Portable electronic language translation device

A portable electronic language translation apparatus including a keyboard for receiving operator entered words in one language and a memory such as a programmable read only memory controlled by a microprocessor for comparing and analyzing each letter or group of letters of the keyboard entered word to determine whether the corresponding word in a second language is stored within the memory. If the corresponding word is so stored, it is displayed for viewing by the operator. The disclosed circuit permits automatic translation from one language to another without specification of the input language by the operator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
(1) Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to the field of electronic information retrieval 
devices. 
(2) Discussion of the Prior Art 
The need for instantaneous translation between sets of intelligence symbols 
such as translation between two languages has long been recognized. 
Electronic computer controlled systems for accomplishing this objective 
are known but such prior art devices have failed to provide sufficient 
versatility and convenience. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,859 issued 
to Kyriakids discloses a portable electronic dictionary wherein the 
letters making up a word in one language are entered via a keyboard for 
decoding by a standard combinational logic resulting in the display of an 
equivalent word in another language. While the Kyriakides device is useful 
for the purpose disclosed, it suffers from a propensity to become 
confused. In particular, the Kyriakides device is designed to count the 
number of letters in the input and the number of times it detects each 
letter to define a given output. Thus, the same output could be given 
whether the input is "BAT" or "TAB." 
Other types of systems are known as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,986 
for language translation wherein the input language is classified and 
converted into a time sequence of code symbols, but again this technique 
requires considerable manipulation of the input signals in accordance with 
a predetermined program. Translation of one computer language to another 
type of computer language is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,200,379 and 
3,781,814. None of these patents, however, discloses a convenient and 
accurate way of converting an input language into a desired output 
language by means of electronic circuitry which can be embodied in a 
portable electronic device operable without complicated controls or 
constraint on the type of data which can be entered into the device. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to overcome the limitations of the prior 
art by providing a hand-held electronic language translation apparatus 
which is sufficiently simple in design to be inexpensive and yet 
sufficiently sophisticated to provide versatile and accurate translation 
of a large number of words from one language to another. 
In a broad sense, an object of this invention is to provide apparatus for 
electrically retrieving an intelligence symbol from one of a pair of sets 
of intelligence symbols upon the selection of an intelligence symbol from 
the other set in accordance with a predetermined translation between the 
sets. More particularly, the apparatus includes symbol storage means for 
permanently storing at predetermined addresses readable symbols 
representative of the intelligence symbols in said sets and for storing 
address signals in association with said readable signals in each set for 
identifying the address of the corresponding intelligent symbol in the 
other set as required by the predetermined symbol translation. Comparison 
means are further provided for sequentially comparing input signals 
representative of a selected intelligence symbol with the readable signals 
stored in the symbol storage means such that those address signals 
associated with the readable signal which corresponds to the input 
electrical signals may be read out for display on a symbol read out and 
display means. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide apparatus as indicated 
above including set indicating means for visually indicating the set of 
which each displayed intelligence symbol is a member. 
Still another object of this invention is the provision of apparatus such 
as described above wherein the intelligence symbols are multi-letter words 
and wherein comparison means includes letter comparing means for comparing 
the first letter of the selected intelligence symbol represented by the 
electrical signals generated by the input means with the first letter of 
each intelligence symbol permanently stored in the symbol storage means; 
for comparing the second letter of the selected intelligence symbol with 
the second letter of each intelligence symbol permanently stored in the 
symbol storage means which was detected to have a first letter identical 
to the first letter of the selected intelligence symbol; and for 
continuing to compare corresponding letters in sequence until only one 
intelligence symbol stored in the symbol storage means is identified by 
the comparison means as having the same letters and the same sequence of 
letters as the selected intelligence symbol. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide apparatus as described 
above wherein the intelligence symbols further include word use 
identification and wherein the comparison means includes word use 
comparing means for comparing the word use identification contained within 
the selected intelligence symbol with the word use identification signals 
stored in the symbol storage means, whereby the word use identification 
information can be used to uniquely identify the corresponding 
intelligence symbol stored within the symbol storage means should more 
than one language word having the same letters and sequence of letters but 
different usage be stored in the symbol storage means. 
