JP2008027250A - Input device and portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device capable of more efficiently inputting characters in a portable apparatus or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The input device is provided with: a device base body; a rotator 109; a rotation volume detecting part 125 for detecting the rotation volume of the rotator 109; a pressing part 110 rotating with the rotator 109 to receive an instruction from a user; a code ring 108 rotating along the rotator 109; an information storage part 141 for storing information groups associated with sections obtained by dividing the code ring 108 in a rotational direction; a rotator state acquiring part 143 for specifying a section corresponding to the position of the pressing part 110 when the pressing part 110 receives an instruction; a rotation signal processing part 137 for acquiring the rotation of the rotator 109 from the instruction; and a unit information specifying part 145 for specifying an information group corresponding to the specified section and specifying unit information corresponding to the rotation volume. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable personal computer, a cellular phone, a remote controller of an electronic device, an input device for inputting character control and operation control information to a portable audiovisual product, and the like.

  As electronic devices become smaller and more multifunctional, the user interface is required to be efficient enough to input a large amount of information with a simple input operation. In particular, in addition to telephone functions, input functions such as music playback and TV broadcast reception functions as well as character input functions such as e-mail functions and WWW browsing functions are added to the popular mobile phone user interfaces. It came to be.

  In such a background, as a conventional technique, there is a mobile phone with good operability by eliminating a push-phone arrangement button arranged on a grid and using a rotating lever (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an input device used in the mobile phone described in Patent Document 1. In FIG.

  FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow in FIG. 16 showing terminals and guide plates disposed concentrically with the central axis of the commander.

  FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the base of the commander 4, and is a diagram showing a contact for selecting a terminal by a contact 13 (not shown).

In these drawings, the lever-like commander 4 is configured to be tiltable and pushable. Then, by tilting the commander 4 toward the plurality of terminals 12, the numbers assigned to the terminals 12 are selected, and further, the commander 4 is pushed in the direction of the casing to generate a transmission signal of the selected numbers. The contact 15 is a contact for transmitting a transmission signal when the commander 4 is pushed.
JP-A-8-154120 (Page 3, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, Section 4, FIG. 1)

  However, in the conventional configuration shown in Patent Document 1, the number of contacts is sufficient for inputting numbers from 0 to 9, but the number of contacts is used for inputting characters such as alphabets, hiragana and katakana. However, there is a problem that if the number of contacts is increased, the housing becomes larger.

  Further, the numbers (characters) corresponding to the respective contacts are determined in advance, and their positions cannot be changed. For this reason, there is a problem that the burden on the user increases when numbers (characters) that need to be frequently input are in positions where it is difficult to operate with a finger.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an input device that enables more efficient character input in a portable device or the like.

  In order to achieve the above object, an input device according to the present invention includes an apparatus base, a first rotating body provided on the apparatus base, a rotation amount detecting means for detecting a rotation amount of the first rotating body, An instruction receiving unit that rotates together with the first rotating body and receives an instruction from a user, a second rotating body that rotates along the first rotating body, and unit information corresponding to the rotation amount, An information group holding means for holding an information group associated with a first section obtained by dividing the rotating body in the rotation direction, and the first section corresponding to the position of the instruction receiving means when receiving the first instruction by the instruction receiving means Section specifying means for specifying, information group specifying means for specifying an information group corresponding to the first section specified by the section specifying means, and amount of rotation for acquiring the amount of rotation of the first rotating body from the first instruction Acquisition means, and information group feature Based on the information group specified by the means, characterized in that it comprises a unit information specifying means for specifying a unit information corresponding to the rotation amount acquired by the rotation amount acquisition device.

  As a result, the user can easily change the character input state to suit him / her and enable efficient character input with a simple operation.

  Furthermore, you may provide the latching means which permits or rejects rotation with respect to the said apparatus base body of a said 2nd rotary body.

Thereby, it is possible to suppress unintentional rotation of the second rotation pair.
The second rotating body may rotate along the outer periphery of the first rotating body, or may rotate along the inner periphery of the first rotating body.

  When the second rotating body is on the outer periphery, the first rotating body can be rotated with a small trajectory, and the section can be easily specified. On the other hand, when the second rotator is on the inner periphery, when the first rotator is rotated, the second rotator is less likely to come into contact with the finger, thereby avoiding unintentional rotation of the second rotator. It becomes possible.

