JP2015138486A - Character input device, program and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a character input method capable of inputting and selecting an optional character from a predetermined character group without using a sight.SOLUTION: A character input device comprises: a first contact detection part 20a formed of a group in which a character group is formed of representative characters, and a group in which a character group is formed of dependence characters depending on the representative characters, and detecting first contact; a first operation detection part 22a for detecting a first movement direction and the change when the first contact point slides and moves while contacting an input surface; a representative character selection part 24a for performing feeding operation of the representative character in the representative character group, according to the first movement direction and the change; a second contact detection part 20b for detecting second contact while maintaining contact of the first contact a second operation detection part 22b for detecting a second movement direction and the change when the second contact point slides and moves while contacting the input surface; and a dependence character selection part 24b for performing feeding operation of the dependence character in the dependence character group depending on the representative character according to the second movement direction and the change.

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input device, a character input program, and a character input method, and more particularly to a character input device, a character input program, and a character input method capable of inputting an arbitrary character without depending on visual information.

  In recent years, information terminal devices having a touch-type input surface such as a touch panel and a tablet have become widespread. When performing character input in these information terminal devices, a method of tapping and inputting a software keyboard such as a QWERTY layout displayed on the input surface, or a selected representative character (for example, “A”) called flick input is used. In general, a subordinate character (for example, “I, U, E, O”) is developed in the shape of a cross or a fan and the input is performed by sliding a finger in the direction of the character to be input.

  Various information input devices and character input methods have been disclosed for the purpose of facilitating character input work and improving operability while information terminal devices having a touch-type input surface are widespread (for example, Patent Documents). 1 and Patent Document 2). The character input device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a character input device for selectively inputting an arbitrary character from a character group, and includes a touch-type input unit and all representatives included in the character group. A selection key display unit that displays a character (for example, “A, K, S, Tana, etc.”) as a selection key, and a contact start position of the user on the input unit corresponds to any one of the selection keys. An input character selection candidate determining unit that determines one character group (for example, “Ai, U, E, and O”) corresponding to the selection key as an input character selection candidate, a user's finger on the input unit, and the like When the slide moves in the contact state, the path of the slide, the loop detection unit that detects the loop of the path, and the character feed that performs the character feed operation within the determined input character selection candidate based on the number of loops And having a department And features.

  According to the character input device disclosed in this Patent Document 1, it is described that it is possible to accurately feed characters without looking at the character input key, and thus it is possible to always input characters accurately. Yes.

  In addition, the input device disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a contact detection unit that simultaneously detects at least a first contact by an operator and a contact position of a second contact following the first contact, and a first contact detection unit. When the contact position of the contact is detected, video information including the first group input candidates (for example, “Aka, Sa, Tana ...”) is generated, and the contact detector When a contact position of a contact is detected, a second group of input candidates subordinate to the input candidate selected by the contact position of the first contact in the first group of input candidates (for example, “ And a video information generation unit that generates video information including “e-o”).

  According to the input device disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is described that when a character is input, an input operation can be performed efficiently.

Japanese Patent No. 4886582 JP 2012-14508 A

  In the conventional input method using a software keyboard such as the QWERTY layout, it is impossible to input characters unless all input operations depend on visual information. However, according to the character input device disclosed in Patent Document 1, input is possible. Only the representative character is selected to detect the slide trajectory and the return of the trajectory when the user's finger or the like is slid in contact with the part, and the character is fed based on the number of turns. If you rely on, you can send characters without relying on visual information later, and you can think that you can reduce incorrect input compared to flick input.

  However, neither the character input device disclosed in Patent Document 1 nor the input device disclosed in Patent Document 2 can perform character input without any visual information. That is, the character input device disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires visual information when selecting a representative character. In addition, in the input device disclosed in Patent Document 2, since characters are selected according to the amount of movement, it is thought that the efficiency of character input can be improved, but any character can be selected from a plurality of characters within a narrow movement range. In order to select this character, a fine operation is required, which is very difficult, and it is impossible to grasp the selected character without visual information. Therefore, the current method for inputting characters without relying on visual information is only handwriting input with a finger or pen on a touch-type input surface.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present inventors select an arbitrary character from a character group by a simple operation without relying on visual information in an information terminal device having a touch input surface. As a result of extensive studies to provide a character input device, a character input program, and a character input method that can be input, the present invention has been achieved.

  That is, the present invention is a character input device that includes a touch-type input surface and selects and inputs an arbitrary character from a character group, and the character group includes a plurality of representative characters. A first character detection unit configured to include a representative character group and a subordinate character group made up of subordinate characters subordinate to the representative characters, and detecting a first touch on the input surface; A first operation detection unit for detecting a first movement direction and a change in the first movement direction when the first contact point related to the contact is slid and moved in contact with the input surface; and the first operation detection unit The representative character selection unit that performs a representative character feeding operation within the representative character group in accordance with the first moving direction of the first contact point detected by and the change thereof, and the contact state of the first contact point is maintained. The second contact detection to detect the subsequent second contact And a second movement point when the second contact point related to the second contact slides in contact with the input surface and a change in the second movement direction, or a tap on the second contact point. A second operation detection unit to detect, and the representative character selection unit according to the second movement direction and the change of the second contact point detected by the second operation detection unit, or the tap of the second contact point. And a subordinate character selection unit that performs the subordinate character feeding operation in the subordinate character group subordinate to the representative character selected in (2).

  Further, in the character input device of the present invention, the character group further includes an attached character group composed of attached characters attached to the dependent characters constituting the dependent character group, the first contact point and the first A third operation detection unit that detects a third movement direction and a change in the third movement direction when the second contact point is slid while maintaining the contact state of the two contact points; and the third operation detection unit. A character feeding operation is performed between the subordinate character selected by the subordinate character selection unit and the attached character attached to the subordinate character in accordance with the third moving direction of the second contact point and the change thereof detected by the subordinate character. And an attached character selection unit for performing.

  In the character input device of the present invention, an input character determination unit that determines a character selected from the character group as an input character when the contact state of the first contact point and the second contact point is released Is further provided.

  Furthermore, in the character input device of the present invention, the slide movement is a linear movement or a rotational movement.

  The character input device according to the present invention is characterized in that a turn in the moving direction in the linear movement is detected as a change in the moving direction.

  5. The rotational movement according to the character input device of the present invention, wherein the first contact point and the second contact point are detected as a change in the movement direction when they have moved more than half a rotation. The character input device described in 1.

  Furthermore, the character input device of the present invention is characterized in that the feeding operation is switched in the normal order or the reverse order in accordance with the rotational direction in the rotational movement.

