Typewriter having means for automatic detection of misspelled words

Abstract: A typewriter having a function of automatically spell-checking by comparing each word entered with a multiplicity of words stored in a dictionary memory and having a temporary word dictionary memory containing words which would otherwise be found to be incorrect but which are to be ignored.

Description: The present invention relates in general to a typewriter, and more particularly to a typewriter which has a function of automatically indicating to the operator that an entered word consisting of a plurality of characters is erroneous. There is known a typewriter having an input data memory for storing input data entered through a keyboard, wherein the stored input data is printed by a printing mechanism, and indicated on a display, under the control of a control device. Some of this type of typewriters have a function of informing the operator of the presence of a misspelled or wrong word after a word consisting of a plurality of characters has been entered through the keyboard. Such a wrong word is detected by comparing word data of each entered word with the corresponding word data stored in a dictionary memory incorporated in the typewriter. If the entered word is not found in the dictionary memory, that word is judged as a misspelled or wrong word. As disclosed in EP 0093249, it is known to provide a text processing system comprising a dictionary of confusable words. If an input word is found in the dictionary then the context of the word is checked and should the word seem out of place, the operator is alerted and also presented with alternative words with their meanings. Also known is a typewriter wherein erroneously entered or printed characters are erased upon operation of a specific erase key. When the erase key is operated, an erase ribbon is shifted to the erasing position, and the wrong characters are erased according to character data or pattern data (representative of dot-matrix patterns used in a dot-matrix printer or pen-recording apparatus) stored in an input data memory of the typewriter, which character data or pattern data correspond to the erroneously entered or printed characters. After the wrong characters have been erased, the correct characters are entered and printed, whereby the printed wrong word is corrected. However, the known typewriter indicated above does not have a function of indicating to the operator a correct word that may replace the detected wrong word. Therefore, if a misspelled wrong word is found, the operator must first erase the wrong word, and then key in the correct character data to correct the previously printed wrong word. This manner of correction takes a relatively long time. In the typewriter in which printed wrong characters of a wrong word are automatically erased upon operation of an erase key, and the correct characters are printed to correct the wrong word, at least two keys must be operated, namely, the erase key and at least one of character key must be depressed to correct a wrong word. This way of correction is cumbersome, and time-consuming. Copending European Application No. 86310179.6 from which this application is divided, is directed towards a typewriter in which data representative of a wrong word is compared with data representative of a stored correct word to find and correct the at least one wrong character. Sigplan Notices, volume 16, number 6, June 1981, pages 51 to 60, discloses a device according to the precharacterizing part of claim 1. It is a first object of the present invention to provide a typewriter which permits easy and fast correction of an erroneously entered word. According to the present invention there is provided a spell checking device comprising: a keyboard having a multiplicity of keys; an input data memory for storing input data constituting words entered through said keyboard; a control device connected to said keyboard and said input data memory, for controlling said input data memory, to store said input data entered through said keyboard, said control device including a dictionary memory for storing data of a multiplicity of words, and spell-checking means for comparing each of the words of said input data with said multiplicity of words stored in said dictionary memory, to detect any wrong words which are misspelled within said input data; a temporary-word dictionary memory; and temporary-word adding means for storing as a special word each word detected as a wrong word by said spell-checking means, in said temporary-word dictionary memory, wherein said spell checking means is operable to search for said any wrong words, by comparing each of said input data against the content of said temporary-word dictionary memory, as well as the content of said dictionary memory, said spell-checking means ignoring the first occurrence of each word constituting a special word and judging subsequent occurrences of each word constituting the special word as a correct word, characterized in that said multiplicity of keys include an ignore key and in that said temporary-word adding means performs said storing upon operation of said ignore key after said spell-checking means has detected a first occurrence of the words, and wherein said temporary word dictionary memory is cleared upon said spell-checking means completing checking of said words of said input data to search for said any wrong words. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the typewriter may further comprise a user-dictionary memory, an add key provided on the keyboard, and dictionary-expanding means for storing as a special word a wrong word into the user-dictionary memory, upon operation of the add key after the spell-checking and correct-word indicating means has detected the any wrong word. The spell-checking and correct-word indicating means is operable to search for the any wrong word, by comparing the input data against the content of the user-dictionary memory, as well as the content of the dictionary memory. The spell-checking and correct-word indicating means judges the wrong word of the input data as a correct word, if the wrong word coincides with the special word, after the special word has been stored into the user-dictionary memory. The above and optional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typewriter including an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a control sytem of the typewriter of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating part of a control program closely associated with the principle of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing details of some steps shown in the flow chart of Fig. 3. Referring to an external perspective view of Fig. 1, there is shown a typewriter including an embodiment of the present invention, which has a keyboard 10 provided at a front part thereof, a display device in the form of a liquid crystal display 12 (hereinafter referred to as "LCD display") provided at a central part thereof, and a printing mechanism 14 and an erasing mechanism 16 which are provided at a rear part thereof. The keyboard 10 has a multiplicity of keys which will be described. The printing mechanism 14 includes a platen 20, a type wheel 22, a hammer 24, a print-ribbon vibrator 26, and other elements. The type wheel 22 has a multiplicity of radial arms which have type fonts at their free ends. Selected one of the type fonts is brought into a predetermined printing position alinged with the hammer 24, by means of rotation of the type wheel 22. With the hammer 24 operated, the selected type font is impacted against a sheet of paper 30 on the platen 20, via a print ribbon 28 whose active exposed portion has been lifted to its printing position by the print-ribbon vibrator 26. Thus, a desired character (such as a letter or symbol) corresponding to the impacted type font is printed on the paper 30. The type wheel 22, the hammer 24, the print-ribbon vibrator 26 and the other elements of the printing mechanism 14 are supported on a carriage (not shown), which is adapted to be moved in parallel with an axis of rotation of the platen 20, whereby the printing position is shifted in the direction of width of the paper sheet 30. With the platen 20 rotated, the paper 30 is fed in a direction of its length perpendicular to the axis of the platen, whereby the printing position is shifted in the direction of length of the paper. The erasing mechanism 16 includes an erase-ribbon vibrator (not shown) that is adapted to lift an active portion of an erase ribbon to its erasing position, in the same manner as the print-ribbon vibrator 26 for lifting the print ribbon 28. This erase-ribbon vibrator cooperates with the platen 20, type wheel 22, hammer 24, and the other elments of the printing mechanism 14, to constitute the erasing mechanism 16. The LCD display 12, which has a 40-digit capacity, is arranged for displaying a line of input data entered through the keyboard 10, and a line of each message from the typewriter to an operator of the typewriter. The keyboard 10 has character keys 40 to enter characters such as alphabetic letters, numerals and symbols, and various function keys such as a space key 42, a CARRIAGE RETURN key 44, a SHIFT key 46, a CODE key 48, a MODE SELECT key 49, a backspace key 50 and a RELOCATE key 52. The CODE key 48 cooperates with the following character keys 40, to serve as additional function keys indicated below: Character Keys Function Keys Character key S CORRECTION key Character key Q QUIT key Character key N NEXT key Character key P PREVIOUS key Character key R RETYPE key Character key C CHANGE key Character key I IGNORE key Character key 3 ADD key Character key 2 WORD SPELL key Character key 7 START key The functions of these additional fucntion keys will be described later in detail. Referring next to Fig. 2, there is illustrated a control system of the present typewriter. A major part of the control system is constituted by a microcomputer 72 which incorporates a central processing unit (CPU) 64, a random-access memory (RAM) 66, a read-only memory (ROM) 68, and a bus 70. The microcomputer 72 is connected to the keyboard 10 serving as a data input device, and also to an interface 74 which is provided to connect the typewriter to an internal device such as a computer. To the microcomputer 72, there is also connected the LCD display 12 via a LCD control device 76 which is provided with a character generator 78. In response to code data supplied from the microcomputer 72, the character generator 78 supplies the corresponding character pattern data to the LCD display 12, in order to display the corresponding characters on the LCD display 12. The microcomputer 72 is further connected to a type-wheel