JP2014053746A - Character input device, method of controlling character input device, control program, and computer-readable recording medium with control program recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve user convenience and increase the speed of character input.SOLUTION: A smartphone 100 includes an upward/downward direction determination section 24 for determining whether a flick operation starting from a character key is directed upward or downward, and an upper/lowercase input decision section 26 for deciding that an uppercase letter of a character assigned to the character key is an input character if the determination result is an upward direction and deciding that a lowercase letter of the character assigned to the character key is an input character if the determination result is a downward direction.

Description

  The present invention includes an input surface for detecting contact of an indicator, and a display area for displaying a virtual keyboard that includes a plurality of character keys that are superposed on the input surface and assigned one character to each key. The present invention relates to a character input device or the like that determines a character assigned to a character key as an input character by receiving contact of an indicator on an input surface on the character key.

  In the technical field of mobile terminals such as mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), smartphones, and tablet PCs (Personal Computers) in recent years, a selection key virtually displayed on the touch screen of the touch panel with the spread of touch panels A so-called GUI (Graphical User Interface) for giving a command to a portable terminal by a key operation on the screen has been actively developed. Further, due to the advancement of the technology related to the GUI, virtual keyboards (software keyboards) have been widely used as GUIs for inputting characters on these portable terminals instead of conventional physical keys.

  A typical example of a virtual keyboard is a reproduction of a QWERTY-type physical keyboard (hardware keyboard) in alphabet input. Also, in Japanese input, multiple keys (for example, 5 characters per line) are assigned to one key, and a ten-key system that determines input characters by tapping one or more times. Is mentioned.

  When inputting Japanese on the numeric keypad type virtual keyboard as described above, the finger touching each key is slid in a predetermined direction such as up, down, left, or right, so that a desired kana character assigned to each key can be selected. Flick input that designates one character as an input character is widely used.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an input control unit that moves a selection position of an input candidate displayed outside the input operation area according to the flick operation when the operation into the input operation area of the touch screen is a flick operation. An information processing apparatus is disclosed.

JP 2012-88754 A (published on May 10, 2012)

  However, in the above-described conventional technique, for example, in order to switch between uppercase and lowercase letters of an alphabet in input using a QWERTY type virtual keyboard, it is necessary to previously press the shift key and change the input mode. In order to restore the input mode, it is necessary to depress the shift key again to release the shift lock state. As described above, switching between uppercase and lowercase letters in the virtual keyboard has a problem in that it requires more operation steps than a physical keyboard and lacks convenience for the user.

  Although it is technically possible to switch the upper and lower case letters of the virtual keyboard only while pressing the shift key like a physical keyboard, the shift key is pressed with one hand and the other hand is used. The operation of inputting characters is difficult for a small portable terminal, which impairs convenience for the user. Further, such a configuration lacks convenience for the user in that an operation with both hands is required.

  Moreover, although the technique described in Patent Document 1 moves the selection position of an input candidate by a flick operation into the input operation area, it cannot switch between uppercase and lowercase letters of the input character itself.

  Furthermore, in the conventional smartphone, in order to switch between full-width and half-width of the alphabet, the user displays the input mode selection screen by long pressing the input mode switching key, etc. For example, in the case of inputting alphabets, it is necessary to perform a switching operation between full-width / half-width character input modes such as selecting “full-width alphabet input mode”. In this way, switching between full-width and half-width characters on a virtual keyboard requires more operation steps than switching between uppercase and lowercase letters compared to a physical keyboard, and there is a problem that the convenience for the user is remarkably lacking. is there.

  As described above, conventional character format conversion processing (uppercase / lowercase conversion processing, full-width / half-width conversion processing) not only lacks convenience for the user, but also increases the number of operation steps related to the conversion processing. There arises a problem that the input speed decreases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to improve the convenience for the user by performing a character format conversion process by a flick operation, and to perform an operation step related to the conversion process. It is an object of the present invention to provide a character input device or the like that can reduce and improve the speed of character input.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a character input device according to the present invention includes an input surface that detects contact of an indicator, a display unit that overlaps the input surface and displays characters determined as input characters, The display unit displays a virtual keyboard including a plurality of character keys to which one character is assigned to each key, and accepts the contact of the indicator on the input surface on the character keys. The character input device for determining the character assigned to the character key as an input character, wherein the indicator that has started contact with the input surface on the character key is in contact with the input surface. An up / down direction determining means for determining whether the direction of movement while maintaining is an upward direction or a downward direction, and when the determination result by the up / down direction determining means is an upward direction, the character key is assigned. Uppercase / lowercase input determining means for determining an uppercase letter of the character as an input character and determining a lowercase letter of the character assigned to the character key as an input character when the determination result by the vertical direction determination means is downward. It is characterized by that.

  In addition, a method for controlling a character input device according to the present invention includes an input surface for detecting contact of an indicator, a display unit that displays characters determined as input characters superimposed on the input surface, and a key for each key. The display unit displays a virtual keyboard including a plurality of character keys to which a single character is assigned, and the character key is received by receiving contact of the indicator on the input surface on the character key. A control method of a character input device that determines a character assigned to a key as an input character, and maintains a state in which an indicator that has started contact with the input surface on the character key is in contact with the input surface When the upward / downward direction determining step for determining whether the moving direction is upward or downward and the determination result in the upward / downward direction determining step is upward, the character key is assigned. The uppercase letter input determination step that determines the uppercase letter of the selected character as the input character, and determines the lowercase letter of the character assigned to the character key as the input character when the determination result in the vertical direction determination step is downward It is characterized by including.

  According to the above configuration, the uppercase / lowercase input determining means, when the indicator that has started contact with the input surface on the character key moves upward while maintaining the state of being in contact with the input surface, The capital letter of the character assigned to the character key is determined as the input position. On the other hand, when the indicator moves downward while maintaining the state of being in contact with the input surface, the small letter input determining means determines the small letter of the character assigned to the character key as the input position. .

  Thereby, the character input device can switch and input the uppercase and lowercase characters of the character assigned to the character key according to the direction of the flick operation started from above the predetermined character key.

  Therefore, the user can omit an operation step of pressing a shift key, for example, when switching between capital letters and small letters on the virtual keyboard.

  Furthermore, the upper flick operation and uppercase input are associated with each other, and the lower flick operation and lowercase input are associated with each other. Input by switching.

  Therefore, the user can improve the speed of character input when inputting a character string in which uppercase letters and lowercase letters are mixed.

  Furthermore, the character input device according to the present invention arranges the uppercase and lowercase letters of the character assigned to the character key in order of top and bottom when contact of the indicator with the input surface is detected on the character key. You may provide the display control means to display the guide image to display on the said display part.

  According to the above configuration, when the touch of the indicator on the input surface is detected on the character key, the display control means arranges the uppercase letter of the character assigned to the character key and lowercase the lowercase letter. The guide image to be displayed is displayed on the display unit.