  The present invention is also a character input program that is executed by a computer to select and input an arbitrary character from a character group on a touch-type input surface, and the character group includes a plurality of representative characters. A first contact detection step configured to include a representative character group configured and a dependent character group composed of a dependent character subordinate to each representative character, and detecting a first contact to the input surface; A first operation detecting step for detecting a first movement direction and a change in the first movement direction when the first contact point related to the first contact slides while being in contact with the input surface; A representative character selection step of performing a representative character feed operation within the representative character group according to the first moving direction of the first contact point detected in the operation detecting step and a change thereof; and a contact of the first contact point. A second contact detecting step for detecting a second contact that continues with the state maintained, and a second moving direction when the second contact point related to the second contact slides on the input surface in a contact state. And a second operation detecting step for detecting a change in the second moving direction or a tap at the second contact point, and the second moving direction and the change in the second contact point detected by the second operation detecting step. Or a subordinate character selecting step for performing a subordinate character feeding operation in the subordinate character group subordinate to the representative character selected in the representative character selection step in response to a tap of the second contact point. The computer is executed.

  Further, in the character input program of the present invention, the character group further includes an attached character group made up of attached characters attached to each of the dependent characters constituting the dependent character group, the first contact point and the A third operation detecting step for detecting a third movement direction and a change in the third movement direction when the second contact point is slid while maintaining the contact state of the second contact point; and the third operation detection. Character feeding operation between the subordinate character selected in the subordinate character selection step and the attached character attached to the subordinate character according to the third moving direction of the second contact point detected in the step and its change And an attached character selection step for performing the above-mentioned process.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides a character input method for selecting and inputting an arbitrary character from a character group on a touch-type input surface, wherein the character group is composed of a plurality of representative characters. A first character detecting step of detecting a first contact with the input surface, and a first contact detecting step for detecting a first contact with the input surface. A first operation detection step for detecting a first movement direction and a change in the first movement direction when the first contact point slides while being in contact with the input surface, and the first operation detection step detects the first movement direction. A representative character selection step of performing a representative character feeding operation within the representative character group in accordance with the first moving direction of the first contact point and the change thereof, and continuing while maintaining the contact state of the first contact point Second connection A second contact detection step for detecting the second movement direction and a change in the second movement direction when the second contact point related to the second contact slides in contact with the input surface, or the change in the second movement direction, or In response to a second operation detecting step for detecting a tap at the second contact point, the second moving direction of the second contact point detected by the second operation detecting step and its change, or a tap at the second contact point. And a subordinate character selection step of performing a subordinate character feeding operation within the subordinate character group subordinate to the representative character selected in the representative character selection step.

  Further, in the character input method of the present invention, the character group further includes an attached character group made up of attached characters attached to the subordinate characters constituting the subordinate character groups, and the first contact point and the A third operation detecting step for detecting a third movement direction and a change in the third movement direction when the second contact point is slid while maintaining the contact state of the second contact point; and the third operation detection. Character feeding operation between the subordinate character selected in the subordinate character selection step and the attached character attached to the subordinate character according to the third moving direction of the second contact point detected in the step and its change And an attached character selection step of performing the above.

  According to the character input device, the character input program, and the character input method of the present invention, an arbitrary character can be selected from the character group by a simple operation without relying on visual information in an information terminal device having a touch-type input surface. Can be selected and entered. Therefore, even a visually handicapped person can input characters easily and accurately by a method other than handwriting input on an information terminal such as a touch panel or a tablet.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the character input device of this invention. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the character group which concerns on one Embodiment of the character input device of this invention, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the character group which concerns on other embodiment. (A) is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on one Embodiment of the character input device of this invention, (b) is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on other embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the representative character selection process in the flowchart shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the dependent character selection process in the flowchart shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows one Embodiment of the character input method of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which concerns on other embodiment of the dependent character selection process in the flowchart shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the character input method of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of other embodiment of the character input device of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the attached character selection process in the flowchart shown in FIG.3 (b). It is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the character input method of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the character input method of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the character input method of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the character input method of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, although tablet PC is assumed as an information terminal device which incorporated the character input device 10 which concerns on this embodiment, this invention is mounted in information terminal devices provided with the touch-type input surface, such as a smart phone and a tablet terminal. Can do.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a tablet PC 100 incorporating a character input device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the tablet PC 100 includes an input unit 12, a control unit 14, a storage unit 16, and a display unit 18. The character input device 10 according to the present embodiment includes an input unit 12, a control unit 14, and a storage unit 16, and is a device for selecting and inputting an arbitrary character from a character group.

  Here, the character group includes a representative character group composed of a plurality of representative characters and a subordinate character group subordinate to each representative character. The type and configuration of the character group are not particularly limited. For example, in the character group 30 shown in FIG. 2A, the representative character group 32 includes the characters “A, K, S, It consists of “ta, na, ha, ma, ra, wa”, and the subordinate character group 34 with “a” as a representative character is composed of “a, i, u, e, o” belonging to “a line”. Has been. Similarly, the subordinate character group 34 of the representative character “ka” is composed of “ka, ki, k, ke, ko” of “ka line”, and the subordinate character group 34 of the representative character “sa” is “sa line”. It is composed of “sa, shi, su, se, so”. For example, muddy sound, semi-turbid sound, etc., may be configured such that the subordinate character group 34 of the representative character “ka” includes “ga-gi-gu-ge-go”, or the representative character group 32 includes “ The subordinate character group 34 of the representative character “ga” may be composed of “ga-gi-gu-ge-go”. As for symbols, numbers, etc., for example, a punctuation mark “,” is set as a representative character in the representative character group 32. 34 or the subordinate character group 34 with “1” as a representative character may be configured with “1, 2, 3, 4,..., 8, 9, 0”.

  The input unit 12 is a touch-type input surface that functions by detecting contact with a fingertip of a user, a pen tip of a stylus pen, and the like, and examples thereof include a touch panel and a touch pad. When there is a first contact and a second contact on the input surface related to the input unit 12 of this embodiment, the information is stored in the first contact detection unit 20a and the second contact detection unit 20b related to the control unit 14 to be described later. The first contact detection unit 20a and the second contact detection unit 20b detect the first contact and the second contact.

  The control unit 14 includes a first contact detection unit 20a that detects the presence or absence of the first contact with the input surface related to the input unit 12 and the coordinates of the first contact point related to the first contact, and the input of the first contact point. Operation on the input surface based on information from the second contact detection unit 20b that detects the presence or absence of the subsequent second contact and the coordinates of the second contact point related to the second contact while maintaining the contact state with the surface The contents are determined, and a character to be input is selected and determined from the character group and output to the output unit 18. The control unit 14 according to this embodiment includes the first contact detection unit 20a and the second contact detection unit 20b, the first operation detection unit 22a, the second operation detection unit 22b, the representative character selection unit 24a, and the subordinate character selection. Part 24b.

