JP2003152854A - Non-ten-key pad type character entry device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a character entry device for a mobile telephone set or the like that has keys each with decreased size and enables a user more speedily and surely to select a character. SOLUTION: This character entry device adopts a character entry method by which a character to be entered is selected depending on the number of times of key depression. The character entry device has one or more entry keys placed to form a ring and having ten or more contacts, or entry keys able to be rocked in every direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device for characters and the like, and more particularly to a character input device for mobile mail of a mobile phone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Character input represented by a character input device of a mobile phone uses 12 keys in four rows and three columns (so-called ten-keys) for inputting a telephone number. It is selected by pressing the characters assigned to each key a specified number of times.

[0003]

However, for example, when inputting "Awaseru", move the finger from the "A" row (1st row, 2nd column) key to the "Wa" row (4th row, 2nd column) key, and then “Ta” row (2 rows and 1 column) key, and further “ra” row (3 rows 3
Column) key. These series of operations are usually performed with the thumb, but movement of the finger is not easy without skill.

An object of the present invention is to provide an input device having an input key in which the movement of a finger is minimized.

[0005]

That is, the present invention is an input device used in a character input method for selecting a character to be input by the number of times a key is pressed, the input device being arranged so as to form a ring. The present invention relates to a character input device in which one or more input keys having ten or more contact points are arranged.

The present invention also relates to a character input device in which one or more input keys which can be swung in all directions are arranged as input keys.

Further, a display device may be provided for displaying characters at the pressed position of the input key in the initial state.

Further, the characters displayed on the display device may correspond to the character arrangement on the input keys.

It is particularly effective when such a character input device is used as an input device of a mobile phone.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The input method to which the input device of the present invention is applied is a method generally used in mobile phones at present. Number key and * key, # key 12
10 lines from the line “a” to the line “wa” are assigned to 10 keys, and each time the key is pressed, the character is advanced one character at a time in the vowel order. For example, to input "O", press the key on the "A" line five times. In addition, depending on the model, there are cases where a dakuten key, ",", "." Key, lower case key, etc. are provided separately.

The key for inputting characters of the present invention is such a 5
The input device is applied to a double-press type input method and is roughly classified into two forms. Form 1: One or more input keys having 10 or more contacts arranged so as to form a ring Form 2: Input keys swingable in all directions

The present invention will be described below by exemplifying a case where the input device of the present invention is applied to a mobile phone, but it is easily understood that it can be applied to other input devices (PC, various data input devices, etc.). Ah

The first embodiment will be described. In the form 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, at least 10 contacts 2 are provided around a disk-shaped key 1, and each contact is assigned 10 lines from "A" line to "W" line. Has been.
The shape of the key is not limited to the disk shape, and may be a ring shape. Alternatively, the individual keys may be annularly arranged. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the number of contacts may be 12 including “*” and “#” as in the case of the numeric keypad of a conventional telephone. The number is not limited as long as it can be operated.

A conventionally known seesaw key or the like can be used as the disk key 1, and its mechanism is not limited as long as it is constructed so as to generate a pressing signal when the periphery thereof is pressed.

As described above, the object of the present invention is to minimize the movement of the finger, and the conventional input method is adopted.

The central portion of the disk-shaped or ring-shaped key may be a key having an independent function, and the key may be provided with a character conversion function.

Here, with respect to the method of pressing the disk-shaped key and the selection of characters, the first character may be selected immediately by pressing once as described above, or by pressing once, a temporary selection is made. (For example, the selected character may be reversed on the screen), and may be determined by pressing it again. By doing so, unnecessary input can be appropriately prevented even while touching the disk-shaped key.

In a similar manner, in the initial state, for example, the position of row "a" is reversed, and the pressure is lightly applied to move the reversed state to the pressed position, and the target position (for example, row "m") is moved. The first character (“m”) may be selected by further pressing when reaching the position (1). By doing so, the operation can be performed without releasing the finger from the key.

As another mode, as shown in FIG. 2, the disc key or the ring-shaped key 3 itself may be rotated (swirled) in parallel to the main body disc surface 4. In this mode, one contact (not shown) is provided at the position 5 where the finger is placed on the key 3, and the number of contacts 6 corresponding to the number of characters is arranged on the main body board surface 4. The operation may be performed by placing a finger at the position of the contact point of the key 3 and moving the key 3 side contact to the position of the target character contact 6 while rotating the key 3 on the body board surface 4 and pressing. By providing a slip stopper or the like at the position of the contact of the key 3 on which the finger is placed, the operability is improved.

Other functions, such as a clear key for correction and a cursor movement key, may be conventional ones. Further, the center of the disk key or the ring key may be a key having an independent function (for example, the key 8 in FIG. 2), and a character conversion function and a mode selection function may be provided.

Next, the second embodiment will be described. The form 2 shown in FIG. 2 is the same as the form 1 except that the key 7 that can be swung in all directions is used as the key to be used. As the key 7 that can be swung in all directions, a joystick or any other key currently used as a cursor moving key may be used.

For a user who feels that the stopped position is easy to move with a disk key or ring key, an independent push key surrounding the keys is arranged according to the contact corresponding to the character, You may make it possible to select the character in the character line selected by the key or the like by the push key.

The screen display of the arrangement of characters and the like may be circular as shown in FIG. 1 or may be matrix type. Further, the screen display may not be performed by the switch key or the initial setting.

Further, the input device may be arranged on the side surface of the mobile phone, and by appropriately disposing other function keys on the opposite side surface, the display can be spread over the entire front surface. Alternatively, the mobile phone itself can be further miniaturized.

Alternatively, the device having the character input function including the device of the present invention may be designed as a separate device (so-called separate type) separately from the display device (or the device having only the display and telephone communication function). . In the conventional character input device, the layout of the input keys was not suitable for character input, and it was not possible to input without checking the key, so it was not suitable for a separate type, but this book With the input method and device of the invention, since input can be performed while looking at the display screen rather than the input device, there is no difficulty in using a separate type. This separate type is advantageous not only for inputting characters but also for playing games.

[0026]

According to the input device of the present invention, the size of the key can be reduced, and the selection of characters can be performed more speedily and reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing keys and screen display according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing another aspect of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing keys and screen display according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 disk-shaped key 2 contacts 3 ring-shaped key 4 Body board surface 5 finger position 6 contacts 7 Omni-directional swing key 8 character conversion key

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Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An input device used in a character input method for selecting a character to be input by the number of times a key is pressed, the input device having ten or more contacts arranged so as to form a ring. A character input device in which one or more input keys are arranged. 2. An input device used in a character input method for selecting a character to be input by the number of times a key is pressed, wherein one or more input keys swingable in all directions are arranged as input keys. Character input device. 3. The character input device according to claim 1, further comprising a display device for displaying characters at a pressed position of an input key in an initial state. 4. The character input device according to claim 3, wherein the characters displayed on the display device correspond to the character arrangement on the input keys. 5. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the character input device is an input device of a mobile phone.