  Thereby, the character input device can present to the user a guide image that displays the uppercase and lowercase characters of the character assigned to the character key in an arrangement corresponding to the direction of the flick operation for inputting them. .

  Therefore, the user can easily understand in which direction the flick operation is performed from the current contact position so that the capital letter or the small letter of the letter assigned to the letter key can be input.

  Furthermore, the character input device according to the present invention has a character key when one of the upper and lower case letters assigned to the character key is a display character and the other is a non-display character. When the indicator touches the input surface is detected above, the non-display character of the character key is determined as the vertical direction determination means when the case input determination means determines the non-display character as the input character. There may be provided a display control means for displaying a guide image to be displayed adjacent to the character key on the display unit in the same direction as the determination result.

  According to the above configuration, when the contact of the indicator to the input surface is detected on the character key, the display control means places the uppercase character and the lowercase character assigned to the character key on the character key. A guide image for displaying a non-display character that is not displayed adjacent to the character key in the same direction as the flick operation for the case input determining means to determine the non-display character as the input character. To display.

  Thus, when the character input device detects that the indicator touches the input surface on the character key, the direction of the flick operation for inputting the non-displayed character that is not displayed on the character key. In the same direction, a guide image displayed adjacent to the character key can be presented to the user.

  Specifically, for example, when a lowercase alphabet “a” is displayed on a predetermined character key, the character input device detects the contact of the indicator on the character key when the character key is detected. The capital letter “A” of the character assigned to is displayed adjacent to the upper side of the character key.

  Therefore, for a non-display character, the user can press any character key to perform a flick operation from the current contact position to input a non-display character of the character key. Easy to understand.

  Furthermore, in the character input device according to the present invention, the input character determined by the case input determining means may be an alphabet.

  According to the above configuration, the character input device can switch and input the uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet assigned to the character key by moving up and down the direction of the flick operation started from the predetermined character key. .

  Thereby, the user can omit the operation step of pressing the shift key, for example, when switching between uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet on the virtual keyboard.

  Therefore, the user can improve the speed of character input when inputting a character string in which uppercase letters and lowercase letters are mixed. Specifically, for example, the speed of inputting passwords, proper nouns such as company names and service names, and standard names can be improved.

  Furthermore, in the character input device according to the present invention, the input character determined by the uppercase / lowercase input determination means may be 50 Japanese characters.

  According to the above-described configuration, the character input device switches between uppercase and lowercase Japanese 50-sound characters assigned to the character key by changing the direction of the flick operation started from above the predetermined character key. can do.

  Accordingly, the user can omit an operation step of pressing a conversion key or the like when switching between uppercase and lowercase letters of Japanese 50 sounds on the virtual keyboard.

  Therefore, the user can improve the speed of character input when inputting a character string in which Japanese uppercase and lowercase characters are mixed. Specifically, for example, it is possible to improve the input speed of sentences including lowercase letters such as “tsu”, “nya”, “shu”, “yo”.

  In addition, the character input device according to the present invention includes an input surface that detects contact of the indicator, a display unit that displays the character determined as the input character, superimposed on the input surface, and one key for each key. A virtual keyboard including a plurality of character keys to which characters are assigned has a display area to be displayed on the display unit, and is assigned to the character keys by receiving contact of an indicator on the input surface on the character keys. A character input device that determines the input character as an input character, and the direction in which the indicator that has started contact with the input surface on the character key moves while maintaining the state in contact with the input surface is Left and right direction determination means for determining which is the left direction or right direction, and full-width and half-width characters of the character assigned to the character key according to the determination result by the left-right direction determination means It is characterized in that it comprises a full half-width character input determining means for changing or determining any as an input character.

  In addition, a method for controlling a character input device according to the present invention includes an input surface for detecting contact of an indicator, a display unit that displays characters determined as input characters superimposed on the input surface, and a key for each key. The display unit displays a virtual keyboard including a plurality of character keys to which a single character is assigned, and the character key is received by receiving contact of the indicator on the input surface on the character key. A control method of a character input device that determines a character assigned to a key as an input character, and maintains a state in which an indicator that has started contact with the input surface on the character key is in contact with the input surface The left and right direction determining step for determining whether the moving direction is the left direction or the right direction, and the character key is assigned according to the determination result in the left and right direction determining step. It is characterized by containing a total byte character input determination step of changing or determining any double-byte characters and single-byte character as an input character.

  According to the above configuration, the full-width character input determining means can move the indicator that has started to touch the input surface on the character key in either the left or right direction while maintaining the state in contact with the input surface. When moving, depending on whether the direction of the movement is left or right, whether the full-width character or half-width character of the character assigned to the character key is determined as the input position is changed.

  Thereby, the character input device can switch and input the full-width character and the half-width character of the character assigned to the character key according to the left and right of the direction of the flick operation started from the predetermined character key.

  Therefore, when switching between full-width characters and half-width characters on the virtual keyboard, the user can omit, for example, an operation step of switching the input mode for full-width characters and half-width characters with pressing of a key other than a character key.

  Therefore, when the user inputs a character string in which full-width characters and half-width characters are mixed, the speed of character input can be improved.

  Furthermore, in the character input device according to the present invention, the full-width character input determining means is such that the determination result by the left-right direction determining means is the same direction as the direction in which the character string is added in the language input by the character input device. The full-width character of the character assigned to the character key is determined as the input character, and the determination result by the left-right direction determination means is the direction in which the character string is added in the language input by the character input device. In the reverse direction, the half-width character of the character assigned to the character key may be determined as the input character.

  According to the above configuration, the full-width character input determination unit is configured such that the direction of the flick operation started from the character key is the same as the direction in which the character string is added in the language input by the character input device. The full-width character of the character assigned to the character key is determined as an input character, and the determination result by the left-right direction determination means is a direction opposite to the direction in which the character string is added in the language input by the character input device If it is, the half-width character of the character assigned to the character key is determined as the input character.

  Specifically, for example, when English in which a character string is added from the left to the right is input, the full-width character input determination unit is when the direction of the flick operation started from the character key is the right When the full-width character of the alphabet assigned to the character key is determined as an input character and the direction of the flick operation started from the character key is left, the half-width character of the alphabet assigned to the character key is Determine as input character.

  Thus, the flick operation in the same direction as the direction in which the user adds the character string is associated with the input of the full-width character, and the flick operation in the direction opposite to the direction in which the user adds the character string and the input of the half-width character Therefore, full-width characters and half-width characters are switched and input by an operation intuitive to the user.

