JP2006343812A - Key input control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save the space of an input device in a key input control device for performing input operation to electronic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: A fingerprint input surface for reading the finger print of a user's finger is provided on the surface of keys 21, 22 and 23 of the input device 20, so that the fingerprint can be recognized in any position of the surface of the keys 21, 22 and 23. Based on through which of the keys 21, 22 and 23 input is performed, or which of the forefinger, middle finger, annular finger and pinky finger of the right hand input is performed, a corresponding key code such as numeric is specified and outputted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a key input control device for performing an input operation on an electronic device.

As an input device for electronic devices, a switch is physically mounted for each key, and in addition to a keyboard for inputting characters by the user pressing a key, a key is displayed on a display screen, and the key is displayed on a mouse or a touch panel. There is a soft keyboard for inputting characters by designating with a pointing device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Soft keyboard, when a physical keyboard cannot be attached to a small terminal such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), or when a hiragana arrangement (Aiueo arrangement) is displayed and input to a person with resistance to the keyboard, etc. It is used for.
JP-A-8-314599

  However, since the conventional soft keyboard displays all characters to be input, a large display space is required. In addition, it is necessary for the user to gaze at the screen in order to select the key image displayed on the display screen, blind touch cannot be performed, and the input speed is limited.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to save the space of the input device.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a key input control device, wherein a plurality of input keys, a means for storing a plurality of fingerprints assigned to each of the input keys, and each of the input keys. Means for reading a fingerprint pressed in accordance with the operation, means for determining whether the read fingerprint corresponds to the stored fingerprint, the determined fingerprint and the operated input key And a means for outputting a predetermined key code based on the above.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the predetermined key code is output based on the finger operated by the user and the operated input key, the number of input keys corresponding to each key code is This eliminates the need for a space-saving input device.

[First Embodiment]
First, the key input control device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration of the key input control device 100.
As shown in FIG. 1, the key input control device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, an input device 20, a display device 30, a storage device 40, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 50.

  The CPU 10 controls the overall operation of the key input control device 100 by sending a control signal to each unit according to various control programs stored in the storage device 40 or the HDD 50 using a predetermined area of a RAM (not shown) as a work area.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the input device 20. The input device 20 is provided with keys 21, 22, and 23. A fingerprint input surface for reading the fingerprint of the user's finger is provided on the surface of the keys 21, 22, and 23, and the fingerprint can be recognized at any position on the surface of the keys 21, 22, and 23. The method for reading the fingerprint may be an optical method or a capacitance method.

  The keys 21, 22, and 23 also serve as display means for displaying character information corresponding to each key. Here, the character information includes characters (including numbers), symbols, codes, dots, and the like. The display surface is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and the keys 21 are “7”, “8”, “9”, “.”, And the keys 22 are “4”, “5”, “6”. , “0”, and “1”, “2”, “3”, “Ent” are displayed on the key 23. It should be noted that numbers and the like corresponding to the keys 21, 22, and 23 may be displayed on a display unit (not shown) installed around the keys 21, 22, and 23 corresponding to the keys.

  The display device 30 is a monitor composed of a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD, or the like, and performs screen display according to a display signal from the CPU 10.

  The storage device 40 includes a magnetic or optical recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or the like, and stores various programs and various data.

  The HDD 50 includes a fingerprint storage memory 51, a key code storage memory 52, and the like, and stores various data.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fingerprint storage memory 51 includes a fingerprint authentication method (for example, a feature point extraction method or a pattern matching method), a right index finger, a middle finger, and a ring finger for each ID for identifying a user. The fingerprint data of the little finger is stored in association with each other. Each finger is distinguished with i = 1 as the index finger, i = 2 as the middle finger, i = 3 as the ring finger, and i = 4 as the little finger.

  The key code storage memory 52 stores a key code table. As shown in FIG. 4, in the key code table, the key 21 (k = 1), the key 22 (k = 2), the key 23 (k = 3), and the right hand Identifies the key code, such as the appropriate number, based on whether the index finger (i = 1), middle finger (i = 2), ring finger (i = 3), or little finger (i = 4) was entered Data for storing is stored. In FIG. 4, numbers and the like are described in the key code table, but actually, information indicating a key code corresponding to the numbers and the like is stored.

