JP2010033272A - Character input device, character input method, and character input program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To input a character by one touch operation on a hierarchized virtual keyboard in a character input device. <P>SOLUTION: The character input device has: a first hierarchy virtual keyboard display means (S12) for displaying a plurality of characters in a first hierarchy to a screen as a first hierarchy virtual keyboard; a first temporary input means for temporarily inputting touched keys when it is detected by the touch panel that a key position on the first hierarchy virtual keyboard is touched; a lower hierarchy virtual keyboard display means (S15) for displaying a virtual keyboard in a fan-shaped second hierarchy which expands around the key temporarily input in the finger tip direction of the finger that has touched or a lower hierarchy; a second temporary input means for temporarily inputting keys on the virtual keyboard in the second or lower hierarchy in the slide direction detected by a slide detecting means; and an input means for inputting characters which are temporarily input by the first or the second temporary input means when it is detected on the touch panel that the touch leaves. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input device for inputting characters, a character input method, and a character input program.

  Mobile devices such as mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) are pursuing further miniaturization in response to user needs. Since the keyboard, which is a character input device, must be installed on a surface separate from the screen, it is a device that is contrary to miniaturization, and it can be folded to fit the screen surface and the keyboard surface, or the keyboard can be A mechanism to fold or store on the back side is provided to reduce the size when carrying.

  However, even if these mechanisms are provided, there is no effect on volume and weight, and when using a portable device, a folded keyboard must be deployed, so a screen-integrated touch panel that can eliminate the need for a keyboard Expectations are growing.

By the way, regarding character input using a touchpad, characters are divided into hierarchical groups represented by a plurality of characters, and after selecting a representative character, depending on the contact movement direction and movement length of one switch, There is a technique for selecting one character (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-342011 A

  However, in order to display a virtual keyboard for character input on the screen after displaying information on the screen, the screen itself must be made larger, so there is a dilemma from the perspective of pursuing portability. Has occurred. Therefore, the display for character input including the virtual keyboard must be as small as possible.

  In character input using a screen-integrated touch panel as well as character input using a keyboard, it is necessary to input kana characters as input to the kana-kanji conversion program or the predictive conversion program.

  For devices with a normal keyboard, assign each kana character to one key, or use a program that assigns alphabets to each key and converts the Roman characters once entered into kana characters, so that both fingers Character input can be performed relatively easily by enabling continuous touch of each finger.

  In order to make it easy to input characters even on portable devices, it is necessary to reduce the number of touches as much as possible. To do so, it is necessary to display a large number of virtual keyboards, and for character input including the virtual keyboard described above. This contradicts that it is necessary to save the space as much as possible.

  Furthermore, in character input in a portable device, since the operation must be performed while holding the portable device, the fingers that can be used for the operation are limited. Usually, only one thumb of a hand holding a portable device can be used for operation. In addition, since the touch panel senses immediately when a finger touches the panel surface, only one finger (usually the index finger) can be used for operation even when operating with the finger of the non-hand. The ease of input by continuous touch with multiple fingers cannot be obtained. That is, when examining a character input method in a portable device, it is necessary to consider that there is one thumb or index finger when operating with one hand, and two thumbs left and right when operating with both hands.

  Considering reducing the number of virtual keyboards that can be displayed at one time in order to save space, in order to narrow down all the inputable characters to the desired input target characters, the virtual keyboard is hierarchized in two or more layers and multiple times Touch operation is required. In this case, the second touch operation needs to be selected with the result narrowed down from the first touch reflected in the second-level virtual keyboard, but it is hidden by the first touched thumb or index finger. When the virtual keyboard of the second hierarchy is displayed at the position where it disappears, it is hidden and cannot be seen. Therefore, it is necessary to lift the finger once to see the screen. Touching the small virtual keyboard displayed in a space-saving mode is an act of pointing a small target with a finger, and it is easy to input a single character because it causes mental stress. It's not a method.

  The screen-integrated touch panel of the portable device needs to display a necessary information display and display a virtual keyboard for character input. The space-saving and the finger that can be touched can be a thumb or an index finger in one-hand operation. In consideration of the fact that there are two thumbs on the left and right when operating both hands, and that the display of the virtual keyboard on the second and subsequent layers must be displayed in a position that is not hidden by the finger that is currently touching, There is a problem that the display layout of the virtual keyboard that allows easy input is very difficult.

