JP2000267794A - Character input method and character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make well inputtable characters such as KANJI (Chinese characters) to an electronic equipment having a limited space where the operation keys, etc., are arranged by selecting a 1st pronunciation element and a 2nd pronunciation element that is combined with the 1st pronunciation element according to the 1st and 2nd direction indications and a final decision indication. SOLUTION: A user turns a rotary operation part 34 to give an underline to a desired character to be inputted in a state where characters to be selected are displayed. A CPU judges the turning direction and the turning quantity of the part 34 and varies the KANJI display state according to the judged result. The user depresses the part 34 by looking at the display contents of a display part 40 after an underline is given to the desired character. When the CPU judges the depressing operation of the user, it decides the KANJI having an underline as the character that is selected to be inputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character input method and a character input device suitable for a relatively small electronic device such as a portable telephone terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a small electronic device such as a portable telephone terminal or a pager device, a display means such as a liquid crystal display is provided to display various information such as numerals, characters, and figures. . For example, in the case of a mobile phone terminal, a function called an electronic telephone directory is provided so that a plurality of phone numbers of about several hundreds can be stored, and to whom the outgoing call is made for each of the stored phone numbers. There is a model in which a name or a name (such as a company name) indicating whether the telephone number is a telephone number to be stored is stored, and the stored telephone number and name can be displayed. Further, in the case of a mobile phone terminal having a function of transmitting a text message, text information input to this mobile phone terminal is transmitted to another telephone, and text information transmitted from another telephone is transmitted. , And can be received by the mobile phone terminal and displayed on the display means.

[0003] When it is considered to display Chinese kanji on a display means provided in such an electronic device, the number of characters is 6 to 7,000 even for commonly used kanji. Some ingenuity was needed. That is, in the case of a relatively large electronic device equipped with a keyboard capable of inputting alphabets, the user can use the keyboard to input the pronunciation of the kanji desired to be input in the alphabet, and sequentially select candidates for the characters of the pronunciation. It is possible to display on the display means and search for a target character from the display.

[0004]

However, in a relatively small electronic device such as a portable telephone terminal, the number of keys that can be arranged on the terminal is limited.
Only the dial keys corresponding to the number of $ 9,0 and several function keys were arranged. Therefore, processing for inputting kanji characters in alphabet input is not applicable to small electronic devices such as mobile phone terminals. Some models assign about three alphabets to each dial key of a mobile phone terminal so that the alphabet can be input by the number of times the key is pressed. Had a very tedious problem.

Conventionally, as a Chinese kanji input process proposed in a portable telephone terminal, for example, each side constituting a radical of a kanji is assigned to each dial key,
There is a process of specifying a radical by sequentially designating each side in correspondence with the writing order, and searching for and inputting a target character from the radical. For example, when a radical "king" is designated, the radical is composed of sides of "1" and "|", so that "1", "1", "1" | ",
Perform the operation of inputting “one” in order (example of stroke order in China), specify “king” and radical, and change the kanji combined with the radical “king” to “wang, wang, beauty” The target character is searched for from the displayed characters, and the searched character is designated.

However, in the input processing using the radicals, it is necessary to memorize the stroke order of each radical accurately, and in the case of a radical having a large number of strokes, the number of key operations is increased. There was a problem that it was not possible to quickly find and enter the required characters.

[0007] Here, the problem of inputting kanji with a mobile phone terminal has been described. However, similar problems occur when inputting kanji in Chinese or the like with various similar small electronic devices. is there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device in which the positions of operation keys and the like are limited so that characters such as kanji can be input well.

[0009]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a method for retrieving a search target character expressed by a combination of a first sounding element and a second sounding element for each first sounding element. Storage means for classifying and storing for each combination with the second sounding element, operating means for giving an instruction in a first direction, an instruction in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a finalizing instruction A display means for displaying the search target character, and a display on the display means, wherein a first sounding element is selected by an instruction in first and second directions and a confirmation instruction by the operation means, The display state is sequentially controlled to select a second sound element to be combined with the selected first sound element and select a search target character expressed by the selected combination of the first and second sound elements. And control means for performing the control.

