JP2001051778A - Character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a character input device enabling a user to input characters with a small physical and mental burden under a circumstance where both of the number and function of an input device and a displaying area for showing an inputting result are restricted. SOLUTION: The character input device (SKA) for selecting a first character group (GCID) and a second character group (GCn) consisting of a smaller number of characters stepwise to input a prescribed character (C) is provided with a first character group display (GCI) for displaying characters included in the first character group (GCID) around an optional character as center, a second character group display (GCIC) for displaying characters in the second character group (GCn), and an operator 600 having an instruction switch 602 for instructing one character in the first and second character groups (GCID, GCIC) and a deciding switch 608 for select-deciding the instructed character (GCID, C).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital portable device having a small size and light weight, and a user environment in which the number and functions of input devices and a display area for presenting input results to a user are both limited. The present invention relates to a character input device capable of inputting characters with a minimum number of man-hours, with a small physical and psychological burden.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, small and lightweight digital portable devices represented by wristwatches, portable telephones, portable audio devices, portable video devices, portable information terminals and the like have become widespread in society. As a result, many users have a desire to enter textual information into such digital mobile devices. However, in such digital portable devices, as a result of pursuing portability, the number and functions of input devices that can be used by a user to input characters are limited. Further, the area of the display unit required for the user to confirm his / her input contents is also limited.

In such an environment, as a typical character input device conventionally provided, a cursor key is operated to display all inputtable characters in order, and a desired character is displayed. At this point, there is a device that operates and operates an input device for selection. In this case, the desired character may be displayed immediately, but, on average, it is necessary to display half of the total number of characters prepared in the input device.

[0004]

In such a state, Japanese characters, which are said to use more than 300 kinds of characters, excluding kanji, can be converted into a conventional input device with a limited input device and a limited display area. It cannot be said that inputting using character input means is practically impossible. Therefore, the present invention proposes a character input device that is devised so that the number of keystrokes is relatively small even in such a limited environment.

When inputting kana characters having a relatively small number of characters in Japanese using a software keyboard, covering all 50 sounds on the screen takes time to search for the target character, and requires key strokes (the number of operations of the input device). )
Increase. Recently popular mobile phones and mini-disc devices are capable of character input, but require rather troublesome input, which imposes a considerable physical and psychological burden on the user and is not good for mental health. Further, the proportion of the keyboard portion occupying the display screen of the display device provided in the mini disk device or the like increases. The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and an input device with a small number of buttons,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a character input device capable of easily inputting Japanese characters and further capable of inputting arbitrary characters such as Roman characters and symbols other than kana characters.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first character group consisting of a predetermined number of characters, and a first character group related to each character of the first character group. A character input device for inputting a predetermined character by stepwise selecting a second character group consisting of a small number of characters, wherein a character included in the first character group is input to an arbitrary character. A first character group display for displaying in the vicinity, a second character group display for displaying characters included in the second character group, and any one of the first character group and the second character group An operating device having at least one instruction switch for instructing a character and at least one decision switch for selecting and determining the instructed character, and a cursor display controller for displaying a cursor for the character instructed by the instruction switch Prepare.

As described above, in the first aspect of the invention, the arrangement of the characters in the first character group is displayed around a certain character, thereby reducing unnecessary movement of the cursor.

[0008] The second invention is the first invention, wherein the second
Is displayed at a position different from that of the first character group.

As described above, in the second aspect, visibility is ensured by displaying the second character group at a position different from the first character group.

A third invention is the first invention, wherein the second invention
Are displayed so as to be superimposed on the first character group.

As described above, in the third aspect, the display space can be reduced by displaying the second character group so as to overlap the first character group.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the third aspect, wherein the second aspect is the second aspect.
Are displayed around the character selected in the first character group.

As described above, in the fourth aspect, the amount of movement of the cursor can be reduced by displaying the second character group around the character selected from the first character group.

According to a fifth aspect, in the first aspect, a character group type selector for selecting a type of a character group and a character group type indicator for displaying a type of a character group to be selected next are further provided. When the selection of the next character group is instructed by the character group type selector, the first character group display and the second character group display change the character group of the type displayed on the character group type display. It is characterized in that related characters are displayed.

As described above, the fifth aspect of the present invention has a selection switch capable of selecting a plurality of types of character groups, and displays the type of character group next selected by the selection switch. Therefore, it is easy to determine what kind of character group is to be next selected by the selection switch.

In a sixth aspect based on the first aspect, when the cursor points to any character of the first character group, the character information of the second character group related to the character pointed by the cursor is displayed. Is further provided on the display unit at a position different from the first character group.

