JP2005128802A - Portable electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly and easily perform character input. <P>SOLUTION: A cell-phone terminal has a pressure type pointing device on the rear face side opposite to the casing front face provided with a key operation part 5 comprising a ten-key pad or the like. In the cell-phone terminal, each row of the Japanese syllabary is selected by each key of the ten-key pad, and a column in the row is selected according to a pressing operation direction of the pressure type pointing device. A character specified by the row and the column is displayed on a display 3 as an input character. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone terminal or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).

  In recent years, even in portable electronic devices such as mobile phone terminals and PDAs, where it is difficult to take up a lot of space for operation devices for user interfaces, character input / editing is performed in the same manner as a general personal computer. Functions such as connecting to the Internet and displaying web pages are essential.

  Further, when displaying such character input / editing or web page, the portable electronic device displays a cursor or the like on the display screen, and the cursor is displayed on the screen in accordance with an instruction from the user via the operation device. Control such as moving is also performed.

  According to a mobile phone terminal which is an example of a portable electronic device, a so-called numeric keypad is generally used as an operation device for inputting and editing characters, and a jog dial is used as an operation device for cursor movement and screen scrolling. A cross key or the like is used.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile phone in which a pointing device such as a trackball, a joystick, or a pointing stick is provided on the back side of the housing opposite to the main surface of the housing on which a display display or numeric keypad is arranged. Yes.

  According to the mobile phone described in Patent Document 1, since the pointing device is provided on the back side of the casing, the user can hold the mobile phone terminal with one hand and use the thumb to While the numeric keypad is being operated, the pointing device on the rear side of the housing can be operated with the index finger at the same time. That is, the cellular phone described in Patent Document 1 is characterized in that the user can operate the numeric keypad and the pointing device simultaneously with only one hand.

In the mobile phone described in Patent Document 1, the pointing device on the rear side of the housing is an operation device for the user to instruct the direction of cursor movement or the direction of screen scrolling, for example.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-16635 (FIG. 3)

  By the way, in a conventional cellular phone terminal, a kana of each line of 50 characters is assigned to each key constituting a numeric keypad used as an operation device for inputting and editing characters.

  More specifically, each character of the “a” row is assigned to the key “1” of the numeric keypad, each character of the “ka” row is assigned to the key “2”, and the key “7” is similarly applied. Each character of the “ma” line is assigned to the key “9”, and the character “ra” line is assigned to the key “9”.

  Therefore, for example, to input the character “Irohaniho”, first press the key “1” twice to input the character “I”, and then press the key “9” five times. Press the key to input the character “RO”, press the key “6” once to input the character “ha”, and then press the key “5” twice in succession to “ The character “N” is input, and then the key “6” is pressed five times continuously to input the character “H”.

  That is, the conventional mobile phone terminal requires a total of 15 key press operations in order to input, for example, the characters “Iroha niho”.

  In addition, for example, a key “4” must be pressed down six times in order to input a prompt sound such as “tsu”, and a key to input a lowercase hiragana character such as “ぉ”. “1” must be pressed 10 times continuously.

  As described above, the conventional mobile phone terminal is very complicated because the operation of pressing the numeric keypad many times is required to input characters, and therefore it takes a long time and a lot of labor to input the text. It has become.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device that can perform character input quickly and easily.

  A portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a numeric keypad and an operation device that is installed on a casing surface different from the casing surface on which the numeric keypad is installed and can be operated in at least up, down, left, and right directions with respect to an operation center axis A plurality of characters are grouped for each number of characters within the number of directions of the operation device, and the number of groups is registered within the number of keys constituting the numeric keypad, A character selection control unit that selects a group corresponding to the key input of the numeric keypad from the inside, selects a character corresponding to the operation direction of the operation device from the group, and determines the selected character as an input character. .

  That is, according to the present invention, since the numeric keypad and the operation device are provided on different casing surfaces, the user can simultaneously operate the numeric keypad and the operation device with another finger of one hand. According to the present invention, a character group is selected by the numeric keypad, and characters in the group can be selected by the operation device.

  In the present invention, the numeric keypad and the operation device are provided on different casing surfaces, and a character group is selected by the numeric keypad, and characters in the group can be selected by the operation device. By simultaneously operating the operation device with another finger of one hand, a desired character can be input quickly and easily.

  Hereinafter, a portable electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a mobile phone terminal will be described as an example of a portable electronic device.

  1 and 2 show a first case 1 and a second case that can be folded in two so as to be folded with respect to the first case 1 as an example of the mobile phone terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. The appearance of a so-called foldable (clamshell type) mobile phone terminal having a body 2 is shown.

  The first casing 1 and the second casing 2 are configured such that one end sides of the first casing 1 and the second casing 2 are rotatable with respect to each other via a connecting portion (hinge portion) 4. And a folded state not shown (hereinafter referred to as a closed state). In other words, this foldable mobile phone terminal is used in the open state of FIG. 1 when making a call or sending a mail, for example, and is closed when charging or when no call is made.

  The first casing 1 is provided with a receiving section or the like having a display 3 made of liquid crystal or the like and a receiving speaker. The display 3 and the receiving unit are provided on the side overlapping the second housing 2.

