JP2002373046A - Portable electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable electronic equipment such as portable telephone, with which Korean characters can be speedily inputted by a simple operation. SOLUTION: In the portable electronic equipment including 12 operate keys K1-K12, to mutually adjacent prescribed key pairs of which the consonant sounds or vowel sounds of Korean characters or prescribed function is imparted, the consonant sounds or vowel sounds of Korean characters or prescribed functions are applied to all or one part of eight key pairs (K1, K2, K2, K3, K4, K5, K5, K6, K7, K8, K8, K9, K10, K11, K11 and K12) composed of laterally adjacent keys and/or all or one part of nine key pairs (K1, K4, K2, K5, K3, K6, K4, K7, K5, K8, K6, K9, K7, K10, K8, K11, K9 and K12) composed of longitudinally adjacent keys.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable electronic device equipped with a so-called numeric keypad, and more particularly to a technique capable of quickly inputting Hangul with a simple operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a portable telephone, a numeric keypad has four rows and three keys.
Consists of a column key. In this specification, 1
The keys in the second row are "first key", "second key",
The keys in the second row from the top are referred to as the "third key", and the keys in the second row from the left are referred to as the "fourth key", the "fifth key", and the "sixth key".
Also, the key in the third row from the top is the “seventh key” from the left,
The "eighth key" and "ninth key" are called, and the keys in the fourth row from the top are called "tenth key", "eleventh key", and "twelfth key" from left.

A mobile phone of Hangul specification (hereinafter simply referred to as a "mobile phone") is usually provided with a plurality of input modes such as a Hangul input mode, a number input mode, and an alphabet input mode.

The operation of the conventional mobile phone 6 in the Hangul input mode will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG.
In the mobile phone 6 shown in FIG. 1, a key group such as a seesaw key SSK and first to twelfth keys (hereinafter, these keys are referred to as “K1” to “K12”) are arranged below the display D (see FIG. 1). In FIG. 8, the operation finger is indicated by a symbol “F”). In the mobile phone 6 in FIG. 8, the key K1 is assigned a basic vowel "i", the key K3 is assigned a Hangul basic vowel "w", and the key K2 is assigned ".""." Has a vowel generation function. Hangul vowels have 10 basic vowels and 11 synthetic vowels,
All of the vowels other than “i” and “w” are “i” of the key K1.
, "." Of the key K2, and "w" of the key K3.

The keys K4 to K9 and the key K
Consonants 11 are assigned to the consonants. The Hangul consonants have 14 basic consonants, 5 dark sounds, and 27 patches, which are generated by the keys K3 to K9 and the key K11, or by stroking these keys sequentially. Generated.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned portable telephone 6 has a problem that the number of key strokes (the number of operations) for displaying one character is large. For example, when the user wants to input the characters shown in FIG.
As shown in, “K11” → “K1” → “K2”
→ "K2" → "K2" → "K3" → "K2" → "K3"
And the number of keystrokes is 8
Many times.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device equipped with a so-called ten-key (12-key), which allows a user to quickly input characters having vowels and consonants such as Hangul by a simple operation. .

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a computer keyboard, when a predetermined two or three keys are simultaneously pressed, a specific function is developed. Simultaneous pressing of two keys is usually only possible with a different finger, except for the two keys at the bottom left of the keyboard (usually the control key and the shift key) which can be pressed with one finger.

On the other hand, a specific function may be given to various keys (various keys such as a power key and a numeric keypad) provided in a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone by simultaneous pressing. The simultaneous pressing in this case is a so-called "hidden key", which is usually performed when a service person or the like performs a specific operation (for example, changing the model of a mobile phone). Therefore, in a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, the user does not simultaneously press a plurality of keys at the time of character input, and also does not simultaneously press adjacent keys among ten keys.

[0010] The portable electronic device of the present invention has four vertical and three horizontal devices.
The keys include 12 operation keys (so-called ten-keys) arranged in a matrix, and consonants of various languages (for example, Hangul consonants) are assigned to the 12 operation keys and a predetermined key pair adjacent to each other. ), Vowels of various languages (for example, Hangul vowels), and predetermined functions (functions required when the user of the portable electronic device operates) (1) First from the top Two key pairs consisting of keys adjacent to the left and right of the row, two key pairs consisting of keys adjacent to the left and right of the second row from the top, two key pairs consisting of keys adjacent to the left and right of the third row from the top All or part of the eight key pairs of the two key pairs consisting of the left and right adjacent keys in the fourth row from and / or (2) three key pairs consisting of the vertically adjacent keys in the left column A pair of key pairs, three key pairs consisting of upper and lower adjacent keys in the middle row, and three key pairs consisting of upper and lower adjacent keys in the right row. Consonants), vowels of various languages (for example, Hangul vowels), or a predetermined function is provided (hereinafter, referred to as
This invention is referred to as "first invention").

