JP2012088750A - Electronic apparatus and character input program for electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus which changes character types by an intuitive operation and intelligibly notifies a user that the character type has changed.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus performs character input by using a software keyboard displayed on a touch panel and uses different software keyboards according to a character type of characters to input. In the apparatus, software keyboards to use are changed by scrolling display of a software keyboard by slide input on the touch panel.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device having a function of inputting characters by switching a plurality of character input modes, and more particularly, to an electronic device that performs input using a touch panel and a character input program for the electronic device.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, electronic devices having a character input function have been popularized along with miniaturization and high performance of electronic devices. A cellular phone, which is one of electronic devices having a character input function, uses a character input function when creating an e-mail or browsing a website. When performing such character input, the user needs to input using various character types such as hiragana, katakana and alphabet.

  In view of this, a mobile phone that is provided with a touch panel on a display and performs character input by operating the touch panel with a pen or a finger has been put into practical use. In a mobile phone that inputs characters using a touch panel, a virtual keyboard (hereinafter simply referred to as a software keyboard) is displayed on a display. The software keyboard is configured by displaying virtual character buttons side by side, and the user performs character input by touching an area of the touch panel corresponding to the character button to be input with a pen or a finger. Unlike a keyboard using mechanical buttons, the software keyboard can virtually switch the arrangement of character buttons and the character type assigned to the character buttons. For example, according to the ease of input, the user can display the software keyboard by assigning alphabets such as “q”, “w”, “e”, “r”, “t”, and “y” to 35 buttons. , “A”, “I”, “U”, “E”, “O”, etc., can be switched to the display assigned to the 12 buttons.

  In order to perform such character input on the touch panel, a software keyboard in which hiragana characters such as “a”, “ka”, “sa”, “ta”, and “na” are assigned to the character buttons is displayed on the display. A character corresponding to the character button is input by touching the area where each character button is displayed with a finger or a touch pen. Further, when switching the character type input from the software keyboard to a character type such as katakana from hiragana, the user touches by sliding on a character button constituting the software keyboard. A technology for switching from a software keyboard that inputs hiragana in response to this slide input to a software keyboard that inputs different character types such as katakana is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a software keyboard in which numbers such as “1”, “2”, and “3” are assigned to the character buttons is displayed on the display. A technique for switching to a software keyboard in which different character types are assigned to the character buttons by pressing a character type switching button displayed on the software keyboard has been disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-148536 A JP 2005-92441 A

  By the way, in a mobile phone provided with a touch panel on the display, display control can be performed to change the display on the display in conjunction with an operation on the touch panel. Using this, when an input is made to slide a finger or a touch pen on the touch panel, intuitive and easy-to-understand operations and displays such as moving buttons on the display in conjunction with the movement of the slide There is a growing demand for mobile phones that can be used.

  However, contrary to the demand for intuitive and easy-to-understand operation and display, many software keyboards perform switching by instantaneously switching the display when the character type is switched. When switching the character type of the software keyboard from hiragana to katakana, for example, the character type switching display is performed by instantaneously switching the character notation on the character button from “A” to “A”. A technology for switching the character type of the software keyboard according to an intuitive operation on the touch panel and displaying the fact that the character type has been switched to the user in an easy-to-understand manner has not yet been realized.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an electronic device and a character input program for the electronic device that can switch character types by intuitive operation and display.

To achieve the object, a first software keyboard assigned a first character group composed of a plurality of characters, a second software keyboard assigned a second character group, and displaying the characters A display unit that is provided so as to be integrated with the display unit, a touch panel input unit that detects input coordinates, and an instruction to input the character by the touch panel input unit, via the first or second software keyboard. Input the character included in the first or second character group specified in the above, and according to the switching instruction of the first or second software keyboard by the touch panel input unit, the first or second A control unit that switches a software keyboard, and the control unit displays a first software keyboard on the display unit When the switching instruction from the first software keyboard to the second software keyboard is received, the first software keyboard is moved out of the display range of the display unit in a predetermined direction. And displaying the second software keyboard from one side opposite to the one side of the display unit where the first software keyboard has moved out of the range of the display unit toward the predetermined direction. The display is moved to the display range of the display unit, and switching from the first software keyboard to the second software keyboard is performed.