  It is an object of the disclosed character input device to perform character input with a single touch operation on a hierarchical virtual keyboard.

A character input device according to an embodiment of the disclosure is a character input device provided with a touch panel on a surface of a screen for displaying characters,
First hierarchical virtual keyboard display means for dividing all characters to be input into a plurality of hierarchical groups and displaying the first hierarchical characters on the screen as a first hierarchical virtual keyboard;
First temporary input means for temporarily inputting the touched key of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard when the touch panel detects that the key position of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard displayed on the screen is touched;
A lower-layer virtual keyboard display means for displaying a fan-shaped second-layer virtual keyboard or a lower-layer virtual keyboard that extends around a key temporarily input in the fingertip direction of the touched finger;
Slide detection means for detecting the sliding direction and the amount of movement of the touched finger;
Second temporary input means for temporarily inputting a key of a second or lower virtual keyboard in the sliding direction detected by the slide detection means;
Input means for inputting a character temporarily input by the first or second temporary input means when the touch panel detects that the touch has been released.

A character input method according to an embodiment of the disclosure is a character input method of a character input device provided with a touch panel on a surface of a screen for displaying characters,
Dividing all the characters to be input into a plurality of hierarchical groups, displaying the first hierarchical characters on the screen as a first hierarchical virtual keyboard,
When the touch panel detects that the key position of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard displayed on the screen has been touched, the key of the touched first hierarchical virtual keyboard is provisionally input;
Display a fan-shaped second or lower virtual keyboard that extends around the key temporarily input in the direction of the fingertip of the touched finger,
Detect the sliding direction and amount of movement of the touched finger,
Temporarily input the key of the second or lower level virtual keyboard in the detected sliding direction,
When the touch panel detects that the touch is released, the character temporarily input by the first or second temporary input unit is input.

A character input program according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a character input device provided with a touch panel on a surface of a screen for displaying characters.
First hierarchical virtual keyboard display means for dividing all characters to be input into a plurality of hierarchical groups and displaying the first hierarchical characters on the screen as a first hierarchical virtual keyboard;
When the touch panel detects that the key position of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard displayed on the screen is touched, the first temporary input for temporarily inputting the touched key of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard in the memory Means,
A lower-layer virtual keyboard display means for displaying a fan-shaped second-layer virtual keyboard or a lower-layer virtual keyboard that extends around a key temporarily input in the fingertip direction of the touched finger;
Slide detection means for detecting the sliding direction and the amount of movement of the touched finger;
Second temporary input means for temporarily inputting a key of a virtual keyboard in a second hierarchy or lower hierarchy in the sliding direction detected by the slide detection means, in the memory;
When the touch panel detects that the touch has been released, the touch panel functions as input means for inputting characters held in the memory by the first or second temporary input means.

  According to the disclosed apparatus, it is possible to input characters with a single touch operation on a hierarchical virtual keyboard.

  Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows an external perspective view of one embodiment of a portable device. This portable device is, for example, a mobile phone or a PDA. In the figure, the portable device 10 has a screen (display) 12 provided on one surface of a main body 11 and a transparent touch panel 13 provided integrally on the surface of the screen 12.

  FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a portable device. In the figure, a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a ROM 23, a wireless communication unit 24, a screen interface 25, and a touch panel interface 26 are provided inside the main body 11, and these are interconnected by a bus 27. The screen 12 is connected to the screen interface 25, and the touch panel 13 is connected to the touch panel interface 26.

  Various programs such as an application program, a character input program, a Roman character kana conversion program, and a kana / kanji conversion program are stored in the ROM 23, and the CPU 21 reads and executes these programs from the ROM 23. At this time, the RAM 22 is used as a work area. use. Note that characters referred to in this specification include symbols, control commands, and the like in addition to characters.

  FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a program configuration related to character input. In the figure, a character input program 31 includes a virtual keyboard display function 31 a that displays a virtual keyboard on the screen 12, a touch determination function 31 b that determines which virtual key is touched from the screen surface-integrated touch panel 13, and the touch panel 13. It has a slide detection function 31c that determines a slide direction and a movement amount when an operation of sliding with a finger is performed. Furthermore, an angle expanding function 31d may be provided.

  The character input program 31 is activated from an application program 32 that requires character input. At the time of activation, the character type (kana / kanji, alphabet, symbol, control command, etc.) and input mode (left-hand mode, right-hand mode, two-hand mode, etc.) required for input of the application program 32 are designated.

