Typewriter having means for automatic indication of candidate correct word for misspelled word, and/or automatic correction of misspelled word

Claim 2

A typewriter having a function of automatically indicating a candidate correct word for a misspelled word, comprising: a keyboard (l0) having a multiplicity of keys; an input data memory (l20, l22, l24) for storing input data entered through said keyboard; a printing mechanism (l4) operable for printing characters corresponding to said input data entered through said keyboard; a display device (l2) operable for displaying said characters; and a control device (72, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) connected to said keyboard, said input data memory, said printing mechanism and said display device, for controlling said input data memory, said printing mechanism and said display device, to store, print and display said input data entered through said keyboard; said control device including a dictionary memory (l40) for storing data of a multiplicity of words, and spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) for comparing the data of said input data with said multiplicity of words stored in said dictionary memory, to check said input data for any misspelled wrong word, and if said any wrong word has been found, searching for at least one candidate correct word substituted for said wrong word, from among said words stored in said dictionary memory, and displaying said candidate correct word on said display device, in relation to said wrong word.

Claim 3

A typewriter according to claim l, wherein said display device (l2) displays said characters in one line.

Claim 4

A typewriter according to claim l, or 2 wherein said keyboard (l0) further has a correction key (40, 48) for establishing a correction mode for correcting erroneously entered words, said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) being activated to search for said wrong word and the corresponding candidate correct word, upon operation of said correction key.

Claim 5

A typewriter according to claim l, 2 or 3 wherein said control device (72, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) further includes means (40, 48, 52, 64, l44) for activating said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) to check an already prepared text stored in said input data memory (l20, l22, l24) for searching for any wrong word, and display the corresponding candidate correct word.

Claim 6

A typewriter according to any of claims l to 4 wherein said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) activates said display device (l2) to display both of said wrong word and one of said at least one candidate correct word together.

Claim 7

A typewriter according to any of claims l to 5 wherein said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) activates said display device (l2) to provide an indication that the input data is being checked for any wrong word, while said specll-checking and correct-word indicating means is searching for said any wrong word.

Claim 8

A typewriter according to any of claims l to 6 wherein said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) activates said display device (l2) to provide an indication that said at least one candidate correct word is being searched for, while said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means is searching for said at least one candidate correct word.

Claim 9

A typewriter according to any of claims l to 7 wherein said keyboard (l0) further has a quit key (40, 48), said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) ceases to operate upon operation of said quit key while said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means is operating.

Claim 10

A typewriter according to any of claims l to 8 wherein said keyboard (l0) further has a next key (40, 48), and said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) is operable for indicating on said display device (l2) a plurality of candidate correct words for each wrong word found, one after another in a predetermined order, upon successive operations of said next key.

Claim 11

l0. A typewriter according to claim 9, wherein said keyboard (l0) further has a previous key (40, 48), and said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) is operable for indicating on said display device (l2) said plurality of candidate correct words in a reversed order opposite to said predetermined order, upon successive operations of said previous key.

Claim 12

A typewriter according to any of claims l to l0 further comprising: a user-dictionary memory (l34); an add key (40, 48) provided on said keyboard (l0); and dictionary-expanding means (64, l44) for storing as a special word said any wrong word into said user-dictionary memory, upon operation of said add key after said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) has detected said any wrong word, said spell-checking and correct-word indicating 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 content of said dictionary memory (l40), said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means judging said wrong word of said input data as a correct word, if said wrong word coincides with said special word, after said special word has been stored into said user-dictionary memory.

Claim 13

A typewriter according to any of claims l to ll further comprising: an ignore key (40, 48) provided on said keyboard (l0); a temporary-word dictionary memory (l32) which is cleared after said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) has completed checking of a series of said input data to search for said any wrong data; and temporary-word adding means (64, l44) for storing as a special word said any wrong word into said temporary-word dictionary memory (l32), upon operation of said ignore key after said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) has detected said any wrong word, said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means being operable to search for said any wrong word, by comparing said input data against the content of said temporary-word memory, as well as the content of said dictionary memory, said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means judging said wrong word of said input data as a correct word, if said wrong word coincides said special word, after said special word has been stored into said temporary-word dictionary.

Claim 14

A typewriter having a function of automatically correcting a misspelled word, comprising: a keyboard (l0) having a multiplicity of character keys (40), a correction key (40, 48) for placing the typewriter in a correction mode for correcting a misspelled wrong word, and a correction-start key (40, 48) for starting correction of said wrong word; an input data memory (l20, l22, l24) for storing input data entered through said keyboard; a printing mechanism (l4) operable for printing characters corresponding to said input data entered through said keyboard; an erasing mechanism (l6) operable for erasing said characters printed by said printing mechanism; a display device (l2) operable for displaying said characters entered through said keyboard; and a control device (72, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) connected to said keyboard, said input data memory, said printing and erasing mechanisms and said display device, for controlling said input data memory, said printing and erasing mechanisms and said display device, according to said input data entered through said keyboard; said control device including (a) a correct-word memory (l30) for storing a correct word to be substituted for said wrong word, (b) a dictionary memory (l40) for storing data of a multiplicity of words, (c) spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) operable upon operation of said correction key (40, 48), for comparing the data of said input data with said multiplicity of words stored in said dictionary memory, to check said input data for said wrong word, and if said any wrong word has been found, searching for said correct word to be substituted for said wrong word, from among said multiplicity of words stored in said dictionary memory, and displaying one of said at least one candicate correct word on said display device, in relation to said wrong word, and (d) automatic word-correction control means (64, l44) operable upon operation of said correction-start key, for activating said erasing and printing mechanisms to erase at least wrong characters of said wrong word and print correct characters to correct said wrong word, according to data representative of said wrong word and said correct word which are displayed on said display device in relation with each other.

