JP2006178755A - Character input method and character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a more efficient input method and character input device, applied with a simple rule wherein a character can be intuitively inputted even if using only one finger like a kana turning input method. <P>SOLUTION: In this character input device inputting a kana character by a numeric pad assigned with characters from the 'a' series to the 'wa' series, each key of the numeric pad and a symbol key each have a contact detecting pushing-in 11a from the front, and contacts detecting pushing-in 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e from four upper-and-lower and right-and-left directions, and each key of the numeric pad outputs signals corresponding to five characters of the character of the 'a' column inputted from the front, and the characters of the 'i' column, 'u' column, 'e' column and 'o' column inputted from the four upper-and-lower and right-and-left directions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input method and a character input device, and more particularly, to a character input method and a character input means for efficiently inputting more types of characters than the number of keys in an input device such as a remote control device, a PDA, or a mobile phone. About.

  Conventionally, a character input device has adopted a 12-channel key layout of a TV remote controller or a 10-key layout for inputting a telephone number of a mobile phone.

  Recently, with the increase in mail input and URL input for WWW services, various types of characters with more than 12 keys or 10 keys have been incorporated.

  One of the methods is a turning input method in which an English or Japanese 10 key is pressed and input a plurality of times (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a consonant (“a”, “ka”, “sa”) of 50 tones as a method for efficiently inputting Japanese with a smaller number of key operations than the above-described kana turning input method. , “Ta”,...), And then using the cross key on the back, select a vowel and input Japanese. In this method, for example, “ki” is input by operating the cross key on the “ka” line. It also describes input methods and character determination methods that can be applied universally.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-330599 (Pages 2-5, FIGS. 1-4)

  The technique of the above-mentioned patent document 1 shows one solution to the problem in the widening input method. However, the keys on the front and back sides must be operated, and the superiority of the tapping input method has not been surpassed.

The kana turning input method is
A: You only need to use one finger (thumb). B: You still have an advantage in two points: a simple rule that allows you to search for input characters by pressing multiple times.

  Since it is a simple input method, the tapping input method also has a feature that allows an operator to input quickly by training.

  However, in conventional input devices such as mobile phones and PDAs, in order to input many types of characters with a limited number of keys, for example, when inputting “ko”, “ka” → “ki” → “ku” ”→“ Ke ”→“ Ko ”, there still remains the delay of having to press the key several times before the character is confirmed, so that it can be trained young people and operators who input a large amount every day The situation continues to be difficult for the general public who is able to overcome the problem, but is not frequently trained.

  In particular, when home servers and the like become widespread in the future, and users of various generations input Japanese using a remote control device at home, it is possible to input intuitively without training instead of using the current tapping input method. There is a need for efficient input methods that can be used.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a more efficient input method and a character input device that adopts a simple rule that allows a character to be input intuitively without using only one finger like the flip input method. It is.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a character input device for inputting more types of kana characters and alphabet characters than 10 keys, wherein each of the 10 keys and the symbol key has a contact point for detecting depression from the front and upper and lower sides. A character input device that has a contact point that detects pressing in four directions on the left and right sides, and each 10 keys outputs a signal corresponding to five characters, that is, a character that is input from the front and a character that is input from four directions; suggest.

  In Kana character input, if the symbol key is pressed after inputting kana characters corresponding to muddy sound, semi-turbid sound, stuttering sound, and sounding sound, a signal instructing conversion of the input character into muddy sound, semi-turbid sound, stuttering sound, and sounding sound is sent. Output.

  While pressing each character key, the direction of pressing is changed, one of the candidate characters assigned to each character key is selected, and the input character is determined when the key is released.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a more efficient input method and character input device that adopts a simple rule that allows a character to be input intuitively without using only one finger like the kana turning input method, For ordinary people, the speed of character input can be improved to each level.

  If the input character is determined at the timing when the key is released, it is possible to reduce the number of erasing operations and pressing operations twice due to an erroneous key pressing.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 1-10, the Example of the character input method and character input device by this invention is described.