Still another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus as 
described above wherein the read out display means includes a first 
electronic alphanumeric display means for visually displaying the selected 
word in one language and the word having equivalent meaning in the other 
language and a second electronic alphanumeric means for visually 
indicating the languages from which the words displayed by the first 
electronic display are taken, respectively. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus as indicated 
above, wherein the input means includes a keyboard means for receiving 
manual input indicative of both word and word use for conversion into 
corresponding electrical signals and wherein the symbol read out display 
means includes word use indicating means for visually indicating the word 
use input received by the keyboard means. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus as described 
above, wherein the symbol storage means is a programmable read only memory 
(PROM), the comparison means is a micro-processor and the input means 
includes a random access memory (RAM) for temporarily storing electrical 
signals indicative of the selected intelligence symbol. 
Still other and important objects of the invention will be apparent from 
the drawing and the description of the preferred embodiment hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In FIG. 1, a portable electronic language translation device 2 is 
illustrated including a housing 4 on which is mounted a symbol read out 
and display mechanism 6. As is apparent, the symbol read out and display 
mechanism 6 includes a first electronic alphanumeric display screen 8 for 
visually displaying a selected word in one language and the word having 
equivalent meaning in another language. For this purpose, the first 
electronic alphanumeric display mechanism 8 includes a pair of 
alphanumeric displays 12 and 14 which could be formed of light emitting 
diodes (LED), or liquid crystal, or other types of electronically 
controlled visual displays. In addition, the symbol readout display 
mechanism includes a set indicating screen 10 for visually indicating the 
language from which the words appearing on 12 and 14 are derived, 
respectively. As will be explained more fully hereinbelow, other types of 
information may be translated by the device illustrated in FIG. 1. In 
fact, the disclosed device is capable of automatically displaying the 
result of translating an intelligence symbol selected from a first set 
(defined as a first collection or group of intelligence symbols) into an 
intelligence symbol having equivalent meaning or correspondence selected 
from a second set. Thus the device could be used to provide synonyms or 
antonyms in the same language or the device could be used to provide 
translation of language normally familiar only to highly trained 
professionals such as doctors or lawyers. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, the set indicating screens 10 includes a pair of 
alphanumeric displays 16, 18 positioned adjacent alphanumeric displays 12, 
14, respectively. As will be explained more fully hereinbelow, the display 
16 will automatically indicate the language from which the word appearing 
in alphanumeric display 12 is derived while display 18 will visually 
indicate the language from which the word appearing in display 14 is 
derived. This arrangement provides the important advantage of permitting a 
word to be entered in the device and visually displayed on alphanumeric 
display 12 without requiring the operator to indicate from which of the 
two languages stored in the device he has selected the entered word. By 
means of the circuitry to be described hereinafter, the translation of the 
input word into the second language is automatically visuallly displayed 
on display 14 combined with a visual indication on displays 16 and 18 of 
the languages or sets of which the words or intelligence symbols are a 
part. Alternatively, the same display can be used for both input and 
output, such as in a calculator. In yet another variation, one or more of 
the displays can be replaced with an audio-read-out. 
Also mounted on the housing 4 is an input mechanism 20 for generating 
electrical signals indicative of the selected word or intelligence symbol. 
The input mechanism includes a keyboard input mechanism 22 for receiving 
manual input indicative of both word and word use for conversion into 
corresponding electrical signals. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the keyboard 
input mechanism includes a keyboard 21 having a plurality of manually 
actuated, letter entering keys 23 bearing alphabet indicia 24 
corresponding to the letter being entered by the key. The keyboard 21 also 
includes a plurality of keys 25 bearing word use indicia 26 such as 
"noun," "verb" and "modifier." The keyboard 21 also includes special 
function keys such as a clear key 28 for removing inadvertent input 
information on display 12 and for removing information from all of the 
displays 12, 14, 16 and 18 whenever the user of the apparatus no longer 
wishes to have translation information displayed. 
In some instances, it is possible that a word in one language has more than 
one equivalent word meaning in a second language. The keyboard 21 includes 
a key 30, bearing the indicia "look again," which upon actuation will 
recall additional translations which may be stored in a memory 54 to be 
described more particularly hereinafter. The keyboard input mechanism 22 
includes a key 32 actuated by the user following entry of the letters of 
the word which he desires to have translated. The key 32, which closes a 
normally open switch 32a bears an equal sign indicia "=" to indicate that 
this is the key which is to be pushed in order to retrieve an equivalent 
word from a second language when a word from a first language has been 
inserted via letter entering keys 23. A plurality of indicator lights 34, 
36 and 38 bearing indicia "noun," "verb," and "modifier," are provided and 
automatically illuminate upon depression of corresponding word use 
indicator keys 26 in order to visually indicate to the user the 
corresponding word use of the word which has been inserted into the device 
for translation. Alternatively the device can be designed to automatically 
indicate the word use via lights 34, 36 or 38, thereby to insure that the 
translation retrieved from storage is in fact the correct translation 
desired by the user. 
