US 4,972,496 AGranted

Handwritten keyboardless entry computer system

AssigneeGrid Systems Corporation

InventorRalph Sklarew

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A keyboardless entry computer system includes a transparent input screen that generates positional information when contacted by a stylus, and a display screen mounted physically below the input screen such that a character that is displayed can be seen below the input screen. The system includes a computer that has been programmed to compile the positional information into Strokes, to calculate Stroke characteristics, and then compare the Stroke characteristics with those stored in a database in order to recognize the symbol drawn by the stylus. Key features of the system are: (1) transparent position sensing subsystem; (2) underlying display on which to mimic drawing of sensed positions and to show characters or symbols; (3) means to convert sensed positions first into plotted Points and then into recognized characters or symbols; and (4) means to "learn" to associate sensed input positions with a character or symbol.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A microprocessor-based process for recognition, translation and display of Handwritten Symbols and execution of Editing Functions and other commands comprising the steps of:

(a) Creating a personalized database for each individual user of the process by having the user initially input a Handwritten Symbol for each character corresponding with a Font Symbol to be displayed or Editing Function or other command to be executed;
(b) Determining a unique set of Stroke characteristics to characterize each such symbol and storing it in the database;
(c) Writing or drawing Handwritten Symbols on a computer screen with a stylus;
(d) Digitizing each Handwritten Symbol to identify the x, y coordinates of a multiplicity of Points into Strokes defining the Handwritten Symbol;
(e) Processing the digitized characteristics of each Stroke of a Handwritten Symbol to determine the predetermined characteristics of the Handwritten Symbol;
(f) Each of steps (b) and (e) comprising a determination of the (i) length of the Stroke, (ii) average slope of the Stroke, (iii) the Stroke centroid's height above base line, (iv) rate of change in slope of Stroke and (v) comparison of the location of the centroid of each Stroke with the centroid of the Handwritten Symbol;
(g) Searching the data base to find a "hit," a perfect or the closest correspondence to the characteristics of a Font Symbol;
(h) Displaying the Font Symbol or performing the Editing Function or other command most closely associated with the "hit" characteristics.

5 more elements

Apparatus for recognizing Handwritten Symbols and respectively displaying Handwritten and Font Symbols and executing Editing Functions or other commands on a screen comprising:

(a) A visual display screen having the capability to display Font Symbols and means to execute Editing Functions and other commands;
(b) Hand-held means to write or draw Handwritten Symbols on or over said screen;
(c) Means to display a true representation of the Handwritten Symbols on said screen as they are created;
(d) Digitizing means to sense the position of said hand-held means and to convert the same into a series of electrical signals defining position, size and shape of each Handwritten Symbol;
(e) Means to compare predetermined characteristics of each digitized Handwritten Symbol with a database of predetermined characteristics of Font Symbols and Editing Functions to assess the identity of each Handwritten Symbol;
(f) Means to (i) convert each Handwritten Symbol to an Editing Function or other command or a predetermined Font Symbol and (ii) execute the Editing Function or other command or display the Font Symbol on the screen in close proximity to the screen area in which the corresponding Handwritten Symbol was originally entered, as the case may be;
(g) Means to display predetermined combinations of Font Symbols in the form of text or forms on said screen, whereby Handwritten Symbols can be used to input information to complete a form, to edit a predetermined text, or both, as the case may be;
and
(h) Means operative upon execution of a predetermined command to create a window on said screen, free of text or other information, for entering Handwritten Symbols.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/029,772Filed 24 Mar 1987 · continuation in part
Priority: 25 Jul 1986
Granted: 20 Nov 1990
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

G06F 3/04883
Using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
G06F 3/033
Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form: pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user ,…
G06V 30/1423
Using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments: the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding…
G06V 30/333
Digital ink: preprocessing; Feature extraction