JP2016170499A - Character input device, input control program and input control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a character input device capable of improving the convenience of users.SOLUTION: When detecting a character input operation, a character input device executes an information processing corresponding to a pointer operation or click operation, and shifts to a tapping disable mode in which the information processing corresponding to the tapping operation is not executed. When no character input operation is detected within a first specified time from a point when a character input operation is detected and when no character input operation is detected within a predetermined time after the first specified time, the character input device terminates the tapping disable mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input device, an input control program, and an input control method.

  In recent years, the spread of personal computers (PCs) has become remarkable, and even the compulsory education is changing into a world with personal computers so that they can learn personal computers. Since the touchpad was first installed in a notebook PC in 1994, it has become an indispensable function for a notebook PC that can be carried around.

  The principle of the touchpad is related to the pointer movement by creating a capacitor with the touchpad itself and the contact area (mainly finger) of the user, and detecting a small amount of capacitance change caused by touchpad operation. It is what.

  A typical problem with the touch pad is a pointer jump that occurs when a finger or a finger ball part of the hand touches the touch pad when the keyboard or the keyboard is pressed. This problem occurs particularly frequently on a touch pad in which a click button and a pad portion are integrated.

  As countermeasures for this problem, the signal from the pad portion is temporarily disabled, the click button is hardened, or a step is provided on the housing.

  As a conventional technology, when there is key input from the keyboard, the input from the trackpad is invalidated for a certain period of time, and the invalidation processing is interrupted by pressing the button on the trackpad to enable the input from the trackpad Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-133796

  In conventional devices, trackpad input is disabled within a specified control time from key input from the keyboard. If you want to move the pointer within the control time, press the click button to disable it. It is necessary to cancel, and convenience is low.

  In one aspect, an object of the present invention is to improve convenience for a user who uses a character input device.

  The character input device according to the embodiment includes a keyboard, a touch pad including a pad unit and a click button, a detection unit, and a processing unit.

  The detection unit detects a character input operation on the keyboard, a pointer operation on the pad unit, a tapping operation on the pad unit, and a click operation on the click button.

  The processing unit performs information processing according to the character input operation, the pointer operation, the tapping operation, and the click operation detected by the detection unit.

  When the character input operation is detected by the detection unit, the processing unit performs information processing for the pointer operation or the click operation and shifts to a tapping invalidation mode in which information processing corresponding to the tapping operation is not performed. To do.

  The processing unit does not detect the character input operation by the detection unit within a first designated time after the character input operation is detected, and performs detection by the detection unit within a predetermined time after the first designated time. When the character input operation is not detected, the tapping invalidation mode is terminated.

  According to the character input device of the embodiment, the convenience of the user who uses the character input device can be improved.

1 is an external view of a notebook personal computer according to an embodiment. 1 is a configuration diagram of a notebook personal computer according to an embodiment. FIG. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the input control method which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart of the input control method which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart of the input control method which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the case where a space is input after the input of a word and the next character input is started within control time t '. It is a figure which shows the case where ENTER is input after the input of a word and the next character input is started within control time t '. It is a figure which shows the case where the next character input is started after control time t '. It is a block diagram of a computer system.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view of a notebook personal computer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the notebook personal computer according to the embodiment.
A notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a notebook PC) 101 includes a main body unit 201 and a display unit 301. The notebook PC 101 is an example of a character input device.

  The main body 201 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 211, a memory 221, a platform controller hub (PCH) 231, a video controller 241, a microcomputer (microcomputer) 251, a keyboard 261, a touch pad 271, and a palm rest 281.

  The CPU 211 is a processor that performs various processes. The CPU 211 executes a character input control method described later. The CPU 211 operates as a detection unit that detects operations on the keyboard controller 252 and the touch pad 271. Further, the CPU 211 operates as a processing unit that performs information processing for operations on the keyboard controller 252 and the touch pad 271.

  The memory 221 is a device that stores programs and data used in the notebook PC 101. The memory 221 is, for example, a random access memory (RAM).