  The first operation detection unit 22a detects a first movement direction and a change in the first movement direction when the first contact point related to the first contact slides while being in contact with the input surface. The algorithm for detecting the first moving direction and the change thereof is not particularly limited, and a known algorithm can be applied. For example, a change in position information of the first contact point on the input surface is detected. Then, the first moving direction and its change are detected by comparing the X component and the Y component on the XY coordinates of a straight line connecting two predetermined points. Here, when the slide movement of the first contact point is a linear movement and the first movement direction is the vertical direction on the input surface, the first operation is detected when the first contact point is first moved downward on the input surface. The part 22a detects the first moving direction of the first contact point, and then changes the moving direction upward, that is, when the moving direction of the first contact point is folded back from the lower direction to the first direction, The operation detection unit 22a detects that the moving direction of the first contact point has changed.

  The representative character selection unit 24a performs a representative character feeding operation within the representative character group 32 in accordance with the first moving direction of the first contact point detected by the first operation detection unit 22a and the change thereof. For example, when the slide movement of the first contact point on the input surface is a linear movement and the first movement direction is the vertical direction, the first contact detection unit 20a detects the first contact, and the first contact point is the input surface. First, when the user moves downward, the representative character selection state starting from the representative character “A” is entered. Then, when the first moving direction of the first contact point changes upward, the sending operation is performed from the representative character “A” to “KA” in the representative character group 32. Thereafter, in accordance with the change in the first movement direction, the representative character feed operation is performed as “ka” → “sa” → “ta” → “na” → “ha”.

  The second operation detection unit 22b has a second movement direction and a second movement direction when the second contact point related to the second contact detected by the second contact detection unit 20b slides while being in contact with the input surface. Detect changes. Alternatively, a tap at the second contact point is detected. The detection of the second movement direction and the change thereof is the same as the detection of the first movement direction and the change thereof. Specifically, a change in position information of the second contact point on the input surface is detected. Then, the second moving direction and its change are detected by comparing the X component and the Y component on the XY coordinates of a straight line connecting two predetermined points. For example, when the slide movement of the second contact point is a linear movement and the second movement direction is the vertical direction on the input surface, the second operation detection unit is first moved when the second contact point is moved downward on the input surface. 22b is a second operation detecting unit that detects the first moving direction of the second contact point and changes the moving direction upward, that is, when the moving direction of the second contact point is folded back from the downward direction to the upward direction. 22b detects that the moving direction of the second contact point has changed. When the second contact detection unit 20b detects the second contact, the contact state of the first contact point is maintained, and the moving direction of the first contact point by the first operation detection unit 22a and the change thereof are also detected. However, the detection of the moving direction of the second contact point and the change thereof by the second operation detection unit 22b is prioritized. Therefore, for example, when the user performs an input operation with two fingers of one hand on the input surface, when the first contact point is the fingertip of the index finger and the second contact point is the fingertip of the middle finger, the second operation detection unit 22b Detects the moving direction of the middle fingertip related to the second contact point and the change thereof, and also detects the moving direction of the index finger fingertip related to the first contact point and the change thereof on the input surface. Since detection of the moving direction of the second contact point and its change by the detection unit 22b is prioritized, even if these two fingertips are moved in the same direction, only the movement according to the moving direction of the second contact point and the change thereof is performed. Can be executed.

  The subordinate character selection unit 24b is a subordinate character group subordinate to the representative character selected by the representative character selection unit 24a according to the second moving direction of the second contact point detected by the second operation detection unit 22b and the change thereof. The character feed operation is performed within 34.

  For example, when the slide movement of the second contact point on the input surface is a linear movement and the second movement direction is the vertical direction, if the representative character selected by the representative character selection unit 24a is “ha”, the second contact When the detection unit 20b detects the second contact, “ha” in the subordinate character group 34 subordinate to the representative character “ha” enters the input state, and “ha” in the subordinate character group 34 The character is selected. Then, when the second contact point moves downward on the input surface, the second operation detector 22b detects the second movement direction of the second contact point, and the subordinate character group 34 is subordinate to the subordinate character “ha”. The feed operation is performed to the character “hi”. When the movement direction of the second contact point is changed upward, a movement operation is performed from the subordinate character “hi” to “fu” in the subordinate character group 34. Thereafter, “fu” is changed according to the change of the second movement direction. “→” → “ho” → “ha”... For example, when the subordinate character group 34 of “ha line” includes a muddy sound or a semi-voiced character (eg, buzzer), “he” → “ho” → “ba” ”→“ Bi ”→... →“ Pa ”→“ Pi ”→...

  On the other hand, when the second operation detection unit 22b detects the tap of the second contact point, the second contact detection unit 20b detects the second contact, so that the subordinate character “ha” is first input. Each time the tap of the second contact point is detected, the subordinate character “ha” is changed from the subordinate character “ha” to the subordinate character “hi” → “fu” → “he” → “ho”. → "Ha" ... and the character feed operation is performed.

  The input character determination unit 26 determines the character selected by the subordinate character selection unit 24b as the input character. The method for determining the input character is not particularly limited. For example, when the first contact and the second contact are released, that is, when both the first contact point and the second contact point are separated from the input surface. The character selected by the subordinate character selection unit 24b is determined as the input character. In this embodiment, when the contact state of the first contact point is maintained and the contact state of the second contact point is released for a predetermined time (timeout), or the contact state of the second contact point is released. When a change in the first movement direction of the first contact point is detected, the representative character is selected, and when only the contact state of the first contact point is released while the contact state of the second contact point is maintained, the character is selected. Although the input is configured to be invalid, the control method based on the presence / absence of the contact state of each contact point is not particularly limited.

  The storage unit 16 is a storage device that stores a character group 30 including a representative character group 32 used by the representative character selection unit 24a and the subordinate character selection unit 24b and a subordinate character group 34 subordinate to each representative character. For example, a flash memory, HDD, etc. are mentioned.

  The display unit 18 is a device that displays the character currently selected by the representative character selection unit 24a and the subordinate character selection unit 24b according to the control unit 14, and the character determined by the input character determination unit 26, and the representative character selection unit 24a. As long as the characters can be displayed according to the output information from the subordinate character selection unit 24b and the input character determination unit 26, the type of the device is not particularly limited. Although the input unit 12 and the display unit 18 can be provided separately, in the tablet PC 100 according to the present embodiment, the input unit 12 and the display unit 18 are integrally provided on the screen of the display unit 18. The input unit 12 has an input surface.