Further, the electronic device character input program of the present invention includes a first software keyboard to which a first character group composed of a plurality of characters is assigned, a second software keyboard to which a second character group is assigned, and The first or second according to the display function for displaying the character, the touch panel detection function that is provided so as to be integrated with the display unit, and that detects input coordinates, and the input instruction of the character by the touch panel detection function According to a character input function for inputting the characters included in the first or second character group specified via the software keyboard, and a switching instruction for the first or second software keyboard by the touch panel input unit A software keyboard switching function for switching between the first and second software keyboards, and the software The keyboard switching function is when the first software keyboard is displayed on the display unit, and when the switching instruction from the first software keyboard to the second software keyboard is received, The first software keyboard is moved outside the display range of the display unit in a predetermined direction, and the second software keyboard is moved out of the display unit range. The display is performed such that the display is moved from one side opposite to the one side of the display unit moved into the display range of the display unit in the predetermined direction.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device that can switch the character type by an intuitive operation and can easily notify the user that the character type has been switched by a display linked to the operation. .

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a mobile phone that is an example of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. The figure which shows the structure inside the mobile telephone in this embodiment. The figure which showed the screen display of the main display at the time of performing character input using the software keyboard for alphabets in this embodiment. The flowchart of the process which inputs a character using the software keyboard for alphabets in this embodiment. The figure which showed the screen display of the main display at the time of performing character input using the software keyboard for number symbols in this embodiment. The figure which showed the screen display of the main display at the time of performing character input using the software keyboard for hiragana in this embodiment. The flowchart of the switching process of the software keyboard in this embodiment. The figure which showed the screen display of the main display at the time of performing the animation of software keyboard switching in this embodiment. The figure which showed the screen display of the main display at the time of switching a software keyboard by slide input in this embodiment, and the locus | trajectory of slide input. The figure which showed the screen display of the main display at the time of changing the character allocation of the software keyboard for hiragana in this embodiment. The figure which showed the screen display of the main display at the time of setting the order of switching of a character type in this embodiment. The figure which showed the screen display of the main display at the time of highlighting the character button of the input software keyboard in this embodiment by 1st highlight display. The figure which showed the screen display of the main display at the time of highlighting the character button of the input software keyboard in this embodiment by the 2nd highlight display. The figure which showed the screen display of the main display at the time of displaying the character allocated to the button of the hiragana software keyboard in this embodiment, and performing character input. The figure which showed the screen display of the main display at the time of displaying a user registration button and inputting a character in this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Configuration of mobile phone)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a mobile phone 1 which is an example of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1A shows an external configuration when the mobile phone 1 is viewed from the front, and FIG. 1B shows an external configuration when the mobile phone 1 is viewed from the side.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, a main display 10 is provided on the front surface of the mobile phone 1, and displays characters and figures. In addition, a touch panel 4 is provided so as to overlap the main display 10, and a user performs input by touching the touch panel 4. The touch panel 4 can use a known input method such as pressure-sensitive type or electrostatic type. For example, in the case of the electrostatic type, a capacitance sensor that detects a change in capacitance is provided on the touch panel 4, and the capacitance sensor detects a change in capacitance that occurs when a finger touches the touch panel 4. By notifying the coordinates of the touch panel 4 whose capacitance has changed to the control unit 31, which will be described later, the control unit 31 performs processing corresponding to the input coordinates (hereinafter simply referred to as input coordinates). The detection of the input coordinates may be performed every time the input coordinates move or may be performed at regular intervals.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, a side key 5 is provided on the side surface of the mobile phone 1. Roles such as manner mode transition and menu call are assigned to the side keys 5. When the side keys 5 are pressed, this is detected and notified to the control unit 31 described later. The user can also perform an operation by pressing the side key 5 instead of the touch panel 4. A process for inputting characters by displaying a software keyboard on the main display 10 and inputting the coordinates on the touch panel 4 corresponding to the buttons on the software keyboard will be described later. A part of the role may be assigned to the side key 5.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, a microphone 7 is provided on the upper part of the main display 10, and a user voice during a call is collected by the microphone 7. A speaker 8 is provided at the lower part of the main display 10 and outputs the voice of the other party during the call. Further, a battery 9 is attached at a position (not shown) of the mobile phone 1, and power is supplied to each circuit constituting the mobile phone 1 through the power supply circuit 34.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment. An antenna 21 is provided at a position (not shown) of the mobile phone 1, and the antenna 21 is provided to perform wireless communication with other terminals. Although the cellular phone 1 performs voice communication or data communication by wireless communication, the communication method is a known technique and will not be described in this specification.

