JPH0628096A - Spatial handwritten character figure input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable to easily input characters or graphics with high operability even under a plane-like unsubstantial condition such as a conventional hand- writing input panel. CONSTITUTION:The spatial hand-written character graphic input device successively detects spatial coordinates corresponding to a spatial positions accompanied by the movement of a magnetic sensor 2 tube mounted on a finger tip, measures the moving speed and acceleration of the sensor 2 by the successively detected spatial coordinates, extracts a trace image drawn by the sensor 2 based upon the measured moving speed and acceleration, and stores the extracted trace image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spatial handwritten character / graphics input device for inputting a character pattern or a graphic pattern from a path that virtually traces a character or graphic by a method such as handwriting in space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional handwritten character / graphics input device brings a light pen or the like into contact with a flat coordinate detection display panel to electrically read the coordinates of the pen tip so as to generate a character or a graphic. The recognition result is displayed, or the coordinates of the route are converted and displayed.

[0003] In such an apparatus, when the target information such as a plurality of continuous characters or figures which have already been displayed, such as an OHP (overhead projector) or a bulletin board, is to be transferred while being viewed, the target After memorizing the information in the head, from the direction of the target information, gaze once,
It was necessary to move to the display panel and input the target information stored in the above.

Further, when inputting the target information, since a planar entity such as a handwriting input panel is required, it is not possible to easily record the target information such as characters and figures when a person comes up with it.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, the present invention has disadvantages that the operability when inputting a plurality of continuous characters and figures is poor and that characters and figures cannot be easily input. It can be removed easily even in situations where there is no planar substance such as the conventional handwriting input panel.
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a space handwritten character / graphics input device that has good operability and can input characters and graphics.

[0006]

A spatial handwritten character / graphics input device according to the present invention comprises a sensor mounted on a fingertip, a detecting means for sequentially detecting spatial coordinates corresponding to a spatial position associated with the movement of the sensor, and this detecting means. By the spatial coordinates sequentially detected by the measuring means for measuring the moving speed and acceleration of the sensor, the extracting means for extracting the trace image drawn by the sensor by the moving speed and acceleration measured by the measuring means, And a storage means for storing the trace image extracted by the extraction means.

The spatial handwritten character / graphics input device of the present invention comprises a sensor mounted on a fingertip, a detecting means for sequentially detecting spatial coordinates corresponding to a spatial position accompanying movement of the sensor,
Measuring means for measuring the moving speed and acceleration of the sensor by the spatial coordinates sequentially detected by the detecting means, and a trace image drawn by the sensor is extracted by the moving speed and acceleration measured by the measuring means. It is composed of extraction means, storage means for storing the trace image extracted by the extraction means, and display means for displaying the trace image stored in the storage means.

The spatial handwritten character input device of the present invention is mounted on the shoulder, and is mounted on the shoulder reference position magnetic source for generating a magnetic field indicating the reference position, the magnetic drive circuit for driving the shoulder reference position magnetic source, and the fingertip. A pointer magnetic sensor that generates a current according to the magnetic field from the shoulder reference position magnetic source, an induced current detection circuit that detects an induced current by the output of the pointer magnetic sensor, and a space by a change in the induced current from the induced current detection circuit. Spatial coordinate measuring unit for measuring coordinates, spatial coordinate register for storing spatial coordinates measured by this spatial coordinate measuring unit, valid for determining whether the spatial coordinates stored in this spatial coordinate register are within a valid three-dimensional area The acceleration and velocity are determined based on the spatial coordinates determined by the three-dimensional area determination unit and the effective three-dimensional area determination unit to be within the effective three-dimensional area. Degree, speed determination unit, this acceleration, the situation in which the acceleration determined by the speed determination unit is within a certain range is determined as the valid input section, and the predetermined speed or more is determined as the valid trace, and the state below the predetermined speed is the predetermined time or more. A character determination unit that determines that the characters are separated when continuing, a character patterning unit that characterizes the valid trace content for each character determined by this character determination unit, and a character pattern from this character patterning unit It comprises a conversion means for converting into a character pattern of a size, a display means for displaying the character pattern converted by this conversion means, and a storage means for storing the character pattern converted by the conversion means.

