Data entry and writing device

A data entry and writing device is equipped with an optical detector comprising light emitting elements and light receiving elements disposed around an opening formed in the device, a character/graphic analyzer for analyzing the locus of a pen which is moved within the opening using time-series coordinate data to thereby perform character/graphic recognition and a display unit for displaying data entered through the character recognition. The data entry and writing device is placed on a form and data are handwritten on the form with the pen through the opening. This permits automatic data entry into the device and data is also displayed on the display unit. The device also includes an erroneous preventing circuit which automatically indicates where errors exist between the data entered by the pen and data processed by the device and guides a user to correct the errors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a device for entering data through 
character recognition. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
The recent developments of signal processing technology have enabled data 
entry into media to be replaced with direct entry of documents. Types of 
direct entry of documents include entry of the presence or absence of 
marks on documents and entry of characters and symbols on documents 
through recognition and coding thereof. A character recognition apparatus 
is generally referred to as an optical character reader (OCR), which reads 
printed or handwritten characters on a document by means of an optical 
scanner and codes them in the form of computer-usable input after 
recognition processing. An online handmade character entry device which 
can recognize characters in real time by the use of information about the 
order of making strokes in writing a Chinese character and the number of 
its strokes is also a type of character recognition apparatus. 
With a conventional online handwritten-character recognition device, a 
character is written on a dedicated tablet (XY coordinate entry device) 
and the handwritten-character is recognized in real time by the use of 
time-series data on XY coordinates of the positions of a pen which are 
detected by the tablet. 
However, such a character recognition device suffers from a drawback that a 
dedicated tablet on which characters to be recognized are written must be 
used for character recognition and thus the characters must be transcribed 
onto a specific form even if data entry into the device has been 
terminated. Thus, data entry into a computer and transcription of data 
onto a form like a slip must be performed separately. This is very 
time-consuming. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data entry and 
writing device which permits writing of characters on a form and data 
entry into a computer to be performed simultaneously. 
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the 
present invention, there is provided a portable data entry and writing 
device comprising: detecting means, having an opening, for detecting the 
movement of a writing implement which is used to enter data in a recording 
medium through the opening; data analyzing means for analyzing the data 
entered in the recording medium on the basis of the movement of the 
writing implement detected by the detecting means; processing means for 
receiving analyzed data from the data analyzing means as input data and 
performing processing including arithmetic operations of the input data; 
and display means for displaying data processed by the processing means. 
In order to achieve the above object, according to the second aspect of the 
present invention, there is provided a data entry and writing device 
comprising: optical detecting means, disposed on a recording medium in 
which data are to be entered, for optically detecting the movement of a 
writing implement which is used to write data on the recording medium; 
recognizing means for recognizing data entered in the recording medium on 
the basis of the movement of the writing implement detected by the optical 
detecting means; processing means for receiving recognized data as data 
for processing and performing processing including arithmetic operations 
on the data; and displaying means for displaying data processed by the 
processing means. 
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the 
description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the 
description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects 
and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of 
the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the 
appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate a first embodiment of a data entry and writing 
device. 
Referring now to FIG. 1, the data entry and writing device includes a CPU 
11 which performs control of the entire device and various types of data 
processing including character recognition processing to be described 
later and data arithmetic processing. The CPU 11 controls the operations 
of the data entry and writing device in accordance with a microprogram 
stored in a ROM 12 which will be described later. To the CPU 11 are 
connected the ROM 12 which stores a predetermined program and fixed data; 
a RAM 13 which temporarily stores data used for calculations and results 
of calculations; a key entry section 14 which is equipped with various 
arithmetic function keys and mode set keys; a light emitting section 15 
which comprises a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in one row 
and one column; a light receiving section 16 which comprises a plurality 
of light receiving elements arranged in the an other row and an other 
column, each light receiving element facing a corresponding one of the 
light emitting elements of the light emitting section 15 to receive light 
emitted therefrom; a character/graphic analyzer 17 which makes an analysis 
of the locus of the tip of a pen, which is moved in the space formed 
between the light emitting section 15 and the light receiving section 16, 
using time-series data to thereby perform character/graphic recognition; 
and a display unit 18 for visually displaying data indicating the results 
of the character/graphic recognition. 