  The mobile phone 1 is provided with a control unit 31. The control unit 31 includes an electronic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The CPU executes processing according to various application programs loaded in a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory) described later. Further, the CPU processes signals supplied from each circuit unit described above, generates various control signals, and supplies them to each circuit unit. Through these processes, the CPU comprehensively controls the mobile phone 1. In response to the notification of the input coordinates on the touch panel 4, various processes such as menu operations and character input are executed.

  The storage unit 32 includes, for example, a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory element that is an electrically rewritable and erasable nonvolatile memory, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), and the like, and is executed by the CPU of the control unit 31. Various application programs and data groups are stored. The RAM stores data necessary for the CPU to execute various processes and information related to the video displayed on the main display 10. The storage unit 32 stores character information of each character type such as hiragana, katakana, alphabet, or symbol, and also stores software keyboard display information corresponding to each character type. In addition, the control unit 31 has a conversion function for converting to another character string such as “Meet” when the input character string is “A”, and the storage unit 32 stores such input characters, converted characters, and the like. A so-called dictionary file is stored. Since the character conversion technique is a known technique, it will not be described in this specification.

(Character input process using software keyboard)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen display example of the main display 10 when inputting alphabetic characters in the present embodiment. On the upper part of the main display 10, an antenna picture indicating the radio wave reception intensity of the antenna 21, a battery picture indicating the remaining battery level of the battery 9, time information notified from the timer 39, and the like are displayed. In the center of the main display 10, a character string display window 51 for displaying the input character string is displayed. A software keyboard for inputting characters, a left software keyboard switching button 58 for switching the software keyboard, and a right software keyboard switching button 59 are displayed at the bottom of the main display 10. In FIG. 3, an alphabet software keyboard 50 in which alphabets are assigned to character buttons is displayed as an example.

  The character input process using the alphabet software keyboard 50 will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing a process for inputting characters using the alphabet software keyboard 50. First, when the character input process is started by the control unit 31 (step 100), the control unit 31 waits for an input from the touch panel 4 (step 101), and when the control unit 31 receives an input from the touch panel 4 (step 101). Yes), it is determined whether or not the input coordinates match the coordinates of the buttons on the alphabet software keyboard 50 (step 102). If the control unit 31 determines that the input coordinates do not match any button coordinates of the alphabet software keyboard 50 (No in step 102), it waits for an input from the touch panel 4 again (step 101). When the control unit 31 determines that the input coordinates match the button coordinates of the alphabet keyboard 50 (Yes in step 102), the control unit 31 controls whether the buttons with the matching coordinates (hereinafter simply referred to as input buttons) are character buttons. Determine if it is a button. When the control unit 31 determines that the input button is a character button (“character button” in step 103), the control unit 31 inputs a character corresponding to the input button (step 104). In FIG. 3, for example, when the character button with “d” in the alphabet software keyboard 50 is an input button, the control unit 31 has been input to the character input position on the character display window 51 so far. In addition to the character string, the character “d” is input. When the control unit 31 determines that the input button is a control button (“control button” in step 103), the control unit 31 executes a control process assigned to the control button (step 105). Examples of the control process assigned to the control button include a process for moving the character input position, a process for erasing the character at the character input position, a process for switching between lowercase letters and uppercase letters, or a process for switching to a software keyboard corresponding to another character type. Is mentioned. When the process of step 104 or step 105 is completed, the character input process is terminated (step 106). By repeatedly performing the character input process described in FIG. 4, the user inputs a desired character.