  In addition, the portable terminal provided with the said input device can also have the same effect as the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, an input method according to the present invention rotates with the apparatus base, a first rotating body provided on the apparatus base, and the first rotating body, and receives support from a user. An information group that includes an instruction receiving unit, a second rotating body that rotates along the first rotating body, and unit information, and that holds an information group associated with a first section obtained by dividing the second rotating body in the rotation direction. An input method for an input device including a holding unit, comprising: a rotation amount detecting step for detecting a rotation amount of the first rotating body; and an instruction receiving unit for receiving a first instruction by the instruction receiving unit. A section specifying step for specifying the corresponding first section, an information group specifying step for specifying an information group corresponding to the first section specified by the first section specifying step, and the instruction receiving means from the first instruction Corresponding to the rotation amount acquired by the rotation amount acquisition step based on the rotation amount acquisition step of acquiring the rotation amount of the first rotating body until the second instruction to be received and the information group specified by the information group specification step And a unit information specifying step for specifying unit information.

  As a result, the user can easily change the character input state to suit him / her and enable efficient character input with a simple operation.

  Also, an input program that causes a computer to execute the above steps can achieve the same effects.

  According to the input device of the present invention, a plurality of types of characters can be input within a limited number of contacts, and the user can easily change the character input state to suit the user. Enables efficient character input with simple operation.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an external appearance of a mobile terminal 200 provided with an input device 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The mobile terminal 200 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 207 that is integrated with the device base of the input device 100. The housing 207 is integrated with the antenna.

  The mobile terminal 200 has functions for realizing telephone calls, mail transmission / reception, Internet connection, and the like, and can communicate with other terminals and base stations.

  The portable terminal 200 is capable of inputting characters when using the mail function, the Internet browsing function, and other functions with the input device 100.

  The front surface of the mobile terminal 200 includes a speaker 203 that outputs sound, a sound input unit 204 that inputs sound, and a display unit 147 that displays various information.

  The input device 100 provided in the mobile terminal 200 includes a device base body integrated with the housing 207 of the mobile terminal 200, a cord ring 108 as a second rotating body that can rotate in a plane parallel to the front surface of the housing 207, A rotating body 109 as a first rotating body that is disposed inside the code ring 108, is coaxial with the code ring 108, and can freely rotate along the code ring 108, and the rotating body 109, and functions as an instruction receiving unit. And a pressing portion 110 that performs.

  The mobile terminal 200 further includes a direction key 211 for selecting a plurality of functions of the mobile terminal 200, a determination key 212 for determining selection by the direction key 211, and a function (for example, a mail function) provided in the mobile terminal 200. , A function call key 213 for calling a call function, a Web function, a clear function, and the like.

  The user of the portable terminal 200 can call a desired function or input characters using the input device 100 or other keys.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the mechanical components of the input device 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the code ring 108, the rotating body 109, and the like from the front, and FIG. These are the figures which showed the state which removed the code ring 108, the rotary body 109, etc. from the front, (c) is sectional drawing corresponding to said (a) (b).

  As shown in the figure, the rotator 109 is an annular member that can rotate within a plane substantially coincident with the front surface of the housing 207. The rotator contact 123 and the rotator contact 123 are pressed down to be described later. The rotating body terminal 124 and the rotating body contact 123 are provided with a pressing unit 110 and a rotation amount detecting unit 125. A plurality of rotating body terminals 124 are provided on the housing 207 along the rotation path of the rotating body contact 123.

  The rotating body contact 123 and the pressing portion 110 function as an instruction receiving means for receiving support from a user, and the rotating body 109, the rotating body contact 123, the pressing portion 110, and the rotating body terminal 124 are: It functions as a section specifying means.

  The rotator contact 123 is a conductive member provided in a state of projecting downward near the outer periphery of the rotator 109, and contacts the rotator terminal 124 while the user presses the pressing portion 110. It is possible to ensure electrical continuity with any one of 124.

  The rotating body terminal 124 is a conductive terminal attached to the housing 207, and corresponds to each of the second sections obtained by dividing the annular region of the housing 207 along the rotating body 109 into 12 in the rotation direction. It is fixed to. The rotating body terminal 124 is arranged along the circumference corresponding to the track of the rotating body contact 123 by the rotation of the rotating body 109. Further, the rotating body terminal 124 has a one-to-one correspondence with the ring terminal 122 described later.

  A gap of a predetermined distance is provided between each rotating body terminal 124. Due to this gap, it is possible to avoid contact between both of the adjacent rotating body terminals 124 and the rotating body contact 123, and it is possible to avoid malfunction of the input device.

  The pressing portion 110 is a member provided in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the rotating body 109 and is provided on the opposite side of the rotating body terminal 124 with the rotating body 109 interposed therebetween. Further, the pressing part 110 can rotate independently of the rotation of the rotating body 109 within the rotating surface of the rotating body 109. Thus, the rotating body 109 can be easily rotated with the finger placed on the pressing portion 110, and the rotating body contact 123 can be pressed together with the rotating body 109.

