KR20120060190A - Apparatus and method for character input of touch screen - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A character input apparatus for a touch screen and method thereof are provided to increase character input speed by perfect one letter on screen through a dragging operation. CONSTITUTION: A storage unit(110) stores plural basic consonants, related consonants, plural basic vowels, and related vowels. When a selecting signal corresponding to the basic consonants is inputted, a display control unit(120) displays character key array constituted of the basic vowels and the related consonants on a screen. When a selecting signal corresponding to the basic vowels is inputted, the display control unit displays character arrangement corresponding to the related vowels on the screen.

Description

Apparatus and method for character input of touch screen}

The present invention relates to a character input device and method for a touch screen, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for displaying a character on the screen through a pressing operation by the touch of a key assigned a minimum unit of the character.

Recently, as the development of portable devices such as mobile phones, PMPs, and PDAs is accelerated, portable devices having a touch display are becoming more common. Such a touch device is not provided with a keypad implemented in hardware, and is usually provided with a touch keypad implemented in software and displayed through a display as necessary. However, the display of a portable device that emphasizes portability is limited in size to a size that can be grasped by a human hand, and thus the size of a keypad displayed on the display is also limited.

In the case of the conventional touch keypad, the key arrangement of the commonly used keyboard is applied as it is, but since a large number of keys must be arranged in a limited size display, a single key is too small and an error may occur when entering characters. Is higher. In addition, the manufacturer of each portable device uses a touch keypad of the same arrangement as the keypad produced in the hardware form, but this does not take advantage of the efficiency of the touch display.

Unlike a keypad of a hardware type, a keypad displayed on a touch display may appear as a completely different input depending on the type of keys displayed on the screen even if the same location is touched. Recently, various key input methods using the characteristics of the touch type display have been proposed.

As one of them, a method of inputting both initial and neutral at the same time by a single drag has been developed. According to this method, the keypad assigned to the consonants corresponding to the initial consonants is output on the screen, and by touching and dragging one of the character keys simultaneously, the letters in which the vowels corresponding to the drag direction are combined are displayed on the screen. Is output to

As another method, touching one letter key on the keypad assigned to the consonant corresponding to the initial letter causes the first letter to be entered by displaying the letter keys assigned to the vowels corresponding to the neutral. Afterwards, a method of directly inputting neutral without suggesting a touch screen has been proposed.

Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-0073677 (Kim Jung-wook) 2010. 07. 01. A key input unit consisting of a plurality of consonant keys and a single vowel key, a display unit displaying characters input through the key input unit, touch of the consonant key and the vowel key Or a sensing unit for sensing a dragging direction in a pressed state and a control unit for completing and displaying the syllables of Hangul according to the sensed information. Korean Laid-Open Patent No. 2010-0086271 (Pantech & Curitel Co., Ltd.) 2010. 07. 30. Detects touch or drag and drop of a keypad window through a display unit and associates it with a key button corresponding to the detected touch or drag and drop position. A key button is displayed on a keypad window.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a character input device and method for a touch screen that can improve the character input speed by displaying a complete character on the screen by one touch and drag operation on the touch keypad. have.

Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to execute a character input method for a touch screen that can improve the character input speed by displaying a single character on the screen by one touch and drag operation on the touch keypad. The present invention provides a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the character input device for a touch screen according to the present invention includes a plurality of basic consonants selected from the minimum units of characters, an associated consonant selected to correspond to each basic consonant, and a minimum of the characters. A storage unit storing a plurality of basic collections selected from among units and an associated collection selected as corresponding to each of the basic collections; And when the selection signal corresponding to the basic consonant is input, outputs a character key array composed of the related consonant and the basic vowel on a screen, and when the selection signal corresponding to the basic vowel is input, the character key arrangement corresponding to the related vowel Output control unit for outputting the screen.