The space handwritten figure input device of the present invention is mounted on a shoulder, and a shoulder reference position magnetic source for generating a magnetic field indicating a reference position, a magnetic drive circuit for driving the shoulder reference position magnetic source, and a fingertip, A pointer magnetic sensor that generates a current according to the magnetic field from the shoulder reference position magnetic source, an induced current detection circuit that detects an induced current by the output of the pointer magnetic sensor, and a space by a change in the induced current from the induced current detection circuit. Spatial coordinate measuring unit for measuring coordinates, spatial coordinate register for storing spatial coordinates measured by this spatial coordinate measuring unit, valid for determining whether the spatial coordinates stored in this spatial coordinate register are within a valid three-dimensional area The acceleration and velocity are determined based on the spatial coordinates determined by the three-dimensional area determination unit and the effective three-dimensional area determination unit to be within the effective three-dimensional area. Degree, speed determination unit, this acceleration, the situation in which the acceleration determined by the speed determination unit is within a certain range is determined as the valid input section, and the valid trace determination unit that determines a predetermined speed or more as the valid trace, this valid trace determination unit The display unit is configured to display the content of the valid trace determined in 1. and the storage unit to store the content of the valid trace determined in the valid trace determining unit.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in the above-mentioned structure, the spatial coordinates corresponding to the spatial position associated with the movement of the sensor mounted on the fingertip are sequentially detected, and the moving speed of the sensor is detected by the spatial coordinates sequentially detected. And the acceleration are measured, the trace image drawn by the sensor is extracted based on the measured moving speed and the acceleration, and the extracted trace image is stored.

According to the present invention, in the above structure,
Spatial coordinates corresponding to the spatial position associated with the movement of the sensor attached to the fingertip are sequentially detected, the moving speed and acceleration of the sensor are measured by the sequentially detected spatial coordinates, and the measured moving speed and The trace image drawn by the sensor is extracted by the acceleration, the extracted trace image is stored, and the stored trace image is displayed.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the structure of the spatial handwritten character / graphics input device of the present invention.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the spatial handwritten character / graphics input device includes a magnetic source 1 and a magnetic sensor 2.
And the device body 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the magnetic source 1 is mounted on the shoulder (right shoulder) of the operator, and the magnetic field of the shoulder reference position that generates a magnetic field from the shoulder reference position (origin position). The source. The magnetic source 1 is composed of orthogonal coils. The magnetic source 1 and a magnetic drive circuit 12, which will be described later, inside the apparatus body 3 are connected by a lead wire 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the magnetic sensor 2 is mounted on the fingertip (right hand) of the operator, and a current corresponding to the magnetic field from the magnetic source 1 is induced 3 therein.
It is a dimensional pointer magnetic sensor. This magnetic sensor 2
It is composed of quadrature coils. The magnetic sensor 2
And an induced current detection circuit 13, which will be described later, in the device body 3,
It is connected by a lead wire 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 3 includes a controller 11, a magnetic drive circuit 12, and an induced current detection circuit 1.
3, spatial coordinate measurement unit 14, spatial coordinate register 15, effective three-dimensional area determination unit 16, speed determination unit 17, acceleration determination unit 18, two-dimensional trace processing unit 19, character normalization processing unit 2.
0, a storage unit 21, an operation unit 22, and a display unit 23 are provided.

The control unit 11 controls the entire apparatus.

The magnetic drive circuit 12 includes the control unit 11 described above.
The magnetic source 1 generates a magnetic field by applying an alternating current to the magnetic source 1.

The induced current detection circuit 13 detects the magnitude of the current induced in the magnetic sensor 2.

The spatial coordinate measuring section 14 measures the position (spatial coordinate) of the magnetic sensor 2, that is, the position of the fingertip, based on the magnitude of the current detected by the induced current detecting circuit 13. The spatial coordinate measuring unit 14 is, for example,
The measurement result is output every 0 msec.

