JP2010170383A - Character input device, and portable terminal having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability of a portable terminal in character input. <P>SOLUTION: A character input device of the portable terminal 100 includes a first input part 11 arranged in an area on a back or side surface of the portable terminal 100, which a user's index or middle finger touches, and a second input part 12 arranged in an area on a front surface of the portable terminal 100, which the user's thumb touches. One of the first input part 11 and second input part 12 is used for a character group selection of selecting one character group from a plurality of character groups, and the other of the first input part 11 and second input part 12 is used for a character selection of selecting one character from the one character group selected by the selection of the character group. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input device and a portable terminal including the character input device.

  In mobile terminals such as mobile phones currently on the market, keys for inputting characters are arranged on the front side of the main body of the mobile terminal. The number of keys varies slightly depending on the model of the mobile terminal, but in general, numbers from 0 to 9, *, #, call start, call end, CLR (clear), other special uses, pointing device, jog dial Etc.

  Of the above keys, the keys used for character input are often numbers from 0 to 9 and symbols such as # and *. In the following, keys of numbers 0 to 9 and symbols such as # and * arranged on the front of the terminal are referred to as dial keys. By pressing these dial keys, characters such as kana, alphabets, and numbers can be input.

  In general, the position of a dial key used for character input of a mobile phone comes to be almost in the center of the hand in a direction that the user can see when holding the terminal to operate the mobile terminal.

  Here, the structure of the human thumb is arranged to face the other four fingers, and only the thumb can touch each other with the other four fingers. However, since the dial key used for character input in such a conventional portable terminal is located on the palm as described above, the dial key exists outside the range in which the thumb can move easily. Therefore, when such a dial key is selected, it is necessary to operate the dial key by forcibly bending the thumb.

  Patent Document 1 discloses that at least four auxiliary keys used for character input are provided in addition to the dial keys arranged in front of the terminal. All or four of the auxiliary keys are arranged to be positioned below the index finger when the user holds the portable terminal, that is, on each finger other than the thumb (see FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1).

  By operating the auxiliary key simultaneously with respect to the character input by the dial key, an auxiliary operation can be added to the character input of the dial key. Specifically, by operating the auxiliary keys, it is possible to input a muddy point or convert between uppercase and lowercase letters of the English alphabet. Also, when changing the currently selected character from “A” to “O” vowels, it is possible to select the selected character by pressing the operation key without repeatedly hitting the dial key to which the 50-note table row is assigned. The character can be jumped to the vowel of “O”.

JP 2006-099449 A

  However, in order to perform character input in the terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1, for the vowel characters other than the vowel of “O”, the dial key assigned to each row of the 50-sound table is still hit, It is necessary to select a desired character from a plurality of characters included in the line assigned to the dial key, and the operability is poor. In particular, in the case of repeatedly hitting a dial key arranged outside the movable range of the thumb, the user's hand is bothered.

  One aspect of the character input device for a portable terminal according to the present invention is a first input unit arranged in a range where the user's index finger or middle finger contacts on the back or side of the portable terminal, and the user's character on the front of the portable terminal. A second input unit disposed in a range where the thumb abuts, wherein one of the first input unit and the second input unit selects a character group from a plurality of character groups. The other of the first input unit and the second input unit is used for selecting a character that selects one character from the one character group selected by selecting the character group. Features.

  In this way, by assigning a function of selecting one character group from a plurality of character groups to one of the first input unit and the second input unit, and assigning a function of selecting one character from one character group to the other. It is possible to input characters by a simple operation without repeatedly hitting the dial key with the thumb.

  According to one aspect of the portable terminal according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability of the portable terminal when inputting characters.

It is the front view and back view which show the example of whole structure of the portable terminal 100 which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the front view and back view which show the state which hold | gripped the portable terminal 100 which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second input unit 12 of the mobile terminal 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation method of the mobile terminal 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation method of the mobile terminal 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation method of the mobile terminal 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation method of the mobile terminal 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation method of the mobile terminal 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation method of the mobile terminal 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a rear view showing a modification of the mobile terminal according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a method for operating a mobile terminal according to Embodiment 2. FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a front view and a rear view showing an example of the overall configuration of a mobile terminal 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is a front view and a rear view of the portable terminal 100 of FIG. 1 in a state where the user holds it with one hand.