As described above, in the sixth aspect, the information of the second character group corresponding to the character pointed to by the cursor in the first character group is displayed, so that the first character group and the second character group are displayed. The association of groups can be easily understood.

In a seventh aspect based on the first aspect, the cursor display controller moves the cursor to the character at the center position of the first character group after the character of the second character group is selected and determined by the decision switch. Automatically returned to

As described above, in the seventh aspect, by automatically returning the cursor after the input character is determined to the center character of the first character group, it is possible to quickly move to the next character input operation. .

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first aspect of the invention, wherein the first
And a character for inputting a predetermined character by gradually selecting a second character group associated with each character of the first character group and having a smaller number of characters than the first character group An input device, comprising: a first character group display for displaying a character included in a first character group around an arbitrary character, and a second character group display for displaying a character included in a second character group. 2 character group display, at least one instruction switch for designating any of the characters included in the first character group and the second character group, and at least one decision switch for selecting and determining the designated character. And a cursor display controller for displaying a cursor for the character indicated by the instruction switch. The second character group display operates the second character group in the first character group. Sentence selected by means And displaying superimposed on its periphery around a.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A character input device SK according to the present invention
Before describing the configuration and operation of A, FIG.
The basic concept of character classification and management in the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 schematically shows a Japanese syllabary diagram in which hiragana characters are arranged vertically and horizontally according to the type of voice sound. In the figure, the same consonants are shown in the same row, and the same rhymes are shown in the same row. That is, the vowels "A", "I", "U", "E", and "O" are placed on the first line, and "KA", "SA",
"Ta", "na", "ha", "ma", "ya", "ra",
"W" and "N" are arranged in each line in this order.

As described above, hiragana is basically "a",
A vowel character group GC1 composed of five types of vowels “I”, “U”, “E”, and “O”, and ten consonant character groups GC2 to GC11 including five rhymes of the vowel character group GC1 Be composed. The consonant character group GC2 includes the characters “KA”, “KI”, “KU”, “KE”, and “KO”. Similarly, the consonant character groups GC3 to GC11 have the “sa” line and the “ta”, respectively.
Row, "na" row, "ha" row, "ma" row, "ya" row, "ra"
Line, "wa" line, and "n" line characters are included. FIG.
, GC1 representing a character group of vowels and consonants
To GC11 and R representing the same rhyme character group
By combining the codes 1 to R5 as (GCn, Rm), all the hiragana characters can be specified. Note that n is any integer equal to or less than the maximum number of character groups, and m is any integer equal to or less than the maximum number of identical rhyme character groups. In this example, the maximum value of n is 11, and m
Is 5.

The present invention focuses on the feature that hiragana characters are classified into the same vowel or consonant character group consisting of five characters having different rhymes, thereby simplifying character input. However, as shown in FIG. 3, (GC8, R2) and (GC8,
R4), (WA10) (GC10, R2), (GC10,
R3), and (GC10, R4), and (GC11, R2), (GC11, R3), (GC1)
(1, R4) and (GC11, R5) are used repeatedly with other characters or not used at all.

Accordingly, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, (GC8, R2) and (GC8, R2)
4) are assigned "" and "", respectively.
It is assumed that "Shinya row" GC8R. And (GC)
10, R2), (GC10, R3), and (GC1
0, R4) are assigned “•”, “...”, and “n” of “n”, respectively, and “shinwa” GC10
Let it be R. As a result, the "n" of GC11 is abolished, and the hiragana is changed to 10 lines from GC1 to GC10R, 50 characters of 5 columns and 50 characters.
1 to C50 (not shown). In this case, it goes without saying that the maximum value of n is 10.

That is, the "a line" of the character group GC1 includes "a" to "o" corresponding to the characters C1 to C5. In the “ka line” of the character group GC2, the characters C6 to C
“Ka” to “ko” corresponding to 10 are included. Similarly, the character groups GC3 to GC10R include the character C11.
“To” corresponding to “to” C50. Also,
"A", "ka", "sa", "ta", which belong to the first rhyme R1 included in each of the character groups GC1 to GC10R,
“Na”, “wa”, “ma”, “ya”, “ra”, and “wa” are referred to as character group identification characters GCID representing each character group. The character group identification character is (GC
n, R1).

