JP2018005514A - Electronic device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the technology on character editing operation.SOLUTION: An electronic device (electronic device, for example) 1 includes a housing, a plurality of physical keys arranged along an edge of the housing, a controller 10 which executes character editing processing on the basis of operation on the physical keys, and a storage 9 for storing character strings. Upon execution of character editing processing, the controller 10 allocates at least one or more characters in a character string to each of the physical keys. Upon detection of operation on the physical keys, the controller 10 receives editing of characters allocated to the physical keys.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present application relates to an electronic device, a control method, and a program.

  Some electronic devices edit a character by moving a cursor to an editing position (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-32894 A

  In the above-described electronic device, for example, in the case of a visually handicapped person, it is difficult to align the cursor with the editing position, so there is room for improvement in technology relating to character editing operations.

  An electronic apparatus according to one aspect stores a casing, a plurality of physical keys arranged along an edge of the casing, a controller that executes character editing processing based on an operation of the physical key, and a character string And when the controller executes the character editing process, the controller individually assigns at least one character of the character string to a plurality of the physical keys, and assigns them to the physical keys. When an operation is detected, editing of the character assigned to the physical key is accepted.

  A control method according to one aspect is a method for controlling an electronic device comprising a housing, a plurality of physical keys arranged along an edge of the housing, and a storage for storing a character string. Performing a character editing process based on an operation of a key; and executing the character editing process, individually assigning at least one or more characters of the character string to the plurality of physical keys; Receiving an edit of a character assigned to the physical key when an operation on the physical key is detected.

  A program according to one aspect is based on an operation of the physical key in an electronic device including a housing, a plurality of physical keys arranged along an edge of the housing, and a storage for storing a character string. A step of executing a character editing process; a step of individually assigning at least one or more characters of the character string to a plurality of the physical keys; and an operation on the physical key. Is detected, the step of accepting editing of the character assigned to the physical key is executed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the electronic device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of key units according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the touch screen according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the touch screen according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first key data according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of second key data according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of the first key data according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example of the second key data according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an execution screen for character input processing according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining screen transitions associated with the character input process according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of document data. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of assignment of characters or character strings to the first key. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen related to character editing processing. FIG. 27 is a diagram showing another example of the display screen related to the character editing process. FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of an example of control by the electronic device. FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to an example of character editing processing by the electronic device. FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating another arrangement example of the plurality of physical keys provided in the electronic device. FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating another arrangement example of the plurality of physical keys provided in the electronic device. FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating another example of the structure related to the operation surface of the physical key provided in the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating another example of the structure related to the operation surface of the physical key provided in the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating another example of the functional configuration of the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating another structure example of the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating another structure example of the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating another structure example of the electronic device according to the embodiment. FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating another structure example of the electronic device according to the embodiment. FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating another example of the structure of the electronic device according to the embodiment. FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating another example of the structure of the electronic device according to the embodiment. FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating another example of the structure of the electronic device according to the embodiment. FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating another structure example of the electronic device according to the embodiment.

  A plurality of embodiments for carrying out electronic equipment, a control method, and a program concerning this application are described in detail, referring to drawings.

  The electronic device according to the present application may be a device such as an electronic device, a mobile phone, a tablet, a portable personal computer, a media player, an electronic book reader, a navigator, a wearable device, or a game machine.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the electronic device according to the embodiment. In the following description, the same code | symbol may be attached | subjected about the same component. In the following description, overlapping description may be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 1 includes a touch screen display 2, a physical key unit 3, an illuminance sensor 4, a proximity sensor 5, a communication unit 6, a receiver 7, a microphone 8, and a storage 9. , Controller 10, speaker 11, camera 12, camera 13, connector 14, and motion sensor 15.

  The touch screen display 2 includes a display 2A and a touch screen 2B. The display 2A and the touch screen 2B may be positioned, for example, may be positioned side by side, or may be positioned apart from each other. When the display 2A and the touch screen 2B are positioned so as to overlap each other, for example, one or more sides of the display 2A may not be along any of the sides of the touch screen 2B.

  The display 2A is a liquid crystal display (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL display (OELD: Organic Electro-Luminescence Display), or an inorganic EL display (IELD: Inorganic Electro-Luminescence Display). The display 2A displays objects such as characters, images, symbols, and graphics on the screen. The screen including the object displayed on the display 2A includes a screen called a lock screen, a screen called a home screen, and an application screen displayed during execution of the application. The home screen may be called a desktop, a standby screen, an idle screen, a standard screen, an application list screen, or a launcher screen.

