JP2003029913A - Character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a character input device which can input characters more quickly by using less keys for the character input of a small-sized electronic appliance such as a portable telephone set, a fixed telephone set or a keyboard or the like. SOLUTION: This character input device is provided with an input means inputting the optional number of characters made into one group, a character group preparation means preparing a character group by the combination of the respective characters of the group inputted by the input means and the respective characters of the other group, a word dictionary storing a plurality of words beforehand, a retrieval means retrieving the word matching with the character group prepared by the character group preparation means from the word dictionary and a display means displaying the word retrieved by the retrieval means as a word candidate.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile phone, an electronic dictionary, a small electronic device such as a PDA, a fixed phone, a keyboard, and a portable computer.
In particular, it relates to character input in such a device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a portable telephone or a fixed telephone for the purpose of downsizing and weight saving has a small area for installing a key, so that only a limited key can be installed. Therefore, many key operations are required when inputting characters. For example, when inputting an alphabetic character in a conventional mobile phone or fixed-line phone, a desired alphabetic character is input according to the number of times the dial keys "0-9" are pressed. For example, the alphabetic character "ABC" is assigned to the "2" key,
Each time the key was pressed, the input characters were changed in sequence such as "A → B → C" (alphabet turning method). That is, when the key is pressed once, "A" is input, when it is pressed twice, "B" is input, and when it is pressed three times, "C" is input.

Similarly, when inputting kana characters,
A desired kana character was input according to the number of times the dial keys "0-9" were pressed. For example, the kana character “aiueo” is assigned to the “1” key, and the input character is changed sequentially such as “a → i → u → e → o” each time the key is pressed (Kana Turning method). In other words, if you press the key once, "a" will be input and 2
If you press it twice, "i" will be entered. Similarly, if you press three times, "u",
Four times, "e", and five times "o".

Further, in electronic dictionaries, small electronic devices such as PDAs, portable computers, keyboards, etc., one character is assigned to each key and the key is depressed to
I was trying to enter the assigned characters.

[0005]

As described above, inputting a character depending on the number of key presses requires a large number of presses. In addition, it is difficult to add a key to a mobile phone, which is required to be small and lightweight, and also to a fixed phone. Moreover, it is difficult to reduce the number of keys in a small electronic device, a keyboard, etc., in which one character is assigned to each key. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the size and weight of mobile phones, fixed telephones in which it is difficult to add keys, small electronic devices in which it is difficult to reduce keys, keyboards, etc., while fulfilling the original requirements, An object of the present invention is to provide a character input device having excellent operability of character input.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a character input device for inputting an arbitrary number of characters in one group, and each character of the group input by the input means. And a character group creating means for creating a character group by combining with each character of another group,
A word dictionary that stores a plurality of words in advance, a search unit that searches the word dictionary for words that match the character group created by the character group creating unit, and a word searched by the search unit are displayed as word candidates. And a display means.

In such a device, a plurality of characters can be input at one time by pressing the key once. In addition, a character group is created from the entered characters, and words that match the created character group are searched and displayed from the words stored in the word dictionary, so you can select each character individually. It is possible to input characters without any operation, and it is possible to input the words stored in the word dictionary with a reduced number of key presses.

A character input device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the character input device according to the first aspect, wherein the input means is 1
When a character input is instructed, one character is input. In such a device, it is possible to select and input characters such as proper nouns that are not stored in the word dictionary.

A character input device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the character input device according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the input means inputs the first character or the first to several characters from the first character.
Characters are set, and the subsequent input can be set to an arbitrary number of characters in one group.

In such a device, by inputting one character from the first character or from the first character to several characters, a word having a small number of characters in the Japanese input mode,
For example, Hi (Sun, Tue), Red (Red, Copper), Aki (Autumn),
It is possible to select and input characters such as open (open) individually. In addition, by inputting one character from the first character or from the first character to several characters and thereafter inputting an arbitrary number of characters in one group, a character group created by the character group creating means is input. It is possible to suppress the number and limit the display of word candidates.