The configuration of the character input device SKA according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. Thereafter, referring to FIGS. 7 to 18, character input device S
The operation of the KA will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, a character input device SKA according to the present embodiment comprises an arithmetic unit 100, a program source 20
0, a connector 300, a display unit 400, an audio unit 500, an input device 600, and an external memory unit 700. Arithmetic unit 100 executes a program stored in program source 200 to realize the function of character input device SKA. Further, the arithmetic unit 100 presents the realized function of the character input device SKA as an image to the user via the display unit 400. Similarly, the realized operation state of the character input device is presented to the user via the voice unit 500 as voice. The user recognizes the state of the character input device SKA based on the image or sound information presented by the display unit 400 or the sound unit 500, and operates the input device 600 to input an instruction to the character input device SKA.

The arithmetic unit 100 controls the character input device SKA based on a user's instruction input from the input device 600, and outputs the result via the display unit 400 or the audio unit 500 as described above. Give feedback to the user.
By repeating such feedback, the user can operate the character input device SKA to sequentially input desired characters. These processes will be described later in detail with reference to the drawings.

The program source 200 is preferably a ROM
It is configured as a cartridge including the 202 and the SRAM 204. The ROM 202 stores computer programs and variables for executing the operation of the character input device SKA. In the SRAM 204, necessary for restoring the character input device SKA to the original state at the time of a system error,
The backup information on the operation state of the character input device SKA is stored. Program source 2 configured as a cartridge
00 is connected to the arithmetic unit 100 via the connector 300. The program source 200 may be configured to be detachably connected to the arithmetic unit 100, or may be configured to be built in the arithmetic unit 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, RO
The memory map of M202 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, in the ROM 202, a control system program Pr, an input group variable V1,
A cursor position variable V2 of the first hierarchy, a cursor position variable V3 of the second hierarchy, and a character input positional relationship information constant Cn are stored.

Referring to FIG. 6, the character input positional relationship information constant Cn shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The character input positional relationship information constant Cn roughly includes four types of information: a character type TC, a character group GC, a character C, and a display position IC.

The character types TC are roughly classified into Hiragana HC,
Five character type sets TC1 to TC5 of katakana KC, alphanumeric uppercase AU, alphanumeric lowercase AL, and symbol SY are included. Each of the character type sets TC1 to TC5 is composed of a character group GC, a character C, and data of a display information IC in a hierarchical order from the top to the bottom. Hereinafter, the structure of the character type TC will be described in detail by taking the hiragana HC which is the first character type set TC1 as an example.

The first character type set TC1 is composed of the set of Hiragana HC described with reference to FIG. In each of these character groups GC1 to GC10R,
As described above, “A” to “A” corresponding to the characters C1 to C50 are assigned in order of five characters. FIG. 6 illustrates a state in which “A” to “O” corresponding to characters C1 to C5 are assigned to “A line” which is the character group GC1.

That is, the character group GC is composed of these character groups GC1 to GC10R. Letter C
Is composed of characters C1 to C50 assigned to each of the character groups GC1 to GC10R by five characters. The display information IC includes each character group GC.
Display information IC1 to IC for displaying each of characters C1 to C50 included in 1 to GC10R on the display unit 400
50 are included.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the input unit 600
This is a means operated by the user to transmit his / her own instructions to the character input device SKA, and preferably includes a pointing device and a selection decision input device. Input unit 600
As an example, a cross key 602 functioning as a pointing device, a start button 604 for inputting an instruction assigned to each, and a select button 60
6, an A button 608, and a B button 610.

Each of the external memory units 700 has a
00 display RAM 702 and extended work RAM
704. The display RAM 702 is a video memory that temporarily stores image data generated by the arithmetic unit 100. The extended work RAM 704 is a working memory that provides a work area required when the CPU 102 executes a program.

The arithmetic unit 100 includes a CPU 102, a basic oscillator 104, a frequency divider 106, a ROM 108, and a RAM 11.
0 and a display processing circuit 112. ROM
108 stores system initialization data according to the specifications of the character input device SKA. Character input device S
When the KA is powered on and the system starts up,
The initialization data stored in the ROM 108 is read, and the system is initialized. Information such as register values required in the initialization process is expanded in a working area in the RAM 110 and read as needed.

The basic oscillator 104 generates a reference clock signal serving as a basis for an operation clock of the entire operation unit 100. The frequency divider 106 divides the reference frequency generated by the basic oscillator 104 based on the initialized frequency division ratio data from the CPU 102 to generate an operation clock signal. CP
U102 operates based on the operation clock signal generated by frequency divider 106.