  By using a software keyboard corresponding to a character type different from the alphabet, the user can input a character string including other character types. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen display example on the main display 10 when inputting numbers and symbols. A numerical symbol software keyboard 53 in which numbers and symbols are assigned to the character buttons is displayed at the bottom of the main display 10. By a process similar to the character input process described in FIG. 4, the user can input a character by touching the touch panel 4 in an area where a desired number or symbol is displayed. For example, if the character button displaying “” on the numeric symbol software keyboard 53 is an input button, the control unit 31 adds the character string input so far to the character input position on the character display window 51. Enter the character “)”.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display example on the main display 10 when inputting hiragana and kanji. At the bottom of the main display 10, a hiragana software keyboard 54 assigned to the hiragana character buttons is displayed. For example, “a”, “i”, “u”, “e”, and “o” five-letter hiragana characters are assigned to the character buttons displaying “a” in the hiragana software keyboard 54, for example. The control unit 31 switches and inputs five characters according to the number of times that the “A” character button is continuously input.

Similarly, three characters “WA”, “O”, and “N” are assigned to a button that displays “WA”, and when the “WA” button becomes an input button twice in succession, the control unit 31 In addition to the character string input so far, the character “O” is input at the character input position on the character display window 51.

(Switching the software keyboard using the software keyboard switch button)
As described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the user needs to use different software keyboards for character input according to the character type of the character string to be input. Therefore, for example, when the left software keyboard switching button 58 or the right software keyboard switching button 59 displayed on the software keyboard becomes an input button, the control unit 31 switches the software keyboard. 3, the left software keyboard switching button 58 is displayed on the left side of the main display 10, and the right software keyboard switching button 59 is displayed on the right side. In FIGS. 5 and 6, only the left side or the right side is displayed. When the left software keyboard switching button 58 or the right software keyboard switching button 59 becomes an input button, the control unit 31 performs a process of switching to another software keyboard corresponding to the left and right.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing for switching the software keyboard using the left software keyboard switching button 58 or the right software keyboard switching button 59. In this embodiment, as an example, there are three software keyboards, an alphabet software keyboard 50, a numerical symbol software keyboard 53, and a hiragana software keyboard 54. A process in which the control unit 31 switches to another software keyboard when the left software keyboard switching button 58 or the right software keyboard switching button 59 becomes an input button will be described. First, when the control unit 31 detects that the left software keyboard switching button 58 or the right software keyboard switching button 59 has become an input button, the control unit 31 starts a software keyboard switching process (step 200). The control unit 31 determines which of the right software keyboard switching button 58 (indicated as the right switching button in FIG. 7) and the left software keyboard switching button 59 (indicated as the left switching button in FIG. 7) is the input button. (Step 203). When the input button is the left software keyboard switching button 58 (“left switching button” in step 203), the control unit 31 determines whether the software keyboard currently displayed on the main display 10 is the alphabet software keyboard 50. Or it is determined whether it is the software keyboard 53 for numeric symbols (step 204). When the software keyboard displayed on the main display 10 is the numeric symbol software keyboard 53 (“numeric symbols” in step 204), the control unit 31 uses the displayed numeric symbol software keyboard 53 as the alphabet software. Switching to the keyboard 50 (step 205), the process is terminated (step 210) If the software keyboard displayed on the main display 10 is an alphabet software keyboard ("alphabet" in step 204), the control unit 31 switches the displayed alphabet software keyboard 50 to the hiragana software keyboard 54 (step 206), and ends the processing (step 210).