A character input device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the character input device according to the first aspect, wherein the input means is an arbitrary number of characters and one character in one group according to the number of times the key is pressed. , The input characters are configured to change sequentially. In such devices, depending on the number of key presses,
The characters assigned to the keys can be sequentially changed and input, such as “arbitrary number of characters in one group → 1 character → 1 character”, and the words stored in the word dictionary are stored once. It is possible to enter by using an arbitrary number of characters that can be entered by pressing a key, and proper nouns that are not stored in the word dictionary can be entered by using a single character that individually selects the character according to the number of times the key is pressed. It will be possible.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the character input device according to the first aspect, the input means is capable of inputting characters by means of numeral keys arranged in a matrix on a side portion of the keyboard. Is composed of. In such a device, the number of keys on the keyboard can be reduced by allowing the characters to be input with the numeric keys.

A character input device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the character input device according to the second to fifth aspects, wherein the character group creating means includes one character input by the input means and an arbitrary number of groups. Is configured to create a character group by combining with each character of. In such a device, a character group can be created by combining one input character and an arbitrary number of each character in one group,
It is possible to create a character group corresponding to various input patterns.

A character input device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the character input device according to the first to sixth aspects, wherein the input means is capable of inputting characters corresponding to all kinds of characters such as English and Japanese that can be created by a character group. To be configured. With such devices, English, Japanese, German, French, etc.
It is possible to input characters corresponding to all the character types that can be created by the character group.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples with reference to the drawings. The character input device according to the present embodiment is applied to an existing mobile phone having dial keys arranged in a matrix of 3 rows and 4 columns,
An example will be described in which alphabetic characters and kana characters are used as input characters.

FIG. 1 is a principle block diagram of a key layout of a character input device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the character input device of the present invention comprises an input means 100 and a character group creation means 11.
0, a search means 120, a word dictionary 140, and a display means 130.

The input means 100 is a dial key 150.
It has a conversion key 160 (enclosed by a dotted frame in the figure), a non-conversion key 170, and an enter key 180.

By pressing any one of the dial keys 150, a plurality of characters or a single character is input.

By pressing the conversion key 160, a character group is created, and in the Japanese input mode,
Based on the Japanese dictionary, kana characters are converted into predetermined kanji by kana-kanji conversion. Further, the non-conversion key 170 selects hiragana input or katakana input of the input character when pressed in the Japanese input mode.
When the enter key 180 is pressed, the displayed character group is decided, and in the Japanese input mode, the kanji converted by kana-kanji conversion is decided.

The character group creating means 110 creates a character group by combining the characters based on the characters input by the dial keys 150 and the information of the conversion key 160 by the key operation of the operator.

The word dictionary 140 stores a plurality of words in advance, and in the English input mode, for example, spelling of English words is used, and in the Japanese input mode, for example, Kana character notation is used, and the character group creating means is used. It corresponds to the character group created by 110.

The searching means 120 is a character group creating means 110.
Word dictionary 14 that matches the words created by
Search from 0. The display unit 130 also displays the search result.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of application of the character input device according to the present invention to a mobile phone. In FIG. 2, the menu key 220 of the mobile phone 200 allows the operator to select a menu displayed on the display panel 210 or specify an input mode. Also, the volume search key 230
Is usually a key for adjusting the volume and searching the telephone book, but is used for inputting "backspace" or "blank" at the time of character input. The power key 240 is a key for turning the power on or off.

Information input by the keys is controlled by, for example, a CPU (not shown).

FIG. 3 is an allocation diagram of alphabetic characters based on the dial keys "0 to 9" in the mobile phone mode in the character input device of the mobile phone according to the present invention. 3, those parts which are the same as those corresponding parts in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 3, the "2" key of the dial key 150 is provided with individual alphabetic characters (hereinafter referred to as single characters) "A", "B", "C", and a plurality of groups in one group. Alphabetic characters (hereinafter referred to as group characters) "ABC" are assigned, single letters "D", "E", "F" and group letters "DEF" are assigned to the "3" key, and similarly, ""4" key to "G",
"H", "I", and "GHI", "J", "K", "L", and "JKL" for the "5" key, and "M", "N", "O" for the "6" key. , And "MNO",
"P", "Q", "R", "S" and "PQRS" for the "7" key, "T", "U", "V" for the "8" key,
And "TUV", "9" key to "W", "X",
Assign "Y", "Z", and "WXYZ".

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 are diagrams showing examples of character groups created by the character group creating means. In the description, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the English input mode, dial key 15
When any one of the "0 to 9" keys of 0 is pressed, the group character assigned to the key is input.