  The touch screen 2B detects contact or proximity of a finger, pen, stylus pen, or the like to the touch screen 2B. The touch screen 2B can detect a position on the touch screen 2B when a plurality of fingers, pens, stylus pens, or the like are in contact with or close to the touch screen 2B. In the following description, a position where a plurality of fingers, pens, stylus pens, and the like detected by the touch screen 2B are in contact with or close to the touch screen 2B is referred to as a “detection position”. The touch screen 2B notifies the controller 10 of the contact or proximity of the finger to the touch screen 2B together with the detection position. The touch screen 2B may notify the controller 10 of detection of contact or proximity by notification of the detection position. The touch screen display 2 having the touch screen 2B can execute operations that can be performed by the touch screen 2B. In other words, the operation performed by the touch screen 2B may be performed by the touch screen display 2.

  The controller 10 receives at least one of the contact or proximity detected by the touch screen 2B, the detection position, the change in the detection position, the time that the contact or proximity has continued, the interval at which contact or proximity was detected, and the number of times the contact was detected. The type of gesture is determined based on the one. The electronic device 1 having the controller 10 can execute operations that the controller 10 can perform. In other words, the operation performed by the controller 10 may be performed by the electronic device 1. The gesture is an operation performed on the touch screen 2B using a finger. The operation performed on the touch screen 2B may be performed on the touch screen display 2 having the touch screen 2B. The gestures that the controller 10 determines via the touch screen 2B include, for example, touch, long touch, release, swipe, tap, double tap, long tap, drag, flick, pinch in, and pinch out. It is not limited to.

  The detection method of the touch screen 2B may be any method such as a capacitance method, a resistive film method, a surface acoustic wave method, an infrared method, and a load detection method.

  The physical key unit 3 receives an operation input from the user. The physical key unit 3 includes a first key unit 3a, a second key unit 3b, a third key unit 3c, and a touch screen 3d.

  An arrangement example of the physical key unit 3 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of key units according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the touch screen 3d according to the embodiment.

The electronic device 1 according to the embodiment includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 1h, and the plane of the electronic device 1 has a substantially rectangular shape as shown in FIG. The first key unit 3a is configured to include a total of 10 physical key physical keys _3a 1, · · ·, physical key _{3a 10} shown in FIG. The physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., The physical keys 3a ₁₀ are arranged in a line along the left side edge F1 of the casing 1h of the electronic device 1 in a direction parallel to the y-axis shown in FIG. The The second key unit 3b includes a total of ten physical keys, that is, the physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., And the physical key 3b ₁₀ shown in FIG. The physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., The physical keys 3b ₁₀ are arranged in a line along the right side edge F2 of the housing 1h of the electronic device 1 in a direction parallel to the y-axis shown in FIG. The The third key unit 3c includes a total of three physical keys, that is, a physical key 3c ₁ , a physical key 3c ₂ , and a physical key 3c ₃ shown in FIG. The physical key 3c ₁ , the physical key 3c ₂ , and the physical key 3c ₃ are arranged in a line in a direction parallel to the x axis shown in FIG. 2 along the edge F3 on the bottom side of the casing 1h of the electronic device 1. Be placed. The number of physical keys constituting each of the first key unit 3a, the second key unit 3b, and the third key unit 3c shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and is necessarily constituted by the same number of physical keys as the example shown in FIG. It does not have to be. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., The physical key 3a ₁₀ are arranged along the edge F1 on the left side of the housing 1h of the electronic device 1, but constitute the outline of the touch screen display. It may be arranged along one side. Similarly, the physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., The physical key 3b ₁₀ may be arranged along one side constituting the outline of the touch screen display. Similarly, the physical key 3c ₁ , the physical key 3c ₂ , and the physical key 3c ₃ may be arranged along one side constituting the outline of the touch screen display.

The physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., The physical key 3a ₁₀ constituting the first key unit 3a can detect key presses. The physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., The physical key 3b ₁₀ constituting the second key unit 3b can detect key presses. The physical key 3c ₁ , the physical key 3c ₂ , and the physical key 3c ₃ constituting the third key unit 3c can detect pressing of the key. Each physical key may detect the pressing of each physical key constituting the first key unit 3a, the second key unit 3b, and the third key unit 3c individually. Each physical key constituting the first key unit 3a, the second key unit 3b, and the third key unit 3c is configured so that the surface texture of each physical key is different from that of other members of the electronic device 1. May be. Each physical key constituting the first key unit 3a, the second key unit 3b, and the third key unit 3c adopts an arbitrary shape such as a cylindrical shape, a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a roof shape as the shape of the surface of each physical key. You can do it. Each physical key constituting the first key unit 3a, the second key unit 3b, and the third key unit 3c may be configured to be pressed in two or more stages. The physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., The physical key 3a ₁₀ constituting the first key unit 3a are an example of a first physical key. The physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., The physical key 3b ₁₀ constituting the second key unit 3b are an example of a second physical key.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the touch screen 3d includes a touch screen 3da, a touch screen 3db, and a touch screen 3dc. The touch screen 3da is disposed below the first key unit 3a so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the electronic device 1 along a direction parallel to the y-axis shown in FIG. The touch screen 3db is arranged below the second key unit 3b so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the electronic device 1 along a direction parallel to the y-axis shown in FIG. The touch screen 3dc is arranged below the third key unit 3c so as to extend in the short direction of the electronic device 1 along the direction parallel to the x-axis shown in FIG. The touch screen 3da can detect contact and proximity of a conductive object such as a finger with respect to the first key unit 3a. The touch screen 3db can detect contact and proximity of a conductive object such as a finger with respect to the second key unit 3b. The touch screen 3dc can detect contact and proximity of a conductive object such as a finger with respect to the third key unit 3c.

An example of the structure of the touch screen 3d according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the touch screen 3d according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a part of the structure of the touch screen 3da among the touch screens included in the touch screen 3d. As shown in FIG. 4, the touch screen 3da includes a plurality of first electrodes 40a _1, and a plurality of second electrodes 40a _2. The first electrode 40a ₁ extends in the lateral direction of the touch screen 3da. The second electrode 40a ₂ extends in the longitudinal direction of the touch screen 3da. Touchscreen 3da places a plurality of first electrodes 40a ₁ and a plurality of second electrodes 40a _2, in a state of crossed in a grid. Touchscreen 3da at each position where the plurality of first electrodes 40a ₁ and a plurality of second electrodes 40a ₂ intersect (detection point), for detecting the contact or proximity of a finger to the first key unit 3a. When a conductive object approaches the touch screen 3da, capacitive coupling occurs between the touch screen 3da and the object. The touch screen 3da detects contact of a conductive object such as a finger by sensing capacitive coupling at a detection point. In the example shown in FIG. 4, due to the provision of the keyhole 40a ₃ for installing the physical key 3a ₁ ,..., The physical key 3a ₁₀ constituting the first key unit 3a, a plurality of first keys and electrodes 40a ₁ and a plurality of second electrodes 40a ₂ is without being crossed in a grid pattern, there is a portion disposed in a non-uniform state, but can perform the calibration of the detection point in the processing by the controller 10. As with the touch screen 2B, the detection method of the touch screen 3d may be any method such as a capacitance method, a resistance film method, a surface acoustic wave method, an infrared method, and a load detection method.

Based on the detection result of the touch screen 3da, the controller 10 can determine which of the physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., The physical key 3a ₁₀ constituting the first key unit 3a is touched. Based on the detection result of the first key unit 3a, the controller 10 can determine which of the physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., The physical key 3a ₁₀ constituting the first key unit 3a is pressed. . Based on the detection result of the touch screen 3db, the controller 10 can determine which of the physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., The physical key 3b ₁₀ constituting the second key unit 3b is touched. Based on the detection result of the second key unit 3b, the controller 10 can determine which of the physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., The physical key 3b ₁₀ constituting the second key unit 3b is pressed. . The controller 10 can determine which of the physical keys 3c ₁ , 3c ₂ , and 3c ₃ constituting the third key unit 3c is touched based on the detection result of the touch screen 3dc. . Based on the detection result of the third key unit 3c, the controller 10 determines which _{one of} the physical key 3c ₁ , the physical key 3c ₂ , and the physical key 3c ₃ constituting the third key unit 3c is pressed. Can be determined.

  For example, when the controller 10 detects both a touch on a physical key constituting the first key unit 3a and a touch on a physical key constituting the second key unit 3b via the touch screen 3d, the controller 10 Processing for touch can be prioritized and executed. The controller 10 detects the first touch on the physical key that constitutes the first key unit 3a and the touch on the physical key that constitutes the second key unit 3b, and detects the first via the touch screen 2B. When touches other than the key unit 3a and the second key unit 3b are detected, touches other than the first key unit 3a and the second key unit 3b can be handled as invalid operations.

