JPH0198018A - character symbol input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention is based on computer aided design (
The present invention relates to a character/symbol input device for displaying characters or symbols on a CAD (CAD) system or a word processor.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as a device for displaying characters or symbols at an arbitrary position on a display surface, a device using a keyboard and a position specifying device such as a light ben or a mouse has been used.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, general keyboards are designed with the assumption that they will be operated using both hands, and therefore, when operating a mouse etc. with one hand, the operating efficiency of the keyboard is reduced. It got worse.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a character/symbol input device that allows efficient input of characters or symbols to be displayed and their display positions. purpose.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an input means for inputting characters or symbols by voice, and a method for inputting characters or symbols input by the input means to correspond to the voice. a conversion means for converting into characters or symbols; a display means having a display surface capable of displaying the characters or symbols; a designation means capable of specifying any position on the display surface; The apparatus is characterized by comprising a control means for displaying the input character or symbol based on the position specified by the specifying means on the display surface.

[Operation] In the character and symbol display device configured as described above, the designation means designates the position on the display surface where characters, symbols, or both are to be displayed. Characters or symbols to be displayed are input by voice, and the voice is converted into characters or symbols by the conversion means. The control means acts on the display means and causes the characters or symbols converted by the conversion means to be displayed on the display surface with reference to the position designated by the designation means.

[Embodiment] A first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an input section of a word processor will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1 showing the configuration of this embodiment, a microphone 11 corresponding to the input means is configured to pick up the user's voice and convert it into an electrical signal.

A converter 12 corresponding to the converter is connected to the microphone 11, and the converter 12 is configured to input the electrical signal and recognize the audio represented by the input electrical signal. ing. Furthermore, the converter 1
2 has a character mode and a symbol mode, and is configured to convert the recognized voice into a character string in the character mode, and to convert the recognized voice into a symbol in the symbol mode. The recognition unit 12 has a switch 12a, and is configured to be able to switch between the two modes using the switch 12a. This converter 12 includes:
Buffer 7 memory 13 is connected, and the buffer memory 1
3 is configured to store character strings or symbols converted by the converter 12.

A central processor unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 14 is connected to the buffer 7 memory 13. A read-on memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) 15 that stores programs is connected to this CPU 14.
14 operates according to a program stored in its ROM 15.

A display 18 corresponding to display means is connected to the CPU 14 via a video memory (hereinafter referred to as VRAM) 16 and a display control section 17. This display 18 is composed of a cathode ray tube (CRT) having a display surface 18a having a total of 262,144 pixels arranged in an array of 512 pixels vertically and 512 pixels horizontally, and each pixel is changed to black or white. Is possible.

The VRAM 16 is composed of 262,144 memory cells that correspond one-to-one to the 262,144 pixels. Individual addresses are assigned to these memory cells, and each memory cell is configured to be able to store a value of O or 1. These memory cells are configured so that their stored contents can be rewritten by the action of the CPtJ14.

Further, the display control unit 17 controls the VRAM 1
6 are sequentially read out, and the pixels on the display surface 18a of the display 18 corresponding to the memory cells from which the stored values have been read are colored black if the read stored value is 1; If the stored value is O, the color is changed to white.

The CPU 14 includes a character generator memory 1.
9 is connected. This character generator memory 19 stores each pixel matrix consisting of a total of 256 pixels arranged in 16 columns and 16 columns representing the shapes of all characters or symbols that can be converted by the conversion section 12. It encodes pixels and stores the encoded data. In this data, pixels forming the character or symbol of a pixel matrix representing the character or symbol are designated as 1, and pixels representing a background color that does not constitute the character or symbol are represented as O.

Further, a light pen 21 corresponding to the specifying means is connected to the CPU 14 via an address investigation section 20. This light pen 21 is configured to input the information of the scanning line of the display 18 at the pixel located closest to the contact point by bringing its input end into contact with the display surface 18a of the display 18. has been done.

Further, the address investigation section 20
7, and based on the information of the scanning line inputted by the light pen 21 and the information related to the control of the display control section 17, the most It is configured to check the address of a memory cell in the VRAM 16 that corresponds to a nearby pixel.

Further, a text memory 22 corresponding to a storage means is connected to the CPtJ 14. This text memory 22 is configured to store input character symbol strings and information on their positions.

In addition, CPLJ14. VRAM16. The display control section 17 corresponds to control means.

The operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained by taking as an example a case where "Aiweo.Pa" is displayed on the display surface 18a of the display 18 and the data is stored in the text memory 22.

First, a method of inputting the character symbol string "iweo." will be described.
After setting the conversion unit 12 to the character mode by operating , the user utters "Aiweo" into the microphone 11. This voice is converted into an electrical signal by the microphone 11; inputted into the conversion section 12. In the converter 12,
The voice represented by this electrical signal is recognized, the voice is converted into the corresponding character string "aiweo", and the character string "aiweo" is sequentially stored in the buffer 7 memory 13. Next, the user operates the switch 12a to
After switching the mode to the symbol mode, the user similarly utters "kuten" into the microphone 11. The conversion unit 12 recognizes the voice as described above, and stores the symbol "." corresponding to the voice in the buffer 7 memory 13 next to the area where the character string "aiweo" is stored. Therefore, the character symbol string "Aiweo." is stored in the buffer 7 memory 13.