In FIG. 4, for example, the "2" key,
When the "3" key is pressed, the group character "ABC" assigned to the "2" key and the group character "DEF" assigned to the "3" key are input in order, and the first character " From the combination of the characters "A", "B" and "C" and the characters "D", "E" and "F" which are the second character, "AD", "AE" and "AF" , "BD", "B
"E", "BF", "CD", "CE", and "CF"
The character count is created by the character count creating means 110.

In FIG. 5, for example, when the "2" key is pressed twice, the group characters "ABC" and "ABC" assigned to the "2" key are input in order and the first character " From the combination of the characters "A", "B", "C" and the characters "A", "B", "C" that are the second character, "AA", "AB", "AC" , "BA", "B
"B", "BC", "CA", "CB", and "CC"
The character count is created by the character count creating means 110. That is, when the same key is continuously pressed, the group characters assigned to the key are sequentially input.

In FIG. 6, for example, "PATENT"
When inputting, the “7” key assigned with “P”, the “2” key assigned with “A”, and
"T""8" key, "E""3" key, "N"
If you press the "6" key of and the "8" key of "T", 1
The group characters "PQRS" as the second character, "ABC" as the second character, "TUV" as the third character, "DEF" as the fourth character, "MNO" as the fifth character, and "TUV" as the sixth character. Input in order.

The character group creating means 110 combines the input characters into "PATDMT" and "PATDM".
"U", "PATDMV", "PATDNT", "PAT"
"DNU", "PATDNV" ..., "PATENT" ...
..., "SCVFOT", "SCVFOU", and "S
Create a character group of "CVFOV".

The search means 120 searches the word dictionary 140 for a word that matches the created character group, and the searched word "PATENT" is displayed on the display panel 210 as a word candidate.
Is displayed in. It should be noted that the displayed character groups other than "PATENT" are not stored as words in the word dictionary in advance, and are not established as words.

Next, the operation when one character (single character) is instructed will be described. In English input mode,
When inputting a single character, it becomes the single character input mode.

In the single character input mode, dial key 1
When any one of the "0-9" keys of 50 is pressed, a single character assigned to the key is input, and a desired character can be selected by a single character according to the number of times the key is pressed (alphabet turning method). For example, if the "2" key is pressed once, "A" is input, if it is pressed twice, "B" is input, and if it is pressed three times, "C" is input.

Next, the operation when the input of the first character (first character) is set to one character (single character) will be described.
In the input setting mode, if the first character is set to a single character, the first character is input as a single character and the second and subsequent characters are input as group characters.

In the input mode in which the first character is a single character, if any one of the "0-9" keys of the dial keys 150 is pressed, the single character assigned to the key as the first character is input and the same key is pressed. A desired character can be selected by a single character according to the number of times (alphabet turning method).
For example, if you press the "2" key once, "A" will be input,
Press twice to enter "B", press three times to "C"
To enter.

After inputting the first character, 1 is continued.
If you press any of the "0-9" keys other than the key that entered the character, the group character assigned to the key is entered as the second character, and after entering the second character, "0-9" continues. Each time any one of the keys is pressed, the group characters are sequentially input even after the third character. When a single character and a group character of the same key are continuously input, the group character is input by moving the cursor to the right and pressing the same key after inputting the single character. The single character is input as the first character by pressing the enter key or inputting a blank.

The character group creating means 110 is formed by combining the first single character input by the dial key 150 and the respective characters of the second and subsequent characters.
Creates a character county.

That is, by inputting one character (single character) as the first character (first character), the character group creating means 11
The number of character groups created by 0 is suppressed, and the word dictionary 14
The word candidates searched from 0 can be limited. It should be noted that the operator can arbitrarily set the number of characters to be input as a single character.

Next, the operation when the input character is set to change in sequence according to the number of times the key is pressed will be described. In the input setting mode, dial keys 150
According to the number of times the "9" key is pressed, the input characters are sequentially changed like "group character → single character → single character" (hereinafter referred to as group character and single character input).

