JP2006246416A - Compact input device for information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device in which input on a compact keyboard with a little keys can be performed even with one hand through a little keying actions. <P>SOLUTION: On a keyboard where keys with indication pronunciation devices are arranged, a plurality of keys are depressed with single or a plurality of fingers simultaneously or sequentially within a short period of time or a single key is operated a plurality of times to produce key codes more than the number of arranged keys, and information of key operation is synthetically displayed on a programmable screen keyboard on a display together with the key codes. The keyboard is structured thin and small-sized to be utilized as a thin sheet-type keyboard, mouse integrated keyboard or double-sided keyboard of an auxiliary input device for a foldable information processor. The present invention provides a device in which a number of key codes can be obtained with a little keys and a little keying actions to make the keyboard small-sized and thin and inputting can be performed by a so-called blind touch only by watching the display without watching the keyboard. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to an input device for the information device, and more particularly to an input device for an information processing device having a display that displays information processed by software (for example, an operation system and application software).

JP-A-6-214699 Japanese Patent Application No. 11-194878 Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-035793 Input devices (hereinafter referred to as keyboards) in conventional personal computers, word processors, mobile terminals, mobile phones, remote controls for information appliances (hereinafter referred to as personal computers, etc.) are too large for normal full specification keyboards, and it would be a hindrance to place drawings and documents side by side. And because of its operability, both hands must be used. On the other hand, small information processing devices, such as mobile phones, have become commonplace to input with one hand or a single finger while walking, but they follow the key layout of conventional telephones. The phone dialing function is combined with text input by assigning alphanumeric characters.
In addition, ordinary keyboards, numeric keyboards, calculators, etc. are used for different purposes, but they are composed of keys, contact points, and control units, and they are almost the same in terms of electrical circuit, but are manufactured separately as needed. Must be purchased separately.
For example, the number of keys arranged on a small keyboard is usually about 10 to 20 in a mobile phone. When inputting characters, symbols, control keys, etc. (hereinafter referred to as character symbols), one key is used. A large number of key codes are superposed and handled, and a large number of character symbols and the like are obtained by switching each of them.
The key is “a, i, u, e, o” for one key, and the first key is keyed five times to obtain the kana character “o”.
In addition, there are a large number of sounds such as the muddy / semi-voiced sound peculiar to Japanese, complicatedly used foreign words, alphanumeric characters, symbols, etc. All are covered and concentrated in a narrow key area, making it difficult for beginners to use. Conventionally, proposals have been made to obtain a large number of character symbols by combining a plurality of keys, and there are many such keyboards as represented by the thumb shift key system. However, in either case, if an attempt is made to input at high speed, a plurality of keys must be selected with a plurality of fingers of both hands.

There is a method of selecting and inputting character symbols on the screen keyboard one by one with the input pen for pen input or tablet input, but since it is input with one character one character pen, it is slower and less proficient than finger input.
In recent years, information processing devices are mainly small-sized and portable, as represented by mobile phones. In daily life, their functions are comparable to those of personal computers. Instead of a PC, it is a necessity.
However, the keyboard part has a structure that is very difficult to use, which prevents the spread of mobile phones, especially for the elderly.
A small external keyboard for mobile phones is also invented and marketed, but although it is small, it cannot be integrated as much as a mobile phone, so it must be carried separately from the mobile phone and attached each time it is used. Must be removed.
Thus, the actual situation of a conventional keyboard has a dilemma that portability is good if it is small, but input operation is inconvenient, and it cannot be carried if it is large.

Although the current keyboard generally has a romaji-kana conversion specification, the kana direct input specification is easy to use for the elderly and others, but the actual situation is that there are few Kana-dedicated keyboards on the market.
Miniaturization of the keyboard has a limit on the number of keys to be arranged, and it is impossible to coexist with the Japanese-specific Romaji-kana conversion mode and Hiragana direct input mode.
Further, the conventional keyboard has more keys fixedly arranged so that anyone can use it, which is rather complicated, which is disadvantageous for beginners, elderly people, CAD, accounting input persons and the like. The fact is that the arrangement and type of keys cannot be changed according to the skill and taste of the operator.
In addition, the current keyboard is separated from the mouse, so it must be changed from the keyboard every time the mouse is operated. In recent application software, many input operations are selected with a mouse, and it is a complicated task for elderly people, persons with disabilities, and beginners to change each time.
The invention of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-035793 of the reference is based on the invention of the present applicant, but was invented mainly for the purpose of operating a plurality of keys with a finger of a single hand, and operated with a single finger. The method is inferior to the speed of operating with multiple fingers.
In order to increase the operation speed by operating with a plurality of fingers, the size and pitch of the keys must be increased to a certain extent.