drive motor 100, a hammer drive solenoid 102, a carriage drive motor 104, a platen drive motor 106, a print-ribbon feed motor 108, a print-ribbon lift solenoid 110, and an erase-ribbon lift solenoid 112, via a type-wheel control circuit 80, a hammer control circuit 82, a carriage control circuit 84, a paper feed control circuit 86, a print-ribbon feed control circuit 88, print-ribbon lift control circuit 90, and an erase-ribbon lift control circuit 92, respectively. The type-wheel drive motor 100 is operated to index the type wheel 22 to position the selected type font to the predetermined printing position aligned with the hammer 24. The hammer drive solenoid 102 is provided to activate the hammer 24. The carriage drive motor 104 is operatively connected to the carriage through a gear train, a timing pulley, a timing belt and other transmission members (not shown), for reciprocating the carriage right and left in the printing direction. The platen drive motor 106 is operatively connected to the platen 20 through a gear train, to rotate the platen 20 in the forward and reverse directions. The print-ribbon feed motor 108 serves as a drive source of a print-ribbon feeding mechanism for feeding the print ribbon 28 by a distance corresponding to the number of characters that have been printed. The print-ribbon lift solenoid 110 serves a drive source for operating the print-ribbon vibrator 26 indicated above. The erase-ribbon lift solenoid 112 is used to operate the erase-ribbon vibrator for lifting the erase ribbon to the printing point. This lift solenoid 112 also functions as a drive source for feeding the erase ribbon. Described more specifically, each time the erase ribbon is lifted to the printing point by the erase-ribbon vibrator, the erase-ribbon feeding mechanism (not shown) operatively connected to the erase-ribbon vibrator is activated to increment the erase ribbon by a one-character distance. As described above, a control device for controlling the operation of the typewriter is constituted by the microcomputer 72, the LCD control device 76, and the various control circuits 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92 which have been described. The RAM 66 includes a plurality of text memories 120, and a plurality of phrase memories 122. Each text memory 120 stores a text of a document. The text memories 120 are selected by simultaneous operations of the CODE key 48 and the character keys 40 corresponding to the respective numerals or digits. Each phrase memory 122 is provided to store a relatively short statement, i.e., a phrase. The phrase memories 122 are designated by simultaneous operations of the CODE key 48 and the character keys 40 corresponding to the respective alphabetic letters. The RAM 66 further includes a line buffer 124, a WRONG-WORD memory 126, a CANDIDATE-WORD memory 128, a CORRECT-WORD memory 130, a TEMPORARY-WORD dictionary memory 132, a USER-DICTIONARY memory 134, and other memories. The functions of these memories will be discussed. The ROM 68 includes a DICTIONARY memory 140 storing word data representative of a multiplicity of words, and a PROGRAM memory 144 storing various control programs such as those shown in the flow charts of Figs. 3 and 4, for controlling the operation of the typewriter. The operation of the instant typewriter will be described. Since the normal printing, erasing and displaying operations are substantially similar to those practiced on a known typewriter, their description will be omitted, and the following description relates only to an operation associated with correcting an erroneously entered or misspelled word, referring to the flow charts of Figs. 3 and 4. If the CORRECTION key (40, 48) is operated after a certain length of data has been entered through the keyboard 10, the CPU 64 executes step S1 indicated in Fig. 3, wherein a CORRECTION MODE flag is set to place the typewriter in a CORRECTION mode. Step S1 is followed by step S2 to check again the entered input data for any misspelled word. More specifically, if the typewriter is placed in a SPELL CHECK mode with the WORD SPELL key held on during entry of the input data, the CPU 64 automatically checks the entered word data for misspelling of each word each time the spacekey 42 has been operated. If a misspelled word is found, the CPU 64 activates an alarm buzzer, to inform the operator of the presence of the misspelled word. On the other hand, upon operation of the CORRECTION key, all words which have been entered are one after another checked for misspelling, by comparing the entered word data with the data of the words stored in the DICTIONARY memory 140 and the USER-DICTIONARY memory 134. This spell-checking operation is accomplished, for example, by means of various algorithms disclosed in Japanese Patent Application published for opposition purpose under Publication No. 59-22270 (published in 1984). Details of the spell-checking operation are not provided herein, since the detailed description is not essential for the understanding of the principle of the present invention. It is noted that the carriage of the typewriter is held stationary during the spell-checking operation to search for misspelled wrong words. The spell checking is effected for an entire line of words which has been stored in the line buffer 124, if the typewriter is placed in a TYPE mode in which the