  The display device may be realized by a computer. In this case, the display device control program for causing the display device to be realized by the computer by operating the computer as each of the means, and recording the program. Such computer-readable recording media also fall within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the character input device according to the present invention includes an input surface that detects contact of an indicator, a display unit that displays characters determined as input characters, superimposed on the input surface, and each key. The display unit displays a virtual keyboard including a plurality of character keys to which a single character is assigned, and the character key is received by receiving contact of the indicator on the input surface on the character key. A character input device that determines a character assigned to a key as an input character, and the indicator that starts touching the input surface on the character key moves while maintaining the state in contact with the input surface. The upper / lower direction determining means for determining whether the direction to perform is the upward direction or the downward direction, and the uppercase character of the character assigned to the character key when the determination result by the vertical direction determining means is the upward direction A case where the user character is determined as an input character, and when the determination result by the vertical direction determination means is downward, a lowercase character input determination means for determining the lowercase character of the character assigned to the character key as the input character, It is possible to improve convenience for the user and increase the speed of character input.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the smart phone which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the character input process in the smart phone shown in FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the condition where the flick operation from the character key to the upward direction is performed on the software keyboard displayed on the touch panel with which the smart phone shown in FIG. 1 is equipped, (b) It is a figure which shows the condition where the flick operation to a downward direction from a character key is performed on a software keyboard. It is a comparison figure of the height of the capital letter "A" and the small letter "a" of the alphabet "a". (A) is a figure which shows an example of the display of a guide image in case the indicator (not shown) is contacting the character key Kc to which the alphabet "q" was allocated in a software keyboard, (b) is a figure. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of display of a guide image when an indicator (not shown) is in contact with a character key Kc to which alphabet “q” is assigned on a software keyboard. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a software keyboard when the display of a shift key is abbreviate | omitted. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the smart phone which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the character input process in the smart phone shown in FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the condition where the flick operation to the right direction from a character key is performed on the software keyboard displayed on the touchscreen with which the smart phone shown in FIG. 7 is equipped, (b) is the said It is a figure which shows the condition where the flick operation to the left direction from a character key is performed on a software keyboard. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the display of a guide image when the indicator is contacting the character key to which the alphabet "q" was assigned on a software keyboard, (b) is a figure on a software keyboard FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the display of the guide image when the indicator is in contact with the character key to which the alphabet “q” is assigned.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Descriptions of configurations other than those described in the following specific embodiments may be omitted as necessary, but are the same as those configurations when described in other items. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those shown in each embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof is omitted as appropriate. In addition, the shape, length, size, width, and other dimensions of the configuration described in each drawing do not reflect the actual shape or size, and are appropriately changed for clarity and simplification of the drawing. doing.

[First Embodiment]
The following describes the first embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. This embodiment demonstrates the smart phone (character input device) 100 (refer FIG. 1) as one Embodiment of the character input device of this invention. However, the embodiment embodying the present invention is not limited to such a smartphone, and is any information processing apparatus including a mechanism for displaying a GUI that allows a character input operation and a mechanism for receiving an input operation on the touch panel. It can be applied to portable terminals and electronic devices. For example, the present invention can be widely applied to mobile terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs, tablet PCs, and digital cameras. The “portable terminal” means a portable terminal having at least one communication function, and is a concept including a mobile phone-sized PC with a communication function, for example, a portable PC capable of only IP communication. Furthermore, the “electronic device” is a concept that includes an AV device with a communication function (including a navigation system).

(Functional overview of smartphone 100)
The functions of the smartphone 100 will be outlined with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  In the following description, “up” or “upward” refers to the y-axis when the plane on the input surface of the touch panel 1 is a plane composed of the x-axis and the y-axis as shown in FIG. It shall point in the positive direction. Similarly, “down” or “downward” refers to the negative direction of the y-axis. Further, in FIG. 3, the indicator that contacts the input surface of the touch panel 1 is the user's finger F.

  The smartphone 100 according to the present embodiment determines a character assigned to the character key Kc as an input character by a tap operation on any of the plurality of character keys Kc included in the software keyboard (virtual keyboard) KB. The determined input character is displayed in the character input area Ac.

  And as a novel feature according to the present embodiment, the smartphone 100 detects the direction in which the flick operation started from the character key Kc is headed, and when the detected direction is the upward direction, The uppercase letter of the assigned character is determined as the input character, and when the detected direction is the downward direction, the lowercase letter of the character assigned to the character key Kc is determined as the input character.

  Thereby, the smartphone 100 can omit the operation step of pressing the shift key Ks when switching between uppercase and lowercase characters of the input characters. Therefore, the user can improve the speed of character input. In particular, when inputting a character string having a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters such as a password, a proper noun such as a company name / service name, and a standard name, the user can input characters smoothly and quickly.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a situation where an upward flick operation from the character key Kc is performed on the software keyboard KB displayed on the touch panel 1 included in the smartphone 100. In the figure, the smartphone 100 is in a default lowercase input mode, and lowercase letters of each alphabet are displayed on each character key Kc. In this situation, flicking upward (in the direction of the black arrow in the figure) using the user's finger F with the letter key Kc assigned the alphabet “q” as the contact start position on the input surface of the touch panel 1. The operation is being performed. Then, the smartphone 100 determines “Q”, which is an uppercase letter “q”, as an input character, and displays the uppercase input character C1 in the character input area Ac.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a situation where a flick operation is performed downward from the character key Kc on the software keyboard KB. In the figure, the smartphone 100 is in a capital letter input mode by a shift lock or the like executed by pressing the shift key Ks, and capital letters of each alphabet are displayed on each character key Kc. In this situation, on the input surface of the touch panel 1, the user's finger F flicks downward (in the direction of the hatched arrow in the figure) using the character key Kc assigned the alphabet “Q” as the contact start position. The operation is being performed. Then, the smartphone 100 determines “q”, which is a lowercase letter of “Q”, as an input character, and displays the lowercase input character C2 in the character input area Ac.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the reason why uppercase letters are input by an upward flick operation and lowercase letters are input by a downward flick operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a comparison diagram of the height (length in the y-axis direction) of the uppercase letter “A” and the lowercase letter “a” of the alphabet “a”. As shown in the figure, when uppercase letters and lowercase letters are arranged on the same baseline, the height h1 of the uppercase letters relative to the baseline often takes a value larger than the lowercase height h2, and at least h1 ≧ h2 is established. To do. The above relationship relating to the height of uppercase letters and lowercase letters is a recognition widely shared among users as an image. In a general smartphone, based on the above relationship, the shift key is indicated by an upward arrow mark like a shift key Ks shown in FIG.

  An operation to increase or decrease the volume of the player-type application or to enlarge or reduce the map in the map-type application is associated with an upward drag operation or the like to reduce the volume or image. Corresponding to a downward drag operation or the like is a configuration that is widely spread in conventional information processing apparatuses, and is considered to be a configuration that allows the user to easily perform an operation intuitively.

  Based on these assumptions, the smartphone 100 according to the present embodiment is highly intuitive for the user by associating an upward flick operation with an uppercase input and associating a downward flick operation with a lowercase input. Character input operation is enabled.