  The second casing 2 contains the main circuit configuration of the mobile phone terminal. On the upper surface of the second housing 2 (the surface facing the first housing 1), a numeric keypad that is a dial button for inputting a telephone number or the like, an utterance key, an end / power key, A key operation unit 5 including a mode input key, a clear key, a mail key, and other various keys, and a transmission unit equipped with a microphone for transmission are provided. The key operation unit 5 and the transmission unit are provided on the side overlapping the first housing 1. Each key of the key operation unit 5 is made of a translucent resin, and light emitting means such as an LED (light emitting diode) is provided therein. Other configurations normally provided in the mobile phone terminal are omitted.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment is provided on the housing back surface side corresponding to the housing main surface portion where the key operation unit 5 of the second housing 2 is provided, for example. The pressure type pointing device 6 that generates a signal corresponding to the pressing force and the pressing direction is provided. Although the details will be described later, the pressure type pointing device 6 is provided as an operation device when the user performs operation input such as character input, cursor movement, page feed, and screen scroll.

  Here, in the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment, the attachment position of the pressure type pointing device 6 is an arrangement position in consideration of the case where the user operates the mobile phone terminal with one hand, specifically, mainly. When the second housing 2 side is held with one hand, the index finger of the user comes to a position.

  That is, according to the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment, the pressure-type pointing device 6 is on the case back side corresponding to the case main surface provided with the key operation unit 5 and the like of the second case 2. Therefore, when the user holds the mobile phone terminal with one hand, the user operates the key operation unit 5 or the like with the thumb of the hand and holds the pressure pointing device 6 with the index finger of the same hand. It becomes possible to operate. Therefore, for example, the user can perform operation instructions such as quick character input operation, cursor movement, page feed, and screen scrolling using the key operation unit 5 and the pressure type pointing device 6 together.

  Further, in the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment, the pressure-type pointing device 6 is attached in the vicinity of the position where the user's index finger comes and substantially in the center in the width direction of the rear surface of the second housing 2. It is said to be near.

  That is, in this case, the user's index finger is in the vicinity of the pressure pointing device 6 regardless of whether the user holds the mobile phone terminal with his / her left or right hand. Therefore, the user in this case can operate the pressure type pointing device 6 without being aware of the dominant hand.

  The pressure-type pointing device 6 is not the case back side, but the case back corresponding to the case side surface, the hinge portion, and the case main surface where the display 3 of the first case 1 is provided. It may be provided on the part side. Furthermore, instead of the pressure type pointing device 6, a trackball, a joystick, a cross key, a touch pad, or the like may be provided.

  3 and 4 show the appearance of another example of the cellular phone terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The mobile phone terminal shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a first casing 11 provided with a display 3 and a surface disposed in the lower side of the first casing 11 and in the same direction as the display surface of the display 3. The second casing 12 provided with the key operation unit 5 such as a numeric keypad is rotatable in the horizontal direction around a rotating hinge mechanism (not shown) provided at one end of the casing. Rotating open type mobile phone terminal.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the first casing 11 and the second casing 12 are slightly rotated around the rotary hinge mechanism from a state in which the cellular phone terminal of the present embodiment is completely opened (opened state). Indicates the state.

  The first casing 11 is provided with a receiving part and the like in addition to the display 3. In the case of the rotary open type mobile phone terminal, even when the first casing 11 and the second casing 12 are rotated and the casings are overlapped (closed state), the first casing 11 and the second casing 12 are rotated. The display 3 on the housing 11 is always outside.

  The second housing 12 is provided with a transmission unit and the like in addition to the key operation unit 5 including a numeric keypad. Note that other configurations normally provided in the mobile phone terminal are omitted.

  Further, as in the example of FIG. 2, this mobile phone terminal has a housing corresponding to the main surface of the housing in which the key operation unit 5 and the like of the second housing 12 are provided as shown in FIG. 4. A pressure type pointing device 6 is provided on the back side. The mounting position of the pressure type pointing device 6 shown in FIG. 4 is the same as that of the mobile phone terminal of FIG. Also in the case of this example, as described above, the pressure type pointing device 6 may be provided not on the housing rear surface side but on the housing side surface, the hinge portion, or the like. Furthermore, instead of the pressure type pointing device 6, a trackball, a joystick, a cross key, a touch pad, or the like may be provided.

  In addition, although not shown in the drawings, each mobile phone terminal of this embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes an open / close detection sensor for detecting an open state and a closed state. When the mobile phone terminal detects either the open state or the closed state by the open / close detection signal of the open / close detection sensor, the mobile phone terminal can perform control and processing according to the detected state.

  The folding type in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the rotating open type in FIGS. 3 and 4 are examples of the casing type of the mobile phone terminal of this embodiment, and the present invention is all other types of mobile phone terminals. It is also applicable to.

[Internal configuration of mobile phone terminal]
Next, FIG. 5 shows a schematic internal configuration of each mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment shown in FIGS.

  Since the cellular phone terminal shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the cellular phone terminal shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are not significantly different in internal circuit configuration, the internal circuit configuration of each mobile phone terminal will be described below. The operation will be described without distinction.

  The antenna 31 is a built-in antenna, for example, and transmits and receives signal radio waves. The communication circuit 33 performs frequency conversion, modulation and demodulation of transmission / reception signals, spectrum spread and despreading, discrimination of transmitted / received data as call voice data or other data, and the like. The data other than the call voice data is image data, e-mail, program data, and other data.