The keyboard input mechanism includes a switch 40 which is operable to 
restrict translation to a single direction such as permitting only 
translation of English words into German, or, the translation of German 
words into English, dependent upon whether the switch element 40 is moved 
in one direction to a position illustrated in chain lines at 44 or an 
opposite position, illustrated in chain lines at 46. So long as the switch 
40 remains in the center position as illustrated, the device will 
automatically search both the English and German stored signals (as will 
immediately become apparent) to find an equivalent word to thereby permit 
not only display of the translation on displays 12 and 14 but also the 
respective languages from which the words are derived on displays 16 and 
18, respectively. 
Turning now to FIG. 2, one specific embodiment of the circuitry of this 
invention is disclosed wherein the input mechanism 20 is illustrated in 
the form of a block having a temporary storage mechanism 48 designed to 
receive and temporarily store electrical signals indicative of a selected 
word by sequential actuation of the letter keys 23 (FIG. 1) of the 
keyboard mechanism 22. The temporary storage mechanism 48 includes 
individual registers A.sub.n1, A.sub.n2 . . . for storing code signals 
indicative of the actuation of selected letter keys 23. The temporary 
storage mechanism 48 may also include individual registers for storing 
coded signals indicative of the word use identification as indicated by 
manual actuation of word use keys 26. 
The translation key 32 is coupled to an electrical gate 50 which is 
connected to a clock 52 and to a symbol storage device 54, including K 
registers R1, R2, . . . RK wherein K is equal to the total number of words 
stored in the symbol storage mechanism 54. Upon completion of the input of 
a word translation of which is desired, the translation key 32 is 
depressed to open the gate 50 thereby allowing clock pulses from the clock 
52 to pass to each of K registers R1, R2, . . . RK. The Registers R1, . . 
. R.sub.k are characterized by the ability to automatically transmit the 
signals stored therein to the next succeeding register while receiving the 
signals stored in the next preceding register upon receipt of a clock 
pulse at r.sub.1, r.sub.2 . . . r.sub.k, respectively. Successive clock 
pulses cause the signals in registers R1, . . . R.sub.k to advance step by 
step in a recirculating pattern via conductors 55 which form a serial loop 
including the registers. 
Each of the storage registers R1 . . . RK further includes storage cells 
A.sub.xy for storing individual letters forming words in one of a pair of 
sets of words wherein each set constitutes a language. Also stored in one 
of the storage cells B.sub.x in each register is a signal indicative of 
the language from which the word is derived. Each of the storage registers 
R.sub.1 . . . RK includes a storage cell D.sub.x storing a signal 
indicative of the word usage. Each of the storage registers R1 . . . RK 
also includes storage cells C.sub.xl through C.sub.xz storing signals 
indicative of the address of the register containing the equivalent word 
in a second set (language) of intelligence symbols. 
Once the word desired to be translated has been entered via the keyboard 
into temporary storage mechanism 48, the key 32 may be actuated to close 
switch 32a and cause the clock 52 to serially advance the signal stored in 
registers R1 through R.sub.k such that the signals stored in R.sub.k may 
be compared with the signal stored in temporary storage mechanism 48. A 
comparison mechanism, generally designated 56, is interconnected with the 
respective storage devices 48 and 54 via ganged conductors 58 and 60, 
respectively. Upon detection of equality between the signal stored in 
temporary storage mechanism 48 and register R.sub.k, comparison means 56 
causes a stop signal to be transmitted via line 62 in order to halt 
transmission of pulses from the clock 52 to registers R.sub.1 through 
R.sub.k. The comparison mechanism 56 operates via gate 64 to transmit the 
language indication symbol B.sub.k to display 16 in order to automatically 
indicate the language from which the initial input word is derived. The 
comparison mechanism then reads the address residing in elements C.sub.X1, 
C.sub.X2, C.sub.X3 to cause gate 50 to be opened via a signal transmitted 
over conductor 66 to thereby advance the word which represents the desired 
translation of the word found to be identical to the word in temporary 
storage means 48, a requisite number of steps such that the proper 
corresponding word is advanced to register R.sub.k. When the requisite 
number of advancement steps have been accomplished, a stop signal is 
transmitted to gate 50 via conductor 62 and the word now residing within 
register R.sub.k is read out by comparison mechanism 56 via gate 64 into 
display 14 along with the appropriate language indication information 
stored in element B.sub.k of register R.sub.k for display by visual 
display 18. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the "look again" key 30 may be electrically 
connected to comparison mechanism 56 for the purpose of causing the 
comparison mechanism 56 to advance to alternative word definitions which 
may be stored in symbol storage means 54 and the translation restriction 
switch 40 may also be electrically connected with the comparison mechanism 
56 so as to limit the comparison steps to intelligence symbols stored in 
respective registers wherein the symbol includes a language indicator 
B.sub.k indicative to only one language. 