  The character input program 31 passes the input characters to a romaji kana conversion program 33 and a kana-kanji conversion program (or prediction conversion program) 34 as necessary. The input characters are appropriately converted by each program, character input is performed, and the input characters are notified to the application program 32. When inputting a sentence, it is realized by repeating this process.

  In the character input program 31, the set of input target characters differs depending on the type of characters required for input by the application program 32. Therefore, a hierarchical group is prepared in advance for each set of input target characters to be used.

<Flowchart>
4 and 5 show a flowchart of an embodiment of processing executed by the character input program 31. FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the character input program 31 is activated in step S11 by designating the type of characters (kana / kanji, alphabet, etc.) required for input from the application program 32 when activated. decide.

  For all the characters that should be input, that is, inputable characters, divided into hierarchical groups with several representative characters as the vertices, if hiragana, “Akasana Hamawara” is the vertex (first layer) For example, “Iueoai」 ぁ ”is set in the lower layer (second layer) of“ A ”. In addition to this, “i” may be provided in the lower hierarchy (second hierarchy) of “a”, and “i” may be provided in the lower hierarchy (third hierarchy) of “i”, for example. In the hierarchical group structure of these inputable characters, for example, as in the case of a numeric keyboard of a mobile phone, importance may be attached to the ease of operation. Further, a plurality of hierarchical patterns may be held and dynamically changed.

  Next, in step S12, the character input program 31 displays the representative characters of the hierarchical group to be used as the first hierarchical virtual keyboard on the screen 12, and waits for a touch on the virtual keyboard. FIG. 6 shows a display example of the first hierarchy virtual keyboard.

  If the touch determination function 31b determines to touch the first hierarchy virtual keyboard in step S13, the process proceeds to step S15 when the amount of movement d obtained by the slide detection function 31c exceeds the threshold value in step S14. Note that step S14 is not necessarily provided.

  In step S15, the character input program 31 performs temporary input of the representative character of the hierarchical group, that is, the key touched on the first hierarchical virtual keyboard (first hierarchical virtual key) and stores the temporary input in the RAM 22, and the second hierarchical virtual of the input character. A keyboard is displayed on the screen 12. FIG. 7 shows a display example of the second hierarchy virtual keyboard. The character string “Niumeno” of the second hierarchy virtual keyboard, which is under the character “na” of the first hierarchy virtual keyboard, is arranged in a fan shape in the direction of the fingertip of the touched finger, superimposed on the first hierarchy virtual keyboard. Displayed.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the finger touched in step S16 is separated from the touch panel 13, and if not, the slide direction and the movement amount obtained by the slide detection function 31c are acquired in step S17. Then, the presence / absence of a slide is determined from the movement amount acquired in step S18. If there is no slide, the process proceeds to step S16, and if there is a slide, the process proceeds to step S19.

  If an operation of sliding the touched finger on the second hierarchical virtual keyboard is performed, in step S19, the second hierarchical character (first hierarchical virtual key) subordinate to the representative character (first hierarchical virtual key) already provisionally input in the hierarchical group. The temporary input value held in the RAM 22 is updated by performing a temporary input of the second hierarchical virtual key). Here, the temporary input of the second hierarchical virtual key in the sliding direction is performed before sliding to the position of the second hierarchical virtual key. However, when the second hierarchical virtual key is slid to the position of the second hierarchical virtual key, May be temporarily input.

  If the finger touched in step S16 has moved away from the touch panel 13, it is determined in step S20 whether or not the finger is on the virtual key. If not, the input is canceled. To finish the process. If it is on a virtual key, the key touched on the first hierarchical virtual keyboard (first hierarchical virtual key) in step S21 is used as an input value, and if necessary, it is transferred to a Roman character kana conversion program, a kana / kanji conversion program or a prediction conversion program. To pass this process.

  Thereafter, in step S31 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not there is a lower hierarchy (n-th hierarchy, n is an integer of 3 or more). If there is a lower hierarchy, the n-th hierarchy (for example, the third hierarchy) is determined in step S32. Display a virtual keyboard.

  After that, it is determined whether or not the finger touched in step S33 is separated from the touch panel 13, and if not, the slide direction and the movement amount obtained by the slide detection function 31c are acquired in step S34. Then, the presence / absence of a slide is determined from the movement amount acquired in step S35. If there is no slide, the process proceeds to step S33, and if there is a slide, the process proceeds to step S36.