  The received call voice data is sent to the control unit 32 via the data line. The control unit 32 includes a CPU (central processing unit), decodes the call voice data, and sends the decoded voice data to the speaker 39 via the data line.

  The speaker 39 is a speaker of the transmission section, includes a digital / analog converter and an amplifier, and outputs the audio data after digital / analog conversion and amplification. Thereby, a call voice is obtained.

  On the other hand, the microphone 40 is a microphone of a receiver and includes an analog / digital converter and an amplifier. The call voice signal input through the microphone 40 is amplified to a predetermined level by an amplifier, converted to digital voice data by an analog / digital converter, and sent to the control unit 32 via a data line. After being encoded, it is sent to the communication circuit 33.

  The display unit 34 includes the display 3 of the first casing (1, 11) and a drive circuit for displaying an image on the display 3. Although not shown in the present embodiment, the display unit 34 may include a sub display in addition to the main display 3. As an example, the sub-display is a rear side corresponding to the main casing portion of the first casing 1 in which the main display 3 is arranged in the folding mobile phone terminal of FIGS. It can provide on the housing | casing surface.

  The operation unit 35 corresponds to the key operation unit 5 of the second casing (2, 12).

  The memory 36 includes a ROM and a RAM. The ROM stores a control program for the control unit 32 to control each unit, various initial setting values, a program code for performing character input processing according to the present embodiment, the telephone number of the mobile phone terminal, font data, which will be described later. Dictionary data in which grouped character data and candidate words for predictive conversion are registered, program code for executing linkage processing between the key operation unit 5 and the pressure-type pointing device 6, and other various types mounted on the mobile phone terminal Program code for the application, identification information (ID) of the mobile phone terminal, and the like are stored. This ROM includes a rewritable ROM such as an EEPROM, and is used for grouping and predictive conversion of e-mail data, phonebook and e-mail addresses set by the user, downloaded photo data and ringtone data, character data. It is also possible to store candidate word registration data, prediction conversion learning data, and various other user setting values. The RAM stores data as needed as a work area when the control unit 32 performs various data processing and a work area during character input processing.

  The detection sensor 44 corresponds to the above-described open / close detection sensor or vertical / horizontal detection sensor.

  In addition to the normal clock function, the timer circuit 45 also supplies a clock signal to each unit via a control line.

  The pressure-type pointing device input processor 38 analyzes an input signal from the pressure-type pointing device 6 provided on the rear side of the second case (2, 12), and the pressure-type pointing device 6 It is detected how much force the user has pressed in which direction. In addition, the pressure type pointing device input processor 38 is operated to press the pressure type pointing device 6 only once in a short time based on the input signal from the pressure type pointing device 6 and the clock signal from the timer circuit 45. A so-called click operation, a so-called double-click operation in which the pressure-type pointing device 6 is pressed twice in a short time, a time when the pressure-type pointing device 6 is continuously pressed, and the like are detected. The pressure-type pointing device input processor 38 sends data such as the operation detection signal of the click operation and the double click operation described above, the time of the continuous pressing operation, and the like to the control unit 32 via the control line.

  In addition to the above-described encoding and decoding of the call voice data, the control unit 32 controls each component of the mobile phone terminal and performs various arithmetic processes via the control line. Further, the control unit 32 receives an input signal from the operation unit 35, a signal from the pressure type pointing device input processor 38, a detection signal from the detection sensor 44, a time signal from the timer circuit 45, and the like. Perform processing and calculations. In particular, the control unit 32 of the present embodiment performs various calculations and controls for realizing the character input processing function according to the present invention.

  In addition, although not shown in FIG. 5, the cellular phone terminal of the present embodiment includes a power supply circuit that supplies power to each unit, a music recording / playback unit for recording and playing music, a browser function, For example, an interface for connecting an external storage device such as an external memory and the terminal body, a connection terminal of an external remote controller, and short-range wireless communication for communicating various information wirelessly (including infrared communication) at a short distance , GPS (Global Positioning System) that is a positioning device for detecting the current position of the mobile phone terminal, a configuration for realizing a digital camera function, and for focusing the lens system and its lens A drive system, an image sensor, and the like are provided.

[Basic character input operation using key operation unit and pressure pointing device]
Hereinafter, in the cellular phone terminal of the present embodiment, character input using the numeric keypad on the key operation unit 5 and the pressure type pointing device 6 will be described.

  The character data stored in the memory 36 of the mobile phone terminal of this embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is registered in advance for each of the groups described above, and the mobile phone terminal of this embodiment in the character input mode. Can select any one of the plurality of groups by pressing any one of the numeric keys of the key operation unit 5.

  In addition, the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment can select any character in the group by a pressing operation in any direction by the pressure pointing device 6.

  That is, the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment specifies one character by pressing each numeric key of the key operation unit 5 and the pressing operation direction by the pressure pointing device 6, and uses the specified character as an input character. It can be displayed on the display 3.

  Note that the operation timing of the numeric keypad and the pressure type pointing device 6 may be the same or may be shifted in time, and even if the pressure type pointing device 6 is pressed after the numeric keypad is pressed first. Conversely, the numeric keypad may be pressed after the pressure type pointing device 6 is pressed.

