JP2003131790A - Information device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information device equipped with a plurality of input keys, to each of which a plurality of characters to be input are allotted, which is capable of reducing erroneous input and offers stress-free and comfortable input of characters. SOLUTION: The device comprises a character input means capable of selecting a character to be input from among a plurality of characters allotted to each input key by depressing the input key consecutively and a sound output means which outputs a sound of the scale corresponding to the selected character each time the character allotted to each input key is selected by the character input means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information device having a plurality of input keys, in which characters that can be input are assigned to each input key and a plurality of characters are assigned to one input key. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in information devices such as mobile phones and PHSs, those having a mail function for creating and transmitting documents and the like have been widely used. Regarding character input for creating a document or the like in such an information device, since the number of input keys for character input provided in the device is limited with respect to the number of types of characters that can be input, 1 Multiple characters are assigned to one input key, and by pressing one input key in succession, the character to be input can be selected from the multiple characters assigned to that input key. The ones that are present are the mainstream. FIG. 6 shows an example thereof.

The information equipment shown in FIG. 6 is a mobile phone, and a character input section (character input means) 11 for inputting characters, a display section (for displaying character information, etc., on the main body 10 of the telephone. Display means 12 and the character input section 11 has an input key 13 and a function key 1 for supporting character input and the like.
Have four.

When inputting characters to create a document or the like in this mobile phone, the input keys 1 of the character input unit 11 are switched while appropriately changing the input mode as necessary.
Characters are selected and input by continuously pressing 3 as necessary. For example, key 1 of the input key 13
Is assigned the number "1" and the initial character "A" of each line of the Japanese syllabary. When the key 1 is pressed in the number input mode, the number "1" is selected and When "1" is displayed on the display unit 12 and the key 1 is continuously pressed in the kana character input mode, kana characters "a", "a", ...
., “O” is sequentially switched and selected, and the selected character is displayed on the display unit 12.

[0005]

However, in the conventional information equipment as described above, when a character to be input is selected by continuously pressing one input key, the character to be input is correctly selected. Whether or not it depends on the display means, every time you select a character, you will be inputting while confirming the character displayed on the display means, so the operability is not good and it is difficult to see the characters when you quickly enter characters It was sometimes inconvenient. Even if the selected character is inferred from the number of times the input key is pressed, it is difficult to always know the number of times the key was pressed. There was a problem that the occurrence of mistakes (hereinafter, such input mistakes are referred to as erroneous inputs) cannot be avoided. This erroneous input is likely to occur when there is a large number of times that one input key is pressed continuously in order to select a character to be input, and the same input key is pressed again and again for correction. There is a problem that it is necessary to press the button, which causes great stress in the feeling of inputting characters.

As a method other than a method that relies on visual effects such as character display by the display means, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-30779.
No. 9 gazette discloses an information processing device having a sound source, which is an input key for inputting characters like a keyboard of a musical instrument. Each input key is assigned a different scale. It is composed and is mainly for playing music.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information device designed to reduce erroneous input and to be operated comfortably without feeling stress in character input. To provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an information device according to the present invention comprises a plurality of input keys, in which characters that can be input are assigned to each input key, and one input key is provided. A character that is an information device to which a plurality of characters are assigned, and a character to be input can be selected from a plurality of characters assigned to the input key by continuously pressing one input key. It is characterized by having an input means and a voice output means for outputting a sound corresponding to the selected character every time the character assigned to each input key is selected in the character input means.

According to this structure, when characters are input to create a document or the like, each time a character to be input is selected by continuously pressing one input key, the selected character is changed to the selected character. Since the corresponding sound is output from the voice output means, it is possible to identify whether or not the input character is correctly selected by the sound output without relying on the display means, which improves operability and reduces erroneous input. To be done.

The sound output from the audio output means is
If the sound is a scale corresponding to the selected character, or if it is a sound that changes depending on the number of times the input key is pressed, without depending on the display means whether or not the input character was selected correctly In addition to being able to identify the selected character, the selected character can be associated with the change in the sound that is output even if the selected character cannot be directly recognized. You can operate it comfortably.