  When an operation of sliding the touched finger on the n-th layer virtual keyboard is performed, in step S36, characters in the n-th layer (for example, the second layer virtual key) subordinate to a representative character (for example, the second layer virtual key) already provisionally input. For example, a temporary input of a third hierarchy virtual key) is performed and held in the RAM 22 to update the temporary input value. Here, the temporary input of the third hierarchy virtual key in the sliding direction is performed before sliding to the position of the third hierarchy virtual key, but when the slide is made to the position of the third hierarchy virtual key, the third hierarchy virtual key is May be temporarily input.

  If the finger touched in step S33 is separated from the touch panel 13, it is determined in step S37 whether or not the finger is on the virtual key. If not, the input is canceled. To finish the process. If it is on a virtual key, the key touched on the (n-1) -th layer virtual keyboard (for example, the second-layer virtual key) in step S38 is used as an input value, and the Roman kana-kana conversion program, the kana-kanji conversion program, or the prediction is used as necessary. This is passed to the conversion program and the process is terminated.

  In this way, the character input program 31 repeats the same operation by displaying the virtual keyboard (third layer virtual keyboard) of the characters belonging to the third layer of the input characters in a fan shape on the screen 12, If there is no lower-level character under the temporarily input characters, the virtual keyboard is not displayed.

<Left hand input>
In the virtual keyboard of the second hierarchy or lower, the fan-shaped virtual keyboard development direction is changed according to the setting of how to hold the portable device to facilitate input. Of course, the development direction of the fan-shaped virtual keyboard can be dynamically changed.

  FIG. 8A shows a virtual keyboard in each of the first, second, and third layers in the left-hand mode in which the portable device 10 that uses the screen 12 in the portrait state is held with the right hand and is operated with the left hand (usually the index finger). FIG. 8B shows a touch locus (arrow thick line) when the character “be” is input.

  When the portable device 10 is held with the right hand, the fingertip direction of the left index finger is in the upper right direction, so the fan-shaped angle range of the second hierarchical virtual keyboard is displayed in the upper right direction with the temporarily input key as the center. For example, if the upper right is 0 degree centering on the temporarily input key, the left index finger hides the character “Hifheho” on the second hierarchical virtual keyboard by setting the range to about 90 degrees clockwise from about 0 degrees. Instead, the characters “bepe” on the third-layer virtual keyboard can be displayed one after another. The fan-shaped angle range may be about 30 degrees in the counterclockwise direction to about 120 degrees in the clockwise direction, with 0 degree directly above the temporarily input key.

  Looking at the touch locus (arrow thick line) in FIG. 8B, when the touch panel 13 is touched at the position “ha” of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard and sliding starts, the second hierarchical virtual keyboard is displayed, and the finger By sliding in the direction of “to”, the third-layer virtual keyboard including the character “bepe” which is the lower layer of “to” is displayed.

  Further, the character “be” is temporarily input by sliding the finger in the direction of the character “be”, and the input of the character “be” is confirmed by releasing the finger from the touch panel 13.

<Right-hand input>
Further, FIG. 9A shows the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer of the right hand mode in which the portable device 10 that uses the screen 12 in the portrait state is held with the left hand and operated with the right hand (usually the index finger). FIG. 9B shows a virtual keyboard, and FIG. 9B shows a touch locus (a thick arrow line) when the character “be” is input.

  When the portable device 10 is held with the left hand, the fingertip direction of the right index finger is the upper left direction, so the fan-shaped angle range of the second hierarchical virtual keyboard is displayed in the upper left direction with the temporarily input key as the center. For example, if the right key is set to 0 degrees centering on the temporarily input key, the right index finger hides the character “hifuheho” on the second hierarchical virtual keyboard by setting the range to about 90 degrees counterclockwise from about 0 degrees. It is possible to display the characters “bepe” on the third hierarchical virtual keyboard one after another. The fan-shaped angle range may be about 30 degrees in the clockwise direction to about 120 degrees in the counterclockwise direction with 0 degree directly above the temporarily input key.

  Looking at the touch locus (arrow thick line) in FIG. 9B, when the touch panel 13 is touched at the position “ha” of the first hierarchy virtual keyboard and sliding starts, the second hierarchy virtual keyboard is displayed, By sliding in the direction of “to”, the third-layer virtual keyboard including the character “bepe” which is the lower layer of “to” is displayed.