(Configuration of smartphone 100)
With reference to FIG. 1, the structure of the smart phone 100 is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the smartphone 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the smartphone 100 includes at least a touch panel 1, a control unit 2, and a storage unit 3 as functional blocks. In addition, the smartphone 100 includes other various components that the smartphone includes as standard, for example, a communication unit (not shown), an operation unit (such as a hardware key) other than the touch panel, a short-range wireless communication unit, and an audio output. Unit, voice input unit, external interface, call processing unit, imaging unit (lens / imaging device, etc.) for taking pictures, broadcast receiving unit (tuner / demodulation unit, etc.), GPS (Global Positioning System), and sensor (acceleration sensor) , An inclination sensor or the like).

  Hereinafter, the detail of each structure of the smart phone 100 is demonstrated.

  The touch panel 1 is an interface for accepting user input and displaying images. The touch panel 1 includes an operation unit 11 and a display unit 12.

  The operation unit 11 is for inputting an instruction signal for the user to operate the smartphone 100 via the touch panel 1. The operation unit 11 includes a touch surface and a touch sensor. The touch surface receives a contact of an indicator (indicating the screen position of the display unit 12. Here, for example, a finger or a pen). The touch sensor includes a contact / non-contact (approach / non-approach) between the indicator and the touch surface, and a touch sensor for detecting the contact (approach) position. The touch sensor may be realized by any sensor as long as it can detect contact / non-contact between the indicator and the touch surface. For example, it may be realized by a pressure sensor, a capacitance sensor, an optical sensor, or the like.

  In addition, as input operation with respect to the operation part 11, a tap, drag, a flick, etc. can be illustrated. A tap is an operation of tapping the display screen with a finger, a drag is an operation of moving a finger while keeping it in contact, and a flick is an operation of lightly pushing with a finger.

  The display unit 12 displays information handled by the smartphone 100. The display unit 12 displays various display target substances such as a software keyboard KB, a character input area Ac, input characters, a GUI for a user to operate the smartphone 100, and an application window of an application installed in the smartphone 100. Is done. The display unit 12 is realized by a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  When the touch panel 1 is realized by a projected capacitive touch panel, specifically, the touch sensor has a transparent electrode pattern in a matrix shape made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or the like on a transparent substrate such as glass or plastic. Will be formed. When an indicator (such as a user's finger or pen) touches or approaches the touch sensor, the electrostatic capacity of a plurality of transparent electrode patterns in the vicinity changes. Therefore, the control unit 2 can detect the position where the indicator is in contact or approached by detecting a change in the current or voltage of the transparent electrode pattern.

  In the following description, the term “touch” or “contact” in terms of “touch operation” and the like is not limited to the state in which the indicator and the touch surface are in complete contact (contact), but also the indicator and the touch surface. However, it also includes a state of approaching (approaching) to the extent that the touch sensor can be detected.

  The storage unit 3 includes (1) a control program executed by the control unit 2 of the smartphone 100, (2) an OS program, (3) an application program for the control unit 2 to execute various functions of the smartphone 100, and (4) Various data read when the application program is executed is stored. Alternatively, (5) the control unit 2 stores data used for calculation and calculation results in the course of executing various functions. For example, the above data (1) to (4) include ROM (read only memory), flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically EPROM) (registered trademark), HDD (Hard Disc Drive), etc. It is stored in a non-volatile storage device. For example, the data (5) is stored in a volatile storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). Which storage device is used to store which data is realized by which storage device may be determined as appropriate from the purpose of use, convenience, cost, physical restrictions, and the like of the smartphone 100.

  The control unit 2 controls functions of each component included in the smartphone 100 and controls activation of the smartphone 100. The control unit 2 is realized by, for example, a CPU (central processing unit), and the function of the smartphone 100 is such that the CPU as the control unit 2 stores a program stored in a ROM (read only memory) or the like. This is realized by reading out and executing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 2 includes an operation acquisition unit 22, an up / down direction determination unit (up / down direction determination unit) 24, an uppercase / lowercase input determination unit (uppercase / lowercase input determination unit) 26, and a display control unit (display control). Means) 28.

  Hereinafter, each structure with which the control part 2 is provided is demonstrated.

  The operation acquisition unit 22 receives an instruction signal related to a user operation input via the operation unit 11 of the touch panel 1 and reflects the user operation on the behavior of each member in the control unit 2. Specifically, the operation acquisition unit 22 receives an instruction signal input from the operation unit 11 and specifies coordinates on the display unit 12 for the contact position of the indicator. In addition, the instruction signal is received in time series, and the coordinates of the locus of the contact position are specified in time series, so that the duration of the user operation and the movement of the contact position are detected, and the acquired user operation is tapped, long pressed, You may identify as a flick and a drag. In the present embodiment, in particular, a flick operation started from the character key Kc included in the software keyboard KB is accepted from the identified coordinates, and a tap operation on the character key Kc is accepted. The coordinate information specified by the operation acquisition unit 22 is supplied to the keyboard control unit 23.

  The keyboard control unit 23 controls the operation of the software keyboard KB and executes various processes related to character input. Specifically, based on the coordinates of the contact position of the indicator acquired from the operation acquisition unit 22, the keyboard control unit 23 specifies which of the plurality of character keys Kc corresponds to the contact position. The keyboard control unit 23 includes a vertical direction determination unit 24 and a case input determination unit 26.

  The vertical direction determination unit 24 determines whether the direction of the flick operation started from the character key Kc is the upward direction or the downward direction. Specifically, the vertical direction determination unit 24 instructs the character key Kc to be a contact start position on the input surface of the touch panel 1 based on the time-series change of the coordinates of the contact position acquired from the operation acquisition unit 22. The body is determined to move up and down while maintaining contact with the input surface of the touch panel 1. Note that a certain allowable angle may be provided in the determination of the vertical direction of the flick operation. For example, the direction in which the indicator moves is included in the angle range within 60 ° centered on the y axis shown in FIG. If so, the direction of the movement may be determined to be upward or downward. The determination result by the vertical direction determination unit 24 is notified to the case input determination unit 26.

  The uppercase / lowercase input determination unit 26 determines uppercase letters or lowercase letters as input characters. Specifically, when the determination result notified from the vertical direction determination unit 24 is upward, the uppercase / lowercase input determination unit 26 sets the capital letter of the character assigned to the character key Kc specified by the keyboard control unit 23. Determine as input character. On the other hand, when the determination result notified from the vertical direction determination unit 24 is downward, the lowercase letter of the character assigned to the character key Kc specified by the keyboard control unit 23 is determined as the input character.

  In addition, when a tap operation is performed on the software keyboard KB, the uppercase / lowercase input determination unit 26 determines which of uppercase letters and lowercase letters is to be used as an input character according to the input mode. Specifically, when the coordinates of the contact position acquired by the keyboard control unit 23 from the operation acquisition unit 22 are no longer detected without moving, the uppercase / lowercase input determination unit 26 sets the keyboard control unit 23 to the contact position. Of the uppercase and lowercase letters assigned to the character key Kc identified as corresponding, the character designated by the current input mode (usually displayed on the character key Kc) is determined as the input character. That is, the lowercase character is determined as the input character in the default lowercase input mode, and the uppercase character is determined as the input character in the uppercase input mode.