Next, the operation in the key input control device 100 will be described.
First, the fingerprint registration process 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the user ID is registered (step S1). As long as the user can be identified by the ID, the ID may be registered using any means. For example, a fingerprint of a predetermined finger may be read by the input device 20 and the fingerprint data may be registered as an ID. Alternatively, each time the fingerprint input surface of the input device 20 is pressed, a different ID number is displayed on the display device 30, and the ID number may be displayed in the displayed state. In this case, the ID number is incremented each time the key 21 is pressed, the ID number is counted down each time the key 23 is pressed, and the key 22 is determined to be pressed. Alternatively, the user (number or character string) may be specified by using a separate device using an ID card or a USB token, and the information may be used. Also, two or more user identification buttons may be mounted on the input device 20 to identify the user.

  Next, a finger number i corresponding to each finger for registering a fingerprint is set to 1 (step S2).

  Next, according to i, guidance is displayed on the display device 30 to input the fingerprint of each finger of the right hand to the input device 20 (step S3). For example, when i = 1, an instruction such as “Please input the fingerprint of the right index finger” is displayed.

  When the user presses one of the keys 21, 22, and 23 of the input device 20 with a finger corresponding to i (step S4; YES), the fingerprint is read and stored as an image in the temporary storage memory (step S5). ).

  Here, it is determined whether i is 4 or more (step S6). If i is less than 4 (step S6; NO), the value of i is incremented by 1 (step S7), and step S3. Return to. In this manner, fingerprint images of each finger with i = 1 to 4 are stored.

  In step S6, when i is 4 or more (step S6; YES), the read fingerprints are compared by a feature point extraction method (maneuver matching method) (step S8). The feature point extraction method is a method in which feature points (branch points, end points, deltas, etc.) are extracted from a fingerprint image, and fingerprint authentication is performed using the positional relationship between the feature points.

  Feature points are extracted from the fingerprint images of each finger with i = 1 to 4, and the feature points are compared (step S9). If there is a difference between the fingerprints (step S10; YES), the fingerprint authentication method of this user is determined as the feature point extraction method.

  Next, N = 1 is set (step S11), and feature points are extracted again in an image obtained by reducing the periphery of each fingerprint image by N mm, and the feature points are compared (step S12). If there is a difference between the fingerprints (step S13; YES), the value of N is incremented by 1 (step S14), and the process returns to step S12. The processing from step S12 to step S14 is processing for narrowing the extraction range of the fingerprint image until immediately before there is no difference between the fingerprints.

  In step S13, when there is no difference in the feature points of each fingerprint (step S13; NO), an image obtained by reducing the circumference of each fingerprint image by (N−α) mm, that is, the smallest difference between the fingerprints. The range is defined as the fingerprint image extraction range, and feature points are extracted from this image and stored in the fingerprint storage memory 51 together with the fingerprint authentication method (feature point extraction method) (step S15). Here, α is a predetermined constant of 1 or more for returning the extracted range of the image immediately before the difference between the fingerprints to the range where the difference between the fingerprints occurs. As the value of α is increased, the fingerprint recognition rate is improved. However, since the amount of data to be stored is increased, processing time is required when comparing fingerprints.

  If there is no difference between the fingerprints in step S10 (step S10; NO), the fingerprints are compared by the pattern matching method (step S16). The pattern matching method is a method for checking the coincidence of the number of black pixels of the fingerprint images to be compared and performing fingerprint authentication depending on whether or not a threshold value is exceeded. If there is a difference between the fingerprints in the pattern matching method (step S17; YES), the user's fingerprint authentication method is determined to be the pattern matching method.

  Next, N = 1 is set (step S18), and the fingerprints are compared again by the pattern matching method using an image obtained by reducing the periphery of each fingerprint image by N mm (step S19). If there is a difference between the fingerprints (step S20; YES), the value of N is incremented by 1 (step S21), and the process returns to step S19. The processing from step S19 to step S21 is processing for narrowing the extraction range of the fingerprint image until immediately before there is no difference between the fingerprints.

  In step S20, when there is no difference between the fingerprints (step S20; NO), an image obtained by reducing the circumference of each fingerprint image by (N−α) mm is printed together with the fingerprint authentication method (pattern matching method). It is stored in the storage memory 51 (step S22). Similarly to the above, α is a predetermined constant of 1 or more for returning the extracted range of the image immediately before the difference between the fingerprints to the range where the difference between the fingerprints occurs.

  In step S17, if there is no difference between the fingerprints (step S17; NO), the process returns to step S2, and the fingerprints of the fingers are read again.