Next, the character symbol string "iweo" is displayed on the display surface 18a of the display 18. Specify the display position of ``.VR
Each memory cell of the AM 16 stores O as an initial value, and therefore all pixels on the display surface 18a are white. In this state, the user inserts the input end of the light pen 21 into the character symbol string "'" as shown in FIG.
Aiweo. '' is brought into contact with the upper left corner of a rectangular area represented by 16 pixels vertically and 16 horizontally on the display surface 18a where the first character ``A'' is to be displayed.

The light pen 21 inputs information on the scanning line of the display 18 at the position of the pixel closest to its contact point. The address investigation section 20 uses the information of the scanning line inputted by the light pen 21 and the information inputted from the display control section 17 to determine which pixel corresponds to the pixel closest to the contact point of the light pen 21. The address of the memory cell of the VRAM 16 is investigated.

Thereafter, all pixels on the display surface 18a are displayed on the display surface 1.
Using the rank i counted from the left end of 8a and the rank j counted from the top end, it is expressed as P(i, j>.Furthermore, the pixel located closest to the contact point of the light pen 21 is It is assumed that it is the Mth point from the left end of the display surface 18 and the Nth point from the top end, and is expressed as P(M, N>).

Next, the CPU 14 performs a write process on the VRAM 16. The writing process will be explained below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step 331, a variable n is defined and 1 is assigned to n. This n will thereafter serve as a pointer representing the nth character or symbol of the character and symbol string "Aiweo." stored in the buffer 7 memory 13.

Next, the process proceeds to step 332, where the CPtJ 14 inputs the address information investigated by the address investigation section 20.

Next, the process proceeds to step 333, where variables ni and nj are defined, and the aforementioned M and N are substituted into ni and nj, respectively. These ni and nj serve as pointers that indicate the position where characters or symbols are to be displayed thereafter.

Next, the process proceeds to step 34, where the nth stored character or symbol is read from the buffer memory 13. For example, n
When =1, the character "A" is read out.

Next, the process proceeds to step 335, in which the data string representing the shape of the character or symbol read out in step S34 is read out from the character generator memory 19. Hereinafter, each pixel of the pixel matrix represented by this read data will be expressed as C(k, I) using the rank k counted from the right end of the pixel matrix and the rank 1 counted from the top end of the pixel matrix. k here.

1 is an integer from 1 to 16.

Next, the process proceeds to step 336, and a total of 25 pixels, 16 vertically and 16 horizontally, with the pixel represented by p(ni, nj) at the upper left corner
Each pixel of the pixel matrix consisting of 6 pixels and each pixel of the pixel matrix of the character or symbol read in the previous step 335 are converted from C(1, 1) to P(ni, nj).
, C(1,2) as p(ni, nj+1), C(k, I)
corresponds to P(ni+ -1, nj+l-1>). Next, for all k and 1, the pixel C(k.

If the data stored in the character generator memory 19 representing 1) is 1, the corresponding pixel P (n i + -1, nj+ 1-1 > of the VRAM 16 corresponding to C(k, l)) 1 is written in the memory cell. Therefore, 16 cells are written vertically on the display surface 18a with P(ni+1-1, nj+1-1) as the upper left corner.

The same data as the data read out from the character generator memory 19 is given to a pixel matrix represented by 16 horizontal pixels.

Next, the process proceeds to step 337, where the value of n1 is set to ni+16
Replace with As a result, the position to be displayed of a character, symbol, etc. is moved to the right by one character.

Next, the process proceeds to step 338, where the value of n is replaced with n+1.

Next, the process advances to step S39, and the nth character or symbol stored in the buffer memory 13 is searched.

As a result, if the nth character or symbol is stored, the process returns to step 334 and all characters or symbols stored in the buffer memory 13 are stored in the VRAM.
Steps 334 to S39 are repeated until the writing in step S36 is performed in step S36. If the search results show that no character or symbol is stored in the n-th position, then the writing process in step 336 must be completed for the six characters or symbols of the character symbol string "Aiweo." For example, the CPU 14 ends the input processing. After completing the input processing, the CPU 14 writes the character symbol string and information on the position where the character symbol string is to be displayed into the text memory 22.

The display control unit 17 controls the VR at regular intervals.
The stored contents of each memory cell of AM16 are sequentially read, and the pixel corresponding to the read memory cell is colored black if the successively read value is 1, and white if the read value is O.

Therefore, at the time when the CPtJ process is completed, "IWEO." is displayed on the display surface 18a of the display 18, as shown in FIG.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the character generator memory 19 of the above embodiment,
By replacing the members configured as shown in Fig. 5,
It becomes possible to easily display mathematical formulas, etc. This device will be described below as a second embodiment.

