JP2014179963A - Key input system using game controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high-speed key input system using a controller such as a game controller.SOLUTION: Four or more buttons among the buttons of a controller having 12 or more buttons are assigned as modification keys, and input keys for executing key input processing are assigned to the remaining buttons. In the input keys, each key function changes corresponding to an effective modification key during a period in which the modification key is effective. The modification key of a button lastly pressed is effective in a state where two or more buttons of the modification keys are pressed. In the execution of key input processing of the input keys, when the number of pressed buttons of the input keys increases and buttons of two or more input keys are pressed, an input key of lastly pressed button among pressed buttons of the input keys is effective, and key input processing is executed.

Description

  The present invention relates to data input of a computer, and relates to efficient key input using an input device such as a game controller.

  The background art of the present invention includes the background art described in Patent Document 1.

  In the proposal of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to visually determine which cell is currently selected, and therefore it is necessary to display the cell on the screen. Therefore, not only is the display of the screen restricted, but it is difficult to realize an input method without visual judgment such as touch typing.

  JP-T-2006-515477

  The problem to be solved is that there is no need for additional keyboard costs, and there is no need to display an on-screen keyboard or the like for key selection on the screen. It must be possible.

  The present invention provides a keyboard input system using an input device such as a game controller. The number of buttons required for the input device is at least twelve or more, and four or more of the buttons are assigned as modifier key functions, and the remaining buttons not assigned as modifier keys are assigned functions as input keys. The input key has a key input function and assigns a key function. The key function of the input key is changed corresponding to the valid modifier key while the modifier key is valid.

  The function assigned to the input key described in claim 1 is a backspace key, an enter key, a space key, a delete key, a key function for character input including symbols, as well as a general keyboard key function. Functions such as cursor keys are included. Since the present invention assumes Roman input for Japanese input, the characters that can be directly input by button operation are mainly alphabets, numbers, and symbols.

  As described in claim 2, the modifier key has a function of changing the key function of the input key. The key function of the input key is changed corresponding to the valid modifier key while the modifier key is valid.

  As described in claim 5, another key function can be assigned to an input key in a state where all the modifier keys are not valid, that is, in a state where the modifier keys are invalid.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the modification key to be valid is determined as long as one of the buttons assigned as the modification key is pressed, the modification key of the pressed button is valid. While two or more buttons assigned as modifier keys are being pressed, the modifier key of the button that was last pressed among the buttons assigned as modifier keys is valid.

  If a button with a valid modifier key is released while two or more buttons assigned as modifier keys are pressed, the button is assigned as a modifier key from the remaining pressed buttons. Among the buttons, the modifier key of the last pressed button is valid.

  As described in the sixth aspect, the validity of the input key means that the key input of the key function assigned to the valid input key is executed and the data input is performed.

  As described in claim 7, as long as the input key continues to be valid, the key input of the key function assigned to the valid input key is executed at regular time intervals. That is, in a general keyboard operation, when a character key button is continuously pressed, an operation similar to an operation in which characters are continuously input is performed.

  As described in claim 4, the effective input key is determined when the number of buttons assigned as input keys is increased and one button assigned as an input key is pressed. Indicates that the input key of the button being pressed is valid, and when two or more buttons assigned as input keys are pressed, the button of the button that was pressed last among the buttons of the input key being pressed The input key is valid.

  The stop of key input described in claim 8 is a method for suppressing the occurrence of key input unintended by the user. In this state, when a valid modifier key is changed while the valid input key button is being pressed, the key function of the valid input key button is changed. If the changed key function is key-input while the button of the input key that is valid as it is pressed, data different from the data that has been key-input so far will be input. When the input key is in a valid state and a valid modifier key is changed, even if the valid input key button is pressed, from the point when the valid modifier key is changed, The key input is not executed until the condition for enabling the input key according to claim 4 is satisfied.

  Generation of unintended key input corresponds to a mechanism in which an input key becomes valid when the number of pressed buttons assigned as input keys according to claim 4 increases. If you do not confirm that the number of pressed buttons assigned as input keys has increased, it is possible to operate with a mechanism in which the last pressed button is enabled while two or more input keys are pressed. When a valid input key button is released and another input key button is kept pressed, the key input of the last pressed input key button from among the buttons that have been pressed continuously Is executed, another key input is executed at the same time when the button is released. The key input is executed only when the button is pressed and while the button is continuously pressed, thereby realizing a simple button operation.

  1 and 2 are plan views of exemplary game controllers. FIG. 3 shows combinations of key functions corresponding to the modifier keys and the input keys as a table. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the game controller of FIG. 1 viewed from above. 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, and 109 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 indicate the same buttons. 101 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 serves as direction keys, and functions as four direction keys, up, down, left and right. The 101 button in FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponds to the right button, the down button, the left button, and the up button included in 303 of FIG. The 102 button in FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponds to the A button included in 303 in FIG. The 103 button in FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponds to the B button included in 303 in FIG. The button 105 in FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponds to the Y button included in 303 in FIG. The 104 button in FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponds to the X button included in 303 in FIG. The 107 button in FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponds to the L1 button included in 301 in FIG. The button 106 in FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponds to the R1 button included in 301 in FIG. The 210 button in FIG. 2 corresponds to the L2 button included in 301 in FIG. The 211 button in FIG. 2 corresponds to the R2 button included in 301 in FIG. Reference numeral 301 in FIG. 3 indicates a modifier key, and reference numeral 303 in FIG. 3 indicates an input key. Reference numeral 302 in FIG. 3 indicates a key function in which key input is performed in a state where each modifier key is valid and invalid, and an input key is valid. “None” included in 301 of FIG. 3 indicates a state where none of the modifier keys is valid, that is, a state where the modifier keys are invalid.