According to the present invention, the first and second operating means
, The first sounding element, the second sounding element combined with the selected first sounding element, and the selected first and second sounding elements. By selecting from the search target characters of the pronunciation specified by the above, an arbitrary character can be selected as an input character.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the present embodiment, a portable telephone terminal capable of performing a radio communication with a base station for a radio telephone through a predetermined radio telephone line and performing a voice data transmission call and various data communications. This is applied when performing.

First, the configuration of the portable telephone terminal will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment. The mobile phone terminal includes a central control unit (CPU) 31 composed of a microcomputer. Communication as a telephone and various functions of the terminal are executed.

As a configuration for performing wireless communication, the audio signal picked up by the microphone 11 is subjected to baseband processing by the amplifier 12 or the like. The audio signal that has been subjected to the baseband processing is converted into digital audio data of a predetermined format by an analog / digital converter 13. The digital audio data converted by the analog / digital converter 13 is supplied to a data processing unit 14, where the data is converted into a data structure for transmission.
At this time, a process of adding control data and the like supplied from the central control unit 31 to the data for transmission is performed. The transmission data processed by the data processing unit 14 is
And modulate it for transmission. The data modulated by the modulation unit 15 is supplied to a high-frequency circuit unit 16 for transmission, and is converted into a transmission frequency. The transmission signal converted to the transmission frequency by the high-frequency circuit unit 16 is supplied to the antenna 18 via the antenna changeover switch 17 and transmitted from the antenna 18 by radio.

A signal received by the antenna 18 is supplied to a high-frequency circuit section 19 for reception via an antenna changeover switch 17 to convert a signal of a predetermined frequency into an intermediate frequency signal (or a baseband signal). Perform high frequency processing. The intermediate frequency signal converted by the high frequency circuit unit 19 is supplied to a demodulation unit 20 and demodulated for reception. The data demodulated by the demodulation unit 20 is supplied to the data processing unit 14. The data processing unit 14 performs a process of extracting audio data and control data from the supplied reception data. The extracted audio data is converted into an analog audio signal by the digital / analog converter 21. The audio signal converted by the digital / analog converter 21 is subjected to baseband processing by an amplifier 22 or the like, and then emitted from a speaker 23. The control data extracted by the data processing unit 14 is supplied to the central control unit 31.

The central control unit 31 is connected to a memory 32 in which an operation program necessary for a wireless telephone is stored in advance. Further, under the control of the central control unit 31, the memory 32 stores data set by a user operation, such as electronic telephone directory data and text message information described later. here,
In the case of the mobile phone terminal of this example, in addition to characters such as alphabets, kanji characters such as Chinese can be stored as electronic telephone directory data and character message information, and kanji is stored in a predetermined code. It has a function to do. The memory 32 also stores information necessary for a search process required when performing the kanji character input. Information required for the kanji input search process will be described later.

Further, this portable telephone terminal has 1,2,3 ‥
It has an operation key 33 on which a plurality of function keys such as a dial key corresponding to a number of $ 9, 0 and a symbol of $, *, a transmission key, an end key, etc. are arranged, and an input operation by rotating operation and pressing operation. Is provided with a rotary operation unit 34 that can perform the operation. The rotary operation unit 34 is called a jog dial or the like. When the operation keys 33 and the rotary operation unit 34 are operated, an operation command is supplied to the central control unit 31.

