JPH07322358A - Character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the inputs of characters by numerical keys by displaying all the plural characters when the numerical keys are depressed and displaying a cursor at a character location to be an input object. CONSTITUTION:A case 11 is composed as a rectangular parallelopiped as a whole and has a display element 12 and plural numerical keys 13 to which each of plural characters are assigned. When one of the plural numerical keys 13 is operated, all the plural characters assigned to the operated numerical key are displayed on the display element 12, a cursor 12C is displayed for one of these displayed characters and the character for which this cursor 12C is displayed is made the object of an input processing. Thus, when the numerical keys 13 are depressed, all the plural characters assigned to the numerical keys 13 are displayed and the cursor 12C is displayed at a character location to be an input object.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character input device suitable for mobile phones and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a portable telephone, one having an electronic telephone directory function is known. In other words, if you register the name of the other party and its telephone number in advance, you can easily know the telephone number when you enter the name of the other party you are interested in. It is done.

In this case, a dial key is generally used to register or input the name of the other party. That is, for example, of the dial keys, the "2" key is assigned the three letters "A, B, C" of the alphabet, and the "3" key is assigned the three letters "D, E, F". Similarly, 3 to 4 letters of the alphabet are sequentially assigned to the numeric keys of the dial keys.

Each time the "2" key is pressed, the characters "A, B, C" are sequentially displayed on the display one by one, and each time the "3" key is pressed, the characters "D, E, F" are displayed. Is 1
The characters are displayed one by one, and similarly, each time the number key is pressed, the characters assigned to the number key are displayed one by one. Therefore, the name can be registered and input using the dial keys.

[0005]

However, as described above, when a plurality of characters are assigned to each numeric key of the dial key, it is determined which key is assigned to which numeric key. It is necessary to write it on the key top of.

However, it is impossible to write all the characters assigned to each numeric key on the key top in a character size that is easy to see due to space limitations.

Therefore, the key tops of the numeric keys are
Of the plurality of assigned characters, for example, only the first character will be written. As a result, if you want to enter a character that is assigned to each numeric key but is not written on the key top, you must try pressing the key several times or refer to the instruction manual. ,
It was very inconvenient.

The present invention is intended to solve such a problem.

[0009]

Therefore, in the present invention, when the reference numerals of the respective parts correspond to the embodiments described later, a display element 12 and a plurality of numeric keys 13 to which a plurality of characters are respectively assigned are provided. Has a plurality of numeric keys 13
When one of the characters is operated, all of the plurality of characters assigned to the operated number key are displayed on the display element 12, and the cursor 12C is displayed on one of the displayed characters. The character displayed by the cursor 12C is targeted for input processing.

[0010]

When the numeric key is pressed, all of the plurality of characters assigned to the numeric key are displayed and the cursor 12C is displayed at the character position of the input target.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a mobile phone according to the present invention as a whole, and a case 11 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and a liquid crystal display element 1 is provided on the front upper part thereof.
2 is provided, and a dial key 1 is provided on the lower front of the case 11.
3 and various operation keys 14 are provided. Then, the liquid crystal display element 12 is provided with a character display area 12A and an input area 12B as shown by a chain line.

Also, in this example, the dial key 1
Among the numeral keys of 3, the "2" key to the "9" key are used as the character input keys, and as shown in FIG. 3, upper case letters and lower case letters of the alphabet are respectively assigned by 3 to 4 letters. The operation keys 14 include an operation mode and a selection confirmation key 14S for selecting / confirming an input character, an end key 14E for ending character input, and the like.

Further, although not shown, the handset and the transmitter are arranged on the rear surface of the case 11, or they are separated into an earphone / microphone form and connected to the mobile phone body through a cable.

Inside the case 11, a telephone circuit 20 as shown in FIG. 2 is housed. This telephone circuit 2
0 is composed of a receiving circuit 21, a transmitting circuit 22, and a system control circuit 30. Then, the reception signal of the antenna 23 is supplied to the reception circuit 21, the voice signal is demodulated, and the voice signal is supplied to the handset 24. Further, the voice signal from the transmitter 25 is supplied to the transmission circuit 22 and converted into a transmission signal, and the transmission signal is supplied to the antenna 23 and transmitted.

Further, the system control circuit 30 is composed of a microcomputer, 31 is its CPU, 32 is ROM in which various processing routines are written, 33 is work area RAM, and 34 is various. Memory for storing the data of
To 34 are connected to the CPU 31. Note that 39 is a system bus.