  Next, the operation of the character input device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail based on the flowcharts shown in FIG. 3 (a), FIG. 4 and FIG. As shown in FIG. 3A, the character input device 10 according to the present embodiment is basically configured such that the representative character selection processing 50 operates first, and then the subordinate character selection processing 60 operates, so that a character to be input is displayed. When the determined character is input (character input 70), the process ends.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4, in the representative character selection process 50, in step S <b> 51, the first contact detection unit 20 a detects the presence or absence of the first contact with the input surface related to the input unit 12, and the first contact is detected. If detected, the process proceeds to step S52, and the control unit 14 stores the coordinates of the first contact point detected by the first contact detection unit 20a in the storage unit 16 and starts from the representative character group 32 related to the character group 30 first. The representative characters “A” or “WA” are selectable.

  Next, in step S53, if the second contact detection unit 20b detects the presence or absence of the second contact with the input surface related to the input unit 12, and if the second contact is not detected, the process proceeds to step S54. In step S54, a trajectory connecting the coordinates of the first contact points stored in time series in the storage unit 16 is calculated, and the first movement direction and the first movement of the first contact points are calculated in the first operation detection unit 22a. Detects whether there is a change in direction. For example, when the slide movement of the first contact point is a linear movement and the first movement direction is the vertical direction, the first operation detection unit 22a indicates that the first contact point has first moved downward on the input surface in step S54. In step S55, the character is fed within the representative character group 32, the first representative character “A” is displayed on the display unit 18, and a representative character selection state starting from the representative character “A” is entered. . Note that if the first moving direction of the first contact point and the change thereof are not detected in step S54, the process returns to step S51.

  In step S55, when one representative character is sent in the representative character group 32, the process returns to step S51, and the presence or absence of the first contact and the second contact is detected again. In step S52, the first contact is detected. If the second contact is not detected in step S53, a change in the first movement direction of the first contact point is detected in step S54, and the first movement direction of the first contact point has changed from the downward direction to the upward direction. At this time, in the representative character group 32, a character feeding operation is performed from the representative character “a” to “ka”. Thereafter, the representative character feed operation is performed as “ka” → “sa” → “ta”... According to the change in the first movement direction.

  On the other hand, if the second contact is detected in step S53, the process proceeds to step S56 to determine the presence / absence of a representative character feed operation. If the representative character feeding operation has already been performed via steps S54 and S55, the representative character is determined in step S57, and the representative character selection processing 50 is completed. If it is determined in step S56 that the representative character feeding operation is not performed, for example, after the representative character selection process 50 is started, the first contact and the second contact are detected simultaneously, The second contact detection state in a state where the representative character is not selected is entered, and the representative character selection process 50 ends without determining the representative character as an invalid operation.

  When the representative character is determined in the representative character selection process 50, the character to be input is selected from the subordinate character group 34 subordinate to the representative character determined in the representative character selection process 50 in the subordinate character selection process 60.

  In order for the subordinate character selection process 60 to operate, the second contact detection unit 20b detects the second contact while the contact state of the first contact point with the input surface of the input unit 12 is maintained. It must be in a state. As shown in FIG. 5, in step S61, the control unit 14 stores the coordinates of the second contact point detected by the second contact detection unit 20b in the storage unit 16, and the representative character selected by the representative character selection process 50. For example, in a state where “ta” is displayed on the display unit 18, “ta, chi, tsu, and so” included in the subordinate character group 34 of the representative character “ta” can be selected.

  Next, in step S62, a trajectory obtained by connecting the coordinates of the second contact points stored in time series in the storage unit 16 is calculated, and the second movement direction of the second contact points and the second operation point in the second operation detection unit 22b are calculated. The presence / absence of a change in the second movement direction is detected. For example, when the slide movement of the second contact point is a linear movement and the second movement direction is the vertical direction, the second operation detection unit 22b indicates that the second contact point has moved downward on the input surface in step S62. In step S63, the character is fed within the subordinate character group 34. In other words, when the representative character selected in the representative character selection process 50 is “TA”, the second operation detecting unit 22b detects the downward movement of the second contact point, so that the dependent character in the dependent character group 34. Characters are transferred from “Ta” to the subordinate character “Chi”, and “Chi” is displayed on the display unit 18. If the second moving direction of the second contact point and the change thereof are not detected in step S62, the process proceeds to step S64.

  In step S63, when one character is sent in the subordinate character group 34, the process proceeds to step S64, and the presence or absence of the second contact is detected. If the second contact is detected in step S64, the presence or absence of the first contact is detected in step S65. If the contact state of the first contact point is maintained, the coordinates of the second contact point are again determined in step S61. It is stored in the storage unit 16. Thereafter, when the second movement direction changes from the downward direction to the upward direction, a character feeding operation is performed from the subordinate character “chi” to “tsu” in the subordinate character group 34, and in response to the change in the second movement direction. Subordinate character feed operations such as “tsu” → “te” → “to” → “ta”... Are performed.

  On the other hand, if the second contact is not detected in step S64, the process proceeds to step S66. If the presence or absence of the first contact is detected in step S66 and the first contact is not detected, that is, if neither the first contact nor the second contact is detected, the subordinate is determined in step S67. The character is determined, and the subordinate character selection process 60 ends. If the first contact is detected in step S66, the subordinate character selection state is canceled, and the process returns to step S54 related to the representative character selection process 50 to return to the representative character selection state.

  With the end of the subordinate character selection process 60, the subordinate character determined in step S67 is input by the character input 70, and the operation of the character input device 10 according to the present embodiment ends.

  Next, a character input method according to the character input device 10 of the present embodiment will be described based on FIG. For example, when the user wants to input “chi”, first, as shown in FIG. 6A, the first contact is made on the input surface of the input unit 12 of the tablet PC 100 incorporating the character input device 10 of the present embodiment. When detected, the character input operation is started, and the representative character is selected.

  Here, when the slide movement of the first contact point 40 related to the first contact is a linear movement and the first movement direction is the vertical direction, the first contact point 40 is input as shown in FIG. First, the character is moved forward in the representative character group 32, and the first representative character “A” is displayed on the display unit 18 to select the representative character starting from the representative character “A”. It becomes a state. Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the first moving direction of the first contact point 40 is changed from the downward direction to the upward direction, the representative characters “A” to “KA” in the representative character group 32. A character is sent to the character. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 4D and 4E, by changing the first movement direction, the representative character feeding operation of “ka” → “sa” → “ta” is performed.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5F, the second contact point 42 related to the second contact is set to the input surface while the contact state of the first contact point 40 to the input surface related to the input unit 12 is maintained. When “ta” is displayed on the display unit 18, the subordinate character group of “ta line” consisting of “tachi, tetsu, tetsu” and subordinate to the representative character “ta” is displayed. The characters in 34 can be selected.