Further, it is convenient to directly confirm the selected character by providing a display means for displaying the selected character each time the character is selected.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a character selected from the type of input key pressed and the number of presses. FIG. 4 is an example of a table for designating a tone of a scale output from a designated character, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for selectively displaying the designated character. Is.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a telephone body 20 of a portable telephone is provided with a character input section 21 composed of a plurality of input keys and a display section 22 composed of a liquid crystal screen, and a sound is produced. An audio output unit (audio output means) 25 including a speaker for outputting is provided. Also,
The character input section 21 has an input key 23 and a function key 24.

In this mobile phone, characters are input to create a document or the like by continuously pressing the input keys 23 of the character input unit 21 as needed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 32 performs a process for selectively displaying a character input from a plurality of characters assigned to the input key of the pressed character input unit 31. According to an instruction from the control unit 32, a character to be input is selected and the selected character is displayed on the display unit 33, while a sound corresponding to the selected character is output from the voice output unit 34. There is.

The control unit 32, in response to pressing of each input key in the character input unit 31, a table 35 for specifying a character selected from the type of input key pressed and the number of presses, and the specified character. It has a table 36 for designating the sounds output from.

The key 1a of the input key 23 of the character input section 21
Assuming that Kana characters A to O and keys K to K are assigned to the key 2a, the table 35 is as shown in FIG. For example, if the key 1a is pressed once, "A" is selected, and if it is pressed twice, "A" is selected.

The sound output from the voice output unit 25 may be changed in tone length or tone color in accordance with the selected character, but it is particularly effective to change the scale. FIG. 4 is an example of a table 36 for designating a note of a scale that changes corresponding to such a selected character. For example, the kana character "a" corresponds to the sound of the "do" scale, the "i" corresponds to the sound of the "re" scale, and the "u" corresponds to the sound of the "mi" scale. .

When a key is pressed in the character input unit 21, the control unit 32 determines whether the pressed input key is the input key 23 or the function key 24 as shown in FIG. 5 (step # 41). , # 42), the control unit 32 uses the table 35 to perform the process of designating the character selected from the type of the input key 23 pressed and the number of presses, and the table 36 using the table 36. A process of designating a scale tone output from the designated character is performed (step # 43). Then, the selected character is displayed on the display unit 22 and the scale output sound is output from the voice output unit 25 (step # 44). If the pressed input key is the function key 24, the function key 2
Processing corresponding to the function of No. 4 is performed (not shown).

With this configuration, when the character to be input is selected by continuously pressing one input key 23, one scale of the tone is output according to the number of times of pressing each time the character is pressed. Since it is designed to go up in steps, the selected character can be associated with the change in the sound corresponding to the selected character, even if the selected character cannot be directly recognized, and the input key 23 is pressed five times. It is possible to reduce the mistaken input such as the number of intentions was 6 times.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0021]

As described above, the information device of the present invention is
By providing the voice output means for outputting the sound corresponding to the selected character each time the character assigned to each input key is selected, it is possible to identify by the sound whether or not the input character is correctly selected. Therefore, it has an excellent effect that erroneous input is reduced.

The sound output from the voice output means
It is easy to associate the selected character with the scaled sound that corresponds to the selected character, and the sound that changes according to the number of times the input key is pressed. As a result, erroneous input is reduced and the user can comfortably operate the character input without feeling stress.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an information device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a table diagram for specifying a character selected from the type of input key pressed and the number of presses.

FIG. 4 is a table diagram for designating sounds output from designated characters.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for selectively displaying a designated character.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a conventional information device.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 phone body 21 Character input section (character input means) 22 Display unit (display means) 23 Input key 25 Voice output unit (voice output means)

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04M 1/00 G10L 3/00 Q

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information device comprising a plurality of input keys, wherein inputtable characters are assigned to each input key and a plurality of characters are assigned to one input key. A character input means capable of selecting a character to be input from a plurality of characters assigned to the input key by continuously pressing the key; and a character assigned to each input key in the character input means. An information device comprising a sound output unit that outputs a sound corresponding to a selected character each time the character is selected. 2. The information device according to claim 1, wherein a sound of a scale corresponding to the character selected by the voice output means is output. 3. When one input key is continuously pressed in order to select a character to be input from a plurality of characters assigned to each input key, each pressing changes depending on the number of times of pressing. The information device according to claim 1, wherein a sound is output. 4. The display device for displaying a selected character each time the character assigned to each input key is selected in the character input device.
The information device according to any one of 3 above.