  For example, the controller 10 performs touch gestures such as a long touch, a tap, a double tap, and a slide on the physical keys constituting the first key unit 3a and the physical keys constituting the second key unit 3b via the touch screen 3d. It may be detected.

  The illuminance sensor 4 detects illuminance. The illuminance is the value of the light beam incident on the unit area of the measurement surface of the illuminance sensor 4. The illuminance sensor 4 is used for adjusting the luminance of the display 2A, for example.

  The proximity sensor 5 detects the presence of a nearby object without contact. The proximity sensor 5 detects the presence of an object based on a change in a magnetic field or a change in a feedback time of an ultrasonic reflected wave. The proximity sensor 5 detects, for example, that the display 2A is close to the face. The illuminance sensor 4 and the proximity sensor 5 may be configured as one sensor. The illuminance sensor 4 may be used as a proximity sensor.

  The communication unit 6 communicates wirelessly. The wireless communication standards supported by the communication unit 6 include, for example, cellular phone communication standards such as 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, and short-range wireless communication standards. Cellular phone communication standards include, for example, LTE (Long Term Evolution), W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), WiMAX (registered trademark) (Worldwide InterPirality C, PD). Examples thereof include GSM (registered trademark) (Global System for Mobile Communications), PHS (Personal Handy-phone System), and the like. Examples of short-range wireless communication standards include IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth (registered trademark), IrDA (Infrared Data Association), NFC (Near Field Communication), and WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network). The WPAN communication standard includes, for example, ZigBee (registered trademark). The communication unit 6 may support one or more of the communication standards described above.

  The receiver 7 outputs the sound signal transmitted from the controller 10 as sound. The receiver 7 can output, for example, the sound of a moving image reproduced by the electronic device 1, the sound of music, and the voice of the other party during a call. The microphone 8 converts an input user's voice or the like into a sound signal and transmits the sound signal to the controller 10.

  The storage 9 stores programs and data. The storage 9 may be used as a work area for temporarily storing the processing result of the controller 10. The storage 9 may include any non-transitory storage medium such as a semiconductor storage medium and a magnetic storage medium. The storage 9 may include a plurality of types of storage media. The storage 9 may include a combination of a storage medium such as a memory card, an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk and a storage medium reader. The storage 9 may include a storage device used as a temporary storage area such as a RAM (Random Access Memory).

  The programs stored in the storage 9 include an application executed in the foreground or the background, and a support program (not shown) that supports the operation of the application. For example, when the application is executed in the foreground, a screen related to the application is displayed on the display 2A. The support program includes, for example, an OS. The program may be installed in the storage 9 via wireless communication by the communication unit 6 or a non-transitory storage medium.

  The storage 9 can store a control program 9A, a character input control program 9B, first key data 9C, second key data 9D, condition data 9E, document data 9F, setting data 9Z, and the like. The control program 9A can cooperate with various applications stored in the electronic device 1 when providing various functions. The control program 9A may cooperate with the cloud storage via the communication unit 6 and access files and data stored in the cloud storage. The cloud storage may store a part or all of the programs and data stored in the storage 9.

  The control program 9A can provide functions for realizing processes related to various operations of the electronic device 1. The function provided by the control program 9A includes a function of adjusting the brightness of the display 2A based on the detection result of the illuminance sensor 4. The functions provided by the control program 9A include a function for invalidating the operation on the touch screen 2B based on the detection result of the proximity sensor 5. The functions provided by the control program 9A include a function for realizing a call by controlling the communication unit 6, the receiver 7, the microphone 8, and the like. Functions provided by the control program 9 </ b> A include functions for controlling the photographing processing of the camera 12 and the camera 13. The functions provided by the control program 9A include a function for controlling communication with an external device connected through the connector 14. The function provided by the control program 9A includes a function of performing various controls such as changing information displayed on the display 2A according to a gesture determined based on the detection result of the touch screen 2B. Functions provided by the control program 9 </ b> A include functions for detecting movement, stop, and the like of the user carrying the electronic device 1 based on the detection result of the motion sensor 15.

  The character input control program 9B can provide a function for controlling character input executed in the electronic device 1. For example, when the character input control program 9B detects an operation on any one of the plurality of physical keys constituting the first key unit 3a, the second key unit 3b associated with the physical key where the operation is detected. It is possible to provide a function of assigning at least one character previously linked to the plurality of physical keys to each of the plurality of physical keys constituting the. The character input control program 9B can provide a function of reading out target information. The character input control program 9B can provide a function for editing characters.