entered data is printed without the data displayed on the LCD display 12. In a DISPLAY mode wherein the entered data is merely displayed without printing, however, the spell checking is effected for the entire text of a document which is in a process of being stored into the appropriate text memory 120. The selection of the TYPE and DISPLAY modes is carried out by the MODE SELECT key 49. In either the TYPE mode or the DISPLAY mode, the spell checking begins with the word which has been entered last, and proceeds in the direction opposite to the direction in which the words have been entered. The LCD display 12 provides an indication "CHECKING" on its left-hand side portion adjacent to the left end. If the QUIT key (40, 48) is operated during a spell-checking operation in the DISPLAY mode, the CPU 64 ceases to perform a spell-checking operation, and cancels the CORRECTION mode, with the unchecked data being indicated on the LCD display 12 such that the word to be checked next is displayed at the right end of the display 12. However, the operation of the QUIT key in the TYPE mode will not cause the spell-checking operation to be ceased. In other words, the spell checking is continued since the checking of a single line of data may be completed in a fraction of time. Step S2 is followed by step S3 to check if any misspelled wrong word has been found, or not. If no wrong word has been detected, the control goes to step S4 to cancel the CORRECTION mode, whereby the typewriter is restored to a state immediately before the operation of the CORRECTION key. In the event any wrong word has been found, step S3 is followed by step S5 wherein the wrong word is stored in the WRONG-WORD memory 126, and the display 12 displays the wrong word at its right end and provides an indication "SEARCHING" at its left end. Further, the CPU 64 searches for candidate correct words that may be substituted for the wrong word being displayed, from among the words stored in the DICTIONARY memory 140 and the USER-DICTIONARY memory 134. The candidate correct words for the wrong word are selected if they meet predetermined requirements, and the selected candidate correct words are stored in the CANDIDATE-WORD memory 128. The control then goes to step S6 to check if any candidate correct word has been found for the wrong word in question. If not, step S6 is followed by step S7 wherein the LCD display 12 provides a message "SUGGESTION NOT FOUND" at its left end, informing the operator of the fact that no candidate correct word has been found. If at least one candidate correct word has been found, step S6 is followed by step S8 in which the first one of the candidate correct words stored in the CANDIDATE-WORD memory 128 is stored in the CORRECT-WORD memory 130, and the candidate correct word stored in the memory 130 is displayed at the left end of the LCD display 12. Thus, the CPU 64 and the portion of the PROGRAM memory 144 corersponding to steps S1-S8, cooperate with the WRONG-WORD memory 126, the CANDIDATE-WORD memory 128, the CORRECT-WORD memory 130 and the DICTIONARY and USER-DICTIONARY memory 140, 134, to constitute spell-checking and correct-word indicating means for performing a spell-checking operation described above, and an indication of at least one candidate correct word for a misspelled wrong word found in the entered data. Step S7 or S8 is followed by step S9 wherein the CPU 64 waits for entry of any data through the keyboard 10. In this condition, any one of the following keys is effective: NEXT key; PREVIOUS key; QUIT key; RETYPE key; CHANGE key; ADD key; WORD SPELL key; and IGNORE key. When the NEXT key is operated in step S9, the LCD display 12 displays another candidate correct word next to the currently displayed candidate. With repetitive operations of the NEXT key, all of the candidate correct words are displayed in a loop, in the predetermined order. If no next candidate correct word is present, the first candidate is displayed. When the PREVIOUS key is operated, the candidate which was displayed last is displayed again on the display 12. Similarly, all candidates are displayed successively in a loop, when the PREVIOUS key is operated repeatedly. If only one candidate correct word exists, that candidate remains displayed, even if the NEXT key or the PREVIOUS key is operated. When the QUIT key is operated, the control goes to step S4 to cancel the CORRECTION mode, as previously described. When the ADD key is operated, step S9 is followed by step S10 in which the detected wrong word is stored into the USER-DICTIONARY memory 134, and the CORRECTION mode is cancelled in step S4. The words stored in the USER-DICTIONARY memory 134 are handled in the same way as the words in the DICTIONARY memory 140. Stated in detail, the USER-DICTIONARY memory 134 is adapted to store such words that are frequently used by the particular user of the typewriter, but are not stored in the DICTIONARY memory 140. For example, the USER-DICTIONARY memory 134 stores proper nouns which are not found in the DICTIONARY memory 140 and would therefore be judged as wrong words. In the present embodiment, these special words registered in the USER-DICTIONARY memory 134 will not be treated as misspelled or wrong words. Thus, the CPU 64 and the portion of the PROGRAM memory 144 corresonding to step S10, serve as dictionary-expanding means for storing the currently