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BACKGROUND
OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a pocket size data storage apparatus with a tablet device for inputting image data, which is capable of storing information such as telephone numbers and schedule data including graphic data, and of displaying the
information on a display section, if necessary.
There have been known pocket size data storage apparatuses, by which information such as telephone numbers, schedule data and memo data are separately stored based on each item, and if necessary, desired data is visualized on a display section.
A typical example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,542. In such electronic notebook apparatuses, a keyboard including alphabet keys and numerical keys is provided. For data entry, such keys are operated.
The conventional electronic notebook apparatus can store only a limited number of characters, but cannot store image data such as maps and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a pocket size data storage apparatus, with a tablet device, which can store and display image data as well as character data.
Another object of this invention is to provide a pocket size data storage apparatus, having a tablet device, which can store character data and image data in a paired manner, and can easily search the desired image data using the character data
as an index.
A further object of this invention is to provide a pocket size data storage apparatus which can easily write and erase image data, in order to improve the efficiency of data entry.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a pocket size data storage apparatus with a tablet device which allows thickness of write lines or erase lines to be variable in writing or erasing image data, thereby increasing the variations
of data entries.
Another object of this invention is to provide a pocket size data storage apparatus, with a tablet device, which can specify a portion of displayed image data to be erased by the same operation as that of entering image data, and collectively
erase the image data within the specified portion.
An object of this invention is to provide a pocket size data storage apparatus, with a tablet device, which can store image data having larger capacity than that of a display screen.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a pocket size data storage apparatus, with a tablet device, which can simply perform calibration between a position on a screen and a position on the tablet arranged on the screen, thereby
reproducing the position on the screen with respect to the position on the tablet.
In a pocket size data storage apparatus with a tablet device for inputting image data, according to this invention, the tablet device made of a transparent member is arranged on a display screen in a unit manner. The image data entered by the
writing operation on the tablet device is stored into a memory, as well as character data entered from a keyboard. These data can be read out from the memory and displayed on the display screen. Therefore, in addition to character data, image data can
be stored and displayed.
In a pocket size data storage apparatus with a tablet device, according to this invention, image data combined with character data is stored. Each character group of the stored character data are displayed, the group consisting of a
predetermined number of characters, for example, characters for one line on the display screen, and serving an index. The image data is read out by specifying a desired character group corresponding thereto. Therefore, desired image data can easily be
searched from the stored image data.
A pocket size data storage apparatus with a tablet device according to this invention can enter image data with a variety of functions, and thereby can improve the efficiency of the data entering.
A pocket size data storage apparatus with a tablet device according to this invention can easily display and erase line data of image data with different thicknesses, thus improving the data entering efficiency.
Additionally, a part of displayed image data can be erased by entering erasure image data from a tablet device so as to enclose the portions to be erased of the displayed image data. This feature remarkably simplifies an image data erasure
operation.
Furthermore, a large amount image data for a plurality of screens can be stored in an interrelated manner. Therefore, there is provided a pocket size data storage apparatus in which the image data for one screen at the designated screen location
can be displayed.
A pocket size data storage apparatus according to this invention can exactly detect location data on a display screen corresponding to input location data on a tablet device without any complicated adjustment, and, therefore, can reliably display
data input to a tablet device on the display screen.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a pocket size data storage apparatus with a tablet device, comprising:
display means for displaying display data in the form of a dot matrix;
image data input means for inputting image data by a pressing operation, the image data input means including the tablet device composed of transparent members and mounted on the display means as one unit;
character data input means, having character keys, for inputting character data;
display data memory means for storing display data to be displayed on the display means, the display data memory means having a memory area corresponding to the dot matrix of the display means;
control means for storing, in the display data memory means, the display data corresponding to the image data from the image data input means, and also the the display data corresponding to character data from the character data input means; and
memory means for storing image data from the image data input means, and character data from the character data input means as a pair of data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows an external view of a pocket size data storage apparatus, with a tablet device for inputting image data, of this invention;
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the apparatus according to a first embodiment of this invention;
FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate diagrams for explaining data entry operations and displays associated therewith on a display section in the first embodiment;
FIGS. 4A and 4B show a successive flowchart for explaining a sequence of data entry processing in the first embodiment;
FIG. 5 shows a memory map of a memory section in the first embodiment;
FIGS. 6A and 6B show a successive flowchart for explaining data outputting processing sequence in the first embodiment;
FIGS. 7A and 7B show a block diagram of a pocket size data storage apparatus, with a tablet device for inputting image data, according to a second embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a display section and the tablet device of the apparatus in the second embodiment;
FIG. 9 shows a plan view illustrating segment regions of the display section and the tablet device for the index displays in the second embodiment;
FIG. 10 shows a memory map in a data RAM;
FIG. 11 shows a flowchart for explaining processing when a "MEMO" key is operated in the second embodiment;
FIG. 12 shows a flowchart for explaining processing when a key for scrolling a display is operated in the second embodiment;
FIGS. 13A to 13C show diagrams illustrating character data and image data input to an image input tablet in the second embodiment, respectively;
FIG. 14 shows a flowchart for explaining image data input processing to the image input tablet in the second embodiment;
FIG. 15 shows a block diagram of a pocket size data storage apparatus, with a tablet device for inputting image data, according to a third embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 16 shows a schematic illustrating the tablet device in the third embodiment;
FIGS. 17 and 18 show flowcharts for explaining the operation of the third embodiment;
FIGS. 19 and 20 show diagrams for explaining the operation of the third embodiment;
FIG. 21 shows a block diagram of a pocket size data storage apparatus, with a tablet device for inputting image data, according to a fourth embodiment of this invention;
FIGS. 22A and 22B show a flowchart for explaining operation of the fourth embodiment;
FIGS. 23 to 27 show diagrams for explaining the erasure operation of the fourth embodiment;
FIG. 28 is a block diagram of a pocket size data storage apparatus, with a tablet device for inputting image data, according to a fifth embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 29 shows a memory map of an expansion RAM in the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 30 shows a view representing the entire input image data in the fifth embodiment;
FIGS. 31A to 31D show views of quarterly segmented map sections illustrated in connection with the operated keys, in the fifth embodiment;
FIGS. 32A and 32B show a successive flowchart for explaining processing when a display area is shifted, in the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 33 shows a flowchart for explaining processing when location keys are operated, in the fifth embodiment;
FIGS. 34A to 34D show diagrams of displays showing the locations of the image data on the screen as have been displayed, respectively;
FIG. 35 is a block diagram of a pocket size data storage apparatus, with a tablet device for inputting image data, according to a sixth embodiment of this invention; and
FIGS. 36 and 37 show flowcharts for explaining the operation of the sixth embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A pocket size data storage apparatus with a tablet device for inputting image data according to this invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This apparatus is also constructed to have an electronic calculator
function.
First, a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6B, will be described.
In FIG. 1, an external structure of the apparatus according to the invention is shown, and reference numeral 11 designates a notebook style main case. This notebook style main case generally is folded in half for carrying. In the open position
shown in FIG. 1, display section 13 with tablet device 12 mounted thereon is provided on the left side of the inner surface. Immediately below that is first key group 14a. Second through fourth key groups 14b to 14d are located on the right side.
These first to fourth key groups 14a to 14d make up keying section 14. First key group 14a is composed of keys for designating modes, inputting numerals and giving instructions for calculation. More specifically, it is composed of keys 15 through 21.
Key 15 is used to designate a telephone number mode, key 16 a memo mode, key 17 a schedule mode, key 18 a calendar mode, and key 19 a secret mode. Keys 20 are for numeral entry, and keys 21 are operation or function keys. Second key group 14b is
composed of keys 22 through 28, for performing control for data input and output. I/O key 22 is used to set an input/output state for each mode. Cursor key 23 is to move a cursor displayed on display section 13 in an up-, down-, left-, or
right-direction. Scroll key 24 is to select the displayed data. W/E key 25 is to designate either write or erase operation in a tablet input mode. F/TH key 26 is to designate thickness of a line in the tablet input mode. DATE key 27 and TIME key 28
are used to designate date and time, respectively, in a schedule mode. Third key group 14c is composed of alphabet keys, and fourth key group 14d of Kana (Japanese phonetic character) keys.
A configuration of electronic circuits contained in the first embodiment will be described referring to FIG. 2.
In FIG. 2, a key operation signal produced when keying section 14 is operated, is sent to CPU 31. CPU 31 controls the overall sections. CPU 31 contains bank pointer BP 31a, character pointer CP 31b, and image pointer IP 31c. BP 31a is provided
for pointing control or address control of memory section 32. CP 31b is for pointing control of character buffer 34. IP 31c is for pointing control of image buffer 35. These pointing controls will be described later in detail. CPU 31 performs write
operations into and read-out operations from memory section 32, and sends control signals to tablet control section 33. CPU 31 also performs exchange of character data with character buffer 34, and exchange of image data with image buffer 35, and also
sends out control data to character buffer 34 and image buffer 35 to read out from buffers 34 and 35.