In the first invention, a maximum of 29 keys can be used with 12 keys.
Input of different types of vowels, consonants, symbols, and execution of predetermined functions can be performed without using a function key such as a shift key. In addition, the present invention allows a user (a user of a portable electronic device, not including a service person or the like) to perform a normal key operation with one finger (typically, a thumb or forefinger).
Applied to portable electronic devices.

The portable electronic device of the present invention enables efficient key input by applying to the input of Hangul characters. However, the portable electronic device can be used in German, French, Italian, Arabic, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese. Even in a language such as a word, by assigning various characters to each key pair and adding various functions, highly efficient key input becomes possible.

For example, in the case of inputting an alphabet (German, French, Italian, Arabic, Spanish, etc.), the number of keys is substantially increased. Become.

For example, a portable electronic device of Hangul specification has various modes other than the Hangul input mode. Even in the case of inputting 26 letters of the alphabet in a mode other than the Hangul input mode, for example, the alphabet input mode, highly efficient key input can be performed as described above.

Further, in the first invention, for example,
Characters, character portions, various functions, and the like may not be assigned to a key pair (eight in total) consisting of keys adjacent to the left and right of the fourth row.

A portable electronic device according to another aspect of the present invention includes 12 operation keys in which four vertical keys and three horizontal keys are arranged in a matrix. A Hangul consonant, a Hangul vowel or a predetermined function is given to a predetermined key pair adjacent to. (1) At least among the 12 operation keys,
For all keys in the first row from the top, all keys in the second row from the top, all keys in the third row from the top, and the center key in the fourth row from the top, [Table 3 (2) three key pairs consisting of vertically adjacent keys in the left column, three key pairs consisting of vertically adjacent keys in the middle column, and vertically adjacent keys in the right column The key vowel of Table 4 is partially overlapped with all or a part of the nine key pairs of the three key pairs consisting of the following key pairs. 2 invention "). The technical scope of the second invention can be understood as limiting the technical scope of the first invention.

[0017]

[Table 3]

[0018]

[Table 4]

The synthetic vowels shown in Table 5 can be generated by combining the strokes of the key pair.

[0020]

[Table 5]

In the first invention and the second invention, a space "", "
Various symbols such as a period ".", A comma ",", and a question mark "?" Can be added to Hangul vowels or consonants without duplication or in duplicate.

The first invention and the second invention typically include:
When the user displays one character or character string on the display, not only can the user input efficiently, but also when using the "predetermined function", the operability is improved in each step.

The "predetermined functions" include a character confirmation function, a key input cancel function, a character input back function (a function of going back in history and returning to the previous or several times previous input state), a cursor moving function, and the like. Various functions required for character input and document creation can be provided. This "predetermined function"
For example, a function to change full-width characters to half-width characters, a function to lowercase uppercase letters of the alphabet, a Japanese uppercase letter (hiragana, katakana, etc.
To lowercase letters (“ぁ”, “ぃ”, “ぅ”, “ぇ”,
“ぉ”, “ゃ”, “ゅ”, “cho”, “tsu”, “a”,
"I", "ゥ", "e", "o", "e", "e",
A function to convert to "yo", "tsu", etc.
A function to convert hiragana and katakana characters such as "ha" line characters to voice sounds
Katakana sounds (“ぱ”, “ぴ”, “ぷ”, “ぺ”,
A function to convert to “ぽ”) can be included. The first invention and the second invention are typically applied to a mobile phone, but can also be applied to various portable electronic devices having a numeric keypad, for example, a controller of a television or a game machine, a mobile computer, and the like. .

In the portable electronic device according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a character or the like that each key pair means (or characterizes each key pair) is described on or near the portion of the device casing where the keys are adjacent to each other. be able to. The portion on which the characters are written may be configured to transmit light, and the characters and the like may be highlighted by light from the inside of the device casing.

In the portable electronic device according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a portion adjacent to another key may include a key formed in a concave shape in plan view.

For example, in the portable electronic device of the first invention or the second invention, the lower part (or upper and lower part) of each of the three keys in the first row from the top among the 12 operation keys is concave in plan view. The upper and lower portions of the six keys in the second and third rows from the top are recessed in plan view, and the upper portions (or upper and lower portions) of the three keys in the fourth row from the top Each key can be configured such that the key is recessed in a plan view.

Thus, between two vertically adjacent keys constituting one key pair (the surface of the equipment casing)
Thus, the area for writing desired characters and the like can be widened. Further, in the portable electronic devices of the first and second aspects of the present invention, the above described area can be widened by forming the key to be thin horizontally.

