JP2006004061A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize operability by arranging a keyboard, a numeric keypad, a cross key, a display, a camera, etc. on the side face of a terminal having a cylindrical shape. <P>SOLUTION: Since the keyboard, the numeric keypad, the cross key, the display, the camera, etc. are arranged on the side face of the terminal having the cylindrical shape, a user can perform operation such as edition, retrieval, print instruction, and download of media by the single hand or the thumbs of both the hands while holding the terminal in comfortable posture. In using the terminal as a camera, highly accurate photographing can be attained because a large scale lens is mounted, a comment can be applied to a photograph by using the keyboard and the photograph with the comment can be sent as a mail. Since the terminal is provided with a means for locking or activating keys of respective operation units arranged on the surface of the cylindrical terminal, malfunction can be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device for inputting characters, symbols, and items. The present invention also relates to an input device for performing editing, searching, printing instructions, downloading instructions, and the like of media such as text, images, and sounds. The present invention also relates to a remote control type input device for selecting a menu or inputting characters on an interactive television or DVD.

In conventional mobile phones and remote controllers, a numeric keypad and a cross key are used to input text (Patent Document 1). Also, when entering text, editing files, and downloading music on a personal computer, the keyboard and mouse were used.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-244663

  In mobile phones and remote controllers, inputting text with the numeric keypad is troublesome and cannot be performed at high speed. A personal computer equipped with a keyboard has a problem that it lacks portability. Also, there was a problem that the personal computer could not be operated with an easy posture.

  In the present invention, by arranging a keyboard, numeric keypad, cross key, display, camera, etc. on the side of the cylindrical terminal, the user can hold the terminal in an easy posture while editing, searching, and printing media. It is possible to perform operations such as downloading with the thumb of one hand or both hands. Also, a sensor for detecting the insertion of a finger is provided in the cavity of the cylindrical terminal, and the key is prevented from malfunctioning by locking or activating each key depending on whether or not the finger is inserted. In addition, when used as a camera, a large lens is installed to enable high-definition photography, and it is possible to attach a comment to a photograph using a keyboard and send it by e-mail. Also, malfunctions can be prevented by providing means for locking or activating keys of each operation unit arranged on the surface of the cylindrical terminal.

  As described above, in the present invention, a keyboard, a numeric keypad, a cross key, a display, a camera, and the like are arranged on the side surface of a cylindrical terminal, so that the user can edit the media while holding the terminal in an easy posture. Search, print instruction, download, and other operations can be performed with one or both thumbs. Further, by providing a sensor for detecting the insertion of a finger in the cavity of the cylindrical terminal and locking or activating each key depending on whether or not the finger is inserted, it is possible to prevent the key from malfunctioning. Also, when used as a camera, a large lens is installed to enable high-definition photography, and a comment can be attached to a photograph using a keyboard and sent by e-mail. Also, malfunctions can be prevented by providing means for locking or activating keys of each operation unit arranged on the surface of the cylindrical terminal.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1, 2, 3, and 4 are external views of a portable terminal according to the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the present apparatus has a cylindrical shape, and is approximately the same size as a beer can containing 350 ml to 500 ml. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the apparatus, which includes a camera 1, a first display 2, a keyboard 3, a control key group 4, a second display 5, a cross key group 6, a numeric keypad 7, a contact sensor 8, It comprises a control unit 9, a storage unit 10, a telephone unit 11, and a communication unit 12. 1-4, the side surface of the cylinder is divided into areas P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5, and the camera 1 and the first display 2 are arranged in the area P1. . A QWERTY keyboard 3 is arranged in the area P2. A control key group such as a space key, an enter key, a shift key, and a delete key is arranged in the area P3. In the area P4, a second display 5, a cross key group 6, and a numeric keypad 7 are arranged. No keys or buttons are arranged in the area P5. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the arrangement of keys, displays, etc. on the surface measurement surface of this apparatus. FIG. 7 is a diagram in which the user holds the apparatus with one hand and makes a phone call, takes a picture of a camera, or operates an i-mode. As shown in FIG. 7, in the imaging operation, the zoom and shutter operations are performed using the cross key group 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the cross key group 6 and the numeric keypad 7 are arranged in a range where the thumb can reach when held with the right hand. At this time, the finger other than the user's thumb is touching the area P1, but the contact sensor S1 is attached to the area P1, and the contact sensor S5 is attached to the area P5. Only the contact sensor S1 detects contact. When the contact sensors S1 and S5 detect contact at the same time, the keyboard 3 and the control key group 4 are key-locked, and the cross key group 6 and the numeric keypad are activated. FIG. 8 is a diagram in which the user holds the apparatus with both hands and writes an email, edits a file, gives an instruction to print a file, and downloads music data. As shown in FIG. 8, the keyboard 3 and the control key group 4 are arranged in a range where the thumb can reach when held with both hands. At this time, fingers other than the user's thumb are touching the area P5, but when only the contact sensor S5 detects contact, the cross key group 6 and the numeric keypad 7 are key-locked, and the keyboard 3 and the control key group 4 are activated. . Moreover, the antenna (linear or rod-shaped) of the communication unit 12 is installed inside a cylindrical main body.

  In this way, by arranging the keyboard, numeric keypad, cross key, display, and camera on the side of the cylindrical terminal, the user can hold the terminal in a comfortable posture while editing, searching, printing instructions, and downloading media. Such operations can be performed with the thumb of one hand or both hands.

  In the first embodiment, the keys and the display are arranged on the curved surface. However, as shown in FIG. 9, the surface on which the keys and the display are arranged may be flat.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram in which the camera 1 is arranged in the upper surface area P6 of the cylindrical terminal, and FIG. 11 is a diagram in which the viewfinder or the display 13 is arranged in the lower surface area P7. If the camera 1 and the display finder 13 are arranged as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a photograph can be taken with one hand as shown in FIG. At this time, with the index finger, the cross key group 6 in the area P4 is operated to take a picture.

  By adopting such a shape, a large lens and a driving mechanism can be mounted, and a high-definition photograph can be taken.

  FIG. 13 shows an embodiment when the shape is cylindrical. By using the cylindrical shape, a finger other than the thumb can be inserted into the cylindrical cavity as shown in FIG. 14, and the keyboard can be operated with the thumb. A sensor P10 for detecting insertion of a finger is installed in the cylinder. The sensor P10 may be a contact sensor, an optical sensor, or any sensor that can detect insertion of a finger. If the sensor P10 does not detect the insertion of a finger, the keyboard 3 and the control key group 4 are key-locked, and the cross key group 6 and the numeric keypad 7 are activated. At this time, hold it with one hand and operate the cross key 6 and numeric keypad 7 to make a call or take a picture. As shown in FIG. 14, when the user inserts his / her finger into the hollow of the cylinder, all of the keyboard 3, the control key group 4, the cross key group 6 and the numeric keypad 7 become active. The antenna (linear or rod-like) is installed inside a cylindrical main body.

  In this manner, by providing a sensor for detecting the insertion of a finger in the cavity of the cylindrical terminal and locking or activating each key depending on whether or not the finger is inserted, it is possible to prevent a malfunction of the key.

  FIG. 15 shows another embodiment in which keys, a camera, and a display are arranged on a cylindrical or cylindrical surface. In this embodiment, the left hand is easier to operate with one hand.

  This apparatus may be a TV or DVD remote controller, and two infrared communication units are installed at any position in the area P6 (FIG. 10) and any position in the area P1 (FIG. 1). ing. When the remote control is cylindrical, 14 is an infrared communication unit (FIG. 16).

  17 and 18 show another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 17, a button B1 is attached to the area P2, and when the button B1 is pressed and held, the keys of the areas P2 and P3 are activated, and all the keys of other areas are locked. As shown in FIG. 18, a button B2 is attached to the region P4. When the button B2 is pressed for a long time, the key of the region P4 becomes active, and all the keys of other regions are locked. When the button B2 is pressed while the key of the area P4 is active, the key of the area P4 is key-locked. Each key may be backlit to indicate which key is active to the user.

  In this way, by operating only the operation unit in the desired area and locking the operation units in the other areas, it is possible to prevent a malfunction when the user touches a key other than the desired operation unit.

  19 and 20 show another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, a rotatable dial 15 is attached to the upper surface of the terminal. A marker 16 is attached to the side surface of the dial 15, and only the key of the operation unit at the position of the marker 16 is active. For example, when the marker 16 comes to the position of the operation unit P2 as shown in FIG. 16, only the keys of the areas P2 and P3 are activated, and the keys of the area P4 are locked.

  In the embodiment of FIGS. 21 and 22, a terminal is constituted by a combination of two cylinders rotating coaxially, the surface of the cylinder is divided into three equal parts, and the parts of each operation unit are divided into the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The operation units, AU and AD, are arranged in the same color, BU and BD in the same color, CU and CD in the same color, and AU, BU and CU are Each color is painted differently, and the two cylinders are rotated so that only the keys of the operation unit whose colors match are activated. In the state of FIG. 22 (1), only the operation units AU and AD are active, and in the state of FIG. 22 (2), only the operation units BU and BD are active.

  In this way, by operating only the operation unit in the desired area and locking the operation units in the other areas, it is possible to prevent a malfunction when the user touches a key other than the desired operation unit.

  FIG. 23 shows an operation terminal composed of a combination of two cylinders, the cylinder surface is equally divided into five, operation units each having different functions are arranged, and the operation unit is divided into two cylinders. Paint the corresponding color with the same color. For example, operation units U (1), U (2), U (3), U (4), U (5) are arranged in this order on the first cylindrical surface, and an operation is performed on the second cylindrical surface. Units D (1), D (4), D (2), D (5), and D (3) are arranged in order. U (1) and D (1) are the same color, U (2) and D (2) are the same color, U (3) and D (3) are the same color, U (4) and D (4) ) Is the same color, U (5) and D (5) are painted in the same color, U (1), U (2), U (3), U (4), U (5) are respectively It is painted in different colors. U (1) and D (1) function as one operation unit only when paired. The same applies to U (2) and D (2), U (3) and D (3), U (4) and D (4), U (5) and D (5). Functions as an operation unit. By rotating the two cylinders coaxially, only the operation unit with the matching color becomes active.

  In general, when the operation terminal is constituted by two cylinders and the operation units are separately arranged on the respective cylinder surfaces, the cylinder surface may be equally divided into an odd number of 2n-1 (n> 1), When the operation unit is arranged as U (1), U (2)... U (k)... U (2n-1) on one cylinder, the kth operation on the first cylinder. The operation unit on the second cylinder corresponding to the unit may be arranged at the (2k−1) th position when k <= n, and at the 2 (k−n) th position when k> n. Then, when the two cylinders are rotated on the same axis, the operation unit having the same color can be made unique. If only the key on the operation unit with the matching color is activated and all the keys of the other operation units are key-locked, the user selects the desired operation unit by matching the colors by rotating the cylinder. It can prevent malfunction when touching the key.

  FIG. 24 is an extended example of the tenth embodiment. In this embodiment, the terminal is composed of two cylinders, and the first cylinder and the second cylinder can be rotated coaxially, and the first cylinder and the second cylinder have a fixed distance ( For example, 5 mm) is slidable. When two cylinders approach each other, it is called a close state, and when two cylinders are located on the same axis, they are called separated states. In the state of FIG. 24 (1), only the keys of the operation unit that cannot rotate and the colors of the two cylinders match are active, and the keys of the other operation units are locked. In the state of FIG. 24 (1), only the slide operation is possible if the rotation is impossible. When the slide operation is performed from the state of FIG. 24 (1), it becomes as shown in FIG. 24 (2), and all the operation units are key-locked and only the rotation operation is possible. The user selects a desired operation unit by a rotation operation (FIG. 24 (3)). When the close state (FIG. 24 (4)) is brought about by the slide operation, it becomes impossible to rotate, and only the keys of the operation unit whose colors match between the two cylinders are activated.

  Thus, in the sliding state, the same effect as turning off the power can be obtained by locking all the keys. Further, since a desired operation unit is selected by rotating in a separated state, it is possible to prevent a malfunction when the key is touched by mistake.