  The configuration relating to the rotating body 109 and the like described above has a so-called contact switch structure as a whole. When the user rotates the rotating body 109 and presses the pressing portion 110, the rotating body contact 123 and the rotating body terminal 124 come into contact with each other. By doing so, it is possible to identify which rotating body terminal 124 and the rotating body contact 123 are in contact with each other.

  When the position of the pressing portion 110 can be grasped by another method, for example, when the absolute rotation angle of the rotating body 109 can be grasped by a rotary encoder or the like, whether the rotating body terminal 124 and the pressing portion 110 have been pressed. Since it is only necessary to distinguish whether or not, the rotating body terminal 124 may be one in the shape of a ring.

  The rotation amount detection unit 125 is a device that detects a rotation amount by which the rotating body 109 rotates. Details will be described later.

  The code ring 108 is an annular member that rotates in the same plane as the rotating body 109 outside the outer periphery of the rotating body 109. A plurality of symbols are provided on the surface of the code ring 108 in the rotation direction. A ring contact 121 is provided on the back side of.

  In addition, twelve ring terminals 122 are provided on the housing 207 along the rotation path of the ring contact 121.

  As for the symbols, symbols such as hiragana, alphabets, and numbers inputted by the portable terminal 200 are grouped by the number of the ring terminals 122 (for example, “or 2ABC”, “sa 3DEF”, etc.), and the surface of the code ring 108 Are engraved or printed. These symbols are grouped and displayed in a first section obtained by dividing the code ring 108 into 12 parts in the rotation direction.

  Further, the symbols applied to the code ring 108 are stamped or printed with the center of rotation facing down so that each symbol can be easily seen even when the code ring 108 rotates.

  The ring contact 121 is a terminal provided on the back surface of the code ring 108 so as to protrude downward, and is provided at a position corresponding to one of the grouped symbol groups. In the case of this embodiment, the ring contact 121 is provided on the back side of the group “A1”.

  The ring terminal 122 is provided in the housing 207 so as to correspond to the number of grouped symbol groups, that is, 12 sections on a one-to-one basis, and each ring terminal 122 is associated with a terminal number. Yes. Then, when the ring contact 121 and one of the ring terminals 122 come into contact with each other, the section where the symbol “A1” corresponding to the ring terminal 122 is displayed and the terminal number of the contacted ring terminal 122 are linked. Is possible.

FIG. 3A is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the rotation amount detection unit 125 in detail.
As shown in the figure, the rotation amount detection unit 125 according to this embodiment is an optical rotary encoder, and includes a rotation shaft 132, a slit disk 133, a fixed slit 134, a light emitting element 135, and a light receiving element. 136 and a rotation signal processing unit 137.

  The rotary encoder is a so-called incremental type rotary encoder that converts mechanical rotational displacement into electrical pulses.

  The rotating shaft 132 of the rotating body 109 is connected to the rotating shaft 132 of the rotation amount detection unit 125. A slit disk 133 is attached to the rotating shaft 132.

  The slit disk 133 is provided with slits at equal intervals on the circumference. Further, the slit is provided along the radial direction extending from the rotation shaft 132.

  The fixed slit 134 is provided to extend in the radial direction, similar to the slit of the slit disk 133, and two slits are provided at an interval shorter than the slit width of the slit disk 133. The fixed slit 134 is fixed to the housing 207. In the present embodiment, the interval between the fixed slits 134 is set to ¼ of the slit width of the slit disk 133.

The light emitting element 135 is an element such as an LED that constantly emits a certain amount of light.
The light receiving element 136 is an element that can receive light from the light emitting element 135 and convert it into an electric signal.

  The light emitting element 135 is provided above the slit disk 133, and the two light receiving elements 136 are respectively provided below the fixed slit 134, and are installed with the slit disk 133 and the fixed slit 134 sandwiched therebetween. ing.

  Then, the light emitted from the light emitting element 135 is interrupted in the optical path for each slit pitch by the rotation of the rotating shaft 132, and repeats light and dark in the number of times proportional to the rotation amount. The light receiving element 136 takes out this light and dark as an electrical signal and outputs it to the rotation signal processing unit 137.

  The relationship between the amount of rotation and the number of pulses is determined by the number of slits provided in the slit disk 133. This relational expression is set in advance in the rotation signal processing unit 137 as a design specification. For example, when 36 slits are provided in one round, a pulse is generated every 10 degrees, and when 12 positions are distinguished, 1 is generated when three pulses are generated. It has rotated to the next position.

