JP2010020667A - Character input method and device using touch sensitive pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a character input method and device for improving the efficiency and operability of character inputting which uses a touch sensitive pointing device. <P>SOLUTION: The character input device using the touch sensitive pointing device (101) includes a detection part of number of times of touch sensing (104) for detecting the number of touch sensing times per predetermined time of the touch sensitive pointing device, a detecting part of touch duration (105) for detecting touch duration at a fixed place of the touch sensitive pointing device, and a control part (103) for determining processing to an input character on the basis of the number of touch sensing times and/or the touch duration. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input method and apparatus using a touch-sensitive pointing device such as a touch panel or a touch pad.

  In portable devices such as portable communication terminals that are widely used today, not only telephone numbers but also character input are indispensable. However, as the display screen becomes larger, how to secure the character input means is a big problem for portable devices that need to save space. Therefore, attention is focused on a character input method using a touch panel that facilitates character input while securing a display area. For example, the following character input device has been proposed.

  In the character input device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a user touches a tablet of a pointing device with an input pen or the like and scans a virtual table of words in a key shape, the corresponding character is displayed, and the pen is moved. The character is determined by releasing it.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a character input device for a portable information terminal, which selects a character as an input candidate by moving the finger on the touch pad and selects the candidate when the finger is released. Add the character to the end of the unconverted character string of the Kana-Kanji conversion function and display it.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-341903 (see paragraphs 0049 to 0059, FIG. 6) JP 2006-350409 A

  However, in the character input device disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, the character selected by scanning the pen or finger is determined by releasing the pen or finger. For this reason, processing such as input character confirmation, conversion, conversion candidate selection following character selection cannot be performed continuously, and efficient character input cannot be performed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a character input method and apparatus that improve the efficiency and operability of character input using a touch-sensitive pointing device.

  A character input device according to the present invention is a character input device using a touch sensitive pointing device, wherein the touch sensitive detection device detects a touch sensitive count per predetermined time of the touch sensitive pointing device, and the touch sensitive device. A contact duration detecting means for detecting a contact duration of a predetermined position of the type pointing device, and a control means for determining a process for an input character based on the number of times of contact sensing and / or the contact duration. And

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the efficiency and operability of character input using a touch-sensitive pointing device.

  Hereinafter, a touch panel is illustrated as a touch-sensitive pointing device, and a character input device using the touch panel and a character input method thereof will be described in detail.

1. 1. Embodiment 1.1) Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the touch panel 101 that detects the touch of a pen or a finger (hereinafter also referred to as touch or press as appropriate) and the display unit 102 that displays a selected character or a character candidate are separately shown. A configuration in which the transparent touch panel 101 is provided on the display unit 102 may be used, or a configuration in which the touch panel 101 is provided in a place different from the display unit 102 may be used.

  The touch panel 101 is controlled by the control unit 103. The control unit 103 detects the operation mode of the touch panel 101 using the number-of-presses detection unit 104, the pressing duration detection unit 105, and the movement amount detection unit 106, and further uses the character conversion candidate selection unit 107 to detect the character conversion candidates. Make a selection.

  The number-of-presses detection unit 104 detects the number of times the touch panel 101 is touched per certain time (number of times of pressing). For example, it corresponds to detection of one-click or two-click of a pointing device used in a general personal computer. The number of touches that can be detected can be arbitrarily set. However, in consideration of normal operability, the number of touches is generally once and twice.

  The pressing duration detection unit 105 detects a time during which the same portion of the touch panel 101 is continuously pressed. For example, a predetermined time is set in the timer of the control unit 103, the time during which the touch point of the touch panel 101 is continuously pressed without moving is measured, and when the set predetermined time is exceeded, the pressing duration detection unit 105 outputs a continuous touch detection signal to the control unit 103.

  The movement amount detection unit 106 detects the coordinates of the contact point that changes as the pen or finger moves while touching the touch panel 101, and detects the coordinate change from the first contact point coordinate in the vertical (vertical) direction and horizontal ( It outputs to the control part 103 as each moving amount | distance in the (left-right) direction. Further, when the pen or finger leaves the touch panel 101 and the signal is not input, the movement amount detection unit 106 notifies the control unit 103 to that effect.