According to the character input device and method for a touch screen according to the present invention, since a single character can be completed only by a sequential drag operation from a basic consonant in which a touch operation is first performed, convenience and speed of character input can be improved. In addition, by classifying consonants and vowels into a plurality of groups and sequentially outputting a character key array corresponding to each group, the touch type display can be efficiently used, and the accuracy of character input can be improved.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of a character input device for a touch screen according to the present invention;
2 is a diagram illustrating an example in which Korean consonants and vowels are classified into a plurality of groups;
3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first character key array output in correspondence with a character input signal;
4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second character key arrangement outputted in response to a selection signal of a basic consonant;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a third character key arrangement output on a screen in response to a selection signal of a basic bar;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first character key array output on a screen by a selection signal corresponding to a consonant call key; FIG.
7 is a view showing another embodiment in which a first letter key arrangement is output on a screen;
8 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a second character key arrangement displayed on a screen when one of the basic consonants of the first character key arrangement is selected;
9 is a view showing another embodiment of a third character key arrangement displayed on a screen when one of the basic collections of the second character key arrangement is selected;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a form of a first character key arrangement corresponding to a consonant call key; FIG.
11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating the shape and drag direction of a character key array sequentially displayed on a screen when a word 'East Sea' is inputted;
12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a character key arrangement having a modified arrangement form;
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the arrangement of character keys is modified in the character key arrangement shown in FIG. 12;
14 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a preferred embodiment of the character input method for a touch screen according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a character input device and method for a touch screen according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of a character input device for a touch screen according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the character input device 100 for a touch screen according to the present invention includes a storage unit 110 and an output control unit 120, and a smart phone having a touch display as illustrated in FIG. 1. In addition to the 200, a touch type device such as a kiosk installed in a public place and a portable device such as a tablet PC may be implemented.

Hereinafter, a case where the touch screen character input device 100 according to the present invention is implemented in the smart phone 200 as shown in FIG. 1 will be described as a representative embodiment.

First, the storage unit 110 stores a plurality of basic consonants selected from the minimum units of characters, an associated consonant selected as corresponding to each basic consonant, a plurality of basic vowels, and an associated collection selected as corresponding to each basic vowel. . In this case, the associated consonants and the related vowels may be classified into two or more groups and stored together with the first associated consonants corresponding to the basic consonants and the second associated consonants corresponding to the first associated consonants.

As such, when the basic consonants are selected on the keypad displayed on the screen by classifying the minimum units of characters into a plurality of groups, a keypad including the first associated consonants corresponding to the selected basic consonants is output on the screen, and the first associated consonants If this is selected, stepwise character input may be enabled by a method of outputting a keypad including a second associated consonant corresponding to the first associated consonant on a screen. This stepwise character input can be equally applied to vowels.

The character input device 100 for a touch screen according to the present invention may be applied not only to Korean but also to input of a foreign language. However, since a specific implementation form varies according to the type of language, the character input device for a touch screen according to the present invention will be described first. A case of inputting Korean by using 100 will be described, and a case of applying to foreign language input will be described later.

Among the basic units for inputting Hangul, consonants are classified into three groups: basic consonants, first associated consonants, and second associated consonants. For example, when inputting a consonant to be displayed at the position of the first consonant, only the basic consonants and the first consonant are displayed on the screen in turn. Association consonants are sequentially displayed on the screen. Therefore, it is preferable that the double consonants such as 'ㄳ', 'ㄵ', 'ㄶ' used only as the final consonant are selected.

Next, the vowels can be classified into three groups: basic vowels, first associated vowels and second associated vowels. '모', 'ㅑ', 'ㅓ', 'ㅕ', 'ㅗ', 'ㅛ', 'TT', 'ㅠ', 'ㅡ' and 'ㅣ' are selected as the default collection. The vowels and the second associative collection are selected vowels that can be obtained by adding strokes to these basic collections.

2 is a diagram illustrating an example in which consonants and vowels of a Korean alphabet are classified into a plurality of groups.

Referring to FIG. 2, as described above, the consonants are classified into seven basic consonants 210, the first associated consonants 220, and the second associated consonants 230, and the vowels include six basic vowels 240 and a first vowel. It is classified into a first association collection 250 and a second association collection 260. However, in the case of consonants, when the consonants corresponding to the positions of the initial consonants, only the basic consonants 210 and the first consonants 220 are outputted sequentially on the screen in the form of a keypad. In addition, 'ㄵ' and 'ㄹ' were selected as the first associated consonants 220 corresponding to 'b' among the consonants corresponding to the final consonant, which is '1' as the first consonant 220 Compared with only 'L', '이중', which is a double consonant that can only be input as a final word, has been added.

The classification as shown in FIG. 2 is only an example, and the basic consonants 210 and the related consonants 220 and 230, and the basic vowel 240 and the associated vowels 250 and 260 are classified into various forms. It may be stored in the storage 110. In addition, associative consonants 220 and 230 and associative vowels 250 and 260 are not limited to two groups as shown in FIG. 2 but may be classified into fewer or larger groups.

