KR100951193B1 - A portable device and a method to input characters without detaching a finger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A portable terminal in which a floating letter input device and a method for inputting the letter are provided to enable a user to input a letter without taking off a finger. CONSTITUTION: The change of pressure applied to an input unit is detected(S300). A letter pattern inputted to the input unit is recognized based on the change of pressure and a moving track of a finger(S400). The recognized letter pattern is displayed(S500). The letter pattern is one among Korean vowels and consonants, a figure and alphabets.

Description

PORTABLE DEVICE AND A METHOD TO INPUT CHARACTERS WITHOUT DETACHING A FINGER

The present invention relates to a character input apparatus and a character input method, and more particularly, to a character input method of a portable terminal having a built-in floating character input apparatus capable of inputting a character without removing a finger.

Recently, as the use of portable terminals such as PDAs, mobile phones, and PMPs has become more common, users are increasingly interested in the method of inputting text into the portable terminals because it is common for users to record important information directly on the portable terminals. . The method of inputting a character into a portable terminal can be largely divided into a button type character input method and a continuous handwritten character input method.

The portable terminal to which the button type character input method is applied is provided with a plurality of buttons similar to the keyboard of a computer in a certain area, and each button has at least one or more character patterns (for example, Korean characters). Vowels, alphabetic letters, numbers, etc.) are assigned. In the case of a portable terminal with a touch screen that is recently released, a plurality of buttons to which at least one or more character patterns are assigned are arranged in a portion of the touch screen. Therefore, the user may check the character pattern assigned to the button provided by the portable terminal, and then sequentially press the buttons providing the character pattern constituting the character to be input, thereby configuring the desired character and input the same into the portable terminal. However, in order for a user to input text by using the portable terminal to which the button type text input device is applied, the user should be familiar with the character pattern assigned to the plurality of buttons provided by the portable terminal. It is not easy to construct the desired character by using. In addition, since the character pattern assigned to each button is different for each portable terminal, when the used portable terminal is replaced, it is necessary to input characters until the character pattern assigned to the plurality of buttons provided by the replaced portable terminal becomes familiar. There is a problem that takes time.

The portable terminals to which the continuous handwritten character input method is applied have a touch pad that receives a character pattern from a user in a predetermined area. Therefore, when the user inputs a character pattern on the touch pad by using a writing pad for a touch pad made in the form of a finger or a pen, the portable terminal recognizes the character pattern input by the user and displays it on the screen. In the case of a portable terminal equipped with a recently released touch screen, when a user inputs a character pattern on the touch screen by using a finger or a writing instrument for the touch screen, the portable terminal recognizes the character pattern input by the user and displays it on the screen. Display. The portable terminal applied with the continuous handwritten character input method has an advantage of providing an interface that allows a user to easily input a character such as a touch pad or a touch screen in a certain area, but the user may not recognize each character pattern constituting the character. There is a problem that you must release the interface before entering. In addition, when a character is input to the touch screen using a writing instrument such as a touch screen, the touch screen may be damaged by the movement of the writing instrument.

The present invention is proposed to solve the above problems of the conventionally proposed methods, without distinguishing the case of inputting a character pattern and the case of moving a finger to input a new character pattern without lifting a finger. Another object of the present invention is to provide a floating character input method capable of recognizing each character pattern.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal having a built-in floating character input device capable of inputting respective character patterns constituting a character without removing a user's finger.

Character input method of a portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device according to a feature of the present invention for achieving the above object,

(1) detecting a touch of a finger on the input unit,

(2) acquiring a movement trajectory of the finger based on the movement of the finger in contact with the input unit;

(3) detecting a change in pressure applied to the input unit by a finger moving on the input unit,

(4) a step of recognizing a character pattern input to the trackball based on a movement of a finger on the obtained input unit and a change in pressure applied to the detected input unit, and

(5) characterized by including the step of displaying the recognized character pattern.

Preferably, the character pattern may be one of a consonant, a numeral, and an English letter of Korean.

Preferably, in step (1),

When the pressure applied to the input unit by the finger is equal to or greater than a first reference value, it may be detected that the finger is in contact with the input unit.