The CPU 102 loads various programs stored in the program source 200 and executes the loaded programs based on a user's instruction input from the input unit 600. That is, the CPU 10
2 is an extended work RAM 70 connected to the arithmetic unit 100
The program is executed using the work area formed in Step 4 and the execution result is output to the display processing circuit 112. The display processing circuit 112 generates image data representing an execution result as an image and an audio signal representing audio. The audio signal is input to the audio unit 500. The image data signal is displayed RA
M 702 is temporarily stored, and the display R
The display unit 40 reads out from the AM 702 and outputs a video signal.
Output to 0.

The audio section 500 includes a volume controller 502, an amplifier 504, a speaker 506, and an earphone terminal 508.
including. Volume adjuster 502 adjusts the amplitude of the audio signal output from arithmetic unit 100 by a user operation. Amplifier 504 amplifies the audio signal output from arithmetic unit 100 and outputs the amplified audio signal to speaker 506 and earphone terminal 508, respectively.

The display section 400 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 4
02, the first LCD driver 404, and the second LC
D driver 406 is included. First LCD driver 404
The second LCD driver 406 generates a drive signal for the liquid crystal display 402 based on the image signal input from the arithmetic unit 100. The liquid crystal display 402 has a first LC
The arithmetic unit 100 is driven by the drive signals generated by the D driver 404 and the second LCD driver 406.
Is displayed. The display unit 400
Need not be a liquid crystal display as in the present embodiment, and it is needless to say that any device that can display an image showing the operation result of the operation unit 100 may be used.

As described above, the display unit 400 and the audio unit 500 display the operation result of the operation unit 100 in the form of an image or a sound to display an instruction result by the user or prompt the user to input a new instruction. . For this purpose, in the present invention, the state of the keyboard, which will be described later, is appropriately changed and displayed on the liquid crystal display 402 in accordance with the execution result of the program and the instruction of the user. Thereafter, the image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 402, or further, the sound is output from the sound unit 500.
The keyboard on which the state is displayed is called a “software keyboard”.

Next, FIG. 7 and FIG.
2 illustrates a state of the software keyboard displayed in FIG. In FIG. 7, the software keyboard SKB is located in the lower half. Software keyboard SK
Above B, a line editor LE for presenting characters input by the software keyboard SKB to the user and editing the characters input by the user is shown. In this example, four lines of characters can be simultaneously displayed on the line editor LE. In addition, a position that can be currently input is displayed by a pen icon EP to facilitate the user's input operation.

As shown in the figure, the software keyboard SKB is provided with a character type indicator GCI, a character indicator CI, a selected character type indicator TCSI, and a decision key indicator DI. The character type indicator GCI is an indicator indicating the currently selected character type TC that can be input. Further, the character type indicator GCI displays a character group identification character GCID representing each of the character groups GC constituting the inputtable character type in a predetermined arrangement.

The character type indicator GCI further includes:
A cursor P is provided, which can be freely moved within the character type indicator GCI by operating the input unit 600. The cursor P is moved to the character group identification character G.
When positioned at one of the CIDs, the character C included in the character group GC represented by the character group identification character GCID is displayed on the character indicator CI. The selected character type indicator TCSI indicates a character type that can be selected and input next by operating a character type selection switch provided on the input unit 600. At this point, by operating the enter key provided in the input section 600 indicated by the enter key indicator DI, five characters belonging to the character group GC indicated by the character group identification character GCID where the cursor P is located are set as input targets. Selected.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the hiragana HC (first character type TC1) described with reference to FIG. 4 is selected as a selectable character type TC. In other words, the character type indicator GCI includes the character group identification characters GCID of the hiragana HC “A”, “KA”,
“Sa”, “ta”, “na”, “ha”, “ma”, “ya”,
“La” and “wa” are displayed centering on “a”.

In addition to the character group identification character GCID of the hiragana HC, for convenience of input, for example, a double quotation mark and a line feed mark are also added to the character type indicator GCI as the character group identification character GCID. In this case, the characters of the character group GC represented by the double quotation mark and the line feed mark as the character type indicator GCI are illustrated in FIG. As described above, characters other than the hiragana HC shown in FIG. 4 may be added to the character type indicator GCI as needed.

In FIG. 7, since the cursor P is positioned above "a", the character indicator CI indicates the character C of "a line".
“A”, “I”, “U”, “E”, and “O” corresponding to 1, C2, C3, C4, and C5 are displayed.