  The rotation signal processing unit 137 determines the rotation direction from the output relationship of the two light receiving elements 136, calculates the rotation amount from the number of pulses generated by the light receiving element 136, and supplies the rotation amount considering the rotation direction to the unit information processing unit. Output.

FIG. 3B is a timing chart showing the principle of determining the rotation direction.
The respective output signals of the light receiving element 136 are out of phase because the slit pitch of the fixed slit 134 is shorter than the slit width of the slit disk 133 as shown in the signals A and B of FIG. In the case of this embodiment, it becomes a two-phase signal having a phase shifted by ¼ pitch from each other, and this phase is also inverted when the rotation direction is inverted. For example, in FIG. 3A, when the light receiving element 136 corresponding to the signal A and the light receiving element 136 corresponding to the signal B are arranged in the clockwise order, the signal A and the signal as shown in the section A of FIG. Since the signal rises in the order of B, the signal B becomes low during the rising quarter phase of the signal A, and this relationship does not change while rotating clockwise. Next, assuming that the rotation is counterclockwise, the signal B rises in the order of the signal B and the signal A as in the section B, so that the signal B becomes high during the rising quarter phase of the signal A. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the signal B is clockwise or counterclockwise by looking at the high and low of the signal B during the rising ¼ phase of the signal A.

  When counting each pulse of the signal A, the rotation signal processing unit 137 adds a plus sign as a clockwise rotation and a minus sign as a counterclockwise rotation, and adds the total number of clocks as a positive direction. The number of pulses corresponding to the number of pulses is calculated, and when it is determined that the rotation has been made to the adjacent position based on the relational expression between the rotation angle and the number of pulses, the result is output to a code detection unit described later.

  In the present embodiment, the photoelectric rotary encoder as described above has been described, but another type of rotary encoder may be used. As other methods, a magnetic method, an electrostatic method, a contact method, etc. are typical.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a locking structure of the cord ring 108.
As shown in the figure, the input device 100 further includes a ring fixing mechanism 181 and a locking means including a release switch 182. In addition, concave portions that open outward in the radial direction are provided in the peripheral wall of the code ring 108 at equal intervals corresponding to the symbols.

  The ring fixing mechanism 181 is fixed to the casing 207 as a whole, and includes a protrusion having a convex shape that has elasticity and can be freely moved. The protrusion is configured to fit into a recess provided in the cord ring 108. In the state where the protrusion and the concave portion are fitted, the position of the ring terminal 122 and the position of the ring contact 121 coincide with each other.

  In this manner, the cord ring 108 is fixed to the housing 207 by the protrusions being fitted into the recesses. Therefore, even if an inadvertent force is applied to the cord ring 108 such as when the user rotates the rotating body 109, the cord ring 108 does not move, and an efficient input operation is possible.

  In addition, the user can arbitrarily rotate the cord ring 108 by sliding the release switch 182 so that the protrusion can be retracted to the housing 207 side.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the input device 100 together with the device configuration.
In addition to the device configuration, the input device 100 includes an information storage unit 141, a terminal number acquisition unit 142, a rotating body state acquisition unit 143, a relationship change unit 144, a unit information identification unit 145, and an image generation unit 146. It has.

  The information storage unit 141 includes a readable / writable storage medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a hard disk.

  The information storage unit 141 holds an information group made up of unit information such as hiragana, alphabets, and numbers input by the mobile terminal 200 as shown in FIG. 6B. In the present embodiment, the information group is stored in association with the terminal number of the ring terminal 122, and the unit information is stored in association with the rotation amount. Further, image information corresponding to the unit information is also stored.

  The terminal number acquisition unit 142 stores a terminal number for identifying each ring terminal 122, acquires which ring terminal 122 the ring contact 121 is connected to, and a terminal corresponding to the connected ring terminal 122. A processing unit for outputting a number.

  The rotating body state acquisition unit 143 stores an identification number for identifying each rotating body terminal 124. The identification number is the same as the terminal number for identifying the ring terminal 122. As shown in FIG. 6A, the ring terminal 122 and the rotating body terminal 124 arranged in the radial direction have the same terminal number. It corresponds. Then, the rotating body state acquisition unit 143 acquires which rotating body terminal 124 is connected to the rotating body contact 123 when the pressing unit 110 is pressed, and an identification number corresponding to the connected rotating body terminal 124. This is a processing unit that outputs (terminal number).

  The relationship change unit 144 receives the terminal number output from the terminal number acquisition unit 142, and stores the information in the information storage unit 141 so that the terminal number corresponds to the information group associated with the section corresponding to the ring contact 121. It is a processing unit that shifts the correspondence between the stored terminal numbers and information groups and reconstructs them.