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the data entry and writing device which is 
in the state of use. In the figure, 21 denotes the data entry and writing 
device having a character recognition device, 22 denotes a cut-form or 
slip in which characters, numeric values, etc., are entered, and 23 
denotes a pen used to write or enter characters, figures, etc., in the 
cut-form 22. The data entry and writing device 21 can be placed in any 
desired position on the cut-form 22. The main body 21a of the data entry 
and writing device 21 has a rectangular opening 21b formed therein which 
serves as a window adapted for character entry and recognition. That is, 
characters and figures can be written on the cut-form with a writing 
implement such as a pen through the window 21b. A plurality of light 
emitting elements (e.g., light emitting diodes) 15a, serving as the light 
emitting section 15, are arranged in the shape of the letter L on a long 
inner surface and a short inner surface of the rectangular opening 21b. On 
the other hand, a plurality of light receiving elements (e.g., 
phototransistors), which serves as the light receiving section 16 and each 
of which is adapted to receive light from a corresponding one of the light 
emitting elements 15a, are arranged in the shape of the reverse letter of 
L on another long inner surface and another short inner surface of the 
rectangular opening 21b. Thus, when the pen 23 is inserted into the 
opening 21b, its XY coordinates can be detected and the locus of the tip 
of the pen indicating a character, etc., can be analyzed by reading the XY 
coordinates of the pen at intervals of time. This enables handwritten 
characters to be recognized. 
There are provided the display section 18 (e.g., liquid crystal display) 
for displaying input data and results of calculations and a key entry 
section 14 comprising arithmetic function keys which are pressed when 
arithmetic symbols are not required to be entered in the cut-form 22 under 
the opening 21b of the main body 21a. The data entry and writing device 21 
is powered from a built-in battery (a solar battery may also be used at 
the same time) and thus has portability to permit its use in any desired 
place. 
Next, the operation of the data entry and writing device 21 configured as 
described above will be described. 
FIGS. 3A through 3E are diagrams for use in explanation of the operation of 
entry in the cut-form 22 and data entry into the device. Each figure 
illustrates a stage of entry in the cut-form. 
Suppose now that a cut-form consisting of four columns (fields) of "item 
(product name)"; "unit price"; "quantity"; and "total" is prepared as 
shown in FIG. 3A. 
First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the data entry and writing device 21 is placed 
on a cut-form on which a product name is printed with its opening 
(character writing section/character recognition section) 21b set on the 
fields of "item", "quantity", and "total". In this state, "1,280" is 
entered in the field of "unit price" by using the pen 23. Then, characters 
being written, which are indicated by the loci of the movement of the pen 
23, are detected by the light emitting section 15 whose elements are 
arranged in the shape of the letter L and the light receiving section 16 
whose elements are arranged in the shape of the inverse L and the results 
of the detection are analyzed by the character/graphic analyzer 17, 
whereby character recognition is performed. A character subjected to the 
character recognition is entered into the CPU 11 as character data and 
displayed on the display section 18 in real time. The real-time data 
display allows the user to immediately make sure that the characters have 
been recognized correctly. This will prevent making an error in data 
entry. However, even if an error is made in entry of character data or 
character data cannot be recognized correctly, a suitable correcting 
method can be used. For example, a negation line may be entered or data 
entry may be made over again from the beginning. 
After the entry of the unit price, the quantity will be entered. Since the 
total is the product of the unit price and the quantity, the "x" key is 
pressed to command multiplication after the entry of the unit price. Here, 
the arithmetic symbol "X" may be entered in the form with the pen to enter 
the multiplication instruction into the CPU 11 instead of pressing the "X" 
key. However, since there is no need of entering the arithmetic symbol "X" 
in the actual cut-form 22, the arithmetic function key is used to instruct 
the CPU to perform multiplication. 
Subsequently, the quantity "37" is entered in the "quantity" field of the 
cut-form 22 by using the pen 23. The loci of the movement of the pen are 
likewise analyzed, so that "37" is displayed on the display section 18 as 
shown in FIG. 3C. 