On the other hand, when the input button is the right software keyboard switching button 59 (“right switching button” in step 203), the control unit 31 uses the alphabet software keyboard 50 as the software keyboard currently displayed on the main display 10. It is determined whether there is a hiragana software keyboard 54 (step 207). When the software keyboard displayed on the main display 10 is the alphabet software keyboard 50 (“for alphabet” in Step 207), the control unit 31 replaces the displayed alphabet software keyboard 50 with the numeric symbol software keyboard. Then, the process is terminated (step 210). When the software keyboard displayed on the main display 10 is the hiragana software keyboard 54 (“Hiragana use” in step 207), the control unit 31 transfers the displayed hiragana software keyboard 54 to the alphabet software keyboard 50. After switching (step 209), the process is terminated (step 210).

Through the above processing, the user pushes the software keyboard 52 on the left or right side of the main display 10 and switches the display to the software keyboard for inputting different character types.

(Animation when switching software keyboard)
In the conventional software keyboard switching process, when the user is instructed to switch the software keyboard, the software keyboard displayed instantaneously is switched. There is a problem that it is difficult for the user to understand that the software keyboard has been switched because the character display and button layout in the button are instantaneously switched.

  Therefore, in the present invention, when the switching of the software keyboard is instructed, the displayed software keyboard is scrolled and hidden outside the screen of the main display 10, and the software keyboard that can be switched simultaneously is scrolled from the outside of the screen of the main display 10. To display. FIG. 8 shows an animation when the right software keyboard switching button 59 becomes an input button when the alphabet input software keyboard 50 is displayed on the main display 10 and a new hiragana input software keyboard 54 is displayed. It is the figure which showed the part. The alphabet-input software keyboard 50 scrolls in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

At the same time, the control unit 31 controls the display on the main display 10 so that the hiragana input software keyboard 54 scrolls and moves from the right side of the screen. This animation can give the user an impression as if the hiragana input software keyboard 54 is connected to the right of the alphabet input software keyboard 50. When switching to the numerical symbol input software keyboard 53, an animation similar to that shown in FIG. 8 is displayed so that the numerical symbol input keyboard 53 is connected to the left of the alphabet input software keyboard 50. Impression can be given to the user. This animation allows the user to perform an intuitive operation of moving the three connected software keyboards and switching the character type.

(Switching software keyboard by slide input)
In the software keyboard switching process of FIG. 7, the example in which the software keyboard switching process is performed according to the input of the left software keyboard switching button 58 or the right software keyboard switching button 59 has been described. However, the control unit 31 detects that a so-called slide operation in which a finger or a touch pen is touched on the touch panel 4 and the touched finger or touch pen is rubbed on the touch panel 4 is performed, and software keyboard switching processing is performed. You may go.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a screen when the software keyboard is switched in accordance with the slide operation performed by the finger 80 on the touch panel 4. The following three slide operations corresponding to the software keyboard switching instruction can be considered.

First, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), the user's finger 80 in the area of the software keyboard.
Is started, and slide input is performed on the left or right side of the screen. Furthermore, this is a case where the finger 80 that has been slid in the area of the software keyboard is released and the input is completed. In this case, the control unit 31 determines that the slide input is an instruction to switch the software keyboard when conditions such as the slide input is a certain distance or more or a certain speed or more are satisfied. . Upon receiving an instruction to switch the software keyboard, the control unit 31 switches the display of the software keyboard. At this time, the animation described in FIG. 8 is displayed when the software keyboard is switched. By displaying this animation in correspondence with the slide operation, a more intuitive operation for the user can be performed.

Second, as shown in FIG. 9B, input by the finger 80 is started within the area of the software keyboard, and slide input is performed on the left or right side of the screen. Furthermore, the finger 80 goes out of the main display 10 and the input is completed. In this case, the conditions such that the distance of the slide input input before the finger 80 comes out of the main display 10 is a certain distance or the slide input is a certain speed or more are satisfied. Sometimes, the control unit 31 determines that the slide input is an instruction to switch the software keyboard.