  When the unit information specifying unit 145 receives the terminal number output from the rotating body state acquiring unit 143, the unit information specifying unit 145 specifies an information group corresponding to the terminal number and the amount of rotation of the rotating body 109 after receiving the terminal number. Is a processing unit that specifies unit information corresponding to the amount of rotation received from the rotation signal processing unit 137 and received from the rotating body state acquisition unit 143. Further, when the terminal number is received again from the rotating body state acquisition unit, unit information corresponding to the rotation amount is determined.

  The image generation unit 146 extracts image information corresponding to the unit information specified by the unit information specifying unit 145 and also extracts image information corresponding to the unit information before and after that, and these are displayed on the display unit 147 on the circumference. It is a processing unit that creates and outputs data that is arranged in

  The display unit 147 is a processing unit that receives data from the image generation unit 146 and visually displays the data.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the initial state of the information group stored in the information storage unit 141 in a table format. (B) is a diagram conceptually showing the state of the cord ring 108 corresponding to the initial state.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the characters shown in the cells of the table correspond to unit information, and one line of unit information is an information group. Specifically, “a” and “i” are unit information, and “a” to “ぉ” are information groups. In the initial state, the unit information specifying unit 145 specifies the information group of “A” to “ぉ” when receiving the terminal number {1} from the rotating body state acquiring unit 143. If the rotation amount when the terminal number is received again is {0}, that is, after pressing the pressing portion 110 as the first instruction, the pressing portion 110 is again set as the second instruction without rotating the rotating body 109. When the button is pressed, the unit information “A” is specified.

  The rotation signal processing unit 137 outputs a positive value when the rotating body 109 is rotated in the right direction, and outputs a negative value when the rotating body 109 is rotated in the left direction. When the unit information specifying unit 145 receives a negative value, the unit information specifying unit 145 specifies unit information so as to be opposite to the positive case.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, the symbols described on the surface of the code ring 108 are representative of the information group, and the user can grasp the correspondence between the symbol and the information group. It can be done.

  Next, the operation of rotating the code ring 108 and selecting the positional relationship between the rotating body 109 for specifying the information group and the code ring 108 will be described.

  FIG. 7A is a diagram conceptually showing a state in which the cord ring 108 is rotated, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing in a tabular form a state in which the correspondence relationship between the information group and the terminal number is changed by the rotation. is there.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a processing operation when initial setting is performed.
As shown in FIG. 7A, when the code ring 108 is rotated to the left by one ring terminal 122 (S301), the ring contact 121 on the back side of the symbol “A1” corresponds to the terminal number {12}. The ring terminal 122 is connected. The terminal number acquisition unit 142 acquires the connection state and outputs the terminal number {12} (S302).

  Next, the relationship changing unit 144 corresponds to the correspondence table in the information storage unit 141 with the information group (“a” to “ぉ”) associated with the symbol “a1” and the terminal number {12}. Thus, the terminal number is shifted and rewritten (S303).

  As described above, when the code ring 108 is rotated by an arbitrary angle, the correspondence relationship between the information group associated with the section indicated by the symbol on the code ring 108 and the terminal number is changed and stored according to the rotation.

  Accordingly, the identification number (terminal number) output by the rotating body state acquisition unit 143 when the pressing unit 110 is pressed indicates an information group associated with the section of the code ring 108 corresponding to the position of the pressing unit 110. Become. Specifically, when the cord ring 108 is rotated as shown in FIG. 7A, when the pressing portion 110 is pressed at the 1:30 position (terminal number {1} position), the terminal number {1 } Is output. From the table shown in FIG. 7B, the information group corresponding to the terminal number {1} is “ka” to “ko”. On the other hand, the symbol on the code ring 108 corresponding to the position of the pressing part 110 is “or 2ABC”, and the correspondence between the specified information group and the section in which the symbol is described matches.

  Next, a case where three characters “hiroshi” are input when the code ring 108 is set to the state of FIG. 7A will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the input operation in the present embodiment.
First, as a premise, the correspondence table in the information storage unit 141 is rewritten as shown in FIG.

  First, when the current pressing portion 110 is in the printing position of “A1”, “A” is displayed at the center of the display unit 147 as shown in FIG. Like the symbol arrangement, “wa”, “#”, “ka”, and “sa” are displayed before and after “a”.