A compact keyboard with a small number of keys generates more key codes than the number of arranged keys, and obtains a large number of key codes with a small number of keystrokes.
The main keyboard and the auxiliary keyboard can be carried together by always attaching the auxiliary keyboard so that it does not get in the way because it is shallow and narrow.
A single keyboard can be used for various applications such as romaji kana conversion input, kana direct input, calculator, keyboard for mobile phones.
Key types are arranged in a plane to make it easy for beginners to use, and character and symbol control assigned to the keys is displayed on the screen keyboard and each key depending on the operator's skill and preference by editing software, and also a sound generator The layout can be changed at the same time.
Efficient operation with a finger of one hand is assured as a two-handed full keyboard.
The operability of a small portable information processing device such as a dictionary, textbook, text function, and notepad function is improved.

The input device of the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is a keyboard such as a personal computer.
The keyboard of the present invention is a device and Braille that displays and pronounces a character symbol control and a sensor (pointing device separated or partitioned in a grid pattern) that detects a contact or proximity signal of a finger or operation jig to each key. It is provided with a unique shape projection that expresses and indicates a key type such as a letter symbol such as an arrow, a triangle, and a circle, and a sensor that detects a press signal of each key, and one or more fingers select and operate The key information and the key information confirmed to be pressed are obtained.
On the other hand, a screen keyboard (the whole or a necessary part) simulating a keyboard is displayed on the display, and detection information detected by the proximity or contact detection sensor, that is, a selection state before confirmation of a character symbol or the like is displayed and pronounced.
At the same time, the detected information is displayed and pronounced on a display device or a sound generator installed in each key. The proximity of the finger or jig to the key and the state of contact are displayed on the screen keyboard, and if it is the target key, the pressing is detected and handed over to the application software as a key code.
According to this method, the operator can perform an input operation without moving his / her line of sight to the keyboard, and the character / symbol that is selected or pressed by a visually impaired person such as a visually impaired person or a visually impaired person is clarified and the operability is improved. To do.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information processing apparatus, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a detection signal calculation, coding, and transmission circuit.
1 is a key with protrusions such as Braille, triangles and arrows, 2 is a contact proximity detection sensor such as a touch pad or proximity sensor, 3 is a press detection sensor such as a mechanical switch or pressure sensor, and 4 is a detection signal processed. A processing circuit that performs coding, information collation, calculation, and transmission processing, 5 is a personal computer, 6 is a screen keyboard, and 7 is an image showing the position of a finger that is synthesized and displayed.
In the figure, 1, 2, and 3 are in the top-down order, but the positional relationship may be changed as long as the function is satisfied, or a 1, 2, 3 integrated key may be used.
When the operator's finger touches or approaches the key, it is detected by a sensor, and the key position selected by the processing circuit is encoded and sent to a personal computer or the like.
A personal computer or the like collates the sent code with a character symbol on the screen keyboard and displays a figure such as a finger shape or a colored marker at a predetermined position.
By this method, the operator searches for a target character symbol or the like while looking at the screen keyboard without looking at the keyboard, and presses down if there is a target character symbol or the like.
The detected signal is encoded by a processing circuit and sent to a personal computer or the like, and the personal computer or the like delivers the corresponding character symbol or the like as a confirmed character to a word processor application or the like (FIG. 2).