Third, as shown in FIG. 9C, input by the finger 80 is started from the end of the main display 10, and slide input is performed on the left or right side of the screen. Further, this is a case where the finger 80 is slid in the area of the software keyboard and the input ends. In this case, the condition that the distance of the slide input inputted after the finger 80 moves into the main display 10 is a certain distance or more, or that the slide input is a certain speed or more is satisfied. Sometimes, the control unit 31 determines that the slide input is an instruction to switch the software keyboard.

The slide input that moves outside the area of the main display 10 described in FIG. 9B and the slide input that moves into the area of the main display 10 described in FIG. 9C are shown in FIG. 9A. The software keyboard switching instruction may be performed at a shorter distance than the slide input described above.

Note that the software keyboard switching process by the slide input of the finger 80 is performed by changing the “right switch button” in step 203 in FIG. 7 to “slide input to the right” and the “left switch button” in “slide input to the left”. It is done by replacing each with. The other processes are the same as the software keyboard switching process described in FIG.

(Input character switching for Hiragana keyboard)
From FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the case has been described in which characters are input using the alphabet input keyboard 50 when inputting alphabets, and the numerical symbol input keyboard 53 when inputting numbers and symbols. Similarly, when inputting hiragana, the hiragana input keyboard 54 is used, but it is conceivable to input other character types such as katakana with the same button arrangement as the hiragana input keyboard 54. FIG. 10 shows a software keyboard to which another character type is assigned with the same button arrangement as the hiragana input keyboard 54 and a character type switching button 60 for switching the character type. When the character type switching button 60 displayed as “Kana” in FIG. 10A becomes an input button, the control unit 31 displays a software keyboard in which characters assigned to each character button are switched to katakana. FIG. 10B shows a software keyboard switched to Katakana. Similarly, when the character type switching button 60 displayed as “English small” in FIG. 10B becomes an input button, the control unit 31 switches the character assigned to each character button to a lower case alphabet. Is displayed. FIG. 10C shows a software keyboard switched to a lower case alphabet. Similarly, the control unit 31 assigns the software keyboard assigned the uppercase alphabet shown in FIG. 10 (d), the software keyboard assigned the symbol shown in FIG. 10 (e), or the number shown in FIG. 10 (f). Perform the process of switching to the software keyboard.

  Even if the display of switching the character type assigned to the software keyboard is performed with an animation as shown in FIG. 8, the same effect of the invention can be obtained. In addition, it has been described that the character type switching instruction is performed by the character type switching button 60 serving as an input button. However, the slide input as illustrated in FIG. 9 is used as the character type switching instruction and is detected. Thus, the same effect of the invention can be obtained by performing the character type switching process.

  In FIG. 10, when the hiragana input software keyboard 54 is displayed, when the character type switching button 60 becomes an input button, the control unit 31 switches the character assigned to each character button to katakana, and katakana is assigned. When the character type switching button 60 becomes an input button at the time, the example in which the character assigned to the character button by the control unit 31 is switched to the lowercase alphabet has been described. However, the order of switching the character type when the character type switching button 60 becomes an input button may be set freely by the user. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen for setting the switching order when the character type switching is performed by the character type switching button 60. The set switching order is stored in the storage unit 32. When the character type switching button 60 is input, the control unit 31 reads the switching order stored in the storage unit 32, and switches the character type assigned to each button in accordance with this order. The order of switching may be set by the user, or the usage frequency of the character type is stored in the storage unit 32, and the control unit 31 automatically registers the frequently used character type in the early order. It doesn't matter.

