JPH11224161A - Character input device and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the operation, to make a character input device quickly perform learnableing and to accelerate the input speed by detecting two or more of an area depressed first, a dragged direction and a separated area when a depressing and dragging are performed on an input board and converting them into character codes. SOLUTION: A processor 2 is constituted of a detection means 3, a conversion means 4, a table 5 and a display means 6, etc. The detection means 3 detects two or more of directions depressed first, a direction dragged next, a separated area and an area passed through when a depressing and dragging are performed on the input board 1. The conversion means 4 performs conversion to the character codes by referring to the table 5 based on the detected are and the dragged direction. In the table 5, the character codes and function codes are registered corresponding to the detected area and the dragged direction. Then, the display means 6 displays characters or the like imputable next in the respective areas on the input board 1.

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 for inputting characters from a panel and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is extremely difficult to input characters in an ultra-small portable information device operated with one hand. For this reason, handwriting and automatic recognition of characters on a tablet for inputting, or display of a keyboard on a screen and input by touching a fingertip or a pen are performed.

[0003]

In a microminiature portable information device, if a character is handwritten and input on a tablet as described above, the probability of character recognition is low, and the recognition speed is low, accurate and quick. There was a problem that can not be entered into.

Further, if a keyboard is displayed on the screen and an input is made by touching a fingertip or a pen, the touch cannot be obtained by touching a key on the keyboard with the fingertip, and blind touch input cannot be performed. However, there is a problem that the input speed cannot be improved.

[0005] The present invention solves these problems,
Divide the small screen into a small number of areas, convert the character code by referring to the table based on the pressed area, the passed area, the released area, and the dragged direction,
It is an object of the present invention to realize an ultra-small input device that can be operated easily, quickly, and is proficient and can improve input speed.

[0006]

Means for solving the problem will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, an input board 1 is obtained by dividing the panel into a plurality of regions, detects the pressed position coordinates, and displays inputtable characters in each region. is there.

The processing device 2 performs various processes in accordance with a program, and here comprises a detecting means 3, a converting means 4, a table 5, a display means 6, and the like.

[0008] The detecting means 3 is an area that is first pressed when the input board 1 is pressed and dragged, the direction in which it was first dragged, the direction in which it was next dragged, the area that was released, and This is for detecting any two or more of the regions.

The conversion means 4 converts the character code into a character code by referring to the table 5 based on the detected area and the dragged direction. Table 5 is a table in which character codes and function codes are registered in association with the detected area and the dragged direction.

The display means 6 is for displaying characters or the like which can be input next in each area on the input board 1.
Next, the operation will be described.

When the detecting means 3 is pressed and dragged on the input board 1, the converting means 4 detects any two or more of the first pressed area, the dragged direction, and the released area. Is converted into a character code by referring to the table 5 based on the detected area and the dragged direction.

Further, when the detection means 3 is pressed and dragged on the input board 1, any one of an area first pressed, a direction first dragged, a direction next dragged, and a released area The conversion means 4 converts the character code into a character code by referring to the table 5 based on the detected area and the dragged direction.

At this time, the detecting means 3 detects an area which has passed from the area which was first depressed to the area which has been released. The input board 1 is divided into a central area on the panel and a plurality of areas around the central area.

Further, the input board 1 is divided into a rectangular area having four corners. The display means 6 displays characters that can be input next for each of the detected area and the dragged direction in each area on the input board 1.

Therefore, a small screen is divided into a small number of regions, and the character code is converted into a character code by referring to a table based on a pressed region, a passed region, a released region, and a dragged direction. Accordingly, it is possible to realize an ultra-small input device that can be operated easily, quickly, and with a high level of skill to improve the input speed.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments and operations of the present invention will be sequentially described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view (part 1) of the present invention. FIG. 2A shows a definition example of a divided area of the input board. Here, the rectangular input board 1 is divided into a central area 1 and a peripheral area 2, and the area 2 is further divided into eight pieces, for a total of nine pieces.