The portable telephone terminal of the present embodiment has a display unit 40 composed of a liquid crystal display. Under the control of the central control unit 31, a predetermined number of digits, characters and figures are displayed on the display unit 40 in a plurality of lines. (For example, about 4 lines). The display unit 40 incorporates a backlight so that the display can be checked even in a dark place.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the external appearance of the portable telephone terminal of the present embodiment. A microphone 11 is arranged on the lower side on the front side of a housing constituting the portable telephone terminal 10, and a speaker 23 is arranged on the upper side. The operation keys 33 and the display unit 40 are arranged between them. In addition, a rotary operation unit 34 is disposed on a left side surface of the surface on which the operation keys 33 and the display unit 40 are disposed. The rotary operation unit 34 is a rotary switch called a jog dial or the like, and only a part of a disk-shaped member is arranged to protrude from the main body of the terminal, and this member is moved upward in the direction indicated by an arrow a. An operation of rotating, an operation of rotating in a downward direction indicated by an arrow b, and an arrow c
The operation can be pushed down to the main body side, and the corresponding operation information is supplied to the central control unit 34 when each operation is performed. This rotary operation unit 3
Reference numeral 4 denotes, for example, when the mobile phone terminal 10 is held by the left hand, the up / down rotation operation and the pressing operation can be performed only by the thumb of the left hand. In this example, the rotary operation unit 3
4 is used to input characters.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 40 arranged in the portable telephone terminal of the present embodiment has at least a first display digit 41 and a second display digit 41 as display digits for displaying numbers and characters.
Is provided. In addition, a display digit 43 for displaying the reception level, the remaining amount of the battery, and the like using a graphic or the like is prepared.

The first and second display digits 41, 4 of the display unit 40
For example, when an outgoing operation is performed at this terminal or an incoming call is received at this terminal, the telephone number of the destination and the telephone number of the source are controlled by the central control unit 31 under the second control. The number is displayed in the display digit 42. In addition, when the registration processing of the telephone number of the call destination is performed by the electronic telephone directory function, the display of the registered telephone number by the numeral and the relation to the telephone number are controlled by the central control unit 31. The display of a name (or a name such as a company name) in characters or the like is performed using two display digits 41 and 42. here,
In the case of this example, as the name or name related to the telephone number,
The display using Chinese characters such as Chinese and letters such as the alphabet can be performed.

When the mode in which the registered telephone number is displayed on the display unit 40 is set, the rotary operation unit 34 described above is used.
Under the control of the central control unit 31 based on the upward or downward rotation operation, the telephone numbers and names to be displayed are sequentially changed for each case in a predetermined order or a reverse order. The telephone number to be transmitted by such an operation is displayed on the display unit 4.
When displayed as 0, when the operation of pushing down the rotary operation unit 34 is performed, the central control unit 31 is configured to perform a transmission process to the telephone number.

When displaying the destination and the telephone number of the caller, if the telephone number is a telephone number registered in advance by the above-mentioned electronic telephone directory function, the registered telephone number may be registered in addition to the telephone number. The displayed name is displayed.

Further, the portable telephone terminal of this embodiment is configured so as to be able to transmit and receive a text message under the control of the central control unit 31. When a text message is received, the received text message is transmitted. In addition to the storage in the memory 32, the stored text message is displayed on the display unit 40. Further, a text message input by a user operation and displayed on the display unit 40 can be transmitted to a partner of an arbitrary telephone number under the control of the central control unit 31. This text message can be displayed using characters such as Chinese characters and alphabets, as in the case of the telephone directory function described above.

Next, a process for inputting characters using the mobile phone terminal of the present embodiment will be described. Here, in order to register a name or the like with the above-described electronic telephone directory function or to prepare a text message to be transmitted, character input is performed, and an example in which Chinese kanji is input will be described.

First, in the memory 32 provided in the portable telephone terminal of the present embodiment, Chinese kanji codes are classified and stored according to the pronunciation of each character. Here, we focus on the fact that the pronunciation of each kanji is composed of a combination of the pronunciation element of the consonant part of the beginning of the word called the vowel and the pronunciation element of the part containing the vowel called the vowel. Are classified and stored.

That is, the initials constituting the pronunciation of Chinese kanji are basically 2 characters as shown by the alphabetized symbols (Roman characters) in the column of [Shen Mu] in the following [Table 1].
It can be classified into one pronunciation. The rhymes can be classified into 35 pronunciations, as indicated by alphabetized symbols (Roman characters) in the column of the rhyme [Yun Mu] in Table 1.

[0028]

[Table 1]

In this case, in the case of this example, the memory 32 stores information on a rhyme that has a combination with each of the 21 voices. The following [Table 2] shows an example.