[Basic operation flow when entering characters]
FIG. 6 shows a basic operation flowchart when inputting characters in the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 6, when the control unit 32 of the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment receives an input signal corresponding to the pressing operation of the numeric keypad from the operation unit 35 in step S <b> 10, the pressing operation is performed as processing in step S <b> 11. A character group corresponding to the key is selected from the dictionary data in the memory 36.

  Next, in step S12, when the control unit 32 receives a signal from the pressure pointing device input processor 38 from the pressure pointing device input processor 38 in step S12, the control unit 32 first selects it by pressing the numeric keypad. From the character group thus selected, a character corresponding to the pressing operation direction of the pressure type pointing device 6 is selected.

  Then, in step S14, the control unit 32 repeats the processing from step S10 to step S14 until it receives a signal from the pressure pointing device input processor 38, for example, when the pressure pointing device 6 is clicked.

  When the control unit 32 detects in step S14 that the pressure pointing device 6 has been clicked, as a process in step S15, each character string input by repeating the process from step S10 to step S14 is displayed. It is determined as a character string before a predetermined conversion process.

  The predetermined conversion process is a process of converting a hiragana character string to katakana or kanji, a lowercase alphabetic character string to uppercase, a process of converting a certain language to another language, an input character string A process of selecting a desired candidate character from a plurality of predicted conversion candidate characters can be considered.

  After that, the control unit 32 ends the conversion process in step S15 in step S16, and then repeats the process from step S10 to step S17 until the user gives an instruction to end the character input process in step S17. When the user gives an end instruction in step S17, the character input process ends.

[Specific examples of character groups and specific examples of character input operations]
Here, in the present embodiment, as an example of the above-described character grouping, for example, grouping for each line of the Japanese syllabary can be considered. In this case, a desired row can be selected by pressing the numeric keypad, and a desired stage can be selected by the pressing operation direction of the pressure type pointing device 6. That is, in this example, when a line is selected by pressing the numeric keypad and a level is selected by the pressing operation direction of the pressure pointing device 6, a character is specified by the selected line and level. And the specified character becomes the input character.

  Further, when characters are grouped for each line of the Japanese syllabary, it is possible to select a line by depressing the numeric keypad, while “a” and “" are selected depending on the pressing operation direction of the pressure pointing device 6. Each vowel of “i”, “u”, “e”, “o” may be used. That is, in this case, a character is specified by the line selected by the pressing operation of the numeric keypad and the vowel selected by the pressing operation direction of the pressure type pointing device 6.

  Furthermore, when the characters are grouped for each line of the Japanese syllabary and the vowel can be selected in the pressing operation direction of the pressure type pointing device 6, the first character of each line, that is, the vowel "a" of each line is included. The characters to be displayed may be selectable by pressing the numeric keypad. That is, the line and the first character can be selected by pressing the numeric keypad, while the remaining four vowels “i”, excluding the vowel “a”, are selected according to the pressing direction of the pressure pointing device 6. “U”, “e”, and “o” can also be used. In this example, the first character of each line can be selected only with the numeric keypad.

  In addition, as grouping of characters, for example, a group in which alphabetic characters are divided into several characters can be cited. In this case, each group is selected by the numeric keypad, and the alphabetic characters in the group can be selected by the pressure type pointing device 6, thereby identifying the alphabetic characters.

[Specific examples of character groups and specific examples of character input operations]
In the following, each line of the Japanese syllabary is grouped, and the line and the first character thereof can be selected by using the numeric keypad, and four vowels “i”, “u”, “e”, “o” are selected by the pressure type pointing device 6. Taking the case where selection is possible as an example, character input of hiragana using the numeric keypad on the key operation unit 5 and the pressure type pointing device 6 in the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The example of FIG. 7 shows a front view of the mobile phone terminal in the open state of the present embodiment in the character input mode.

  In this example, the cellular phone terminal can select “A” and its first character “A” by pressing the key “1” of the numeric keypad, and “KA” by pressing the key “2”. And the first character “ka” is “sa line” and its first character “sa” by pressing the key “3”, and “ta line” and its first character “ta” are pressed by pressing the key “4”. When the key “5” is pressed, the “na line” and its first character “na” are pressed. When the key “6” is pressed, the “ha line” and its first character “ha” are pressed. By pressing the key “8”, the “ma line” and its first character “ma” are displayed. “Ya line” and its first character “ya” are displayed by pressing the key “9”. The character “ra” can be selected by pressing the key “0” to select “wa line” and its first character “wa”. To have.

  In the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment, “i” of the vowels can be selected by the upward pressing operation of the pressing type pointing device 6, and “u” can be selected by the downward pressing operation by the right pressing operation. “E” and “o” can be selected by a leftward pressing operation.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment includes four arrow marks indicating the up / down / left / right pressing operation directions as indices when selecting each vowel by the pressure-type pointing device 6, and the arrows A direction display icon 20 on which characters “i” to “o” for clearly indicating which vowel corresponds to each pressing operation direction indicated by the mark is displayed on the display 3. . When the pressure type pointing device 6 is pressed, the cellular phone terminal according to the present embodiment highlights an arrow mark corresponding to the pressing operation direction, for example, which vowel is selected. To the user. Furthermore, the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment also notifies the user of which row is selected by turning on an LED built in the key pressed by the user among the numeric keys.

  Hereinafter, the case where each character of “Iroha niho” is input as in the example of FIG. 7 will be described in order with reference to a display example of the display 3.