FIG. 2B shows an example of the definition of the direction when dragging from each of the nine areas divided in FIG. 2A. In this example, the horizontal and vertical directions are further divided into eight directions, each of which is at an angle of 45 °, and only a direction that can be dragged inside the input board is defined for the area 2, and a total of 32 directions are obtained by combining the area and the direction. Combinations (the number of arrows in the figure)
Is possible.

FIG. 2 (c) shows a case where an instruction is given by pressing down in area 2 and dragging to area 1 to change the direction only once. In this case, there are seven combinations in which directions can be changed and indicated.

FIG. 2D shows a case where the area 2 is designated from the area 2 via the area 1. In the figure, three regions, a region 2-2, a region 1, and a region 2-3, are designated.

As shown in the above example, the input board 1 is divided into a plurality of parts, character codes are defined in advance by combining the pressed area and the dragged direction, and this definition is set in the table, and the detected character code is detected. The character code can be converted by referring to the table based on the area and the dragging direction.

FIG. 3 shows an explanatory diagram (part 2) of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows an example of an initial screen in the hiragana input mode. This is an example of the initial screen of the hiragana input mode in which the input board 1 is equally divided into nine areas, and 〇 is displayed in each area, and characters that can be currently input are displayed in the 〇. , Displays the first character of Hiragana, "Kasatakahamaya", and displays "〇" (for displaying the line) in the center area 2.
Is displayed.

FIG. 3 (b) shows "A line" when the center 〇 (blank) is pressed with a finger as shown by an arrow on the initial screen of the hiragana input mode of FIG. 3 (a). "(AIUEO)
2 shows an example in which characters for inputting are displayed as shown.

FIG. 3C shows a state in which the center 〇 (blank) is pressed down with a finger and dragged in the direction of “i”. FIG. 3D shows an example in which after dragging to the “I” area in FIG. 3C, releasing the finger, the selected “I” is determined, converted to its character code, and displayed. . On this occasion,
Detects information that the center blank area 1 is dragged from the area 1 in the direction of the area 2-2, and is released in the area 2-2.
With a combination of two or three of these, the character code is converted to "I" by referring to the table.

FIG. 3 (e) shows a state where "?" Is selected on the initial screen of the hiragana input mode of FIG. 3 (a). FIG. 3F shows a state in which “KA” is selected in FIG. 3E and dragged to the center “〇” area, and characters that can be entered are displayed as shown in FIG. Indicates the status.

FIG. 3 (g) shows "ka line" in FIG. 3 (f).
In the state where the character is displayed, the user drags the character to the area 2-3 of the character "ku" to be input. (H) of FIG.
FIG. 3G shows a state in which the character “ku” is displayed after being dragged and released to the area 2-3 of the character “ku” to be input in FIG.

As shown in the above example, on the initial screen of the hiragana input mode, a character on a line to be input is selected and dragged to the central area 1 to delete all characters on the line to be input into each area. , And dragging it away from the central area 1 to the area of the character to be further input allows the input of the desired character.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view (part 3) of the present invention. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the camera is rotated rightward in the hiragana input mode. By this clockwise rotation, the mode is switched to the English character input mode shown in FIG.

FIG. 4B shows a state after the input mode is rotated to the right to switch to the English character input mode in the input mode shown in FIG. 4A. FIG. 4C shows a state in which the camera is rotated leftward in the English character input mode. By this left rotation, the mode is switched to the hiragana input mode of FIG.

FIG. 4 (d) shows a state after switching to the hiragana input mode by rotating counterclockwise in the English character input mode of FIG. 4 (c). As described above, it is possible to switch to the English character input mode by rotating rightward in the Hiragana input mode, or to switch to the Hiragana input mode by rotating leftward in the English character input mode.

FIG. 4E shows an initial screen of an example using the direction designation input method. In FIG. 4F, when the upper left area 2-2 in FIG. 4E is pressed down with a fingertip, a guide in that direction (here, 3 directions in the downward, lower right, and right directions) is displayed.
This shows a state in which a set direction and a character (1, 2, 3) displayed when dragging in the direction are displayed.