displayed wrong word in the USER-DICTIONARY MEMORY 134 as a special word, thereby expanding the dictionary entry of the typewriter. When the WORD SPELL key is operated, step S11 is executed to cancel the SPELL CHECK mode (to terminate the spell-checking operation). Then, the CORRECTION mode is cancelled in step S4 following step S11. If this WORD SPELL key is operated while the typewriter is not placed in the WORD SPELL mode, the WORD SPELL mode is established. When the IGNORE key is operated, step S9 is followed by step S12 wherein the wrong word currently displayed on the LCD display 12 is stored into the TEMPORARY-WORD memory 132 of the RAM 66. After this wrong word has been stored in the TEMPORARY-WORD memory 132, this wrong word is treated in the same way as the words in the DICTIONARY memory 140 and the USER-DICTIONARY memory 134. That is, any words in the TEMPORARY-WORD memory 132 are not treated as a wrong word, namely, treated as a correct word. The TEMPORARY-WORD memory 132 is cleared upon operation of the CARRIAGE RETURN key while in the TYPE mode, or when the DISPLAY MODE is cancelled. Therefore, the words stored in the TEMPORARY-WORD memory 132 are temporarily treated as a correct word, or are effective only during one spell-checking operation. The CPU 64, and the portion of the PROGRAM memory corresponding to step S12, serve as temporary-word adding means for storing the currently displayed wrong word in the TEMPORARY-WORD memory 132 as a special word. The CHANGE key is used when it is desired to replace the detected wrong word displayed on the LCD display 12, with the currently displayed candidate correct word. The RETYPE key is used to correct the wrong word where no candidate correct word has been found, or to replace the wrong word with a word other than the detected candidate correct word or words. The RETYPE key is also used when the sheet of paer 30 has no sufficient space in the current line of characters, for printing the currently displayed candidate correct word for the wrong word. Steps S12 and S14 which are implemented upon activation of these CHANGE and RETYPE keys are illustrated in detail in the flow chart of Fig. 4. When the RETPE key is activated, the CPU 64 goes to step S15 in which the LCD display 12 provides an indication "*TYPE CORRECT WORD*", prompting the operator or typist to key in a correct word that is substituted for the wrong word. Step S15 is followed by step S16 in which the CPU 64 waits for data entry through the keyboard 10. When any character key 40 has been entered in this condition, step S16 is followed by step S17 to check if the typewriter is placed in the TYPE mode or not. If not, the control goes to step S18 to display the entered character on the LCD display 12. If the typewriter is placed in the TYPE mode, step S17 is followed by step S19 to check if it is possible to print the entered character. If the printing is possible, step S18 is executed. If the printing is not possible, however, step s19 is followed by step S20 wherein the alarm buzzer is activated, informing the operator that the printing of the entered character is not possible. For example, this alarm condition is constituted if there does not exist a sufficient space for the newly keyed-in word, with another word already printed immediately following the wrong word that is replaced by the new word, or if the carriage has reached the right margin of the paper 30. With the above steps S16-S19, the characters of the desired correct word are entered and displayed on the display 12, one after another. Subsequently, the ADD key or CHANGE key is operated. When the ADD key is operated, step S21 is executed to store the newly entered correct word into the USER-DICTIONARY memory 134 as a special word. When the CHANGE key is operated, step S22 is executed to perform a spell-checking operation for the newly entered word. Then, step S23 is implemented to check if the entered word has been misspelled or not. If the newly entered word has been misspelled, step S23 is followed by step S24 to activate the alarm buzzer to inform the operator of the misspelling of the entered word. If not, step S23 is followed by step S25. Step S25 is also performed when the CHANGE key is operated without previously operating the RETYPE key. Namely, when the CHANGE key is operated by the operator who wishes to replace the wrong word with the candidate correct word displayed on the display 12 in step S8 of Fig. 3, step S25 of Fig. 4 (step S13 of Fig. 3) is implemented. In step S25, the wrong word in the WRONG-WORD memory 126 is initially compared with the candidate correct word in the CORRECT-WORD memory 130, in order to find out the wrong characters of the wrong word which are different from the corresponding characters of the correct word. Then, the carriage is automatically moved to the first one of the wrong characters of the printed wrong word on the paper 30, and then the type font corresponding to the first wrong character is brought into the printing position by means of a suitable angle of rotation of the type wheel 22. Then, the erase-ribbon vibrator is activated to lift the active portion of the erase ribbon to the erase position, and the hammer 24 is activated to erase the first wrong charcter of the printed wrong word. Subsequently, the correct character corresponding to the erased wrong character is read out