The output control unit 120 outputs each group of consonants and vowels as described above to the touch type display screen in the form of an array of character keys, and generates a character key in which a corresponding touch operation is generated by a touch operation corresponding to each character key. Performs the function of displaying consonants or vowels on the screen.

In detail, the output controller 120 outputs a first character key array composed of basic consonants 210 on the screen in response to the character input signal, and selects a basic selected from among basic consonants 210 included in the first character key array. When the selection signal corresponding to the consonant is input, a second letter key array including the associated consonants 220 and 230 and the basic collection 240 corresponding to the selected basic consonant is output to the screen and included in the second letter key array. A third signal including a consonant call key for calling the associated collections 250 and 260 corresponding to the selected basic vowel and the first character key array when a selection signal corresponding to the selected basic vowel from among the selected basic vowels 240 is input; Print an array of character keys on the screen.

When the user executes a function that requires input of a character while using the smartphone 200, the text input function of the smartphone 200 is activated, and a text input signal is generated accordingly. The output control unit 110 outputs consonants and vowels stored in the storage unit 110 in the form of a character key array so that a user may input a character by a touch operation in response to the character input signal. In this case, the first letter key array corresponding to the letter input signal is a letter key array composed of seven basic consonants 210 shown in FIG. 2. Due to the characteristics of Hangeul, there is no letter consisting of vowels only. When entering letters, consonants must always be entered first, so it is not necessary to include vowels in the first letter key array.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first character key array output in correspondence with a character input signal. Referring to FIG. 3, the first character key arrangement 300 includes character keys to which seven basic consonants 210 are assigned, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2, and a delete key (as an option key for a special function). 310 and a blank key 320 are further included. The option key is not necessarily limited to the delete key 310 and the blank key 320, and may be changed to a key to which a function frequently used by a user is assigned as necessary.

When a user's touch operation on one of the seven basic consonants 210 illustrated in FIG. 3 occurs, a selection signal corresponding to the basic consonant is input to the output controller 120. Accordingly, the output control unit 120 displays a basic consonant to which the selection signal is input so that the user can check the first consonant 220 and the basic vowels 240 corresponding to the selected basic consonant. The second character key array including the output to the screen.

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second character key arrangement outputted in response to a selection signal of a basic consonant. Referring to FIG. 4, 'c' is selected from the basic consonants 210 of the first character key array 300 shown in FIG. 3, and thus, the first associated consonant 220 corresponding to 'c' is A second letter key arrangement 400 including 'ㄸ' and 'ㅌ' and six basic collections 240 is output. At this time, 'c' selected in the first character key array 300 is maintained in its original position.

When the user selects one of the first associative consonants 220 in the second character key array 400 as shown in FIG. 4, 'c', which is already displayed on the screen, is converted into the selected first associative consonants, and the user is selected from the basic collections. If one of 240 is selected, the selected basic bar is combined as a neutral for 'c' and displayed on the screen. In this case, the operation of selecting one letter key from the second letter key array 400 by dragging the letter key to another letter key of the second letter key array 400 while touching the point where the first 'c' is selected is located. By doing so. Therefore, the user performs the conversion of the initial formation or the neutral input only by the dragging operation without releasing the touch operation in the middle in order to input one letter of 'c' as the initial generation.

If only the consonants corresponding to the initial consonants are displayed on the screen, for example, if the user releases the touch gesture when only 'c' is displayed or 'c' is converted to 'ㄸ' or 'ㅌ' The input of letters that make up the consonants is stopped, and the output control unit 120 initializes the character input process and again outputs the first letter key array 300 including the basic consonants 210 on the screen.

As another embodiment, the output control unit 120 may delete the consonants that have already been displayed on the screen when the user's touch operation is released within a preset reference time from the time when only the consonants corresponding to the consonants are displayed on the screen. At this time, the reference time is preferably set to a short time of 0.1 seconds to 0.5 seconds so as not to affect the speed of the text input. As such, when the touch operation is released immediately in the state of inputting only the initial consonants, the initial consonants displayed on the screen are deleted, so that characters that are incorrectly displayed due to an error of the touch operation due to the characteristics of the touch display can be corrected immediately. In this case, the user's convenience may be improved since the touch operation may be continued after the reference time or more.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the user performs a drag operation from the point where the 'c' is touched to the position of the desired main collection 240 to display the neutrality coupled to the 'c' input as the initial constellation on the screen. For example, if the user wants to input 'ㅗ' among the basic collections 240, the first touch of 'c' is dragged from the first touch point to the point where '해제' is located without releasing the touch operation. It is possible to have a 'degree' combined with '성' as a neutral output on the screen.