Preferably, in step (3),

When the pressure applied to the input unit by the finger is changed from the first reference value or more to a value above the second reference value but less than the first reference value, it is possible to detect that the finger is moving to input a new character pattern. have.

More preferably, in step (4),

When the pressure applied by the finger to the input unit is changed from a first reference value or more to a value that is greater than or equal to the second reference value and less than the first reference value, the movement trajectory of the finger acquired in the step (2) is stored in advance. In comparison with the character pattern, the character pattern input by the user may be recognized.

A portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device according to a feature of the present invention for achieving the above object,

(1) an input unit formed on a contact area of a portable terminal,

(2) a position sensing unit for acquiring a movement trajectory of the finger based on the movement of the input unit generated by the movement of the finger in a state where the finger is in contact with the input unit;

(3) a pressure sensing unit for sensing the pressure applied to the input unit when the finger moves on the input unit;

(4) a character recognition unit for recognizing a character pattern input to the input unit based on a movement trace of a finger acquired by the position detection unit and a change in pressure detected by the pressure detection unit, and

(5) It is characterized by the structure that it comprises the display part for displaying the recognized character pattern to a user.

Preferably,

The input unit is composed of a track ball,

The position detection unit,

X and Y-axis rollers that rotate in conjunction with the track ball when the track ball is rotated, and

X-axis and Y-axis rotation detection device for detecting the rotation amount of the X-axis and Y-axis roller to calculate the movement trajectory of the finger.

Preferably, the position detection unit,

A light irradiation device for irradiating light from the lower portion of the input portion to the input portion;

An optical receiver for receiving the light reflected from the input unit and generating a signal capable of reflecting the difference of the surface of the input unit due to the rotation of the input unit;

The apparatus may include a movement trace calculating device configured to receive a signal generated from the optical receiver and calculate a movement trace of a finger based on the received signal.

Preferably, the pressure sensing unit,

When inputting a character pattern on the input unit generates a pressure value of at least a first reference value,

When a finger is moved to input a new character pattern, a pressure value smaller than the first reference value and higher than the second reference value may be generated.

Preferably, the character recognition unit may further include a character pattern storage unit in which a predetermined character pattern is stored, which is compared with a movement trajectory of a finger obtained from the position sensing unit, in order to recognize the input character pattern.

By providing a floating character recognition method that can recognize each character pattern by distinguishing between inputting a character pattern and moving a finger to input a new character pattern without removing a finger, Elderly people who are unfamiliar with using a portable terminal to which a text input method is applied can easily enter text into the portable terminal.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a portable terminal equipped with a conventional touch pad. As shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that a user inputs Hangul “ki” into the touch pad 2 using a finger or a writing pad for a touch pad. Then, the character recognition device built in the portable terminal 1 acquires handwriting trajectories for each letter pattern 'a' and '| After recognizing each character pattern input by the user in comparison with the previously stored character pattern, the Hangul 'gi', which is a combination of the respective character patterns recognized on the screen 3 of the portable terminal, may be displayed. As such, in order for a user to input text into a portable terminal equipped with an existing touch pad, the character recognition device built in the portable terminal should be able to distinguish each character pattern constituting the characters input to the touch pad. The user must release their finger from the touchpad for a while before entering a new character pattern. In other words, the user inputs the character pattern 'ㄱ' constituting Hangul '기' into the touchpad, and then removes a finger from the touchpad for a while before inputting the continuous character pattern 'ㅣ'.

In contrast, the portable terminal proposed by the present invention distinguishes and recognizes each character pattern even if the user inputs character patterns constituting the character continuously without removing a finger from the contact area of the portable terminal. And a character input device using a character recognition method capable of outputting each character pattern.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a process of inputting Korean “ki” in order to schematically describe a floating character input method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a user touches a finger to a contact area provided by a portable terminal to input a Hangul 'gi' (4), and then the first character pattern constituting the Hangul 'gi' is 'ㄱ'. Is input on the contact area (5). As described above, when the user moves the finger in contact with the finger on the contact area in order to input the character pattern, pressure above the predetermined reference value is generated under the contact area. However, even if the user does not remove his / her finger from the contact area, it is generated at the bottom of the contact area by the movement of the finger (6) after inputting the first letter pattern 'ㄱ' and before entering the second letter pattern 'ㅣ'. The pressure that becomes becomes smaller than a predetermined reference value. Therefore, when the character input device using the floating character input method according to an embodiment of the present invention senses the pressure change as described above, it determines that the input for the first character pattern 'a' is terminated and is input by the user. After performing the recognition procedure for the handwritten trace of the first letter pattern 'b', the recognized letter pattern 'a' may be displayed on the screen of the portable terminal. The input second character pattern 'ㅣ' (7) may also be displayed on the screen of the portable terminal through the same procedure as described above.