FIG. 4 (g) shows that the upper left area 2-2 is dragged and released from the upper left area 2-2 to the area indicated by "3" in the right direction.
The state where the input of “3” is determined is shown. As shown in FIGS. 4E to 4G, numbers that can be input in a direction in which the area can be pressed and dragged with the fingertip are displayed in the area, and then dragged to the displayed desired number area and released. Thus, a desired number can be input.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the table of FIG. 6 according to the order shown in the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

In FIG. 5, S1 performs a normal operation. S2 switches to the character / function input mode. S3
Displays an input sheet. This displays, for example, the above-described initial screen of the hiragana input mode of FIG. 3A on the input sheet (input board 1).

In step S4, it is determined whether the button has been pressed. this is,
It is determined whether any area on the input sheet displayed in S3 has been pressed by a finger or a pen by the user. In the case of YES, the process proceeds to S5. In the case of NO, it is determined whether or not the input is canceled in S18, and in the case of YES, the process returns to S1 and NO
In the case of, it returns to S4 and repeats.

In S5, the area depressed by YES in S4 is determined (detected) as the area A here. In step S6, it is determined whether the user has been dragged. In the case of YES, the process proceeds to S8. N
In the case of O, it is determined whether or not the button is pressed (released) in S19, and in the case of YES, the operation is determined to be a single area operation in S20 and S1
The process advances to S6, and returns to S7 when NO.

In step S8, since it is determined that the drag has been performed in step S7, the dragging direction and the dragged area are determined. In S9, it is determined whether the direction determined in S8 and the direction in which the area is defined. It is determined whether the direction and the area match one of the direction definition example of FIG. 6D described later and the area definition example of FIG. 6C.
In the case of YES, the region A and the direction a are determined in S10, and the process proceeds to S11. On the other hand, in the case of NO, it is determined that the direction is not the defined direction or area, and the process proceeds to S23.

A step S23 decides whether or not the direction is a right rotation operation.
In the case of YES, a right rotation operation is determined in S24 and S2
Go to 5. On the other hand, in the case of NO, a left rotation operation is determined in S26, and the process proceeds to S25.

A step S25 decides whether or not the pressing has been completed (released). If YES, the number of rotations is determined in S27. If NO, the process returns to S25 and repeats. S26
Switches to a predetermined mode with reference to the rotation operation table. This is because when the right rotation is determined to be one rotation as shown in FIG. 4A, the mode is switched to the “English character input mode” in FIG. When it is determined that the left rotation is one rotation, the mode is switched to the “Hiragana input mode” of FIG. The rotation direction and the number of rotations are registered in advance in a rotation operation table (not shown).

A step S11 decides whether or not the drag direction has changed. This is because the direction a region A was determined in S10,
Further, it is determined whether the drag direction is changed. In the case of YES, the drag direction and the area are determined in S12, and S13
Proceed to. On the other hand, in the case of NO, it is determined whether or not the button is pressed (released) in S21. If YES, one-region, one-direction or two-region operation is determined in S22, and the process proceeds to S16. Return to and repeat.

In step S13, it is determined whether the direction is a defined direction. Y
In the case of ES, the process proceeds to S14. If NO, S2
Proceed to 3. In S14, the direction b, the area B (area that has passed), and the area C (final area separated) are determined.

In S15, it is determined that the operation is one area, two directions, or three areas. Here, one region and two-direction operation determine one of regions A, B and C and directions a and b, and three-region operation determines regions A, B and C.

In step S16, the table is referred to based on the contents of the area / direction operation, and is converted into a defined character / function code. This is converted into a character code or a function code by referring to a table of two directions and one area in FIG. 6A described later or a table of three areas in FIG. 6B.