  Thus, the fingerprint registration process 1 is completed. As described above, when the fingerprint authentication method is the feature point extraction method, the feature points of the fingerprint corresponding to each finger of i = 1 to 4 are stored for each ID, and the fingerprint authentication method is the pattern matching method. Stores an image of a fingerprint corresponding to each finger of i = 1 to 4 for each ID.

Next, the key input process 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
On the input surface of each key 21, 22, 23, numbers and the like that can be input from each key 21, 22, 23 are displayed (step S31). Specifically, the key 21 has “7”, “8”, “9”, “.”, The key 22 has “4”, “5”, “6”, “0”, and the key 23 has “ “1”, “2”, “3”, “Ent” are displayed.

  Next, the user ID is input by the same method as in step S1 of the fingerprint registration process 1 (step S32).

  Next, the fingerprint storage memory 51 is referred to, and a fingerprint authentication method corresponding to the input ID is designated (step S33).

  Next, when the user's finger presses one of the keys 21, 22, and 23 of the input device 20 (step S34; YES), the operated key (k = 1 to 3) is specified (step S35). When the key 21 is operated, k = 1, when the key 22 is operated, k = 2, and when the key 23 is operated, k = 3.

  Next, an image of the fingerprint read by the operated key is acquired (step S36), and the acquired fingerprint is compared with each fingerprint corresponding to the operated key by the fingerprint authentication method specified in step S33. (Step S37). Then, it is determined which of the fingerprints corresponding to the operated key the acquired fingerprint corresponds to, and the closest fingerprint (i) is specified (step S38). This processing is different from the case of specifying the fingerprint itself, and the closest fingerprint (i) may be specified from the four fingerprints, so that comparison and specification can be performed at high speed.

  If i = 1 (step S39; YES), the corresponding number is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step S40). Then, “7”, “4”, “1” are displayed on the input device 20, and the corresponding numbers are displayed in an identifiable manner (step S41). For example, when the operated key (k) is the key 21 (k = 1), “7” is displayed on the key 21, “4” is displayed on the key 22, and “1” is displayed on the key 23. “7” is displayed in an enlarged display, a bold display, a blinking display, and the like so as to be distinguishable from other displays.

  If i = 2 (step S39; NO, step S42; YES), the corresponding number is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step S43). . Then, “8”, “5”, “2” are displayed on the input device 20, and the corresponding numbers are displayed in an identifiable manner (step S44).

  If i = 3 (step S42; NO, step S45; YES), the corresponding number is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step S46). . Then, “9”, “6”, “3” are displayed on the input device 20, and the corresponding numbers are displayed in an identifiable manner (step S47).

  If i = 4 (step S45; NO, step S48), a corresponding number or the like is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step S49). Then, “.”, “0”, “Ent” are displayed on the input device 20, and the corresponding numbers are displayed in an identifiable manner (step S50).

  After step S41, step S44, step S47, and step S50, a key code such as a corresponding number is output (step S51). In the input device 20, when the input is continued (step S52; YES), the process returns to step S34. When the input is not continued in the input device 20 (step S52; NO), the key input process 1 is terminated.

  According to the key input control device 100, since a predetermined key code is output based on the finger operated by the user and the operated key, the number of keys corresponding to each key code is not required, and the input Space saving of the apparatus can be achieved. In addition, since numbers and the like can be input without looking at the input surface, the input speed can be increased.

  Further, by displaying the numbers corresponding to each key based on the determined fingerprint, the numbers specified from the fingerprint can be fed back to the user. Further, when the finger is pressed, the input surface may be lowered like a button, and the user may confirm the key operation.

  In addition, as in steps S12 to S15 and steps S19 to S22 of the fingerprint registration process 1, by reducing the area used for comparison of each fingerprint, it is possible to reduce the amount of fingerprint features or fingerprint image data to be stored. , Fingerprint comparison can be performed at high speed.

  In the first embodiment, the fingerprints of the four fingers of the right hand are registered, but the fingerprints of any four fingers may be registered. Further, by increasing the number of fingers for registering fingerprints, it is possible to input more types of characters.

  In the first embodiment, the corresponding numbers and the like are specified based on the key code table shown in FIG. 4, but the characters may be changed to arbitrary characters for each user. For example, the same arrangement as that of a telephone may be used as an input device for a mobile phone.