The first key data 9C is key information assigned in advance to each of a plurality of physical keys constituting the first key unit 3a. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first key data 9C according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the first key data 9C, physical key _3a 1 constituting the first key unit 3a, · · ·, for each physical key _{3a 10,} "A", "or" “SA”, “TA”, “NA”, “HA”, “MA”, “YA”, “RA”, “WA” are assigned to be assigned. “A”, “KA”, “SA”, “TA”, “NA”, “HA” assigned to each of the physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., Physical key 3a ₁₀ constituting the first key unit 3a. ”,“ Ma ”,“ ya ”,“ ra ”,“ wa ”characters are A line, ka line, SA line, TA line, NA line, HA line, MA line, line, RA line, WA line Means each line. The first key data 9C is used when executing output corresponding to each of the physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., The physical key 3a ₁₀ constituting the first key unit 3a in a character input process described later.

The second key data 9D is key information assigned in advance to each of a plurality of physical keys constituting the second key unit 3b. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the second key data 9D according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the second key data 9D includes the second key data 9D for each physical key in which the operation is detected among the physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., The physical key 3a ₁₀ constituting the first key unit 3a. There are a plurality of character assignments for the physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., The physical key 3b ₅ constituting the key unit 3b. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₁ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected (3a ₁ = Oh), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _5, " The characters “a”, “i”, “u”, “e” and “o” are assigned. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₂ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected (3a ₂ = or), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _5, " It is set to assign the characters “ka”, “ki”, “ku”, “ke”, and “ko”. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₃ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected (3a ₃ = Is), the physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _5, " “S”, “Shi”, “Su”, “Se” and “So” are assigned. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₄ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected (3a ₄ = were), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _5, " It is set to assign the characters “ta”, “chi”, “tsu”, “te”, “to”. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₅ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected (3a ₅ = Do), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _5, " “N”, “Ni”, “Nu”, “Ne”, “N” characters are assigned. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₆ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected (3a ₆ = is), the physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _5, " “H”, “hi”, “fu”, “to” and “ho” are assigned. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₇ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected (3a ₇ = or), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _5, " “M”, “M”, “M”, “M” and “M” are assigned. For example, when an operation on the physical key 3a ₈ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected (3a ₈ =), the physical key 3b ₁ , the physical key 3b ₃ , and the physical key 3b ₅ are respectively It is set to assign the characters “ya”, “yu”, and “yo”. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₉ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected (3a ₉ = al), the physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _5, " “R”, “Ri”, “Ru”, “Re”, “R” are assigned. For example, when an operation on the physical key 3a ₁₀ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected (3a ₁₀ = wa), the physical key 3b ₁ , the physical key 3b ₃ , and the physical key 3b ₅ are respectively “Wa”, “O”, and “N” are assigned. The second key data 9D is used when executing output corresponding to each of the physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., And the physical key 3b ₅ constituting the second key unit 3b in a character input process described later. In the example shown in FIG. 6, in the second key data 9D, there is no assignment to the physical keys 3b ₆ ,..., The physical key 3b ₁₀ constituting the second key unit 3b, but other characters than the above Editing functions such as line feed, delete, and conversion may be set. It should be noted that a function for controlling the operation of the electronic device 1 may be associated with the physical keys 3c ₁ ,..., 3c ₃ .

With reference to FIG. 7, another example of the first key data 9C according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another example of the first key data according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the first key data 9C includes “abc”, “def”, “physical key 3a ₉ ” for each of the physical keys 3a ₁ ,. It is set to assign the characters “ghi”, “jkl”, “mno”, “pqrs”, “tuv”, “wxyz”, “./@”. The key data 9C shown in FIG. 7 is used when executing output corresponding to each of the physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., The physical key 3a ₉ constituting the first key unit 3a in the character input process described later. The In the example shown in FIG. 7, there is no character assignment for the physical key 3a _10. However, other than the above characters, editing functions such as line feed, deletion, conversion, etc. may be set.