  Further, the character “be” is temporarily input by sliding the finger in the direction of the character “be”, and the input of the character “be” is confirmed by releasing the finger from the touch panel 13. In this case, an easy input can be performed in the same manner by setting the direction to the left and right opposite to those in FIGS.

<Two-handed input>
Further, FIG. 10 shows virtual keyboards in the first and second layers in the two-handed mode in which the portable device 10 that uses the screen 12 in the landscape state is held with both hands and operated with both hands (usually the thumb).

  In this case, the fan-shaped direction range of the second hierarchical virtual keyboard is determined by the character position of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard in the screen 12. That is, the character “Akasama Yara” on the left side from the center of the first hierarchy virtual keyboard is touched with the left thumb, so that the fan-shaped angle range is displayed in the upper right direction with the temporarily input key as the center. For example, assuming that the key just entered is 0 degree above the temporarily input key, the range is about 0 degree to about 90 degrees clockwise. The fan-shaped angle range may be about 30 degrees in the counterclockwise direction to about 120 degrees in the clockwise direction, with 0 degree directly above the temporarily input key.

  In addition, the character “tanahawa cloud point (half cloud point)” on the left side from the center of the first layer virtual keyboard is touched with the right thumb, so the fan-shaped angle range is displayed in the upper left direction centering on the temporarily input key. To do. For example, assuming that the key just entered is 0 degree above the temporarily input key, the range is from about 0 degree to about 90 degrees counterclockwise. The fan-shaped angle range may be about 30 degrees in the clockwise direction to about 120 degrees in the counterclockwise direction with 0 degree directly above the temporarily input key.

  These embodiments are for facilitating an input operation. In this case, the direction of the virtual n-th layer virtual keyboard is determined by “setting the holding method of the mobile device”, thereby Characters can be easily input with the minimum amount of operation within one touch operation without hiding the display. Also, the slide direction is transmitted to the operator by the fan-shaped direction range of the virtual keyboard.

<Virtual keyboard display function, touch determination function>
Next, a touch determination function 31b for determining which virtual key is touched from the touch screen 13 integrated with the screen surface of the mobile device 10 and a slide detection function 31c for determining a slide direction and a movement amount will be described.

  The screen surface-integrated touch panel 13 has a matrix switch in which switches are arranged in a grid pattern as shown in FIG. 11, and when the operator's finger presses the switch, the vertical (Y) and horizontal (X ) Position information.

  The matrix switch has, for example, a two-layer structure in which a horizontally arranged Y electrode for detecting the Y axis position and a vertically arranged X electrode for detecting the X axis position are opposed to each other. A gap is formed between the Y electrode and the X electrode only at the pressed position by applying a voltage to each electrode.

  When the switch indicated by the black square in FIG. 11 is pressed, a current flows from the fourth X electrode to the fifth Y electrode, and an output of (X, Y) = (4, 5) is generated. Since the touch panel 13 is a screen surface-integrated type, the X electrode and the Y electrode must be transparent. However, a method for detecting an optical change, a method for measuring a slight change in electrostatic current, a transparent electrode and a film The X electrode and the Y electrode can be realized by making them very thin so that light can be transmitted by a method such as attaching a substrate on a screen.

  Here, the resolution of the matrix switch (the number of electrodes per inch) is generally rougher than the resolution of the screen 12 (the number of pixels per inch) due to the component costs and manufacturing costs of the X and Y electrodes. Therefore, it is necessary to convert the position information of the touched place into screen coordinates.

If the screen resolutions of X and Y are X _SP and Y _SP and the resolution of the matrix switch is X _tP and Y _tp , the output (X _t , Y _t ) obtained from the matrix switch is the coordinates (X, In order to convert to Y), the equations (1) and (2) are used.
_{X = X t (X SP /} X tP) ... (1)
Y = Y _t (Y _SP / Y _tP ) (2)

  A mechanism for notifying the program which virtual keyboard is touched can be realized by determining whether or not the screen coordinates (X, Y) obtained by this conversion formula are within the virtual keyboard display range.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the obtained screen coordinates (X, Y) are held as (X _S , Y _S ), and the output from the matrix switch is continued to keep the screen coordinates (X _m , Y _m ), The sliding direction θ and the moving amount d when the sliding operation of tracing the touch panel with a finger is performed can be calculated by the equations (3) and (4).
θ = arctan [(Y _m −Y _S ) / (X _m −X _S )] (3)
^{_{d = [(X m -X S}} ) 2 + (Y m -Y S) 2] 1/2 ... (4)

Further, for the direction θn and the movement amount dn after the third hierarchical virtual keyboard, the screen coordinates (X _n−1 , Y _n−1 ) when the selection of the n−1 virtual keyboard is performed are (X _S , Since it can be calculated in the same manner by holding it as Y _S ), it is possible to notify the program of the direction and amount of movement when a slide operation is performed by tracing the touch panel with a finger.