  The input character determined by the case input determination unit 26 is notified to the display control unit 28.

  The display control unit 28 outputs a signal for displaying the various information as an image to the display unit 12 in order to visualize the various types of information processed by the control unit 2 on the display unit 12. Particularly in the present embodiment, the display control unit 28 reads out the software keyboard KB, the character input area Ac, and a video signal for displaying an image of the input character from the storage unit 3, and displays the video signal as an image. The signal is output to the display unit 12.

  In particular, in the display of the input character, the display control unit 28 displays a signal for displaying the notified input character as an image on the display unit 12 based on the notification of the input character determined by the uppercase / lowercase input determination unit 26. Output.

(Processing flow in smartphone 100)
With reference to FIG. 2, an example of the flow of processing executed by the smartphone 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of character input processing in the smartphone 100.

  First, the operation acquisition unit 22 and the keyboard control unit 23 detect a touch on the character key Kc (S1). Specifically, the operation acquisition unit 22 receives an instruction signal input from the operation unit 11 and specifies the coordinates of the contact position of the indicator. Then, based on the coordinates of the contact position specified by the operation acquisition unit 22, the keyboard control unit 23 specifies which of the plurality of character keys Kc corresponds to the contact position.

  Next, the vertical direction determination unit 24 determines the vertical direction of the flick operation (S2: vertical direction determination step). Specifically, the vertical direction determination unit 24 instructs the character key Kc to be a contact start position on the input surface of the touch panel 1 based on the time-series change of the coordinates of the contact position acquired from the operation acquisition unit 22. It is determined whether the direction in which the body has moved while maintaining contact with the input surface of the touch panel 1 is the upward direction or the downward direction.

  When the direction of the flick operation is upward (A in S2), the uppercase / lowercase input determination unit 26 inputs an uppercase letter (S3: uppercase / lowercase input determination step). Specifically, the uppercase / lowercase input determination unit 26 determines the uppercase letter of the character assigned to the character key Kc specified by the keyboard control unit 23 as the input character in step S1.

  On the other hand, when the direction of the flick operation is downward (B in S2), the small letter input determination unit 26 inputs a small letter (S4: small letter input determination step). Specifically, the uppercase / lowercase input determination unit 26 determines the lowercase letter of the character assigned to the character key Kc specified by the keyboard control unit 23 as an input character in step S1.

  As described above, the smartphone 100 determines in which direction the indicator has moved in the up and down direction in the flick operation started from the character key Kc, and when the determination result is the upward direction, the character 100 The uppercase letter of the character assigned to the key Kc is determined as the input character, and if the determination result is downward, the lowercase letter of the character assigned to the character key Kc is determined as the input character.

  Thereby, the smartphone 100 can omit the operation step of pressing the shift key Ks when switching between uppercase and lowercase characters of the input characters. Specifically, the number of operation steps can be reduced to a maximum of ½ in inputting a character string in which uppercase and lowercase letters are mixed, such as a password. Therefore, the user can improve the speed of character input.

  In addition, since the upward flick operation corresponds to capital letter input and the downward flick operation corresponds to lowercase character input, a character input operation more intuitive to the user is possible.

  In the above description, an example in which alphabets are input using the QWERTY type software keyboard KB has been described. However, input characters input by the smartphone 100 are not limited to alphabets. For example, when the smartphone 100 performs a flicking operation on the character key assigned the kana character “A” on the software keyboard on which Japanese 50 sounds are arranged, the capital letter “A”. May be determined as the input character, and if a downward flick operation is performed, the lowercase letter “a” may be determined as the input character.

(Application Example 1: Display of guide images 501 and 502)
As an application example of the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the smartphone 100 has a guide image 501 in an arrangement in which uppercase letters and lowercase letters of the pressed character key Kc correspond to the direction of the flick operation for inputting them. May be displayed.

  In this application example, when the contact of the indicator with respect to the input surface of the touch panel 1 is detected, the display control unit 28 determines the character assigned to the character key Kc specified by the keyboard control unit 23 based on the position coordinates of the contact. A signal for displaying a guide image 501 that displays uppercase letters and lowercase letters in an arrangement corresponding to the direction of the flick operation for inputting them is output to the display unit 12.

  The above configuration will be described more specifically as follows.

  FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of the display of the guide image 501 when the indicator (not shown) is in contact with the character key Kc to which the alphabet “q” is assigned on the software keyboard KB. . In the figure, the software keyboard KB is in a default lowercase input mode. In the figure, the guide image 501 is displayed with the uppercase letter “Q” on the top and the lowercase letter “q” on the bottom. This arrangement corresponds to the direction of the flick operation with the character key Kc as the start position for inputting these uppercase letters or lowercase letters. By displaying the guide image 501, the user can easily understand in which direction a flick operation can be performed from the current contact position on the input surface of the touch panel 1 to input uppercase letters or lowercase letters.

  The display position of the guide image 501 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 5A. For example, a capital letter “Q” is located at a position adjacent to the upper side across the character key Kc, and a lowercase letter “q” is located at a position adjacent to the lower side. "May be displayed as the guide image 501.

  As another example, the display control unit 28 may display only one of uppercase letters and lowercase letters as the guide image 502 according to the input mode of the software keyboard KB. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of the display of the guide image 502 when the indicator (not shown) is in contact with the character key Kc to which the alphabet “q” is assigned on the software keyboard KB. . In the figure, the software keyboard KB is in a default lowercase input mode, and lowercase letters of each character are displayed on each character key Kc. In the figure, the guide image 502 is displayed with the uppercase “Q” adjacent to the upper side of the character key Kc to which the alphabet “q” is assigned. This arrangement corresponds to the direction of the flick operation with the character key Kc as the start position for inputting the capital letter “Q”. The display of the guide image 502 allows the user to easily understand in which direction the flick operation is performed from the current contact position and capital letters can be input.

  As described above, since the software keyboard KB shown in the figure is in the lower case input mode, the user may perform a tap operation on the character key Kc when inputting lower case letters. Alternatively, a lower case letter may be input by a downward flick operation starting from the character key Kc.

  On the other hand, when the software keyboard KB is in the uppercase input mode, the display control unit 28 displays the lowercase letter of the character assigned to the character key Kc below the character key Kc with which the indicator is in contact. You may make it adjoin and display as a guide image. In this case, the capital letter is input by a tap operation on the character key Kc or an upward flick operation with the character key Kc as a start position.

  The guide image 501 or 502 as described above may be arbitrarily set not to be displayed by the user. For example, if the user is proficient in the input operation and can smoothly switch between uppercase and lowercase letters even if the guide image 501 or 502 is not displayed, the guide image 501 or 502 is set to be hidden by the user's operation. May be.