  For example, when the slide movement of the second contact point 42 is a linear movement and the second movement direction is the vertical direction, the second contact point 42 is moved downward on the input surface as shown in FIG. By moving the character, the character is fed from the subordinate character “ta” to the subordinate character “chi” in the subordinate character group 34, and “chi” is displayed on the display unit 18. Finally, when the first contact and the second contact are released, that is, when both the first contact point 40 and the second contact point 42 are separated from the input surface, "Is confirmed as an input character and input.

  As described above, according to the character input device 10 according to the present embodiment and the character input method according to the present embodiment, in an information terminal device or the like having a touch-type input surface, it is simple without relying on visual information at all. An arbitrary character can be selected and input from the character group by simple operation. Therefore, even a visually handicapped person can input characters easily and accurately by a method other than handwriting input on an information terminal such as a touch panel or a tablet.

  The character input device 10 and the character input method according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the subordinate character selection process 60 according to the character input device 10 described above, the moving direction and the change of the second contact point are detected. However, the subordinate character selection process is also operated by detecting the tap of the second contact point. Dependent characters can be determined.

  In the subordinate character selection process 80 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, in step S81, the control unit 14 stores the coordinates of the second contact point detected by the second contact detection unit 20b in the storage unit 16, and also represents the representative character selection process 50. In the state where the representative character selected in step (e.g., “ta”) is displayed on the display unit 18, the “ta line” composed of “t, t, t, t, and t” subordinate to the representative character “t”. The characters in the subordinate character group 34 are selectable. (See FIG. 8F). FIG. 8 shows a character input method according to the subordinate character selection process 80 of the present embodiment. Reference numeral 40 denotes a first contact point, and reference numeral 42 denotes a second contact point. The input state shown in () is the same as the representative character selection process 50 according to the above-described embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, in step S82, the presence / absence of a tap at the second contact point is detected. For example, by detecting the tap of the second contact point once, in step S83, the subordinate character “ta” is sent to the subordinate character “chi” in the subordinate character group 34, and “ Is displayed (see FIG. 8G). If the tap at the second contact point is not detected in step S82, the process proceeds to step S86.

  In step S83, when one character is sent in the subordinate character group 34, the process proceeds to step S84, and the presence or absence of the first contact is detected. If the contact state of the first contact point is maintained in step S84, the coordinates at the tapping of the second contact point according to step S82 are stored in the storage unit 16 again in step S81. Thereafter, when a tap is detected in step S82, a character feed operation is performed from the subordinate character “Chi” to “Tsu” in the subordinate character group 34, and “T” → “T” → “T” according to the number of taps. ”→“ ta ”... And the subordinate character feed operation is performed.

  On the other hand, if the first contact is not detected in step S84, that is, if neither the first contact nor the second contact is detected, the subordinate character is determined in step S85, and the subordinate character selection process 80 is performed. Ends. In step S82, if a tap at the second contact point is not detected, the process proceeds to step S86. If it is determined in step S86 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the subordinate character selection state is canceled and the representative character is released. Returning to step S54 related to the selection process 50, the representative character is selected again. If it is determined in step S86 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S82 to detect the presence or absence of the tap at the second contact point.

  Then, with the end of the subordinate character selection process 80, the subordinate character determined in step S85 is input by the character input 70, and the operation of the character input device 10 according to the present embodiment ends.

  Next, another embodiment of the character input device of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a tablet PC 100 incorporating a character input device 10a according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the configuration of the character input device 10a according to the present embodiment is substantially the same as the configuration of the character input device 10 according to the above-described embodiment, but the character input device 10a according to the present embodiment is The control unit 14 further includes a third operation detection unit 22c and an attached character selection unit 24c.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2B, the character group 30a according to the character input device 10a of the present embodiment is similar to the character group 30, in which the representative character group 32 is a character “A” belonging to the upper part of the 50-sound table.・ A sub-character group 34 consisting of “ka, sa, ta, na, ha, ma, ya, ra, wa” and “a” as a representative character belongs to “a line”.・ It consists of “O”. Similarly, the subordinate character group 34 of the representative character “ka” is composed of “ka, ki, k, ke, ko” of “ka line”, and the subordinate character group 34 of the representative character “sa” is “sa line”. It is composed of “sa, shi, su, se, so”. The character group 30a further includes an attached character group 38 made up of attached characters attached to each dependent character constituting the dependent character group 34. For example, the subordinate character group 34 having “ha” as a representative character is composed of “ha, hi, fu, he, ho” belonging to “ha line”, and the subordinate character “ha” has an attached character “ba-pa”. , The subordinate character “Hi” is composed of “Bi-Pi”, and the “Bi-Bi-Bu-Be-Bo” and “Pa-Pi-Pu-Pe-Po” subgroups 38 is configured.

  The third operation detection unit 22c according to the character input device 10a of the present embodiment is a second operation detected by the second contact detection unit 20b while the contact state between the first contact point and the second contact point is maintained. When the second contact point related to the contact is slid and moved in contact with the input surface, the third moving direction and the change in the third moving direction are detected. The detection of the third movement direction and the change thereof is substantially the same as the detection of the first movement direction and the change thereof. Specifically, a change in position information of the second contact point on the input surface is detected. Then, the third moving direction and its change are detected by comparing the X component and the Y component on the XY coordinates of a straight line connecting two predetermined points. For example, when the slide movement of the second contact point is a linear movement, the second movement direction is the vertical direction on the input surface, and the third movement direction is the horizontal direction on the input surface, the second contact point is downward on the input surface. When moved, the second operation detector 22b detects the first second moving direction of the second contact point, and when the second moving direction is changed upward, that is, the second moving direction of the second contact point. The second operation detection unit 22b detects that the second moving direction of the second contact point has changed when the position is folded from the lower direction to the upper direction.

  Further, when the second contact point is moved in the right direction on the input surface, the third operation detection unit 22c detects the first third movement direction of the second contact point, and changes the third movement direction in the left direction. In other words, when the third movement direction of the second contact point is turned back from the right direction to the left direction, the third operation detection unit 22c detects that the third movement direction of the second contact point has changed.