Means for obtaining more codes than the number of physically arranged keys is means for generating a key code by selecting and operating a plurality of keys with one or more fingers in order within a considerable time. .
Within a considerably short time, it is practically difficult to perform selection operations simultaneously at the same time, and therefore means that the selection operations are performed in order within a time that does not hinder input work.
The present invention will be described using an example of an auxiliary numeric keyboard of a personal computer.
By assigning several types of characters, symbols, and control keys to keys and switching them as necessary, many character symbols are covered. (Fig. 4)
FIG. 3 is a commonly used numeric keyboard, and FIG. 4 is an example in which 4 × 4 columns are used for selecting and pressing a combination of keys sequentially with a plurality of fingers.
10 is a state where one finger selects a single key,
Reference numerals 10, 11, and 12 show a state where three fingers are selected with three fingers.
In the case of 10, N states can be obtained by pressing N times with a single finger within a considerable time.
(State 1)
Next, considering the keys to be selected and operated with the 11th and 12th fingers, two states are obtained, that is, when the keys are pressed one by one in the order of 11 and 12, and vice versa. (State 2)
In the case of a combination of (state 1) and (state 2), an Nx2 code is obtained.
Considering the case where the three keys are pressed sequentially one by one, there are two codes when the keys are pressed one by one in the order of 10, 11, 12 and when the keys are pressed in the order of 12, 11, 10 on the contrary. can get. Including the case of starting from 11, there are 6 combinations of pressing one by one.
Specifically, for example, in the Roman character input method of (Fig. 4-16), to obtain the code of "ka", enter "k", "a"
"K", "k", "a" to get the code for "ga"
Or “k”, “s”, “a” can be obtained by assigning “k”, “s” sequential pressing to “g” code.
Assigning “s”, “k” sequential presses to “z” code is “k”, and assigning “s” sequential presses to “z” code is “s”, “k” , "A"
A method of performing an input operation can be considered.
In addition, there are six methods of pressing 10 and 12 at the same time and then pressing 11 and vice versa.
As described above, there are many permutation combinations when a single key is pressed a plurality of times and when a plurality of keys are selected with a plurality of fingers simultaneously or sequentially.
Considering the operability, in reality, two nearby units are easy to operate.
Specifically, consider the case of selecting the top, bottom, left, and right and pressing them forward and backward sequentially.
The combination under this condition is 16 for single selection,
There are 24 cases where you select 2 items on the left and right and press them forward and backward.
A total of 64 key codes can be obtained.
In the case of alphabets, alphanumeric characters, and general-purpose symbols, including control keys, this is sufficient, and many character symbols can be entered with a small number of healthy hits.
Unnatural combinations such as incorrect input, incorrect operation, unrealistic combinations, and keys touched by a hand other than the fingertip are processed and eliminated by software.
The code transmitted from the keyboard is processed by the key arrangement editing utility software on the information processing apparatus side, so that the arrangement can be freely changed. Therefore, the keyboard may or may not be stamped. If necessary, the user can print and affix a key label and a keyboard cover according to the layout change each time.

The invention of claim 2 is equipped with a generation function for generating physical quantities such as magnetic static electricity, sound waves, light, temperature, radio waves, floating noise, pressing force, etc. A keyboard in which three-dimensional keys (hereinafter referred to as 1D keys) in which input detection sensors (52, 53, 54) for detecting the physical quantity are stacked in multiple layers to obtain a plurality of codes with one key are arranged in plane. A three-dimensional matrix keyboard (hereinafter referred to as a 3D keyboard) by superimposing a 2D keyboard (70, 71) disposed on the same plane position as the upper and lower keys or a position that is not interlocked with a keyboard in which sensors are planarly disposed (hereinafter referred to as a 2D keyboard). And an input device using them. (Fig. 5)
Reference numerals 52, 53, and 54 denote different types and types of input detection sensors. 58 and 59 are diagrams that detect generation of magnetic static electricity, sound waves, light, temperature, radio waves, floating noise, pressing force, etc. on a finger and detect it with a sensor. A method of detecting a signal by turning OFF will be described. When using floating noise or a touchpad, no attachment is required. For example, 52 is a contact sensor such as a touch pad, 53 is a pressure sensor, 54 is an ON-OFF switch, and a device that detects signals from each sensor and can control (enable or disable) each sensor with a control signal.
With 53 and 54 disabled, the finger etc. comes in contact with and away from 52. With 1 code 52, 54 disabled, 53 detects the body temperature of the finger etc., and 1 code 52, 53 is disabled. By depressing 53, only 1 code 52 is invalidated and 53 and 54 are detected. 1 code (in this case, the same as general-purpose push key)
By detecting 52 and 54 with only 53 being disabled, 6 codes can be obtained with at least one key like 1 code by detecting 52 and 53 with only 1 code 54 being disabled.
If a sensor (for example, 53 is a temperature sensor or a pressure sensor) is processed in an analog manner, more codes can be obtained than an on-off type key.
To switch between valid and invalid, a sensor layer switching key 56 is separately provided and operated.
55 is a 3D keyboard in which 1D keys are arranged in a plane, and 70 and 71 are different types of 2D keyboards that are partially or entirely shifted and overlapped.
With the 3D keyboard of FIG. 5-55, 54 codes of 6 × 9 can be obtained, and more codes can be obtained by combining with the key forward / reverse sequential pressing method of the first aspect of the present invention.