The spatial coordinate register 15 stores the spatial coordinates measured by the spatial coordinate measuring section 14.

The effective three-dimensional area determination unit 16 determines whether the spatial coordinates stored in the spatial coordinate register 15 are within the effective area of the three-dimensional area. That is, it is determined whether or not the position of the fingertip is an area for drawing a character or a figure.

The effective area will be described.

That is, the position of the magnetic source 1 attached to the operator's shoulder (right shoulder) becomes the reference position (the origin of 0 coordinate in each direction).

With respect to the operator's forward direction (Z direction),
When it is 25 cm or more (Z ≧ 25 cm), it is an input valid area, and when it is 25 cm or less (Z <25 cm), it is an input invalid area.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the fingertip is separated by 25 cm or more in the Z direction, the input effective area is determined in the Z direction.

In the case of 0 cm to 20 cm from the operator's shoulder downward (Y direction) (0 cm≤Y≤20c
m) is an input valid area, and otherwise (Y> 20)
cm) is an input invalid area.

The direction directly facing the operator's shoulder (X direction)
On the other hand, in the case of −20 cm to 20 cm (−20 cm ≦
X ≦ 20 cm), the input valid area, and in other cases (Y <−20, Y> 20 cm), the input invalid area.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d), "a", "i", "sa",
The character "tsu" is entered.

The velocity determining unit 17 determines the moving velocity (of the fingertip) from the spatial coordinates of the two measurement points before and after the effective three-dimensional region determining unit 16 determines that it is within the effective region, and changes the velocity. Depending on the state, the input section and the break for each character are determined, and the valid trace and invalid trace within one character are determined.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, 2 cm / s
When ec or less continues for 0.3 seconds or more, character breaks are determined, and the interval between the breaks is determined as an input section for each character.

Further, when one character is drawn in space, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 7, a portion that substantially forms a character (effective trace) and a portion that connects them as shown by a broken line in FIG. (Ineffective trace; blank part), the effective part and the ineffective trace can be distinguished from each other by moving the substantially character part at high speed and moving the connecting part at slow speed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the moving speed is 2 cm / sec or more, it is judged as an effective trace, and 2
If it is equal to or lower than cm / sec, it is determined as an invalid trace.

The acceleration determination unit 18 is the speed determination unit 17 described above.
Acceleration is judged by the difference between the two judgment speeds before and after
If this acceleration exceeds a certain acceleration (± 2 cm / sec ² ) for 0.5 seconds or more, it is determined as an invalid input section, and otherwise, it is determined as a valid input section. .

For example, under the condition that the fingertip is moved from the vicinity of the operator to the front at the start of input, and the fingertip is moved from the front of the operator to the vicinity at the end of the input, as shown in FIG.
Since the acceleration at the start of input and at the end of input is fast and slow while inputting characters and figures, it is possible that the acceleration is constant acceleration (± 2 cm / sec ² ) or more while inputting characters and figures. It does not continue for more than 0.5 seconds and becomes an effective input section.

The two-dimensional trace processing unit 19 creates a two-dimensional character pattern from the spatial coordinates corresponding to the effective trace position in the input section for each character determined by the speed determination unit 17.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, in correspondence with the effective trace position from the speed determination section 17,
Two-dimensional character patterns (sizes are not uniform) of "a", "i", "sa", and "tsu" are created.

The character normalization processing unit 20 converts the character pattern from the two-dimensional trace processing unit 19 into the size (and resolution) of the character area for display and normalizes it. This conversion is performed by matching only the longer side to the corresponding side of the character area.

For example, as shown in FIG.
In the case of “yes”, the horizontal direction of the character pattern from the two-dimensional trace processing unit 19 is enlarged according to the corresponding side of the character area, and as shown in FIG. For, the vertical direction of the character pattern from the two-dimensional trace processing unit 19 is enlarged according to the corresponding side of the character area.

Therefore, the irregular character pattern of FIG. 9A is normalized as shown in FIG. 9B.