Then, the selected character type indicator TCSI
The select button 606 provided in the input unit 600
Indicates that the character type TC that can be input can be changed from Hiragana to Katakana KC. If any of the katakana KC (TC2), uppercase alphanumeric AU (TC3), lowercase alphanumeric AL (TC4), and symbol SY (TC5) other than hiragana HC is selected as the character type TC that can be input, , Character type indicator GCI, character indicator C according to the selected character type
It goes without saying that I and the selected character type indicator TCSI are changed accordingly. By operating the A button 608 provided on the input unit 600, the five characters “A”, “I”, “U”, “E” of “A” indicated by “A” where the cursor P is located , And “O” are selected as input targets.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the software keyboard SKB shown in FIG. 7, while the cursor P is positioned on the “ra” of the character type indicator GCI, the A button 608 is operated to A case where a character is selected as an input target will be described. The state of the software keyboard SKB shown in FIG. 8 is basically the same as the state shown in FIG. However, in FIG. 8, the selected character group identification character GC is displayed on the character type indicator GCI.
An input candidate character indicator GCIC indicating the other four characters of the character group is provided around the ID. That is, the five characters of the “ra line” are arranged in a cross shape around the “ra” of the character group identification character GCID. It should be noted that, in the figure, the identification of the input candidate character indicator GCIC from the above-mentioned character type indicator GCI is indicated by a dotted line in consideration of the visibility.

In the above state, the pointing device (cross key 602) provided on the input unit 600 is operated to move the cursor P within the input candidate character indicator GCIC. Then, while the cursor P is positioned on the character to be input, the enter key (A button 608) provided on the input unit 600 is operated to select the character C. The selected character C is displayed at a position indicated by the pen icon EP in the line editor LE. By arranging the five characters of the input candidate character indicator GCIC in the same shape as the cross key 602 as a pointing device, the user can easily select a desired character in the same manner as a normal cross key operation.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which a different character type TC is displayed on the character type indicator GCI every time the character type selection switch provided on the input unit 600 is operated in this example. The character type indicator GCI includes "a", "ka", "sa", which are the character group identification characters GCID of the hiragana HC of the first character type set TC1 in the standard state.
"Ta", "na", "ha", "ma", "ya", "ra",
“Wa”, double quotation mark, and line feed mark are displayed. Each time the user presses the select button 606 provided on the input unit 600, the character type indicator GCI displays katakana KC of the second character type set TC2,
Alphanumeric uppercase letters AU of the third character type set TC3, lowercase alphanumeric characters AL of the fourth character type set TC4, and a character group identification character GCID of the symbol SY of the fifth character type TC5 are sequentially displayed.

FIG. 10 shows the character type indicator GCI and the input candidate character indicator G when the hiragana HC which is the first character type set TC1 is selected as the character type TC.
Each of the CICs is illustrated. When the katakana KC, which is the second character type set TC2, is selected, FIG.
Are simply replaced with katakana characters, so illustration is omitted.

FIG. 11 shows a character type indicator GCI and an input candidate character indicator GCIC when an alphanumeric capital letter AU, which is the third character type set TC3, is selected as the character type TC. Note that when the fourth character type set TC4, that is, the lowercase alphanumeric character AL is selected, the uppercase alphanumeric character shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 shows a character type indicator GCI when the symbol SY of the fifth character type set TC5 is selected as the character type TC, and an input candidate character indicator GC
Each of the ICs is illustrated.

Hereinafter, the operation of the character input device SKA according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG.

First, referring to FIG.
The basic operation of the KA will be described. As mentioned above,
When the character input device SKA is powered on and its operation is started, in step # 100, a hiragana HC input mode, which is the first character type set TC1, is started as a standard state. The details of the process in this step will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.
When the hiragana HC input mode ends, the process proceeds to the next step S190.

In step S190, character type TC
Is to be determined. In this example, when the user presses the select button 606 provided on the input unit 600, it is determined that the character type TC has been changed. That is, in the case of Yes, as shown in FIG. 9, the input selection target is changed from the first character type set TC1 to the second character type set TC2. Then, the process proceeds to step # 200.

In step # 200, the input mode of the katakana KC, which is the second character type set TC2, is started. For details of the processing in this step,
As shown in FIG. When the katakana KC input mode ends, the process proceeds to the next step S290.

In step S290, it is determined whether or not to change the character type TC as in step S190 described above. In the case of Yes, as shown in FIG. 9, the input selection target is changed from the second character type set TC2 to the third character type set TC3. And the process is step #
Go to 300.

In step # 300, the input mode in which the third character type set TC3 is the uppercase alphanumeric character AU is started. The details of the process in this step are shown in FIG. When the alphanumeric uppercase AU input mode ends, the process proceeds to the next step S390.