  In the first embodiment, the case of outputting numbers and the like has been described. However, instead of outputting numbers and the like, if an instruction for executing an application start command is output, it can also be used as an application launcher. Is possible.

  In the first embodiment, the fingers are registered one by one in the fingerprint registration process 1. However, if the input area is wide, it is possible to register four fingers simultaneously.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the keys 21, 22, and 23 are arranged in the vertical direction with respect to the input device 20 has been described. However, the keys may be arranged in the horizontal direction or in the oblique direction. You may line up.

<Modification>
A modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the modification, the input device 20a is used instead of the input device 20 of the first embodiment. The input device 20 is provided with physically separated keys 21, 22, and 23, but the input device 20 a is provided with one key 24, and the fingerprint input surface of the key 24 is the upper region 24 a, the middle It is divided into a region 24b and a lower region 24c. The fingerprint can be recognized at any position on the fingerprint input surface of the key 24, and in which of the upper area 24a, the middle area 24b, and the lower area 24c the finger is placed (the position in the vertical direction in FIG. 7). ) Can be detected. By setting the upper area 24a, middle area 24b, and lower area 24c to k = 1, k = 2, and k = 3, as in the first embodiment, which area of the key 24 has been pressed. Based on (k = 1 to 3) and which finger is operated (i = 1 to 4), the corresponding number is specified.

  In this case, it is preferable that a boundary line is displayed on the boundary of the region or irregularities are provided so that the user can easily recognize each region.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described.
In the key input control device shown in the second embodiment, the same components as those in the key input control device 100 shown in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the configuration is shown and described. Omitted. Hereinafter, a configuration and processing characteristic of the second embodiment will be described.

  The key input control device in the second embodiment includes an input device 60 in place of the input device 20 in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the input device 60. Keys 61, 62, and 63 are provided on the left side of the input device 60, and keys 64, 65, and 66 are provided on the right side of the input device 60. A fingerprint input surface for reading the fingerprint of the user's finger is provided on the surface of the keys 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66, and any of the surfaces of the keys 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 is provided. Fingerprints can be recognized even at positions.

  The keys 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 also serve as display means for displaying character information corresponding to each key. The display surface is composed of an LCD or the like. The key 61 has “Q”, “W”, “E”, “R”, “Y”, and the key 62 has “A”, “S”, “D”, “F”, “H”, “Z”, “X”, “C”, “V”, “N” for the key 63 and “T”, “U”, “I”, “O” for the key 64 ”,“ P ”, the key 65 is“ G ”,“ J ”,“ K ”,“ L ”,“ Ent ”, and the key 66 is“ B ”,“ M ”,“, ”,“. ”, “/” Is displayed. Note that characters corresponding to the keys 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 may be displayed around the keys 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66.

  The HDD 50 includes a fingerprint storage memory 51, a key code storage memory 52, and the like, and stores various data.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the fingerprint storage memory 51 stores a fingerprint authentication method and fingerprint data of the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger of both hands in association with each ID for specifying a user. i = 1 is left index finger, i = 2 is left middle finger, i = 3 is left ring finger, i = 4 is left little finger, i = 5 is right index finger, i = 6 is right index finger, i = 7 is right middle finger, i = 8 is the right ring finger, i = 9 is the right little finger, and i = 10 is the left index finger. Fingerprint authentication methods are stored for i = 1 to 5 and i = 6 to 10, respectively.

  The key code storage memory 52 stores a key code table. 10A and 10B show a key code table. In the key code table shown in FIG. 10A, the key 61 (k = 1), the key 62 (k = 2), the key 63 (k = 3), and the left index finger (I = 1), left middle finger (i = 2), left ring finger (i = 3), left little finger (i = 4), right index finger (i = 5) The data for specifying the key code of the corresponding character is stored. Further, in the key code table shown in FIG. 10B, which of the key 64 (k = 4), the key 65 (k = 5), and the key 66 (k = 6) has been input, and Whether the right index finger (i = 6), right middle finger (i = 7), right ring finger (i = 8), right little finger (i = 9), or left index finger (i = 10) Based on this, data for specifying the key code of the corresponding character is stored. In FIGS. 10A and 10B, characters are described in the key code table, but actually, information indicating a key code corresponding to the characters is stored.

Next, the operation of the key input control device according to the second embodiment will be described.
First, the fingerprint registration process 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

  First, the user ID is registered (step T1). For the ID registration method, the same method as in step S1 in the first embodiment may be used.