It is an external view of a terminal. It is an external view of a terminal. It is an external view of a terminal. It is an external view of a terminal. It is a block diagram of a terminal. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of a camera, a display, and keys on the surface measurement of a terminal. It is the figure which the user holds and operates the terminal with one hand. It is a figure in which the user operates the terminal with both hands. It is an external view of a terminal. It is an external view of a terminal. It is an external view of a terminal. It is a figure in which a user is carrying out imaging operation with a terminal. It is an external view of a terminal. It is the figure which the user operates with the terminal. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of a camera, a display, and keys on the surface measurement of a terminal. It is a figure which shows the position of an infrared communication part. It is an external view of a terminal. It is an external view of a terminal. It is an external view of a terminal. It is an external view of a terminal. It is a figure of the operation unit arrange | positioned at a 1st cylinder, and the operation unit arrange | positioned at a 2nd cylinder. It is a figure which rotates two cylinders coaxially and selects a desired operation unit. It is the figure which equally divided the cylinder surface into the odd number, and has arrange | positioned the operation unit to two cylinders. It is a figure of the Example which makes two cylinders rotatable coaxially, can slide on coaxial, and activates only a desired operation unit.

Claims (22)

  An input device having an operation unit arranged on each surface of a polyhedron, wherein operation units having different functions are arranged on each surface.   An input device having an operation unit and a display unit arranged on each surface of a polyhedron, wherein an operation unit and a display unit having different functions are arranged on each surface.   An input device in which an operation unit, a display unit, and a camera are arranged on each surface of a polyhedron, wherein an operation unit, a display unit, and a camera having different functions are arranged on each surface.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the shape is any one of a column, a cylinder, a prism, and a square tube.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is a keyboard, control keys, cross keys, a numeric keypad, and a search key.   The input device according to claim 1, further comprising meta control means for activating and locking each operation unit.   7. The input device according to claim 6, wherein the meta control means is a button installed in a region of each operation unit.   7. The input device according to claim 6, wherein the meta control means is a rotatable dial installed on the upper surface of the cylindrical terminal, and each operation unit is activated or locked by the rotation of the dial. .   The input device includes two cylinders rotating coaxially, and the surfaces of the two cylinders are equally divided into an odd number of 2n-1 (n> 1) regions, and each operation unit is a first The cylinder is divided into the surface of the second cylinder and the surface of the second cylinder, and the two cylinders are mutually rotated, and the operation unit on the first cylinder and the operation unit on the second cylinder are combined to complete the operation. 6. When a pair of operating units is formed, only keys on the complete operating unit are active and all keys on other operating units are key-locked. Input device.   The operation units on the second cylinder corresponding to the operation units on the first cylinder are arranged on the cylinder surface in order so that only one pair of operation units is active. Item 10. The input device according to Item 9.   The operation unit on the second cylinder corresponding to the k-th operation unit on the first cylinder is 2k−1th if k <= n, and 2 (k−n) th if k> n. The input device according to claim 10, wherein the input devices are arranged side by side.   The first cylinder and the second cylinder can rotate coaxially, the first cylinder and the second cylinder can slide on the same axis, and the two cylinders slide on the same axis by a predetermined distance. In the state where two cylinders are close to each other, it is impossible to rotate and only the slide operation is possible, and only one operation unit is active. 12. The input device according to claim 11, wherein the operation unit is locked.   The combination of the operation unit on the first cylinder and the operation unit on the second cylinder, which function as one operation unit in combination, is painted in the same color, and different pairs are all painted in different colors, The input device according to claim 9.   10. The input device according to claim 9, wherein when a key, button, or display is arranged on a polyhedron including a curved surface, only a position where the key, button, or display is arranged is locally configured as a plane.   6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a numeric keypad and a cross key are arranged in a range where a thumb can reach when held with one hand.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein a keyboard is arranged in a range where a thumb can reach when held by both hands.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the camera is disposed on an upper surface of a cylinder.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein a display or a viewfinder is arranged on the lower surface of the cylinder.   6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a camera is arranged on the opposite surface of the display on the polyhedron.   6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device has a cylindrical or rectangular tube shape, and can be operated by inserting a finger other than the thumb into a hollow portion in the device when operating the keyboard. .   21. The input device according to claim 20, wherein a keyboard is disposed at a position that can be operated with the thumbs of both hands when a finger other than the thumb is inserted into the cavity.   An input device in the shape of a cylinder or a square tube, equipped with a sensor that detects the insertion of a finger in the cavity, and when the finger is not inserted into the cavity in the device, only the numeric keypad and cross keys can be operated. The input device according to any one of claims 20 to 21, wherein when the finger is inserted into the cavity, the keyboard and control keys can be operated.

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