[0030]

[Table 2]

For example, the number of rhymes having a combination with the vowel [f] is nine as shown in [Table 2], and the number of rhymes having a combination with the vowel [j] is 14 as shown in [Table 2]. When the pronunciation is specified by the combination of the vowel and the rhyme in this way, the number of kanji corresponding to the specified pronunciation is usually several to several tens. here,
The information of the kanji specified by the combination of each of the initials and the initials is stored in the memory 32.

Using the information stored in the memory 32 as described above, the central control unit 31 executes a character input process in a process according to the flowchart of FIG. At the time of this character input processing, the central control unit 31 uses the second display digit 42 of the display unit 40 as a display position for input processing, and a user who performs a character input operation while watching the display at the display digit 42 is used. Execute the input operation. The display unit 40
The first display digit 41 is used as a display position of a character string whose input has been confirmed, and characters input in the following processing are displayed in this display digit 41 one by one, and a name, a character message, and the like are displayed. It is to be completed. FIG. 4 shows the display digit 4
9 shows an example of a change in display at 1, 42.

The processing of the flowchart of FIG. 3 will be described below. First, the central control unit 31 determines whether or not the mode is for inputting characters (step 101). Here, in the case of the character input mode, symbols representing the pronunciation of the initial are sequentially displayed on the display unit 40 (step 10).
2). FIG. 4A shows a display example at this time. For example, the initial is displayed in the second display digit 42 in a predetermined order. Then, a display indicating that this is the selected voice is displayed on one of the displayed voices. For example, FIG.
In the example of, an underline is added to the initial displayed at the left end of the display digit 42, and a display indicating that the initial is selected is performed.

With this initial displayed, the user who performs the character input operation can turn the rotary operation unit 3 so that the initial of the character to be input is underlined.
4 is rotated. The central control unit 31 determines whether or not there is a rotation operation of the rotary operation unit 34 (step 103). If a rotation operation has been performed, the direction in which the rotation operation was performed (upward direction a or downward direction b shown in FIG. 2) and the amount of rotation are determined, and the display of the initial is performed based on the determination state. Change state (step 10
4). Specifically, for example, when the rotary operation unit 34 is rotated upward, the display of the initial on the display digit 42 is changed to scroll to the left, and the rotary operation unit 34 is rotated downward. At this time, the display of the initial at the display digit 42 is changed so as to scroll rightward. The position where the underline is provided remains fixed to the left end, and the selected voice varies with the rotation operation of the rotary operation unit 34.

Here, the user who performs the character input operation looks at the display on the display unit 40 and presses the rotary operation unit 34 when the voice of the character to be input is underlined. . The central control unit 31 determines whether or not there is this pressing operation (step 105). If the pressing operation is determined, the initial underlined at that time is determined as the selected initial. ,
A display process of a humor combined with the determined vowel is performed (step 106).

As shown in FIG. 4B, the determined vowel is displayed at the left end of the display digit 42 and the position where the underline is given is displayed on the display digit 42 of the display unit 40 at this time. , And move it to the right of the determined voice. Then, immediately, the rhymes to be combined with the determined voice are sequentially displayed on the right side of the determined voice as shown in FIG. 4C. Therefore, there is no actual display of the state shown in FIG. 4B, and if a selection operation is performed from the display state of the initial shown in FIG.

With the rhyme displayed, the user who performs the character input operation can turn the rotary operation unit 3 so that the rhyme of the character to be input is underlined.
4 is rotated. The central control unit 31 determines whether or not there is a rotation operation of the rotary operation unit 34 (step 107). If a rotation operation has been performed, the direction in which the rotation operation was performed (upward direction a or downward direction b shown in FIG. 2) and the amount of the rotation are determined, and based on the determination state, the display of the rhyme is displayed. Change state (step 10
8). Specifically, for example, when the rotary operation unit 34 is rotated upward, the display of the rhyme on the display digit 42 is changed to scroll to the left, and the rotary operation unit 34 is rotated downward. At this time, the display of the rhyme in the display digit 42 is changed so as to scroll rightward. However, the display of the confirmed voice at the left end remains fixed. The position indicated to be selected with an underline is
This is the rhyme displayed next to the leftmost voice, and the rhyme to be selected changes with the rotation operation of the rotary operation unit 34.