The storage unit 21 stores the normalized character pattern or the character pattern from the two-dimensional trace processing unit 19 as an input character. Storage unit 21
Is designed to register a plurality of input character strings corresponding to the memo number designated by the operation unit 22.

The operating section 22 is provided on the apparatus main body 34, and as shown in FIG. 1, a switching key 22a for switching between character input and graphic input, and a power source key 22b for turning on / off the power source. , A memo key 22c and a no key 22d, which are used when registering or reading a memo, selecting whether the memo to be registered is a character or a graphic, and at which number memo the memo is to be registered or read.

The display unit 23 is provided on the main body 34 of the apparatus, displays a trace image such as characters and figures, selects a memo and a read mode selection screen, and registers the memo or the memo. The read selection screen is displayed.

The magnetic source 1, the magnetic sensor 2,
By the magnetic drive circuit 12, the induced current detection circuit 13, the spatial coordinate measuring unit 14, and the spatial coordinate register 15,
The spatial position detector 30 is formed.

Next, the operation of registering a memo in such a structure will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the operator wears the magnetic source 1 on the right shoulder and the magnetic sensor 2 on the fingertip of the right hand. Then,
The power key 22b of the operation unit 22 is turned on. Then, the control unit 11 is guided by the display unit 23 to select the memo registration.
In response to this guidance, the Yes key 22c is used to select the memo registration. Then, the control unit 11 is guided by the display unit 23 to select the registration of the character memo. In response to this guidance, the Yes key 22c is used to select the registration of the character memo. Then, the control unit 11 is guided by the display unit 23 to select the registration of the first memo. Yes key 22 according to this guidance
Select registration of Memo 1 with c.

Further, in response to turning on the power key 22b, the control section 11 controls the magnetic drive circuit 12 to cause the magnetic source 1 to generate a magnetic field.

In such a state, the spatial coordinate measuring unit 14 measures the spatial coordinates associated with the movement of the magnetic sensor 2, and the measurement results are sequentially stored in the spatial coordinate register 15. Then, the control unit 11 outputs the spatial coordinates stored in the spatial coordinate register 15 to the effective three-dimensional area determination unit 16.

The effective three-dimensional area determination unit 16 determines whether the supplied spatial coordinates are within the effective three-dimensional area.
That is, when Z ≧ 25 cm is satisfied in the Z direction, 0 cm ≦ Y ≦ 20 cm is satisfied in the Y direction, and −20 cm ≦ X ≦ 20 cm is satisfied in the X direction), the effective 3
It is determined to be within the dimension area.

The spatial coordinates determined by the effective three-dimensional area determining unit 16 to be within the effective three-dimensional area are output to the speed determining unit 17.

The speed determining section 17 determines the moving speed (of the fingertip) from the spatial coordinates of the two front and rear measurement points, and this speed is 2
It is determined whether the input section for each character and the break are determined by whether or not cm / sec or less continues for 0.3 seconds or more, and whether the speed in one character is 2 cm / sec or more within the input section for each character. Whether it is a valid trace or an invalid trace is determined depending on whether or not it is valid.

The moving speed determined by the speed determining unit 17 is output to the acceleration determining unit 18.

The acceleration determining section 18 determines the acceleration based on the difference between the two front and rear determination velocities, and except when this acceleration is kept at a certain acceleration (± 2 cm / sec ² ) or more for 0.5 seconds or more. Judge as a valid input section.

The determination result indicating the valid input section from the acceleration determination unit 18 is output to the control unit 11.

When the control unit 11 is supplying the determination result indicating the effective input section, the spatial coordinates determined by the speed determination unit 17 as an effective trace are output to the two-dimensional trace processing unit 19.

The two-dimensional trace processing section 19 creates a two-dimensional character pattern from the spatial coordinates corresponding to the supplied effective trace position. This two-dimensional trace processing unit 19
The character pattern created in 1 is output to the character normalization processing unit 20.

The character normalization processing section 20 converts the supplied character pattern into the size of the character area for display, normalizes it, and outputs it to the storage section 21.