  Further, when the user rotates the pressing unit 110 by one clockwise direction, a signal from the rotation amount detection unit 125 is received, and “A” displayed in the central portion of the display unit 147 is “K”. To change. Thus, before the pressing unit 110 is pressed, the unit information included in the information group is not sequentially displayed according to the amount of rotation, but the characters representing the information group (the head of the information group) are sequentially displayed. The

  As a result, it is possible to select, for example, a line of Japanese syllabary only by looking at the display unit 147 without looking at the hand.

  Next, the operation for inputting the three characters “hiroshi” is roughly as follows. In other words, “select line” → “determine“ hi ”” → “select line” → “determine“ ro ”→“ select line ”→“ determine ” It consists of selecting a desired line of hiragana and determining a target character in the selected line.

Next, the input operation will be described in detail.
First, the rotary body 109 is rotated by attaching a finger to the pressing portion 110 and brought to a position where “ha” is printed on the code ring 108 (S401).

  Next, the pressing unit 110 is pressed. This is the first instruction of the user, and the “ha” line is selected. That is, the information group (“ha” to “ho”) associated with “ha”, which is one of the sections of the code ring 108 corresponding to the position of the pressing unit 110, is specified by the unit information specifying unit 145 (S402). .

  Subsequently, when the user rotates the pressing unit 110 clockwise by one (S403), “Hi” is displayed on the display unit 147, and the user who has confirmed that presses the pressing unit 110 again. . At this time, the unit information specifying unit 145 receives the unit information “corresponding to the rotation amount of the rotating body 109 after the terminal number is first received from the previously specified information group (“ ha ”to“ ho ”). Finally, when the user presses the pressing unit 110 again, the unit information “HI” is determined (S404).

  Next, when the unit information is confirmed, the lines are sequentially displayed again corresponding to the rotation amount of the rotating body 109. Therefore, in the same manner as described above, the pressing portion is positioned at the position where “ra” is printed on the code ring 108. 110 is moved (S405), the pressing part 110 is pressed down (S406), and then the pressing part 110 is rotated clockwise by four (S407), and then the pressing part 110 is pressed again to “RO”. Confirm (S408).

  Next, the pressing unit 110 is moved to a position where the “s” is printed on the code ring 108 (S409), the pressing unit 110 is pressed (S410), and then rotated clockwise by one (S411). ), The pressing unit 110 is pressed again to confirm “SHI” (S412).

  According to the above configuration, no matter how the code ring 108 is rotated, when the pressing portion 110 is pressed in correspondence with the position of the symbol on the code ring 108, the information group corresponding to the section in which the symbol is displayed. Can be specified. That is, it is possible to change the information group corresponding to the absolute position of the pressing portion 110 by rotating the code ring 108.

  Moreover, the input device 100 according to the present invention enables efficient Japanese character input with a simple operation.

  In the present embodiment, the case of designating only in the clockwise direction has been described, but it is needless to say that the unit information can be determined in the same way even if counterclockwise is mixed in the middle. That is, the correct result can be obtained by specifying the unit information in the information group in which the unit information specifying unit 145 is specified by the output from the rotation signal processing unit 137 in the direction opposite to the normal direction.

  In addition, the unit information specifying unit 145 recognizes the number of unit information included in the specified information group, and when the rotation amount exceeds the number, the unit information number is always subtracted from the rotation amount, and the rotation amount and the unit information are always subtracted. Process to establish the correspondence with. When the rotation amount is negative, the correspondence is always established by adding the number of unit information.

  In the present embodiment, the rotating body 109 is arranged inside the cord ring 108, but the function does not change even if arranged outside.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing the mechanical components of the input device 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11A is a view showing the code ring 108, the rotating body 109, and the like from the front, and FIG. These are the figures which showed the state which removed the code ring 108, the rotary body 109, etc. from the front, (c) is sectional drawing corresponding to said (a) (b).

  As shown in the figure, the input device 100 according to the present embodiment is substantially the same in mechanical structure as the input device 100 according to the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. In the case of the present embodiment, the ring contact 121 is used. The ring terminal 122 is not provided. The rotating body terminal 124 has an annular shape.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the input device 100 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, in the case of this embodiment, since there is no signal processing by the ring terminal 122 and the ring contact 121, the terminal number acquisition unit 142 does not exist. Further, the relationship changing unit 144 changes the correspondence relationship between the information group and the terminal number based on the signal from the rotation signal processing unit 137.

  Other functional configurations are the same as the functional configurations of the above-described embodiment except those described below, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The rotation signal processing unit 137 is a processing unit that outputs the rotation amount of the rotating body 109 from a predetermined position, that is, the absolute rotation amount of the rotating body 109.

