Character input method and handheld electronic device

• US 8,405,642 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corporation (Inventec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Inventec Appliances Corporation (Inventec Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Chen, Tsai, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUTCHER, BRIAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/401,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A character input method applicable to a handheld electronic device is provided. The character input method includes the following steps. Firstly, a motion path of the handheld electronic device is sensed. Next, the motion path is transformed into a stroke path. Afterward, an input character corresponding to the stroke path is recognized.

Claims

1. A character input method, applicable to a handheld electronic device, comprising:

sensing a motion path of the handheld electronic device, which step comprises sensing a plurality of segmental motion paths of the handheld electronic device for constituting the motion path, wherein the step of sensing one of the segmental motion paths comprises;

receiving a start instruction to record information of a start position from which the handheld electronic device moves, and recording the information of the start position;

recording information of a plurality of middle positions of the handheld electronic device away from the start position;

receiving an end instruction to record information of an end position at which the movement of the handheld electronic device ends, and recording the information of the end position; and

determining the one of the segmental motion paths according to the information of the start position, the information of the middle positions, and the information of the end position;

transforming the motion path into a stroke path; and

recognizing an input character corresponding to the stroke path.

2. The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transforming the motion path into the stroke path comprises:

transforming the segmental motion paths into a plurality of segmental stroke paths for constituting the stroke path.

3. The character input method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transforming one of the segmental motion paths into one of the segmental stroke paths comprises:

obtaining a coordinate range of a handwriting recognition area of the handheld electronic device;

calculating a mapping ratio from a coordinate range of said one of the segmental motion paths to the coordinate range of the handwriting recognition area; and

mapping said sensed one of the segmental motion paths according to the mapping ratio to the handwriting recognition area, thereby generating a signal to the handwriting recognition area corresponding to said sensed one of the segmental motion paths.

4. The character input method according to claim 3, wherein the step of recognizing the input character comprises:

recognizing, through a handwriting input method, the signals corresponding to the segmental motion paths and generated to the handwriting recognition area.

5. The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the input character comprises a word, a numeral, or a symbol.

6. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a motion sensing unit for sensing a motion path of the handheld electronic device, wherein the motion sensing unit is configured to sense a plurality of segmental motion paths of the handheld electronic device for constituting the motion path;

a processing unit for receiving the motion path, transforming the motion path into a stroke path, and recognizing an input character corresponding to the stroke path, wherein in order to sense one of the segmental motion paths, the processing unit is configured to record information of a start position of the handheld electronic device sensed by the motion sensing unit according to a start instruction, record information of a plurality of middle positions of the handheld electronic device sensed by the motion sensing unit and away from the start position, records, according to an end instruction, information of an end position of the handheld electronic device sensed by the motion sensing unit, and determine said one of the segmental motion paths according to the information of the start position, the information of the middle positions, and the information of the end position; and

a display unit for receiving and displaying the input character recognized by the processing unit.

7. The handheld electronic device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a storage unit for storing the information of the start position, the information of the middle positions, and the information of the end position.

8. The handheld electronic device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a triggering unit for triggering the start instruction and the end instruction.

9. The handheld electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the triggering unit comprises a keying module.

10. The handheld electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the processing unit transforms the segmental motion paths into a plurality of segmental stroke paths for constituting the stroke path.

11. The handheld electronic device according to claim 10, wherein in order to transform one of the segmental motion paths into one of the segmental stroke paths, the processing unit obtains a coordinate range of a handwriting recognition area disposed on the handheld electronic device,

calculates a mapping ratio from a coordinate range of said one of the segmental motion paths to the coordinate range of the handwriting recognition area, and

mapping said sensed one of the segmental motion paths according to the mapping ratio to the handwriting recognition area, thereby generating a signal to the handwriting recognition area corresponding to said sensed one of the segmental motion paths.

12. The handheld electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit recognizes, through a handwriting input method, the signals corresponding to the segmental motion paths and generated to the handwriting recognition area.

13. The handheld electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the motion sensing unit comprises a g-sensor or a 3D accelerometer.

14. The handheld electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the input character comprises a word, a numeral, or a symbol.

15. The handheld electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the display unit comprises a touch display panel.

16. The handheld electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the handheld electronic device comprises a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant.