JP2005135012A - Information input device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information input device and an electronic apparatus easy to carry, realizing improved operability of an operator. <P>SOLUTION: In an information input device 1 for outputting a signal corresponding to an operation state of an operator 15 having been operated, a covering member 2 mounted on a hand, covering a finger and a palm of a user, and the plurality of operators 15 formed on the above covering member are provided. The plurality of operators 15 are provided in an area operable by a thumb of the hand having the covering member 2 mounted thereon. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information input device and an electronic device, and more particularly to an information input device and an electronic device that are easy to carry and improve the operability of an operator.

While mobile phone terminals are becoming lighter and smaller, they are rapidly spreading not only as a conventional voice call tool but also as a tool for communicating character data such as e-mail.
As a result, there have been many opportunities to input characters, numbers and symbols, but it has become difficult to input characters, numbers and symbols with good operability because the device is lightweight and compact. Therefore, as a first prior art, the mobile phone terminal has a structure that can be opened in a double-sided manner, and one side of this inner surface is used as a display unit, and the other side is used as an input key (operator) unit, thereby ensuring a large display unit and input key unit. The thing is known (refer patent document 1). As a second conventional technique, an information input device, for example, a full keyboard connected to a mobile phone terminal and characters, numbers, and symbols are input using the full keyboard is known (see Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-284067 JP 2001-142614 A

However, in the configuration of the first prior art, it is inevitable that the dimension in the thickness direction of the mobile phone terminal increases. Moreover, there is a problem of an increase in weight due to an increase in the number of component parts, which is inconvenient to carry. Furthermore, there is a problem that when the operator is pushed with a finger, the operator is pushed to the next operator, and it may be difficult for the visually impaired or the elderly to operate the operator.
In the configuration of the second prior art, when the full keyboard is reduced in size, the operation element also becomes smaller, and there is a problem that when the operation element is pressed with a finger, the adjacent operation element is pushed, which is inconvenient. It may be difficult for a person or an elderly person to operate the operation element.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information input device and an electronic apparatus that can solve the problems of the conventional techniques described above, are easy to carry, and can improve the operability of an operator.

In order to achieve the above object, in an information input device that outputs a signal corresponding to an operation state of an operated operator, a covering member that is attached to a hand while covering a finger and a palm of a user's hand, and the covering member A plurality of operation elements formed on the upper surface, wherein the plurality of operation elements are provided in an area that can be operated with a thumb of a hand wearing the covering member.
In this case, the plurality of operating elements include a plurality of regions divided by joints on the palm side of the four fingers excluding the thumb of the covering member, a plurality of regions divided by joints on the side of the thumb side of the index finger, and 4 of the palm. It may be distributed in a region corresponding to the vicinity of the finger base.

In addition, the operation elements distributed and arranged in three areas divided by the joints on the palm side of the four fingers and three areas divided by the side joints on the thumb side of the index finger are one operation element in one area. May be arranged.
Further, the covering member may be attached to either the right hand or the left hand.
Furthermore, a transmission circuit that wirelessly transmits a signal corresponding to the operation state of the operation element to the outside, and a power source for driving the information input device may be provided.

  Further, in an electronic apparatus having an apparatus main body having a display unit and an information input unit including a plurality of operators for operating the apparatus main body, the information input unit covers a finger and a palm of a user's hand. And a plurality of operating elements formed on the covering member, and the plurality of operating elements are provided in an area that can be operated by a thumb of the hand wearing the covering member. It may be.

In this case, the plurality of operating elements include a plurality of regions divided by joints on the palm side of the four fingers excluding the thumb of the covering member, a plurality of regions divided by side joints on the thumb side of the index finger, and four fingers of the palm. It may be distributed in a region corresponding to the vicinity of the base.
In addition, the operation elements distributed and arranged in three regions divided by the joints on the palm side of the four fingers and three regions divided by the joints on the side of the thumb of the index finger are provided with one operation in one region. You may make it arrange | position a child.

Furthermore, the information input unit may be attached to either the right hand or the left hand.
Furthermore, the information input unit includes a transmission circuit that wirelessly transmits a signal corresponding to the operation state of the operation element to the apparatus main body, and a power source for driving the information input unit. You may make it provide the receiving circuit which receives the signal transmitted by radio | wireless from the information input part.

Further, the apparatus main body displays a variety of information including characters and numbers corresponding to the signal transmitted from the information input unit on the display unit, and a notification unit that performs notification corresponding to the information displayed on the display unit You may make it prepare.
Furthermore, the apparatus main body includes a biometric authentication unit that performs authentication based on biometric features, and performs an operation corresponding to the signal transmitted from the information input unit by being authenticated by the biometric authentication unit. Good.

  According to the present invention, it is easy to carry and an operator can be easily operated even by a blind person or an elderly person.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment when the present invention is applied to a mobile phone terminal (hereinafter referred to as a mobile phone) will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the information input device 1 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electronic device 20 according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the information input device 1 includes a glove part 2 to be worn on the user's hand, an operator 15 to which letters, numbers, symbols, and the like arranged on the glove part 2 are assigned, and a device. It is comprised with the code | cord | chord 9 for transmitting a signal to the main body 21 (refer FIG. 3). The glove part 2 is formed of a covering member made of a flexible material such as cloth so as not to hinder the movement of the user's fingers, and the operation element 15 is the palm of the finger parts 4 to 7 of the glove part 2 excluding the thumb part 3. It arrange | positions in the three area | regions divided | segmented by the joint of a side, the three area | regions divided | segmented by the joint of the thumb side surface of the finger part 4, and the area | region corresponding to the base vicinity of the finger parts 4-7 of a palm. These areas are areas that can be operated with the thumb of the hand wearing the information input device 1.

The operating elements 15a to 15o formed in three areas divided by the palm side joints of the finger parts 4 to 7 of the glove part 2 and three areas divided by the joints on the thumb side of the finger part 4 are: One operation element is formed in each region.
In addition, two rows of operators 15p to 15u are formed in a region corresponding to the vicinity of the bases of the finger portions 4 to 7 of the palm. However, the operation elements 15 may be formed in a line for easier operation. In this case, for example, the operating element 15u is formed at the arrangement position of the operating elements 15r and 15s.
Even if the glove part 2 is not a glove shape covering five fingers, the glove part 2 is attached to the hand so as to cover the area corresponding to the finger parts 4 to 7 and the area corresponding to the vicinity of the base of the finger parts 4 to 7 of the palm. Any device that can be used and can be easily removed during operation.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the information input device 1 according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, an upper coating material 32 is provided on the outermost side of the information input device 1. The upper coating material 32 is provided with a plurality of convex portions 31 to be the operation elements 15. The upper layer sheet 33 on which the conductive member is stretched is attached so that an electrical contact is formed at a position corresponding to the above. Further, below the upper layer sheet 33, keys 34 that are conductive members are arranged at positions corresponding to the respective convex portions 31 of the upper layer sheet 33, with each convex portion being disposed below the key 34. The lower layer sheet 35 on which the conductive member is stretched is disposed at an interval so that an electrical contact is formed at a position corresponding to 31.

Further, below the lower layer sheet 35, a heat insulating sheet 36 having a waterproof function and a lower coating material 37 subjected to water repellent treatment such as fluororesin treatment are laminated. The constituent members of the information input device 1 are all made of a flexible material that can be bent, so that the movement of the finger to which the information input device 1 is attached is not hindered.
Here, in a state where each operation element 15 is not operated, the upper layer sheet 33 and the lower layer sheet 35 are maintained in a state of being spaced apart by the elastic force or the like of the upper coating material 32. When is pressed, the upper layer sheet 33, the key 34, and the lower layer sheet 35 are brought into contact with each other so that the electrical contact between the upper layer sheet 33 and the lower layer sheet 35 is brought into conduction. The information input device 1 has a built-in circuit board (not shown) for detecting a conduction position between the upper layer sheet 33 and the lower layer sheet 35, and can detect whether one of the operators 15 is operated by the circuit board. It is like that.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic device 20 includes an information input device 1 and a device main body 21, and the information input device 1 and the device main body 21 are electrically connected by a cord 9. The information input apparatus 1 uses a predetermined standard such as PS / 2 (Personal System / 2) as an operation detection circuit 22 that detects the operation of the operation element 15 and a detection signal detected by the operation detection circuit 22. And an encoder circuit 23 that converts the signal into a signal corresponding to the above and outputs the signal to the apparatus main body 21. The operation detection circuit 22 and the encoder circuit 23 are formed on a circuit board built in the information input device 1.

The apparatus main body 21 includes a display unit 24 such as a liquid crystal screen that displays information, a ROM 25 that stores programs executed by the CPU 27, a RAM 26 that temporarily stores various data, control of the apparatus main body 21, and the like. A CPU 27 that executes a program and the like, an oscillation circuit 28 that supplies a clock signal having a predetermined frequency to the CPU 27, and a notification unit 29 that notifies the user by a notification sound corresponding to each operator 15 of the information input device 1. And a power supply 30 for supplying power to the apparatus main body 21 and the information input apparatus 1.
The notification unit 29 has a speaker (not shown), and outputs a notification sound through the speaker. The power supply 30 is provided in the apparatus main body 21, but also supplies power to the information input apparatus 1 through the cord 9.

When making a call to the number “090-1234-5678” using the information input device 1, the operator 15 shown in FIG. 1 is operated in the following order.
When the user operates the operation elements 15n, 15l, 15n, 15d, 15e, 15f, 15g, 15h, 15i, 15j, and 15k in this order, “09012345678” is displayed on the display unit 24 of the mobile phone (device main body 21). The notifying unit 29 receives the input character strings “0”, “9”, “0”, “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”. , “8” is notified to the user in the operation order. Next, the user can make a call to the number “090-1234-5678” by pressing the control 15a.

When the information input device 1 is used to display the characters “Aki” on the display unit 24, the user presses the operator 15d shown in FIG. The character “A” is displayed, and the notification unit 29 notifies the user with a voice “A”. Next, when the user presses the operation element 15e once, the character “ka” is displayed on the display unit 24. When the operation element 15e is pressed again, the character “ka” changes to the character “ki”. To do.
At this time, in parallel with the display processing of the character “ka” on the display unit 24, the notification unit 29 notifies the user of the sound “ka”. Subsequently, in parallel with the display processing of the character “KI” on the display unit 24, the notification unit 29 notifies the user of the sound “KI”.

The same processing is performed when inputting alphabets. Further, for various symbols, a voice corresponding to a name generally used is notified to the user. Specifically, “@” is notified by “at mark”, “−” is “hyphen”, “?” Is notified by “question mark”, and the like.
Information displayed on the display unit 24 includes icons, images, and the like in addition to the characters, numbers, and symbols described above. At this time, the notification unit 29 notifies the user of the sound corresponding to the icon or image.

  Various functions are assigned to the function keys 15p to 15s. For example, a telephone number is assigned to 15p, and a telephone directory call is assigned to 15q. By pressing this 15p, a call can be made to the assigned number. The notification by voice at this time notifies the telephone number or the name of the other party. In addition, the telephone book is called by pressing 15q, and the telephone numbers registered in the telephone book (names of registered partners) are sequentially displayed on the display unit 24 by operating 15u. The notification by voice at this time notifies the telephone number or the name of the other party.

In the information input device 1 according to the first embodiment, the operation element 15 includes an area corresponding to the palm side joints of the finger parts 4 to 7 of the glove part 2 and an area corresponding to the thumb side surface of the finger part 4. In the region corresponding to the vicinity of the base of the finger parts 4 to 7 of the palm, by wearing this glove part 2 on the hand, the position of the operation element 15 is sensibly known, and the operation element 15 is viewed. The operation element 15 can be operated without any trouble.
In addition, since the notification unit 29 notifies the user with voice corresponding to the numbers and characters displayed on the display unit 24, the numbers and characters displayed on the display unit 24 without looking at the display unit 24. The user can know. For this reason, even a blind person or an elderly person can easily perform key operations.

As a result, it is not necessary to look at the display unit 24 of the mobile phone, and key operations can be performed while talking on the mobile phone (when the mobile phone is brought near the ear). Since the information input device 1 is formed of a covering member made of a flexible material, the information input device 1 is convenient to be carried without being bulky by being folded when being carried.
The operation element 15 arranged in the information input device 1 has the same type and function as the keys arranged in the mobile phone, and it is not necessary to newly learn the operation method. Further, since the arrangement area of the operation element 15 of the information input device 1 is larger than the key arrangement area of the apparatus main body 21, the shape of the operation element 15 can be made larger than the key of the apparatus main body 21. Will be improved.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second embodiment. The electronic device 20A according to the second embodiment is largely different in that the information input device 1A worn on the user's hand and the device main body 21A perform data communication wirelessly. The configuration is the same as that of the electronic device 20 according to the embodiment. For this reason, the same configuration as that of the electronic device 20 according to the first embodiment is denoted by the same reference numeral, and description thereof is omitted. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the information input apparatus 1 </ b> A includes an operation detection circuit 22 that detects the operation of the operation element 15, and a detection signal detected by the operation detection circuit 22 as a predetermined wireless communication such as Bluetooth. An encoder circuit 43 that converts and outputs a signal corresponding to a standard, a transmission circuit 41 that transmits a signal output from the encoder circuit 23 to the apparatus main body 21A as a radio signal, and a power source that supplies power to the information input apparatus 1A 40. These circuits 22, 23 and 41 are formed on a circuit board built in the information input device 1A. The power source 40 is, for example, a solar battery formed of a bendable material.

  The apparatus main body 21A includes a display unit 24 such as a liquid crystal screen that displays information, a ROM 25 that stores programs executed by the CPU 27, a RAM 26 that temporarily stores various data, control of the apparatus main body 21A, and the like. A CPU 27 for executing a program and the like, an oscillation circuit 28 for supplying a clock signal having a predetermined frequency to the CPU 27, an informing unit 29 for informing the user by an informing sound corresponding to the operation element 15 of the information input device 1A, and A receiving circuit 42 that receives a radio signal transmitted from the information input apparatus 1A, and a power supply 30 that supplies power to the apparatus main body 21A are provided.

The information input device 1A and the device main body 21A in the second embodiment perform wireless communication, and since the code 9 provided in the first embodiment is not provided, the movement range of the information input device 1A is wider than when the code 9 is provided. It will be. For this reason, it is possible to perform an operation in which the apparatus main body 21A such as grasping and moving an object during the key operation and the hand wearing the information input apparatus 1A are greatly separated.
In the second embodiment, the power source 40 provided in the information input device 1A may include a small battery such as a button battery or a coin-type battery that does not hinder the movement of the user's finger in addition to the solar battery. The encoder circuit 43 may convert the signal into a signal corresponding to a standard such as IEEE208.11g which is a wireless LAN standard in addition to Bluetooth which is a wireless communication standard.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a third embodiment. The electronic device 20B according to the third embodiment is largely different from the second embodiment in that authentication is performed using the fingerprint sensor in the apparatus main body 21B. Except for this difference, the electronic device 20B is the same as the electronic device 20A according to the second embodiment. For this reason, the same components as those of the electronic apparatus 20A according to the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted, and different parts will be described below.

  The apparatus main body 21B includes a display unit 24 such as a liquid crystal screen for displaying information, a ROM 25 that stores programs executed by the CPU 27, a RAM 26 that temporarily stores various data, and control and control of the apparatus main body 21B. A CPU 27 for executing a program and the like, an oscillation circuit 28 for supplying a clock signal having a predetermined frequency to the CPU 27, an informing unit 29 for informing the user by an informing sound corresponding to the operation element 15 of the information input device 1A, and A receiving circuit 42 that receives a radio signal transmitted from the information input device 1A, a biometric authentication unit 50 that performs user authentication, and a power source 30 that supplies power to the apparatus main body 21B are provided.

The biometric authentication unit 50 reads the change in the charge of the electrode when the finger is placed on the sensor (capacitance method), the fingerprint sensor 51, and the data read by the fingerprint sensor 51 and the user stored in advance. A collation circuit 52 that collates fingerprint data and a drive circuit 53 that drives the fingerprint sensor 51 are provided.
In this biometric authentication unit 50, the verification circuit 52 compares the fingerprint data of the user registered in advance with the fingerprint data of the current user. If the fingerprint data is considered to match, the CPU 27 performs processing corresponding to the received data received by the receiving circuit 42. In addition, when there is a mismatch in the comparison between the fingerprint data of the user registered in advance and the fingerprint data of the current user, the CPU 27 may perform processing corresponding to the received data received by the receiving circuit 42. do not do.
According to this configuration, since only a user who has registered fingerprint data in advance operates the apparatus main body 21B using the information input apparatus 1A, it is impossible for another person to operate the electronic device 20B before, so security is improved. To do.