The PCH 231 is a processor that controls peripheral devices.
The video controller 241 controls the display unit 301 and displays information such as characters and pictures on the display unit 301.

  The microcomputer 251 has a keyboard controller 252 and a touch pad controller 253.

  When a key on the keyboard 261 is pressed, the keyboard controller 252 transmits a signal (information) for identifying the pressed key to the CPU 211 via the PCH 231.

  The CPU 211 detects a signal from the keyboard controller 252, identifies a key that has been pressed based on the signal, and executes processing for the key that has been pressed. For example, the CPU 211 displays a character corresponding to the key that has been pressed on the display unit 301 and performs processing such as conversion and confirmation of the input character.

  The touch pad controller 253 detects the contact of the finger with the pad unit 272 and transmits a signal (information) indicating the position of the touched finger to the CPU 211 via the PCH 231 while the finger is in contact. The CPU 211 receives a signal from the touch pad controller 253, detects a tapping operation or a pointer operation based on the signal, and performs processing such as movement of the pointer. Further, when the click buttons 273-1 and 273-2 are clicked, the touch pad controller 253 sends a signal (information) indicating that the click buttons 273-1 and 273-2 are clicked to the CPU 211 via the PCH 231. Send. The CPU 211 receives a signal from the touch pad controller 253, and performs processing for a click operation on the click buttons 273-1 and 273-2 based on the signal.

  The keyboard 261 is an input device having a plurality of keys on which characters and symbols are printed. In the embodiment, the keys of the keyboard 261 are classified into a plurality of types. There are character keys that can input characters and specific keys other than character keys and Shift keys. Specific keys include Enter key, Space key, conversion key, no conversion key, Romaji key, Windows mark key (when the operating system installed in the notebook PC 101 is Windows (registered trademark)), application key, Back Space key, Delete Key, half-width / full-width key, Tab key, Caps Look key, Ctrl key, Esc key, F1-12 key, etc. In the embodiment, a character input operation in which a character key is pressed and a character is input is referred to as a character input operation.

  The touch pad 271 includes a pad portion 272 and click buttons 273-1 and 273-2. The touch pad 271 is disposed in front of the keyboard 261, that is, on the user side who presses the keyboard.

  The pad unit 272 is a pointing device used to operate a pointer displayed on the display unit 301 by touching with a finger or the like. The pad part 272 is, for example, a capacitance type sensor. In the embodiment, moving the finger touching the pad unit 272 to move the pointer displayed on the display unit 301 is referred to as a pointer operation. In the embodiment, an operation in which a finger touches the pad portion 272 and immediately releases it, that is, an operation in which the finger is brought into contact with the pad portion 272 for a short time is referred to as a tapping operation.

  As an example of inputting characters while performing such an operation, for example, a case of an input format in which a name, a company name, or the like is written in a designated input frame can be considered. If there are a plurality of such input frames, the pointer may be moved to an unintended place by operating the pad unit 272. If an operation that happens to be regarded as a tapping operation is performed, it is possible that an erroneous input occurs.

  The click buttons 273-1 and 273-2 are buttons that are clicked when performing determination or menu display. For example, the click buttons 273-1 and 273-2 are assigned functions similar to the left button and right button of a mouse (not shown), respectively. In the embodiment, clicking on the click buttons 273-1 and 273-2 is referred to as a click operation.

  The palm rest 281 is a space provided in front of the keyboard 261 and on both sides of the touch pad 271. The user places his / her wrist or palm on the palm rest 281 when pressing the keyboard 261.

  The display unit 301 displays information such as characters and images. The display unit 301 is, for example, a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an outline of the input control method according to the embodiment.
When detecting the character input, the CPU 211 starts a timer, starts counting the first elapsed time, and checks that the first elapsed time exceeds the first control time t. Further, the CPU 211 shifts from the normal mode to the tapping invalidation mode. When the CPU 211 detects character input at the first control time t, the CPU 211 resets the timer and starts counting the first elapsed time again.