  The attached character selection unit 24c determines the subordinate character selected by the subordinate character selection unit 24b according to the third movement direction of the second contact point detected by the third operation detection unit 22c and the change thereof, and the subordinate character. Feeds to and from attached characters. For example, when the slide movement of the second contact point on the input surface is a linear movement and the third movement direction is the left-right direction, the representative character selected by the representative character selection unit 24a is “ha” and the subordinate character selection unit 24b If the selected subordinate character is “F” and the second contact detection unit 20b detects the second contact, the attached character selection state “F” is set. Then, when the second contact point moves rightward on the input surface, the third operation detection unit 22c detects the third movement direction of the second contact point, and the subordinate character “fu” to the attached character of “fu” Sending operation to “bu” is performed. When the moving direction of the second contact point changes to the left, an operation of feeding from the attached character “bu” to the attached character “pu” is performed, and thereafter “pu” → “fu” according to the change of the third moving direction. ”→“ bu ”→“ pu ”... And attached characters including subordinate characters are fed.

  For example, when the slide movement of the second contact point is a linear movement, the second movement direction is the vertical direction on the input surface, and the third movement direction is the horizontal direction on the input surface, the subordinate character group of the representative character “ha” In the state where the attached character “bu” belonging to “34” is selected, by changing the second movement direction, “Babbi” It is also possible to feed characters within the attached character group 38 composed of “i”. That is, the second operation detection unit 22b detects the second moving direction of the second contact point by moving the second contact point downward on the input surface while the attached character “bu” is selected. In the character group 38, the feeding operation is performed from the attached character “bu” to the attached character “be”, and the second operation detection unit 22 b moves the second contact point upward on the input surface so that the second operation detection unit 22 b moves to the second contact point. A change in the second moving direction is detected, and a feed operation is performed from the attached character “B” to the attached character “B”.

  The operation of the character input device 10a according to the present embodiment will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In the character input device 10a of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, basically, the representative character selection processing 50 is first operated, and then the subordinate character selection processing 60 or the subordinate character selection processing 80 is operated. Thereafter, the attached character selection processing 80 is operated to determine a character to be input, and the input ends (character input 70).

  In order for the attached character selection process 90 to operate, the contact state of the first contact point and the second contact point on the input surface related to the input unit 12 must be maintained. As shown in FIG. 10, in step S91, the control unit 14 stores the coordinates of the second contact point detected by the second contact detection unit 20b in the storage unit 16 and is selected by the subordinate character selection process 60 (80). In the state where the subordinate character, for example, “fu” is displayed on the display unit 18, the subordinate character “fu” and the attached character “bu-pu” of the subordinate character “fu” are selectable.

  Next, in step S92, a trajectory obtained by connecting the coordinates of the second contact point stored in time series in the storage unit 16 is calculated, and the third movement direction of the second contact point and the third operation point in the third operation detection unit 22c are calculated. The presence or absence of a change in the third movement direction is detected. For example, when the third movement direction of the second contact point is the left-right direction, in step S92, the third operation detection unit 22c detects that the second contact point has moved rightward on the input surface. In S93, character feed is performed between the subordinate character selected in subordinate character selection processing 60 (80) and the attached character of the subordinate character. That is, when the subordinate character selected in the subordinate character selection process 60 (80) is “fu”, the third operation detecting unit 22c detects the rightward movement of the second contact point, and thereby the subordinate character “fu”. Is sent to the attached character “BU”, and “BU” is displayed on the display unit 18. If the third moving direction of the second contact point and the change thereof are not detected in step S92, the process proceeds to step S94.

  In step S93, when one character is sent between the subordinate character and the attached character, the process proceeds to step S94, and the presence or absence of the second contact is detected. If the second contact is detected in step S94, the presence or absence of the first contact is detected in step S95. If the contact state of the first contact point is maintained, the coordinates of the second contact point are again determined in step S91. It is stored in the storage unit 16. Thereafter, when the third movement direction changes from the right direction to the left direction, a character feed operation is performed from the attached characters “bu” to “pu”, and “pu” → “fu” is changed according to the change in the third movement direction. “→” → “pu”... And the subordinate character and the attached character are sent.

  On the other hand, if the second contact is not detected in step S94, the process proceeds to step S96. If the presence or absence of the first contact is detected in step S96 and the first contact is not detected, that is, if neither the first contact nor the second contact is detected, it is attached in step S97. The character is determined, and the attached character selection process 90 ends. When the first contact is detected in step S96, the attached character selection state is canceled, and the process returns to step S54 related to the representative character selection process 50 to return to the representative character selection state.

  Along with the end of the attached character selection process 90, the attached character determined in step S97 is input by the character input 70, and the operation of the character input device 10a according to the present embodiment is finished.

  Next, a character input method according to the character input device 10a of the present embodiment will be described based on FIG. For example, when the user wants to input “pu”, first, as shown in FIG. 11A, the first contact is made on the input surface of the input unit 12 of the tablet PC 100 incorporating the character input device 10a of the present embodiment. When detected, the character input operation is started, and the representative character is selected.

  Here, when the slide movement of the first contact point 40 related to the first contact is a linear movement and the first movement direction is the vertical direction, the first contact point 40 is input as shown in FIG. First, the character is moved forward in the representative character group 32, and the first representative character “A” is displayed on the display unit 18 to select the representative character starting from the representative character “A”. It becomes a state. Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the first moving direction of the first contact point 40 is changed from the downward direction to the upward direction, the representative characters “A” to “KA” in the representative character group 32. As shown in FIG. 4D, the representative character “ka” → “sa” → “ta” → “na” → “ha” is changed by changing the first moving direction as shown in FIG. The feeding operation is performed.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5E, the second contact point 42 related to the second contact is set to the input surface while the contact state of the first contact point 40 to the input surface related to the input unit 12 is maintained. , “Ha” is displayed on the display unit 18, and the subordinate character group of “ha line” composed of “ha, hi, fu, he, ho” subordinate to the representative character “ha”. The characters in 34 can be selected.

  Next, for example, when the slide movement of the second contact point 42 is a linear movement and the second movement direction is the vertical direction, the second contact point 42 is moved downward on the input surface as shown in FIG. Is moved to the subordinate character group 34 from the subordinate character “ha” to “hi”, and “hi” is displayed on the display unit 18. Next, as shown in FIG. 5G, when the second moving direction of the second contact point 42 is changed from the downward direction to the upward direction, the character feeding operation from the subordinate character “hi” to “fu” is performed. Done.

  For example, when the third movement direction of the second contact point 42 is the left-right direction, as shown in FIG. 5H, the subordinate character “ Characters are fed from the letter “F” to the attached letter “bu” of the subordinate character “fu”, and “bu” is displayed on the display unit 18. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5 (i), when the third movement direction of the second contact point is changed from the right direction to the left direction, the character feeding operation is performed from the attached characters “bu” to “pu”. Is called. Finally, when the first contact and the second contact are released, that is, when both the first contact point 40 and the second contact point 42 are separated from the input surface, the last selected and displayed “P” "Is confirmed as an input character and input.