In this way, the input of the selection signal corresponding to any one of the character keys in the second character key array 400 is selected at the point at which the selection signal for inputting the second character key array to the screen is input, that is, the first character key array. The end point of the vector corresponding to the drag operation generated from the position of the basic consonant is made. In the above-described example, since the drag operation occurs from the position of 'c' to 'k', the end point of the vector corresponding to the drag operation corresponds to the position of 'k'. Therefore, the selection signal corresponding to 'k' is input to the output controller 120, and the output controller 120 displays 'k' as neutral on the screen accordingly.

When one of the main collections 240 is selected in the second character key arrangement 400, the output control unit 120 displays the corresponding main collection as neutral and simultaneously displays the first associated collection 250 corresponding to the selected main collection. ) And a third character key array including the consonant call key for calling the first character key array 300 on the screen. Assume a case where 'c' is selected in the first character key array 300 and '에서' is selected in the second character key array 400 for connection with the foregoing description.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first associated collection 250 corresponding to the basic collection '모' is 'ㅛ' and 'ㅚ'. If 'ㅗ' is selected in the second character key array 400, the output control unit 120 deletes the second character key array that was output on the screen, and the 'ㅛ' corresponding to 'ㅗ' is 'ㅛ'. A third character key array including 'and' ㅚ 'and a consonant call key is output on the screen in a form of overwriting the first character key array 300.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a third character key arrangement displayed on a screen in response to a selection signal of a basic bar. Referring to FIG. 5, the second character key array 400 except for the default vowel 'ㅗ' selected from the second character key array 400 is deleted, and the first associated vowel 250 and the consonant call key 510 are deleted. The third character key array 500 is included on the screen.

In the third character key array 500 shown in FIG. 5, the user's touch operation occurs first at 'c' of the first character key array 300 and drags to 'ㅗ' of the second character key array 400. The operation is made. The user may convert the basic collection displayed on the screen or additionally input the finality by performing a continuous drag operation toward another key of the third character key array 500 without releasing the touch operation.

First, when the user selects 'ㅛ' from the first association collection 250 by the dragging operation, the output controller 120 converts the neutral '이미', which is already output on the screen, into ',', and then 'ㅛ' Print a new array of character keys corresponding to. However, as shown in FIG. 2, since there is no second associated collection 260 corresponding to 'ㅛ', a letter key array including only consonant call keys 510 is output on the screen. Meanwhile, when 'ㅚ' is selected from the first associated collection 250, 'ㅘ' and 'ㅙ' are stored as the second associated collection 260 as shown in FIG. 2, and thus the output controller 120 A character key array including 'ㅘ' and 'ㅙ', which are the second association bar 260, and the consonant call key 510, is output on the screen.

Next, when the user selects the consonant call key 510 instead of the first associated vowel 250 by a drag operation, a selection signal corresponding to the consonant call key 510 is input to the output controller 120, and the output control unit ( 120 outputs a first letter key array 300 composed of basic consonants 210 to the screen. At this time, the shape of the first character key array 300 is different from that shown in FIG. 3, if the first character key array 300 is output by a selection signal corresponding to the consonant call key 510. Seven basic consonants 210 are arranged in the form of a call key 510.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first letter key arrangement displayed on a screen by a selection signal corresponding to the consonant call key 510. Referring to FIG. 6, the consonant call key 510 is located at the center of the first letter key array 600 corresponding to the consonant call key 510, and the basic consonants 210 replace the consonant call key 510. It is arranged in a surrounding form.

When the user selects one of the basic consonants 210 by the drag operation from the consonant call key 510, the output control unit 120 includes a text key including a first associated consonant 220 corresponding to the selected basic consonant. Print an array. In addition, when the user selects one of the first associative consonants 220 by the dragging operation, the output controller 120 outputs a character key array including the second associative consonants 230 corresponding to the selected first associative consonants. . However, if the second associated consonant 230 does not exist, the process of inputting a single character is terminated without outputting a new character key array on the screen.