  The normal mode is a state in which operations on the pad portion 272 are not restricted, that is, a mode in which a tapping operation, a pointer operation, and a click operation are effective.

  The tapping invalidation mode is a state in which a part of the operation on the pad unit 272 is restricted, and the tapping operation is ignored even when the CPU 211 detects the tapping operation on the pad unit 272. The CPU 211 validates the pointer operation and the click buttons 273-1 and 273-2 in the tapping invalidation mode.

  When the first elapsed time exceeds the first control time t without any character input, the CPU 211 newly starts a timer, starts counting the second elapsed time, and the second elapsed time reaches the first time. It is checked whether the control time t ′ of 2 is exceeded. In addition, when the input of the specific key is detected within the first control time t, the CPU 211 newly starts the timer, starts counting the second elapsed time, and the second elapsed time is the second time. It is checked whether the control time t ′ is exceeded.

  When the second elapsed time exceeds the second control time t ′ without any character input, the CPU 211 cancels the tapping invalidation mode and shifts to the normal mode. That is, when the CPU 211 detects a tapping operation on the pad unit 272, the CPU 211 performs a process on the tapping operation.

  Also when the pointer operation is detected during the counting of the second elapsed time, the CPU 211 cancels the tapping invalidation mode and shifts to the normal mode.

  According to the input control method according to the embodiment, it is considered that the character input is in progress during the first control time t from the character input, and therefore the tapping operation is invalidated. Thereby, an erroneous operation such as a pointer skip can be prevented. In addition, since it is considered that the character input is in progress during the first control time t from the character input, the tapping operation is not validated even if the pointer operation is detected. Further, in the tapping invalidation mode, the pointer operation and the click operation are effective, so that the convenience for the user is improved.

  According to the input control method according to the embodiment, even if the tapping operation is detected during the counting of the second elapsed time, it is considered an erroneous operation, so the tapping operation is invalidated. It is considered that the user's character input is divided once during the counting of the second elapsed time after the first control time t elapses from the character input or after the input of the specific key. Therefore, when a pointer operation is detected during the counting of the second elapsed time, it is considered to be an operation for selecting and executing something by moving the pointer, so the invalidation of the tapping operation is canceled. Thereby, the user can execute the tapping operation after the pointer operation without needing an extra operation for enabling the tapping operation, and convenience is improved.

4A and 4B are flowcharts of the input control method according to the embodiment.
First, the notebook PC 101 is in a normal mode in which a click operation, a pointer operation, and a tapping operation are effective. That is, the CPU 211 detects a character input operation on the keyboard 261, a pointer operation on the pad unit 272, a tapping operation on the pad unit 272, and a click operation on the click button 273. Then, the CPU 211 executes information processing in response to a character input operation, a pointer operation, a tapping operation, and a click operation.

First, the user presses a key on the keyboard 261.
In step S <b> 501, the CPU 211 receives a signal corresponding to the key pressed from the keyboard controller 252. The CPU 211 detects (determines) the key that has been pressed based on the received signal.

  In step S502, if the detected (key pressed) key is a character input key, control proceeds to step S503, and if it is not a character input key (that is, a specific key), control returns to step S501.

In step S503, the CPU 211 starts measuring the character creation time. Specifically, CPU 211 records the current time as the start time _{T s.}

  In step S504, the CPU 211 starts or resets the first timer, and starts counting the first elapsed time. A feature of the input control method according to the embodiment is a tapping invalidation mode during the counting of the first elapsed time, in which the pointer operation and the click operation are valid, but the tapping operation is invalid.

  In step S505, the CPU 211 starts tapping invalidation (shifts to the tapping invalidation mode). That is, even if the CPU 211 detects tapping based on information from the touch pad controller 253, the CPU 211 does not execute the tapping process. Note that the pointer operation and the click buttons 273-1 and 273-2 are enabled. That is, when the CPU 211 detects a pointer operation and a click operation of the click buttons 273-1 and 273-2, the CPU 211 executes processing for each. If the tapping invalidation mode is already set, step S505 is skipped.