3 is a perspective view of a portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the portable terminal 10 with a floating character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention looks at the display unit 20 and the display unit 20 for outputting text and various images. A keypad 40 for controlling the portable terminal. In addition, a part of the contact area 30 of the portable terminal is equipped with an input unit 35 for detecting a movement of a user's finger and receiving a character. As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, a trackball may be used as the input unit 35. In addition, although an embodiment of the present invention illustrates a mobile phone as a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal is not limited thereto, and may include a multimedia player, a navigation device, a notebook computer, a computer peripheral, or other devices.

4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a function of a portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 4, the portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention is the input unit 100, the position sensing unit 200, the pressure sensing unit 300, the character recognition unit ( 400, and may further include a character pattern storage unit 500.

The input unit 100 may be formed on the contact area, and serves to input a character pattern to the portable terminal. As the input unit 100, various components capable of detecting a movement and pressure change of a contacted user's finger may be used, and according to an exemplary embodiment, may be implemented as a track ball. The character pattern may be, for example, one of a Korean alphabet, a number, and an English letter.

The position detecting unit 200 detects a movement trajectory of the finger on the input unit 100. When a user touches a finger on the input unit 100 to input a character and then moves a finger on the input unit 100, the input unit 100 detects the movement according to the movement of the finger. The position detecting unit 200 is a component that grasps the movement degree of the input unit 100 to determine the movement trajectory of the finger. For example, the position detecting unit 200 may be configured to detect the degree of movement of the input unit 100 by detecting a change in the surface according to the movement of the input unit 100 by irradiating light from the input unit 100, or When the track ball is used as the input unit 100, the track ball 100 may be configured to detect X and Y axis rotation amounts of the track ball 100. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

The pressure sensing unit 300 is positioned below the input unit 100 to detect pressure generated while the user inputs a character on the input unit 100. The pressure sensing unit 300 generates a pressure value greater than or equal to the first reference value when the character pattern is input on the input unit 100, and is smaller than the first reference value when the finger moves to input a new character pattern. A pressure value above the second reference value can be generated.

When the change in pressure is detected from the pressure detecting unit 300, the character recognition unit 400 compares a movement trace of the finger acquired by the position detecting unit 200 with a predetermined character pattern, thereby allowing the user to input the image on the input unit 100. Recognize the character pattern entered in. To this end, the character recognition unit 400 may refer to the character pattern storage unit 500.

The character pattern storage unit 500 is configured to store a predetermined character pattern that the character recognition unit 400 compares with the movement trajectory of the finger obtained from the position sensing unit 200 in order to recognize the character pattern input from the user. As an element, it can be implemented in general memory.