In step S390, the character type TC
Is to be determined. That is, in the case of Yes, as shown in FIG. 9, the input selection target is changed from the third character type set TC3 to the fourth character type set TC4. Then, the process proceeds to step # 400.

In step # 400, the input mode for the lower case alphabet AL which is the fourth character type set TC4 is started. The details of the process in this step are shown in FIG. Upon ending the alphanumeric lowercase AL input mode, the process proceeds to the next step S490.

In step S490, it is determined whether or not to change the character type TC as in step S190 described above. In the case of Yes, as shown in FIG. 9, the input selection target is changed from the fourth character type set TC4 to the fifth character type set TC5. And the process is step #
Go to 500.

In step # 500, the input mode of the symbol SY, which is the fifth character type set TC5, is started. For details of the processing in this step,
As shown in FIG. When the symbol SY ends, the process proceeds to the next step S590.

In step S590, it is determined whether or not to change the character type TC as in step S190 described above. In the case of Yes, as shown in FIG. 9, the input selection target is changed from the fifth character type set TC5 to the first character type set TC1. And the process is step #
Return to 100.

On the other hand, the above steps S190 and S29
In any of 0, S390, S490, and S590, if it is determined that the character type TC is not changed, the process proceeds to step S900.

In step S900, it is determined whether character input by character input device SKA is interrupted. In this example, when the user presses the B button 610 provided on the input unit 600, it is determined that character input has been interrupted. Then, the process ends. On the other hand, in the case of No,
The process returns to step # 100. Then, step S9
The above-described character input processing is repeated until it is determined to be Yes in 00.

In the example described with reference to FIG.
If it is determined No in step S900,
Although the process is configured to return to step # 100,
The configuration may be as described below. That is, if No is determined in step S190 and if No is determined in the next step S900, the process returns to step # 100. Then, step S290
Is determined to be No in the next step S900
If it is determined No, the process returns to step # 200. Similarly, in step S390, N
If it is determined to be “o” and further to “No” in the next step S900, the process returns to step # 300. If No is determined in the step S490, and if No is determined in the next step S900, the process returns to the step # 400. Then, if No is determined in step S590 and if No is determined in the next step S900, the process is returned to step # 500.

Next, FIG. 14, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG.
18 and FIG. 18, the above-described # 100, # 200,
The operation in the input mode for each character type in # 300, # 400, and # 500 will be described in detail.

First, referring to FIG. 14, the above-described step #
The operation of the Hiragana HC input mode at 100 will be described. In step S102, the character type indicator GCI (HC) of the hiragana HC shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the software keyboard SKB. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S104.

In step S104, step S1
It is determined whether or not any of the character group identification characters GCID (HC) in the character type indicator GCI (HC) indicated by 02 has been selected by the user. In the case of Yes, the process proceeds to Step S106.

In step S106, an input candidate character indicator GCIC (HC) corresponding to the selected character group identification character GCID (HC) is displayed. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S108.

In step S108, it is determined whether or not the selection of the character group identification character GCID (step S104 in the input candidate character indicator GCIC (HC)) has been canceled. In this example, when the user presses the B button 610 provided on the input unit 600, the selection of the character group identification character GCID is canceled, that is, it is determined as Yes, and the process returns to Step S102. Therefore, it is possible to reselect a desired character group identification character GCID (HC) for the character type indicator GCI (HC) displayed again.

On the other hand, No in step S108, that is,
If it is determined that the user wants to input any of the characters C of the character group GC represented by the character group identification character GCID (HC) selected in step S104, the process proceeds to the next step S110. .

In step S110, step S1
Input candidate character indicator GCIC displayed at 06
It is determined whether any of the characters C displayed in (HC) has been selected. In this example, when the user operates the cross key 602 provided on the 600 to position the cursor P on a desired character C and presses the A button 608, the cursor P is positioned. Character C is selected, that is, it is determined to be Yes. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S112.

In step S112, step S1
The character C selected in 10 is output to the display unit 400.
Note that the output character C is displayed at the position of the pen icon EP of the line editor LE on the liquid crystal display 402 as described above. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S
Proceed to 114.

In step S114, step S1
It is determined whether or not to continue to select a character in the input candidate character indicator GCIC (HC) represented by the character group identification character GCID selected in 04. In this example, the user operates the B button 61 provided on the input unit 600.
If 0 is pressed, a different character group identification character GCI
Input candidate character indicator GCIC (H
No is determined as selecting the character group of C). Then, the process returns to step S102. Therefore, the user can input the character C (HC) of the character group GC (HC) represented by the character group identification character GCID (HC) different from that selected in step S108. In this step, the process returns to the above-described step S106 until it is determined as No in steps S108 and S108.
Steps S110 and S112 are repeated.