  In step S506, the CPU 211 checks whether the keyboard 261 has been pressed within the control time t (that is, when the first elapsed time is equal to or less than the control time t) from the start of counting of the first timer. Control proceeds to step S508, and if no key is pressed, control proceeds to step S507.

  In step S507, the CPU 211 interrupts the measurement of the character creation time, and rejects the recorded start time Ts.

  In step S508, the CPU 211 checks whether the key pressed is a specific key. If the key is a specific key, the control proceeds to step S509. If not, the control returns to step S504.

In step S509, the CPU 211 ends the measurement of the character creation time. Specifically, the CPU 211 records the current time as the end time _Tf . CPU211 is, by subtracting the start time _{T s} from the end time _{T f,} to calculate the time of character creation time. After step S509, the processes of steps S520 to S529 and steps S530 to 535 are executed in parallel.

  In step S510, the CPU 211 determines whether or not the character key that has been pressed is the same as the character key that has been pressed the most recent m times, and if all are the same, the CPU 211 interrupted and recorded the character creation time measurement. The start time Ts is rejected, and control proceeds to step S529. If all are not the same, control proceeds to step S504. Note that an appropriate value is preset for the threshold value m. As described above, when the same character is continuously input a predetermined number of times, the possibility of an erroneous operation is high, so the measurement of the character creation time is interrupted and the invalidation of the tapping operation is canceled.

  In step S520, the CPU 211 starts the second timer and starts counting the second elapsed time. In the embodiment, the time after the control time t or after the specific key is pressed is called “interval”, and the time during the second elapsed time is counted is called “interval”. Further, the control in the “between” time is called “between” control.

  In step S <b> 521, the CPU 211 counts up the operation number B of “between”. The “interval” operation count B is the number of times the second timer is started, and indicates the number of times the second elapsed time has been started.

  In step S522, the CPU 211 checks whether a pointer operation has been detected within the control time t ′ from the start of counting of the second timer (that is, when the second elapsed time is equal to or less than the control time t ′). If detected, the CPU 211 ends the second timer, the control proceeds to step S529, and if no pointer operation is detected, the control proceeds to step S523. The feature of the control in the “interval” time is that even if the tapping operation is detected before the pointer operation, the tapping operation is regarded as a malfunction and ignored because of the tapping invalidation mode. A tapping operation after the pointer operation is considered to be an operation for selecting and executing something. Therefore, when the CPU 211 detects a pointer operation during the “between” time, the CPU 211 ends the tapping invalidation mode and validates the tapping operation.

  In step S523, the CPU 211 checks whether the character input from the keyboard 261 is detected within the control time t ′ from the start of the second timer count (that is, when the second elapsed time is equal to or less than the control time t ′). If character input is detected, control proceeds to step S523, and if character input is not detected, control proceeds to step S529.

  In step S524, the CPU 211 ends the counting of the second timer. That is, the “between” control ends.

In step S525, the CPU 211 increments the time- _out count _Tout by one. Note that the initial value of the time- _out count _Tout is zero.

In step S526, the CPU 211 compares the time- _out count _Tout with the set value _Tth . If the time- _out count T _out is greater than or equal to the set value T _th , control proceeds to step S527, and if the time- _out count T _out is less than the set value T _th , control proceeds to step S529. Note that an appropriate value is set in advance as the set value T _th .

In step S527, the CPU 211 determines whether or not the time- _out count T _out is equal to or greater than the operation count B / 2 of “interval”. When the time- _out count _Tout is equal to or greater than the “interval” operation count B / 2, a new control time t ′ is calculated as t ′ = t ′ (1 + 0.1), and a new control time t ′ is set. . When the time- _out count T _out is less than “interval” operation count B / 2, a new control time t ′ is calculated as t ′ = t ′ (1−0.1), and the new control time t ′ is calculated. Set.