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

  The character input device 1 according to the first embodiment includes input means, that is, a key 2, an input circuit 3, a processing circuit 4, a storage circuit 5, a display output circuit 6, and a display means 7.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the character input device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The input means (key) 2 includes a numeric keypad 8 and symbol keys 9 of 0-9. A small display is provided as the display means 7. The input circuit 3, the processing circuit 4, the storage circuit 5, and the display output circuit 6 are mounted in the character input device 1.

  When inputting characters, the input circuit 3 takes in a signal input from the input means (key) 2 and sends it to the processing circuit 4. The processing circuit 4 recognizes, confirms, and displays the input character with reference to the relationship (FIG. 7) between data such as numbers, kana, and alphabets assigned to each key in the storage circuit 5 and key operations. This is sent to the output circuit 6. The display output circuit 6 displays the candidate character or the confirmed character on the small display of the display means 7 according to the half-input state where the character is unconfirmed and the confirmed state of the character.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the input means (tenkey) 8 and the finger of the present invention.

  Compared with the conventional numeric keypad in which only the key is pushed in from the front, the numeric keypad 8 of the present invention has a key push-in direction 11 in addition to the key push-in direction from the front, Contains.

  That is, it has both the key pressing direction from the front of a conventional numeric keypad and the key pressing directions of the up, down, left and right keys of a cross key, and one key has an input function in five directions at the maximum.

  In addition, since the symbol key 9 is large and has only one, if a diagonal push-up direction is further added, one symbol key 9 can be provided with an input function in a maximum of nine directions.

  Also, the dotted lines in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 only indicate the depressed region of each key, and do not mean that each key top is formed at a middle height. Therefore, each key top may be a medium-high convex shape, a flat shape, or a concave shape with a depressed center depending on the design requirements.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the operation direction of the input means (numeric keypad) 8 of the present invention and the input characters.

  In the kana input mode, for example, in the “ka” row, “ka” is input in the key pressing direction (area) 11a from the front, and “ki” is input in the pressing direction (area) 11b from the top to the bottom. "K" is input in the pushing direction (area) 11c from the right to the left, "K" is inputted in the pushing direction (area) 11d from the bottom to the top, and "ko" is inputted in the pushing direction (area) 11e from the left to the right. Is entered.

  FIG. 5 shows the structure of the input means (tenkey) 8 of the present invention.

  Each numeric keypad 8 includes five upper switch contacts 12 and five lower switch contacts 13 corresponding to the pushing direction, and from the top, bottom, left, and right, in addition to the contact that detects pushing from the front. Detects the pushing direction of.

  With this structure, for example, in the “ka” line, five characters “ka”, “ki”, “ku”, “ke”, and “ko” can be distinguished and input from one key with one operation of one thumb.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of numbers, kana, and alphabets assigned to the input means (tenkey 8 and symbol key 9) of the present invention.

  In this case, the symbol key 9 is divided into the left and right of the “0” key in accordance with the key layout of the familiar mobile phone.

  It looks the same as a conventional mobile phone key, so the set of the present invention and the conventional flipping input method are used as a set for storing the relationship between numbers, kana, and alphabet data assigned to each key and key operations. May be stored in the storage circuit 5, and the input method of the present invention and the conventional trimming input method may be selected in accordance with the user's preference and degree of proficiency.

  In Kana input mode, for example, pressing the “5” key from the front will input “NA”, pressing from the top downward will input “NI”, pressing from the right to left will input “NU”, "Ne" is input when the button is pressed upward, and "NO" is input when the button is pressed from left to right.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between numbers, kana and alphabet data assigned to each key stored in the storage circuit 5 of the present invention, and key operations.

  When entering the lowercase letters “a”, “i”, “「 ”,“ e ”,“ ぉ ”,“ tsu ”,“ nya ”,“ yu ”,“ yo ”, the corresponding characters“ a ”“ i ”“ u ”“ e ”“ After entering "O", "TSU", "YA", "YU" and "YO", press the "*" symbol key.