Here, when the resolution X _tP and Y _tp of the matrix switch is considerably smaller than the screen resolutions X _SP and Y _SP , the sliding direction θ and the moving amount d are output discretely. In some cases, sufficient sampling cannot be performed to determine whether the slide direction θ is within the angular range of each key of the fan-shaped n-th layer virtual keyboard on the screen 12.

  Considering such a case, if a threshold value is provided for the movement amount d and a value of d equal to or greater than the threshold value is not obtained, for example, the sector key is left in a non-selected state (step S14). However, a screen display such as “Make more slides!” May be performed so that the user can perform an operation of increasing the moving amount d by performing a slide operation.

  Further, according to the value of the movement amount d, for example, when the slide is stopped when the value of the movement amount d is not yet sufficient, the sliding direction θ is an angle range of each key of the sector-shaped second-layer virtual keyboard on the screen 12. It cannot be determined whether it is within. As shown in FIG. 13, the fan-shaped angle range of the second hierarchical virtual keyboard is displayed in a state where it is expanded to about 180 degrees so that this can be determined, and the operation amount is reduced by clarifying the selected keys as much as possible. Such a character enlargement function 31 d is provided in the character input program 31.

  As described above, from the start of touching the first hierarchical virtual keyboard, the user can slide the finger in a predetermined direction while watching the display contents of the lower hierarchical virtual keyboard, and input target characters in the nth hierarchical virtual keyboard. Character input can be performed by performing an operation of releasing the finger. That is, by inputting characters with a single touch operation, erroneous input operations can be prevented and the number of input operations can be reduced.

<Modification>
FIG. 14 shows a flowchart of the first modification of FIG.

  In FIG. 14, the character input program 31 is activated in step S11 by designating the type of characters (kana / kanji, alphabet, etc.) required for input from the application program 32 at the time of activation. decide.

  Thereafter, the touch on the touch panel 13 is determined in step S41. When the touch determination function 31b determines a touch, in step S42, the character input program 31 displays the representative characters of the hierarchical group used on the screen 12 as the first hierarchical virtual keyboard around the touch position, and proceeds to step S13. The subsequent processing is the same as in FIGS.

  According to this modification, the first hierarchy virtual keyboard can be displayed at an arbitrary position on the screen 12.

  FIG. 15 shows a flowchart of the second modification of FIG.

  14, in step S51, the character input program 31 displays on the screen 12 a character attribute change key for selecting uppercase or lowercase letters, dakuten or half-dakuten, full-size or half-size.

  If any one of uppercase letters or lowercase letters, dakuten or half-dakuten, full-width or half-width is selected by touching the character attribute change key in step S52, the process proceeds to step S53.

  In step S53, the character input program 31 determines a hierarchical group to be used in accordance with the selection of the character attribute change key, and proceeds to step S12. The subsequent processing is the same as in FIGS.