  Furthermore, the control unit 103 can configure a virtual alphabet table or a Japanese syllabary diagram that facilitates character input using the touch panel 101 using the work memory 108 and the character data memory 108. Such tabular data need not be displayed on the display unit 102 if it is well known to the extent that anyone can imagine it.

  The control unit 103 can select a character from, for example, a virtual Japanese syllabary diagram using the movement amount detection unit 106, and can select a command using the number-of-presses detection unit 104 and the pressing duration detection unit 105. It can be carried out.

  The control unit 103, the number-of-presses detection unit 104, the pressing-down duration detection unit 105, the movement amount detection unit 106, and the character conversion candidate selection unit 107 are equivalent by executing a corresponding program on a program control processor such as a CPU. It is also possible to realize the function.

1.2) Operation FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first example of the operation of the character input device shown in FIG. First, when the control unit 103 is in a character input waiting state (step S201), it is assumed that an operation on the touch panel 101 is detected (step S202).

  If the touch panel operation is a movement detected by the movement amount detection unit 106, the control unit 103 inputs the respective movement amounts in the vertical (vertical) direction and the horizontal (left and right) direction from the movement amount detection unit 106 (steps). In step S203, the corresponding character is displayed on the display unit 102 (step S204). For example, in the case of character data in the form of a Japanese syllabary, the movement amounts in the vertical (vertical) direction and horizontal (left and right) direction input from the movement amount detection unit 106 are made to correspond to the row direction and the column direction of the pentagram. Thus, the control unit 103 can specify one character from the character data in the Japanese syllabary diagram format, and displays it on the display unit 102. Subsequently, the control unit 103 determines whether or not a notification indicating that the pen or finger has moved away from the touch panel 101 is input from the movement amount detection unit 106 (step S205). S203 to S204 are repeated, and characters corresponding to the respective movement points are sequentially displayed on the display unit 102.

  When the user releases the pen or finger from the touch panel 101 when the target character is displayed (step S205: YES), the control unit 103 waits for the next touch panel operation while the character is displayed on the display unit 102. (Step S206).

  In this standby state, when the number-of-presses detection unit 104 detects one touch (pressing) per predetermined time (step S206: number of times of pressing = 1), the control unit 103 determines the currently displayed character (step S207). ), The process returns to step S201. Thus, by repeating steps S201 to S207, it is possible to input characters one by one.

  On the other hand, when a certain character is selected as well as a single character input, a function for improving the efficiency of character input by displaying conversion candidates assumed from the user's past character input results and grammatical rules. is there. There is also a function for displaying and selecting conversion candidates for Kana-Kanji conversion of a certain character string. In the present embodiment, in the touch panel operation S206, when the pressing duration detection unit 105 continues to detect a touch (pressing) at the same location for a predetermined time or longer, the control unit 103 activates the character conversion candidate selection unit 107 and described above. Character conversion candidates are displayed (step S208). With the character conversion candidate displayed, the control unit 103 waits for the next touch panel operation (step S209).

  In this standby state, when the number-of-presses detection unit 104 detects one touch (pressing) per predetermined time (step S209: number of times of pressing = 1), the control unit 103 controls the character conversion candidate selection unit 107 to perform the next operation. Character conversion candidates are selected and displayed (step S210), and the process returns to the touch panel operation standby state (step S209). Accordingly, every time the number-of-presses detection unit 104 detects one touch (press) per predetermined time, the next character conversion candidates are sequentially displayed on the display unit 102 (steps S209 to S210).

  In the touch panel operation standby state (step S209), when the number-of-presses detection unit 104 detects two touches (presses) per predetermined time (step S209: number of presses = 2), the control unit 103 displays the currently displayed character. Conversion candidates are determined (step S207), and the process returns to step S201. Thus, efficient character input can be performed while selecting character conversion candidates. In particular, it is possible to shift to the character conversion candidate selection mode by simply pressing the touch panel 101 for a predetermined time or more in step S206, and efficient character input can be realized with an easy operation.

  In step S202, when the number-of-presses detection unit 104 detects two touches (presses) per predetermined time (step S202: number of presses = 2), or in step S206, two touches (presses) are also detected. In the case (step S206: number of times of pressing = 2), the character input process is terminated (step S211). In other words, in the touch panel operation standby state in the character input waiting mode (step S202) or the touch panel operation standby state in the selected character display mode (step S206), two touches (presses) serve as processing end commands, and character conversion candidate display is performed. In the touch panel operation standby state in the mode (step S209), two touches (presses) are commands for character conversion candidate determination.