Character buffer 34 stores character data to be displayed on display section 13. Character buffer 34 has a memory capacity of 128 characters, each represented by 8-bit data. The character data stored in buffer 34 is transferred to data sending
section 36 in 8-bit units, in accordance with the control data from CPU 31.
Image buffer 35 operates in almost the same manner as described above. Buffer 35 can store displayed image data up to 96.times.64 bits. The image data stored in buffer 35 is transferred to data sending section 36 in 8-bit units, in accordance
with the control data from CPU 31. Data sending section 36 includes internal buffer memory 36a. Section 36 temporarily stores logical operation results of character data from character buffer 34 and image data from image buffer 35. Then, section 36
transfers the results to display buffer 37. Then, display section 13 is driven according to the data held in display buffer 37, so that the character data and image data are displayed. This display section 13 is composed of, for example, liquid crystal
display elements arrayed in a matrix of 96 dots (row).times.64 dots (column). Each character is displayed in 6.times.8 dots. Therefore, 8-line character data of 16 characters for each line can be displayed.
Tablet device section 12 is arranged on display section 13 as one unit, and is composed of two transparent electrode plates with spacers therebetween. Control bias from tablet control section 33 is applied to section 12 in accordance with a
control signal of CPU 31. When writing pressure is applied to tablet input section 12, X-coordinate data and Y-coordinate data, of section 12, at a pressured point are sent to A/D converter section 38 as analog voltage data. Section 38 converts the
input voltage data into digital data with resolution of about 384 levels in a horizontal direction, and about 256 levels in a vertical direction. Then, the digital data is supplied to CPU 31.
The operation of the first embodiment will now be described.
In a schedule mode, character data consisting of date, time, and place, and image data representing a simple map are input from tablet device section 12. These data are stored in memory section 32 by operating SCHE key 17. After this, data is
read out as needed from memory section 32 to display it. This will now be used as an example to explain the operation.
First, an input state is selected by I/O key 22. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the date "Aug. 10, 1986" is input as "1986" "8" "10", using numeral input keys 20 and partitioned with DATE key 27. To enter data corresponding to the schedule of the
input date, after pushing the ".fwdarw." key of cursor keys 23, time is input by entering "10" "00", using numeral entry keys 20 and partitioned with TIME key 28. Then, data "TOKYO ST." is entered with third key group 14c. Key operation signal data by
these key inputs is sent to CPU 31. CPU 31 checks the input data, adds end code data to their last position, and loads the added data into character buffer 34. This character data is sent to buffer memory 36a of data sending section 36. It is stored
there, and also output to display buffer 37. Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, the data input by keying section 14 is displayed.
A simple map is drawn on tablet device section 12 arranged on display section 13 as one unit, using special pen 39, as shown in FIG. 3B. Section 12 sends X-coordinate data and Y-coordinate data thereof at the pressured point to A/D converter
section 38 in the form of analog voltage values. A/D converter section 38 converts these values into digital image data, and sends it to CPU 31. CPU 31 processes this data as image data to be displayed on display section 13 and sends the processed data
to image buffer 35. Then, this image data is sent to buffer memory 36a of data sending section 36 and is stored therein. The image data is also sent to display buffer 37. As a result, data with respect to image drawn on section 12, as shown in FIG.
3B, is displayed in real time on display section 13.
As shown in FIG. 3C, SCHE key 17 is operated, so that the entered character and image data are stored as schedule data. At this time, CPU 31 performs processing shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in response to operation of SCHE key 17, and the processed
schedule data is stored in memory section 32, as shown in FIG. 5.
In step A01 of FIG. 4A, character pointer CP 31b is cleared and set to "0". In step A02, a content of bank pointer BP 31a is set into a leading position in an unused area of a designated file, or a schedule file in this example, in memory
section 32. Assuming that no schedule data has been stored into the schedule file of memory section 32, input schedule data will be sequentially stored from an address immediately succeeding an address for a SCHE code indicating a leading position of
the schedule file. In step A03, the "ItT" code indicating a leading position of the schedule data, is written in memory section 32 at the designated address by BP 31a. After the content of BP 31a has been incremented by "1" in step A04, step A05 is
executed. In step A05, it is checked whether or not the content of CP 31b exceeds maximum value "128". Since the content here is still "0", the answer is NO, and step A06 is executed next. In step A06, since the content of CP 31b is "0", CPU 31 reads
out leading character data "1" in "1986" from the "0" address of character buffer (CB) 34. In the next step, A07, it is checked whether or not this read-out character data is the end code added to the schedule data stored in character buffer 34. Then,
based on the checked result, it is determined whether or not the readout of character data has been completed. In this case, the answer is NO. Therefore, in step A08, the character data "1" read out by CPU 31, is written into the address location,
designated by BP 31a, of the schedule file of memory section 32. In step A09, BP 31a is incremented by "1". In the next step, A10, CP 31b is also incremented by "1", and then the flow returns to step A05.
