Data entry device recording input in two dimensions

Abstract

A data entry device having an integral input element capable of recording input movement in two dimensions (including Chinese strokes and characters, Roman letters and Arabic numerals) and delivering resultant signals to a processor. The processor is programmed for identifying a handwriting input represented by the signals.

1 . A data entry device comprising: 
 an array of switching elements capable of recording input movement between at least four discrete points arranged in two dimensions and providing a series of discrete inputs;    a memory having stored therein handwriting input identifiers and at least one series of discrete inputs for each handwriting input identifier;    a processor coupled to the array of switching elements and the memory and programmed for searching the handwriting input identifiers with a series of discrete inputs received from the array of switching elements for identifying a handwriting input represented by the series of discrete inputs.    
     
     
         2 . The data entry device of  claim 1  wherein the array is an array of finger-operated switches.  
     
     
         3 . The data entry device of  claim 2 , wherein the array comprises at least four and not more than sixteen switches.  
     
     
         4 . The data entry device of  claim 2 , wherein the array comprises at least four and not more than eight switches arranged at points of a compass.  
     
     
         5 . The data entry device of  claim 2 , wherein the array comprises four switches arranged at northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest sectors of the input device.  
     
     
         6 . The data entry device of  claim 1 , wherein the array comprises a joystick element.  
     
     
         7 . The data entry device of  claim 6 , wherein the joystick element includes a push switch.  
     
     
         8 . The data entry device of  claim 7 , wherein the data entry device generates the series of discrete inputs when the push switch is active and the joystick element is moved in a horizontal plane.  
     
     
         9 . The data entry device of  claim 1 , wherein the handwriting input identifiers are stored as a table of Roman character identifiers.  
     
     
         10 . The data entry device of  claim 1 , wherein the handwriting input identifiers are stored as a table of stroke identifiers.  
     
     
         11 . The data entry device of  claim 10 , wherein the memory further comprises a table of ideographic character identifiers, and the processor is programmed to index the table of ideographic character identifiers using at least one handwriting input identifier from the table of stroke identifiers.  
     
     
         12 . The data entry device of  claim 11 , wherein the table of ideographic character identifiers is a table of Chinese character identifiers.  
     
     
         13 . The data entry device of  claim 11 , wherein the table of ideographic character identifiers is a table of Japanese character identifiers.  
     
     
         14 . A method of data entry comprising: 
 providing a data entry device capable of recording input movement between at least four discrete points arranged in two dimensions;    receiving from the data entry device a series of discrete inputs identifying a series of discrete points of the data entry device;    storing in memory a table of characters having at least one series of discrete inputs for each character;    indexing the table of characters with a series of discrete inputs received, thereby identifying a character represented by the series of discrete inputs.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the data entry device has at least four and not more than sixteen discrete points.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the data entry device has at least four and not more than eight discrete points arranged at points of a compass.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the discrete points are arranged at northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest sectors of the input device.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of receiving comprises moving a pointer element across the input device and generating the discrete inputs from movement of the pointer relative to the input device.  
     
     
         19 . A data entry device comprising: 
 a two-dimensional input device comprising: 
 a joystick element;  
 analog elements mounted in first and second dimensions providing analog movement signals responsive to movement of the joystick element in first and second dimensions of a horizontal plane;  
   an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the input device; and    a processor coupled to the analog-to-digital converter for receiving digitized inputs from the input device, the processor having instructions that cause the processor to perform pre-processing operations for segmenting into strokes digitized inputs received from the input device, and to perform recognition operations recognizing the strokes as handwritten input and generating character identifications therefrom.    
     
     
         20 . The data entry device of  claim 19 , further comprising a push switch integral with the joystick element and responsive to pushing of the joystick element.  
     
     
         21 . The data entry device of claim  20 , wherein the processor is responsive to the push switch for segmenting into strokes digitized input received while the switch is pushed.