Handwriting recognition device having an externally defined input area

A handwriting recognition device includes a main body having a side surface and an operation surface perpendicularly connecting to the side surface, and a first lens module and a second lens module arranged at opposite sides of the side surface. A first optical axis of the first lens module extends to perpendicularly cross a second optical axis of the second camera module outside the side surface. An overlapped area of a view angle of the first lens module and a view angle of the second lens module is defined as an input area. The first lens module is configured to capture a first picture of a handwriting tool in the input area. The second lens module is configured to capture a second picture of the handwriting tool in the input area. The handwriting recognition device calculates coordinates of the handwriting tool according to the first and the second pictures.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a handwriting recognition device, and more particularly, to handwriting recognition device having an externally defined input area.

2. Description of Related Art

Touch panels are widely used in all kinds of small electronic devices such as mobile phones, portable media players, and digital cameras. A typical touch panel is normally attached to an operation surface or a display screen of a small electronic device to realize a handwriting input function. However, an area of the touch panel is limited according to the small size of the small electronic device. Thus, the small electronic device with limited input area is inconvenient to use.

Therefore, a new handwriting recognition device is desired to overcome the above-described shortcomings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe various inventive embodiments of the present disclosure in detail, wherein like numerals refer to like units throughout.

Referring toFIG. 1, a handwriting recognition device10according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The handwriting recognition device10includes a main body11, a first lens module12, and a second lens module13. In this embodiment, the main body11is a mobile phone. In some embodiment, the main body11can be other small electronic devices such as portable media player or digital camera.

The main body11includes a controller (not shown), a cubic shell15, a keyboard16, a display screen17, and an internal circuit board (not shown). The controller and the internal circuit board are received inside the shell15.

The shell15includes a square operation surface157and an opposite square supporting surface158, a first side surface151, a second side surface152, a third side surface153, and a fourth side surface154. The side surfaces151to154are substantially perpendicularly connected between the operation surface157and the supporting surface158. The first side surface151and the third side surface153are opposite to each other and arranged along the long sides of the operation surface157, correspondingly. The second side surface152and the fourth side surface154are opposite to each other and arranged along the corresponding short sides of the operation surface157. In this embodiment, an area of either the operation surface157or the supporting surface158is larger than that of one of the surfaces151to154.

The keyboard16and the display screen17are formed on the operation surface157and are electrically connected to the controller and the internal circuit board. A user can input control instructions or messages signals via the keyboard16to the controller. The controller is configured to control the display image of the display screen17according to the inputted control instruction or message signals.

The first lens module12and the second lens module13are arranged on the third side surface153. View angles of both the first lens module12and the second lens module13are greater than 90 degrees. The first lens module12is substantially adjacent to the fourth side154and includes a first optical axis121. The first optical axis121is substantially parallel to the operation surface157and slanted to the third side surface153at a first angle of 45 degrees. The second lens module13is adjacent to the second side surface152and includes a second optical axis131. The second optical axis131is substantially parallel to the operation surface157and slanted to the third side surface153at a second angle of 45 degrees. In one embodiment, the first optical axis121perpendicularly crosses the second optical axis131in a vicinity outside the third side surface153. The handwriting recognition device10defines an externally input area where the view angle of the first lens module12meets and overlaps with the view angle of the second lens module13at the outside of the third side surface153.

When the environment is bright enough for the first lens module12and the second lens module13to take picture, a user can move a handwriting tool such as a finger or a handwriting pen in the externally defined input area to realize the handwriting input function. When the handwriting recognition device10works in a handwriting mode, the first lens module12and the second lens module13normally works to capture pictures of the handwriting tool in the externally defined input area. The first lens module12takes a first picture of the handwriting tool and sends the first picture to the controller. The second lens module13takes a second picture of the handwriting tool and sends the second picture to the controller. The controller correspondingly calculates coordinates of a top portion of the handwriting tool according to the first and the second pictures in predetermined Cartesian coordinates. The predetermined Cartesian coordinates takes the first optical axis as the x-coordinate and the second optical axis as the y-coordinate.