By repeating the processing in steps A05 to A10, the character data stored in character buffer 34 is loaded into memory section 32. Whether all the character data in buffer 34 have been stored in memory section 32, is determined in step A07.
Then, the flow moves to step All, so that write operation of image data to memory section 32 can be performed.
In step All, the code "ImT" indicating a leading position of the image data, is written into an address, designated by BP 31a, of memory section 32. In step A12, the content of BP 31A is incremented by "1", and then, the flow proceeds to step
A13. Here, IP 31c is cleared (set to "0"), and then, the flow proceeds to step A14 of FIG. 4B. In step A14, it is checked whether or not the content in IP 31c exceeds its maximum value of 768. Here, the content is still "0", so the answer is NO, and
the flow proceeds to step A15. In step A15, since the content of IP 31c is still "0", CPU 31 reads out the first eight bits of image data from the "0" address of image buffer (IB) 35. In step A16, the image data read out by CPU 31 is written into an
address location, designated by BP 31a, of the schedule file of memory section 32. In step A17, BP 31a is incremented by "1". In step A18, IP 31c is incremented by "1", then the flow returns to step A14.
By repeating the processing in steps A14 to A18, all the image data stored in IB 35 is loaded into memory section 32. When it is determined in step A14 that the content of IP 31c reaches "769", the flow proceeds to step A19. In step A19, an end
code (ED in FIG. 5), for indicating a last position of the schedule data, is loaded into an address location, designated by BP 31a, of memory section 32. Storage operation of the schedule data is now completed.
At this time, the following codes and data, as shown in FIG. 5, are successively stored in the schedule file of memory section 32: schedule file leading code "SCHE", schedule data leading code "ItT", year data "1986", year data partition code
"Y", month data "8", month data partition code "M", day data "8", day data partition code "D", the character data of the schedule data "10:00 TOKYO ST.", code "ImT" indicating a last location of character data and a leading location, and 8.times.768 dots
image data and end code "ED".
Next, display operation of the schedule data stored in memory section 32, on display section 13 will be explained.
First, a data output state is set by I/O key 22. When "SCHE" key 17 is operated, processes shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B are performed. In the processing, the schedule data stored in memory section 32 is read out and displayed on display section 13. This processing will be described below.
In step B01 of FIG. 6A, a content of BP 31a is set to an address location immediately succeeding the leading code "SCHE" of the schedule file. In step B02, CPU 31 reads out data from memory section 32 in accordance with the content of BP 31a.
In step B03, the content of BP 31a is incremented by "1". In step B04, it is checked whether or not the data read out in step B02 is code "ItT". In this case, the data is code "ItT". Therefore, the answer is YES, and the flow proceeds to step B05. In
a case where this answer is NO, the flow would return to step B02. Then steps B02 to B04 would be repeated until the read-out data in step B04 is determined to be code "ItT". In step B05, CP 31b is cleared and set to "0". In step B06, CPU 31 reads out
the leading character data "1" of "1986" from memory section 32 in accordance with the content of BP 31a. In step B07, BP is incremented by "1". In step B08, when it is determined that the read-out character data "1" is not code "ImT", the flow
proceeds to step B09. In step B09, character data "1" is transferred to the address location "0", designated by character pointer 31b, of character buffer (CB) 34. In step B10, the content of CP 31b is incremented by "1", and the flow returns to step
B06.
By repeating the processing in steps B06 to B10, all the character data stored in memory section 32 is sequentially transferred to character buffer 34. After all the character data stored in memory section 32 is transferred to character buffer
34 and the code "ImT" indicating the leading position of the image data is detected in step B08, the flow proceeds to step B11 of FIG. 6B.
In step B11, IP 31c is cleared and set to "0". In step B12, CPU 31 reads out the first image data from memory section 32 in accordance | | |