1.3) Effects As described above, according to the present embodiment, characters are displayed according to the amount of movement on the touch panel, and display characters are determined and character conversion candidates are converted according to the number of times the touch panel is touched for a certain period of time. Confirmation can be made. This eliminates the need for key operations for conversion and confirmation, and can greatly improve the efficiency and operability of character input using the touch panel.

2. One Example FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing an example of a moving amount of a touch point on a touch panel and a display character corresponding to the moving amount, and FIG. 3B is a Japanese syllabary diagram specified by the moving amount of the touch point. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the character in. Here, an example in which a transparent touch panel 101 is overlaid on the display unit 102 is shown.

  3A, when the contact point is moved from the start point S on the touch panel 101 in the lower right direction, the movement amount detection unit 106 moves the coordinates of the start point S and the horizontal direction of the arrow V. The movement amount A and the vertical movement amount B are output to the control unit 103. As shown in FIG. 3B, the control unit 103 identifies the character (here “me”) at the position moved from the start point S by the movement amounts A and B in the virtual halftone diagram of the character data. To do. Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, the specified character “me” is displayed at the display position of the display unit 102.

  Although it is not necessary to display the Japanese syllabary shown in FIG. 3B on the display portion 102, the user needs to know the general positional relationship with common sense. Further, it is not always necessary that the starting point S corresponds to the position of the origin of the Japanese syllabary chart. If a virtual Japanese syllabary diagram is arranged at a predetermined position on the display unit 102, a character corresponding to the coordinates of the start point S is displayed, and the display character is updated according to the movement of the contact point. May be.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example for explaining the character conversion candidate display mode. However, here, when a certain character is selected, a case where a conversion candidate assumed from the past character input result or grammatical rule of the user is displayed is illustrated. The same applies when displaying conversion candidates for Kana-Kanji conversion.

  As described above, when continuous touch (pressing) of the touch panel 101 is detected, the mode shifts to a character conversion candidate display mode for displaying a character conversion candidate of a character that is currently displayed and is not yet confirmed (here, “Me”). . In the example shown in FIG. 4, a character conversion candidate “mail” is displayed first. The display position of the character conversion candidate may be the same position as the unconfirmed display character “M”, or may be displayed in a pull-down menu form below it.

  In this character conversion candidate display state, the next character conversion candidate is selected and displayed each time a touch (press) is detected per predetermined time. As described above, a display form in which the character conversion candidates displayed for each touch is updated, or a display form in which highlights sequentially move downward for each touch in a pull-down menu form may be used.

  If the target character conversion candidate is displayed, the user can confirm and display the character conversion candidate at a predetermined display position by touching (pressing) twice per predetermined time. In this way, the user can confirm the display character and the character conversion candidate according to the number of touches on the touch panel, and the character input operation can be greatly facilitated.

3. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second example of the operation of the character input device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a display example for explaining the character conversion candidate display mode in the second example shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram shown. However, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the same steps as those in the first example shown in FIG. Here, steps S220 and S221 of the second example shown in FIG. 5 are different from the first example. In addition, the display example illustrated in FIG. 6 illustrates a case in which, when a certain character is selected, a conversion candidate assumed from the past character input result or grammatical rule of the user is displayed. The same applies when displaying conversion candidates for Kana-Kanji conversion.

  In FIG. 5, when it is detected in touch panel operation standby step S <b> 206 that a continuous press for a predetermined time or longer is detected, a plurality of conversion candidates are displayed in a predetermined conversion candidate display area 102 a of the display unit 102 as shown in FIG. 6. Are displayed (step S220). By looking at this character conversion candidate and touching (pressing down) the display area of the target candidate once (step S221), the user can confirm the input of the candidate (step S207). In addition, the process can be ended by touching (pressing) an area other than the conversion candidate display area 102a twice per predetermined time.