According to this modification, each character of the hierarchical group can be changed to the designated attribute, and the display arrangement of the virtual keyboard of each hierarchical layer can be changed, and the character input of the designated character attribute can be performed.
(Appendix 1)
A character input device provided with a touch panel on the surface of a screen for displaying characters,
First hierarchical virtual keyboard display means for dividing all characters to be input into a plurality of hierarchical groups and displaying the first hierarchical characters on the screen as a first hierarchical virtual keyboard;
First temporary input means for temporarily inputting the touched key of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard when the touch panel detects that the key position of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard displayed on the screen is touched;
A lower-layer virtual keyboard display means for displaying a fan-shaped second-layer virtual keyboard or a lower-layer virtual keyboard that extends around a key temporarily input in the fingertip direction of the touched finger;
Slide detection means for detecting the sliding direction and the amount of movement of the touched finger;
Second temporary input means for temporarily inputting a key of a second or lower virtual keyboard in the sliding direction detected by the slide detection means;
An input means for inputting characters temporarily input by the first or second temporary input means when the touch is detected by the touch panel;
A character input device comprising:
(Appendix 2)
In the character input device according to attachment 1,
In the left hand mode in which the touch panel is touched with a finger of the left hand, the lower layer virtual keyboard display means displays the fan shape of the second or lower layer virtual keyboard in the upper right direction centering on the temporarily input key. A character input device characterized by that.
(Appendix 3)
In the character input device according to attachment 1,
In the right-hand mode in which the touch panel is touched with a finger of the right hand, the lower-layer virtual keyboard display means displays the fan shape of the second-layer or lower-layer virtual keyboard in the upper left direction centering on the temporarily input key. A character input device characterized by that.
(Appendix 4)
A character input method of a character input device provided with a touch panel on the surface of a screen for displaying characters,
Dividing all the characters to be input into a plurality of hierarchical groups, displaying the first hierarchical characters on the screen as a first hierarchical virtual keyboard,
When the touch panel detects that the key position of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard displayed on the screen has been touched, the key of the touched first hierarchical virtual keyboard is provisionally input;
Display a fan-shaped second or lower virtual keyboard that extends around the key temporarily input in the direction of the fingertip of the touched finger,
Detect the sliding direction and amount of movement of the touched finger,
Temporarily input the key of the second or lower level virtual keyboard in the detected sliding direction,
A character input device for inputting a character temporarily input by the first or second temporary input means when the touch panel detects that the touch is released.
(Appendix 5)
A character input device with a touch panel on the surface of the screen for displaying characters
First hierarchical virtual keyboard display means for dividing all characters to be input into a plurality of hierarchical groups and displaying the first hierarchical characters on the screen as a first hierarchical virtual keyboard;
When the touch panel detects that the key position of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard displayed on the screen has been touched, the first temporary input for temporarily inputting the touched key of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard in the memory Means,
A lower-layer virtual keyboard display means for displaying a fan-shaped second-layer virtual keyboard or a lower-layer virtual keyboard that extends around a key temporarily input in the fingertip direction of the touched finger;
Slide detection means for detecting the sliding direction and the amount of movement of the touched finger;
Second temporary input means for temporarily inputting a key of a virtual keyboard in a second hierarchy or lower hierarchy in the sliding direction detected by the slide detection means, in the memory;
An input means for inputting characters held in the memory by the first or second temporary input means when the touch is detected by the touch panel;
Character input program to make it function.
(Appendix 6)
In the character input device described in Appendix 2,
In the left-hand mode in which the lower-layer virtual keyboard display means touches the touch panel with a finger of the left hand, the fan-shape of the second-layer virtual keyboard is about 0 degrees when the top right is 0 degrees around the temporarily input key. A character input device that displays in a clockwise direction at an angle range of about 90 degrees.
(Appendix 7)
In the character input device according to attachment 3,
In the right-hand mode in which the touch panel is touched with a finger of the right hand, the lower-layer virtual keyboard display means is about 0 degrees when the sector of the second-layer virtual keyboard is set to 0 degrees right above the temporarily input key. A character input device that displays in a counterclockwise direction at an angle range of about 90 degrees.
(Appendix 8)
The character input device according to claim 1,
In the two-hand mode in which the lower-layer virtual keyboard display means touches the touch panel with fingers of both hands, a key temporarily input from the center of the first-layer virtual keyboard to the left-hand side of the first-layer virtual keyboard is used. Character input, characterized by being displayed in the upper right direction as the center and displayed in the upper left direction with the key temporarily input from the center of the first hierarchy virtual keyboard as the center of the second hierarchy virtual keyboard. apparatus.
(Appendix 9)
In the character input device according to any one of appendices 1 to 3,
A character input device comprising: a display position setting means for notifying the touch position detected by the touch panel to the first hierarchy virtual keyboard display means as a display center of the first hierarchy virtual keyboard.
(Appendix 10)
In the character input device according to any one of appendices 1 to 3,
Character attribute change key display means for displaying a character attribute change key on the screen,
The touch of the character attribute change key displayed on the screen is detected by the touch panel, and the character attributes displayed as the first hierarchical virtual keyboard and the lower virtual keyboard are changed according to the touched character attribute change key. A character input device characterized by that.