For example, a pointing device that imitates the same key layout is placed on the numeric keyboard of a personal computer, and other than the lower body keyboard description (alphabets such as “a”, “i”, “u”, “e”, “o”, etc.) Place character symbols.
When inputting the alphabet, the upper pointing device is input and confirmed by operating the contact separation input method. When inputting numbers, turn off the input signal acceptance of the pointing device so that only the lower numeric keyboard (“1”, “2”, “3”,...) Reacts (or sheet, press key 2) The input is confirmed by pressing and releasing the key. According to this method, 60 codes can be obtained with a normal 20-key numeric keyboard, and in the case of adopting the Roman character input method that is currently widely used in Japan, all normal input can be performed with only the numeric keyboard.

The invention of claim 3 comprises the 3D keyboard of the invention of claim 2 (including a single-layer keyboard composed of only one type of device) with a thin film type sheet sensor or the like, and is used in a foldable personal computer or a foldable mobile phone. This method is used by sandwiching or pasting on a non-foldable keyboard (74).
By making the keyboard thin, it can be sandwiched between existing information processing apparatuses or used as an auxiliary keyboard for a folding information processing apparatus.
In FIG. 6, 78 is a keyboard of the main body, and 79 is a sheet keyboard. For example, the keyboard of the main body is used as it is as a numeric key when making a call, and the sheet keyboard is used for inputting characters such as alphabets and Japanese.
Or the telephone function is covered in the seat keyboard.
Or use the keyboard as a combination of Roman vowels and the sheet keyboard as consonants. In the figure, the positions of the two keyboards are shifted, but the method of the invention of claim 2 is used when the two keyboards are superposed at the same upper and lower positions. One-handed operation is possible by using and semi-fixing an adhesive sheet, magic tape, magnet, sandwiching jig, etc. (80).
The present invention is an effective means for simplifying Japanese hiragana and romaji input, which is inconvenient since the conventional folding cellular phone function is left as it is and the auxiliary keyboard can be used in parallel. By providing the input device with an auxiliary screen, a sound generation function, and a memory, the language dictionary, encyclopedia, notepad, textbook, etc. of a small information processing device such as a mobile phone can be used effectively.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a mouse function is added to the input device according to the first, second, and third aspects of the present invention. A conventional keyboard (such as a 106-type keyboard) cannot be placed on a mouse with a small surface area, but can be mounted for the first time by the small keyboard according to the first, second, and third aspects of the invention.

The invention of claim 5 is an information input device that arranges and uses the keyboards of claims 1, 2, and 3 on both front and back sides, and FIG. 8 shows one side for inputting alphabetic characters and the other side for calculators. FIG. A key pattern corresponding to the application is arranged on the front and back of the substrate, and the front and back are switched by simultaneous or sequential pressing of the switching device and the separation key, and processing is performed by one control unit.
The key pattern is changed to the combination of Roman characters, kana characters, special symbols, mobile phones, home appliance remote controls, etc., and the input device is a composite application specification.
If a two-fold input device such as 100 is used as a double-sided keyboard, it can be used with a single keyboard for four applications: Romaji conversion input for personal computers, Kana input, mobile phone input, and a calculator. More versatile.
The key surface protection stand 93 is effective for the opposite surface protection and input work.

A commercially available ten keyboard is purchased and modified to produce one prototype of the present invention, a floating noise type keyboard is prototyped, the software of the above invention is developed and tested by a beginner trial, and operated with one hand and multiple fingers We obtain various data such as the size of the keyboard, the number of keys arranged, the interval, and the touch strength, and appropriate values, and based on this, we have produced practical devices again and improved the hardware and software.

The invention's effect

The conventional large keyboard is no longer required, and drawings and documents can be input with one hand in front of a personal computer.
The burden on the handicapped person can be considerably reduced by attaching Braille to the key, diverting it for a foot keyboard (toe input), or using an audio output device together.
One-handed, blind-touch allows input operations on mobile devices, etc. Easy input even in narrow trains.
The thin keyboard can be carried with a mobile phone as a single unit without losing the original portability function and easy Japanese input.
With a mobile phone, etc., the number of keystrokes can be reduced and input can be performed more easily than the conventional method.
Key symbol type and layout can be changed as desired in the operation manual.
It can also be used for input devices that require downsizing and require complicated functions such as interactive telephones, interactive TVs, and network home appliances that are expected to become popular in the future.
In addition, since it is small, it can be easily mounted on a mouse, trackball, remote control of home appliances, etc., and can be mounted and integrated.
Key type and layout can be changed on the user side, and the key name can be printed and pasted on the user side according to the change, so one keyboard can be used for romaji input, hiragana input, calculator, mobile phone, etc. I can do it.
Using an existing ten board with a communication function, a calculator, or the like, and installing the software according to the present invention, it can be easily used for a small input device.
Since the present invention itself has functions such as a calculator, electronic dictionary, memo pad, schedule table, and address book, not an attached input device such as a personal computer, it can carry personal information, various data, etc. Data and information can be explained and edited using only a display device such as a TV.

