JP2002062968A - Efficient key input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device capable of efficiently using keys in the input of characters even with a small number of keys in a cellular phone or the like to improve the efficiency of character input. SOLUTION: In this device, when adjacent keys are simultaneously tapped by one finger, a character different from those of adjacent keys can be inputted. In the application to a 4 rows × 3 columns key input device with the key layout of a general cellular phone as shown in Fig. 1, alphabet 26 characters can be inputted by use of 12 keys by one tapping.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an efficient key input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A key input device is provided with one key except a control key such as a shift key (the control key is first pressed).
Characters are input by tapping a key. Therefore, in order to input characters efficiently, it is necessary to have the number of keys corresponding to the type of characters that can be input.

However, when the size of a device such as a mobile phone is limited, a sufficient number of keys cannot be provided, and a method of inputting characters by hitting the same key a plurality of times is adopted. .

When the number of input keys is limited, a small number of keys can be used to input a limited character type such as a number, but input of a general document requires input of various types of characters. When the number of keys is small, there is a problem that the number of keystrokes increases and the input efficiency is poor.

[0005]

A problem to be solved is an efficient key input device that effectively uses a small number of keys.

[0006]

The most important feature of the present invention is that when adjacent keys are simultaneously pressed, characters other than those assigned to the pressed keys can be input.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An input efficiency equivalent to that of a full keyboard has been realized with a key input device having a small installation area and incapable of installing a large number of keys.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, in which a character "A" is input when the real key 1 is pressed alone, and a character "B" is input when the real key 2 is pressed alone. However, when the real key 1 and the real key 2 are simultaneously pressed, the character "M" is input.

An input efficiency equivalent to that of a key input device having a much larger number of keys than actually exists can be obtained by arranging adjacent keys so as to be easily pressed simultaneously by one finger and devising a display. Can be. A description of a combination with a conventionally used input mode switching key is omitted.

[0010]

As described above, in the key input device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, when it is used for a key input device of four rows and three columns in a general key arrangement of a portable telephone,
26 characters of the alphabet can be input with one keystroke.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of implementing a key input device. (Example 1)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A key input device capable of simultaneously inputting a plurality of keys to obtain the same input efficiency as a key input device having more keys than the number of keys provided.