JP3652989B2 - Character input method for portable electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a character input method for a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a character input method for inputting a phone book or creating an e-mail message in a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Currently, mobile phones are required to be able to input characters for phone book registration and e-mail text creation. In general, as a character input method in a mobile phone, characters such as kana and alphabets are assigned to dial buttons in addition to numbers, and one button can be switched to numbers, alphabets and kana by pressing the input mode switching button. This allows input of numbers, kana and alphabets.
[0003]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a commonly used mobile phone. The mobile phone 1 is provided with a telephone directory function, an e-mail transmission / reception function, and the like. Also, the mobile phone 1 includes a dial button 2 composed of numbers 0 to 9 and ## used for dialing, phonebook entry and e-mail text creation, and numbers and kana characters for inputting characters. In order to display the input mode switching key 4 for switching the format of the alphabet, the kanji conversion button 5 used for kanji conversion, the confirm button 6 for confirming the input character, the input character, etc. The display unit 3 is provided.
[0004]
Next, a character input method in a conventional mobile phone will be described. In the cellular phone 1, as a method of inputting characters when inputting a phone book or creating an e-mail message, conventionally, by pressing the input mode switching key 4, as shown in FIG. In each input mode, characters other than numerals can be input by assigning numbers 0 to 9 and * # dial buttons 2 with kana and alphabets as shown in FIG.
For example, assuming that the user is in the “Kanji hiragana input mode”, “Kan” is displayed on the display unit 3. Here, when the switch key 4 is pressed, the display mode is switched to “full-width kana input mode” and the display section changes to “full kana”. Hereinafter, each time the switch key is pressed, the input mode is switched to “half-width kana input mode”, “full-width alphabet input mode”,..., And accordingly the display on the display unit is also switched as shown in the figure.
[0005]
Characters that can be input by the dial button 2 in each input mode are as shown in FIG. 3. For example, if “U” is input, the input mode switching key 4 is pressed to enter the “Kanji hiragana input mode” state. "A" is displayed when the dial button 2 "1" to which the "" line is assigned is pressed, and when the "1" button is further pressed, the display changes to "Yes" and continues to "1" again. When the key is pressed, the display changes to “U”.
In addition, when the character “Ando” is input and converted to Kanji, the dial button 2 to which the “A” line is assigned with the input mode switching key 4 pressed and the “Kanji hiragana input mode” selected. When “1” is pressed once, “A” is displayed on the display unit 3 as shown in FIG. Next, press “0” of the dial button 2 to which the “Wa” line is assigned three times to input “n”, and press “4” of the dial button 2 to which the “ta” line is assigned five times. Then enter “to”, press “*” of the dial button 2 to which the symbol is assigned once, enter “”, and enter “1” of the dial button 2 to which the “a” line is assigned. When it is pressed three times and “U” is input, “ANDO” is displayed on the display unit 3 as shown in FIG.
[0006]
Here, when the kanji conversion button 5 is pressed, kanji characters that can be converted to the input kana character “ANDO” are displayed on the display unit 3. Also in this case, as in the case of inputting a kana character or the like, kanji characters that can be converted are switched and displayed on the display unit 3 as shown in FIG. 8C each time the kanji conversion button 5 is pressed. In the case of “Ando”, “Ando” is displayed when the Kanji conversion button 5 is pressed, “Andong” is displayed when the Kanji conversion button 5 is pressed, and “003: Ando” is displayed when the Kanji conversion button 5 is pressed again. Is displayed. When the target kanji is displayed, pressing the confirm button 6 confirms the input as shown in FIG. That is, when “Ando” is input by the conventional method, the required number of button presses is “1” for dial button 2 once, “0” for dial button 2 three times, and “4” for dial button 2. 5 times, “*” of the dial button 2 once, “1” of the dial button 2 3 times, the Kanji conversion button 5 3 times, and the enter button 6 1 time, which requires 17 times in total.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional character input method described above, when inputting the last character or symbol of each line such as “G” or “ぉ”, the dial button “4” or “1” is pressed 5 to 10 times. There must be. Also, when the number of kanji characters that can be converted with respect to the input kana character is large, the number of button presses increases. Therefore, the conventional method has a problem that it takes time to input characters. In particular, when a mail function such as electronic mail is used, the number of characters to be input increases, which is very troublesome.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the conventional example, and an object thereof is to enable character input with a smaller number of button presses.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, according to the present invention, a portable electronic device including an input mode switching key for switching an input mode, a plurality of dial buttons each assigned a plurality of characters, and a display unit. When one of the dial buttons is pressed once, the characters assigned to the dial button are scrolled and displayed on the display unit one by one, and when the dial button is pressed again, the characters are displayed on the display unit. When the character selection button is pressed twice in succession while the character in the middle is selected and the undetermined kana is displayed on the display unit, the convertible kanji related to the undetermined kana is scrolled. , character input of the portable electronic device kanji Showing the character selection button in this state on the display unit and pressed one time, characterized in Rukoto selected Method, is provided.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail according to examples.