In the group character and single character input mode, when any one of the "0-9" keys of the dial keys 150 is pressed once, the group character assigned to the key is input, and when pressed twice, The single character assigned to the key is entered, and each time the key is pressed,
Single characters are sequentially changed and input. For example, if you press the "2" key once, the group character "ABC" will be entered,
Pressing twice will enter the single letter "A", pressing three times will enter the single letter "B", and pressing it four times will enter the single letter "C".

That is, the group character or the single character can be input according to the number of times the key is pressed without instructing the input of the group character or the single character.

More specifically, as described above, the group character or the single character can be input in various ways, so that the input of the word stored in the word dictionary 140 is input by the group character and stored in the word dictionary. The proper nouns that are not entered are individually selected by a single character and input.

FIG. 7 is an allocation diagram of kana characters based on the dialed number "0-9" keys in the mobile phone mode in the character input device of the mobile phone according to the present invention. Kana characters of the Japanese syllabary are grouped into one group, which will be referred to as group characters hereinafter. "Wayuki"
Is a group character by "waon". Also,
The individual kana characters of "a" to "n" are hereinafter referred to as single characters. 7, those parts that are the same as those corresponding parts in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 7, the "1" key of the dial key 150 is replaced with a single character "A", "I", "U",
"E", "O", and the group character "A line" (aiueo) are assigned, and the single character "ka" is assigned to the "2" key.
Assign "ki", "ku", "ke", "ko", and the group character "ka line" (kakikukeko), and similarly, "3"
"Sa", "shi", "su", "se", "so", and "sa line" on the key, "ta", "chi", "tsu" on the "4" key,
"Te", "to", and "ta line", "5" key to "na", "ni", "nu", "ne", "no", and "na line", "6" key "Ha", "hi", "fu", "he",
"Ho", "ha row", "7" key to "ma",
"Mi", "mu", "me", "mo", and "mago",
"8" key is "ya", "yu", "yo" and "ya line", "9" key is "ra", "ri", "ru", "re",
"Ro", "Ra line", "0" key to "Wa",
Assign "o,""n," and "wa row."

When the single character and the group character assigned to the dial key 150 have a voiced sound, a semi-voiced sound, and a stuttering sound, the voiced sound, the semi-voiced sound, and a stuttering sound of the single character and the group character are assigned to the same key. For example,
The "1" key has the single letters "a", "i", "u",
“”, “”, And the group character “”
Assign In addition, the single character “ga”, “gi”, “gu”, “ge”, “go” and the group character “gagigugego” are assigned to the “2” key. Also, "3"
The keys are the single letters "za", "ji", "zu", "ze",
"Zo" and the group character "zajizuzezo" are assigned. Also, the "4" key has a single character "da",
Assign "ぢ", "zu", "tsu", "de", "do", and the group characters "dajizudedo" and "tsu". In addition, the "6" key has the single characters "ba", "pa",
"Bi", "pi", "bu", "pu", "be", "pe",
Assign "bo", "po", and group characters "babibubebo" and "papipuppepo". Further, a single character “ya”, “yu”, “yo” and a group character “yayu” are assigned to the “8” key. Further, a single character "㎎" and a group character "㎎" are assigned to the "0" key.

More specifically, for example, for the "1" key, the single letters "a", "a", "i", "i",
It is assigned like "u", "u", "e", "e", "o", "o", and the group characters "aiueo" and "aiuheo".

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 are diagrams showing examples of character groups created by the character group creating means. In the following description, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the Japanese input mode, dial key 1
If you press any of the 50 "0-9" keys,
Enter the group character assigned to the key.

In FIG. 8, for example, the "2" key,
When the "3" key is pressed, the group character "Kakikuke" assigned to the "2" key and the group character "Sashisuseso" assigned to the "3" key are input in order, and the first character Naru "ka", "ki", "ku", "ke",
Each character of "ko" and the second character "sa", "shi",
From the combination with the letters "su", "se", and "so",
"Kasa", "kashi", "kasuku", "skein", "kaso",
"Kisa", "Kishi", ..., "Kosa", "Koshi", "Kusu", "Kose", "koso"
Created by 10.

