JP2000339090A - Method for inputting kana character - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a virtual keyboard having higher operability without exerting influence upon existing display information in a KANA (Japanese syllabary) input method for inputting KANA characters by using the virtual keyboard. SOLUTION: The KANA character input method inputs vowel data by either one of operation on a keyboard 1 and the operation of a pointing device 2 corresponding to a virtual keyboard displayed on a display screen and inputs consonant data by the other operation and a data processing part 3 obtains a KANA code from the inputted vowel data and consonant data and outputs the KANA code to a KANA/KANJI (Chinese character) conversion part 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a kana character input method for inputting Japanese into a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese input on a personal computer is generally performed by operating a keyboard by a method such as Roman character input or Kana character input by a kana-kanji conversion processing program. Such a character input method requires a considerable amount of time and effort if the user does not learn the key arrangement of the keyboard and becomes accustomed to the operation.

[0003] Therefore, among conventional keyboard products, attempts have been made to improve the key arrangement and the shape of the keyboard to simplify character input. For example, there is a method in which a software keyboard (hereinafter, referred to as “virtual keyboard”) is displayed on a display screen, and characters are input from the virtual keyboard using a pointing device.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are explanatory diagrams of display screens on which the virtual keyboard is displayed. The virtual keyboard 8 of the display screen 7 shown in FIG. 11 has keys for numbers, alphabets, symbols, and the like, and supports Roman character input. Also,
The virtual keyboard 8 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is provided with keys such as kana characters and symbols, and corresponds to kana character input. In particular, the virtual keyboard 8 shown in FIGS.
Is designed so that its key layout is easier to input than the keyboard layout.

[0005]

However, in the conventional character input method shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, a part of the existing display information 9 displayed on the display screen 7 by displaying the virtual keyboard 8. And everything is hidden. Therefore, it may be inconvenient in some cases.

In order to solve such a display problem,
There are a method of considering the positional relationship of the virtual keyboard 8 in accordance with the existing display information 9 and a method of controlling the display relationship using the line of sight. However, these methods require a dedicated device (such as a line-of-sight sensor) to be attached, and are problematic in terms of cost and structure.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is a kana character input method for inputting a kana character using a virtual keyboard. The virtual keyboard may affect existing display information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device having no operability and better operability.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a kana character input method according to the present invention provides both a keyboard operation and a pointing device corresponding to a virtual keyboard displayed on a display screen. To do,
Vowel data is input by one operation, and consonant data is input by the other operation. From these vowel data and consonant data, a kana code is obtained in the data processing unit,
The kana code is output to the kana-kanji conversion unit.

For example, some of the existing keys on the keyboard are set as vowel keys in response to the input of vowel data, and by pressing this key, the vowel data is input to the data processing unit. At this time, a virtual keyboard composed of consonant keys corresponding to the input of the consonant data is displayed on the display screen, and the consonant data is input to the data processing unit by the pointing device. Then, the data processing unit determines one kana code from the vowel data and the consonant data.

[0010] Further, it is possible to select whether to input the vowel data by using the keyboard or the pointing device, based on the input from the keyboard or the pointing device. Therefore, in the kana character input method, character input can be performed by two types of operation methods.

According to another kana character input method of the present invention, vowel data is input by operating a keyboard.
Further, consonant data is input by operating a pointing device corresponding to the virtual keyboard displayed on the display screen. A kana code is obtained from the vowel data and the consonant data in the data processing unit, and the kana code is output to the kana-kanji conversion unit.

That is, some of the existing keys on the keyboard are set as vowel keys in response to the input of vowel data, and when the keys are pressed, the vowel data is input to the data processing unit. A virtual keyboard composed of consonant keys corresponding to the input of consonant data is displayed on the display screen, and the consonant data is input to the data processing unit by a pointing device. Then, the data processing unit determines one kana code from the vowel data and the consonant data.

Further, in any of the above-described kana character input methods, which hand to operate the pointing device may be selected by an input from the keyboard or the pointing device. For example, if the operation with the pointing device is selected to be performed with the right hand, the keyboard is operated with the left hand.

In the above-described kana character input method, the cursor for designating a vowel key or a consonant key on the virtual keyboard is used when a moving amount of the pointing device reaches a predetermined value and a key adjacent to the moving direction of the pointing device is moved. It is displayed at the pointed position.

That is, the cursor of the pointing device does not move with the movement of the pointing device, and stops until the amount of movement of the pointing device reaches a predetermined value. Then, when the movement amount reaches a predetermined value, the display jumps to an adjacent key and is displayed.

In the above-described kana character input method, a vowel key or a consonant key of the virtual keyboard indicated by the cursor of the pointing device is displayed in a larger size than other keys.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a logical block diagram showing a first embodiment of a kana character input method according to the present invention. The keyboard 1 and the pointing device 2 are input means for inputting commands and data.