Subsequently, the "=" key ("Enter" key) is pressed, so that "47,360", the 
result of multiplication performed by the CPU 11, is displayed on the 
display section 18 as shown in FIG. 3D. 
When the result of calculation, "47,360", displayed by the display section 
18 is entered in the "total" field of the cut-form 22 by using the pen 23, 
the entry in the cut-form and the data entry into the computer are 
terminated simultaneously. This simultaneous data entry in the cut-form 
and into the computer lightens operator's work. 
According to the first embodiment of the present invention, as described 
above, the opening 21b, which is formed in the main body 21a, is equipped 
with the light emitting section 15 and the light receiving section 16. 
Characters which are handwritten on the cut-form 22 through the opening 
21b by using the pen 23 are read into the computer. The data entry into 
the data entry and writing device 21 is completed at the same time 
characters are directly written on the cut-form 22 and the input character 
data and the result of calculation are immediately displayed on the nearby 
display section 18. Thus, the writing of characters on the cut-form 22 
functions as data entry into the data input writing device 21. This can 
save time and labor to enter character data, which were written on a form 
once, into the data entry and writing device 21 again by using keys and 
thus can prevent making an error in key entry, thereby producing a 
significant improvement in operability. 
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a data entry and writing device according to a 
second embodiment of the present invention. In the figures, corresponding 
parts to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by like reference numerals 
and thus descriptions thereof are omitted. 
In the arrangement of FIG. 4, an erroneous entry preventing circuit 31 and 
a buzzer 32 are added to the data entry and writing circuit of FIG. 1. The 
erroneous entry preventing circuit 31 and the buzzer 32 adds a feature 
which ensures users quick recognition of an erroneously entered portion 
and eases re-entry of data with the writing device of the first embodiment 
having the character recognition feature. 
In the above arrangement, steps of entry in a cut-form are illustrated in 
FIGS. 5A through 5F. 
FIGS. 5A through 5C are the same as FIGS. 3A through 3C. When the "=" key 
is pressed in order to obtain the result of calculation, a calculation is 
performed by the CPU 11 and then the result of the calculation, "47,360", 
is displayed reversed on the display section 18 as shown in FIG. 5D. 
Next, the user enters the result of the calculation in the "total" field 
while looking at "47,360" displayed reversed on the display section 18. In 
the present embodiment, each time a character is entered, it is recognized 
and checked with a corresponding displayed character by the erroneous 
entry preventing circuit 31. If an erroneous character is entered, the 
buzzer 32 sounds and the corresponding displayed character remains 
reversed. When the character is entered correctly, the displayed character 
is displayed normally. That is, when the user enters in the "total" field 
while looking at the reverse-displayed calculation result, the erroneous 
entry preventing function is performed for entry after the press of the 
"=" key and the reverse display is returned to the normal display each 
time an entered character is checked with the corresponding displayed 
character to determine its validity. For example, when entry is made up to 
"47", the display will be "47,360" (the underlined portion indicates the 
reverse display). If all the characters are entered correctly, the result 
of the calculation will be displayed normally as shown in FIG. 5E. 
FIG. 5F shows an example in which two characters have been entered 
erroneously in the entry of "total". When "47,360" is entered erroneously 
as "46,350", the buzzer sounds each time an error is made and the total 
will partly be reversed as "47,360". This will allow the user to recognize 
erroneously entered portions and correct characters with ease. 
As described above, in addition to the advantages of the first embodiment, 
the second embodiment of the present invention allows the user to 
recognize erroneously entered portions immediately and re-enter them with 
ease. 
According to the present invention, the entry of data for calculations is 
completed and the data is displayed at the same time the data is entered 
in a form which is an object of writing by the user. That is, the writing 
characters, etc., on the form by the user serve as data entry into the 
device and the need for re-entry of data by using keys is eliminated, thus 
preventing making errors in key entry and providing a significant 
improvement in operability. 
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled 
in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited 
to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described 
herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing 
from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by 
the appended claims and their equivalents.