In this case, the ROM 32 is provided with the character table MOJI shown in FIG. 3, for example. The character table MOJI is a table of the "1" to "0" keys of the dial keys 13 and the data of the characters set in the number keys. For example, the column of the "2" key is "A,
It has character data of “B, C, a, b, c”. further,
The character input routine 100 shown in FIG. 4, for example, is also prepared in the ROM 32 as a part of the processing routine.

Further, the memory 34 is a ROM capable of electrically erasing and writing data,
Alternatively, although not shown, a RAM backed up by a battery, that is, the memory 34 is a non-volatile memory, and can hold written data even when the power is turned off. Then, in this memory 34, the data of the electronic telephone directory, that is, the name,
Data is stored with the telephone number corresponding to this name.

In FIG. 2, the dial keys 13 and the operation keys 14 are connected to the CPU 31 through the key interface circuit 35, and the liquid crystal display element 12 is connected to the CPU 31 through the display controller 36. Further, the receiving circuit 21 and the transmitting circuit 22 are connected to the CPU 31 through the port 37.

In such a configuration, when the selection confirmation key 14S is pressed several times during standby, the system control circuit 30 enters the character input mode and the processing of the CPU 31 is routine 1.
Start from step 101 of 00, then step 1
At 02, the key inputting of the "2" to "9" keys of the numeric keys of the dial key 13 and the end key 14E is awaited.

When any one of the "2" to "9" keys or the end key 14E is pressed, the process proceeds from step 102 to step 103. In this step 103, the key pressed in step 102 is the end key 14E. If it is the end key 14E, the process proceeds from step 103 to step 104,
This routine 100 ends.

However, in step 103, when the key pressed in step 102 is not the end key 14E, that is, "2" of the dial keys 13 to
If any one of the "9" keys is pressed, the process proceeds from step 103 to step 111, and in this step 111, the character data corresponding to the pressed numeric key is read from the character table MOJI. Then, in step 112, the read character data is supplied to the display controller 36 and all the characters set in the pressed numeric keys are displayed in the character display area 12A of the liquid crystal display element 12. At the same time, the cursor 12C is displayed at the leading character position.

For example, when the "2" key is pressed,
As shown in FIG. 5A, all the characters "A, B, C, a, b, c" set in the "2" key are displayed in the area 12A, and the first character "A" is displayed. 12C is displayed above ". This cursor 12C
Indicates a character to be input, and in this case, indicates that the character “A” is selected. Therefore, instead of displaying the cursor 12C on the character "A", the character "A" can be displayed in reverse video or blinking to form the cursor 12C.

Subsequently, the process proceeds to step 113, and in this step 113, as in step 102, the key input of the "2" to "9" keys of the dial keys 13 and the end key 14 is awaited.

Therefore, "2" of the dial keys 13
~ Press any of the "9" keys or the end key 14,
The process proceeds from step 113 to step 114, and it is checked in step 114 whether the key pressed in step 113 is the same as the previously pressed key.

If it is the same as the previously pressed key, the process proceeds from step 114 to step 115.
In step 115, the display position of the cursor 12C is changed from the previous character position to the next character position. In the present case, as shown in FIG. 5B, the position is changed to the position of the character “B”.

Then, the process returns from step 115 to step 113 and waits for key input again in step 113. Therefore, when the same key as the previously pressed key is pressed, the display position of the cursor 12C is sequentially moved by one character each time the key is pressed.

If the selection confirmation key 14S is pressed in step 113, the process proceeds to step 114.
From step 121, the key pressed in step 113 is the selection confirmation key 14 in step 121.
Whether or not it is S is checked. Then, in this case, since the selection confirmation key 14S has been pressed, the process proceeds from step 121 to step 122, and this step 12
2, the data of the character indicated by the cursor 12C among the characters displayed in the area 12A is RA
Stored in M33 work area, then step 123
In, the data of the character indicated by the cursor 12C is supplied to the controller 36, and the character indicated by the cursor 12C is displayed in the input area 12B.

For example, in the state of FIG. 5B, the selection confirmation key 1
When 4S is pressed, the cursor 12C displays the character "B".
Therefore, the data of the character “B” is stored in the work of the RAM 33, and the character “B” is displayed in the input area 12B as shown in FIG. 5C.

Then, the process returns from step 123 to step 113, and again in step 113, the key input is waited.

Further, in step 113, if a numeric key different from the previous one is pressed among the "2" to "9" keys of the dial key 13, the process is step 114.
From step 121 to step 131, it is checked in step 131 whether the key pressed in step 113 is the end key 14E. And in this case, since it is not the end key 14E,
The process returns from step 131 to step 111.