Another example of the second key data 9D according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example of the second key data according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, in a case where operation on the physical keys 3a ₁ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected _(3a 1 = abc), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, each physical key 3b ₆ Is assigned to the characters “a”, “b”, “c”, “A”, “B”, “C”. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₂ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected _(3a 2 = def), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _6, " It is set to assign the characters “d”, “e”, “f”, “D”, “E”, “F”. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₃ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected _(3a 3 = ghi), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _6, " It is set to assign the characters “g”, “h”, “i”, “G”, “H”, “I”. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₄ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected _(3a 4 = jkl), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _6, " It is set to assign the characters “j”, “k”, “l”, “J”, “K”, “L”. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₅ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected _(3a 5 = mno), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _6, " It is set to assign the characters “m”, “n”, “o”, “M”, “N”, “O”. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₆ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected _(3a 6 = pqrs), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _8, " It is set to assign the characters “p”, “q”, “r”, “s”, “P”, “Q”, “R”, “S”. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₇ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected _(3a 7 = tuv), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _6, " It is set to assign the characters “t”, “u”, “v”, “T”, “U”, “V”. For example, if the operation on the physical key 3a ₈ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected _(3a 8 = wxyz), physical key _3b 1, · · ·, for each physical key 3b _8, " It is set to assign the characters “w”, “x”, “y”, “z”, “W”, “X”, “Y”, “Z”. For example, when an operation on the physical key 3a ₉ constituting the first key unit 3a is detected (3a ₉ = ./@), the physical key 3b ₁ , the physical key 3b ₂ , and the physical key 3b ₃ are respectively The characters “.”, “/”, And “@” are assigned. The second key data 9D is used when executing output corresponding to each of the physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., The physical key 3b ₈ constituting the second key unit 3b in a character input process described later. In the example shown in FIG. 8, in addition to characters other than those described above, editing functions such as line feed, deletion, conversion, etc., for a physical key to which no character is assigned among a plurality of physical keys constituting the second key data 9D. Etc. may be set.

  In the condition data 9E, various conditions for executing processing by the character input control program 9B are set. Specifically, in the condition data 9E, a character input process start condition, a character input process end condition, and the like of the character input control program 9B are set.

  The document data 9F includes information such as a character string and characters. The character string includes a plurality of characters. The characters include, for example, kanji, hiragana, katakana, alphabets and numbers. For example, the document data 9F is created by executing the character input control program 9B. For example, the document data 9F is obtained from another electronic device via the communication unit 6.

  The setting data 9Z includes information used for processing executed by the control program 9A.

  The controller 10 includes an arithmetic processing device. The arithmetic processing unit includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an SoC (System-on-a-Chip), an MCU (Micro Control Unit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and a coprocessor. It is not limited. The controller 10 controls various operations of the electronic device 1 to realize various functions.

  Specifically, the controller 10 can execute an instruction included in a program stored in the storage 9. The controller 10 can refer to the data stored in the storage 9 as necessary. The controller 10 controls the functional unit according to data and instructions. The controller 10 implements various functions by controlling the function unit. The functional unit includes, for example, the display 2A, the communication unit 6, the microphone 8, and the speaker 11, but is not limited thereto. The controller 10 may change the control according to the detection result of the detection unit. Examples of the detection unit include, but are not limited to, the touch screen 2B, the physical key unit 3, the illuminance sensor 4, the proximity sensor 5, the microphone 8, the camera 12, the camera 13, and the motion sensor 15.

  The controller 10 can realize processing related to various operations of the electronic device 1 by executing the control program 9A.

  By executing the character input control program 9B, the controller 10 can realize processing for controlling character input, character editing, and the like executed in the electronic device 1. For example, when the controller 10 detects an operation on any one of the plurality of physical keys constituting the first key unit 3a by executing the character input control program 9B, the controller 10 associates the operation with the detected physical key. A process of assigning at least one character previously linked to the plurality of physical keys to each of the plurality of physical keys constituting the second key unit 3b that is configured can be realized. The controller 10 is an example of a controller.

  The speaker 11 outputs the sound signal sent from the controller 10 as sound. The speaker 11 is used for outputting a ring tone and music, for example. One of the receiver 7 and the speaker 11 may also function as the other.

  The camera 12 and the camera 13 convert the captured image into an electrical signal. The camera 12 is an in camera that captures an object facing the display 2A. The camera 13 is an out camera that captures an object facing the opposite surface of the display 2A. The camera 12 and the camera 13 may be mounted on the electronic apparatus 1 in a functionally and physically integrated state as a camera unit that can be used by switching between the in-camera and the out-camera.

  The connector 14 is a terminal to which another device is connected. The connector 14 may be a general-purpose terminal such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), Light Peak (Thunderbolt (registered trademark)), and an earphone microphone connector. . The connector 14 may be a dedicated terminal such as a dock connector. Devices connected to the connector 14 include, but are not limited to, external storage, speakers, and communication devices, for example.

  The motion sensor 15 can detect various information for determining the operation of the user carrying the electronic device 1. The motion sensor 15 may be configured as a sensor unit including an acceleration sensor, an orientation sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetic sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, and the like.