4). Application Example FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic functional configuration of a mobile phone terminal in which an embodiment of the present invention is implemented. The built-in antenna 301 of the mobile phone terminal is connected to the wireless unit 302 and performs wireless communication with the nearest base station. The signal processing unit 303 performs channel control and baseband processing of transmission / reception signals. The audio processing unit 304 decodes the received audio signal and outputs it from the speaker 305, encodes the audio signal acquired by the microphone 306, and outputs the encoded audio signal to the signal processing unit 303.

  The control unit 307 executes overall operation control of the mobile phone terminal including control of the character input device according to the present invention by a program. The storage unit 308 stores a program that functionally implements the character input device according to the present embodiment described above, a program that implements other mobile phone functions, telephone directory data, and the like.

  The control unit 307 is connected to a key operation unit 309 including input keys such as a numeric keypad, a display unit 310 such as a liquid crystal display, and a touch panel 311, and character input using the touch panel 311 described above is possible. In this example, a transparent touch panel 311 is overlaid on the display unit 310.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another example of a schematic functional configuration of a mobile phone terminal in which one embodiment of the present invention is implemented. In this example, the display unit 310 and the touch panel 311 are provided separately, and the touch panel 311 functions as one independent input device. For example, the touch panel 311 may be an independent touch pad that is cable-connected to the mobile phone terminal. Even in this case, the present invention is applicable.

  The present invention can be applied to a mobile communication terminal, a mobile phone terminal or other mobile device equipped with a touch panel.

It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the character input device by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the character input device shown in FIG. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the movement amount of the touch point of a touch panel, and a display character corresponding to it, (B) shows an example of the character in the Japanese syllabary figure specified by the movement amount of a touch point. It is a schematic diagram. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display for demonstrating character conversion candidate display mode. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd example of operation | movement of the character input device shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display for demonstrating the character conversion candidate display mode in the 2nd example shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic function structure of the mobile telephone terminal which mounted one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the other example of schematic function structure of the mobile telephone terminal which mounted one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Touch panel 102 Display part 103 Control part 104 Pressing frequency detection part 105 Pressing duration detection part 106 Movement amount detection part 107 Character conversion candidate selection part 108 Work memory 109 Character data memory

Claims (13)

A character input device using a touch-sensitive pointing device,
A contact detection number detecting means for detecting the number of contact detections per predetermined time of the contact detection type pointing device;
Contact duration detecting means for detecting a contact duration of a predetermined portion of the contact-sensitive pointing device;
Control means for determining processing for an input character based on the number of touch detection times and / or the contact duration;
A character input device comprising:   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays and / or confirms input character conversion candidates based on the number of times of touch detection and / or the contact duration.   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the input character conversion candidate is a character string including the input character or a Chinese character including the input character as a reading. A moving amount detecting means for detecting a moving amount according to a moving distance in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction from a touch detection start point of the touch sensitive pointing device;
The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects and displays an input character according to the movement amount. A character input method using a touch-sensitive pointing device,
Detecting the number of touch sensing per predetermined time of the touch sensitive pointing device;
Detecting a contact continuation time of a certain point of the touch-sensitive pointing device;
A character input method comprising: determining a process for an input character based on the number of touch detections and / or the contact duration.   The character input method according to claim 5, wherein the process for the input character is display and / or determination of a conversion candidate for the input character based on the number of touch detections and / or the contact duration.   The character input method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the input character conversion candidate is a character string including the input character or a Chinese character including the input character as a reading.   6. The moving amount according to a horizontal and vertical moving distance from a touch detection start point of the touch-sensitive pointing device is detected, and an input character is selected and displayed according to the moving amount. The character input method according to any one of -7. A program for causing a computer to function as a character input device using a touch-sensitive pointing device,
A contact detection frequency detection function for detecting a contact detection frequency per predetermined time of the contact detection type pointing device;
A contact duration detection function for detecting a contact duration of a predetermined portion of the touch-sensitive pointing device;
A control function for determining processing for an input character based on the number of touch detection times and / or the contact duration time;
A program for realizing the above on the computer.   The program according to claim 9, wherein the control function displays and / or confirms input character conversion candidates based on the number of touch detections and / or the contact duration.   The portable apparatus which has a character input device of any one of Claims 1-3.   The portable apparatus which has a function which implement | achieves the character input method of any one of Claims 5-7.   A portable device having a program control processor for executing the program according to claim 9.

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