  Next, a finger number i corresponding to each finger for registering a fingerprint is set to 1 (step T2).

  Next, according to i, guidance is displayed on the display device 30 to input the fingerprint of each finger to the input device 60 (step T3). For example, when i = 1, an instruction such as “Please input the fingerprint of the left index finger” is displayed.

  When the user presses any of the keys 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 of the input device 60 with a finger corresponding to i (step T4; YES), the fingerprint is read and stored in the temporary storage memory as an image. Stored (step T5).

  Here, it is determined whether i is 5 or more (step T6). If i is less than 5 (step T6; NO), the value of i is incremented by 1 (step T7), and step T3. Return to. In this way, fingerprint images of each finger with i = 1 to 5 are stored.

  In step T6, when i is 5 or more (step T6; YES), the read fingerprints are compared by the feature point extraction method (step T8).

  Feature points are extracted from the fingerprint images of each finger with i = 1 to 5, and the feature points are compared (step T9). If there is a difference between the fingerprints (step T10; YES), the fingerprint authentication method for the user i = 1 to 5 is determined as the feature point extraction method.

  Next, N = 1 is set (step T11), and feature points are extracted again in an image obtained by reducing the periphery of each fingerprint image by N mm, and the feature points are compared (step T12). If there is a difference between the fingerprints (step T13; YES), the value of N is incremented by 1 (step T14), and the process returns to step T12.

  In step T13, when there is no difference between the feature points of each fingerprint (step T13; NO), the feature points are extracted from an image obtained by reducing the periphery of each fingerprint image by (N−α) mm, and the fingerprint authentication method is performed. It is stored in the fingerprint memory 51 together with (feature point extraction method) (step T15).

  If there is no difference between the fingerprints in step T10 (step T10; NO), the fingerprints are compared by the pattern matching method (step T16). If there is a difference between the fingerprints in the pattern matching method (step T17; YES), the fingerprint authentication method for this user i = 1 to 5 is determined as the pattern matching method.

  Next, N = 1 is set (step T18), and the fingerprints are compared again by the pattern matching method using an image obtained by reducing the circumference of each fingerprint image by N mm (step T19). If there is a difference between the fingerprints (step T20; YES), the value of N is incremented by 1 (step T21), and the process returns to step T19.

  In step T20, when there is no difference between the fingerprints (step T20; NO), an image obtained by reducing the circumference of each fingerprint image by (N−α) mm is printed together with the fingerprint authentication method (pattern matching method). It is stored in the storage memory 51 (step T22).

  In step T17, when there is no difference between the fingerprints (step T17; NO), the process returns to step T2, and the fingerprints of the fingers with i = 1 to 5 are read again.

  After step T15 or step T22, as shown in FIG. 12, the finger number i is set to 6 (step T23). Then, according to i, guidance is displayed on the display device 30 to input the fingerprint of each finger to the input device 60 (step T24).

  Next, when the user presses any of the keys 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 of the input device 60 with a finger corresponding to i (step T25; YES), the fingerprint is read and temporarily stored as an image. (Step T26).

  Here, it is determined whether i is 10 or more (step T27). If i is less than 10 (step T27; NO), the value of i is incremented by 1 (step T28), and step T24. Return to. In this manner, fingerprint images of each finger with i = 6 to 10 are stored.

  In step T27, when i is 10 or more (step T27; YES), the read fingerprints are compared by the feature point extraction method (step T29).

  Feature points are extracted from the fingerprint image of each finger i = 6 to 10, and the feature points are compared (step T30). If there is a difference between the fingerprints (step T31; YES), the fingerprint authentication method for the user i = 6 to 10 is determined as the feature point extraction method.

  Next, N = 1 is set (step T32), and feature points are extracted again in an image obtained by reducing the circumference of each fingerprint image by N mm, and the feature points are compared (step T33). If there is a difference between the fingerprints (step T34; YES), the value of N is incremented by 1 (step T35), and the process returns to step T33.

  In step T34, when there is no difference between the feature points of each fingerprint (step T34; NO), the feature points are extracted from the image obtained by reducing the periphery of each fingerprint image by (N−α) mm, and the fingerprint authentication method is performed. It is stored in the fingerprint memory 51 together with (feature point extraction method) (step T36). Similarly to the above, α is a predetermined constant of 1 or more for returning the extracted range of the image immediately before the difference between the fingerprints to the range where the difference between the fingerprints occurs.