Note that t ′ is t ′ _min or more and t ′ _max or less. That is, when the calculated t ′ is less than t ′ _min , t ′ = t _min is set. Further, when the calculated t ′ is larger than t ′ _max , t ′ = t _max is set. Note that appropriate values are set in advance for t ′ _min and t ′ _max .

In step S518, the CPU 211 clears (= 0) the time- _out count T _out and the “interval” run count B.

  In step S529, the CPU 211 ends tapping invalidation (cancels the tapping invalidation mode). That is, when CPU 211 detects tapping based on information from touch pad controller 253, CPU 211 executes processing for tapping.

  In step S530, the CPU 211 obtains the number of characters created during the character creation time (number of characters created) n. If the input mode is a single-byte alphanumeric character, one character is created for each keystroke. If the input mode is Japanese romaji input, one to two characters are created for one to three keystrokes. For example, when “fujitsu” and the keyboard 261 are pressed, if the input mode is a single-byte alphanumeric character, “fujitsu” is displayed, and therefore the number of character creations is seven. If the input mode is Japanese romaji input, “Fujitsu” is displayed, so the number of characters created is four. Note that the number of characters created here is the number of characters before conversion into kanji or symbols. The reason for not using the number of characters after conversion is that the number of characters after conversion is less than the number of characters before conversion, so it is considered that the number is not suitable for actual use.

In step S531, the CPU 211 updates the sample number S. When the number of samples before the update and S _n, the number of samples S _{N + 1} after updating is calculated by _{S N + 1 = S N +} n.

In step S532, CPU 211 is a sample number S _{n + 1} of the updated compared with a set value S _th, when the number of samples S _{N + 1} after updating is equal to or greater than the set value S _th, the control proceeds to step S534, If the updated sample number S _{N + 1} is less than the set value S _th , the control proceeds to step S533. Note that the set value S _th is set in advance.

In step S <b> 533, the CPU 211 stores the updated sample number Sn _{+ 1} and the accumulated time T in the memory 211. The accumulated time T is the total of the character creation times calculated (measured) so far, and is calculated as T = ΣT _N = Σ (T _f −T _s ).

In step S534, the CPU 211 calculates and sets a new control time t. The new control time t is obtained by dividing the accumulated time (that is, the total of character creation times calculated (measured) so far) by the current number of samples (that is, the total number of character creations acquired so far). Calculated. That is, t = (ΣT _N ) / S _{N + 1} is calculated. Note that t is t _min or more and t _max or less. That is, if the calculated t is less than t _min , t = t _min is set. When the calculated t is larger than t _max , t = t _max is set. Note that appropriate values are set in advance for t _min and t _max .

In step S535, the CPU 211 initializes the number of samples S _{N + 1} (= 0).
As described above, in the input control method according to the embodiment, the control times t and t are based on the actual operation such as the average character creation time of the operating user and the presence / absence of character input during the “between” time. Since 'is calculated, operability suitable for each user can be provided.

  Here, input control and measurement time will be described for each of the three examples when characters are input.

  FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a case where a space is input after a word is input and the next character input is started within the control time t ′.

  FIG. 5A shows a case where “Fujitsu” is input as an input character, a space is input, “Kimitsu” is input, and the ENTER key is input.

  Regarding Fujitsu input, the input after F is input within the control time t after the immediately preceding character is input.

  Regarding the input of Kimitsu, the input after K is input within the control time t after the immediately preceding character is input.

In FIG. 5A, when F is input, measurement of the character creation time is started and the mode is shifted to the tapping invalidation mode. When the space (space keystroke) is inputted is, it completed the character creation time measurement, character creation time T ₁ of the from the input of the F to the input of a space is obtained. For the Fujitsu input, 7 is obtained as the number of characters created. Also, the count of the first elapsed time is started each time each character is input. The left arrow in FIG. 5A indicates the start of counting the first elapsed time, and the right arrow indicates the measurement of the character creation time.

  When a space is input, the counting of the second elapsed time is started, “interval” control is performed, and it is checked whether there is a character input or a pointer operation within the control time t ′.