5A and 5B are diagrams showing an embodiment in the case of using a trackball as an input unit. First, Figure 5a is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the internal structure of the track ball, the position sensing unit and the pressure sensing unit that can be mounted in a portable terminal with a floating character input device of the present invention. As shown in Figure 5a, the track ball 100 is rotatably mounted in the space consisting of the upper and lower housings 110, 120 through the guide hole, a portion of the track ball 100 is protruded to the outside, The user can rotate the trackball using a finger. When the track ball 100 is rotated, the position detecting unit 200 detects a rotation amount of the X-axis and Y-axis rollers 230 and 231 and the X-axis and Y-axis rollers that rotate in association with each other to detect a movement trace of a finger. It consists of the X-axis and Y-axis rotation detection apparatuses 220 and 221 which calculate. Both ends of the X- and Y-axis rollers 230 and 231 are rotatably supported by the supporting portions 201 and 202, and the X- and Y-axis rollers 230 and 231 are substantially provided with the track ball 100. In contact, contact members 240 and 241 are attached to allow the X and Y-axis rollers 230 and 231 to rotate. The rotating plates 210 and 211 penetrated by the X and Y axis rollers 230 and 231 rotate by transmitting the rotations of the X and Y axis rollers 230 and 231 to the rotation sensing devices 220 and 221. The sensing devices 220 and 221 may grasp the movement trajectory of the finger based on the amount of rotation of the track ball 100. The pressure sensing unit 300 is located at the lower end of the lower housing 120 supporting the track ball 100. When the user moves in contact with the finger on the track ball 100, pressure is generated in the lower portion of the track ball 100, the lower housing 120 is pushed in the direction of the pressure sensing unit 300, the pressure sensing unit 300 may detect a user's finger contact and movement on the trackball 100. When the user releases his finger while the finger is in contact with the track ball 100, the elastic member 130 may be used to help the lower housing 120 to move smoothly upward. The movement trace of the finger acquired by the position sensing unit 300 and the pressure sensed by the pressure sensing unit 300 are transmitted to a character recognition unit (not shown) disposed on the substrate 140.

Figure 5b is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the internal structure of the track ball, the position sensing unit and the pressure sensing unit that can be mounted to a portable terminal with a floating character input device of the present invention. In the structure as shown in FIG. 5B, the position detecting unit 200 uses light to grasp the amount of rotation of the track ball 100 generated by the movement of a finger on the track ball 100. Specifically, the position detecting unit 200 receives the light reflected from the track ball, the light irradiation device 250 for irradiating light to the track ball from the bottom of the track ball, reflects the difference of the surface of the track ball due to the rotation of the track ball An optical receiver 260 for generating a signal capable of generating a signal, and a movement trace calculator (not shown) for receiving a signal generated from the optical receiver and calculating a movement trace of a finger based on the received signal. do. Other structures except for the position detecting unit 200 are the same as in the case of FIG. 5A, and thus description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 5, the embodiment in the case of using the trackball as an input unit has been described, but as described above, any component may be used as long as it is a component capable of detecting a movement and pressure change of a contacted user's finger.

6 is a flowchart of a floating character input method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 6, the floating character input method according to an embodiment of the present invention in the step of detecting the contact of the finger on the input unit (S100), based on the movement of the finger in contact with the input unit, Acquiring a movement trajectory (S200), detecting a change in pressure applied to the input unit by a finger moving on the input unit (S300), a movement trajectory of a finger on the acquired input unit, and a change in pressure applied to the detected input unit The method may include the step S400 of recognizing the character pattern input to the input unit, and the step S500 of displaying the recognized character pattern.

In step S100, the user detects that a finger touches the input unit in order to input characters into the portable terminal. When the pressure applied to the input unit by the finger is equal to or greater than a first predetermined reference value, it may be determined that the finger is in contact with the input unit.

In operation S200, in order to input a character pattern, the user senses the movement of the finger while the finger is in contact with the input unit to obtain a movement trace of the finger. By using the movement of the input unit generated by moving a finger on the input unit, a movement trace of the user's finger may be obtained.

In step S300, a change in pressure applied to the input unit is sensed by a finger moving on the input unit. Preferably, when it is detected that the pressure applied by the finger to the input unit is changed from a value above the first reference value to a value above the second reference value but below the first reference value, the user finishes inputting one character pattern. It can be determined that the finger is moving to input a new character pattern.

In operation S400, the character pattern input to the input unit is recognized based on the movement trace of the finger on the obtained input unit and the change in the pressure applied to the detected input unit. Preferably, when it is detected that the pressure applied to the input unit by the finger is changed from a value above the first reference value to a value below the first reference value while above the second reference value, the movement trajectory of the finger obtained through step S200 In comparison with the previously stored character pattern, it is possible to recognize the most similar character pattern as the character pattern input by the user.

In step S500, the recognized character pattern is displayed on the screen of the portable terminal.