  In the third embodiment, the biometric authentication unit 50 performs authentication by fingerprint using the fingerprint sensor 51. In addition to the fingerprint, the biometric authentication unit 50 performs authentication by biometric features such as a palm print, a vein pattern on the back of the hand, and an iris of the eye. Also good.

In the apparatus main bodies 21, 21 </ b> A, and 21 </ b> B according to the above-described embodiment, even if there is no operator, key operation can be performed by the information input devices 1 and 1 </ b> A, and thus an operator arrangement area does not have to be provided. For this reason, the shape of the apparatus main bodies 21, 21A, and 21B can be reduced in size, and the area of the display unit 24 can be increased.
The information input devices 1 and 1A can be connected to an information terminal such as a PDA or a personal computer as well as a mobile phone. In this case, not only data such as characters can be input, but also an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse can be used instead of cursor movement and area selection.
This embodiment is only one aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified within the scope of the present invention.

It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the information input device by this invention. Sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of the information input device in this invention. It is a block diagram of the electronic device in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the electronic device in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the electronic device in 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A ... Information input device, 2 ... Glove part, 15, 15a-15u ... Operator, 21, 21A, 21B ... Main part of apparatus, 22 ... Operation detection circuit, 23 ... Encoder circuit, 24 ... Display part, 29 ... Notification , 30, 40 ... power source, 41 ... transmission circuit, 50 ... biometric authentication unit.

Claims (12)

In the information input device that outputs a signal corresponding to the operation state of the operated operator,
A covering member that is worn on the hand while covering the finger and palm of the user's hand;
A plurality of operating elements formed on the covering member;
The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating elements are formed in an area that can be operated with a thumb of a hand wearing the covering member. The information input device according to claim 1,
The plurality of operating elements include a plurality of regions divided by joints on the palm side of the four fingers excluding the thumb of the covering member, a plurality of regions divided by joints on the side of the thumb side of the index finger, and the vicinity of the four finger bases of the palm. An information input device characterized by being distributed in a corresponding area. The information input device according to claim 2,
The operating elements dispersedly arranged in the three areas divided by the joints on the palm side of the four fingers and the three areas divided by the joints on the side of the thumb of the index finger have one operating element in one area. An information input device that is arranged. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The information input device according to claim 1, wherein the covering member is attached to either the right hand or the left hand. The information input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A transmission circuit for wirelessly transmitting a signal corresponding to the operation state of the operation element to the outside;
An information input device comprising: a power source for driving the information input device. In an electronic apparatus having an apparatus main body having a display unit and an information input unit including a plurality of operators for operating the apparatus main body,
The information input unit is a covering member that is worn on the hand while covering the finger and palm of the user's hand;
A plurality of operating elements formed on the covering member;
The electronic device is characterized in that the plurality of operating elements are formed in an area that can be operated with a thumb of a hand wearing a covering member. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6.
The plurality of operating elements include a plurality of regions divided by joints on the palm side of the four fingers excluding the thumb of the covering member, a plurality of regions divided by joints on the side of the thumb side of the index finger, and the vicinity of the four finger bases of the palm. Electronic equipment characterized by being distributed in a corresponding area. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein
The operating elements dispersedly arranged in the three areas divided by the joints on the palm side of the four fingers and the three areas divided by the joints on the side of the thumb of the index finger have one operating element in one area. An electronic device that is arranged. The electronic device according to any one of claims 6 to 8,
The information input unit is mounted on either the right hand or the left hand. The electronic device according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
The information input unit wirelessly transmits a signal corresponding to the operation state of the operation element to the apparatus main body,
A power source for driving the information input unit,
The electronic device includes a receiving circuit that receives a signal transmitted wirelessly from the information input unit. The electronic device according to any one of claims 6 to 10,
The apparatus main body displays various information including characters and numbers corresponding to the signal transmitted from the information input unit on the display unit,
An electronic apparatus comprising: a notification unit that performs notification corresponding to information displayed on the display unit. The electronic device according to any one of claims 6 to 11,
The apparatus main body includes a biometric authentication unit that performs authentication based on biometric features,
An electronic device that performs an operation corresponding to a signal transmitted from the information input unit by being authenticated by the biometric authentication unit.

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