The symbol storage mechanism 54, including registers R.sub.1, . . . R.sub.k 
constitutes, a recirculating memory. Alternatively, the symbol storage 
mechanism 54 may include an addressable memory for storing the code 
signals indicative of letters forming individual words and the associated 
signals indicative of the address in the addressable memory at which an 
equivalent word is stored. When an addressable memory is used, the circuit 
would also include an addressing device and a logic device to access each 
stored location for comparison by comparison mechanism 56 with the signals 
in input register 48. 
By way of contrast with the embodiment of FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of 
another embodiment of the invention is disclosed in FIG. 3 wherein a 
microprocessor is employed to carry out the subject invention is a manner 
identical to the circuit of FIG. 2, modified to include an addressable 
memory as described above. Referring more particularly to FIG. 3, the 
keyboard 68 generates electrical signals which are decoded and transmitted 
to a microprocessor 70 (MOS Technology MCS 6502 or equivalent) via an 
interface chip 72 (MOS Technology MCS 6520 or a Motorola MC 68-20). The 
electrical signals generated by the keyboard 68 are stored in a temporary 
storage mechanism 74 which constitutes a random access memory 
(RAM--Motorola MCM 6810). A display 76, interconnected with the 
microprocessor 70 by means of an interface chip 78, provides a visual 
display of the input word represented by signals generated by keyboard 68. 
Depression of the translation key 32 (illustrated in FIG. 1) causes the 
microprocessor 70 to begin a search and compare through the words stored 
in a read only memory (ROM) 80 (Motorola MCM 6830) which will be described 
in greater detail with reference to FIG. 4. 
Basically, FIG. 4 discloses that the ROM 80 is divided into two separate 
lexicons, 1 and 2. Memory spaces are allocated for the characters of the 
stored word A.sub.1 to A.sub.n. One or more memory locations may be used 
for word use identification terms B.sub.1. The address of the associated 
word in the second language is stored in memory locations C.sub.1 to 
C.sub.5. The word entered via the keyboard 68 is stored in RAM 74 in a 
similar format except that no address is stored since that is the function 
performed during translation. In performing the search and compare 
sequence, the microprocessor takes the first character in the entry word 
and compares it to the first character in the first word in lexicon one. 
If the characters are the same, the microprocessor takes the second 
character of the entry working, compares it to the second character of the 
first word in lexicon 1. If the characters match, similar comparisons are 
made with the third and subsequent characters. 
Should any character in the input word fail to match the corresponding 
character in the first word of lexicon one, the microprocessor 70 begins a 
comparison routine beginning with the first character of the input word 
and the first character of the second word in lexicon one. The comparison 
process continues as described above. Each word in the lexicon is used as 
a base comparison unto all respective characters in the input word and at 
least one lexicon entry are found to match. When such a match is found, 
the location of the matching entry and the address of the corresponding 
word in the opposite lexicon are stored in RAM 74. The corresponding word 
in the opposite lexicon is then shown on the display 76. Should the entire 
lexicon be exhausted without finding a match, a message from ROM 80 is 
shown on the display 76 indicating the word was not found. 
As described above, the microprocessor may be operated to compare the 
entered word to the lexicon entries one character at a time. However, the 
comparison can occur two or more characters at a time. When the comparison 
is thus carried out, the entire word is still analyzed with each character 
taken in order. 