The storage unit 21 stores the supplied normalized character pattern in the storage area corresponding to the memo 1.

The control section 11 also causes the display section 23 to display the character pattern string stored in the storage section 21.

When the fingertip of the right hand is moved from the effective three-dimensional area to the vicinity of the operator, the acceleration determining unit 1
It is determined in 8 that the input section is invalid, and the valid three-dimensional area determining unit 16 determines that the input area is outside the valid area, and the determination processing after the speed determining unit 17 is not performed.

As described above, when the magnetic sensor 2, that is, the fingertip of the right hand, moves within the effective three-dimensional area and the acceleration thereof becomes less than the predetermined acceleration, the characters drawn by the fingertip of the right hand are sequentially stored. It is stored in the unit 21 and displayed on the display unit 23. Further, when registering a memo of a graphic, the effective trace position from the two-dimensional trace processing unit 19 is stored in the storage unit 21 as graphic data or displayed on the display unit 23 without using the character normalization processing unit 20. It may be done.

In this case, the figure is input from the time when the fingertip of the right hand is moved into the effective three-dimensional area from the vicinity of the operator to the time when it is moved outside the effective three-dimensional area in the vicinity of the operator. Judged as something.

Next, the reading operation of the memo will be described.

First, the operator operates the power key 2 of the operation unit 22.
Turn on 2b. Then, the control unit 11 is guided by the display unit 23 to select the memo registration. When the no key 22d is input in response to this guidance, the selection of reading the memo is guided. In response to this guidance, the YES key 22c is used to select reading of the memo. Then, the control unit 11 causes the display unit 23 to
Will guide you through the selection of reading the first memo. Further, by inputting the no key 22d, selection of reading of another memo 2, ... Is guided. Yes key 22
The reading of memo 1 or other memos 2, ... Is selected by c.

For example, when the reading of the memo 1 is selected, the control unit 11 reads the character pattern or the graphic pattern stored in the storage area corresponding to the memo 1 from the storage unit 21 and displays it on the display unit 23. .

In the above embodiment, the case where the character pattern obtained by normalizing the traced character pattern is stored and displayed is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the character pattern in the traced state is stored as it is. It may be displayed or displayed.

Further, the normalized character pattern may be recognized by using a dictionary of character patterns, and the code for the recognized character pattern may be stored. At this time, the recognized character pattern and the unrecognized character pattern may be stored or displayed separately.

The case where the magnetic source is attached to the right shoulder and the magnetic sensor is attached to the fingertip of the right hand has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and the same can be performed when the magnetic source is attached to the left shoulder and the magnetic sensor is attached to the fingertip of the left hand.

Further, although the magnetic system is used as the spatial position detecting section, another system using an ultrasonic sensor or the like may be used.

[0071]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a space handwritten character / graphics input device that can easily input characters and figures even in a situation where there is no planar substance such as a conventional handwriting input panel.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a spatial handwritten character / graphics input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a mounting state of a magnetic source and a magnetic sensor of FIG. 1 and an input effective area.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a mounting state of the magnetic source and the magnetic sensor of FIG. 1 and an input effective area.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an input valid section in the Z direction in the valid three-dimensional area determination unit of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of inputting characters in an input valid area.

6A and 6B are views for explaining determination of character division corresponding to a moving speed of a fingertip and determination of an input section for each character in the speed determination unit of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an effective trace and an invalid trace when a character is drawn in space.

8 is a diagram for explaining an effective input section corresponding to the movement acceleration of the fingertip in the acceleration determination unit of FIG.

9 is a diagram for explaining a two-dimensional character pattern corresponding to an effective trace position and a normalized character pattern in the character normalization processing unit of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining normalization for a two-dimensional character pattern in the character normalization processing unit in FIG.