  From the description of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, for example, when inputting “E”, it is input by pressing the Y button while pressing the L1 button. According to the mechanism of claim 3, when the R2 button is pressed while the L1 button is pressed, the Y button is changed to a function of inputting “Z”. If the R2 button is released while the L1 button and the R2 button are pressed, the Y button is changed to an input function of “E”. The Y button functions as a space key in a state where the L1 button is released and all the buttons as the modifier keys are released.

  In order to reproduce the suppression of the key input of the input key according to claim 8 from the description of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, ”. If the R2 button is pressed in addition to this state, the valid modifier key is changed to the R2 button. At this point, the input of “K” stops and the B button has the input function of “B”. The key input is stopped by the mechanism of claim 8. Unless the operation of the input key according to claim 4 is performed, the key input of the valid input key is not executed.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the R button is kept pressed and the B button is continuously pressed and "K" is continuously input, and when the X button is further pressed, "S" is input. However, if the B button is kept pressed and only the X button is released, the key input stops. From this state, the key input of the valid input key is not executed unless the operation of the input key according to claim 4 is performed.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the present invention has a function of switching the key function of each button at a time by switching the mode. For example, when the button 108 in FIG. 1 is used as a mode switching button, each button corresponds to the key function shown in the table of FIG. 4 by pressing this button. When the 108 button in FIG. 1 is pressed again, each mode corresponds to the key function shown in the table in FIG. 3 so that the mode is alternately switched each time the 108 button in FIG. It is possible to make it correspond.

  From the description of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, for example, an operation method in the case of efficiently inputting characters “ARIGATOU” from the present invention will be shown. The confirmation operation uses an enter key by a general character input method. First, the following operation is performed with the L1 button kept pressed. Press the A button to enter "A", press and hold the R1 button and press the up button to enter "R", release the R1 button and press the B button to enter "I" and hold the R2 button Press the A button to enter “G”, with the R2 button released, press the A button to enter “A”, press and hold the R1 button, press the Y button to enter “T”, and release the R1 button Then press the right button to enter "O" and press the X button to enter "U". Finally, release the L1 button and press the A button to function as the enter key and confirm the character.

  Many common game controllers are equipped with a joystick, which has a mouse function in combination with the joystick, and functions such as mouse pointer movement, click, right click, and wheel are added to the input keys. Also good.

  Conventionally, character input by a game controller has been generally performed by an on-screen keyboard. However, according to the present invention, by learning the function of each input key using a modifier key, it is possible to make a visual judgment such as an on-screen keyboard. Display becomes unnecessary, and button operation with few steps that enables touch typing further enables high-speed character input without constraining the screen. The introduction of a mouse function also eliminates the need for a keyboard and mouse input device required for general computers, leading to cost reduction. Further, by consolidating the input devices into one, it is not necessary to move a hand to operate the input devices, and an efficient operation can be performed.

  It is the top view which showed the example game controller.   It is the top view which looked at the game controller of FIG. 1 from the upper part.   It is the table | surface which showed the list | wrist of the key function corresponding to a modifier key and an input key.   It is a table | surface which shows the change of the key function corresponding to a modifier key and an input key by mode switching.

Claims (9)

  Assign a function of a modifier key to at least four buttons with respect to a button of an input device having at least twelve buttons, and the remaining buttons not assigned as modifier keys function as input keys for performing key input. Key input system to assign.   In the modifier key according to claim 1, while the button assigned as the modifier key is pressed, the modifier key of the pressed button is valid, and the input key corresponding to the valid modifier key is displayed. Key selection method that changes the key function.   In the valid modifier key according to claim 2, when one button assigned as the modifier key is pressed, the modifier key of the pressed button is valid, and the button assigned as the modifier key is A key selection method in which, when two or more buttons are pressed, the modifier key of the last pressed button is valid from the buttons of the pressed modifier keys.   3. The input key according to claim 1, wherein the input key is valid when the number of buttons assigned as the input key is increased and when one button assigned as the input key is pressed. The input key assigned to the button being pressed is valid, and when two or more buttons assigned as input keys are being pressed, A key input method in which the input key assigned to the last pressed button is valid.   5. The key input system according to claim 1, wherein key functions are assigned to input keys in a state where all the modifier keys are not valid.   6. The key input system according to claim 1, wherein when the input key becomes valid, key input of a key function assigned to the valid input key is performed.   The valid input key according to claim 6, wherein the input key continues to be valid while the valid input key button is being pressed, and a constant time interval is maintained while the input key remains valid. A key input method in which key input is performed for each valid input key.   In the modifier key according to any one of claims 1 to 5, when there is an input key that is valid, and the valid modifier key is changed while the button of the valid input key is being pressed, Alternatively, when the modifier key is disabled from enabled, or when the modifier key is disabled to enabled, the key input method stops execution of key input.   9. The key selection method according to claim 1, wherein the key function of the input key and the input key assigned to each button of the input device can be changed at a time by switching the mode. .

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