[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the first invention and the second invention will be described below. Note that consonants and vowels are combined, vowels and vowels are combined (synthetic vowel generation), patchums are generated,
Functions such as determination of Hangul characters when a keystroke is performed can be applied as they are in a conventional mobile phone or the like, and means for achieving these functions will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and will not be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the first invention. The mobile phone 1 shown in FIG. 1 has the functions of the conventional mobile phone 6 shown in FIG. 8 and further has the function of the first invention, and a seesaw key SSK is provided below the display D. , Keys K1 to key 12, etc. are arranged. In addition, FIG. 1 and FIG.
In FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the finger is indicated by reference numeral F.

The key K1 includes a basic vowel "i"("i").
However, the Hangul basic vowel “w” (“U”) is assigned to the key K3, and “•” is assigned to the key K2. The “•” of the key K2 has an auxiliary function of vowel generation, and vowels other than “i” and “w” can be generated by performing a stroke in combination with the keys K1, K2, and K3.

In this embodiment, a key pair of key K1 and key K4, a key pair of key K2 and key K5, a key pair of key K3
A synthetic vowel shown in [Table 6] is assigned to a key pair of and a key K6.

Further, a key pair of a key K1 and a key K2,
Basic vowels shown in [Table 7] are assigned to a key pair of keys K3 and K2.

[0033]

[Table 6]

[0034]

[Table 7]

Therefore, by stroking each key pair once or more than once, the keys K1, K2, and K3 are not stroked more than once in combination.
Vowels other than "i" and "w" can be generated.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the second invention. Also in this embodiment, a key group such as a seesaw key SSK and keys K1 to K12 is arranged below the display D.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the consonants shown in Table 8 are given to the keys K1 to K9 of the mobile phone 2. Various consonants can be generated by continuously stroking these keys.

The 27 kinds of patchums are, for example,
It can be generated by one or more strokes of any of the keys K1 to K9, or can be generated by sequentially stroking two different keys among the keys K1 to K9. it can.

[0039]

[Table 8]

Further, a key pair of a key K1 and a key K4,
Key pair of key K2 and key K5, key K3 and key K6
Key pair, keys K4 and K7, key pair of keys K5 and K8, key pair of keys K6 and K9, key pair of keys K7 and K10, key K
Vowels shown in [Table 9] are given to a key pair of 8 and a key K11.

[0041]

[Table 9]

Basic vowels are generated by strokes of the key pairs, and synthesized vowels shown in Table 10 can be generated by sequentially strokes of these key pairs. Further, by continuously stroking a predetermined key pair, a synthetic vowel can be generated.

[0043]

[Table 10]

In this embodiment, the keys K9 and K
Key pair with key 12, key K10, key K11, key K1
2, a specific character (comma, period, space) can be assigned, and an appropriate function such as kanji conversion can be provided. For example, when the character shown in FIG. 3A is to be input, as shown in FIG. 3B, “K9” → “key pair of K5 and K8” → “key pair of K1 and K4” → “K8 And a key pair "K11", and the number of keystrokes is only four.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the first invention. In the mobile phone 3 of the present embodiment, the display D
The key group below does not have a seesaw key SSK as in the mobile phones 1 and 2 shown in FIGS.

In the present embodiment, the function of moving the cursor upward to the key pair of the keys K2 and K5
The function of moving the cursor to the key pair of key 3 and key K4 to the left, the function of moving the cursor to the key pair of key K6 and key K9 to the right, and moving the cursor downward to the key pair of key K8 and key K11 The function of moving is provided respectively.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the cursor can be moved by strokes of the key pair in the character input mode without providing a key or the like for moving the cursor.

In this embodiment, a key pair of key K2 and key K5, a key pair of key K3 and key K4, a key pair of key K6
Key pair of key K9 and key K8 and key K11
Has the same function as a so-called seesaw key. Therefore, although the case where the cursor is moved has been described in the above example, the four key pairs can be used for selecting various functions in the mobile phone, selecting menus displayed on the display, and the like. In this case,
The key pair of the keys K5 and K8 (the key pair at the center) can be provided with a function as a function selection confirmation and menu selection confirmation button.

The switches of the numeric keypad include a magnetic field change detection type (a Hall element or the like is used), a capacitance change detection type, a mechanical contact type, and the like. It is easy to determine whether or not it is.