In FIG. 9, for example, when the "2" key is pressed to instruct the voiced sound and the "3" key is pressed to instruct the voiced sound, the voiced sound of the group character assigned to the "2" key is displayed. Enter “gagigugego” and “zajizuzezo”, which is the grouped voice of the group character assigned to the “3” key.
The letters "ga", "gi", "gu", "ge", "go"
Each character and the second character "za", "ji", "zu",
From the combination with the letters "ze" and "zo", "gaza",
"Goji", "Gazu", "Gaze", "Gazo", "Giza",
The character group creating means 110 creates character groups of “Giji” ..., “Goza”, “Goji”, “Goz”, “Goze”, and “Gozo”. That is, by inputting a group character and a single character and then instructing a voiced sound, a semi-voiced sound, or a stuttering sound, the group character and the single-character voiced sound, a semi-voiced sound, or a stuttering sound is input.

In FIG. 10, for example, pressing the "2" key to 2
When pressed twice, "Kakikukeko" assigned to the "2" key and "Kakikukeko" are input in order, and the first character "ka", "ki", "ku", "ke" , "Ko" and the second character "ka", "ki", "ku", "ke", "ko" from the combination of each character, "kaka", "kaki", "kaku" , "Kake", "Kako", "Kika", "Kiki" ...
The character groups “koka”, “koki”, “koku”, “koke”, and “here” are created by the character group creating means 110. That is, when the same key is continuously pressed, the group characters assigned to the key are sequentially input.

In FIG. 11, for example, "Tokkyo"
When inputting (patent), "4" key assigned "to", "4" key assigned "tsu", stuttering instruction, and "2" key assigned "ki" , And the “8” key to which “” is assigned, and the stuttering instruction, press the first character “Tachitsuto”, 2
The group characters of "tsu" in the character, "kakikukeko" in the third character, and "yaku" in the fourth character are input in order.

The character group creating means 110 combines the input characters and combines them into "Takka", "Takka", "Takka", "Takka", "Takyu", and "Takka". Kyo ”
Create character groups of "Ticko", "Tecko", "Tokkyo", "Tokko", "Tokchu", and "Tokko".

The search means 120 searches the word dictionary 140 for a word that matches the created character group, and searches for the searched word "tickyo" (smoke), "tecko" (removed), "tukkyo" (patented). Is displayed on the display panel 210 as a word candidate, and “Tokkyo” is selected from the displayed “Tikkyo”, “Tekkyo”, and “Tokkyo”. Further, based on a Japanese dictionary (not shown), "tokkyo" is converted into "patent" by kana-kanji conversion (not shown). In addition, the displayed "Chick", "Tech",
Character groups other than "Tokkyo" are not stored in the word dictionary in advance, and are not established as words.

Further, for example, when the "0" key is pressed for the input of the first character, the group character "Wanon" is input, but the creation of the character group and the internal procedure of the search are simplified. Therefore, the first character is "o" and the character group is not created by "n". That is, a character group that is not suitable for Japanese is not created.

Next, the operation when inputting one character (single character) is described. When inputting a single character in the Japanese input mode, the single character input mode is set.

In the single character input mode, dial key 1
When one of the "0-9" keys of 50 is pressed, the single character assigned to the key is input, and the desired character can be selected by the single character according to the number of times the key is pressed (the turning method). For example, if the "2" key is pressed once, "ka" is input, if it is pressed twice, "ki" is input, and similarly, "ku" is entered three times, "ke" is entered four times, and "ke" is entered five times. "Enter".

Next, an operation when the first character (first character) is set to input one character (single character) will be described.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a character group created by the character group creating means. In the explanation, the same parts as in FIG. 1 and FIG.
The same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted. In the input setting mode, if the first character is set to a single character, the first character is input as a single character and the second and subsequent characters are input as group characters.

In the input mode in which the first character is a single character, if any one of the "0-9" keys of the dial keys 150 is pressed, the single character assigned to the key as the first character is input and the same key is pressed. A desired character can be selected by a single character according to the number of times (a kana turning method). For example,
Pressing the "2" key once enters "ka" and pressing it twice enters "ki". Similarly, 3 times "ku", 4 times "ke", 5 times "ko". To enter.

Further, after inputting the first character, 1 is continued.
If you press any of the "0-9" keys other than the key that entered the character, the group character assigned to the key is entered as the second character, and after entering the second character, "0-9" continues. Each time any one of the keys is pressed, the group characters are sequentially input even after the third character. When a single character and a group character of the same key are continuously input, the group character is input by moving the cursor to the right and pressing the same key after inputting the single character. The single character is input as the first character by pressing the enter key or inputting a blank.