  First, when the key “1” is pressed and “A line” is selected, the character “A” as the first character of the “A line” is displayed on the display 3 as shown in FIG. A selected character is displayed together with the cursor 50. The cursor 50 is represented by highlight display or reverse display of characters.

  In this state, when the pressure pointing device 6 is pressed upward and the vowel “i” is selected, as shown in FIG. The character “I” is specified from the vowel “i” by the upward pressing operation of the expression pointing device 6, and the character “I” is displayed on the display 3 together with the cursor 50.

  Next, when the key “9” is pressed to select “Ra Line”, as shown in FIG. 10, on the display 3, for example, to the right of the previously identified character “I”, The character “ra”, which is the first character of “ra line”, is displayed together with the cursor 50 as the selected character.

  In this state, when the pressure-type pointing device 6 is pressed to the left and the vowel “o” is selected, as shown in FIG. The character “RO” is specified from the vowel “o” by the left-direction pressing operation of the expression pointing device 6, and the character “RO” is displayed on the display 3 together with the cursor 50.

  Next, when the key “6” is pressed and “ha line” is selected, as shown in FIG. 12, on the display 3, the “ The first character of “ha” is displayed with the cursor 50 as the selected character.

  In that state, when the pressure type pointing device 6 is not operated and, for example, the key “5” is pressed down to select the next character input and “NA” is selected, as shown in FIG. , The character “ha” is identified, the character “ha” is displayed on the display 3 to the left of the previous character “ro”, and the character “na” is displayed together with the cursor 50 on the left. Is displayed.

  Further, in this state, when the pressure type pointing device 6 is pressed upward and the vowel “i” is selected, as shown in FIG. The character “ni” is specified from the vowel “i” by the upward pressing operation of the pressure type pointing device 6, and the character “ni” is displayed on the display 3 together with the cursor 50.

  Next, when the key “6” is pressed to select “ha line”, as shown in FIG. 15, on the display 3, the “ The first character of “ha” is displayed with the cursor 50 as the selected character.

  In this state, when the pressure-type pointing device 6 is pressed to the left and the vowel “o” is selected, as shown in FIG. From the vowel “o” by the left-direction pressing operation of the pressure-type pointing device 6, the character “ho” is specified, and the character “ho” is displayed on the display 3 together with the cursor 50.

  In the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment, hiragana lowercase characters such as “a”, “i”, “ぅ”, “e”, “ぉ”, sound prompting characters such as “tsu”, and other “ya”, etc. A character is input when the numeric keypad corresponding to the line of the character is pressed down continuously for a certain time, for example.

  As described above, each character up to “Iroha niho” is displayed on the display 3 as in the example of FIG.

  Here, according to the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment, as described above, the characters “Iroha niho” are the pressing operation of the numeric keypad six times and the pressing operation of the pressure-type pointing device 6 three times, that is, the total It is possible to input with 9 operations. In addition, according to the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment, the operation of the numeric keypad and the pressure type pointing device 6 may be performed substantially at the same time. The character input of “Iroha niho” can be performed by three simultaneous operations in the pressure type pointing device and three other pressing operations of the numeric keypad, that is, approximately six operations.

  Further, as in the example of the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment, the line and the first character thereof can be selected by the numeric keypad, and the four vowels “i”, “u”, “e”, “ When “o” can be selected, the pressure pointing device 6 is not operated with the key “1” being pressed to select the first character “A” of “A”, and the key “ When the “1” is repeatedly pressed a plurality of times, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, the character “A” is identified for each pressing operation of the key “1” and is sequentially displayed on the display 3. In other words, in the case of a conventional mobile phone terminal, when the key “1” is continuously pressed several times, the characters of each row of “A line” assigned to the key “1” are sequentially displayed on the display. In contrast, the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment can continuously input a plurality of characters “A” by continuously pressing the key “1”.

  In addition, it goes without saying that this example is also applicable to a character input mode in which alphabetic characters are grouped. When alphabetic characters are grouped, as an example, the “ABCDE” group and its first character “A” can be selected by pressing the key “1” of the numeric keypad, and the key “2” can be selected by pressing the key “2”. The “FGHIJ” group and its first character “F”, the “KLMNO” group and its first character “K” by pressing the key “3”, and the “PQRST” group and its first character “K” by pressing the key “4”. “P”, “UVWXY” group and its first character “U” by pressing the key “5”, “Z.,? $” Group and its first character “Z” by pressing the key “6” It is conceivable that each can be selected.

  Further, in this case, as an example, the second alphabet character in the group can be selected by the upward pressing operation of the pressing type pointing device 6 and the third alphabet character in the group is pressed downward by the right pressing operation. Thus, the fourth alphabet character in the group can be selected, and the fifth alphabet character in the group can be selected by pressing the left direction. Of course, the above-mentioned grouping and the assignment of characters to each key and the pressing operation direction are examples.

  In addition, since the assignment of groups to the numeric keys as described above is an example, the present invention is not limited to the grouping and the assignment example of each group to each key. The group assignment to each key may be arbitrarily changed by the user, and similarly, the user can arbitrarily change the assignment of characters and vowels to each pressing operation direction of the pressure pointing device 6. It may be a thing.

