Character recording system

Abstract

Systems and method are disclosed for guided hand scribing of characters in human readable form, which characters can be simultaneously or subsequently recognized and encoded, processed, etc., by appropriate equipment. Different forms of scribe members and related encoding equipment are also disclosed. These operate on the premise that characters are uniquely defined by the termini of the scribing strokes which make up the character, these termini having predetermined relation to the boundaries of cells in a matrix, in which cells the characters are scribed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. The method of recording .Iadd.a complete set of .Iaddend.characters which are both human readable and automatically recordable, comprising the steps of a. providing a matrix member having divisions into cells with definite boundaries in which the characters are scribed,   b. scribing human readable characters in the cells with one or more strokes of a scribe member, the scribing strokes having predetermined termini adjacent the cell boundaries which are unique to the particular character,   c. sensing only the termini of the scribing strokes .Iadd.while ignoring during any stroke locations of the scribing member intermediate the termini, .Iaddend.and   d. translating the sensed termini into character identification codes.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) includes marking the termini of the scribing strokes at predetermined locations outside the cell boundaries. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) includes confining the scribing strokes to within the cell boundaries and sensing the location of the scribe member with respect to such boundaries at the termini of the stroke or strokes required to form a character. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein steps (c) and (d) include c. encoding the position of the scribe member at the termini of the scribing stroke or strokes,   d. translating the sequential positional codes thus obtained into a unique character identification code.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4, including the additional step of e. sensing movement of the scribing member to another cell and producing from such movement a signal to prepare for recording the stroke termini of the scribe member in forming another character and a signal indicating the previous character is complete.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, including the additional step of f. storing character codes identifying numerals in a storage device and developing a separate signal to sum sequentially scribed numerals.   
     
     
       7. Apparatus for translating scribing motion of a scribe member into signals defining .Iadd.a complete set of .Iaddend.characters, comprising a scribe member,   means defining a matrix having cells within the boundaries of which the characters are scribed,   means for generating at least one unique signal identifying the position of said scribe member only at the .[.terminal.]. .Iadd.termini .Iaddend.of one or more scribing strokes by which a human readable character is formed in said cells .Iadd.while ignoring during any stroke locations of said scribe member intermediate the termini, .Iaddend.   and decoding means constructed to translate said signals into a further signal identifying a unique character.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said unique signals are two bit trinary codes. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said scribe member is provided with sensors for sensing the position of said scribe member with respect to the center and the opposite sides of a cell and for sensing the beginning and the end of a scribing stroke. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said scribe member and said matrix have cooperating means for generating said unique signals. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 including a means identifying unique termini locations adjacent the boundaries of each cell whereby scribing strokes may be extended to such location, and means for sensing the presence and absence of markings at said locations to generate character identification codes.   
     
     
       12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said sensing means has an operating connection with said scribe member to cause generation of character identification codes contemporaneously with the complete scribing of the human readable characters. 
     
     
       13. A recording system wherein manual movements of a scribe member to write characters on a sheet are simultaneously recorded in machine readable fashion; said system comprising: means defining a matrix on which individual characters are to be written,   the matrix having a plurality of distinct cell locations within which individual characters are located,   a hand held instrument including a body and a scribe member for tracing characters on said matrix,   cooperating means on said matrix defining means and on said body producing unique signals identifying the locations of the termini of one or more strokes made by said scribe member in the act of writing characters in said cells,   and recording means connected to receive and to record said signals.   
     
     
       14. A system as described in claim 13, including means in said instrument operable to signal the beginning and end of a scribing stroke made by said scribe member. 
     
     
       15. A system as described in claim 13, including means for displaying the recorded signals. 
     
     
       16. A system as defined in claim 13 including additional cooperating means on said body and said matrix for indicating the movement of said scribe member to another cell. 
     
     
       17. A system as defined in claim 13 including a calculator connected to said recording means and arranged to sum individual numerals recorded in the cells whereby a succession of numerals is totalled while the numerals are recorded. 
     
     
       18. A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said matrix also includes preprinted markings in a code from such that motion of said scribe member over such markings will produce signals corresponding to characters and functions represented by such markings. 
     
     
       19. A device for translating manual scribing motion on a sheet into signals defining characters, comprising an elongated body adapted for manual manipulation,   a scribe member mounted in said body for movement between two positions,   means urging said scribe member into one of said positions and yieldable in response to scribing pressure on said scribe member to allow it to move to the other position,   first sensor means responsive to movement of said scribe member into one or the other of said positions,   second sensor means responsive to each change in position of said scribe member, and   third and fourth sensor means located on opposite sides of said scribe member and arranged to respond to markings on the sheet.   
     
     
       20. A device as defined in claim 19, including logic circuits connected to receive input signals from all of said sensor means representing the termini of said scribe member in forming characters on the sheet, said logic circuits being operable to translate said input signals into character identification signals.   
     
     
       21. A device for translating manual scribing motion within defined cells on a sheet into signals defining characters, comprising an elongated body adapted for manual manipulation,   a scribe member mounted in said body for movement between scribing and non-scribing position,   first sensor means responsive to movement of said scribe member into the scribing position,   additional cooperating sensor means on said scribe member and associated with the cells on the sheet and operable to produce signals identifying the termini of movements of the scribe member while making character scribing strokes within a cell. .Iadd. 22. Apparatus for translating motion of a scribe member into signals defining a complete set of characters, comprising   means defining a cell within which a character is traced,   sensing means operating to sense the beginning and the end of each scribing stroke of the scribe member,   means for generating at least one unique signal identifying the position of the scribe member during one or more scribing strokes by which a character is traced in said cell,   and logic circuit means responsive both to said signal generating means and to said sensing means and constructed to translate said signals only at the beginning and the end of a scribing stroke into a further signal identifying a unique character..Iaddend. .Iadd. 23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said signal generating means includes means for sensing the position of a scribe member with respect to the center and the opposite sides of a cell..Iaddend..Iadd. 24. A recording system wherein manual movements of a scribe member to trace a complete set of characters are simultaneously recorded in machine readable fashion; said system comprising:   means defining at least one cell on which individual characters are to be traced,   scribing means for tracing a character on said cell,   means to produce unique signals identifying the locations of the termini of one or more strokes made on said cell in the act of tracing a character on said cell,   said signal producing means including logic circuitry responsive only at the beginning and/or the end of a stroke of said scribing means,   and recording means connected to receive and to record said   
     
     
        signals..Iaddend. .Iadd. 25.  The method of automaticaly recording a complete set of characters comprising the steps of (a) providing a cell with boundaries in which a character is traced,   (b) tracing a character in the cell with one or more strokes of a scribe member, the strokes having predetermined termini with respect to the cell boundaries which are unique to the particular character,   (c) sensing only the termini of the scribing strokes while ignoring during any stroke locations of the scribing member intermediate the termini, and   (d) translating the sensed termini into a character identification code..Iaddend.