Character input by the above process is terminated by the user's touch operation release. In other words, if you want to input a character without the finality, the input process of one letter is released by releasing the touch operation while the basic vowel 240, the first associated vowel 250 or the second associated vowel 260 is displayed on the screen. In the case of a character having a finality, the basic consonant 210, the first associated consonant 220, or the second associated consonant 230 selected from the first letter key array 300 corresponding to the consonant call key 510 is terminated. The input process is terminated by canceling the touch operation in the state displayed on this screen.

Meanwhile, the arrangement form of the first character key arrangement 300 to the third character key arrangement 500 described above may be output to the screen in another form in consideration of the user's convenience.

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment in which the first letter key array 300 is displayed on a screen. Unlike FIG. 3, one of two option keys is located at the center of the first letter key array 300. Located. This arrangement may cause the arrangement of the basic consonants 210 to be identical in the first character key arrangement 300 for initial entry and the first character key arrangement 600 for final entry. In addition, in the positions indicated by a and b in FIG. 7, an option key having a function required by a user, such as a delete key 310 and a blank key 320 as described above, may be disposed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the second character key array 400 output to the screen when one of the basic consonants 210 of the first character key array 300 is selected. In FIG. 8, a basic consonant selected from the first letter key arrangement 300 is disposed at position a, and a first associated consonant 220 corresponding to the selected basic consonant is disposed at positions b and c. If there is no corresponding consonant, the option key may be arranged at the corresponding position. Basic collections 240 are disposed in the remaining positions of the second character key arrangement 400 as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a third character key arrangement 500 that is output on a screen when one of the basic collections 240 of the second character key arrangement 400 is selected. 9 illustrates various embodiments of the third character key arrangement 500. As shown in FIG. 2, since there are two or less first associated collections 250 corresponding to each basic collection 240, The three-character key arrangement 500 is composed of up to four keys. In FIG. 9, the basic collection selected in the second character key arrangement 400 is disposed at position a, and the first associated collection 250 corresponding to the selected basic collection is disposed at positions b and c, or the first association. If there is no collection 250, an option key may be arranged. The key marked as 'jongseong' is a consonant call key 510 for calling the first letter key array 300 to input a consonant corresponding to the seed.

When one of the first association vowels 250 is selected in the second character key arrangement 400 as shown in FIG. 9, the second association vowel 260 and the consonant call key 510 stored in correspondence with the selected first association vowel are selected. The array of character keys that it contains is printed on the screen. The character key arrangement in this case is not separately shown, but each key may be arranged in the same form as shown in FIG. In this case, the selected first associated vowel is disposed at the position a in FIG. 9, and the second associated vowel 260 or the option key is disposed at the positions b and c.

In the second character key arrangement 400 of FIG. 9, the consonant call key 510 is selected, or the first association vowel 250 is selected and the corresponding second association vowel 260 does not exist, or the second When one of the consonant call key 510 or the second associated vowel 260 is selected in the character key array including the associative vowel 260, the output controller 120 generates a character key array composed of the basic consonants 210. Print to the screen. This is referred to as a first character key arrangement 600 corresponding to the consonant call key 510 for convenience of description. However, the first character key array 600 corresponding to the consonant call key 510 is not necessarily displayed on the screen only when the user selects the consonant call key 510 as described above. It is apparent that even if 250 or the second associated collection 260 is selected, it may be output on the understanding screen to the output control unit 120.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the form of the first character key arrangement 600 corresponding to the consonant call key 510. The first letter key arrangement 600 corresponding to the consonant call key 510 illustrated in FIG. 10 may confirm that the arrangement of the first letter key arrangement 300 and the basic consonants 210 illustrated in FIG. 7 are the same. have. However, unlike the first character key arrangement 300 illustrated in FIG. 7, in FIG. 10, the consonant call key 510 or the last selected vowel is disposed at the position a, and the option key is disposed at the position b. As such, the basic consonants 210 are maintained every time the output is displayed on the screen, thereby improving user convenience and enabling intuitive input.

Hereinafter, a process of inputting an actual word will be described based on the arrangement of each character key arrangement described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.

11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a shape and a drag direction of a character key array sequentially displayed on a screen when a word 'East Sea' is input.

First, FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating each step of inputting 'dong'. When the first letter key array 300 including the basic consonants 210 is outputted on the screen as shown in (a), the user is referred to as 'c'. Touching the location point (①), the output control unit 120 displays the initial letter 'c' on the screen and outputs the second letter key array 400 centering on 'c' as shown in (b). do. In order to input the letter 'dong', the user should select 'ㅗ' from the basic collection 240 of the second character key array 400. Therefore, the user touches the point where 'ㅗ' is located while touching 'ㄷ'. Perform a drag operation (②). Accordingly, the output controller displays the letter 'degree' by combining 'ㅗ' on the screen with 'ㄷ', and outputs the third character key array 500 centering on 'ㅗ' as shown in (c). .