  If there is no difference between the fingerprints at step T31 (step T31; NO), the fingerprints are compared by the pattern matching method (step T37). If there is a difference between the fingerprints in the pattern matching method (step T38; YES), the fingerprint authentication method for the user i = 6 to 10 is determined as the pattern matching method.

  Next, N = 1 is set (step T39), and the fingerprints are compared again by the pattern matching method using an image obtained by reducing the periphery of each fingerprint image by N mm (step T40). If there is a difference between the fingerprints (step T41; YES), the value of N is incremented by 1 (step T42), and the process returns to step T40.

  In step T41, when there is no difference between the fingerprints (step T41; NO), an image obtained by reducing the circumference of each fingerprint image by (N−α) mm is printed together with the fingerprint authentication method (pattern matching method). It is saved in the storage memory 51 (step T43). Similarly to the above, α is a predetermined constant of 1 or more for returning the extracted range of the image immediately before the difference between the fingerprints to the range where the difference between the fingerprints occurs.

  If there is no difference between the fingerprints in step T38 (step T38; NO), the process returns to step T23, and the fingerprints of each finger with i = 6 to 10 are read again.

  Thus, the fingerprint registration process 2 ends. Thus, when the fingerprint authentication method is the feature point extraction method, the feature points of the fingerprint corresponding to each finger with i = 1 to 10 are stored for each ID, and the fingerprint authentication method is the pattern matching method. Stores an image of a fingerprint corresponding to each finger with i = 1 to 10 for each ID.

  In the fingerprint registration process 2, the fingerprint is read twice for each of the left and right index fingers, but the same finger may be omitted.

Next, the key input process 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.
Characters that can be input from the keys 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 are displayed on the input surfaces of the keys 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 (step T51). Specifically, the key 61 has “Q”, “W”, “E”, “R”, “Y”, and the key 62 has “A”, “S”, “D”, “F”, “ “H”, “Z”, “X”, “C”, “V”, “N” for the key 63, “T”, “U”, “I”, “O”, “P” for the key 64 , Key 65 displays “G”, “J”, “K”, “L”, “Ent”, and key 66 displays “B”, “M”, “,”, “.”, “/”. Is done.

  Next, the user's ID is input by the same method as in step S1 of fingerprint registration processing 1 (step T52).

  Next, the fingerprint storage memory 51 is referred to, and the fingerprint authentication method for i = 1 to 5 (k = 1 to 3) and i = 6 to 10 (k = 4 to 6) based on the input ID. A fingerprint authentication method is designated (step T53).

  Next, when the user's finger presses one of the keys 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 of the input device 60 (step T54; YES), the operated key (k = 1 to 6) is specified. (Step T55). K = 1 when the key 61 is operated, k = 2 when the key 62 is operated, k = 3 when the key 63 is operated, and k = 3 when the key 64 is operated. 4. k = 5 when the key 65 is operated, and k = 6 when the key 66 is operated.

  Here, if k = 1 to 3 (step T56; YES), an image of the fingerprint read with the operated key is acquired (step T57), and i = 1 to 5 (specified in step T53). By the fingerprint authentication method for k = 1 to 3), the acquired fingerprint is compared with each fingerprint of i = 1 to 5 (step T58). Then, it is determined which of the fingerprints corresponding to the operated key the acquired fingerprint corresponds to, and the closest fingerprint (i) is specified (step T59).

  If i = 4 (step T60; YES), the corresponding character is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step T61). Then, “Q”, “A”, and “Z” are displayed on the input device 60, and the corresponding characters are displayed in an identifiable manner (step T62).

  If i = 3 (step T60; NO, step T63; YES), the corresponding character is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step T64). . Then, “W”, “S”, “X” are displayed on the input device 60, and the corresponding characters are displayed in an identifiable manner (step T65).

  If i = 2 (step T63; NO, step T66; YES), the corresponding character is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step T67). . Then, “E”, “D”, “C” are displayed on the input device 60, and the corresponding characters are displayed in an identifiable manner (step T68).

  If i = 1 (step T66; NO, step T69; YES), the corresponding character is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step T70). . Then, “R”, “F”, “V” are displayed on the input device 60, and the corresponding characters are displayed in an identifiable manner (step T71).

  If i = 5 (step T69; NO, step T72), the corresponding character is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step T73). Then, “Y”, “H”, “N” are displayed on the input device 60, and the corresponding characters are displayed in an identifiable manner (step T74).