(Application example 2: Omission of display of shift key Ks)
As another application example of the present embodiment, the smartphone 100 may omit the display of the shift key Ks on the software keyboard KB as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the software keyboard KB when the display of the shift key Ks is omitted. According to this application example, by omitting the display of the shift key Ks, the area allocated as the display area for the shift key Ks can be used as the display area for other keys.

  In the figure, as an example, the display size of the conversion key 601 is enlarged. As a result, the conversion key 601 that is frequently pressed in the character input operation can be easily pressed, and the operability for the user is further improved.

  As another example, the width or height of each character key Kc may be enlarged. As a result, the user can easily press each character key Kc, and can input characters more quickly and accurately.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. This embodiment demonstrates the smart phone (character input device) 200 (refer FIG. 7) as one Embodiment of the character input device of this invention. As described in the first embodiment, the embodiment embodying the present invention is not limited to such a smartphone.

(Functional overview of smartphone 200)
With reference to FIG. 9, the function of the smartphone 200 will be outlined.

  In the following description, “right direction” refers to the positive direction of the x-axis when the plane on the input surface of the touch panel 1 is a plane composed of the x-axis and the y-axis as shown in FIG. Shall. Similarly, “left direction” refers to the negative direction of the x-axis. Further, in FIG. 3, the indicator that contacts the input surface of the touch panel 1 is the user's finger F.

  The smartphone 200 according to the present embodiment determines a character assigned to the character key Kc as an input character by a tap operation on any of the plurality of character keys Kc included in the software keyboard KB. The determined input character is displayed in the character input area Ac.

  And as a new feature according to the present embodiment, the smartphone 200 detects the direction in which the flick operation started from the character key Kc is headed, and when the detected direction is the right direction, The full-width character of the assigned character is determined as the input character, and when the detected direction is the left direction, the half-width character of the character assigned to the character key Kc is determined as the input character.

  The smartphone 200 according to the present embodiment has an operation step of switching the input mode of full-width characters / half-width characters with pressing of a key other than the character key Kc when switching between full-width characters and half-width characters as input characters. Can be omitted. Therefore, the user can improve the speed of character input.

  FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating a situation in which a flick operation in the right direction from the character key Kc is performed on the software keyboard KB displayed on the touch panel 1 included in the smartphone 200. In the figure, the smartphone 200 is in a default half-width character input mode, and half-width characters of each alphabet are displayed on each character key Kc. In this situation, a flick heading upward (in the direction of the black arrow in the figure) with the character key Kc assigned the alphabet “q” to the input surface of the touch panel 1 by the user's finger F is set as the contact start position. The operation is being performed. Then, the smartphone 200 determines “q”, which is a full-width character “q”, as an input character, and displays the full-width input character C101 in the character input area Ac.

  FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a situation where a flick operation from the character key Kc to the left is performed on the software keyboard KB. In the figure, the smartphone 200 is in a full-width character input mode by switching the full-width / half-width character input mode, and full-width characters of each alphabet are displayed on each character key Kc. In this situation, on the input surface of the touch panel 1, a flick toward the left direction (in the direction of the hatched arrow in the figure) with the character key Kc assigned the alphabet “q” by the user's finger F as the contact start position. The operation is being performed. Then, the smartphone 200 determines “q”, which is a single-byte character “q”, as an input character, and displays the input character C102 of the single-byte character in the character input area Ac.

  The association between the input of full-width characters and half-width characters and the horizontal direction of the flick operation starting from the character key Kc is changed depending on the direction in which the character string is added in the input language. Is preferred. In the example shown in FIG. 9, because English is added as a character string from left to right, double-byte characters are input by flicking in the right direction to add the character string, and the character string is added. A half-width character is input by a flicking operation in the left direction, which is the opposite direction to the direction in which it is performed. That is, when a language in which a character string is added from right to left is an input target, the above-described association of the direction of the flick operation is reversed, and a full-width character is input by the flick operation to the left. A single-byte character is input by flicking to.

  In languages where strings are added from left to right, such as English, flicking to the right corresponds to the sense of “expanding” the width of the character, and flicking to the left It seems that it corresponds to the sense of “narrowing” the width of. As a result, a character input operation that is highly intuitive to the user is possible.

(Configuration of smartphone 200)
With reference to FIG. 7, the structure of the smart phone 200 is demonstrated. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the smartphone 200 according to the present embodiment. The smartphone 200 is configured to include a keyboard control unit 202 instead of the keyboard control unit 23 included in the smartphone 100 according to the first embodiment.

  The keyboard control unit 202 includes a left / right direction determination unit (left / right direction determination unit) 204 and a full-width character input determination unit (full-width character input determination unit) 206. Other functions are the same as those of the keyboard control unit 23 in the first embodiment.

  The left / right direction determination unit 204 determines whether the direction of the flick operation started from the character key Kc is the left direction or the right direction. Specifically, the left / right direction determination unit 204 instructs the character key Kc to be a contact start position on the input surface of the touch panel 1 based on the time-series change of the coordinates of the contact position acquired from the operation acquisition unit 22. The left and right in the direction in which the body has moved while maintaining contact with the input surface of the touch panel 1 are determined. In the determination of the left / right direction of the flick operation, a certain allowable angle may be provided. For example, the direction in which the indicator moves is included in the angle range within 60 ° centered on the x axis shown in FIG. If so, the direction of movement may be determined to be right or left.

  As shown in FIG. 9, even when the side in the direction in which the flick operation of the character key Kc is performed is in contact with the end of the display unit 12, the operation acquisition unit 22 flicks left from the contact position. By detecting the operation, the left / right direction determination unit 204 can determine the left / right direction of the flick operation.

  The determination result by the left / right direction determination unit 204 is notified to the full-width character input determination unit 206.

  The full-width character input determination unit 206 determines a full-width character or a half-width character as an input character. Specifically, when a language in which a character string is added from left to right is an input target, the full-width character input determination unit 206 determines that the determination result notified from the left / right direction determination unit 204 is the right direction. In this case, the full-width character of the character assigned to the character key Kc specified by the keyboard control unit 23 is determined as the input character. On the other hand, when the determination result notified from the left / right direction determination unit 204 is the left direction, the half-width character of the character assigned to the character key Kc specified by the keyboard control unit 23 is determined as the input character.

  When a language in which a character string is added from right to left is an input target, it is preferable to reverse the association between the determination result and the input character.

  In addition, when a tap operation is performed on the software keyboard KB, the full-width character input determination unit 206 determines which of the full-width character and the half-width character is an input character according to the input mode. Specifically, when the coordinates of the contact position acquired by the keyboard control unit 202 from the operation acquisition unit 22 are no longer detected without moving, the full-width character input determination unit 206 determines that the keyboard control unit 202 uses the contact position. Among the full-width characters and half-width characters assigned to the character key Kc identified as corresponding to the character key specified by the current input mode (usually displayed on the character key Kc) as the input character decide. That is, half-width characters are determined as input characters in the default half-width character input mode, and full-width characters are determined as input characters in the full-width character input mode.