  As shown in FIGS. 6J and 7K, by changing the third movement direction of the second contact point 42, the attached character “pu” is changed to the subordinate character “fu” and the attached character “bu”. Sequentially, character feeding operations are performed. Further, as shown in FIG. 11 (l), the second movement direction of the second contact point 42 is changed, that is, the second contact point 42 is moved downward, with the attached character “bu” being selected. By doing so, a character feed operation from the attached character “bu” to “be” is performed within the attached character group 38 including the attached character “bu”. As shown in FIG. By changing to the upward direction, the feeding operation from the attached characters “be” to “bo” is performed.

  Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should not be construed as substantially limiting the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the sliding movement of the first contact point and the second contact point is not limited to the linear movement according to each of the above embodiments, and may be a rotational movement. The linear movement, the rotational movement, and the tap are appropriately combined. It is also possible to perform character input. However, the second movement direction and the third movement direction need to be different.

  Specifically, a character input method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For example, when the user wants to input “tsu”, first, as shown in FIG. 12A, when the first contact is detected on the input surface of the input unit 12 of the tablet PC 100 incorporating the character input device of the present invention. The character input operation is started, and the representative character is selected.

  Here, when the slide movement of the first contact point 40 related to the first contact is a rotational movement and the first movement direction is clockwise, the first contact point 40 is input as shown in FIG. First, the character is sequentially moved in the representative character group 32 by moving it clockwise in the plane, and the first representative character “A” is displayed on the display unit 18, and the representative character selection starting from the representative character “A” is selected. It becomes a state. In the case where the slide movement is a rotational movement, the first contact point is detected as a change in the movement direction when the first contact point is rotated more than half a clockwise direction, and the character feeding operation is performed. A known algorithm can be applied to detect the change, and there is no particular limitation such as detection by angle, or detection by comparing the X component and the Y component on the XY coordinates of a straight line connecting two predetermined points. .

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the rotational movement of the first contact point is half or more, the character is moved from the representative character “A” to “KA” in the representative character group 32. . Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 4D and 4E, the first movement direction is clockwise, and the change in the first movement direction is detected every time the first contact point makes a half rotation, and “→” Sa ”→“ ta ”and the representative character feed operation is performed.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5F, the second contact point 42 related to the second contact is set to the input surface while the contact state of the first contact point 40 to the input surface related to the input unit 12 is maintained. When “ta” is displayed on the display unit 18, the subordinate character group of “ta line” consisting of “tachi, tetsu, tetsu” and subordinate to the representative character “ta” is displayed. The characters in 34 can be selected.

  For example, when the slide movement of the second contact point 42 is a rotational movement and the second movement direction is clockwise, the second contact point is moved clockwise on the input surface as shown in FIG. As a result, the character is fed from the subordinate character “Ta” to the subordinate character “Chi” in the subordinate character group 34, “Chi” is displayed on the display unit 18, and the second contact point 42 is further rotated. When the half-clockwise rotation is made, the character is fed from the subordinate character “Chi” to “Tsu”. Finally, when the first contact and the second contact are released, that is, when both the first contact point 40 and the second contact point 42 are separated from the input surface, the last one selected and displayed. "Is confirmed as an input character and input.

  Alternatively, when the slide movement of the second contact point 42 is a linear movement and the second movement direction is the vertical direction, the second contact point 42 is moved downward on the input surface as shown in FIG. As a result, the subordinate characters “ta” to “chi” are sent within the subordinate character group 34 to display “chi” on the display unit 18, and the second moving direction is further changed upward. The character is fed from the subordinate character “Chi” to “Tsu”.

  As another aspect, when detecting the tap of the second contact point 42, as shown in FIG. 5 (k), by detecting the tap of the second contact point 42 once, the subordinate in the subordinate character group 34 is detected. When the character “T” is forwarded to the character “Chi”, “Chi” is displayed on the display unit 18 and when the tap of the second contact point 42 is detected, the subordinate character “Chi” is changed to “T”. A character feed operation is performed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, for example, when the slide movement of the first contact point 40 is a linear movement and the first movement direction is an up-down direction, the representative character is changed to “A” according to the direction of the first first movement direction. It is also possible to send characters from “wa” instead of “”. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the first contact is detected on the input surface of the input unit 12, the character input operation is started and the representative character is selected, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the first contact point 40 is first moved upward on the input surface, whereby the character is reversely fed within the representative character group 32 and the first representative character “WA” is displayed on the display unit 18. A representative character selection state starting from the representative character “WA” is displayed. Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the first moving direction of the first contact point 40 is changed from the upper direction to the lower direction, the representative characters “WA” to “RA” in the representative character group 32. A character is sent to the character. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4 (d), the representative character feed operation is performed by changing the first movement direction from “ra” to “ya”.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5E, the second contact point 42 related to the second contact is set to the input surface while the contact state of the first contact point 40 to the input surface related to the input unit 12 is maintained. The character in the subordinate character group 34 of “ya line” composed of “yayuyu” subordinate to the representative character “ya” in a state where “ya” is displayed on the display unit 18. Becomes selectable.

  For example, when the slide movement of the second contact point 42 is a linear movement and the second movement direction is the vertical direction, the second contact point is moved downward on the input surface as shown in FIG. By doing so, the character from the subordinate character “ya” to “yu” is performed within the subordinate character group 34, and “yu” is displayed on the display unit 18. Finally, when the first contact and the second contact are released, that is, when both the first contact point 40 and the second contact point 42 are separated from the input surface, "Is confirmed as an input character and input. In addition, by moving the second contact point 42 upward on the input surface from the state shown in FIG. 5E, it is possible to feed characters from the subordinate characters “Y” to “Y” within the subordinate character group 34. It is.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, when the slide movement of the first contact point 40 is a rotational movement, the first contact point 40 is rotated clockwise as shown in FIGS. After the representative characters are fed in the normal order from “A” to “SA”, the first contact point 40 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. It is also possible to feed characters in reverse order to “ka”. By rotating the first contact point 40 clockwise again, as shown in FIG. It is possible to feed characters with. The input method can be applied to the second contact point, and can also be implemented in the character input method shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, in the character input method shown in each figure, only one hand with the first contact point related to the first contact as the index finger and the second contact point related to the second contact as the middle finger is used. Although the character input method has been exemplified, it is also possible to input characters using both hands in the present invention. For example, holding the tablet PC 100 with both hands, using the fingertip of the left thumb as the first contact point related to the first contact, and the fingertip of the right thumb as the second contact point related to the second contact, character input according to the present invention The operation of the device and the character input method can be implemented. In this case, when the second contact point is slid, the first contact point is merely brought into contact with the input surface and does not need to be slid.