On the other hand, if No in step S110, that is, if the user
In a state where none of C (HC) is selected, the process returns to step S106 described above, and repeats the process of step S108 and this step.

If No in step S104, that is, if none of the character type indicators GCI of Hiragana HC displayed in step S102 is selected, the process proceeds to step S190.

Next, the operation in the katakana KC input mode in step # 200 will be described with reference to FIG. As is clear from the drawing, steps S202, S204, S206, S208, and S2 in this process are performed.
10, S212, and S214 correspond to FIG.
Steps S102, S104, S106, S1 shown in
08, S110, S112, and S114 are basically the same. The difference is that in step # 100, the selectable character type TC that can be input is Hiragana HC, whereas in step # 200, katakana KC is a selectable input target.

Similarly, steps S302, S304, S306, S308, and S3 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
10, S312, and S314, steps S402, S404, S406, and S of the flowchart shown in FIG.
408, S410, S412, and S414, and steps S502, S5 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
04, S506, S508, S510, S512, and S514 correspond to Step S1 shown in FIG.
02, S104, S106, S108, S110, S1
Basically the same as 12 and S114. In step # 300, the uppercase alphanumeric character AU is replaced with the step #
In 400, the lower case AL and step #
Needless to say, in 500, the symbol SY is a selectable input target.

As described above, with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 14 to 18, the character input device SK according to the present invention
An example of the operation of A has been described. However, the character input device SK
The operation of A is not limited to the above operation, and various modes of operation can be considered according to the user's feeling of use. An example of such an embodiment will be described below.

In selecting a character to be input, the user first moves the cursor P with the cross key 602 for the character group identification character GCID, which is the first character group displayed on the character type indicator GCI. Then, with the cursor P positioned on the desired character group identification character GCID, the A button 608 is pressed to determine the selection of the character group identification character GCID. When any one of the character group identification characters GCID that is the first character group is determined, the determined character group identification character GCID
The character C which is the second character group belonging to the character group GC represented by is displayed by the input candidate character indicator GCIC.

The user sets the character group identification character GCID
In the same manner as in the selection, the character C of the second character group is selected and determined by the cross key 602 and the A button 608.

The first character group (character group identification character GC
In (ID), the cursor P is moved with the cross key 602 and the A button 608 is used for determination. At this time, the A button 60
8 keep pressed. In the second character group (character group GC), the cursor is similarly moved by the cross key 602, and the character is determined by releasing the A button 608. By doing so, the A button 6
The operation amount of the A button 608 can be reduced as compared with the operation of pressing and releasing 08. However, it goes without saying that the selection input operation of the A button 608 may be pushed and released.

The input unit 600 includes a cross key 602, an A button 608, and a decision button (for example,
B, X, Y, L, R buttons, etc.). In the first character group, the cursor is moved with the cross key 602,
A button 608 is used for determination. In the second character group, the input character is determined by pressing the enter button corresponding to the character to be selected without displaying the cursor.

The input unit 600 has a determination button corresponding to the number of characters of the first character group (character group identification character GCID) and the number of characters of the second character group (character C).
Character group (character group identification character GCID) and the second
The characters of the character group (character C) are determined by pressing the corresponding determination buttons.

As described above, the present invention is a character input device capable of selecting an arbitrary character included in a character group (TC) composed of a first predetermined number of characters C of a predetermined character type TC. . The character C included in the character group (TC) is
One character group GC is formed for every second predetermined number m.
A character group identification character GCID, which is one character of each character group GC, represents the character group GC itself. Such a character group GC is collected by a third predetermined number n to form a character group (TC).

In the character input device SKA, first, a character group identification character GC representing each character group GC.
The ID is displayed on the character type indicator GCI. The user operates the cross key 602 to display the character type indicator GC.
Each of the character group identification characters GCID displayed in I is designated by moving the cursor P. In this state, the user presses the A button 608 to select one character of the character group identification character GCID specified by the cursor P.

Selected character group identification character GCID
Candidate character indicator GCI
C pops up. The input candidate character indicator GCIC includes the selected character group identification character GC.
The characters of the character group GC represented by the characters of the ID are displayed. In this state, the user operates the cross key 602 to specify each of the characters C displayed in the input candidate character indicator GCIC by moving the cursor P.