  The rotating body state acquisition unit 143 is a processing unit that outputs a pressing signal when the pressing unit 110 of the rotating body 109 is pressed and the rotating body contact 123 and the rotating body terminal 124 come into contact with each other.

Next, a character input procedure using the input device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an initial setting processing operation.

  The user first rotates and fixes the code ring 108 to an arbitrary position (S501), and then takes the correspondence between the section divided in the rotation direction of the code ring 108 and the information group as an initial setting. The pressing part 110 is positioned in a specific section of the cord ring 108 determined in advance, and the pressing part 110 is pressed (S502). By this operation, the relationship changing unit 144 acquires the absolute section number based on the absolute rotation amount received from the rotation signal processing unit 137 when acquiring the pressing signal from the rotating body state acquiring unit 143, and stores the section and the information storage. The correspondence relationship with the information group held in the unit 141 is determined (S503).

  In this embodiment, the absolute section is equally divided into 12 in the circumferential direction, and absolute section numbers from 1 to 12 are virtually assigned in order from 1:30. On the other hand, the symbol “A” is written in a specific section of the code ring 108.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14A, after the cord ring 108 is rotated and fixed so that the symbol “A” comes to the position of 2:30 (S501), the pressing portion 110 is moved. When the rotation is performed so as to correspond to the symbol “a” and the pressing unit 110 is pressed (S502), the relationship changing unit 144 acquires the absolute section number {2}, and the information group associated with the section “a” ( The correspondence relationship between the absolute section number and the information group is shifted so that “a” to “ぉ”) correspond to the absolute section number {2} (S503).

  By this operation, if the pressing part 110 is turned to the position of 2:30, “A” is displayed at the center of the display part 147.

Next, the character input operation will be described in detail.
First, the rotary body 109 is rotated by attaching a finger to the pressing unit 110 and brought to a position where “ha” is printed on the code ring 108 (S601). By this operation, the unit information specifying unit 145 acquires the absolute section number {8} from the absolute rotation amount acquired from the rotation signal processing unit 137, and “ha” is the first unit information of the information group corresponding to the absolute section number. "Is specified, and the image generation unit 146 displays the" ha "in the center of the display unit 147.

  Next, the pressing unit 110 is pressed. This is the first instruction of the user, and the “ha” line is selected. In other words, when the pressing unit 110 is pressed, the rotating body state acquisition unit 143 outputs a pressing signal, and the unit information acquisition unit associates the acquired absolute section number {8} with “ha” (“ha”). To “ho”) are identified (S602).

  Subsequently, when the user rotates the pressing unit 110 clockwise by one (S603), “Hi” is displayed on the display unit 147, and the user who has confirmed that presses the pressing unit 110 again. . At this time, the unit information specifying unit 145 calculates the rotation amount from the difference between the absolute rotation amount when the pressing signal is first received and the acquired absolute rotation amount, and the unit information “H” corresponding to the rotation amount. Is identified from the previously specified information group (“ha” to “ho”), and finally the unit information “hi” is determined based on the pressing signal when the user presses the pressing portion 110 again. (S604).

  Next, when the unit information is confirmed, the lines are sequentially displayed again corresponding to the rotation amount of the rotating body 109. Therefore, in the same manner as described above, the pressing portion is positioned at the position where “ra” is printed on the code ring 108. 110 is moved (S605), the pressing part 110 is pressed down (S606), and then the pressing part 110 is rotated clockwise by four (S607), and then the pressing part 110 is pressed again to “RO”. Confirm (S608).

  Next, the pressing unit 110 is moved to a position where the “s” is printed on the code ring 108 (S609), the pressing unit 110 is pressed (S610), and then rotated clockwise by one (S611). ), The pressing unit 110 is pressed again to confirm “SHI” (S602).

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to customize the correspondence relationship of information groups with a simple mechanism.

  The input device according to the present invention has a feature that reduces a burden on a hand or a finger that performs an operation, and is useful as an input key of a mobile phone. Further, the present invention can be applied to uses such as a remote control used for operating devices and game machines.

