Handwriting Region Size Discrimination for Sudoku Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing game apparatuses for playing puzzle games like Sudoku lack the ability to seamlessly distinguish between answer characters and note characters during handwriting input, requiring players to change their input method and often necessitate the use of additional media like paper for noting candidates.
Innovation Solution
A game apparatus with an answer character input and display system, a note character input and display system, and a settling mechanism that allows players to input and display both answer and note characters using a touch panel, automatically distinguishing between them based on the size of the handwriting region, allowing intuitive input without changing the handwriting method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If one recognition result is displayed with respect to one handwriting input region in one displaying manner, then the display is simple and clear, but the player cannot note multiple candidates in advance without using additional media
Solution Approach 1:
The display system dynamically adjusts the display manner based on the number of recognition results. When multiple candidates are detected, the system switches from a single large display to a grid layout showing multiple smaller recognition results, allowing players to note multiple candidates without leaving the touchscreen interface
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from displaying one recognition result in one dimension (single large character) to displaying multiple recognition results by adding spatial arrangement (grid layout with multiple smaller characters), enabling multiple candidate notation within the same input region
2Adaptability or versatility
If a plurality of recognition results are displayed by smaller characters, then multiple candidates can be shown, but the player has to input by handwriting in smaller regions which reduces input ease
Solution Approach 1:
The display size is dynamically adjusted based on the number of recognition results. When only one candidate exists, it is displayed large for easy input. When multiple candidates exist, they are displayed in a grid with smaller sizes, balancing multiple candidate display with maintainable input ease
3Measurement precision
If the system distinguishes between answer character and note character, then accurate game determination is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses handwriting region size as a parameter to distinguish between answer characters and note characters. Answer characters are detected when the handwriting region exceeds a threshold size, while note characters are detected when the region is smaller, eliminating the need for separate input methods or additional hardware
Data Source
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AI summary
A game apparatus (10) displays a game screen (12) of 9×9 grid, for example, of a Sudoku puzzle on one LCD (12) and an empty cell (cell to be answered) is large-displayed on the other LCD (14). A touch panel (24) is provided on the LCD (14) to allow a player to handwrite a numeral to fill in the cell with a stick, etc. (26) on the touch panel (24). When a handwritten region is larger at a certain degree or more with respect to the cell (62AA), it is considered that an answer numeral is input, and the answer numeral is large-displayed. If the handwritten region is not so large as to the cell (62AA), it is considered that a note numeral is input, and the note numeral is displayed in a smaller region in the cell. However, if the notes numeral is settled as an answer numeral, a game determination is performed according to the answer numeral.