  In the following description, the mobile terminal 100 is described as an example of a foldable mobile phone terminal in which the upper unit 101 and the lower unit 102 are connected by a hinge or the like (not shown). It is not limited to. For example, the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment may be a so-called straight-type or slide-type mobile phone terminal that does not have a folding mechanism. It may be.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 100 includes an upper unit 101 and a lower unit 102. A display unit 103 is provided on the front side of the upper unit 101. Characters, images, and the like are displayed on the display unit 103 according to the operation of the mobile terminal by the user. On the front side of the lower unit 102, operation keys 13 such as numbers from 0 to 9, *, #, call start, call end, and CLR (clear) are arranged.

  The character input device for a mobile terminal according to the first embodiment includes a first input unit 11 disposed in a range where the user's index finger comes into contact with the back of the mobile terminal 100, and a user's thumb on the front of the mobile terminal 100. The second input unit 12 is provided in a range in contact. The first input unit 11 is used for selecting a character group for selecting one character group from a plurality of character groups, and the second input unit 12 is used for selecting one character group from one character group selected by selecting the character group. Used to select the character that selects.

  Here, the character group is a data set stored in the mobile terminal 100 and is a set of predetermined characters. In the explanation, one character group is assumed to be one line of a Japanese hiragana 50-syllabary such as “Aiueo”, “Kakikukeko”, and so on.

  The first input unit 11 is disposed on the back side of the mobile terminal 100, and the second input unit 12 is disposed on the front side of the mobile terminal 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the first input unit 11 is provided at a position where the user's index finger is easily touched when the user holds the mobile terminal 100. The second input unit 12 is provided at a position where the user's thumb can easily touch when the user holds the mobile terminal 100. More specifically, the first input unit 11 is provided below the back surface of the upper unit 101. The second input unit 12 is provided above the front of the lower unit 102.

  As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the 1st input part 11 is comprised so that operation of the up-down direction of a user's index finger may be received. Specifically, the first input unit 11 includes a rotating body 11a that rotates in the vertical direction on the paper surface by the operation of the user's index finger, and detects the rotation direction and the amount of rotation of the rotating body 11a from a plurality of character groups. A single character group can be selected. For example, the first input unit 11 is a jog dial.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the second input unit 12. The second input unit 12 is formed in a rectangular shape having a longitudinal direction in the left-right direction on the paper surface. The second input unit 12 detects the contact position of the user's thumb, the displacement direction and the displacement amount of the contact position, thereby accepting the operation of the thumb, and from the character group selected by the first input unit 11 Select one character. The second input unit 12 is a touch pad that has sensitivity in the left-right direction on the paper surface and has no sensitivity in the vertical direction.

  Here, below the display unit 103 of the mobile terminal 100, characters included in one character group selected by the first input unit 11 are displayed in a line in the left-right direction. The second input unit 12 extends in the left-right direction at a position corresponding to the displayed character. The second input unit 12 has a sensitivity for detecting a contact position at a position corresponding to the character displayed on the display unit 103. In other words, the second input unit 12 has a sensitive region in a region corresponding to each character included in the character group selected by the first input unit 11. In other words, the number of sensitive areas is the same as the number of selectable characters displayed on the display unit 103. Note that this sensitive region may or may not be visible from the outside that each region exists.

  More specifically, if the character group selected by the first input unit 11 is “A line”, the display unit 103 displays five characters “Aiueo” included in “A line” in the horizontal direction. Is displayed. From the left side, the second input unit 12 is a sensitive area corresponding to “A”, a sensitive area corresponding to “I”, a sensitive area corresponding to “U”, a sensitive area corresponding to “E”, and “O”. It has a sensitive area corresponding to. The second input unit 12 can detect which character the user has selected by detecting in which sensitive region the user's thumb is located.