[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile phone in which the first embodiment of the present invention is performed. As shown in FIG. 1, this mobile phone has the conventional kanji conversion button (5) deleted, but the other configuration is the same as that of the conventional example. The input mode switched by the input mode switching key 4 and the characters and symbols assigned to the buttons of the dial button 2 for each mode are as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. This is a conventional example. There is no difference from the case of. Therefore, in the description of the present embodiment, portions overlapping with those of the conventional example are omitted as appropriate.
In this embodiment, when the dial button 2 composed of numbers 0 to 9 and * # is pressed once, the characters assigned in each input mode are sequentially displayed on the display unit 3 at a constant cycle. Scrolled display one by one. By depressing the same dial button 2 once again, a character is selected and scrolling stops. For example, to input “A”, press “1” of the dial button 2 to which the “A” line is assigned once with the input mode switching key 4 pressed and the “Kanji hiragana input mode” selected. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, the characters in the “a” line are scroll-displayed one by one in order at a constant cycle on the display unit 3. When “A” is displayed on the display unit 3, the character is selected by pressing once “1” of the dial button 2 assigned to the “A” line once, and as shown in FIG. 4B. Are displayed on the display unit 3. At this time, on the display section, together with the selected “A”, when the dial button is pressed once, the character input mode (input character scrolling state) is selected, and when the dial button is pressed twice continuously, the kanji selection mode (selected Kanji character) is selected. It is displayed that “Scroll state” is selected, and that the “A” being displayed is confirmed when the confirm button 6 is pressed.
[0010]
In addition, when the character “Ando” is input and converted into Kanji, the dial button 2 to which the “A” line is assigned with the input mode switching key 4 pressed and the “Kanji hiragana input mode” selected. When “1” is pressed once, and “A” is displayed during scroll display, “1” of dial button 2 is pressed once again, and “W” line is assigned to “ Press “0” once, and when “n” is displayed during scroll display, press “0” on dial button 2 once again, and press “4” on dial button 2 to which the “ta” line is assigned. Press once and when “and” is displayed during scroll display, press “4” of dial button 2 once again, press “*” of dial button 2 to which the symbol is assigned once, and scroll When “” is displayed during display, When the “*” of the button 2 is pressed once, the “1” of the dial button 2 to which the “a” line is assigned is pressed once, and the scroll display changes to the state shown in FIG. When displayed, the dial button 2 "1" is pressed once again.
[0011]
After selecting the last character of the character to be converted to Kanji, in this example, after selecting “U”, by pressing any dial button 2 twice in succession, from the input kana character As shown in FIG. 4E, convertible kanji characters are scroll-displayed one by one on the display unit 3 at a fixed period, and a kanji character, for example, “Ando” is selected by pressing any dial button 2 once again. Is done. When the dial button is pressed once together with the selected “Ando” on the display section, the character input mode (input character scroll state) is selected, and when the dial button is pressed twice continuously, the kanji selection mode (selected kanji scroll) is selected. “Status” is selected, and when the confirmation button 6 is pressed, “Ando” being displayed is confirmed.