When K is input within the control time t ′, the “between” control is terminated and measurement of the character creation time is started. When the ENTER key is input, measurement of the character creation time is completed and K is input. measurement time T ₂ of the until the eNTER key is input obtained from. Regarding the input of Kimitsu, 7 is obtained as the number of characters created.

The sample number S ₁ after input of Kimitsu in FIG. 5A is calculated as S ₁ = S ₀ + 7 + 7, where S ₀ is the number of samples so far.

The cumulative time T after the input of Kimitsu in FIG. 5A is calculated as T = T ₀ + T ₁ + T ₂ , where T ₀ is the cumulative time so far.

  FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a case where ENTER is input after the word is input and the next character input is started within the control time t ′.

  FIG. 5B shows a case where “Fujitsu” is input as an input character, the ENTER key is input, “Kimitsu” is input, and the ENTER key is input.

  Regarding Fujitsu input, the input after F is input within the control time t after the immediately preceding character is input.

  Regarding the input of Kimitsu, the input after K is input within the control time t after the immediately preceding character is input.

In FIG. 5B, when F is input, measurement of the character creation time is started and the mode is shifted to the tapping invalidation mode. When the ENTER key is input (ENTER key keying), completed the character creation time measurement, the measurement time T ₁ of the from the input of the F to the input of the ENTER key is obtained. For the Fujitsu input, 7 is obtained as the number of characters created.

  When the ENTER key is input, the counting of the second elapsed time is started, “interval” control is performed, and it is checked whether there is a character input or a pointer operation within the control time t ′. At this time, as long as there is no pointer operation, the tapping operation is invalid. The pointer operation and the click operation are valid. In FIG. 5B, the input of “K” is started within the control time t ′.

When K is input within the control time t ′, the “between” control is terminated and measurement of the character creation time is started. When the ENTER key is input, measurement of the character creation time is completed and K is input. measurement time T ₂ of the until the eNTER key is input obtained from. Regarding the input of Kimitsu, 7 is obtained as the number of characters created.

The sample number S ₂ after the input of Kimitsu in FIG. 5B is S = S ₁ (= S ₀ +7), where S _{0 is} the number of samples before the “Fujitsu” input and S ₁ is the number of samples after the “Fujitsu” input. Calculated as +7.

The cumulative time T after the input of Kimitsu in FIG. 5B is calculated as T = T ₀ + T ₁ + T ₂ where the cumulative time before the input of “Fujitsu” is T ₀ .

FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating a case where the next character input is started after the control time t ′.
FIG. 5C shows a case where “Fujitsu” is input as an input character, the ENTER key is input, “Kimitsu” is input after the control time t ′, and the ENTER key is input.
Indicates the case. In FIG. 5C, it is assumed that Japanese romaji input is performed.

  Regarding the input of “Fujitsu”, the input after “f” is input within the control time t after the immediately preceding character is input.

  Regarding the input of “Kimitsu”, the input after “k” is input within the control time t from the input of the immediately preceding character.

In FIG. 5C, when “f” is entered, measurement of the character creation time starts, and when ENTER is entered (ENTER key is pressed), the measurement of the character creation time is terminated. measurement time T ₁ until the input is obtained. Regarding the input of “Fujitsu”, 4 is obtained as the number of character creations. Here, since “Fujitsuu” is input by inputting Roman characters, the number of characters created is different even with the number of keystrokes of the keyboard similar to FIG. 5B.

  When ENTER is input, counting of the second elapsed time is started, “interval” control is performed, and it is checked whether there is a character input or a pointer operation within the control time t ′. At this time, as long as there is no pointer operation, the tapping operation is invalid. The pointer operation and the click operation are valid. In FIG. 5C, since there was no character input or pointer operation within the control time t ', the invalidation of tapping is canceled (transition to the normal mode) when the control time t' elapses.

When K is input after the control time t ', measurement of the character creation time starts. When the ENTER key is input, measurement of the character creation time ends, and the measurement time from the input of K to the input of the ENTER key T ₂ is obtained. For the input of “Kimitsu”, 3 is obtained as the number of characters created.