  Next, an operation method of the mobile terminal 100 configured as described above will be specifically described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the first input unit 11 according to the first embodiment. When the user operates the jog dial, which is the first input unit 11, with the index finger in any of the up and down directions, one character group among the plurality of character groups that can be selected is displayed on the upper unit 101. More specifically, the upper unit 101 includes a single character group out of a plurality of selectable character groups such as “Aiueo”, “Kakikukeko”,. "Aiueo" is displayed.

  A portion where one character group is displayed is called a character group display position 501. It is preferable that all characters included in one character group are displayed at the character group display position 501. Specifically, when the line displayed at the character group display position 501 is “A line”, all characters “Aiueo” included in that line are displayed at the character group display position 501. Is preferred.

  When the user further operates the jog dial of the first input unit 11 downward from this state, the line displayed at the character group display position 501 changes according to the operation. Specifically, the character group (line) displayed at the character group display position 501 moves downward in the 50-sound table by an operation of the jog dial downward. That is, at the character group display position 501, the character groups selected in the order of “Kakikukeko”, “Sashisuseso”, and “Nanuneno” are displayed.

  FIG. 5 shows a state where “Mamume Momo” is selected as the character group display position 501 by the operation of the first input unit 11. The selected character group is determined by operating the second input unit 12. Specifically, when the user performs an operation on the second input unit 12 in a state where “Mamume Momo” is displayed, the selection of the character group “Mami Mumemo” is determined.

  Next, a method for selecting one character with the second input unit 12 from the character group “Mamume Momo” selected by the operation of the first input unit 11 will be described. When the user places a thumb on the second input unit 12, one character in the character group display position 501 is highlighted and displayed according to the position of the thumb. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, if the user's thumb is present in the leftmost sensitive area of the second input unit 12, the character “ma” is highlighted and displayed as shown in FIG. 7. If the user's thumb is present in the rightmost sensitive area of the input unit 12, the character “MO” is highlighted.

  The selected character is surrounded by a square frame, and is highlighted so that it is different from other characters. Note that the method of emphasizing the selected character is not limited to the method of surrounding the character with a square, and may be other methods such as enlarging the character, making it thicker, or changing the color from another character.

  Here, when the user wants to input the character “mi”, the user places his / her thumb on the sensitive area corresponding to the character “mi” as shown in FIG. Then, after confirming that the currently highlighted character is the character that the user wants to input, the user taps the sensitive area where the thumb is currently placed on the second input unit 12 as shown in FIG. To do. Then, the highlighted character “mi” is displayed in the text on the display unit 103, and the input is confirmed.

  As described above, the character input device of the portable terminal 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes the first input unit 11 that receives the operation of the index finger and the second input unit 12 that receives the operation of the thumb. Then, a character group is selected at one input unit, and a character is selected at the other input unit. In this way, the character group and the character can be selected from each of the first input unit 11 and the second input unit 12 by a total of two operations.

  Here, in the conventional character input device, after visually selecting a key to which a desired line is assigned from a plurality of dial keys, the dial key is repeatedly hit with the thumb. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the operation portion is composed of only the first input unit 11 and the second input unit 12, the number of dial keys can be greatly reduced as compared with the prior art, and the dial can be used. The user can input characters by looking only at the display unit 103 without moving the line of sight to the keys.

  Specifically, the character group displayed at the character group display position 501 is changed in conjunction with the movement of the finger by the operation of the first input unit 11 by the user's index finger, and the second input unit 12 is further moved by the user's thumb. By detecting the contact position and highlighting one character in the character group display position 501 corresponding to the position, feedback for the operation is visually performed, and the operability at the time of character input is improved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, characters included in one character group selected by the first input unit 11 are displayed in one direction at the character group display position 501, and the second input unit 12 is displayed in the character group display. By providing the number of sensitivities corresponding to the number of characters displayed at the position 501, the user operates the second input unit 12 by looking only at the display unit 103 without alternately comparing the display unit 103 and operation keys. be able to.