It is an external appearance front view of the portable terminal provided with the input device in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the front, cross section, and positional relationship of the mechanical component of an input device. (A) A perspective view showing a configuration of a rotation amount detection unit, (b) an explanatory diagram of a rotation direction detection principle of the rotation amount detection unit. It is a figure which shows the latching structure of the housing | casing and code ring part of an input device. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of an input device with a mechanism structure. (A) The figure which shows the initial state of the corresponding | compatible table which an information storage part memorize | stores, (b) The figure which shows the initial state of a code ring. (A) The figure which shows the state which rotated the code ring, (b) The figure which shows the corresponding | compatible table corresponding to the rotated code ring. It is a figure showing operation at the time of initializing a correspondence table. It is a figure which shows the input procedure at the time of inputting a character with a code ring and a rotary body. It is a figure which shows the display state at the time of row selection. It is a figure which shows the front, the cross section, and positional relationship of the mechanical component of the input device which concerns on other embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the input device which concerns on other embodiment with a mechanism structure. It is a figure which shows initial setting operation of the input device which concerns on other embodiment. (A) The figure which shows the state which rotated the code ring, (b) The figure which shows the corresponding | compatible table corresponding to the rotated code ring. It is a figure which shows the input procedure at the time of inputting a character with a code ring and a rotary body. It is a front view which shows the conventional input device. It is sectional drawing of the base part of the commander in the conventional input device. It is a figure of the contact in the conventional input device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Input device 108 Code ring 109 Rotating body 110 Press part 121 Ring contact 122 Ring terminal 123 Rotating body contact 124 Rotating body terminal 125 Rotation amount detection part 137 Rotation signal processing part 141 Information storage part 142 Terminal number acquisition part 143 Rotating body state acquisition Unit 144 relation changing unit 145 unit information specifying unit 146 image generating unit 147 display unit 181 ring fixing mechanism 182 release switch 200 portable terminal 207 housing

Claims (8)

An apparatus substrate;
A first rotating body provided on the device base;
A rotation amount detecting means for detecting a rotation amount of the first rotating body;
An instruction receiving means that rotates together with the first rotating body and receives an instruction from a user;
A second rotating body that rotates along the first rotating body;
An information group holding means for holding an information group consisting of unit information corresponding to the amount of rotation and associated with a first section obtained by dividing the second rotating body in the rotation direction;
Section specifying means for specifying the first section corresponding to the position of the instruction receiving means when receiving the first instruction by the instruction receiving means;
Information group specifying means for specifying an information group corresponding to the first section specified by the section specifying means;
A rotation amount acquisition means for acquiring a rotation amount of the first rotating body from the first instruction;
Unit information specifying means for specifying unit information corresponding to the rotation amount acquired by the rotation amount acquisition means based on the information group specified by the information group specifying means;
An input device comprising: The information group is held in the information group holding means in association with identification information for identifying a second section obtained by dividing the annular region of the device base body along the first rotating body in the rotation direction.
further,
A relationship changing means for reconfiguring the correspondence between the information group and the identification information based on the rotation of the second rotating body;
The input device according to claim 1, wherein the information group specifying unit specifies an information group via the identification information. further,
The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a locking unit that permits rotation of the second rotating body with respect to the device base.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the second rotating body rotates along an outer periphery of the first rotating body.   The input device according to claim 1, wherein the second rotating body rotates along an inner periphery of the first rotating body.   The portable terminal provided with the input device of any one of Claims 1-5. An apparatus base, a first rotating body provided on the apparatus base, instruction receiving means that rotates together with the first rotating body and receives support from a user, and a second rotation that rotates along the first rotating body An input method for an input device comprising a body and an information group holding means for holding an information group associated with a first section that is made up of unit information and is divided in the rotation direction of the second rotating body,
A rotation amount detecting step for detecting a rotation amount of the first rotating body;
A section specifying step for specifying the first section corresponding to the instruction receiving means when receiving the first instruction by the instruction receiving means;
An information group specifying step for specifying an information group corresponding to the first section specified by the section specifying step;
A rotation amount acquisition step of acquiring a rotation amount of the first rotating body from the first instruction to a second instruction received by the instruction receiving means;
Based on the information group specified by the information group specifying step, a unit information specifying step for specifying unit information corresponding to the rotation amount acquired by the rotation amount acquisition step;
The input method characterized by including. An apparatus base, a first rotating body provided on the apparatus base, instruction receiving means that rotates together with the first rotating body and receives support from a user, and a second rotation that rotates along the first rotating body An input program for an input device comprising a body and an information group holding means for holding an information group associated with a first section obtained by dividing the second rotating body in the rotation direction, comprising unit information,
A rotation amount detecting step for detecting a rotation amount of the first rotating body;
A section specifying step for specifying the first section corresponding to the instruction receiving means when receiving the first instruction by the instruction receiving means;
An information group specifying step for specifying an information group corresponding to the first section specified by the first section specifying step;
A rotation amount acquisition step of acquiring a rotation amount of the first rotating body from the first instruction to a second instruction received by the instruction receiving means;
Based on the information group specified by the information group specifying step, a unit information specifying step for specifying unit information corresponding to the rotation amount acquired by the rotation amount acquisition step;
An input program that causes a computer to execute.

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