[Specific example of predictive conversion processing applied to character input]
The mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment predicts a plurality of conversion candidate characters and conversion candidate words in accordance with the input characters, and a plurality of conversion candidate characters, conversion candidate words, or consecutive phrase candidate words obtained by the prediction. Etc. are displayed on the display 3 so that the user can select a desired character, word, continuous phrase word, etc. from among the plurality of conversion candidate characters, conversion candidate words, continuous phrase candidate words, etc. It has a conversion function.

  Hereinafter, a predictive conversion function is used for character input processing in which a line and its first character are selected by the numeric keypad, and four vowels “i”, “u”, “e”, and “o” are selected by the pressure type pointing device 6. A character input mode combining the above will be sequentially described with reference to FIGS.

  17 to 19 show screen examples of the display 3 of the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment in the character input mode to which the predictive conversion function is applied. In the character input mode to which the predictive conversion function is applied, the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment includes an input character display area 51 in which characters being input and input are displayed on the display 3, and candidate characters for predictive conversion. A conversion candidate display area 52 in which is displayed. In the case of the example of FIGS. 17 to 19, the direction display icon 20 of the example of FIGS. 8 to 16 may be displayed on the display 3.

  In the example of FIG. 17, on the input character display area 51, the character string up to “I am” and the confirmed character “A” are displayed together with the cursor 50. At this time, the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment displays a plurality of conversion candidate words predicted from the confirmed character “a” on the conversion candidate display area 52. The conversion candidate display area 52 also displays a clear icon 54 for instructing that the user does not select a prediction conversion candidate.

  Next, for example, when the key “7” is pressed to select “MA”, and the pressure type pointing device 6 is pressed downward to select the vowel “e”, as shown in FIG. On the display 3, an underline is displayed for the fixed character “a”, and “me” specified from the “ma line” and the vowel “e” is cursored as a fixed character to the right of the underline. 50 is displayed. At this time, a plurality of conversion candidate words predicted from “A” and “ME” are displayed on the conversion candidate display area 52.

  Next, when, for example, the pressure type pointing device 6 is clicked, the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment activates the conversion candidate display area 52 and, as shown in FIG. It is assumed that each prediction conversion candidate displayed in is selectable. In the active state, the cursor 55 is displayed on the first predictive conversion candidate in the conversion candidate display area 52.

  The cursor 55 is for indicating a predictive conversion candidate that can be selected, and moves in the conversion candidate display area 52 according to the pressing operation direction of the pressure pointing device 6, for example. By the movement of the cursor 55, selectable prediction conversion candidates are changed.

  Then, for example, when the pressure type pointing device 6 is clicked while the cursor 55 is displayed on any prediction conversion candidate, the selection of the candidate is determined, and the input character display area 51 is determined. The selected candidate word is displayed as an input word, and the input character display area 51 is activated.

[Operation flow in character input mode with predictive conversion processing applied]
FIG. 20 shows an operation flowchart at the time of character input in the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment when the predictive conversion process is applied.

  In FIG. 20, when the control unit 32 of the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 5 receives an input signal corresponding to the operation of pressing the numeric keypad from the operation unit 35 in step S21, the process of step S22 is performed. The first character of the character group corresponding to the pressed key is selected, and the character is displayed in the input character display area 51.

  Next, in step S23, the control unit 32 determines whether or not a pressing operation signal for direction indication by the pressure pointing device 6 is sent from the pressure pointing device input processor 38, and the pressing operation signal is sent. If not, the process proceeds to step S25. If a pressing operation signal is sent, the process proceeds to step S24.

  When the processing proceeds to step S24, the control unit 32 selects a character corresponding to the pressing operation direction from the group and displays it in the input character display area 51, and then proceeds to step S25.

  When the processing proceeds to step S25, the control unit 32 displays a character string obtained by adding the currently selected character to the right side of the past confirmed character string, for example, and displays the character string in the conversion candidate display area 52. Display predictive conversion candidates for the selected character string.

  In this state, in step S26, the control unit 32 determines whether an operation signal corresponding to the click operation of the pressure type pointing device 6 has been sent from the pressure type pointing device input processor 38, and the click operation signal is sent. If not, the process proceeds to step S32. If a click operation signal is sent, the process proceeds to step S27.

  When the process proceeds to step S32, the control unit 32 determines whether or not a numeric key pressing operation signal has been sent from the operation unit 35, and proceeds to step S31 while no pressing operation signal has been sent. When a pressing operation signal is sent, the process proceeds to step S33.

  When it is determined in step S32 that a numeric key pressing operation signal has been sent and the process proceeds to step S33, the control unit 32 determines the currently selected character string and returns the process to step S22.

  In step S32, the numeric key pressing operation signal has not been sent, and when the process proceeds to step S31, the control unit 32 determines whether or not an end instruction has been given by the user via the operation unit 35. When the end instruction is given, the process of FIG. 20 is ended. On the other hand, while the end instruction is not given, the process returns to step S21.

  In step S26, when the click operation signal from the pressure pointing device 6 is received and the process proceeds to step S27, the control unit 32 determines the displayed character string selected on the input character display area 51. At the same time, the conversion candidate display area 52 is activated. After the process of step S27, the control unit 32 advances the process to step S28.

  When the processing proceeds to step S28, the control unit 32 determines whether any of the candidates displayed on the conversion candidate display area 52 has been selected by the user from the operation signal of the pressure pointing device 6 or not. If the candidate is not selected, the process proceeds to step S30. If the candidate is selected, the process proceeds to step S29.