Here, the user who performs the character input operation looks at the display on the display unit 40 and presses the rotary operation unit 34 when an underline is added to the rhyme of the character to be input. . The central control unit 31 determines whether or not there is this pressing operation (step 109), and when determining the pressing operation, determines the rhyme to which the underline is given at that time as the selected rhyme. . Then, the central control unit 31 reads out the kanji of the pronunciation specified by the initial determined in step 105 and the determined final, from the information stored in the memory 32, and reads the read kanji in a predetermined order. It is displayed on the display digits 42 of the display unit 40 in order (step 110). For example,
As shown in FIG. 4D, when [ang] is selected as the rhyme in a state where [zh] is selected as the initial,
As shown in E, the kanji pronounced as [zh ang] is displayed in the display digit 42 in order. At this time, a display is provided in which a character at a specific position (here, the leftmost character) is provided with an underline, and a display is provided indicating that the kanji with the underline is selected.

With the kanji, which is the selected character, displayed, the user performing the character input operation rotates the rotary operation unit 34 so that the character to be input is underlined. Let it. Central control unit 3
In step 1, it is determined whether or not there is a rotation operation of the rotary operation unit 34 (step 111). If there has been a rotation operation, the direction in which the rotation operation was performed (upward direction a shown in FIG. 2)
Alternatively, the rotation amount is determined in the downward direction b), and the display state of the kanji is changed based on the determination state (step 112). Specifically, for example, when the rotary operation unit 34 is rotated upward, the display column of the kanji on the display digit 42 is changed to scroll to the left, and the rotary operation unit 34 is rotated downward. Then, the display column of the kanji at the display digit 42 is changed so as to scroll rightward. When the pronunciation is specified by the initial and the initial, the average number of common Chinese characters indicated by the pronunciation is about ten.

Here, the user who performs the character input operation looks at the display on the display unit 40 and presses the rotary operation unit 34 when the character to be input is underlined. The central control unit 31 determines whether or not this pressing operation is performed (step 113). If the pressing operation is determined, the kanji underlined at that time is selected to be input. Confirm as Kanji. When the input character is determined, the determined character is changed to the first display digit 41 as shown in FIG.
(Step 114). Here, since the first character is selected, the determined character is displayed at the left end of the display digit 41. However, when the input operation for the second and subsequent characters is performed, the determined character string displayed in the display digit 41 is displayed. The confirmed character is displayed at the end of.

Next, central control unit 31 determines whether or not an operation for terminating character input has been performed (step 115). The operation for ending the character input is, for example, the operation of a specific key of the operation keys 33 or the rotation type operation unit 3.
Four specific operations (for example, two consecutive pressing operations) may be performed.

If the operation for ending the character input is not performed, the process returns to step 102, and the operation for inputting the next character is performed by the same processing. In the display example shown in FIG. 4F, the first character is determined and the determined character is changed to the first character.
At the same time as the second display digit 42
Then, in order to select the next character, the initial in step 102 is displayed.

When it is determined in step 115 that the operation for ending the character input has been performed, the central control unit 31 replaces the character string displayed on the first display digit 41 by the input operation with the current character string. A process is performed to handle the information as information corresponding to the operation mode (step 116). For example, in a mode in which a name or name registered as an electronic telephone directory together with a telephone number is input in characters, the input character is stored in the memory 32 as the name or name. Also,
In a mode in which a text message is transmitted to an arbitrary party, the input characters are stored in the memory 32 as text message information. When a text message transmission operation is performed, the stored text message information is stored in the memory 32. From the other party and transmit it to the other party via a wireless telephone line.

