JP3669958B2 - Mobile terminal device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone or PHS (registered trademark), and more particularly to a mobile terminal device that allows easy character input.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, e-mail using mobile phones has been widely used, and has become an indispensable means of communication especially for young people.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a mobile phone has a smaller number of keys than a personal computer, and therefore, there is a problem that it is very troublesome to input e-mail characters using the mobile phone.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal device that facilitates character input.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the invention according to claim 1 is a portable terminal device having ten numeric keys for inputting numbers 1, 2,... The first switch means is provided corresponding to each of the ten keys and is turned on when the main portion of the key is operated, and the second switch means is turned on when the end portion of the numeric key is operated; Each time one switch means is turned on, a plurality of characters set corresponding to the turned on switch means are sequentially displayed on the display unit in a predetermined order, and the second switch means Display control means for displaying a plurality of characters set corresponding to the switch means turned on each time on the display unit in the reverse order of the predetermined order, Use the characters on the display as input characters Characterized in that it comprises a confirmation key to confirm.
[0005]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile terminal device according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the mobile terminal device, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the operation unit 3 in FIG.
[0006]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit that controls each unit, and operates by program control. A memory 2 includes a ROM (read only memory) in which a program of the control unit 1 is stored and a nonvolatile RAM (random access memory) for data storage. The operation unit 3 includes a numeric keypad, function keys, and a key interface, and each key is arranged on the surface of the mobile terminal device main body H as shown in FIG.
[0007]
FIG. 1 shows details of the operation unit 3. In this figure, reference numeral 3-1 denotes a numeric keypad for inputting a numeral "1" and a kana character "Aiueo", which is composed of two switches 3-1a and 3-1b. ing. Similarly, 3-2 is a numeric keypad for inputting the number “2”, the kana character “Kakikukeko”, the alphabet “abc”,... Yes, both are composed of two switches. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing operation buttons of the numeric keypad 3-2. As shown in this figure, the operation button has an oval shape, and when a relatively large surface area L (main part) around the part displaying the numeral “2” is pressed, the switch 3- When 2a is turned on and a relatively small area M (end) other than the area L is pressed, the switch 3-2b is turned on. The same applies to the other switches.
[0008]
In FIG. 1, 3f is a function key such as an off-hook key or an on-hook key, and 3i is an interface. The interface 3i constantly checks the output of the numeric keys 3-0 to 3-9 and the function key 3f, and outputs a key number indicating the distinction of the key to the control unit 1 when there is a key turned on.
[0009]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 4 denotes a communication unit, which demodulates a modulated audio signal received via the antenna 5 and outputs the demodulated audio signal to the audio processing unit 6, and an encoded audio signal supplied from the audio processing unit 6. Is transmitted from the antenna 5. Further, the telephone number, mail address, and other data of the caller received via the antenna 5 are output to the control unit 1 via the voice processing unit 6. The audio processing unit 6 decompresses the compressed audio data output from the communication unit 4, converts it into an analog signal and outputs it to the speaker 7, converts the audio signal from the microphone 8 into digital audio data, Further, the data is compressed and encoded and output to the communication unit 4. Reference numeral 10 denotes a ringing tone generation unit which receives a ringing tone generation command from the control unit 1 to form a ringing tone signal and outputs it to the speaker 11. Reference numeral 12 denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystal panel and its drive circuit (see FIG. 3).
[0010]
Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
The operation of the mobile terminal device at the time of outgoing / incoming calls and the operation of sending and receiving e-mails are the same as those of the conventional mobile terminal device, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The operation when inputting character data will be described below.
[0011]
At the time of mail text input, when the kana character input mode is set, for example, when inputting the kana character “ke” by the numeric keypad 3-2, “k” is displayed on the display unit 12 when the switch 3-2a is pressed once. When pressed twice, “ki” is displayed, when pressed three times, “ku” is displayed, and when pressed four times, “ke” is displayed. When the “ke” is displayed, the character “ke” is input by pressing the enter key of the function key 3f.
Here, since the switch 3-2a is operated quickly, the switch 3-2a is pushed once more, and the character “ko” next to the character “ke” is displayed on the display unit 12. In this case, the user presses the switch 3-2b. When the switch 3-2b is pressed, the interface 3i outputs the code of the switch 3-2b to the control unit 1. The control unit 1 receives this code, detects that the switch 3-2b has been pressed, returns the character display of the display unit 12 to one character, and displays the character “K”. Here, when the user presses the enter key, the character “ke” is input. When the user presses the switch 3-2b again without pressing the enter key, the character “ku” is displayed on the display unit 12.
[0012]
Similarly, when the alphabet character input mode is set, each time the switch 3-2a is pressed, the alphabet abc set in the numeric keypad 3-2 is sequentially displayed as “a → b → c”, and the switch 3-2b is pressed. Every time, “c → b → a” is displayed sequentially in the reverse order (see FIG. 4).
[0013]
As described above, in the above embodiment, when the switches 3-1a to 3-0a of the numeric keys 3-1 to 3-0 are pressed, the character display for input on the display unit 12 is sequentially forwarded each time the switch is pressed once. Change. On the other hand, when the switches 3-1b to 3-0b are pressed, the character display for input on the display unit 12 is sequentially changed in the reverse direction each time the switch is pressed once. As a result, when the characters ahead of the character to be input are displayed because the switches 3-1a to 3-0a are operated in a hurry, the target character can be simply pressed by pressing the switches 3-1b to 3-0b. Can be returned to.
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in the portable terminal device having ten numeric keys for inputting numbers 1, 2,... The first switch means that is turned on when the main part is operated, the second switch means that is turned on when the end portion of the numeric keypad is operated, and is turned on each time the first switch means is turned on. A plurality of characters set corresponding to the switch means are sequentially displayed on the display unit in a predetermined order, and each time the second switch means is turned on, it corresponds to the turned on switch means. Display control means for sequentially displaying a plurality of characters set in the reverse order to the predetermined order, and a confirmation key for confirming the characters on the display part as input characters. , Accidentally the main part of the numeric keypad When a character that is different from the character you want to input is displayed on the display unit many times, you can quickly return to the character you want to input by pressing the end of the numeric keypad. It is done.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an operation unit of a mobile terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a mobile terminal device according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a push button of a numeric keypad 3-2 in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part 2 ... Memory 3 ... Operation part 3-1 to 3-0 ... Ten keys 3-1a-3-0a ... Switch 3-1b-3-0b ... Switch 3f ... Function key 3i ... Interface 4 ... Communication part 12 ... Display section

Claims (1)

In a portable terminal device having ten numeric keys for inputting numbers 1, 2,.
A first switch means that is provided corresponding to each numeric keypad and that is turned on when the main part of the key is operated; and a second switch means that is turned on when the end of the numeric keypad is operated;
Each time the previous first switch means is turned on, a plurality of characters set corresponding to the turned on switch means are sequentially displayed on the display unit in a predetermined order, and the second Display control means for displaying a plurality of characters set corresponding to the switch means turned on each time the switch means is turned on in the order reverse to the predetermined order; ,
A confirmation key for confirming the character of the display portion as an input character,
The portable terminal device characterized in that the numeric keys are elliptical and are inclined in the long axis direction .

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