  In the various embodiments described above, the character selected by the representative character selection unit 24a, the subordinate character selection unit 24b and the attached character selection unit 24c according to the control unit 14 and the character determined by the input character determination unit 26 are displayed. Although displayed on the display unit 18, with the display on the display unit 18 or without being displayed on the display unit 18, the representative character selection unit 24 a or the like is currently selected from an audio output unit (not shown) such as a speaker or an earphone. It is also possible to output the character or the character determined by the input character determination unit 26 by voice. Alternatively, it is also possible to output from a tactile device such as a braille display that is wired or wirelessly connected to the character input device of the present invention. By outputting from a voice output unit or a tactile device, character input becomes even easier for visually impaired people. The present invention can be carried out without departing from the gist, with appropriate improvements, changes, or additions based on the inventive ideas and ideas of those skilled in the art.

10, 10a: character input device 12: input unit 14: control unit 16: storage unit 18: display unit 20a: first contact detection unit 20b: second contact detection unit 22a: first operation detection unit 22b: second operation detection Section 22c: Third operation detection section 24a: Representative character selection section 24b: Dependent character selection section 24c: Attached character selection section 26: Input character determination section 30, 30a: Character group 32: Representative character group 34: Dependent character group 38: Attached character group 40: First contact point 42: Second contact point

Claims (11)

A character input device that includes a touch-type input surface, and selects and inputs an arbitrary character from a character group,
The character group includes a representative character group composed of a plurality of representative characters and a subordinate character group composed of subordinate characters subordinate to the representative characters.
A first contact detector for detecting a first contact with the input surface;
A first operation detection unit that detects a first movement direction and a change in the first movement direction when the first contact point related to the first contact slides while being in contact with the input surface;
A representative character selecting unit that performs a representative character feeding operation within the representative character group according to the first moving direction of the first contact point detected by the first operation detecting unit and a change thereof;
A second contact detection unit that detects a second contact that continues while maintaining the contact state of the first contact point;
Detecting a second movement direction and a change in the second movement direction when the second contact point related to the second contact slides in contact with the input surface, or detecting a tap of the second contact point. Two operation detectors;
Depending on the second moving direction and its change of the second contact point detected by the second operation detecting unit, or the tap of the second contact point, it depends on the representative character selected by the representative character selecting unit. Within the subordinate character group, a subordinate character selector that performs the subordinate character feed operation;
A character input device comprising: The character group further includes an attached character group composed of attached characters attached to each of the dependent characters constituting the dependent character group;
A third operation detection unit that detects a third movement direction and a change in the third movement direction when the second contact point is slid while maintaining the contact state of the first contact point and the second contact point. When,
Between the subordinate character selected by the subordinate character selection unit according to the third movement direction of the second contact point detected by the third operation detection unit and the change thereof, and the attached character attached to the subordinate character Attached character selection part that performs character feeding operation with,
The character input device according to claim 1, further comprising:   The input character determination unit, further comprising: an input character determining unit that determines a character selected from the character group as an input character when the contact state of the first contact point and the second contact point is released. The character input device according to claim 1 or 2.   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the slide movement is a linear movement or a rotational movement.   The character input device according to claim 4, wherein a return in a moving direction in the linear movement is detected as a change in the moving direction.   5. The character input device according to claim 4, wherein, in the rotational movement, the first contact point and the second contact point are detected as a change in the movement direction when the first contact point and the second contact point move more than half a rotation.   The character input device according to claim 4, wherein the feeding operation is switched in a normal order or a reverse order according to a rotation direction in the rotational movement. A character input program to be executed by a computer to select and input an arbitrary character from a character group on a touch-type input surface,
The character group includes a representative character group composed of a plurality of representative characters and a subordinate character group composed of subordinate characters subordinate to the representative characters.
A first contact detecting step for detecting a first contact with the input surface;
A first operation detecting step for detecting a first movement direction and a change in the first movement direction when the first contact point related to the first contact slides while being in contact with the input surface;
A representative character selection step of performing a representative character feed operation within the representative character group in accordance with the first movement direction of the first contact point detected in the first operation detection step and the change thereof;
A second contact detecting step of detecting a second contact that continues while maintaining the contact state of the first contact point;
Detecting a second movement direction and a change in the second movement direction when the second contact point related to the second contact slides in contact with the input surface, or detecting a tap of the second contact point. Two operation detection steps;
Depending on the second moving direction and its change of the second contact point detected by the second operation detecting step or the tap of the second contact point, it depends on the representative character selected in the representative character selecting step. A subordinate character selection step of performing a subordinate character feed operation within the subordinate character group;
Is executed by the computer. The character group further includes an attached character group composed of attached characters attached to each of the dependent characters constituting the dependent character group;
A third operation detecting step for detecting a third moving direction and a change in the third moving direction when the second contact point is slid while maintaining the contact state of the first contact point and the second contact point; When,
In accordance with the third moving direction of the second contact point detected in the third operation detecting step and its change, between the subordinate character selected in the subordinate character selecting step and the attached character attached to the subordinate character Attached character selection step that performs character feeding operation with,
The character input program according to claim 8, further causing the computer to execute. A character input method for selecting and inputting an arbitrary character from a character group on a touch-type input surface,
The character group includes a representative character group composed of a plurality of representative characters and a subordinate character group composed of subordinate characters subordinate to the representative characters.
A first contact detecting step for detecting a first contact with the input surface;
A first operation detecting step for detecting a first movement direction and a change in the first movement direction when the first contact point related to the first contact slides while being in contact with the input surface;
A representative character selection step of performing a representative character feed operation within the representative character group in accordance with the first movement direction of the first contact point detected in the first operation detection step and the change thereof;
A second contact detecting step of detecting a second contact that continues while maintaining the contact state of the first contact point;
Detecting a second movement direction and a change in the second movement direction when the second contact point related to the second contact slides in contact with the input surface, or detecting a tap of the second contact point. Two operation detection steps;
Depending on the second moving direction and its change of the second contact point detected by the second operation detecting step or the tap of the second contact point, it depends on the representative character selected in the representative character selecting step. A subordinate character selection step of performing a subordinate character feed operation within the subordinate character group;
A character input method comprising: The character group further includes an attached character group composed of attached characters attached to each of the dependent characters constituting each of the dependent character groups;
A third operation detecting step for detecting a third moving direction and a change in the third moving direction when the second contact point is slid while maintaining the contact state of the first contact point and the second contact point; When,
In accordance with the third moving direction of the second contact point detected in the third operation detecting step and its change, between the subordinate character selected in the subordinate character selecting step and the attached character attached to the subordinate character Attached character selection step that performs character feeding operation with,
The character input method according to claim 10, further comprising:

Images