  In addition, by arranging the first input unit 11 on the back side of the mobile terminal 100 and the second input unit 12 on the front side of the mobile terminal 100, it is easy when the user grips the mobile terminal 100. In addition, each input unit 11, 12 can be operated with an index finger and thumb of one hand.

  In the first embodiment, an operation for selecting one character group from a plurality of character groups is performed by the first input unit 11 in contact with the user's index finger, and one operation is performed from the character group selected by the first input unit 11. The operation for selecting one character has been described as being performed by the second input unit 12 in contact with the user's thumb, but the reverse may be possible. That is, the character group may be selected by the second input unit 12 operated by the user's thumb, and the character may be selected by the first input unit 11 operated by the user's index finger. Further, it is not always necessary to operate the first input unit 11 and the second input unit 12 with the index finger and thumb of one hand, and the user can arbitrarily operate the portable terminal 100 using the fingers of both hands.

  The first input unit 11 can be configured by a pointer device such as a seesaw switch, an electrostatic pad, a rotary switch, or a neuro pointer in addition to the jog dial.

  The first input unit 11 does not need to be provided on the back surface of the upper unit 101, and may be provided on the back surface side of the lower unit 102 as shown in FIG. The first input unit 11 can also be provided on the side surface of the upper unit 101 or the lower unit 102. Furthermore, the 1st input part 11 is not predicated on operation with an index finger, For example, you may arrange | position in the place assumed operating with a middle finger.

  In the above description, the first input unit 11 is used for selecting a character group for selecting one character group from a plurality of character groups, and the second input unit 12 is selected by selecting the character group. It is configured to be used for selecting a character that selects one character from one character group, but the reverse is also possible. That is, the second input unit 12 is used for selecting a character group for selecting one character group from a plurality of character groups, and the first input unit 11 is selected from one character group selected by the second input unit 12. It is good also as a structure used for selection of the character which selects one character.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, a portable terminal according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described using FIG. The overall configuration example has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. In the first embodiment, an example in which the character group to be selected is a hiragana character has been described. However, it is also conceivable to define a character group including alphabets, alphanumeric characters, and katakana. In such a case, when all the characters are defined as a character group, the first input unit 11 must be operated many times in order to display a portion to be input at the character group display position 501.

  In order to avoid this, in the second embodiment, the character group is divided into several groups, and one of them is selected. In other words, in the first embodiment, the selection process until the character is selected is hierarchized in two stages, that is, the selection of the character group and the selection of the character. The selection of a group that is a superordinate concept of has been added.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the input characters are divided into groups 1 to 5. Group 1 is composed of a plurality of character groups consisting of hiragana characters. Group 2 is composed of a plurality of character groups composed of katakana. Group 3 is composed of character groups such as full-width numbers and symbols. Group 4 is composed of character groups such as single-byte numbers and symbols. Group 5 is composed of English character groups.

  For example, a group 1 character group is composed of 50 hiragana rows of Japanese hiragana, and a group 2 character group is composed of 50 katakana rows of Japanese katakana. Group 4 is a full-width character of numbers and symbols divided into five, and Group 4 is a single-byte character of numbers and symbols divided into five. The group 5 character group is divided into five alphabetic alphabets.

  Such group selection is performed by detecting the direction of movement of the user's thumb in the second input unit 12. Specifically, as the user's thumb on the second input unit 12 moves from the left side to the right side, the selected groups are group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 5, group 1,.・ Change. Conversely, as the user's thumb on the second input unit 12 moves from the right side to the left side, the selected groups are group 1, group 5, group 4, group 3, group 2, group 1,. Change.

  Next, an operation method example of the mobile terminal configured as described above will be described. First, when the user operates the first input unit 11 with the index finger, the group 1 is selected. In this state, when the user slides the thumb on the second input unit 12 from right to left, the group 2 is selected. When this operation is repeated, group 3, group 4, and group 5 are selected in order. Further, when this operation is further repeated in a state where the group 5 is selected, the group 1 is selected.