Claim 15

A typewriter having a function of automatically correcting a misspelled word, comprising: a keyboard (l0) having a multiplicity of character keys (40), a correction key (40, 48) for placing the typewriter in a correction mode for correcting a misspelled wrong word, and a correction-start key (40, 48) for starting correction of said wrong word; an input data memory (l20, l22, l24) for storing input data entered through said keyboard; a printing mechanism (l4) operable for printing characters corresponding to said input data entered through said keyboard; an erasing mechanism (l6) operable for erasing said characters printed by said printing mechanism; a display device (l2) operable for displaying said characters entered through said keyboard; and a control device (72, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) connected to said keyboard, said input data memory, said printing and erasing mechanisms and said display device, for controlling said input data memory, said printing and erasing mechanisms and said display device, according to said input data entered through said keyboard; said control device including (a) a correct-word memory (l30) for storing a correct word to be substituted for said wrong word, (b) a dictionary memory (l40) for storing data of a multiplicity of words, (c) spell-checking and correct-word indicating means (64, l26, l28, l30, l44) operable upon operation of said correction key (40, 48), for comparing the data of said input data with said multiplicity of words stored in said dictionary memory, to check said input data for said wrong word, and if said any wrong word has been found, searching for said correct word to be substituted for said wrong word, from among said multiplicity of words stored in said dictionary memory, and displaying one of said at least one candicate correct word on said display device, in relation to said wrong word, and (d) automatic word-correction control means (64, l44) operable upon operation of said correction-start key, for activating said erasing and printing mechanisms to erase at least wrong characters of said wrong word and print correct characters to correct said wrong word, according to data representative of said wrong word and said correct word which are displayed on said display device in relation with each other.

Claim 16

A typewriter according to claim l3, wherein said keyboard (l0) further has a retype key (40, 48), and said control device (72, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) further includes correct-word changing means (64, l44) operable upon operation of said retype key after detection of said wrong word, for activating said automatic word-correction control means (64, l44) to print re-entered data to be entered following the operation of said retype key, in place of said correct word that has been searched by said spell-checking and correct-word indicating means.

Claim 17

A typewriter according to claim l4, wherein said control device (72, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) further includes judging means (64, l44) for checking if there exists a sufficient space for printing said re-entered data, said typewriter further comprising alarm means which is activated if said sufficient space does not exist.

Claim 18

A typewriter having a function of automatically correcting a misspelled word, comprising: a keyboard (l0) having a multiplicity of character keys (40), and a correction-start key (40, 48); an input data memory (l20, l22, l24) for storing input data entered through said keyboard; a printing mechanism (l4) operable for printing characters corresponding to said input data entered through said keyboard; an erasing mechanism (l6) operable for erasing said characters printed by said printing mechanism; a display device (l2) operable for displaying said characters entered through said keyboard; and a control device (72, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) connected to said keyboard, said input data memory, said printing and erasing mechanisms and said display device, for controlling said input data memory, said printing and erasing mechanisms and said display device, according to said input data entered through said keyboard; said control device including a correct-word memory (l30) for storing a correct word to be substituted for an erroneously entered wrong word, and further including automatic word-correction control means (64, 80, 82, 84, 88, 90, 92, l44) operable upon operation of said correction-start key, for activating said erasing and printing mechanisms to erase at least wrong characters of said wrong word and print correct characters to correct said wrong word, according to data representative of said wrong word and data representative of said correct word.

Claim 19

A typewriter having a function of automatically correcting a misspelled word, comprising: a keyboard (l0) having a multiplicity of character keys (40), and a correction-start key (40, 48); an input data memory (l20, l22, l24) for storing input data entered through said keyboard; a printing mechanism (l4) operable for printing characters corresponding to said input data entered through said keyboard; an erasing mechanism (l6) operable for erasing said characters printed by said printing mechanism; a display device (l2) operable for displaying said characters entered through said keyboard; and a control device (72, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90) connected to said keyboard, said input data memory, said printing and erasing mechanisms and said display device, for controlling said input data memory, said printing and erasing mechanisms and said display device, according to said input data entered through said keyboard; said control device including a correct-word memory (l30) for storing a correct word to be substituted for an erroneously entered wrong word, and further including automatic word-correction control means (64, 80, 82, 84, 88, 90, 92, l44) operable upon operation of said correction-start key, for activating said erasing and printing mechanisms to erase at least wrong characters of said wrong word and print correct characters to correct said wrong word, according to data representative of said wrong word and data representative of said correct word.

Claim 20

A typewriter according to claim l6, wherein said automatic word-correction control means (64, 80, 82, 84, 88, 90, 92, l44) comprises: means (64, l44) for comparing said wrong word with said correct word to find at least one wrong character of said wrong word; means (64, 84, l44) for moving said erasing and printing mechanisms (l6, l4) to a position at which said at least one wrong character of said wrong word has been printed; means (64, 80, 82, 92, l44) for activating said erasing mechanism (l6) to erase said at least one wrong character of said wrong word; and means (64, 80, 82, 88, 90, l44) for activating said printing mechanism (l4) to print at least one character of said correct word which corresponds to said at least one wrong character of said wrong word.