The character group creating means 110 is formed by combining the first single character input by the dial key 150 and each character of the second and subsequent characters.
Creates a character county.

That is, by inputting one character (single character) as the first character (first character), the character group creating means 11
The number of character groups created by 0 is suppressed, and the word dictionary 14
The word candidates searched from 0 can be limited. It should be noted that the operator can arbitrarily set the number of characters to be input as a single character.

In FIG. 12, for example, "Tokkyo"
To enter (patent), press the "4" key assigned "to" five times, and move the cursor to the right, "tsu"
"4" key assigned to, and stuttering instruction,
If you press the "2" key to which "ki" is assigned, the "8" key to which "yo" is assigned, and the stuttering instruction, the first letter "to" and the second letter " The group character “”, the group character “Kakikuke” as the third character, and the group character “Ayu” as the fourth character are input in order.

The character group creating means 110 combines the input characters and combines them with "Tokka", "Tokka", "Tokka", "Tokka", "Tokkyu", and "Tokkyou". "...
Create character groups of "Tokkoya", "Tokko", and "Tokko".

The search means 120 searches the word dictionary 140 for a word that matches the created character group, and the searched "Totto" is displayed on the display panel 210 as a word candidate. Further, based on a Japanese dictionary (not shown), "tokkyo" is converted into "patent" by kana-kanji conversion (not shown). It should be noted that the character groups other than the displayed "Totto" are not stored in the word dictionary in advance, and are not established as words.

Next, the operation when the setting is such that the input characters are sequentially changed according to the number of times the key is pressed will be described. In the input setting mode, dial keys 150
According to the number of times the "9" key is pressed, the input characters are sequentially changed like "group character → single character → single character" (hereinafter referred to as group character and single character input).

In the group character and single character input mode, when any one of the "0-9" keys of the dial keys 150 is pressed once, the group character assigned to the key is input, and when pressed twice, the key is pressed. The single character assigned to is input, and each time the key is pressed, the single character is sequentially changed and input. For example, if you press the "2" key once, the group character "Kakikukeko" will be entered, if you press it twice, the single character "ka" will be entered, and if you press it three times, the single character "Ki" will be entered. Similarly, "ku" is input 4 times, "ke" is input 5 times, and "ko" is input 6 times.

That is, the group character or the single character can be input according to the number of times the key is pressed without instructing the input of the group character or the single character.

More specifically, as described above, the group character and the single character can be input by various methods, so that the input of the word stored in the word dictionary 140 is input by the group character and stored in the word dictionary. The proper nouns that are not entered are individually selected by a single character and input.

In the English input mode and the Japanese input mode, the group characters displayed on the display panel 210 are displayed, for example, in reverse, surrounded by a frame, arranged vertically, or the like. In addition, in the Japanese input mode, group characters may be displayed as consonant alphabet characters. In this case, for example, "ka line" is "K" and "ga line" is "G".
Is displayed.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of the character input device according to the present invention. In FIG. 13, when the operator inputs a character with the input unit 100, the character group creating unit 110 creates a character group by the input character, and the search unit 120 searches the word dictionary 140 for words that match the created character group. Is a program for displaying the searched word by the display means 130.

First, step (hereinafter referred to as "S") 3
At 00, when a character is input,
Or, if it is judged that one character is input by checking whether or not an arbitrary number of characters in one group is input, one character is input and it is judged that an arbitrary number of characters in one group is input. In that case, an arbitrary number of characters in one group are input. Further, the input character is tentatively stored and displayed on the display panel 210.

In the next step S310, a character group is created by the input characters. When inputting Japanese, it is checked whether the created character group is suitable for Japanese. If it is suitable for Japanese, a character group is created. If it is not suitable for Japanese, the character group is not created. In addition, a character group is sequentially created as characters are input.

When the conversion key is pressed in the next S320, the process proceeds to S330, and a word matching the created character group or a similar word is searched from the word dictionary.

In the next step S340, if there is a word matching the character group or a similar word, the process proceeds to S350, the corresponding word is displayed, and there is no word matching the character group or a similar word. If S3, again S3
Return to 00.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, but can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, although the assignment of alphabetic characters is the same as the assignment of an existing mobile phone, the alphabetical characters are assigned to the "1" key, the "0" key, the "US" key, and the "#" key.
You may make it assign 26 alphabetic characters to each key. In this case, in an English word, two alphabetic characters with a high appearance frequency may be assigned, or “A”, “E”, and “O” with a high appearance frequency may be assigned individually.