from the CORRECT-WORD memory 130, and is printed according to the read-out data, in the usual manner. With the above operations repeated, the wrong characters of the wrong word are all replaced by the correct characters, whereby the wrong word is corrected. Step S25 is followed by step S4 to cancel the CORRECTION mode, whereby the typewriter is placed in the condition before the CORRECTION key is operated. Of course, the indication on the LCD display 12 is updated as the correction of the printed wrong word on the paper 30 is achieved. As is apparent from the above description, the CPU 64 and the portion of the PROGRAM memory 144 corresponding to step S25, cooperate with the type-wheel control circuit 80, hammer control circuit 82, carriage control circuit 84, print-ribbon feed control circuit 88, print-ribbon lift control circuit 90, erase-ribbon lift control circuit 92, etc., to consitute automatic word-correction control means operable upon operation of the CHANGE key, and correct-word changing means operable upon operation of the CHANGE key after operation of the RETYPE key. While the manner of correcting a misspelled word during data entry through the keyboard 10 has been described in detail, it is possible in the DISPLAY mode to re-check the desired text or phrase which has been already stored in the text or phrase memory 120, 122. In this case, the document or phrase to be checked for misspelling (or the corresponding text or phrase memory) is designated by the appropriate numeral or letter key 40 in combination with the CODE key. Then, the START key is operated. In response to the operation of the START key, the content of the designated text memory 120 or phrase memory 122 is sequentially displayed on the LCD display 12, starting with the beginning of the text or phrase. If the typewriter is not placed in the SPELL CHECK mode in this condition, the SPELL CHECK key is operated to establish the SPELL CHECK mode. Subsequently, the RELOCATE key 52 is operated to call and spell-check the words of the text or phrase one at a time, from the text or phrase memory 120, 122, in the direction from the beginning to the end. As previously described, the indication "CHECKING" is provided on the LCD display 12 during this spell-checking operation, and the spell checking is interrupted by operating the QUIT key. However, when the QUIT key is operated, the LCD display 12 displays the last checked portion of the text or phrase, such that the last checked word is displayed at the right end of the display 12. In the case where a misspelled wrong word has been found, the checked portion of the text or phrase is displayed such that the wrong word is located at the right end of the LCD display 12. Further, the typewriter is restored to a data entry state ready for entering data through the keyboard 10. In this state, the wrong word may be corrected by first operating the CORRECTION key, in the same manner as previously discussed. When the RELOCATE key 52 is operated again after the completion of the correction of the wrong word, the spell-checking operation is resumed. With the above operation repeated, the entire text or phrase in the selected text or phrase memory 120, 122 may be check for misspelled words. After the spell-checking operation is completed, the last word is displayed at the right end of the LCD display 12, and the typewriter is restored to the data entry state. Thus, the CPU 64 and the PROGRAM memory 144 cooperate with the character key 40, CODE key 48 and RELOCATE key 52, to constitute means for activating the spell-checking and correct-word indicating means to check an already prepared text stored in the text memories 120 or phrase memories 122. It will be understood from the foregoing description that the CHANGE key, i.e., the CODE key 48 and the character key 40 corresonding to character "C", serve as a correction-start key for initiating correction of a wrong word, while the CORRECTION key, i.e., the CODE key 48 and the character key corresponding character "S", serve as a key for establishing the CORRECTION mode. Further, the NEXT key, i.e., the CODE key 48 and the character key 40 corresponding to character "N", and the PREVIOUS key, i.e., the CODE key 48 and the character key 40 corresponding to character "P", serve as keys for calling candidate correct words for a wrong word. The text memories 120, phrase memories 122, or the line buffer 124 serves as an input data memory for storing data entered through the keyboard 10. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the wrong chracters of a wrong word are detected by comparing the data of the wrong word in the WRONG-WORD memory 126 with the wrong data of the correct word in the CORRECT-WORD memory 130. However, it is possible to compare the wrong word in the input data memory in the form of the text memory 120, phrase memory 122 or line buffer 124, with the correct word in the CORRECT-WORD memory 130. In the illustrated embodiment, a wrong word and a candidate correct word are displayed together on the LCD display 12 to indicate the wrong word in relation to the candidate correct word, it is possible that the wrong word and the candidate correct words are displayed alternately, each for a predetermined time, at the same position on the display 12. In essence, the candidate correct word may be displayed in any suitable manner, provided that