  Cloudy sound "Ga" "gi" "gu" "ge" "go" "za" "ji" "z" "ze" "zo" "da" "tsu" "zu" "de" "do" "ba" " When entering "Bi", "Bu", "Be", "Bo", the corresponding characters "ka" "ki" "ku" "ke" "ko" "sa" "shi" "z" "se" "so" After inputting “TA”, “CH”, “TSU”, “TE”, “TO”, “HA”, “HI”, “FU”, “HE” and “HO”, the symbol key “#” is pressed.

  When entering semi-voiced sound “Pa” “pi” “pu” “pe” “po”, enter the corresponding characters “ha” “hi” “fu” “he” “ho”, then the symbol key “# Press the area below.

  When inputting the alphabet, as shown in FIG. 6, four characters “P”, “Q”, “R”, and “S” are assigned to the “7” key, and “W” and “X” are assigned to the “9” key. Since “Y” and “Z” are assigned, four-way input is used.

  “2” “3” “4” “5” “6” “7” “8” “9” Press the front of the key to “A” “D” “G” “J” “M” “P” “T” Enter “W” and press the left side of “2” “3” “4” “5” “6” “7” “8” “9” keys to “B” “E” “H” “K” “N” ”“ R ”“ U ”“ Y ”and press the right side of“ 2 ”“ 3 ”“ 4 ”“ 5 ”“ 6 ”“ 7 ”“ 8 ”“ 9 ”keys to“ C ”“ F ”“ Input “I”, “L”, “O”, “S”, “V”, and “Z”, and press the lower side of the “7” and “9” keys to input “Q” and “X”.

  If five-way input is used, it is also possible to input alphabets such as French and German with a large number of characters.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a half-input state and a character finalized state until the kana character is displayed and released by pressing the numeric keypad 8 of the present invention.

  While each key is depressed, the selection state is allowed to be changed. When the direction of depression is changed, for example, “ha”, “hi”, “fu”, “to”, and “ho” can be selected in the “ha” row. The input character is determined when the key is released. In this way, it is possible to reduce the number of erasing operations and twice pressing operations due to key pressing mistakes.

  In addition, when a different key other than the symbol key is pressed, a character inputted immediately before may be determined.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a character input device according to a second embodiment that employs a liquid crystal touch panel according to the present invention.

  The liquid crystal touch panel type remote controller 14 of the second embodiment displays a software keyboard on the liquid crystal screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 15.

  In the second embodiment, instead of the key contacts of the first embodiment, for example, a finger pressing operation on a software key and a locus such as acceleration can be detected to select an input character.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a video device such as a television or an information device such as a personal computer / home server and a remote control device as its character input device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The third embodiment is an example in which a video device such as a television or an information device 30 such as a personal computer / home server and a remote controller 20 are displayed and Japanese is displayed on the screen.

  The remote controller of the third embodiment includes only the numeric keypad 8 and the symbol key 9 as shown in FIG. 10, and may be the remote controller 20 that directly displays on the screen of the television 30, or includes the display means 7 as shown in FIG. When the input of a set of character strings is completed, a remote controller of a method of transmitting to a video device such as a TV or an information device 30 such as a personal computer / home server may be used, or on the liquid crystal screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 15 as shown in FIG. A liquid crystal touch panel remote controller 14 that displays a software keyboard may be used.

  In the case of Example 3 in FIG. 10 that uses the screen of video equipment such as a television or information equipment 30 such as a personal computer / home server, it is possible to input characters while looking at large characters on the screen.