(Highlighted input button)
When inputting characters using a conventional mechanical button, the user can recognize that the button has been pressed even by feeling that the button has been pressed. However, in the character input using the touch panel 4 as used in the present invention, the input is performed by touching a virtual button displayed on the main display 10 with a user's finger. Since the user does not feel that the button is pressed down, there is a problem that it is difficult to perceive the pressing of the button. Therefore, in the present invention, processing for recognizing the button input by the user is performed by changing the display of the input button. FIG. 12 shows a first example in which an input button is highlighted. In the highlighting of the button in FIG. 12, the control unit 31 controls the main display 10 to move the input button and move it to a position above the original display position for display. By moving the input button, the user can easily recognize what the input button was. FIG. 13 shows a second example in which an input button is highlighted. In the highlighted button display in FIG. 13, the control unit 31 displays the input button with the color of the input button reversed. For example, in FIG. 13, the background of a character button that has not been input is displayed in white, and the character displayed in the character button is displayed in black. The control unit 31 controls the display of the main display 10 so that the input button is displayed with a black background and the characters displayed in the input button are displayed with white. By reversing the color of the input button, the user can easily recognize what the input button is.

(Hiragana software keyboard character input processing)
In FIG. 6, in the character input process using the hiragana software keyboard 54, it is described that the character is specified by the number of times the input button has been continuously input and the character input is performed. However, when the character button in the hiragana software keyboard 54 becomes an input button, the control unit 31 displays the character assigned to the input button in the assigned character display area 55 as a new character button. The character button displayed in the assigned character display area 55 becomes an input button, so that the control unit 31 may input a character by a process of inputting the character assigned to the input button. FIG. 14 shows character input using the character buttons displayed in the assigned character display area 55 when inputting the characters “to”. As described with reference to FIG. 6, a plurality of characters are assigned to the hiragana keyboard 54. When the character button “TA” becomes an input button as shown in FIG. 14A, the control unit 31 displays the five characters assigned thereto in the assigned character display area 55 as new character buttons. As shown in FIG. 14B, when the “to” character button displayed in the assigned character display area 55 becomes an input button, the control unit 31 inputs the character “to” at the character input position. By this character input process, the number of times of input for each character input using the hiragana software keyboard 54 is two times, and the user can input characters with a small number of operations.

(User button registration)
When inputting characters, there are frequently input characters such as “!” And “1” for each user. In order to easily perform the input operation of characters with high input frequency, characters with high input frequency are registered and displayed as user buttons in the user button display area 61. When the button displayed in the user button display area becomes an input button, it is considered that the convenience in character input is enhanced even when the control unit 31 inputs a character corresponding to the user button. FIG. 15 shows character input using the buttons displayed in the user button display area 61 when inputting the character “!”. Characters that are frequently used by the user such as “!”, “1”, or “tsu” are registered in advance. The control unit 31 displays the user button to which the registered character is assigned in the user button display area 61. For example, when the user button “!” Displayed in the user button display area 61 becomes an input button, the control unit 31 inputs the character “!” At the character input position. With this input method, it is possible to register in advance characters that are frequently input by the user, and it is possible to input characters that are frequently input without switching character types or selecting characters. It should be noted that the frequently used characters may be registered by selecting some characters frequently used by the user in advance and registering them as user buttons. Moreover, the use frequency of the button used for the input of the character string until now may be recorded on the memory | storage part 32, and some characters with high use frequency may be registered as a user button.

  According to the operation of the above-described embodiment, when the software keyboard displayed on the main display 10 is switched, the switching display of the software keyboard is performed using the animation. From this animation, it is possible to give the user an impression as if a plurality of software keyboards are virtually connected. Thus, the user can perform an intuitive operation of moving the three connected software keyboards and switching the character type.

  In the embodiment described here, a mobile phone has been described. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a wired terminal, or a small information processing device having no communication function. In this embodiment, the case where three software keyboards are switched is shown as an example. However, the software keyboard may have more than that. The layout of the buttons is not limited to that shown in the figure, and various modifications can be made. In addition, although the software keyboard switching process by the slide input and the animation display of the software keyboard have been described as examples in which the software keyboard is switched in the left-right direction, the slide direction and the animation direction are not limited thereto. For example, a similar operation effect can be obtained by performing a slide operation in the vertical direction or other front-back direction, and displaying an animation so that the software keyboard is switched along the slide direction.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the constituent elements may be modified and embodied as long as they do not depart from the gist of the invention. Various inventions may be formed by proper combinations of a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in each embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cellular phone 4 Touch panel 5 Side key 7 Microphone 8 Speaker 9 Battery 10 Main display 21 Antenna 31 Control part 32 Memory | storage part 34 Power supply circuit 50 Alphabetic software keyboard 51 Character input window 52 Software keyboard switching button 53 Numerical symbol software keyboard 54 Hiragana Software keyboard 55 Assigned character display area 60 Character type switching button 61 User button display area