[0012]
In this example of the present embodiment, the necessary number of button presses is “1” of dial button 2 twice, “0” of dial button 2 twice, “4” of dial button 2 twice, dial button 2 "*", 2 dial button 2 "1", 2 dial button 2 for kanji conversion, 1 dial button 2 for kanji determination, 13 times required And Compared with the conventional case, when “Ando” is input conventionally, the number of button presses is 17 times, and therefore, the input can be performed with four times less button presses. Further, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4 (f), when inputting characters continuously after Kanji conversion, the character input is continued by pressing the dial button 2 to which the input characters are assigned once. (In this case, the selected Chinese character is confirmed). If a Chinese character is selected by mistake and reconversion is desired, reconversion is performed by continuously pressing any dial button 2 twice. When the character input is completed, the character input is confirmed by pressing the confirm button 6. Further, when the character input is confirmed with the kana character as it is without performing the kanji conversion, the character input is confirmed by pressing the confirm button 6 in the state shown in FIG.
[0013]
[Second Embodiment]
The mobile phone of the second embodiment has a mode for selecting from the scrolled characters as in the first embodiment and a mode for obtaining a desired selected character by pressing a dial button as in the conventional example. Can be switched. Therefore, the cellular phone of the second embodiment is provided with the Kanji conversion button (5) as in the conventional example (see FIG. 7).
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing modes switched by the input mode switching key (4) in the second embodiment. When the input mode switching key (4) is pressed once, the modes shown in FIG. 5 are sequentially displayed on the display unit (3). When the “Kanji hiragana input mode” is scroll-displayed on the display unit (3), when the input mode switching key (4) is pressed again, this mode is selected, and a state in which the kanji hiragana input can be performed.
[0014]
Next, when the input mode switching key (4) is pressed again in this state, the input modes shown in FIG. 5 are sequentially scrolled again. Here, when the “scroll input mode” is displayed on the display unit (3) and the confirm button (6) is pressed, the same scroll input mode as in the first embodiment is selected. However, the scroll display in the input mode is continued. Here, when the “Kanji hiragana input mode” is displayed on the display unit (3), pressing the input mode switching key (4) once again selects this mode, and the Chinese character hiragana input is performed by the method of the first embodiment. It is in a state where it can be performed.
In order to select the conventional input method, the input mode switching key (4) is pressed once to scroll the input mode shown in FIG. 5, and the “button press input mode” is displayed on the display unit (3). When the confirmation button (6) is pressed in the displayed state, a method of switching characters displayed on the display unit by pressing a conventional dial button is employed. When a desired input mode is displayed from among the scrolled input modes, when the input mode switching button (4) is pressed again, the input mode can be input by the conventional method.
[0015]
[Third embodiment]
In the third embodiment of the present invention, the character input method of the present invention is applied to a watch-type mobile phone. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the watch-shaped mobile phone. The mobile phone 7 has functions such as a telephone directory function and e-mail transmission / reception. The mobile phone 7 includes a select button 8 used for inputting numbers, characters, and the like when dialing, entering a phone book, and creating an e-mail message, and a confirm button 9 for confirming the input characters. An input mode switching key 10 for switching the format of numbers, kana, alphabets, etc. when inputting characters, a calling button 11 for making a call to make a call, and an end button 12 used for ending the call And a display unit 13 for displaying inputted characters and the like.
[0016]
Next, the operation of the mobile phone 7 of this embodiment will be described. When dialing, entering a phone book, creating an e-mail message, etc., the select button 8 is pressed in an input mode such as numbers, kana and alphabets set by pressing the input mode switching key 10. Then, the characters are scrolled and displayed on the display unit 13 one character at a fixed cycle in the selected input mode. When the target character is displayed, pressing the select button 8 once selects the character and stops scrolling. For example, when inputting “A”, the input mode switching key 10 is pressed, and the dial button 8 is pressed once in the “Kanji hiragana input mode” state, so that symbols such as all hiragana, muddy dots, and long sounds are displayed at a constant cycle. One character is scrolled at a time. A character is selected by pressing the select button 8 once when “A” is displayed on the display unit 13. When the character “ANDO” is converted to Kanji, the input mode switching key 10 is pressed, the dial button 8 is pressed once in the “Kanji hiragana input mode” state, and “A” is displayed during scroll display. When the screen is displayed, the select button 8 is pressed once, and then the select button 8 is pressed once. When “n” is displayed during the scroll display, the select button 8 is pressed once and the select button 8 is set to 1. Press once, select button 8 is pressed once when “and” is displayed during scroll display, select button 8 is pressed once, and select button 8 is pressed when “” is displayed during scroll display. Press once, press the select button 8 once, and press the select button 8 once when “U” is displayed during scroll display.