It is drawing which showed the whole block diagram of Claim 1 and Claim 3. It is the figure which showed the synthetic | combination screen display of the screen keyboard and application software of Claim 1. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a plurality of keys are selected and operated with a plurality of fingers according to claim 1. It is drawing of forward / reverse sequential key operation method, keyboard switching, and screen keyboard switching. 4 is a drawing of the 3D keyboard of claim 2. It is drawing which shows the structure of a thin 3D keyboard, and the application example to a mobile telephone. It is drawing which showed the block diagram of a structure of the input device of Claim 1. It is drawing of the double-sided keyboard of Claim 5. It is a block diagram of the double-sided keyboard of Claim 5.

Explanation of symbols

1. . . Key 2. . . 2. Contact proximity detection sensor . . 3. Press detection sensor . . 4. Input device processing circuit . . Display 6. . . 6. Screen keyboard . . Finger position composition display state 8. . . Mouse 10 . . 10. The state in which the first key is selected and operated with the first finger . . 11. State in which the second key is selected and operated with the second finger . . . 12. State in which two keys are selected and operated with the third finger . . Input device display 14. . . Touch panel keyboard Key display switching key 15. . . Touch panel keyboard Hiragana key display state16. . . Touch panel keyboard Alphabet key display state 17. . . Touch panel keyboard Number and symbol key display state 51. . . 1D key (multi-layer solid key)
52. . . Input sensor 1 53. . . Input sensor 2
54. . . Input sensor 3
55. . . 3D keyboard (3D keyboard)
56. . . Sensor layer switching key 57. . . Bare finger 58. . . Temperature, sound wave, light, pressure, physical quantity transmission finger or jig such as magnetic static electricity . . Corresponding sensor 60. . . Conductive material mounting finger or jig 61. . . ON-OFF contacts 70, 71. . . . . 2D keyboard moved from upper and lower 3D keyboard 73. . . . . Thin key (example of membrane switch)
74. . . . . A method in which a thin keyboard is sandwiched between a foldable information processing apparatus and attached to a keyboard of an information processing apparatus other than a foldable information processing apparatus.
75. . . . . Interface 76. . . . . Display 77. . . . . Main body keyboard 78. . . . . Main body keyboard key arrangement 79. . . Sheet keyboard key arrangement 80. . . . . Adhesive sheet, magic tape, magnet, clamping jig 90. . . . . Control unit, display 91. . . . . Front (front) keyboard and key layout . . . Back keyboard and key arrangement 93. . . . . Key surface protection stand 94. . . Wireless and wired communication device 95. . . . Switching device 96. . . . . Circuit boards 97, 98. . . Board surface, reverse side key matrix 99. . . . Information processing apparatus main body 100. . . . Double-sided keyboard folded type application example

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus input device such as a personal computer, a word processor, a mobile terminal, a mobile phone, an information home appliance, and the like, and a keyboard on which a plurality of keys for detecting proximity or contact or pressing of a finger are detected by a sensor and the information processing apparatus On the screen keyboard displayed on the display of the above-mentioned keyboard imitating the keyboard, there are means for transmitting and receiving information for combining and displaying the position of the finger operating the key and the operation status. In the key arrangement of the keyboard in the input device of the information processing device, the device is provided and the proximity, contact or pressing information is displayed and pronounced on the keyboard side and used for information processing by the software. When single or multiple keys are pressed simultaneously or sequentially with single or multiple fingers or operation jigs, and multiple single keys within a considerable amount of time Method of generating a number of key codes from the coded physically arranged number keys combinations when pressed.   One or more physical quantity generation functions are mounted on a finger or operation jig for performing input operation on the input device according to claim 1, and a plurality of input detection sensors for detecting the physical quantity are stacked to form a multi-layered three-dimensional key, and key input information is 3 An input device designed to be obtained as a dimensional matrix.   A method of making the input device according to claim 1 or 2 a thin film, a small structure, and providing an auxiliary input device of an information processing device with a screen and a storage   Claims 1, 2, and 3 An information input device in which the input device of the present invention is mounted on a mouse or provided with a mouse function   An information input device in which the keyboard of the present invention is arranged on both the front and back surfaces so that it can be used for multipurpose purposes.

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