By performing the Chinese character input processing as described above, a desired character can be selected and input from a large number of Chinese characters by a simple operation. That is, the vowels and the rhymes constituting the pronunciation of each kanji are divided into the vowels, and the vowels are selected. Then, the rhymes to be combined with the selected vowels are selected, and the vowels are identified from the selected vowels and the rhymes. By displaying the pronunciation kanji as the selection target character, a desired kanji can be selected and input efficiently with a simple operation. Specifically, the initial is basically 21
And the number of rhymes combined with each voice is from several to about a dozen, and the common kanji of pronunciation specified by the voice and the rhyme are generally from a few to about a dozen, It is only necessary to select from around ten as the number to be selected at each selection operation, and very efficient kanji input can be performed.

In addition, there are only three operation means required for the input operation: an operation means for scrolling the display position to one side, an operation means for scrolling in the opposite direction, and an operation means for fixing the display. This is suitable for application to a small electronic device such as a mobile phone terminal. In particular, in the case of this example, since the rotary operation unit 34 as shown in FIG. 2 is used as the operation means, the rotation operation of the rotary operation unit 34 in the upward direction and the downward rotation operation is performed. The three operations described above can be performed by three operations, ie, a pressing operation that is an operation in a direction different from the rotation operation, and a desired kanji input can be quickly performed by operating only one operation unit.

When inputting kanji, when displaying the initials and rhymes on the display unit, the initials and rhymes may be displayed in a predetermined order at all times. May be displayed at a position selected with priority. In addition, when the candidate kanji is displayed after the pronunciation is specified by the initial or the vowel, the previously selected kanji may be preferentially displayed at the selected position. Also, depending on the operation mode of the terminal when inputting kanji,
The order of displaying the candidate kanji may be changed.
For example, in the mode of inputting kanji to be registered as an electronic telephone directory, kanji that is frequently used as a name may be preferentially displayed on the display unit.

Further, similar kanji input may be performed by using operation means other than the above-mentioned rotary operation unit. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit has a disk-shaped member so that the member can freely rotate 360 degrees, but a predetermined angle (for example, several tens degrees) from a certain position upward and downward. It is also possible to arrange a member that can rotate only when the member is rotated upward and downward, and to perform the same operation as when the operation unit 34 is rotated upward or downward. Further, instead of rotating or rotating the operation means up and down as in the operation unit 34, an operation in which a similar operation instruction can be performed by a lateral operation (that is, an operation in the left direction and an operation in the right direction). It may be a part. Further, the position at which the operation unit for performing such an operation is disposed is not limited to the above-described example, and may be disposed at an arbitrary position of the housing constituting the terminal.

In addition, in the above-described example, as shown in FIG. 4, the display on the display unit when inputting the kanji character is performed by giving an underline to the character indicating that the character is selected. Alternatively, another display mode may be used to indicate that the part is selected. For example, a flashing display of a portion displaying a selected voice, rhyme, character, or the like indicates that the selected portion is selected, or a display in which the display color is inverted indicates that the selected portion is selected. It may be shown.

Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which two operations for scrolling the display to one side and the other side and an operation for fixing the display are respectively operated by different operation means. FIG. 5 shows an example of the mobile phone terminal 10 'in this case. Here, an operation key 35 for instructing scrolling to one side and a scrolling key to the other side are provided on a side surface of a housing constituting the terminal 10'. The operation key 36 for instructing the operation may be arranged up and down, and the operation key 37 for performing the finalizing operation may be arranged between the two keys 35 and 36. Even with this configuration, for example, when the mobile phone terminal 10 'is held with the left hand, the scroll operation to one and the other and the confirmation operation can be performed with only a slight movement of the thumb of the left hand. Can input Chinese characters by gender.

Instead of arranging dedicated operation keys on the side surface of such a terminal, input operations are performed by using function keys arranged on the same surface as dial keys. Is also good. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, specific three keys 33a, 33b, and 33c of the operation keys 33 of the mobile phone terminal 10 "are operated by one operation key for instructing scrolling to one side and another operation key for instructing scrolling to the other side. It is also possible to define an operation key to perform the same kanji input processing when there is an operation of each of the keys 33a, 33b, and 33c.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the case of inputting Chinese kanji on a mobile phone terminal, but can also be applied to input of kanji in various other electronic devices. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a song name or the like is input in Chinese characters in a playback device that plays back audio signals such as music from a predetermined recording medium.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the character search is performed separately for the two pronunciation elements of Chinese kanji, ie, the initial and the initial, but the characters in other languages are searched. When inputting, the input processing may be performed in the same manner by dividing the character into a first sounding element and a second sounding element that make up the sound.