In addition, in the Japanese input mode, the group characters of dakuon, semi-voiced sound, and stuttering were assigned to a group different from the group character of "line", but the dakuon, semi-voiced sound, and stuttering were assigned to "line". It may be assigned to the same group as the group character of. For example, the "6" key is assigned as "Habapahibibifubupuhepepepopo". In this case, the voiced sound, the semi-voiced sound, and the stuttered sound can be input without instructing the voiced sound, the semi-voiced sound, and the stuttering sound.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention of claim 1, an arbitrary number of characters in one group are input at one time by pressing a key, and created by combining the input characters. By configuring the word dictionary to search for a word that matches the specified character group, a plurality of characters can be input at one time with one key press, and the word stored in the word dictionary can be used as a key. It is possible to reduce the number of times of pressing and input.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when one character is instructed to be input, one character is input so that a proper noun or the like not stored in the word dictionary is input. It is possible to select and input characters individually.

According to the present invention of claim 3, the first character to be input or the first to several characters is set as one character, and the subsequent input is set to an arbitrary number of characters in one group. By configuring such that it is possible, in the Japanese input mode, it becomes possible to input a word having a small number of characters by selecting each character individually. Also,
The number of character groups created by the character group creating means can be suppressed, and the word candidates to be displayed can be limited.

According to the present invention of claim 4, according to the number of times the key is pressed, an arbitrary number of characters in one group, one character, and the input character are sequentially changed. It is possible to input an arbitrary number of characters in one group and one character according to the number of times the key is pressed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the number keys arranged in a matrix form on the side of the keyboard enable the input of characters.
It is possible to reduce the number of keys on the keyboard.

According to the present invention of claim 6, a character group is created by combining one character and an arbitrary number of each character in one group. It is possible to create a character group by the characters input by the described character input device.

According to the present invention of claim 7, the character group can be created by inputting characters corresponding to all the character types that can be created in English,
In addition to Japanese, French, German, etc. also have similar effects,
It is possible to support all character types.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram in which a character input device of the present invention is applied to an immobile mobile phone having dial keys arranged in a matrix of three rows and four stages.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing application of the character input device of the present invention to a mobile phone.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of assigning alphabetic characters based on dial keys of a mobile phone to which the character input device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a character group created by a character group creating means using alphabetic characters.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a character group created by a character group creating means using alphabetic characters.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a character group created by a character group creating means using alphabetic characters.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of assigning kana characters based on dial keys of a mobile phone to which the character input device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a character group created by a character group creating means using kana characters.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a character group created by a character group creating means using kana characters.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a character group created by a character group creating means using kana characters.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a character group created by a character group creating means using kana characters.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a character group created by a character group creating means using kana characters.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the character input device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 input means 110 character county creation means 120 Search method 130 display means 140 word dictionary 150 dial keys 160 conversion key 170 Non-conversion key 180 Enter key 200 mobile phones 210 display panel 220 Menu key 230 Volume search key 240 power key

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A character group is created by combining an input means for inputting an arbitrary number of characters in one group and a combination of each character of the group input by the input means with each character of another group. Character group creating means, a word dictionary in which a plurality of words are stored in advance, search means for searching the word dictionary for words that match the character group created by the character group creating means, and words searched by the searching means And a display means for displaying as a word candidate. 2. The input means inputs one character when instructing the input of one character.
Character input device described. 3. The first character to be input is input by the input means,
2. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the first character to several characters are set as one character, and the subsequent input can be set to an arbitrary number of characters in one group. 4. The character input according to claim 1, wherein the input unit sequentially changes the input character in an arbitrary number of characters and one character in one group according to the number of times the key is pressed. apparatus. 5. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein said input means enables character input by means of numeral keys arranged in a matrix on a side portion of the keyboard. 6. The character group creating means creates a character group by combining one character input by the input means and an arbitrary number of characters in one group. ~ The character input device described in 5. 7. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit inputs characters corresponding to all kinds of characters such as English and Japanese that can be created by a character group.