Claims (7)

A display unit for displaying a first software keyboard to which a first character group composed of a plurality of characters is assigned, and a second software keyboard to which a second character group is assigned;
A touch panel input unit that is provided so as to be integrated with the display unit and detects input coordinates;
According to the input instruction of the character by the touch panel input unit, the character included in the first or second character group specified through the first or second software keyboard is input, and the touch panel input A control unit that switches the first or second software keyboard according to the switching instruction of the first or second software keyboard by a unit,
The controller is
When the first software keyboard is displayed on the display unit,
And when receiving the switching instruction from the first software keyboard to the second software keyboard,
While performing display that moves the first software keyboard out of the display range of the display unit in a predetermined direction,
Within the display range of the display unit in the predetermined direction from one side opposite to the one side of the display unit where the first software keyboard has moved out of the range of the display unit. Display to move to
An electronic apparatus that switches from the first software keyboard to the second software keyboard. The controller is
The input coordinates are moved within a region where the first or second software keyboard is displayed on the display unit while being input, and a predetermined distance is moved.
The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first or second software keyboard is switched. The display unit
Further displaying a third software keyboard assigned a third character group, the control unit,
In the case where the first software keyboard is displayed on the display unit,
And when the input coordinates move in the first direction, switch to the second software keyboard,
The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the input coordinates are moved in the second direction, switching to the third software keyboard is performed. The controller is
In response to the input coordinates moving while being input from within the area where the first, second or third software keyboard is displayed on the display unit, and reaching the boundary of the display area of the display unit 4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first, second, or third software keyboard is switched. The controller is
In response to the input coordinates moving from the display area boundary of the display section while being input, and moving into the area where the first, second or third software keyboard is displayed on the display section. 5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first, second, or third software keyboard is switched. A first software keyboard assigned a first character group composed of a plurality of characters, a second software keyboard assigned a second character group, and a display unit for displaying the characters;
A touch panel input unit that is provided so as to be integrated with the display unit and detects input coordinates;
According to the input instruction of the character by the touch panel input unit, the character included in the first or second character group specified through the first or second software keyboard is input, and the touch panel input A control unit that switches the first or second software keyboard according to the switching instruction of the first or second software keyboard by a unit,
The controller is
When the first software keyboard is displayed on the display unit,
And when the switching instruction from the first software keyboard to the second software keyboard is made,
An electronic apparatus that displays a screen including a part of the first software keyboard and a part of the second software keyboard and switches to the second software keyboard. A first software keyboard assigned a first character group composed of a plurality of characters, a second software keyboard assigned a second character group, and a display function for displaying the characters;
The touch panel detection function that is provided so as to be integrated with the display unit and detects input coordinates, and the character input instruction specified by the touch panel detection function is specified through the first or second software keyboard. A character input function for inputting the character included in the first or second character group;
A software keyboard switching function for switching the first or second software keyboard according to the switching instruction of the first or second software keyboard by the touch panel input unit,
The software keyboard switching function is
When the first software keyboard is displayed on the display unit,
And when receiving the switching instruction from the first software keyboard to the second software keyboard,
While performing display that moves the first software keyboard out of the display range of the display unit in a predetermined direction,
Within the display range of the display unit in the predetermined direction from one side opposite to the one side of the display unit where the first software keyboard has moved out of the range of the display unit. A character input program for electronic equipment, characterized in that the display is moved to.

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