The sample number S after “Kimitsu” input in FIG. 5C is S = S ₁ (= S), where S _{0 is} the number of samples before “Fujitsu” input and S ₁ is the number of samples after “Fujitsuu” input. ₀ + 4) +3.

The accumulated time T after “Kimitsu” input in FIG. 5C is calculated as T = T ₀ + T ₁ + T _2, where T ₀ is the accumulated time before “Fujitsu” input.

  According to the notebook PC of the embodiment, since the tapping operation is invalidated during character input, malfunction can be prevented.

  According to the notebook PC of the embodiment, since the pointer operation and the click are effective even during character input, the convenience for the user can be improved.

  According to the notebook PC of the embodiment, when it is desired to perform the tapping operation after the pointer operation in the “between” time, the invalidation of the tapping operation can be canceled by the pointer operation. This eliminates the need for an extra operation such as clicking a click button in order to cancel the invalidation of the tapping operation as in the prior art, and improves convenience.

  According to the notebook PC of the embodiment, since the calculation of the control times t and t ′ is updated based on the actual operation of the user, operability suitable for the user can be provided.

  In the above embodiment, a notebook PC has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied even to a form in which an external keyboard with a touch pad is connected to a tablet terminal or a stationary personal computer wirelessly or by wire. Is possible.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the computer system.
The input control method described above can naturally be realized by a general computer system. In FIG. 6, the information processing apparatus 11 for realizing the input control method according to the embodiment includes a main body 12 and a memory 13. The main body 12 corresponds to the CPU 211, and the memory 13 corresponds to a storage device such as the memory 221.

  A program for performing the input control method according to the embodiment is stored in the memory 13, and the program is executed by the main body 12. Thus, various processes according to the embodiment can be realized.

  Such a program can be loaded into the information processing apparatus 11 via the network 21 from the program provider side. The program is stored in a portable storage medium 31 that is commercially available and distributed. Such a portable storage medium 31 is set in the information processing apparatus 11, read into the memory 13, and executed by the main body 12. It is also possible.

  Various types of storage media such as CD-ROMs, flexible disks, optical disks, and magneto-optical disks can be used as the portable storage medium 31, and the program code itself read from such a storage medium is an embodiment. Realize the function.

Regarding the above embodiment, the following additional notes are disclosed.
(Appendix 1)
Keyboard,
A touch pad including a pad portion and a click button;
A detection unit that detects a character input operation on the keyboard, a pointer operation on the pad unit, a tapping operation on the pad unit, and a click operation on the click button;
A processing unit that performs information processing in response to a character input operation, a pointer operation, a tapping operation, and a click operation detected by the detection unit,
When a character input operation is detected by the detection unit, the processing unit performs information processing for the pointer operation or the click operation, and shifts to a tapping invalidation mode in which information processing corresponding to the tapping operation is not performed. And
The character input operation is not detected by the detection unit within a first designated time after the character input operation is detected, and the character input operation is performed by the detection unit within a predetermined time after the first designated time. When not detected, the processing unit ends the tapping invalidation mode.
(Appendix 2)
The character input device according to claim 1, wherein when the pointer operation is detected by the detection unit during a predetermined time after the first designated time, the processing unit ends the tapping invalidation mode. .
(Appendix 3)
The character input device according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the first designated time is calculated based on a creation time per character in the character input operation.
(Appendix 4)
A keyboard and a touch pad including a pad portion and a click button, and detects a character input operation on the keyboard, a pointer operation on the pad portion, a tapping operation on the pad portion, a click operation on the click button, and the character In a computer that executes information processing in response to an input operation, the pointer operation, the tapping operation, and the click operation,
When a character input operation is detected, a transition is made to a tapping invalidation mode in which information processing for the pointer operation or the click operation is performed and information processing corresponding to the tapping operation is not performed.
The tapping is disabled when the character input operation is not detected within a first designated time after the character input operation is detected and the character input operation is not detected within a predetermined time after the first designated time. An input control program that executes processing to end the conversion mode.
(Appendix 5)
The input control program according to appendix 4, wherein the tapping invalidation mode is terminated when the pointer operation is detected during a predetermined time after the first designated time.
(Appendix 6)
The input control program according to appendix 4 or 5, wherein the first designated time is calculated based on a creation time per character in the character input operation.
(Appendix 7)
A keyboard and a touch pad including a pad portion and a click button, and detects a character input operation on the keyboard, a pointer operation on the pad portion, a tapping operation on the pad portion, a click operation on the click button, and the character An input control method executed by a computer that executes information processing in response to an input operation, the pointer operation, the tapping operation, and the click operation,
When a character input operation is detected, a transition is made to a tapping invalidation mode in which information processing for the pointer operation or the click operation is performed and information processing corresponding to the tapping operation is not performed.
The tapping is disabled when the character input operation is not detected within a first designated time after the character input operation is detected and the character input operation is not detected within a predetermined time after the first designated time. The input control method which has a process which complete | finishes a conversion mode.
(Appendix 8)
The input control method according to appendix 7, wherein when the pointer operation is detected during a predetermined time after the first designated time, the tapping invalidation mode is terminated.
(Appendix 9)
The input control method according to appendix 7 or 8, wherein the first designated time is calculated based on a creation time per character in the character input operation.