In step S17, the result (character code or function code) to the application is transmitted. As described above, the user presses the input sheet (input board 1) with a finger on the basis of the area defined in the area (c) of FIG. 6 and the direction defined in the area (d) of FIG. When the mouse is dragged, the direction is changed and then dragged, and then released, the first pressed area A, the direction a dragged from the area A, the direction b changed and dragged halfway, and the area B passed halfway Based on the last separated area C, it is possible to convert to the character code / function code with reference to the table shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a table according to the present invention. FIG.
3A shows an example of a table (one area and two directions). This is an example of the table referred to in S16 of FIG. 5 described above, and is a table for converting into a character code / function code in one area and two directions (for example, area A and directions a and b). The area at this time is divided into a 3 × 3 matrix as shown in FIG. 6 (c), and areas 0 to 8 are assigned to the respective areas. The direction is divided into 360 ° into eight as shown in FIG. 6 (d). Directions 1 to 8 are respectively assigned.

As described above, one area and two directions are detected in accordance with the definitions of FIGS. 6C and 6D in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 5 described above, and the table of FIG. 6A is referred to. It can be converted to character codes / function codes (in the figure, characters and functions are displayed for easy explanation, but are actually codes corresponding to these characters and functions).

FIG. 6B shows an example of a table (three areas). This is an example of the table referred to in S16 of FIG. 5 described above, and is a table that is converted into a character code / function code in three areas (areas A, B, and C). The area at this time is divided into a 3 × 3 matrix as shown in FIG. 6C, and areas 0 to 9 are assigned to the respective areas.

As described above, according to the flowchart of FIG. 5 described above, three areas are detected according to the definition of FIG. 6C, and the character code / function code (FIG. 6B) is referred to by referring to the table of FIG. Although the characters and functions are shown in the figure to facilitate explanation, they can be converted into codes corresponding to the characters and functions.

FIG. 6C shows an example of an area definition. Here, as shown in the figure, the input board 1 is defined by dividing the input board 1 into nine parts of 3 × 3, and allocating areas 0 to 8 to each area as shown.

FIG. 6D shows an example of the direction definition. Here, as shown in FIG.
Is divided into eight, and directions 1 to 8 are assigned to each direction and defined.

FIG. 6E shows an operation example from the area 1. In the operation example from the area 1, only the direction toward the other area is valid, the direction 3 to the direction 7 are valid, and the other directions are invalid. The same applies to other areas.

FIG. 6F shows the definition in the area and the direction. Here, as described with reference to FIG. Area A: Area touched first Area B: Area after first movement Area C: Area after second movement (area when released) Direction a: First drag direction Direction b: Second drag direction

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A configuration is adopted in which a small screen is divided into a small number of areas, and a character code is converted by referring to a table based on a pressed area, a passed area, a released area, and a dragged direction. Therefore, it is possible to realize an ultra-small input device that can be operated easily, quickly, and mastered, and can improve the input speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view (No. 1) of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view (No. 2) of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view (No. 3) of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a table according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: input board 2: processing device 3: detection means 4: conversion means 5: table 6: display means

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A character input device for inputting characters from a panel, comprising: an input board obtained by dividing the panel into a plurality of areas; and an area first pressed when the input board is pressed and dragged. Means for detecting any two or more of the dragged direction and the separated area; and a table for converting to a character code based on the detected area and the dragged direction. Character input device. 2. A character input device for inputting characters from a panel, comprising: an input board obtained by dividing the panel into a plurality of areas; and an area first pressed when the input board is pressed and dragged. One of the first dragged direction, the next dragged direction, and the released area
A character input device, comprising: means for detecting at least one of them; and a table for converting to a character code based on the detected area and the dragged direction. 3. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects an area which has passed from a first pressed area to an area separated from the first pressed area. 4. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the input board is formed by dividing the panel into a central region and a plurality of peripheral regions. 5. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein said input board is divided into a rectangular area having four corners. 6. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein a next selectable character is displayed in each of the detected area and the dragged direction in each area. . 7. An area where a panel is divided into a plurality of areas, and when pressed and dragged on an input board, at least two of an area initially pressed, a dragged direction, and a released area And a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for functioning as a means for converting a character code by referring to a table based on the detected area and the dragged direction.