11 is a flowchart for explaining a memo registration operation in the spatial handwritten character / graphics input device of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Magnetic source, 2 ... Magnetic sensor, 3 ... Device body, 11
... Control unit, 12 ... Magnetic drive circuit, 13 ... Induced current detection circuit, 14 ... Spatial coordinate measuring unit, 15 ... Spatial coordinate register, 16 ... Effective three-dimensional area determination unit, 17 ... Speed determination unit,
18 ... Acceleration determination section, 19 ... Two-dimensional trace processing section, 2
0 ... Character normalization processing unit, 21 ... Storage unit, 22 ... Operation unit,
23 ... Display section.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sensor mounted on a fingertip, a detection means for sequentially detecting spatial coordinates corresponding to a spatial position accompanying movement of the sensor, and a movement of the sensor by spatial coordinates sequentially detected by the detection means. Measuring means for measuring velocity and acceleration, extracting means for extracting the trace image drawn by the sensor by the moving speed and acceleration measured by the measuring means, and the trace image extracted by the extracting means are stored. A spatial handwritten character / graphics input device, comprising: 2. A sensor mounted on a fingertip, a detection means for sequentially detecting spatial coordinates corresponding to a spatial position associated with the movement of the sensor, and the movement of the sensor by the spatial coordinates sequentially detected by the detection means. Measuring means for measuring velocity and acceleration, extracting means for extracting the trace image drawn by the sensor by the moving speed and acceleration measured by the measuring means, and the trace image extracted by the extracting means are stored. And a display unit for displaying a trace image stored in the storage unit. 3. A shoulder reference position magnetic source provided on a shoulder for generating a magnetic field indicating a reference position, a magnetic drive circuit for driving the shoulder reference position magnetic source, and a shoulder reference position magnetic source mounted on a fingertip. Pointer magnetic sensor that generates a current according to the magnetic field from the sensor, an induced current detection circuit that detects the induced current by the output of the pointer magnetic sensor, and the spatial coordinates are measured by the change of the induced current from the induced current detection circuit. A spatial coordinate measuring unit, a spatial coordinate register that stores the spatial coordinates measured by this spatial coordinate measuring unit, and an effective 3D that determines whether the spatial coordinates stored in this spatial coordinate register are within an effective 3D area. An area determination unit and an acceleration / speed determination unit that determines acceleration and speed from the spatial coordinates determined by the effective three-dimensional area determination unit to be within the effective three-dimensional area. , The situation where the acceleration determined by the acceleration / speed determination unit is within a certain range is determined as the valid input section, the predetermined speed or more is determined as the valid trace, and when the state of the predetermined speed or less continues for the predetermined time or more, the character is A character determination unit that determines that the character is a break, a character patterning unit that converts the valid trace content for each character determined by this character determination unit into a character pattern, and a character pattern from this character patterning unit that is a character of a predetermined size. Space handwriting characterized by comprising: conversion means for converting into a pattern; display means for displaying the character pattern converted by the conversion means; and storage means for storing the character pattern converted by the conversion means. Character input device. 4. A shoulder reference position magnetic source that is provided on a shoulder and generates a magnetic field indicating a reference position, a magnetic drive circuit that drives the shoulder reference position magnetic source, and a shoulder reference position magnetic source that is attached to a fingertip. Pointer magnetic sensor that generates a current according to the magnetic field from the sensor, an induced current detection circuit that detects the induced current by the output of the pointer magnetic sensor, and the spatial coordinates are measured by the change of the induced current from the induced current detection circuit. A spatial coordinate measuring unit, a spatial coordinate register that stores the spatial coordinates measured by this spatial coordinate measuring unit, and an effective 3D that determines whether the spatial coordinates stored in this spatial coordinate register are within an effective 3D area. An area determination unit and an acceleration / speed determination unit that determines acceleration and speed from the spatial coordinates determined by the effective three-dimensional area determination unit to be within the effective three-dimensional area. , A situation in which the acceleration determined by the acceleration / velocity determination unit is within a certain range is determined as a valid input section, and a predetermined speed or more is determined as a valid trace determination unit, and a determination is made by the valid trace determination unit. A spatial handwritten figure input device comprising: display means for displaying the content of the effective trace; and storage means for storing the content of the effective trace determined by the effective trace determination unit.