  When the processing proceeds to step S29, the control unit 32 determines whether the clear icon 54 on the conversion candidate display area 52 is selected by the user based on, for example, an operation signal from the operation unit 35, and the clear icon 54 is selected. If YES, the process proceeds to step S34, and the process returns to step S28 while the clear icon 54 is not selected.

  When the clear icon 54 is selected by the user in step S29 and the process proceeds to step S34, the control unit 32 cancels the character string that has been confirmed immediately before and activates the input character display area 51, that is, displays the input character. After making the character input in the area 51 possible, the process returns to step S21.

  In step S28, if any candidate has not been selected by the user and the process proceeds to step S30, the control unit 32 determines the prediction conversion candidate selected in step S28, and selects the candidate word. After displaying in the input character display area 51, the process proceeds to step S31.

[Example of application to menu selection]
The cellular phone terminal of the present embodiment can also use the pressure type pointing device 6 for menu selection.

  FIGS. 21 to 23 show screen examples of the display 3 when menu selection is performed by the pressure type pointing device 6.

  21 and 22, “Function 1: Display”, “Function 2: Mail”, “Function 3: Memory Card”, and the like are displayed on the screen of the display 3 as menu items. “Function 1: Display” is a display setting menu, “Function 2: Mail” is a menu related to mail, and “Function 3: Memory card” is a setting menu related to a memory card. A line 60 in the figure is a cursor for clearly indicating the menu being selected.

  Here, when the pressure-type pointing device 6 is pressed downward, for example, in the display state of FIG. 21, the cursor 60 moves to the next lower menu as shown in FIG. For example, when the pressure-type pointing device 6 is double-clicked in this state, the menu is determined and the function is changed to the function in the menu. FIG. 23 shows a state in which the display of the display 3 has transitioned to the mail function screen when the menu of “function 2: mail” in FIG. 22 is determined.

[Operation flowchart when menu is selected]
FIG. 24 shows an operation flow of the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment when the menu is selected.

  In FIG. 24, in the menu selection mode, the control unit 32 activates the interval timer based on the clock signal from the timer circuit 45 as the process of step S41, and during that time, as the process of step S42, the pressure type The state of the pressure type pointing device 6 is checked via the pointing device input processor 38.

  Then, the control unit 32 determines whether or not the pressure pointing device 6 is pressed in step S43, and returns to step S41 while the pressing operation is not performed, and determines that the pressing operation is performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S44.

  When the process proceeds to step S44, the control unit 32 determines whether or not the pressing operation direction of the pressure pointing device 6 is the upward direction, and proceeds to step S47 when it is upward, or to step S45 when it is not upward. .

  When the processing proceeds to step S47, the control unit 32 moves the cursor 60 upward by one menu item on the display 6, and then returns the processing to step S41.

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step S45, the control unit 32 determines whether or not the pressing operation direction of the pressure type pointing device 6 is the downward direction. If it is the downward direction, the process proceeds to step S48. To proceed.

  When the process proceeds to step S48, the control unit 32 moves the cursor 60 downward by one menu item on the display 6, and then returns the process to step S41.

  When the processing proceeds to step S46, the control unit 32 determines whether or not the pressure pointing device 6 has been double-clicked, and when it is determined that the double-clicking has been performed, the control unit 32 proceeds to step S49.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S46 that the double-clicking operation has not been performed, that is, the operation of the pressure type pointing device 6 that has been made the pressing operation in step S43 is a pressing operation in a direction other than the upward or downward direction. When there is, the control part 32 returns a process to step S41.

[Summary]
As described above, according to the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment, since character input using the numeric keypad and the pressure type pointing device 6 can be performed, the input operation can be performed easily and very quickly. it can.

  Further, according to the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment, the numeric keypad is provided on the main surface side of the casing and the pressure pointing device 6 is provided on the rear side of the casing, so that quick input with the thumb and index finger of one hand is possible. Along with operation, the housing can be held in a stable state by hand.

  Furthermore, according to the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment, the numeric keypad and the pressure-type pointing device 6 are arranged on different surfaces of the casing, respectively, so that they are installed more than when they are provided on the same casing surface. The degree of freedom increases.

  Further, when the numeric keypad and the pressure type pointing device 6 are arranged on the same casing surface, the area of the casing surface needs to be large enough to arrange them. In the case of the embodiment, since only one of the numeric keypad and the pressure type pointing device has to be arranged on the same casing surface, the casing can be downsized as a result.

  In addition, since the cellular phone terminal according to the present embodiment is provided with the pressure type pointing device, the pressure type pointing device 6 can be easily used for various functions such as a camera function and a game function. For example, in the case of a camera function, the focus position can be specified by the pressure type pointing device 6.

  The above description of the embodiment is an example of the present invention. For this reason, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made according to the design or the like as long as the technical idea according to the present invention is not deviated.

  The present embodiment is not limited to a mobile phone terminal, and can be applied to various electronic devices such as a PDA, a digital television receiver, a remote controller of a car navigation device, a computer mouse, and the like. This is suitable for Kanji conversion, alphanumeric input, and the like.