The present invention described above may be variously modified or applied by those skilled in the art, and the scope of the technical idea according to the present invention should be defined by the following claims.

1 is a perspective view of a portable terminal equipped with a conventional touch pad.

2 is a view illustrating a process of inputting a Hangul "ki" in order to schematically describe a floating character input method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the function of a portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5a is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the internal structure of the track ball, the position sensing unit and the pressure sensing unit that can be mounted in a portable terminal with a floating character input device of the present invention.

Figure 5b is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the internal structure of the track ball, the position detection unit and the pressure detection unit that can be mounted to a portable terminal with a floating character input device of the present invention.

6 is a flow chart of a floating character input method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings>

10: portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device

20: display unit of the portable terminal 30: contact area

40: keypad 35: input unit

100: trackball 110: upper housing

120: lower housing 130: elastic member

140: substrate 200: position detection unit

201 and 202: support portions 210 and 211: rotating plate

220, 221: rotation detection device 230, 231: X-axis / Y-axis roller

240, 241: contact member 250: light irradiation apparatus

260: light receiving device 300: pressure detection unit

400: character recognition unit 500: display unit

600: character pattern storage unit

Claims (10)

Character input method of a portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device, (1) detecting a touch of a finger on the input; (2) acquiring a movement trajectory of the finger based on the movement of the finger in contact with the input unit; (3) detecting a change in pressure applied to the input unit by a finger moving on the input unit; (4) recognizing a character pattern input to the input unit based on a movement trace of a finger on the obtained input unit and a change in pressure applied to the detected input unit; And (5) displaying the recognized character pattern, In the step (3), When the pressure applied to the input unit by a finger is equal to or greater than a first reference value, it detects that a character pattern is being input on the input unit. When the pressure applied to the input unit by the finger is changed from a value above the first reference value to a value less than the first reference value but less than the first reference value, detecting that the finger is moving to input a new character pattern. Character input method of a portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device. The method of claim 1, The character pattern is a character input method of a portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device, characterized in that one of the Hangul consonants, numerals and English characters. delete delete The method of claim 1, wherein in step (4), When the pressure applied by the finger to the input unit is changed from a first reference value or more to a value that is greater than or equal to the second reference value and less than the first reference value, the movement trajectory of the finger acquired in the step (2) is stored in advance. Character input method of a portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device, characterized in that for recognizing a character pattern input by the user compared to the pattern. In a portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device, (1) an input unit formed on a contact area of a portable terminal; (2) a position sensing unit for obtaining a movement trajectory of the finger based on the movement of the input unit generated by the movement of the finger in a state where the finger is in contact with the input unit; (3) a pressure sensing unit for sensing a pressure applied to the input unit when the finger moves on the input unit; (4) a character recognition unit recognizing a character pattern input to the input unit based on a movement trace of a finger acquired by the position detection unit and a change in pressure detected by the pressure detection unit; And (5) a display unit for displaying the recognized character pattern to a user, The pressure sensing unit, When inputting a character pattern on the input unit generates a pressure value of more than the first reference value, and when moving a finger to input a new character pattern to generate a pressure value smaller than the first reference value and more than the second reference value Portable terminal with a built-in floating character input device, characterized in that. The method of claim 6, The input unit is composed of a track ball, The position detection unit, X- and Y-axis rollers that rotate in conjunction with the track ball when the track ball rotates; And And a X-axis and a Y-axis rotation sensing device for sensing the rotational amounts of the X-axis and Y-axis rollers to calculate a movement trajectory of the finger. The method of claim 6, wherein the position detecting unit, A light irradiation device for irradiating light from the lower portion of the input portion to the input portion; An optical receiver configured to receive light reflected from the input unit and generate a signal capable of reflecting a difference in the surface of the input unit due to rotation of the input unit; And And a movement trajectory calculating device for receiving a signal generated from the optical receiving apparatus and calculating a movement trajectory of a finger based on the received signal. delete The method of claim 6, In order to recognize the input character pattern, the character recognition unit further comprises a character pattern storage unit for storing a predetermined character pattern, which is compared with the movement trajectory of the finger obtained from the position sensing unit. Portable terminal with built-in device.

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