Referring toFIG. 2, a handwriting recognition device20according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The handwriting recognition device10differs from the handwriting recognition device10in that the handwriting recognition device20further includes one or more light sources28positioned on third side surface253, and a light sensor29positioned on the operation surface257. In this embodiment, the light sources28are light emitting diodes. The light source28and the light sensor29are also controlled by a controller (not shown). The light sensor29is used to sense environment brightness and generate an assistant signal when the environment brightness is below a predetermined brightness. The one or more light sources28correspondingly turn on according to the assistant signal for illuminating the externally defined input area. Thus, the first lens module22and the second lens module23can work normally even when the environment is dark.

Referring toFIG. 3, a handwriting recognition device30according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The handwriting recognition device30differs from the handwriting recognition device10in that the handwriting recognition device30further includes a handwriting tool39, such as a handwriting pen. The handwriting tool39includes a point light source391formed at its top portion. In this embodiment, the point light source391is a light emitting diode. When the point light source391turns on, the first lens module32and second lens module33can take the first and the second pictures even when the environment brightness is below the predetermined brightness.

Referring toFIGS. 4 to 8, a handwriting recognition device40according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The handwriting recognition device40includes a main body41, a lens module42, a supporting rod43, and a handwriting pen49.

The main body41includes a controller (not shown), a shell45, a keyboard46, a display screen47, and an internal circuit (not shown). The shell45is configured in a cubic fashion and includes an operation surface457, an opposite supporting surface458, a first side surface451, a second side surface452, a third side surface453, and a fourth side surface454. The first to fourth side surfaces451to454are substantially perpendicularly connected between the operation surface457and the supporting surface458from end to end. The first side surface451and the third side surface452are opposite to each other and arranged along the long sides of the operation surface457, correspondingly. The second side surface452and the fourth side surface454are opposite to each other and arranged along the short sides of the operation surface457, correspondingly. The operation surface457defines a groove455for receiving the supporting rod43. The second side surface452defines an opening50for receiving the handwriting pen49opposite to the groove455. The groove455is substantially adjacent to the third side surface453and substantially parallel to the third side surface453. The opening50is extended along a direction coaxial with the groove455and is arranged opposite to the groove455.

The supporting rod43includes a connecting end431and an opposite free end432. The connecting end431is received in the groove455and is fixed in the groove455by a rotatable connector456. Thus, the free end432of the supporting rod43can rotate around the connecting end431at an angle in range of about 0-90 degrees.

The lens module42is embedded in the free end432of the supporting rod43and controlled by the controller. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, when the supporting rod43is totally received in the groove455, lens of the lens module42faces to a side wall455cof the groove455and protected by side wall455c. As shown inFIGS. 6 to 8, when the free end432of the supporting rod43is rotated to be perpendicular to the operation surface457, an optical axis421of the lens module42is slanted to the supporting surface458at an angle of 45 degrees. A view angle of the lens module42projecting to an extending portion of the supporting surface458or the operation surface457is defined to be an externally input area70. In this embodiment, the view angle of the lens module42is larger than 100 degrees.

The handwriting pen49includes a point light source491arranged at its top, an internal battery (not shown) for providing power to the light source491, and a switch492for switching the light source491on or off.

When the handwriting recognition device40is placed on a desk top60and its supporting surface458contacts the desk top60, a user can rotate the free end432of the supporting rod43out from the groove455until the supporting rod43perpendicularly stands up on the operation surface457such that the lens module42can face the externally defined input area70to take picture. Once the user moves the handwriting pen49in the externally defined input area70, the lens module42at the top of the supporting rod43can instantly capture pictures of the light source491and send the pictures to the controller. The controller calculates coordinates of the light source491according to the corresponding pictures to realize the handwriting input function.

In alternative embodiments, the handwriting recognition device40further includes a sensor (not shown) on an internal surface of the groove455to sense if the supporting rod43is totally received in the groove455. Therefore the handwriting recognition device40can automatically enter handwriting input mode when the supporting rod43leaves the groove455.