In order to complete the 'dong', the user only needs to input the final 'ㅇ', so the user performs the drag operation to the position of the consonant call key 510 marked as 'the finality' while the drag operation is made up to 'ㅗ'. (3), the output control unit 120 outputs the first letter key array 600 centered on the consonant call key 510 to the screen as shown in (d). The user performs a drag operation to select 'O' which is the finality of 'East' among the output basic consonants 210 (④).

As a result, the output control unit 120 displays the word 'dong' on the screen by combining the finality 'ㅇ' with the 'degree' displayed on the screen, and the first associated consonant 220 corresponding to 'ㅇ' 'ㅎ' Print a new character key array containing 'on the screen as shown in (e). Since the user does not need to select the first associated consonant 220, the touch operation is released by moving the touch point to an empty area where the letter key arrangement does not exist (⑤). It shows the drag direction of the user for input together, it can be seen that a single letter consisting of initial, neutral, and finality is completed by one drag.

11B is a diagram illustrating each step for inputting a 'solution'. In the first character key array 300 composed of basic consonants 210 as shown in (a), the user touches a point at which 'ㅇ' is located (①), and the output control unit 120 displays 'ㅇ' on the screen. At the same time as the display (b), the second character key array 400 centered on 'O' is output on the screen. Since the first consonant 220 of the 'year' is 'ㅎ', the user performs a drag operation from 'ㅇ' to 'ㅎ' (②), and the output controller 120 displays the screen. While converting the displayed 'ㅇ' to 'ㅎ', as shown in (c), the character key array consisting of the basic collections 240 is output based on 'ㅎ'. Since the neutral of the solution is 'ㅐ' and the default collection is 'ㅏ', the user performs a drag operation from the position of 'ㅎ' to the position of 'ㅏ' (③) and the output control unit 120 Combine 'ㅏ' with the displayed 'ㅎ' to display '하'.

In addition, the output control unit 120 displays the third character key array 500 on the screen as shown in (d) centering on the selected basic collection 'ㅏ', and the user associates the first to complete the letter 'Sea'. A drag operation of selecting 'ㅐ' from the collections 250 is performed (④). Accordingly, the output control unit 120 converts the neutral 'ㅏ' of the 'low' displayed on the screen into 'ㅐ' so that the 'solution' is displayed.

On the other hand, since there is no second associated vowel 260 corresponding to 'ㅐ', 'ㅐ' is the last selected vowel, and the output controller 120 has the basic consonants 210 around the last selected 'ㅐ'. The character key array consisting of) is displayed on the screen as shown in (e). Since there is no finality in the 'solution', the user ends the text input process by dragging toward the area where the letter key is not disposed or by releasing the touch operation (⑤). FIG. 11B (f) illustrates the entire drag process, and a user may input one letter only by a drag operation within a narrow range.

On the other hand, the character key arrays described above all have a matrix arrangement. However, the character input device 100 for the touch screen according to the present invention is not limited to the arrangement of the matrix form, and may use various types of character key arrangements to improve the convenience and accuracy of the user's character input.

12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a character key arrangement having a modified arrangement. Referring to FIG. 12, it can be seen that the first associated consonants 220 are displayed together on the screen in addition to the basic consonants 210 constituting the first character key array 300. In this case, the selection of each character key is made by considering the distance as well as the direction of the vector corresponding to the drag operation. In order to increase the accuracy of character input in this type of character key arrangement, a method of modifying the arrangement of the character keys in real time may be used.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example in which an arrangement of character keys is modified in the character key arrangement shown in FIG. 12. In the arrangement as shown in FIG. 13A, when the drag operation is performed in the direction of the arrow from the position of 'ㅂ', 'ㅁ', 'B' and 'c' are disposed in the area indicated by the arrow. Since each character key is in the adjacent position, it is likely to be mistyped. Therefore, as the drag is made in the direction of the arrow, the letter keys other than 'ㅁ', 'ㄴ' and 'c' are deactivated as shown in (b), and 'b' and 'ㄷ' are moved away from 'ㅁ'. Are moved and placed. In this state, the user can accurately input characters by dragging again in the direction in which the desired character keys are located as shown in (c).