Words of a given character sequence, i.e., identically spelled, can be 
translated frequently in several ways. If such words are stored as entires 
in the lexicon, the normal operation of the translator will cause the 
first entry to be used in the translation process. Since the location of 
that entry is stored during the translation routine, the translator can be 
commanded to search the rest of the lexicon if the user so desires. Such a 
command is initiated by depressing one of the operator keys. 
Words of a given character sequence occasionally take disparate meanings 
based on their use. The American word "train" has radically different 
meanings in its noun and verb forms. The device thus makes use of the 
translation keys 26 to cause a corresponding descriptor code ("noun," 
"verb," "modifier") to be stored with the input word. Thus, as in the case 
of the circuit illustrated in FIG. 3, the microprocessor executes the 
compare routine described previously using not only the respective 
characters of the input word in lexicon entry but also the word use 
indicator in a similar fashion. Accordingly, the device is able to analyze 
not only spelling but also usage, thereby greatly reducing the occurence 
of translation error. If the user does not specify word use description, 
the corresponding code is not used in the translation process. The 
translated word can display word use status even though no word use 
description is used on the input word. Display of this information can 
also help to reduce misunderstandings. 
The organization of the lexicons illustrated in FIG. 4 demonstrate that the 
location of any entry specifies which of the two languages it is a part 
and by obvious implication, the direction of the translation. This 
direction of the translation is part of the information which may be shown 
on the display illustrated in FIG. 1. The availability to scan both 
lexicons and display the direction of translation enables the invention to 
not only translate in either direction but also to do so automatically. 
The operation of the system is unaffected by the languages used in lexicons 
by changing the electronic components which constitute the ROM 80, the 
languages being translated may be changed. Thus, one device would easily 
provide a multilingual capability by merely changing components. Moreover, 
the use of specialized lexicons can provide translation of scientific or 
medical terms. 
The following is a microprocessor program (hexidecimal language) with which 
the basic translation functions described above could be performed under 
the control of a microprocessor as interconnected with the input/output 
elements and storage elements, all as illustrated in FIG. 3: 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
KEHOE MAINLINE LIST 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
KIM 
F072 
A0 17F7 
17F7 
BE 87. 
17F8 
F0 
17F9 
11 F000 
F000 
A2 Q 
;18F000A2FF9A18D8A9018D0520A9008D0420A9058D052OA9288D0709AE 
;18F01820A9FF8D0620A9208D0720A9008500AAA9F28501A9208D060A6D 
;18F03020EAEAEAEAC93DD0F82046F02072F0EAEAEAEA4C23F0A0FF114C 
;18F048C8B100D90200D00FC93DD0F4C8B1008512C8B100851360A50C73 
;18F06000E600EAEAC98030DDA9808512A9F2851360A0FFC8B1128D0E82 
;18F0780620C93DD0F660AD04209502E85840A2FFE88A48205A1EEA0C97 
;0000060006 - 
17F7 
17F7 
87 90. 
17F8 
F0 F2. 
17F9 
11 F200 
F200 
44 Q 
;18F200444F473D40F276457265F664548DD2484341543D50F23D840B52 
;18F218FA017A69B1A94099504F5441544F3D60F208B3C08AFE62190C17 
;18F230494E56454E543D70F2893B41C0F7128A48554E443D00F2EB0B4E 
;18F248FB6BB30910CD82A94B41545A453D10F2F6893650B26A70DF0CAA 
;18F2604B4152544F4646454C3D20F23883BF05455246494E4445E0921 
;18F2783D30F2009DD50C832E2E2E2E2E3D407D04FD4BFF83BD42FD0B8C 
;0000060006 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
numerous advantages and desirable features unknown heretofore in the art of 
portable electronic translation devices have been disclosed. For example, 
the subject invention employs a keyboard for entering not only whole 
words, but also word use indicators and translation commands, thereby 
enabling the device to perform highly useful functions such as selective 
automatic translation from one language to another or single one-way 
translation from a first language to a second language. The device further 
provides a display means capable of showing the input word, the word use 
indicators, the translated word and the direction in which the 
translations have been performed. The device accomplishes the retrieval of 
translation information via a character-by-character sequential comparison 
without the need for abstraction and mathematical manipulation of the 
input signals. The device also provides for a "look again" capability 
which allows the lexicon to be searched for multiple meanings for a single 
input word.