It is the external view seen from the front side in the state which opened the folding type | mold mobile telephone terminal of this invention embodiment. It is the external view seen from the back side in the state which the folding type mobile telephone terminal of this embodiment opened. It is the external view seen from the front side in the state which opened the rotation open type | mold mobile telephone terminal of this invention embodiment. It is the external view seen from the back side in the open state of the rotation open type | mold mobile telephone terminal of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure inside the mobile telephone terminal of this embodiment. It is a basic operation flowchart at the time of character input in the cellular phone terminal of this embodiment. It is a figure used for description of the display and operation | movement at the time of the character input mode of the mobile telephone terminal of this embodiment. It is a figure used for explanation of operation at the time of character input mode, and shows the state that the character of “A” is displayed on the display by selecting the first character “A” of “A” by operating the numeric keypad. FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram used for explaining the operation in the character input mode. When the vowel “i” is selected by operating the pressure pointing device from the state of FIG. 8, the state where the character “I” is displayed on the display is shown. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram used for explaining the operation in the character input mode, and the character string “Ira” is displayed on the display by selecting the first character “Ra” of “Ra line” by operating the numeric keypad from the state of FIG. 9. It is a figure which shows the state made. It is a figure used for operation | movement description at the time of character input mode, and the character string of "Iro" is displayed on the display by selecting the vowel "o" by operation of a pressure type pointing device from the state of FIG. FIG. It is a figure used for description of operation | movement at the time of character input mode, and the character string of "Iroha" is displayed on a display by selecting the first character "ha" of "ha line" by operation of a numeric keypad from the state of FIG. It is a figure which shows the state made. FIG. 13 is a diagram used for explaining an operation in a character input mode, and shows a state where a character string “Irohana” is displayed on a display by selecting “Nana Line” by operating a numeric keypad from the state of FIG. FIG. It is a figure used for description of operation | movement at the time of character input mode, and the character string of "Irohani" was displayed on the display by selecting the vowel "i" by operation of a pressure-type pointing device from the state of FIG. It is a figure which shows a state. It is a figure used for description of operation | movement at the time of character input mode, and the state where the character string of "Iroha" is displayed on the display by selecting "ha line" by operation of a numeric keypad from the state of FIG. FIG. It is a figure used for description of operation | movement at the time of a character input mode, and is a figure which shows the state by which the character string of "Ah" was displayed on the display by pressing operation of the numeric keypad several times (three times). This figure is used to explain the operation in the character input mode. When the character “a” is confirmed in the input character display area, the predicted conversion candidate corresponding to the character “a” is displayed in the conversion candidate display area. FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram used for explaining the operation in the character input mode. When the character “me” is further confirmed from the state of FIG. 8, a prediction conversion candidate corresponding to the character string “ame” is displayed in the conversion candidate display area. FIG. It is a figure used for operation | movement description at the time of character input mode, and is a figure which shows the state by which the conversion candidate display area became active. It is an operation | movement flowchart at the time of the character input in the mobile telephone terminal of this embodiment when a predictive conversion process is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of a display when menu selection is performed by a pressure type pointing device, and is a figure which shows the state in which the menu item of "Function 1: Display" is selected. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen of a display at the time of menu selection being performed by a pressure type pointing device, and is a figure which shows the state in which the menu item of "Function 2: Mail" is selected. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a display after a mobile telephone terminal changes to a mail function by selecting the menu item of "function 2: mail" in the state of FIG. It is an operation | movement flowchart at the time of menu selection by a pressure type pointing device.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,11 1st housing | casing, 2,12 2nd housing | casing, 3 display, 4 connection part (hinge part), 5 key operation part, 6 pressure type pointing device, 20 direction display icon, 31 antenna, 32 control Unit, 33 communication circuit, 34 display unit, 35 operation unit, 36 memory, 38 pressure-type pointing device input processor, 39 speaker, 40 microphone, 44 detection sensor, 45 timer circuit

Claims (5)

A numeric keypad installed on one casing surface among a plurality of casing surfaces constituting the apparatus casing;
Of the plurality of housing surfaces constituting the device housing, the housing is installed on a housing surface different from the housing surface on which the numeric keypad is installed, and at least in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the operation center axis. An operable operation device; and
A character group registration unit in which a plurality of characters are grouped for each number of characters within each direction operable by the operation device, and the number of groups is within the number of keys constituting the numeric keypad, ,
From the groups registered in the character group registration unit, a group corresponding to the key input of the numeric keypad is selected, and a character corresponding to the operation direction of the operation device is selected from the selected group And a character determination control unit that determines the selected character as an input character. The portable electronic device according to claim 1,
The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the casing on which the operation device is installed is a casing surface on a back side with respect to the casing surface on which the numeric keypad is installed. The portable electronic device according to claim 1,
The character determination control unit selects a predetermined character in the group simultaneously with the selection of the group when selecting the group according to the key input of the numeric keypad, and according to the operation direction of the operation device. When selecting a character, the portable electronic device selects any of the remaining characters excluding the predetermined character from the characters included in the group selected by the numeric keypad according to the operation direction. apparatus. A portable electronic device according to claim 3,
The character determination control unit selects a predetermined character in the group simultaneously with the selection of the group, and then selects the same group again by inputting the numeric keypad while the operation direction is not input from the operation device. When the portable electronic device is selected, the predetermined character selected simultaneously with the previous group selection is determined as an input character. The portable electronic device according to claim 1,
A display capable of displaying at least characters and images;
A portable electronic apparatus comprising: a display control unit configured to display a direction display icon indicating a direction operable by the operation device on the display display.

Images