  The input character determined by the case input determination unit 26 is notified to the display control unit 28.

(Processing flow in smartphone 200)
With reference to FIG. 8, an example of the flow of processing executed by the smartphone 200 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of character input processing in the smartphone 200.

  In the description of FIG. 5 and the subsequent description, only the case where a language in which a character string is added from the left to the right is set as an input target will be described for the sake of simplicity. When a language in which a character string is added from right to left is set as an input target, the correspondence between the left and right of the direction of the flick operation and the determination of input of full-width characters and half-width characters may be reversed.

  First, the operation acquisition unit 22 and the keyboard control unit 202 detect a touch on the character key Kc (S801). Specifically, the operation acquisition unit 22 receives an instruction signal input from the operation unit 11 and specifies the coordinates of the contact position of the indicator. Then, based on the coordinates of the contact position specified by the operation acquisition unit 22, the keyboard control unit 202 specifies which of the plurality of character keys Kc corresponds to the contact position.

  Next, the left / right direction determination unit 204 determines the left / right direction of the flick operation (S802: left / right direction determination step). Specifically, the left / right direction determination unit 204 instructs the character key Kc to be a contact start position on the input surface of the touch panel 1 based on the time-series change of the coordinates of the contact position acquired from the operation acquisition unit 22. It is determined whether the direction in which the body has moved while maintaining contact with the input surface of the touch panel 1 is the left direction or the right direction.

  When the direction of the flick operation is the right direction (A in S802), the full-width character input determination unit 206 inputs a full-width character (S803: full-width character input determination step). Specifically, the full-width character input determination unit 206 determines the full-width character of the character assigned to the character key Kc specified by the keyboard control unit 202 as an input character in step S801.

  On the other hand, when the direction of the flick operation is the left direction (B in S802), the full-width character input determination unit 206 inputs a half-width character (S804: full-width character input determination step). Specifically, the full-width character input determination unit 206 determines, in step S801, the half-width character of the character assigned to the character key Kc specified by the keyboard control unit 202 as an input character.

  As described above, the smartphone 200 determines whether the indicator has moved in the left or right direction in the flick operation started from the character key Kc, and is assigned to the character key Kc according to the determination result. Change whether full-width or half-width characters are determined as input characters.

  Thereby, the smartphone 200 can omit the operation step of switching the input mode of full-width characters / half-width characters accompanied by pressing of a key other than the character key Kc when switching between full-width characters and half-width characters of the input characters. Therefore, the user can improve the speed of character input.

  Also, a flick operation in the same direction as the direction in which the character string in the input target language is added corresponds to full-width character input, and in the direction opposite to the direction in which the character string in the input target language is added. Since the flick operation corresponds to single-byte character input, a character input operation with higher intuition for the user is possible.

  In addition, although the above-mentioned embodiment demonstrated the example which inputs an alphabet with QWERTY type software keyboard KB, the input character which the smart phone 100 inputs is not limited to an alphabet. For example, the smartphone 100 displays a full-width character “A” when a right flick operation is performed on a character key to which the Katakana character “A” is assigned on a software keyboard on which Japanese 50 sounds are arranged. "May be determined as the input character, and when a flick operation in the left direction is performed, the half-width character" A "may be determined as the input character.

(Application example: display of guide images 1001 and 1002)
As an application example of the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the smartphone 200 guides the full-width characters and half-width characters of the pressed character key Kc in an arrangement corresponding to the direction of the flick operation for inputting them. The image 1001 may be displayed.

  In this application example, when the contact of the indicator with the input surface of the touch panel 1 is detected, the display control unit 28 determines the character assigned to the character key Kc specified by the keyboard control unit 202 based on the position coordinates of the contact. A signal for displaying a guide image 1001 for displaying the full-width characters and half-width characters in an arrangement corresponding to the direction of the flick operation for inputting them is output to the display unit 12.

  The above configuration will be described more specifically as follows.

  FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of a display of a guide image 1001 when an indicator (not shown) is in contact with the character key Kc to which the alphabet “q” is assigned on the software keyboard KB. . In the figure, the software keyboard KB is in a default half-width character input mode. In the drawing, a guide image 1001 is displayed with “q”, which is a full-width character, arranged on the right and “q”, which is a half-width character, is arranged on the left. This arrangement corresponds to the direction of the flick operation starting from the character key Kc for inputting these full-width or half-width characters. By displaying this guide image 1001, the user can easily understand in which direction a full-width character or half-width character can be input by performing a flick operation from the current contact position on the input surface of the touch panel 1. it can.

  The display position of the guide image 501 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 10A. For example, the full-width character “q” is located at a position adjacent to the right side across the character key Kc, and the half-width character “ “q” may be displayed as the guide image 1001.

  When the guide image 1001 is displayed on the left side of the character key Kc to which the alphabet “q” shown in FIG. 10 is assigned, if the left side of the character key Kc is in contact with the end of the display unit 12, the half-width character “ The area for displaying “q” as the guide image 1001 is insufficient. In order to deal with such a situation, for example, the end of the display unit 12 and the character key Kc may be separated by a shift key, a conversion key, or other keys that do not accept flick operations. Thereby, the smartphone 200 displays the guide image 1001 adjacent to the character key Kc in the direction corresponding to the direction of the flick operation even for the character key Kc in contact with the end of the display unit 12 on either the left or right side. be able to.

  As another example, the display control unit 28 may display only one of full-width characters and half-width characters as the guide image 1002 according to the input mode of the software keyboard KB. FIG. 10B is a diagram showing an example of the display of the guide image 1002 when the indicator (not shown) is in contact with the character key Kc to which the alphabet “q” is assigned on the software keyboard KB. . In the figure, the software keyboard KB is in a default half-width character input mode, and each character key Kc displays a half-width character of each character. In the figure, a guide image 1002 displays a double-byte character “q” adjacent to the right side of the character key Kc to which the alphabet “q” is assigned. This arrangement corresponds to the direction of the flick operation for inputting the full-width character “q” from the position of the character key Kc. The display of the guide image 1002 allows the user to easily understand in which direction the flick operation can be performed from the current contact position to input full-width characters.

  As described above, since the software keyboard KB shown in the figure is in the single-byte character input mode, the user may perform a tap operation on the character key Kc when inputting a single-byte character. Alternatively, half-width characters may be input by flicking leftward with the character key Kc as the start position.

  On the other hand, when the software keyboard KB is in the full-width character input mode, the display control unit 28 displays the half-width character of the character assigned to the character key Kc on the left side of the character key Kc in contact with the indicator. May be displayed adjacent to each other as a guide image. In this case, full-width characters are input by a tap operation on the character key Kc or a flick operation in the right direction starting from the character key Kc.