Therefore, in this step 111, as described above, the character data corresponding to the pressed numeric key is read from the character table MOJI, and then in step 112, the read character data is displayed. The character supplied to the controller 36 and set in the pressed numeric key is displayed in the character display area 12A, and the cursor 12 is displayed at the beginning of the area 12A.
C is displayed.

For example, when the "3" key is pressed in the state of FIG. 5C, as shown in FIG. 6A, the area 12A
, The letters "D, E, F," which are set to the "3" key
"d, e, f" are all displayed and the first
The cursor 12C is displayed at the th character "D".

Then, the process proceeds from step 112 to step 113, and again in step 113, a key input is waited.

Therefore, for example, when the "3" key is pressed in the state of FIG. 6A, the cursor 12C moves to the next character "E" as shown in FIG. 6B, and in this state, the selection confirmation key is pressed. When 14S is pressed, the character "E" is displayed after the character "B" in the input area 12B as shown in FIG. 6C. Further, the data of the character "E" is stored in the RAM 33.
Will be stored in the work area.

Thus, by operating the numeric keys of the dial key 13 and the selection confirmation key 14S, an arbitrary alphabet is input. Further, the input result is displayed in the input area 12B.

When the desired name is entered,
When the end key 14E is pressed, the process proceeds to step 104 through the line of step 113 → step 114 → step 121 → step 131, and this routine 100
To finish. At this time, the work area of the RAM 33 stores the character data of the target name. In addition, the character data of the name stored in this work area is used to register the electronic telephone directory and dial when making a call.

In this way, in this portable telephone, when the numeric key of the dial key 13 is pressed, all of the plurality of characters assigned to the numeric key are displayed, and when the same numeric key is pressed, the key is pressed. The cursor 12C is displayed at the character position that is the target of each input.

Therefore, the user can recognize a plurality of characters assigned to each of the numeric keys and one character to be selected by one key operation, and input of the characters by the numeric keys. Will be easier. Moreover,
It is not necessary to write all the characters assigned to the numeric key on the key top of the numeric key.

Further, since it is not necessary to write the assigned characters on the key top, it is possible to increase the number of characters assigned to each of the numeric keys. For example, as shown in FIG. You can assign lowercase letters to the same numeric key. Alternatively, kana characters can be assigned. Even in that case, a shift key or the like for switching the character type is not required.

In the above description, the selection confirmation key 14
The selected character is confirmed by pressing S. However, for example, when there is no next key operation within a period of about 1 second after pressing the number key, the input character can be confirmed. Alternatively, when a key other than the numeric keys is operated, the entered character can be confirmed.

Further, in the above description, the character is selected by repeatedly pressing the same numeral key.
For example, the “*” key or “#” of the dial keys 13
The characters may be selectively switched by pressing a key. Alternatively, the cursor 12C can be moved with the cursor key.

Further, in the above, the present invention is applied to the electronic telephone directory of the portable telephone, but it can also be applied to an electronic notebook, an auto dialer and the like.
Alternatively, it can be applied to an input device for inputting a music title, a broadcasting station name, a memo, etc. in a CD player, an MD device, a radio receiver and the like.

[0043]

According to the present invention, when the numeric key is pressed,
Since all of the plurality of characters assigned to the numeric key are displayed and the cursor 12C is displayed at the character position to be input, the user is assigned to each numeric key. It is possible to recognize a plurality of existing characters and one character to be selected by one key operation, and it becomes easy to input characters using the numeric keys. Moreover, it is not necessary to write all the characters assigned to the numeric key on the key top of the numeric key.

Further, since it is not necessary to write the assigned characters on the key top, it is possible to increase the number of characters assigned to each of the numeric keys. For example, as shown in FIG. You can assign lowercase letters to the same numeric key. Alternatively, kana characters can be assigned. Even in that case, a shift key or the like for switching the character type is not required.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing an example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of an example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a change in display when a character is input.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of a change in display when a character is input.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Mobile Phone 12 Liquid Crystal Display Element 12A Character Display Area 12B Input Area 12C Cursor 13 Dial Key 14 Operation Key 20 Telephone Circuit 30 System Control Circuit 100 Character Input Routine

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication H04B 7/26 109 H

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A display element and a plurality of numeric keys to which a plurality of characters are respectively assigned. When one of the plurality of numeric keys is operated, it is assigned to the operated numeric key. All of the plurality of characters are displayed on the display device, a cursor is displayed on one of the displayed characters, and the character displayed by the cursor is targeted for input processing. Input device. 2. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein when the previously operated numeric key is operated, the display position of the cursor is changed to the position of the next character. 3. The character input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when a predetermined key operation is performed, the character at the position where the cursor is displayed Input device.