101 notebook personal computer 201 main body 211 CPU
221 Memory 231 PCH
241 Video controller 251 Microcomputer 252 Keyboard controller 253 Touch pad controller 261 Keyboard 271 Touch pad 272 Pad part 273-1, 273-2 Click button 281 Palm rest 301 Display part

Claims (5)

Keyboard,
A touch pad including a pad portion and a click button;
A detection unit that detects a character input operation on the keyboard, a pointer operation on the pad unit, a tapping operation on the pad unit, and a click operation on the click button;
A processing unit that executes information processing in response to the character input operation, the pointer operation, the tapping operation, and the click operation detected by the detection unit,
When the detection unit detects the character input operation, the processing unit performs information processing for the pointer operation or the click operation, and enters a tapping invalidation mode in which information processing corresponding to the tapping operation is not performed. Migrate,
The character input operation is not detected by the detection unit within a first designated time after the character input operation is detected, and the character input operation is performed by the detection unit within a predetermined time after the first designated time. When not detected, the processing unit ends the tapping invalidation mode. 2. The character according to claim 1, wherein, when the pointer operation is detected by the detection unit during a predetermined time after the first designated time, the processing unit ends the tapping invalidation mode. Input device. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the first designated time is calculated based on a creation time per character in the character input operation. A keyboard and a touch pad including a pad portion and a click button, and detects a character input operation on the keyboard, a pointer operation on the pad portion, a tapping operation on the pad portion, a click operation on the click button, and the character In a computer that executes information processing in response to an input operation, the pointer operation, the tapping operation, and the click operation,
When the character input operation is detected, a transition is made to a tapping invalidation mode in which information processing for the pointer operation or the click operation is performed and information processing corresponding to the tapping operation is not performed,
The tapping is performed when the character input operation is not detected within a first designated time after the character input operation is detected and the character input operation is not detected within a predetermined time after the first designated time. An input control program that executes processing to end invalidation mode. A keyboard and a touch pad including a pad portion and a click button, and detects a character input operation on the keyboard, a pointer operation on the pad portion, a tapping operation on the pad portion, a click operation on the click button, and the character An input control method executed by a computer that executes information processing in response to an input operation, the pointer operation, the tapping operation, and the click operation,
When the character input operation is detected, a transition is made to a tapping invalidation mode in which information processing for the pointer operation or the click operation is performed and information processing corresponding to the tapping operation is not performed,
The tapping is performed when the character input operation is not detected within a first designated time after the character input operation is detected and the character input operation is not detected within a predetermined time after the first designated time. An input control method including a process of terminating invalidation mode.

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