Means for inputting characters or commands into a computer

• US 6,647,145 B1
• Filed: 07/23/1999
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Co-operwrite Limited
• Original Assignee: Co-operwrite Limited
• Inventors: Gay, Geoffrey Norman Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Mariam, Daniel G.
• Application Number:
  US09/355,217
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 382/181, 382/185, 382/186, 382/187, 382/188, 382/189, 382/197, 382/202, 382/209, 382/229, 382/291, 382/292, 382/309, 382/310, 382/313, 382/314, 178/18-1-, 178/19.04, 235/472.01, 345/163, 345/169, 345/173, 345/179, 345/183, 345/702, 358/473
• US Class Current: 382/187
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/373 using a special pattern or subpattern alphabet

Abstract

An apparatus and method for inputting a hand-generated character into a computer. A user draws a character using a drawing apparatus. As the user draws, movement of the apparatus and characteristics of such movement are detected. The apparatus generates a code for the character being drawn as a time dependent sequence of signals by comparing the characteristics of the movement as the character is drawn with a predetermined set of characteristics, with each signal corresponding to the predetermined characteristic closest to the actual characteristic detected at each successive step of movement. The apparatus provides visual feedback to the user by displaying in sequence each component of a character that is being drawn positionally independently of the movement of the drawing apparatus.

Claims

1. Means for inputting a hand generated character into a digital device comprising means for drawing a character, means for detecting characteristics of movements in drawing a character to produce a code for the character as a time dependent sequence of signals, by comparing each characteristic as the character is drawn with a predetermined set of characteristics, each signal corresponding to the predetermined characteristic closest to the actual characteristic detected at each successive step of movement, and visual feedback means, wherein a component of a character is displayed with each successive signal in the sequence for the character being hand generated positionally independently of the drawing means.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein movement of the drawing means is abstracted as unit vectors.

3. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein recognition occurs character by character in real time.

4. Means as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for displaying the recognized character.

5. Means as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for providing visual feedback corresponding to the character being inputted as each signal is abstracted.

6. Means as claimed in claim 5, wherein the visual feedback means comprises means for producing on a monitor a graphic simulation of a character component in response to an abstracted signal.

7. Means as claimed in claim 6, wherein said graphic simulation is modifiable in response to a subsequent signal of a sequence for a character.

8. Means as claimed in claim 6, wherein said graphic simulation further comprises an indicator as to position of the drawing means on a drawing surface.

9. Means as claimed in claim 8, wherein said indicator comprises an icon displayed at or near the end of the latest graphic simulation component.

10. Means as claimed in claim 8, wherein said indicator comprises an icon that moves around the graphic simulation of a character in response to movement of the drawing means.

11. Means as claimed in claim 6 further comprising means for displaying on the monitor the character as a reproduction thereof.

12. Means as claimed in claim 1 including means for signaling completion of a character.

13. Means as claimed in claim 12, wherein the drawing means is arranged to signal completion of a character by lifting the drawing means from a drawing surface.

14. Means as claimed in claim 13, wherein completion of a character is indicated by a unique movement of the drawing means relative to that character.

15. Means as claimed in claim 13, wherein completion of a character is indicated by movement of one of the drawing means and an icon indicative of the drawing means to a defined position.

16. Means as claimed in claim 15, wherein said defined position is an area of a drawing surface.

17. Means as claimed in claim 15, wherein said defined position is an area defined on a monitor.

18. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drawing means comprises a hand-held pen-like device.

19. Means as claimed in claim 18, wherein the device has a part, which is movable about a template during reproduction of a character.

20. Means as claimed in claim 19, wherein the part is movable relative to a notional template.

21. Means as claimed in claim 19, wherein the drawing means comprises a hollow body part movable about a real or notional template within the hollow body part.

22. Means as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least one movable apart of the device and the remainder of the device and/or template are flexibly linked.

23. Means as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least one movable part of the device is a tip movable relative to a body of the device and one or more flexible linkages affect movement of the tip relative to the body.

24. Means as claimed in claim 23, wherein the sensing means are selected from electrical, photoelectric and magnetic sensing means.

25. Means as claimed in claims 19 including means for sensing direction of movement of said device or part thereof relative to a real or notional template in reproducing a character.

26. Means as claimed in claim 24, wherein sensing means are spaced about said real or notional template.

27. Means as claimed in claim 19, wherein the template is a generally square enclosure.

28. Means as claimed in claim 19, wherein the template is a generally circular enclosure.

29. Means as claimed in claim 19, wherein the template defines a track.

30. Means as claimed in claim 19, wherein the template has a plurality of zones and said part moves from zone to zone in reproducing a character.

31. Means as claimed in claim 1 including means for converting a signal for a lower case character into a signal for an upper case character.

32. Means for inputting a hand generated character into a digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the movements in drawing a character are directions of movement.

33. Means as claimed in claim 32, wherein abstraction of a direction change is speed independent.

34. Means as claimed in claim 32, wherein abstraction of a direction change is scale independent.

35. Means as claimed in claim 32, wherein abstraction of a direction change is substantially independent of distortions or variations in the character as drawn.

36. Means for inputting a hand generated character into a digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the movements in drawing a character are successive positions.

37. Means for inputting a hand generated character into a digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the moverments in drawing a character are successive changes in velocity or higher time derivative of motion.

38. Means for inputting a hand generated character into a digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the characteristics of the movements in drawing a character are successive components of shape.

39. Means for inputting a hand generated character into a digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the visual feedback comprises display of a character built up and, optionally, modified step by step in correlation with the time dependent sequence of signals produced as the hand generated character is drawn.

40. Means for inputting a hand generated character into a digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the visual feedback comprises automatic displaying of a character in a selected font being built up and, optionally, modified step by step, each step corresponding to one of the signals of the code sequence for the character being drawn and in the same order as the code sequence.

41. Means for inputting a hand generated character into a digital device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the visual feedback comprises display of a character built up and, optionally, modified step by step in correlation with the time dependent sequence of signals produced as the hand generated character is drawn, and in that each step of the display is dependent on the preceding signal or signal sequence of the character being drawn.