Then, in this state, the user presses the A button 6
By pressing 08, the character C designated by the cursor P can be selected. In this manner, the characters C included in the character group TC are grouped, and the character group identification characters GCID
, The uppercase letters AU and lowercase letters A
Even if it is a character type TC such as L and the symbol SY which cannot be arranged in the Japanese syllabary display, it is possible to use the hiragana HC or the katakana KC
Similarly, the present invention can be applied.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a game machine incorporating the character input device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a Japanese syllabary arrangement of hiragana;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a character set of hiragana according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an RO stored in the cartridge shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a memory map of M.

6 is an explanatory diagram of character input positional relationship information in the memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a character type indicator is displayed on a software keyboard displayed on the liquid crystal display shown in FIG. 1;

8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an input candidate character indicator is further displayed on the software keyboard displayed on the liquid crystal display shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a different character type is displayed on a character type indicator each time a character type selection switch is operated.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a character type indicator when a first character type set, Hiragana, is selected as a character type, and an input candidate character indicator.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a character type indicator when a third character type set, that is, an uppercase alphanumeric character is selected, and an input candidate character indicator.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a character type indicator when a symbol that is a fifth character type set is selected as a character type, and an input candidate character indicator.

13 is a flowchart showing the entire character input operation of the character input device shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of a hiragana input operation of the character input device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing details of a katakana input operation of the character input device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing details of an uppercase alphanumeric character input operation of the character input device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing details of an alphanumeric character lowercase input operation of the character input device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing details of a symbol input operation of the character input device shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 SKA character input device SKB software keyboard 100 arithmetic unit 102 CPU 104 basic oscillator 106 frequency divider 108 ROM 110 RAM 112 display processing circuit 200 program source 202 ROM 204 SRAM 300 connector 400 display unit 402 liquid crystal display 404 first LCD driver 406 Second LCD driver 500 Audio unit 506 Speaker 508 Earphone terminal 600 Input unit 602 Four-way controller 604 Start button 606 Select button 608 A button 610 B button 700 External memory unit 702 Display RAM 704 Extended work RAM

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masanobu Suzui 1-11-2 Kichijoji Minamicho, Musashino City, Tokyo Momiji Building 8F Indies Zero Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hirotaka Watanabe 1 Kichijoji Minamicho, Musashino City, Tokyo 11-2 Maple Building 8F Indies Zero Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5B020 BB10 CC12 FF19 FF53 FF54 FF56

Claims (8)

[Claims] A first character group consisting of a predetermined number of characters;
A character input device for inputting a predetermined character by stepwise selecting a second character group related to each character of the first character group and having a smaller number of characters than the first character group. A first character group display unit for displaying a character included in the first character group around an arbitrary character, and a second character group for displaying a character included in the second character group. Character group display means, at least one instruction switch for designating any of the characters included in the first character group and the second character group, and at least one determination switch for selecting and determining the designated character A character input device comprising: an operation unit having: a cursor display control unit that displays a cursor for a character indicated by the instruction switch. 2. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the second character group is displayed at a position different from that of the first character group. 3. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the second character group is displayed so as to be superimposed on the first character group. 4. The character input device according to claim 3, wherein the second character group is displayed around a character selected in the first character group. 5. A character group type selecting means for selecting a character group type, and a character group type displaying means for displaying a type of a character group to be selected next. When the selection of a character group is instructed, the first character group display means and the second character group display means display characters related to the character group of the type displayed on the character group type display means. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein: 6. When the cursor points to any one of the characters in the first character group, the character information of the second character group related to the character pointed by the cursor is displayed in the first character group. The character input device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide display unit that displays a guide at a position different from the group. 7. The cursor display control means automatically returns the cursor to the character at the center position of the first character group after the character of the second character group is selected and determined by the determination switch. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The character input device according to 1. 8. A first character group consisting of a predetermined number of characters,
A character input device for inputting a predetermined character by stepwise selecting a second character group related to each character of the first character group and having a smaller number of characters than the first character group. A first character group display unit for displaying a character included in the first character group around an arbitrary character, and a second character group for displaying a character included in the second character group. Character group display means, at least one instruction switch for designating any of the characters included in the first character group and the second character group, and at least one determination switch for selecting and determining the designated character And a cursor display control means for displaying a cursor for the character indicated by the instruction switch, wherein the second character group display means displays the second character group on the second character group. And displaying superimposed on its periphery around the character that has been selected by said operating means in the group, the character input device.