[0053]

According to the character input method of the present invention, the search for the search target character expressed by the combination of the first sounding element and the second sounding element is performed by selecting the first sounding element. , A selection of a second pronunciation element combined with the selected first pronunciation element, and a selection of a character of the pronunciation specified by the selected first and second pronunciation elements. It is possible to search for and input an arbitrary character from a large number of search target characters by a simple operation.

According to the character input method described in claim 2, in the invention according to claim 1, the first pronunciation element is a vowel, and the second pronunciation element is a rhyme. However, it can be executed with a simple operation.

According to the character input method described in claim 3, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the operation of designating the first direction and the second direction is an operation of moving a predetermined position up and down or left and right. In some cases, the operation of selecting a sound element or a character can be easily performed by the vertical or horizontal operation.

According to the character input method described in the fourth aspect, in the invention according to the third aspect, the fixing operation is an operation of pressing a predetermined location or the vicinity of the location in a direction different from an operation of moving up and down or left and right. Thus, the determination operation can be quickly performed immediately after performing the operation of moving up and down or left and right, and the search for each sounding element can be performed more easily.

According to the character input method described in claim 5, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the character selected by the confirmation operation is displayed at the end of the position where the confirmation character string is displayed. It is easy to complete the name and the message by performing the input operation one by one.

According to the character input method described in claim 6, in the invention according to claim 5, the displayed confirmed character string is registered as a name corresponding to the telephone number or as telephone directory information which is information of the name. Thus, the input operation of the name or the name registered as the telephone directory information can be easily performed.

According to the character input method described in claim 7, in the invention described in claim 5, the displayed confirmed character string is transmitted to the other party via a predetermined communication line as information of a character message. The input operation of the character to be transmitted as a text message can be easily performed.

According to the character input device of the present invention, the search for the search target character expressed by the combination of the first sounding element and the second sounding element is performed by classifying using the respective sounding elements. It can be performed only by three instruction operations of an instruction in two directions and an instruction for confirmation based on the information stored in the storage means,
By using an operation means having a simple configuration without a keyboard or the like as the operation means, an arbitrary character can be searched for and input from a large number of search target characters.

According to the character input device of the ninth aspect, in the invention of the eighth aspect, the first pronunciation element constituting the search target character stored in the storage means is an initial,
Since the second pronunciation element is a rhyme, Chinese kanji input can be executed with a simple arrangement of operation means.

According to the character input device of the tenth aspect, in the invention of the eighth or ninth aspect, the operating means comprises:
When the member that rotates at least a predetermined angle is rotated in the first direction, an instruction in the first direction is issued, and when the member is rotated in the second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the second direction is specified. Direction is performed, and when the member is pressed in a direction different from the above-described rotation direction, the confirmation instruction is performed. Thus, with a simple configuration using one operation means, characters such as kanji can be used. Easy input.

According to the character input device of the eleventh aspect, in the invention of the eighth or ninth aspect, the operating means comprises:
It is composed of at least three keys: a key for giving a first direction instruction, a key for giving a second direction instruction, and a key for giving a finalization instruction. With the configuration, characters such as kanji can be easily input.

According to the character input device described in claim 12, in the invention according to claim 8 or 9, the display means comprises:
Having a position to display a confirmed character string, the control means is configured to perform control to display the selected search target character at the end of the character string displayed at the position to display the confirmed character string, It is easy to complete a name or message with the input characters.

According to the character input device described in claim 13, in the invention according to claim 12, the control means converts the confirmed character string displayed on the display means to a name or name information corresponding to a telephone number. With the configuration in which the information is registered as the telephone directory information, the input operation of the name or the name registered as the telephone directory information can be easily performed.