  The user operates the first input unit 11 in a state where the group to be input is displayed, and selects a character group from the group by the same operation procedure as in the first embodiment. Then, with the desired character group displayed, the second input unit 12 is operated to select one character. This confirms the input of the desired character.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, by further hierarchizing the selection process until one character is selected, the number of operations until reaching one character can be reduced.

  The hierarchization is not limited to the three hierarchies of group, character group, and character selection, and the number of hierarchies can be further increased. Even when the number of hierarchies is increased in this way, by selecting the first input unit 11 and the second input unit 12 alternately, the selection of the previous hierarchy executed in one input unit can be performed on the other input unit. Therefore, selection and determination in each layer can be easily performed by alternately operating the first input unit 11 and the second input unit 12.

  In this way, even when characters and symbols are classified into a plurality of groups, a character input operation can be performed by operating only the first input unit 11 and the second input unit 12. Specifically, as in the second embodiment, even when the classification of characters and symbols is configured by three layers of groups, character groups, and characters, a desired character can be selected with a maximum of three touches. You can reach it. Conventionally, an operation button for selecting such a group has been separately provided in addition to the dial key, but in the present embodiment, this operation is performed by alternately operating the first input unit 11 and the second input unit 12. Such operation buttons can be omitted, and the operation when the user inputs characters can be facilitated.

  Moreover, even when selecting characters belonging to any group by setting every five characters and symbols included in the character group to all groups. The detection positions in the left-right direction of the second input unit 12 can be unified to five. Note that the number of characters and symbols included in the unified character group is not limited to five and may be any number. In addition, even if the number of all character groups is not an arbitrary number, if the number of characters and symbols included in one character group is set to an arbitrary number or less, it is only necessary to install an arbitrary number of detection positions. A similar effect can be obtained.

  In the first and second embodiments, the first input unit 11 and the second input unit 12 are not limited to the configuration used only for character input. For example, the 1st input part 11 and the 2nd input part 12 can also be comprised so that the function which performs other operation of the portable terminal 100 may be shared.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

11 First Input Unit 11a Rotating Body 12 Second Input Unit 13 Operation Key 100 Portable Terminal 101 Upper Unit 102 Lower Unit 103 Display Unit 501 Character Group Display Position

Claims (9)

A first input unit arranged in a range in which the user's index finger or middle finger comes into contact with the back or side of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is held with one hand;
A second input unit disposed in a range in which a user's thumb abuts in front of the portable terminal when the portable terminal is held with the one hand; and
One of the first input unit and the second input unit is used for selecting a character group for selecting one character group from a plurality of character groups, and the other of the first input unit and the second input unit. Is a character input device used for selecting a character for selecting one character from a plurality of characters included in the one character group selected by the selection of the character group. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the second input unit receives the operation of the thumb by detecting a contact position of the user's thumb and a displacement direction and a displacement amount of the contact position. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the first input unit receives an operation in the vertical direction of the index finger or the middle finger of a user. The character input device according to claim 3, wherein the first input unit is a jog dial, a seesaw switch, an electrostatic pad, a rotary switch, or a neuropointer. On the display unit of the portable terminal, characters included in the one character group selected by the first input unit or the second input unit are displayed in one direction,
The said 2nd input part is extended in the said one direction, and has a sensitivity which detects a contact position in the position corresponding to the character displayed on the said display part. The character input device described. The character input according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the character group is a line of a Japanese syllabary of hiragana and katakana, and an alphabetic alphabet, a symbol, and a number divided into five parts. apparatus. The character input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the character group is selected hierarchically by alternately operating the first input unit and the second input unit. The second input unit is used for selecting a character group for selecting one character group from a plurality of character groups including hiragana, katakana, alphabetic alphabet, or a symbol,
The first input unit is used for selecting the character group for selecting the one character group from a plurality of the character groups included in the one character group selected by the second input unit;
The said 2nd input part is used for the selection of the said character which selects one character from the several character contained in the said 1 character group selected by the said 1st input part. The character input device according to item 1.   The portable terminal containing the character input device of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 8.

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