  In step T56, if k = 1 to 3 is not satisfied (step T56; NO), that is, if k = 4 to 6, an image of the fingerprint read with the operated key is acquired as shown in FIG. (Step T75), and the fingerprint authentication method for i = 6 to 10 (k = 4 to 6) designated in Step T53 is compared with each fingerprint of i = 6 to 10 (Step T75). T76). Then, it is determined which of the fingerprints corresponding to the operated key the acquired fingerprint corresponds to, and the closest fingerprint (i) is specified (step T77).

  When i = 10 (step T78; YES), the corresponding character is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step T79). Then, “T”, “G”, and “B” are displayed on the input device 60, and the corresponding characters are displayed in an identifiable manner (step T80).

  If i = 6 (step T78; NO, step T81; YES), the corresponding character is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step T82). . Then, “U”, “J”, “M” are displayed on the input device 60, and the corresponding characters are displayed in an identifiable manner (step T83).

  If i = 7 (step T81; NO, step T84; YES), the corresponding character is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step T85). . Then, “I”, “K”, “,” are displayed on the input device 60, and the corresponding characters are displayed in an identifiable manner (step T86).

  If i = 8 (step T84; NO, step T87; YES), the corresponding character is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step T88). . Then, “O”, “L”, “.” Are displayed on the input device 60, and the corresponding characters are displayed in an identifiable manner (step T89).

  If i = 9 (step T87; NO, step T90), the corresponding character is specified from the key code table based on the operated key (k) and fingerprint (i) (step T91). Then, “P”, “Ent”, “/” are displayed on the input device 60, and the corresponding characters are displayed in an identifiable manner (step T92).

  After step T62, step T65, step T68, step T71, step T74, step T80, step T83, step T86, step T89, and step T92, as shown in FIG. Step T93). In the input device 60, when the input is continued (step T94; YES), the process returns to step T54. In the input device 60, when the input is not continued (step T94; NO), the key input process 2 ends.

  According to the key input control device of the second embodiment, since a predetermined key code is output based on the finger operated by the user and the operated key, the number of keys corresponding to each key code is output. There is no need for a key, and the space of the input device can be saved. The entire alphabet can be entered with six keys, and Japanese can be entered in English or Roman letters.

  In the second embodiment, the case where the input device 60 has six keys has been described. However, as in the modification of the first embodiment, the input surface of one key is It is also possible to divide it into middle and lower and further divide it into left and right areas, and determine at which position of the six areas the finger is pressed.

  In the second embodiment, the key code table is created so that the keyboard arrangement of the QWERTY arrangement does not feel strange, but other arrangement patterns such as an ABCD arrangement or an AIUEO arrangement may be used.

  In the second embodiment, only the left and right index fingers operate both the left and right keys. However, more fingerprints can be recognized by using both the left and right keys for all fingers. It becomes possible to input symbols and the like.

  In each of the above embodiments, the character is displayed on the key surface in order to make the user confirm the input character. However, the input character is displayed on the display device 30 or the input character is output by voice. It is good also as making a user confirm by doing.

  In addition, a numeric input mode using the input method shown in the first embodiment and a character input mode using the input method shown in the second embodiment may be switched using a switch button or the like.

It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the key input control apparatus 100 in 1st Embodiment. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an input device 20. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the fingerprint memory 51. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating a key code table. It is a flowchart which shows the fingerprint registration process 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing key input processing 1; It is a figure which shows the structure of the input device 20a in the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the input device 60 of the key input control apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the fingerprint memory 51. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating a key code table. It is a flowchart which shows the fingerprint registration process 2. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the fingerprint registration process 2. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the key input process 2. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the key input process 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

100 Key input control device 10 CPU
20 input device 21, 22, 23 key 20a input device 24 key 24a upper region 24b middle region 24c lower region 30 display device 40 storage device 50 HDD
51 Fingerprint memory 52 Key code memory 60 Input device 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 keys

Claims (2)

Multiple input keys,
Means for storing a plurality of fingerprints assigned to each input key;
Means for reading a fingerprint pressed in accordance with the operation of each input key;
Means for determining which of the stored fingerprints the read fingerprint corresponds to;
Means for outputting a predetermined key code based on the determined fingerprint and the operated input key;
A key input control device comprising: The key input control device according to claim 1,
A key input control device comprising: means for displaying character information corresponding to each input key based on the determined fingerprint.

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