According to the character input device of the fourteenth aspect, in the invention of the twelfth aspect, the control means transmits the determined character string displayed on the display means as character message information via a predetermined communication line. , The input operation of a character to be transmitted as a text message can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a mobile phone terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the mobile phone terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a character input process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a mobile phone terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a mobile phone terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 10 ', 10 ": mobile phone terminal, 31: central control unit, 32: memory, 33, 33a, 33b, 33
c: operation keys, 34: rotary operation unit, 35, 36, 37
... operation keys, 40 ... display unit, 41 ... first display digit, 42
... Second display digit

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A search target character represented by a combination of a first pronunciation element and a second pronunciation element is classified for each combination of a first pronunciation element and a second pronunciation element. The indication of the symbol indicating the sounding element of is indicated by the operation of instructing the first direction or the second direction opposite to the first direction,
Performed while changing in the forward direction or the reverse direction. When a predetermined confirmation operation is performed at a stage where the predetermined symbol indicating the first sounding element is displayed, the first symbol indicated by the predetermined symbol is displayed. The sounding element is determined, the display of the symbol indicating the second sounding element combined with the determined first sounding element is performed in a predetermined order, and the display of the symbol indicating the second sounding element is performed in the first order. In the direction of or the second direction opposite to the first direction,
When the predetermined symbol indicating the second sounding element is displayed while being changed in the forward or reverse direction and a predetermined fixing operation is performed, the second sounding element indicated by the predetermined sign is performed. And a search target character represented by a combination of the first sound element and the determined first sound element is displayed in a predetermined order, and an operation of designating the first direction or the second direction and a predetermined determination operation are performed. A character input method that selects any character from the search target characters displayed in that order. 2. The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the first pronunciation element is a vowel, and the second pronunciation element is a rhyme. 3. The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the operation of instructing the first direction and the second direction is an operation of moving a predetermined position up and down or left and right. 4. The character input method according to claim 3, wherein the confirming operation is performed at the predetermined location or near the location.
A character input method which is an operation of pressing in a direction different from the operation of moving up and down or left and right. 5. The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the character selected by the finalizing operation is displayed at the end of a position where the finalized character string is displayed. 6. The character input method according to claim 5, wherein the confirmed character string displayed by the above operation is registered as telephone directory information which is information on a name or name corresponding to a telephone number. 7. The character input method according to claim 5, wherein the confirmed character string displayed by the operation is transmitted to the other party via a predetermined communication line as information of a character message. 8. A storage for classifying and storing search target characters represented by a combination of a first pronunciation element and a second pronunciation element for each combination of a first pronunciation element and a second pronunciation element. Means for performing an instruction in a first direction, an instruction in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and an instruction to confirm, a display means for displaying the search target character, and a display means Are displayed by the first and second operation means.
Of the first sounding element, selection of the second sounding element combined with the selected first sounding element, and selection of the first and second selected sounding elements. A character input device comprising: control means for sequentially controlling a display state in which a search target character expressed by a combination of pronunciation elements is selected. 9. The character input device according to claim 8, wherein the first pronunciation element constituting the search target character stored in the storage means is a voice, and the second pronunciation element is a rhyme. 10. The character input device according to claim 8, wherein the operation means is configured to issue an instruction in the first direction when rotating a member that rotates at least a predetermined angle in a first direction. When the member is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the instruction in the second direction is performed. When the member is pressed in a direction different from the rotation direction, the determination is performed. A character input device that is a means for giving instructions. 11. The character input device according to claim 8, wherein the operation means includes a key for instructing the first direction,
A character input device comprising at least three keys: a key for instructing the second direction and a key for instructing the finalization. 12. The character input device according to claim 8, wherein said display means has a portion for displaying a fixed character string, and said control means converts a selected character to be searched into a fixed character string. A character input device for controlling display at the end of a character string displayed at a display position. 13. The character input device according to claim 12, wherein the control means registers the determined character string displayed on the display means as telephone directory information which is name information corresponding to a telephone number. Character input device. 14. A character input device according to claim 12, wherein said control means transmits the determined character string displayed on said display means to a partner via a predetermined communication line as information of a character message. Input device.