  The guide image 1001 or 1002 as described above may be arbitrarily set not to be displayed by the user. For example, if the user becomes familiar with the input operation and can smoothly switch between full-width and half-width characters without displaying the guide image 1001 or 1002, the guide image 1001 or 1002 is not displayed by the user operation. May be set.

  In the present embodiment, for simplification of description, the software keyboard KB shown in each drawing exemplifies a keyboard in a lowercase input mode. However, it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that even if these software keyboards KB are set to the capital letter input mode, they do not affect the characteristic configuration of the smartphone 200 described above.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[Example of software implementation]
Finally, each block of the smartphones 100 and 200, in particular, the control unit 2 may be realized in hardware by a logic circuit formed on an integrated circuit (IC chip) or using a CPU (Central Processing Unit). It may be realized by software.

  In the latter case, the smartphones 100 and 200 include a CPU that executes instructions of a program that realizes each function, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the program, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that expands the program, the program, A storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing various data is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium in which program codes (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a control program of the smartphones 100 and 200 which are software for realizing the functions described above are recorded so as to be readable by a computer. It can also be achieved by supplying the above-mentioned smartphone 100, 200 and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include non-transitory tangible medium, such as magnetic tape and cassette tape, magnetic disk such as floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and CD-ROM / MO. Discs including optical discs such as / MD / DVD / CD-R, cards such as IC cards (including memory cards) / optical cards, semiconductor memories such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM (registered trademark) / flash ROM Alternatively, logic circuits such as PLD (Programmable Logic Device) and FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) can be used.

  Further, the smartphones 100 and 200 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited as long as it can transmit the program code. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication network, and the like can be used. The transmission medium constituting the communication network may be any medium that can transmit the program code, and is not limited to a specific configuration or type. For example, even with wired lines such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line, infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth (registered trademark), IEEE 802.11 wireless, HDR ( It can also be used by radio such as High Data Rate (NFC), Near Field Communication (NFC), Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), mobile phone network, satellite line, and digital terrestrial network. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention is suitable for any information processing apparatus having a mechanism for displaying a GUI capable of character input operation and a mechanism for receiving an input operation on a touch panel, such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a PDA, a tablet PC, and a digital camera. Can be used.

12 display unit 24 vertical direction determination unit (vertical direction determination means)
26 Uppercase / Lowercase Input Determination Unit
28 Display control unit (display control means)
100, 200 Smartphone (Character input device)
501, 502, 1001, 1002 Guide image 204 Left / right direction determination unit (left / right direction determination means)
206 Full-width character input decision unit (full-width character input decision means)
KB software keyboard (virtual keyboard)
Kc Character Key S2 Vertical Direction Determination Steps S3 and S4 Uppercase / Lowercase Input Determination Step S802 Leftward / Rightward Direction Determination Steps S803 and S804

Claims (11)

An input surface for detecting contact of the indicator, a display unit for displaying characters determined as input characters superimposed on the input surface, and a plurality of character keys to which one character is assigned to each key A character input that determines a character assigned to the character key as an input character by receiving a contact of an indicator on the character key on the character key. A device,
Vertical direction determination that determines whether the direction of movement of the indicator that has started contact with the input surface on the character key is in the upward or downward direction while maintaining contact with the input surface Means,
When the determination result by the vertical direction determination means is upward, the capital letter of the character assigned to the character key is determined as an input character, and when the determination result by the vertical direction determination means is downward, A character input device comprising: a lowercase / uppercase input determining means for determining a lowercase letter of a character assigned to a character key as an input character   When contact of the indicator with the input surface is detected on the character key, a guide image is displayed on the display unit, in which upper and lower case letters of the character assigned to the character key are arranged in order of top and bottom. The character input device according to claim 1, further comprising display control means. Of the uppercase and lowercase letters assigned to a character key, when one of the characters displayed on the character key is a display character and the other is a non-display character,
When the contact of the indicator with the input surface on the character key is detected, the non-display character of the character key is the vertical direction in the case where the case input determining means determines the non-display character as the input character. The character input device according to claim 1, further comprising: a display control unit configured to display a guide image displayed adjacent to the character key on the display unit in the same direction as the determination result by the determination unit.   The character input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the input character determined by the uppercase / lowercase input determination means is an alphabet.   The character input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the input character determined by the uppercase / lowercase input determination means is 50 Japanese characters. An input surface for detecting contact of the indicator, a display unit for displaying characters determined as input characters superimposed on the input surface, and a plurality of character keys to which one character is assigned to each key A character input that determines a character assigned to the character key as an input character by receiving a contact of an indicator on the character key on the character key. A device,
Left-right direction for determining whether the indicator that has started to touch the input surface on the character key moves in the left direction or the right direction while maintaining the state in contact with the input surface A determination means;
A full-width character input determining means for changing whether a full-width character or a half-width character of the character assigned to the character key is determined as an input character according to the determination result by the left-right direction determining means. A character input device. The full-width character input determining means is
When the determination result by the left / right direction determination means is the same direction as the direction in which the character string is added in the language input by the character input device, the full-width character of the character assigned to the character key is used as the input character. When the determination result by the left / right direction determination means is in the direction opposite to the direction in which the character string is added in the language input by the character input device, the half-width character of the character assigned to the character key is The character input device according to claim 6, wherein the character input device is determined as an input character. An input surface for detecting contact of the indicator, a display unit for displaying characters determined as input characters superimposed on the input surface, and a plurality of character keys to which one character is assigned to each key A character input that determines a character assigned to the character key as an input character by receiving a contact of an indicator on the character key on the character key. An apparatus control method comprising:
Vertical direction determination that determines whether the direction of movement of the indicator that has started contact with the input surface on the character key is in the upward or downward direction while maintaining contact with the input surface Steps,
When the determination result in the vertical direction determination step is upward, the capital letter of the character assigned to the character key is determined as an input character, and when the determination result in the vertical direction determination step is downward, A control method for a character input device, comprising: a case input determination step for determining a lowercase character of a character assigned to a character key as an input character. An input surface for detecting contact of the indicator, a display unit for displaying characters determined as input characters superimposed on the input surface, and a plurality of character keys to which one character is assigned to each key A character input that determines a character assigned to the character key as an input character by receiving a contact of an indicator on the character key on the character key. An apparatus control method comprising:
Left-right direction for determining whether the indicator that has started to touch the input surface on the character key moves in the left direction or the right direction while maintaining the state in contact with the input surface A determination step;
A full-width character input determination step for changing whether a full-width character or a half-width character of the character assigned to the character key is determined as an input character according to the determination result in the left-right direction determination step. A method for controlling a character input device.   The control program for functioning a computer as said each means of the character input device of any one of Claim 1 to 7.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the control program of Claim 10.

Images