequentially,

comparing a just read out small image with a previously read out small image,

judging whether or not both small images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

overlapping the just read out small image to the previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain a new image and to determine the new image as the previously read out small image, when both small images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a small image so as to reproduce a partial image which is larger than the small image, when it is judged that both small images include portions of handwriting which are coincident to one another,

overlapping the just read out small image to another previously read out small image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out small image is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out small image, so as to obtain another new image and to determine the another new image as the another previously read out small image, when both small images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

repeating the second overlapping at every reading out of a small image so as to reproduce another partial image which is larger than the small image, after it has judged that both small images do not include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

comparing one of the partial images with another partial image,

judging whether or not both partial images include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and

overlapping the one of the partial images to the another partial image in a condition that a partial handwriting in the one of the partial images is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the another partial image, so as to obtain a larger image and to determine the larger image as the another partial image, when both partial images include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another.

12. A handwriting reproducing method which reproduces the handwriting of a writing device means which records handwriting on a surface of a medium with a writing section, takes a cell which comprises a fixed number of picture elements representing an image of a vicinal region of said writing section with an image-pickup means thereof in a time sequential manner following a movement of said writing section which image-pickup means is housed within a main body of said writing device means, and stores the small images sequentially, said method comprising the steps of;

reading out the cells sequentially,

comparing a just read out cell with a previously read out cell,

judging whether or not both cells include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

overlapping the just read out cell to the previously read out cell in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out cell is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out cell, so as to obtain a new image and to determine the new image as the previously read out cell, when both cells include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

repeating the overlapping at every reading out of a cell so as to reproduce a new image which is larger than the cell, when it is judged that both cells include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

determining the new image as an act when it is judged that both cells do not include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

overlapping the just read out cell to another previously read out cell in a condition that a partial handwriting in the just read out cell is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the previously read out cell, so as to obtain another new image and to determine the another new image as the another previously read out cell, when both cells include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

repeating the second overlapping at every reading out of a cell so as to reproduce another new image which is larger than the cell, after it has judged that both cells do not include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

determining the another new image as another act when it is judged that both cells do not include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another,

comparing one of the acts with another act,

judging whether or not both acts include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, and

overlapping the one of the acts to the another act in a condition that a partial handwriting in the one of the acts is exactly overlapped to a partial handwriting in the another act, so as to obtain a larger image and to determine the larger image as a scene, when both acts include the partial handwritings which are coincident to one another.

13. A handwriting reproducing method as set forth in claim 12, wherein it is judged whether or not the just read out cell and the previously read out cell include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, by moving the just read out cell upward, downward, rightward or leftward within an extent of one M-th (where M is a real number and is equal or greater than 1) of width and height of the just read out cell so as to obtain correlation between the both cells.

14. A handwriting reproducing method as set forth in claim 12, wherein it is judged whether or not the one of the acts and the another act include partial handwritings which are coincident to one another, by moving the one of the acts upward, downward, rightward or leftward within an extent of one N-th (where N is a real number and is equal or greater than 1) of width and height of the one of the acts so as to obtain correlation between the both acts.