  The electronic device 1 may include a GPS receiver and a vibrator in addition to the above functional units. The GPS receiver receives a radio signal in a predetermined frequency band from a GPS satellite. The GPS receiver demodulates the received radio signal and sends the processed signal to the controller 10. The GPS receiver supports calculation processing of the current position of the electronic device 1. The electronic device 1 may include a receiver that can receive a signal from a positioning artificial satellite other than a GPS satellite, and may execute a calculation process of the current position. The vibrator vibrates a part or the whole of the electronic device 1. The vibrator includes, for example, a piezoelectric element or an eccentric motor in order to generate vibration. The electronic device 1 is mounted with a functional unit that is naturally used to maintain the function of the electronic device 1 such as a battery, and a control unit that is naturally used to control the electronic device 1.

  The electronic device 1 may access a storage server on the cloud via the communication unit 6 and acquire various programs and data.

  An example of character input processing of the electronic device 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 10. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an execution screen for character input processing according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining screen transitions associated with the character input process according to the embodiment.

  When executing the character input process, the electronic device 1 displays the execution screen 20 shown in FIG. 9 on the display 2A. The execution screen 20 has a text display area 21, a first key area 22, and a second key area 23.

The text display area 21 displays characters input by the character input process. The first key area 22 includes areas 22a ₁ ,..., Area 22a ₁₀ . The areas 22a ₁ ,..., The area 22a ₁₀ are areas corresponding to the physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., The physical key 3a ₁₀ constituting the first key unit 3a. The regions 22a ₁ ,..., The region 22a ₁₀ are arranged in a line so as to be adjacent to the physical keys 3a ₁ ,..., The physical key 3a ₁₀ along the direction parallel to the y-axis shown in FIG. Is displayed. Regions _22a 1, · · ·, region _{22a 10} includes a physical key _3a 1, · · ·, to display an image of characters that are assigned to the physical key _{3a 10.} In the example shown in FIG. 9, the areas 22 a ₁ ,..., The area 22 a ₁₀ are “A”, “KA”, “SA”, “TA”, “NA”, “HA”, “MA”, “YA”. ”,“ Ra ”, and“ Wa ”. The second key area 23 includes areas 23b ₁ ,..., And area 23b ₁₀ . The areas 23b ₁ ,..., The area 23b ₁₀ are areas corresponding to the physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., And the physical key 3b ₁₀ constituting the second key unit 3b, respectively. The regions 23b ₁ ,..., The region 23b ₁₀ are arranged in a row so as to be adjacent to the physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., The physical key 3b ₁₀ along the direction parallel to the y axis shown in FIG. Is displayed. Region _22b 1, · · ·, region _{22b 10} the physical key _3b 1, · · ·, from among characters assigned in advance to physical key _{3b 10,} the physical keys _3a 1, · · ·, physical key _{3a 10} The image of the character corresponding to the operated physical key is displayed.

An example of screen transition in the character input process will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the electronic device 1 displays a character input process execution screen 20 on the display 2A (step S11). Subsequently, when the electronic device 1 detects a touch on the physical key 3a ₃ , the electronic device 1 executes an output corresponding to the physical key 3a ₃ (step S12). Specifically, the electronic device 1 outputs the read-out voice M1 of the character “sa” assigned to the physical key 3a ₃ from the speaker 11.

Subsequently, when the physical key 3a ₃ is pressed, the electronic device 1 executes an output corresponding to the physical key 3a ₃ (step S13). Specifically, the electronic device 1, a physical key _3b 1 associated with the physical key 3a _3, · · ·, each of the physical keys 3b _5, physical key _3b 1, · · ·, physical key 3b ₅ Assign at least one character previously associated with. For example, the characters “sa”, “shi”, “su”, “se”, “so” are assigned to each of the physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., And the physical key 3b ₅ , and the physical keys 3b ₁ ,. ..., images of the characters "sa", "shi", "su", "se", and "so" are stored in the areas 23b ₁ , ..., area 23b ₅ corresponding to the physical keys 3b ₅ respectively. Display.

Subsequently, when the electronic device 1 detects a touch on the physical key 3b ₃ , the electronic device 1 executes an output corresponding to the physical key 3b ₃ (step S14). Specifically, the electronic device 1 outputs the read-out voice M2 of the character “SU” assigned to the physical key 3b ₃ from the speaker 11.

Subsequently, when the physical key 3b ₃ is pressed, the electronic device 1 executes an output corresponding to the physical key 3b ₃ (step S15). Specifically, the electronic device 1 determines the input of the character “SU” assigned to the physical key 3 b ₃ and displays it in the text display area 21.