[0017]
After selecting the last character of the character to be converted to Kanji, in this example, after selecting “U”, it is possible to convert from the input kana character by pressing the select button 8 twice in succession. Kanji characters are scrolled and displayed on the display unit 13 one by one at regular intervals, and the Kanji characters are selected by pressing the select button 8 once again. When the character input is completed, the character input is confirmed by pressing the confirm button 9.
[0018]
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment, selection of a character or kanji in scroll display is performed by pressing a dial button (select button). However, without performing this, a character in scroll display is directly determined by pressing a confirmation button. It may be.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the character input method of the present invention, when the dial button (select button) is pressed once, selectable characters and symbols are scrolled and displayed when the dial button (select button) is pressed again. Since the characters / symbols inside are selected, the Kanji characters that can be converted are scrolled when the dial button (select button) is pressed twice in succession, and when the dial button (select button) is pressed again, Since the currently displayed Chinese character is selected, the following effects can be enjoyed.
1. Character input can be performed with fewer button presses.
2. Any characters such as alphanumeric characters, kana and kanji can be input by operating the three buttons.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile phone to which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a change in input mode for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention and the conventional example.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between a dial button and characters and symbols assigned to the button for explaining the first embodiment and the conventional example of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display state of the display unit for explaining the operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a change in input mode for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mobile phone to which a third embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional mobile phone.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display state of a display unit for explaining the operation of a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 7 Mobile phone 2 Dial buttons 3, 13 Display unit 4, 10 Input mode switching key 5 Kanji conversion buttons 6, 9 Confirm button 8 Select button 11 Call button 12 End button

Claims (7)

Input mode switching key for switching the input mode, at least one character selection button to which a plurality of characters / symbols are assigned, a display unit, and a confirmation button for confirming the characters / symbols displayed on the display unit When the character selection button is pressed once, the characters assigned to the character selection button are scrolled and displayed one by one on the display unit. When the character selection button is pressed twice in a state where the character currently displayed on the display unit is selected and the undetermined kana is displayed on the display unit when pressed once, the undetermined kana convertible Chinese characters is scrolled, to said Rukoto the Chinese character selection during displaying the character selection button in this state on the display unit and the pressing once Character input method for a portable electronic device. When the character selection button is pressed twice in succession while the kanji selected by pressing the character selection button once is displayed on the display unit, a convertible kanji related to the displayed kanji is displayed. again the scroll display, a character input method for a portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the Chinese character being displayed on the display unit and presses the character selection button once, characterized in that it is selected. When the confirmation button or the character selection button is pressed while the Chinese character selected by pressing the character selection button once is displayed on the display unit, the selected Chinese character is confirmed. 3. A character input method for a portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the character input method is used. 3. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the scrolling character displayed on the display unit is directly confirmed when the confirmation button is pressed while the display unit is scrolled. 4. Character input method for type electronic equipment. When the input mode switching key is pressed once, selectable input modes are sequentially scrolled on the display unit, and when the input mode switching key is pressed again, the input mode being displayed on the display unit is selected. The character input method for a portable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The character input method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , and a character in which characters assigned to the character selection button are sequentially displayed on the display unit one by one each time the character selection button is pressed once. A character input method for a portable electronic device, wherein the input method can be switched.   7. The character input method for a portable electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the character input method is switched by operating the input mode switching key and the confirmation button.

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