The data processing unit 3 includes an input unit 31 and an output unit 32
Consists of The input unit 31 determines an input mode and calculates cursor position information from input data from the devices 1 and 2, and thereby determines a vowel code and a consonant code. The output unit 32 obtains a kana code from the determined vowel code and consonant code.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a kana-kanji conversion unit to which a kana code is input from the output unit 32 of the data processing unit 3, and reference numeral 5 denotes document creation software. A display unit 6 controls display of a virtual keyboard, a cursor, and the like.

First, the setting of the input mode will be described. In this embodiment, the keyboard 1 and the pointing device 2 are operated with both hands, and vowel data and consonant data are input by operating the devices 1 and 2, respectively. Therefore, a hand for operating the pointing device 2 and a device for inputting vowel data are determined in advance, and the input mode is set.

FIG. 2 shows an algorithm for setting the input mode. When the system is started in step S10, the user presses a predetermined key on the keyboard 1 to set a desired input mode.

For example, when four arrow keys are assigned as special keys for setting the input mode, the "right arrow" key is made to correspond to the "right hand" as the hand for operating the pointing device 2, and the "left arrow" Make the key correspond to the "left hand". In addition, as a device for inputting vowel data, the "up arrow" key corresponds to the "virtual keyboard", and the "down arrow"
The key is made to correspond to “keyboard 1”. Then, when the system starts up, the user presses the “right arrow” key or the “left arrow” key,
Press the "up arrow" key or the "down arrow" key.

When the system starts, the input unit 31 of the data processing unit 3 determines whether or not the device for inputting vowel data is the keyboard 1 in step S11. Then, in the next steps S12 and S13, it is determined whether or not the pointing device 2 is operated with the right hand.

Therefore, when inputting vowel data by operating the keyboard 1 with the left hand and inputting consonant data by operating the pointing device 2 with the right hand, the process reaches step S14, where "Z", "X", "C" is reached. , "V", "B" keys are set as vowel keys. Then, in step S15, the display unit 6 displays a virtual keyboard including consonant keys for inputting consonant data on the display screen.

FIG. 3 shows the display screen and keyboard 1 in this case.
FIG. The "B", "V", "C", "X", and "Z" keys are respectively "A", "I", "U", and "E" so that the keyboard 1 is convenient to operate with the left hand. ”,“ O ”are set as vowel keys. A virtual keyboard 8 composed of consonant keys is displayed at the lower right corner of the display screen 7.

Similarly, in the algorithm shown in FIG. 2, when the vowel data is input by operating the keyboard 1 with the right hand and the consonant data is input by operating the pointing device 2 with the left hand, the process proceeds to step S16. In this case, the "C", "V", "B", "N", and "M" keys are set as vowel keys, respectively, so that the keyboard 1 can be conveniently operated with the right hand. Then, a virtual keyboard 8 composed of consonant keys for inputting consonant data is displayed on the display screen 7 (step S15).

When inputting consonant data by operating the keyboard 1 with the left hand and inputting vowel data by operating the pointing device 2 with the right hand, the process proceeds to step S17 to reach "A", "S", "D". , "F", "G", "Z", "X", "C", "V",
The "B", "Q", and "W" keys are set as consonant keys. And
In step S18, a virtual keyboard 8 composed of vowel keys for inputting vowel data is displayed on the display screen 7.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the display screen 7 and the keyboard 1 in this case. The keyboard 1 can be conveniently operated with the left hand by "A", "S", "D", "F", "G", "Z",
"X", "C", "V", "B", "Q", "W"
"Ka line", "sa line", "ta line", "na line", "ha line", "ma line", "ya line",
The consonant keys of "ra line", "wa line", "wo", "n" are set. A virtual keyboard 8 composed of vowel keys is displayed at the lower right corner of the display screen 7.

Further, in the algorithm shown in FIG.
When inputting consonant data by operating the keyboard 1 with the right hand and inputting vowel data by operating the pointing device 2 with the left hand, the process proceeds to step S19. In this case, the keyboard 1 is convenient to operate with the right hand.
"G", "H", "J", "K", "L", "C", "V", "B", "N", "M",
The “O” and “P” keys are set as consonant keys, respectively. Then, a virtual keyboard 8 for inputting vowel data is displayed on the display screen 7 (step S18).

The vowel data and consonant data are input to the input unit 31 of the data processing unit 3 based on the input mode set as described above. The operation of the input unit 31 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The system is started, and an input mode is set in step S21 (steps S11 to S18 in FIG. 2). Thereafter, it is determined in step S22 whether or not a key input has been made on the keyboard 1. If it is determined that a key input has been made, the process proceeds to step S23, where the pressed key is a predetermined vowel key (when vowel data is input on the keyboard 1) or a consonant key (when consonant data is input on the keyboard 1). It is determined whether there is.