It is an external appearance perspective view of one Embodiment of a portable device. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a portable device. It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the program structure regarding a character input. It is a flowchart of one Embodiment of the process which a character input program performs. It is a flowchart of one Embodiment of the process which a character input program performs. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 1st hierarchy virtual keyboard. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a 2nd hierarchy virtual keyboard. It is a figure which shows the expansion | deployment direction and touch locus | trajectory of the fan-shaped virtual keyboard by left hand input. It is a figure which shows the expansion | deployment direction and touch locus | trajectory of the fan-shaped virtual keyboard by a right hand input. It is a figure which shows the expansion | deployment direction and touch locus | trajectory of the fan-shaped virtual keyboard by two-hand input. It is a figure for demonstrating the touch screen of a screen surface integrated type. It is a figure for demonstrating the sliding direction (theta) and the moving amount d. It is a figure which shows the state which extended the fan-shaped angle range of the 2nd hierarchy virtual keyboard. It is a flowchart of the 1st modification of the process which a character input program performs. It is a flowchart of the 2nd modification of the process which a character input program performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Portable device 11 Main-body part 12 Screen 13 Touch panel 21 CPU
22 RAM
23 ROM
24 Wireless Communication Unit 25 Screen Interface 26 Touch Panel Interface 31 Character Input Program 31a Virtual Keyboard Display Function 31b Touch Judgment Function 31c Slide Detection Function 31d Angle Enlargement Function 32 Application Program 33 Romaji Kana Conversion Program 34 Kana / Kanji Conversion Program

Claims (5)

A character input device provided with a touch panel on the surface of a screen for displaying characters,
First hierarchical virtual keyboard display means for dividing all characters to be input into a plurality of hierarchical groups and displaying the first hierarchical characters on the screen as a first hierarchical virtual keyboard;
First temporary input means for temporarily inputting the touched key of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard when the touch panel detects that the key position of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard displayed on the screen is touched;
A lower-layer virtual keyboard display means for displaying a fan-shaped second-layer virtual keyboard or a lower-layer virtual keyboard that extends around a key temporarily input in the fingertip direction of the touched finger;
Slide detection means for detecting the sliding direction and the amount of movement of the touched finger;
Second temporary input means for temporarily inputting a key of a second or lower virtual keyboard in the sliding direction detected by the slide detection means;
An input means for inputting characters temporarily input by the first or second temporary input means when the touch is detected by the touch panel;
A character input device comprising: The character input device according to claim 1,
In the left-hand mode in which the touch panel is touched with a finger of the left hand, the lower-layer virtual keyboard display means displays the fan shape of the second-layer or lower-layer virtual keyboard in the upper right direction centering on the temporarily input key. A character input device characterized by that. The character input device according to claim 1,
In the right hand mode in which the touch panel is touched with a finger of the right hand, the lower layer virtual keyboard display means displays the fan shape of the second or lower layer virtual keyboard in the upper left direction centering on the temporarily input key. A character input device characterized by that. A character input method of a character input device provided with a touch panel on the surface of a screen for displaying characters,
Dividing all the characters to be input into a plurality of hierarchical groups, displaying the first hierarchical characters on the screen as a first hierarchical virtual keyboard,
When the touch panel detects that the key position of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard displayed on the screen has been touched, the key of the touched first hierarchical virtual keyboard is provisionally input;
Display a fan-shaped second or lower virtual keyboard that extends around the key temporarily input in the direction of the fingertip of the touched finger,
Detect the sliding direction and amount of movement of the touched finger,
Temporarily input the key of the second or lower level virtual keyboard in the detected sliding direction,
A character input device for inputting a character temporarily input by the first or second temporary input means when the touch panel detects that the touch is released. A character input device with a touch panel on the surface of the screen for displaying characters
First hierarchical virtual keyboard display means for dividing all characters to be input into a plurality of hierarchical groups and displaying the first hierarchical characters on the screen as a first hierarchical virtual keyboard;
When the touch panel detects that the key position of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard displayed on the screen is touched, the first temporary input for temporarily inputting the touched key of the first hierarchical virtual keyboard in the memory Means,
A lower-layer virtual keyboard display means for displaying a fan-shaped second-layer virtual keyboard or a lower-layer virtual keyboard that extends around a key temporarily input in the fingertip direction of the touched finger;
Slide detection means for detecting the sliding direction and the amount of movement of the touched finger;
Second temporary input means for temporarily inputting a key of a virtual keyboard in a second hierarchy or lower hierarchy in the sliding direction detected by the slide detection means, in the memory;
An input means for inputting characters held in the memory by the first or second temporary input means when the touch is detected by the touch panel;
Character input program to make it function.

Images