the operator may recognize that the displayed candidate correct word is a candidate for the particular wrong word. Further, it is possible that if a wrong word is found during data entry in the SPELL CHECK mode, a candidate correct word for the detected wrong word is indicated at a position a suitable distance away from the position at which the wrong word is indicated. In this case, it is preferred that one of the wrong word and its candidate correct word is displayed in a special manner, for example, with a higher degree of luminance or in a flickering manner. Although the illustrated embodiment is adapted to correct a wrong word by first erasing each wrong character of a wrong word before the corresponding correct character is printed, it is possible to first erase all of the wrong characters of the wrong word successively and then print the corresponding correct characters. While the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied with various other changes, modifications and improvements in connection with the keyboard, input data memories, printing and erasing mechanisms, display, control device, and control programs, which may occur to those skilled in the art, in the light of the foregoing teachings.

Claims: A spell checking device comprising: a keyboard (10) having a multiplicity of keys; an input data memory (20, 122, 124) for storing input data constituting words entered through said keyboard; a control device (72) connected to said keyboard and said input data memory, for controlling said input data memory, to store said input data entered through said keyboard, said control device including a dictionary memory (140) for storing data of a multiplicity of words, and spell-checking means (64, 66, 68) for comparing each of the words of said input data with said multiplicity of words stored in said dictionary memory, to detect any wrong words which are misspelled within said input data; a temporary-word dictionary memory (132); and temporary-word adding means (64, 144) for storing as a special word each word detected as a wrong word by said spell-checking means, in said temporary-word dictionary memory, wherein said spell checking means is operable to search for said any wrong words, by comparing each of said input data against the content of said temporary-word dictionary memory, as well as the content of said dictionary memory, said spell-checking means ignoring the first occurrence of each word constituting a special word and judging subsequent occurrences of each word constituting the special word as a correct word, characterized in that said multiplicity of keys include an ignore key (40, 48), and in that said temporary-word adding means (64, 144) performs said storing upon operation of said ignore key after said spell-checking means has detected a first occurrence of the words, and wherein said temporary-word dictionary memory (132) is cleared upon said spell-checking means completing checking of said words of said input data to search for said any wrong words. A device according to claim 1, further comprising: an add key (40, 48) provided on said keyboard; a user-dictionary memory (134) which is not cleared after said spell checking means has completed checking of said words of input data; and dictionary-expanding means (64, 144) for storing as a special word, in said user-dictionary memory, said each word detected as a wrong word, upon operation of said add key after said spell-checking means has detected the word, said spell-checking means being operable to search for said any wrong word, by comparing said input data against the content of said user-dictionary memory, as well as the contents of said dictionary memory and said temporary-word dictionary memory, said spell-checking means judging each word of said input data which coincides with a special word stored in said user-dictionary memory as a correct word. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the apparatus has a display device operable for displaying the characters entered through said keyboard, said control device searching for at least one candidate correct word to be substituted for each one of said detected wrong words not constituting a special word from among said words stored in said dictionary memory, before said spell-checking means checks said input data for another misspelled word, said spell-checking means causing said display device to display said candidate correct word in relation to said detected wrong word not constituting a special word. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said keyboard further includes a carriage return key (44), and said control device (72) clears said temporary-word dictionary memory (132) when said carriage return key is operated. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said spell-checking means is operable in either of a type mode in which the characters entered through said keyboard are printed as said characters are entered, and a display mode in which the characters entered through are displayed without being printed. A device according to claim 5, wherein said control device (72) clears said temporary-word dictionary memory (132) when said display mode is cancelled.

Inventors: SAKAI TOSHIYUKI, SAKAI, TOSHIYUKI, Sakai, Toshiyuki, c/o Brother Kogyo K. K.
Applicants: BROTHER IND LTD, BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06F17