If the key is not the predetermined key, it means that a key not related to the kana character input has been pressed, and the process returns to step S22. When the predetermined key is pressed, the process proceeds to step S24, and a vowel code or a consonant code corresponding to the pressed key is determined with reference to a vowel / consonant setting table stored in advance. Then, in step S25, the vowel code or consonant code by the keyboard input is output to the output unit 32 of the data processing unit 3.

If it is determined in step S22 that there has been no key input from the keyboard 1, the flow advances to step S26 to determine whether or not the pointing device 2 has been clicked. If not clicked, step S22
Return to

If the button has been clicked, the flow advances to step S 27, and virtual key position information of the virtual keyboard 8 is input from the display unit 6. In step S28, a vowel code or consonant code corresponding to the cursor position of the pointing device 2 is determined with reference to the virtual key position information. In step S25, the vowel code or consonant code is input to the output unit 32.

Next, the operation of the output unit 32 to which the vowel code and the consonant code are input from the input unit 31 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In step S31, a vowel code and a consonant code are input from the input unit 31 (step S25 in FIG. 5). In the next step S32,
One kana code is determined from these two codes. Then, in step S33, the determined kana code is output to the kana-kanji conversion unit 4.

As described above, in the kana character input method of the present embodiment, the virtual keyboard 8 displayed on the display screen 7
Is either a vowel key or a consonant key, so the display area is smaller than before. Therefore, the existing display information 9
(See FIGS. 3 and 4) is not inconvenient. In particular, it is preferable to be located at the end of the display screen 7 like the virtual keyboard 8 shown in FIGS.

Further, the pointing device 2 can be operated by the dominant hand by setting the input mode.
Subtle operations with the pointing device 2 are also possible. Further, in the keyboard 1, the vowel keys or consonant keys are arranged so as to be biased to the side of the hand operating the keyboard 1, so that the keyboard 1 can be operated without difficulty.

Although the input mode is set by the input from the keyboard 1, the pointing device 2
Alternatively, it may be performed by input from.

Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the display screen 7 and the keyboard 1 of the present embodiment. In this kana character input method, a vowel key is set on the keyboard 1 and a consonant key is arranged on the virtual keyboard 8. In this way, by associating the vowel keys with the keyboard 1, actual keyboard operations can be minimized. Note that any device other than a character key such as a lowercase key or a punctuation key may be used.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the keyboard 1 is operated with the left hand, and the pointing device 2 is operated with the right hand. Therefore, the vowel keys are set to the left side so that the keyboard 1 can be easily operated with the left hand. It is preferable that the vowel keys use the alphabetic keys of the keyboard 1.

The virtual keyboard 8 is displayed at the lower right corner of the display screen 7 so that the pointing device 2 can be easily operated with the right hand. As described above, if the operation is performed with the right hand, the virtual keyboard 8 is preferably displayed at the upper and lower ends or the right end of the display screen 7.

Of course, if it is possible to set which device 1, 2 to operate with either hand as in the first embodiment, it is more convenient that the pointing device 2 can be operated by the dominant hand.

Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for displaying the virtual keyboard 8, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the virtual keyboard 8 and its explanation. The kana character input method according to the present embodiment is characterized by cursor display of the virtual keyboard 8 and the pointing device 2.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, in step S41, the display unit 6 displays the virtual keyboard 8 on the display screen 7.
Is displayed. In step S42, it is determined whether the cursor of the pointing device 2 is positioned on the virtual keyboard 8, and if it is, the process proceeds to step S43.

In step S43, the cursor position information is output from the input unit 31 to the display unit 6, whereby the cursor is displayed on the virtual keyboard 8. FIG. 9 (a) shows a virtual keyboard 8 for inputting vowel data, and a cursor 11 pointing to the vowel key "A" .10a.
Is displayed.

In the next step S44, the cursor position at that time is set as a reference. Then, in step S45, the virtual key where the cursor 11 is located is enlarged and displayed.
Accordingly, in FIG. 9A, the vowel key "A" 10a where the cursor 11 is located is displayed in an enlarged manner.

In step S46, it is determined whether or not the pointing device 2 has been clicked. If it is clicked, the process proceeds to step S47, where the virtual key position information is output from the display unit 6 to the input unit 31, and the process returns to step S42. If not clicked in step S46, the process proceeds to step S48, and it is determined whether the pointing device 2 is moving. If it has not moved, the process returns to step S42. If it is moving, the process proceeds to step S49, and it is determined whether the moving amount of the pointing device 2 is smaller than a predetermined value.

In FIG. 9A, the position of the pointing device 2 when the cursor position is used as a reference in step S44 is indicated by P0, and it is assumed that the pointing device 2 has just moved to P1.
When the movement amount x1 from P0 to P1 is compared with the default value L in step S48, the process returns to step S48 because x1 <L.