The determination as to whether or not the key pair has been stroked can be realized by, for example, a circuit as shown in FIG.
That is, the key signal determining means 32 which receives a signal from a key (indicated by a ten key 31 in FIG. 5) is provided with the simultaneous pressing determining means 321 and the timer function (the timer 321 in FIG. 5).
). Simultaneous push determination means 3
21 monitors a time interval between a signal from a certain key and a signal from the next key by using a timer 321. When a signal from a certain key is received, a predetermined time is determined from a key paired with the key. If the signal is received within the time (for example, within 0.3 seconds), it is determined that the key pair has been stroked, and if the signal is not received within the predetermined time,
It is determined that a single key has been stroked.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show examples of a portable telephone having a key configuration applied to the first and second inventions.

The mobile phone 4 in FIG. 6 is the same as the mobile phone 2 in FIG.
And the shape of the keys K1 to K12 (of course, the shape of the hole in the key portion of the casing is also different), and the display position of the Hangul vowel on the casing surface is different. On the mobile phone 4,
Since the upper and lower portions of the keys K1 to K12 are concaved in a plan view, it is easy to understand which key pair corresponds to which vowel and the operability is improved.

The mobile phone 5 in FIG. 7 is the same as the mobile phone 2 in FIG.
And the partial coloring of the keys K1 to K12 and the partial coloring of the casing surface are different. In the mobile phone 5, the area occupied by the lower part of the upper key, part of the lower key, and the space between the two keys (the casing surface) of each key pair is given a different color from the surrounding color. is there. That is, in the mobile phone 5, since the upper and lower portions of the keys K1 to K12 are different from the surroundings, it is easy to understand which key pair corresponds to which vowel and the operability is improved.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be noted that the consonants, vowels, or functions assigned to keys and key pairs in each embodiment do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. .

[0055]

According to the present invention, Hangul consonants, Hangul vowels,
Alternatively, since a predetermined function is provided, Hangul input can be performed with a small number of key strokes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the second invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a conversion example according to the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a Hangul character to be generated, and FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mobile phone of another embodiment common to the first invention and the second invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a means for determining whether or not a key pair has been stroked in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a mobile phone having a key configuration applied to the first invention and the second invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of a mobile phone having a key configuration applied to the first invention and the second invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional mobile phone.

9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a conversion example in a conventional mobile phone, in which FIG. 9A illustrates a Hangul character to be generated, and FIG. 9B illustrates a keystroke order.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,2,3,4,5,6 mobile phone SSK seesaw key D display K1-K12 key

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Katsuki Hong Konan City Heights 1502, 3-3-17 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Hong Enhime 3-3-17 Konan, Minan-ku, Tokyo City Heights 1502 (72) Inventor Tokusei Iwase 3-3-17 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo Konan City Heights 1502 F-term (reference) 5B020 DD11 DD22 5K023 AA07 BB11 GG09 5K027 AA11 BB02 BB15 HH26 MM04 MM17

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electronic apparatus comprising: 12 operation keys in which four vertical keys and three horizontal keys are arranged in a matrix;
A portable electronic device in which, among the 12 operation keys, a predetermined key pair adjacent to each other is provided with a character consonant, a character vowel, or a predetermined function, and (1) the left and right of the first row from the top Two key pairs consisting of adjacent keys, two key pairs consisting of keys adjacent to the left and right of the second row from the top, two key pairs consisting of keys adjacent to the left and right of the third row from the top, the fourth key from the top All or part of the eight key pairs of two key pairs consisting of keys adjacent to the left and right of the row, and / or (2) Three key pairs consisting of keys adjacent above and below the left column, adjacent above and below the middle column Character consonants, character vowels or predetermined functions are provided to all or some of the nine key pairs of three key pairs consisting of the following keys and three key pairs consisting of keys adjacent to the top and bottom of the right column. Portable electronic device, characterized in that. 2. The character consonant is a Hangul consonant,
The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the character vowel is a Hangul vowel. 3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable telephone. 4. Four operation keys, four in height and three in width, including 12 operation keys arranged in a matrix,
A portable electronic device in which, among the twelve operation keys, a predetermined key pair adjacent to each other is provided with a Hangul consonant, a Hangul vowel, or a predetermined function, (1) at least one of the twelve operation keys , All keys in the first row from the top, all keys in the second row from the top, all keys in the third row from the top, and the center key in the fourth row from the top, The Hangul consonants in Table 1) are partially overlapped. (2) Three key pairs consisting of vertically adjacent keys in the left column, three key pairs consisting of vertically adjacent keys in the middle column, and upper and lower right columns A portable electronic device characterized in that the Hangul vowels in Table 2 are partially overlapped with all or some of the nine key pairs of three key pairs consisting of keys adjacent to. [Table 1] [Table 2] 5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the synthetic vowel is generated by a stroke based on the combination of the key pairs. 6. The portable electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the portable electronic device is a portable telephone. 7. A portion adjacent to another key includes a key formed in a concave shape in plan view.
A portable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.