The character generator memory 41 in FIG.
Character or symbol data that can be converted by the converter 12 is stored in vector form. A pixel matrix forming section 42 is connected to this character generator memory 41. A keyboard 43 equipped with a numeric keypad is connected to the pixel matrix forming section 42, and the user can specify the size of characters or symbols to be displayed by operating the numeric keypad. The pixel matrix forming section 42 can refer to the character generator memory 41 to create a pixel matrix of the specified size. In addition, the pixel matrix creation unit 42 uses the CPL in FIG.
, 114, and the created pixel matrix is sent to the CPU 14.
It is possible to output to

The effect of input in the embodiment configured as above will be explained below, taking as an example the case where the mathematical formula shown in FIG. 6 is input. However, alphabets and Arabic numerals are treated as symbols in this embodiment. Also, each symbol in the mathematical formula shown in FIG. 6 is "A".

"4 = *t," 32
It is composed of pixels (1024 pixels in total).

First, the user selects A on the display surface 18 of the display 18.
79 is to be displayed, and the pixel P1 at the upper left end of the area is designated with the light pen 21. The address investigation section 20 investigates the address of the memory cell of the VRAM 16 corresponding to the pixel P1, as described above. Next, the user uses the numeric keypad of the keyboard 43 to input information (24) on the number of pixels corresponding to the size of the signal "A" and the symbol "=" following it. Next, the user sets the mode of the converter 12 to the symbol mode, and then speaks into the microphone 11, "Large A Equals." As shown in the first embodiment, this voice is converted into the symbol "A=" by the converter 12, and these symbols are stored in the buffer memory 13.

Next, the CPU 14 reads out the first symbol "Au" stored in the buffer memory 13 and instructs the pixel matrix creation section 42 to create a pixel matrix of the symbol "A". Read the vector data of the symbol “Au” from the character generator memory 41, and write the vector data of the symbol “4A”.
A pixel matrix of 24 pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions (576 pixels in total) representing H is created.

Further, the pixel matrix forming unit 42 generates the pixel matrix and information (24) on the pixel matrix input using the keyboard 43.
is sent to the CPU 14.

The CPU 14 is the step unit 3 in the first embodiment.
As detailed in Section 6, the vertical and horizontal 24 pixels with pixel P1 at the upper left corner
The VRAM 16 is accessed so as to display the pixel matrix received from the pixel matrix forming section 42 in the pixel area. At this time, the symbol "
A'' and its position and size information are written.

Next, the CPU 14 similarly controls the buffer memory 13.
24 vertical and horizontal pixels (total 5 pixels) of the second memorized symbol "-"
76 pixels) is formed by the pixel matrix forming unit 42.
Receive more. Next, CPtJ14 is 24 times larger than the pixel P1, which corresponds to the size of the pixel matrix of the symbol "Au9".
The pixel matrix of the symbol "=" is displayed in a 24-pixel area with the pixel located to the right as the upper left end, and writing is performed in the text memory 22 as described above.

Next, the user uses the light pen 21 to write the symbol "f".
Pixel P2 corresponding to the upper left corner of the area where et is to be displayed is specified. Next, use the keyboard 43 to input information (32) corresponding to the size of the symbol 44f.Next, say "integral" into the microphone 11.CPt
As mentioned above, J14 has 32 vertical and horizontal pixels (
A pixel matrix composed of a total of 1024 pixels) is displayed and written to the text memory 22 as described above.

In this way, the user sequentially selects pixels P3, P4, P5.
11, respectively, the symbol "a".

The pixel matrix representing "b" and "X" 11 is displayed, and the display information is written into the text memo 22.

With this configuration, it is also possible to input numerical formulas, chemical formulas, etc.

Further, the specifying means of the present invention is not limited to the light pen 21, but a tablet, a mouse, etc. can also be used.

Further, by further dividing the modes of the converter 12 in the first and second embodiments into kana mode, numeric mode, kanji mode, etc., it becomes possible to perform more diverse displays.

[Effects of the Invention] As mentioned above, in the present invention, characters or symbols are specified by voice and the display position is specified by a specifying means such as a light pen. This eliminates the hassle of having to take your hand off to operate a light pen or the like.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a word processor according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram explaining the operation of the word processor, and FIG. 3 shows the processing of the CPU 14 of the word processor. Flowchart, 4th
The figure is an explanatory diagram showing the display state of characters or symbols of the word processor, FIG. 5 is a part of a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an illustration of the input method in the second embodiment. It is an explanatory diagram. In the figure, 11 is a microphone, 12 is a conversion unit, and 14 is a C
PU, 16 is VRAM, 17 is display control unit, 1
8 is a display, and 21 is a light pen.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Input means for inputting characters or symbols as sounds (
11), a conversion means (12) for converting the characters or symbols input by the input means (11) into characters or symbols corresponding to the voice, and a display surface (18a) capable of displaying the characters or symbols. a display means (18) having: a designation means (21) capable of specifying an arbitrary position on the display surface (18a);
A character/symbol input device comprising control means (14, 16, 17) for displaying the input characters or symbols based on the position specified by the above-mentioned specifying means (21). 2. The character/symbol input device according to claim 1, wherein either a mouse or a tablet is used as the specifying means (21).