Next, when the pointing device 2 is moved to P2 (see FIG. 9B), when the movement amount (x1 + x2) from P0 to P2 is compared with the predetermined value L in step S48, (x1 + x2) Since it is <L, the flow returns to step S48 again. During this time, the cursor 11 on the virtual keyboard 8 does not move while pointing to the vowel key “A” · 10a.

Next, when the pointing device 2 is moved to P3 (see FIG. 9C), when the movement amount (x1 + x2 + x3) from P0 to P3 is compared with the predetermined value L in step S49, (x1 + x2 + x3) > L, so the next step S
Go to 50. In this step S50, the cursor 11 is displayed so as to indicate a virtual key adjacent in the moving direction of the pointing device 2. That is, as shown in FIG. 9B, the cursor 11 is positioned at the vowel key “i” · 10b.

Then, returning to step S44, the reference of the cursor position is newly set, and in step S45, the vowel key "I" .10b is enlarged and displayed. The same applies to the movement of the cursor 11 to another virtual key.

As described above, the present embodiment does not move the cursor 11 together with the movement of the pointing device 2, but moves the cursor 11 only when the amount of movement of the pointing device 2 reaches a predetermined value. Jump to and display. Therefore, since the slight movement amount of the pointing device 2 is absorbed, the user is not forced to perform a delicate operation.

Further, since the virtual key on which the cursor 11 is located is enlarged and displayed, the operability is very easy to see.
In particular, a decrease in visibility when the display area of the virtual keyboard 8 is reduced can be prevented.

Next, a fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the display screen 7 and the keyboard 1 of the present embodiment. The keyboard 1 has a numeric keypad, and a consonant key is set on the numeric keypad, and is operated with the right hand. In this case, a vowel key is arranged on the virtual keyboard 8 and the pointing device 2
Is operated with the left hand. According to this, the operation on the keyboard 1 is simple because only the arrangement of about 10 adjacent keys is memorized. In particular, it is effective for right-handed users.

[0055]

As described above, the kana character input method of the present invention has a configuration in which vowel data and consonant data are input by both a keyboard and a virtual keyboard. One may be displayed. Therefore, the display area of the virtual keyboard on the display screen is smaller than before, and the existing display information can be viewed together. Therefore, there is no inconvenience.

Further, since it is possible to select which operation is used for inputting the vowel data, the display area of the virtual keyboard occupying the display screen, the number of keys operated by the keyboard, and the like can be determined by the user's desire.

In particular, in the method of inputting vowel data using a keyboard, the number of operated keys is at least five. Therefore, the operation with the keyboard can be further simplified.

Further, since it is possible to select to operate the pointing device with the dominant hand, it is possible to easily cope with the operation even if the virtual keyboard is small.

Further, since the cursor does not move with a slight movement of the pointing device, the user can easily operate without having to perform delicate operations.

Further, since the keys are displayed in an enlarged manner, the visibility is good even if the virtual keyboard is configured to be small.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a logical block diagram showing a first embodiment of a character input method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an input mode setting algorithm in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen and a keyboard according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the display screen and the keyboard in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an input unit of the data processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of an output unit of the data processing unit and the operation thereafter.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen and a keyboard according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating control for displaying a virtual keyboard according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a virtual keyboard according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen and a keyboard according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display screen on which a virtual keyboard is displayed by a conventional kana character input method.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a display screen on which a virtual keyboard is displayed by a conventional kana character input method.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the display screen on which the virtual keyboard is displayed by the conventional kana character input method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 keyboard 2 pointing device 3 data processing unit 31 input unit 32 output unit 7 display screen 8 virtual keyboard

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method of inputting vowel data by one of a keyboard operation and an operation of a pointing device corresponding to a virtual keyboard displayed on a display screen, and inputting consonant data by the other operation. A kana character input method in which a data processing unit obtains a kana code from the input vowel data and the consonant data and outputs the kana code to a kana-kanji conversion unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein input of the vowel data is performed by an operation of the keyboard or an operation of the pointing device, which can be selected by an input from the keyboard or the pointing device. How to enter kana characters. 3. A method for inputting vowel data by operation on a keyboard and inputting consonant data by operation on a pointing device corresponding to a virtual keyboard displayed on a display screen. A kana character input method for obtaining a kana code from data and the consonant data and outputting the kana code to a kana-kanji conversion unit. 4. The kana character input according to claim 1, wherein a hand to operate the pointing device can be selected by an input from the keyboard or the pointing device. Method. 5. A cursor indicating a vowel key or a consonant key of the virtual keyboard when the amount of movement of the pointing device reaches a predetermined value is displayed at a position indicating a key adjacent to the moving direction of the pointing device. The kana character input method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 6. The vowel key or consonant key of the virtual keyboard indicated by a cursor of the pointing device is displayed in an enlarged manner as compared with other keys. Kana character input method described in crab.