It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of Example 1 of the character input device by this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the character input device of Example 1 by this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the input means (numeric keypad) 8 and finger | toe of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the operation direction of the input means (10-key) 8 of this invention, and the character input. It is a figure which shows the structure of the input means (tenkey) 8 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the number, the kana, and the alphabet allocated to the input means (ten key 8 and symbol key 9) of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the number allocated to each key stored in the memory | storage circuit 5 of this invention, kana, alphabet data, and key operation. It is a figure which shows the half-input state until a kana character is displayed and it releases | separates by pressing the numeric keypad 8 of this invention, and the fixed state of a character. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the character input device of Example 2 which employ | adopted the liquid crystal touch panel by this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of video equipment, such as a television of Example 3 by this invention, and the remote control device as the character input device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Character input device 2 Input means 3 Input circuit 4 Processing circuit 5 Memory circuit 6 Display output circuit 7 Display means 8 Numeric keypad 9 Symbol key 11 Key pushing direction (area | region)
11a Key pressing direction from front (area)
11b Pushing direction from top to bottom (area)
11c Push direction from right to left (area)
11d Pushing direction (area) from bottom to top
11e Push direction from left to right (area)
12 Upper switch contact 13 Lower switch contact 14 Liquid crystal touch panel type remote control 15 Liquid crystal touch panel 20 Remote control 30 Television

Claims (15)

In the character input method to input more types of characters than the number of character keys,
A character input method, wherein a character input from the front and a character input from at least one of up, down, left and right directions are assigned to each character key. In a character input method for inputting more types of characters than 10 keys,
A character input method characterized in that a maximum of 5 characters, that is, a character input from the front and characters input from four directions (up, down, left and right) are assigned to each 10 keys. In the character input method of inputting kana characters with 10 keys assigned respectively to the characters “A line” to “Wa line”,
Assign 10 letters to “10” keys from the front and “I”, “U”, “E”, and “O”. Character input method characterized by that. The character input method according to claim 3,
After inputting the kana character corresponding to muddy sound, semi-turbid sound, stuttering, and sounding sound, press the symbol key to be entered from the front and at least from the top, bottom, left and right directions to input the sound of muddy sound, semi-muddy sound, sounding sound, sounding sound Character input method. In the character input method of inputting alphabetic characters with 10 keys,
A character input method characterized in that an alphabetic character input from the front and an alphabetic character input from at least one of up, down, left and right directions are assigned to each of the 10 keys. In the character input method as described in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5,
A character input method comprising: changing a pressing direction while pressing each character key, selecting one of the candidate characters assigned to each character key, and confirming the input character when the key is released. In a character input device that inputs more types of characters than the number of character keys,
A character input device, wherein each of the character keys and the symbol key includes a contact for detecting a push-in from the front and a contact for detecting a push-in from at least one of up, down, left and right directions. In a character input device for inputting more types of characters than 10 keys,
A character input device, wherein each of the 10 keys and the symbol key includes a contact for detecting push-in from the front side and a contact for detecting push-in from four directions (up, down, left and right). In a character input device for inputting kana characters with 10 keys assigned to characters “A line” to “Wa line”,
Each of the 10 keys and the symbol key has a contact for detecting push-in from the front and a contact for detecting push-in from the four directions of up, down, left and right,
Each of the 10 keys has five characters: “A” row characters input from the front and “I” row, “U” row, “E” row, and “O” row characters entered from the top, bottom, left and right. A character input device that outputs a corresponding signal. The character input device according to claim 9,
When the symbol key is pressed after inputting the kana character corresponding to muddy sound, semi-muddy sound, stuttering sound, and sounding sound, it outputs a signal instructing conversion of the inputted character into muddy sound, semi-muddy sound, stuttering sound, sounding sound. Character input device. In a character input device for inputting alphabetic characters with 10 keys,
Each of the 10 keys and the symbol key includes a contact for detecting push-in from the front and a contact for detecting push-in from at least three directions of up, down, left and right,
Each of the 10 keys outputs a signal corresponding to an alphabetic character inputted from the front and an alphabetic character inputted from the top, bottom, left and right directions. The character input device according to any one of claims 7 to 11,
A process of changing the pressing direction while pressing each character key, selecting one of the candidate characters assigned to each character key, and releasing the key to confirm the input character based on a signal when the contact is opened A character input device comprising a circuit. The character input device according to any one of claims 7 to 12,
The character input device, wherein the character key and the symbol key are software keys displayed on a touch panel display means.   A video apparatus comprising a remote control including the character input device according to claim 7. An information processing device comprising a remote control including the character input device according to any one of claims 7 to 13.

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