As described above, the character input device for a touch screen according to the present invention may be suitably used for input of Korean characters. However, the type of language used is not limited, and foreign languages can also be applied.

For example, when the present invention is applied to a language using an alphabet, the alphabet is classified into a plurality of groups, and the alphabet selected from each group is mapped to each other, similarly to the classification of a consonant and a vowel into a plurality of groups. Form relationships such as associative consonants and basic vowels and associative vowels. As described above, the association consonant and the association vowel may be classified into a plurality of groups. In addition, when a plurality of alphabets are combined and used conventionally, such as th, sh, ch, and ing, they may be treated as the Korean consonants and arranged as one letter key. Furthermore, when the character key arrangement has a form as shown in FIG. 12, a large number of character keys can be displayed on one screen, and thus can be applied more efficiently in the case of the alphabet.

14 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a preferred embodiment of the character input method for a touch screen according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 14, the output controller 120 outputs a first character key array 300 including basic consonants 210 to the screen in response to the character input signal (S1405). When one of the basic consonants 210 is selected by the user's touch operation, the output controller 120 may include a first character including the first associated consonant 220 and the basic collection 240 corresponding to the selected basic consonant. The key arrangement 400 is output to the screen (S1410).

When the user selects one of the first associative consonants 220 by the dragging operation (S1415), the character key array consisting of the basic collections 240 is output to the screen (S1420), and the first associative consonants 220 are displayed. If not selected, the subsequent process is performed based on the second character key arrangement 400.

The output control unit 120 includes a third character key array 500 including a first association vowel 250 and a consonant call key 510 corresponding to the basic vowel selected from the basic vowels 240 by a user drag operation. Is output to the screen, and the user selects the first associated collection 250 or the consonant call key 510 by a dragging operation.

If one of the first associated collections 250 is selected (S1430) and there is a second associated collection 260 corresponding to the selected first associated collection (S1435), the output control unit 120 performs the second associated collection (260). And a character key array including the consonant call key 510 on the screen (S1440). When the user selects one of the second associated vowels 260 or the consonant call key 510 or there is no second related vowel 260 corresponding to the selected first associated vowel, the output control unit 120 closes the terminal. A character key array consisting of basic consonants 210 is output to the screen for the input of (S1445).

When the user selects one of the basic consonants 210 by the continuous drag operation, the output control unit 120 outputs a character key array composed of the first associated consonants 220 corresponding to the selected basic consonants on the screen ( In operation S1450, the user may select the first associated consonant 220 in operation S1455 or may release the touch operation. When the first associated consonant 220 is selected and the second associated consonant 230 corresponding thereto is present (S1460), the output controller 120 outputs a character key array consisting of the second associated consonants 230 on the screen. do. The user may end the input process of the letter by selecting the second associated consonant 230 or releasing the touch operation in the state in which the first associated consonant 220 is selected.

The present invention can also be embodied as computer-readable codes on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, and the like, and may be implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission via the Internet) . The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation in the embodiment in which said invention is directed. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

100-Character input device for touch screen 110-Storage
120-Output Control 210-Basic Consonant
220-First Associated Consonant 230-Second Associated Consonant
240-Default Collection 250-First Association
260-Second Association Collection 300-First Character Key Arrangement
310-Delete Key 320-Blank Key
400-Second Character Key Array 500-Third Character Key Array
510-Consonant Call Key
600-first character key array corresponding to the consonant call keys

Claims (3)

A plurality of basic consonants selected from the minimum units of characters, an associative consonant selected to correspond to the respective basic consonants, a plurality of basic vowels selected from the minimum units of the characters, and an associative vowel selected to correspond to the respective basic vowels The stored storage; And
When a selection signal corresponding to the basic consonant is input, a character key array consisting of the related consonant and the basic vowel is output to the screen. When the selection signal corresponding to the basic vowel is input, the character key arrangement corresponding to the related vowel is output. Character input device for a touch screen comprising a; output control unit for outputting on the screen. The method of claim 1,
The output control unit selects a character key to be displayed as a character on the screen among the character keys included in the character key array based on the drag direction and the drag distance from the point where the input of the selection signal is started by the touch operation on the screen. Character input device for a touch screen, characterized in that for selecting. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The minimum unit of the character is a character input device for a touch screen, characterized in that the minimum units constituting the Hangul.

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