  In the above step S12, the electronic device 1 outputs the read-out sound of the character assigned to the physical key every time a predetermined time has passed since the electronic device 1 does not detect the touch to another physical key or the pressing of the physical key. You may repeat. When an editing function such as line feed, deletion, conversion, etc. is assigned to the physical key, a reading voice corresponding to the content of the corresponding editing function may be output. In step S12, the electronic device 1 does not need to perform any processing when there is no assignment of characters and editing functions to the physical key, and reads out that there is no notification or assignment by the vibrator. You may perform the output of an audio | voice, alerting | reporting by a buzzer sound, etc. Alternatively, the electronic device 1 may have a mechanism in which a physical key to which no character and no editing function are assigned cannot be pressed.

In step S <b> 13, when the electronic device 1 detects pressing of a physical key, the electronic device 1 may perform feedback by vibration of a vibrator or output of a sound effect from the speaker 11. In the above step S13, when the physical keys 3b ₁ ,..., The physical key 3b ₅ have a physical mechanism capable of expressing a braille pattern on the operation surface, the electronic device 1 is associated with the physical key 3a _3. physical key _3b 1 are, ..., to each physical key 3b _5, physical key _3b 1, ..., when allocating at least one of characters assigned in advance cord to a physical key 3b _5, each character A corresponding braille pattern may be displayed.

  In the description of FIG. 10 described above, when the electronic device 1 outputs a text-to-speech voice via the speaker 11, the electronic device 1 may highlight the corresponding character image on the display 2A. The electronic device may execute only highlighted display of the image of the corresponding character on the display 2A without executing the output of the character reading voice. The electronic device 1 may change the display mode of the character image displayed on the display 2A depending on whether the physical key is touched or when the physical key is pressed.

  In the present embodiment, the electronic apparatus 1 displays the images of the first key area 22 and the second key area 23 on the display 2A, but the present invention is not limited to this. The electronic device 1 may not display an image in the first key area 22 and the second key area 23 when inputting with the first key unit 3a and the second key unit 3b. The electronic device 1 may assign the content of the assignment of the first key unit 3a to the second key unit 3b and assign the content of the assignment of the second key unit 3b to the first key unit 3a.

  Next, an example of character editing processing by the electronic device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The character editing process includes a process of assigning a character or character string to be edited to a plurality of keys, and a process of editing the character assigned to the key. In the present embodiment, a case where the character editing process is realized by executing the character input control program 9B will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the character editing process may be provided as an editing program separately from the character input control program 9B.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of document data 9F according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the document data 9F includes information indicating a document composed of a plurality of lines, for example. The document includes a plurality of character strings. The electronic device 1 can edit, for example, document data 9F specified by the user, a character string input to the text display area 21, and the like.

  In the example shown in FIG. 11, the document data 9F includes information indicating nine lines of Japanese documents. The document data 9F includes a character string “What I can see you later” on the first line. The document data 9F includes a character string “I am looking forward to it” as the second line. The document data 9F includes a character string “Ask me a question” on the third line. The document data 9F includes a character string “This is the case of the example, but already” as the fourth line. The document data 9 </ b> F includes a character string “It takes time for an answer” as the fifth line. The document data 9 </ b> F includes a character string “Wouldn't you like it?” As the sixth line. The document data 9F includes a character string “Thank you for your patience” on the 7th line. The document data 9 </ b> F includes a character string “No excuse, but how good” as the eighth line. The document data 9F includes a character string “Thank you very much” as the ninth line. The document data 9F is a single document in which the character strings in the first to ninth lines are connected.

  The electronic device 1 can assign the character or character string to be edited to the first key unit 3a or the second key unit 3b by executing the character editing process of the character input control program 9B. The electronic device 1 can assign the character or character string to be edited to the first key unit 3a or the second key unit 3b in a plurality of patterns. For example, when the editing target is Japanese, the plurality of patterns have hiragana, single character, word, single line, and punctuation mark assignment patterns. The hiragana assignment pattern includes a pattern in which a character or character string to be edited is converted into hiragana and the hiragana is assigned to the first key unit 3a or the second key unit 3b for each character. The single character assignment pattern includes a pattern in which the character or character string to be edited is assigned to the first key unit 3a or the second key unit 3b in order, regardless of the type of character. The word assignment pattern includes a pattern in which a character string to be edited is assigned to the first key unit 3a or the second key unit 3b in the minimum unit of a language having a meaning and function that are grouped in grammar. The one-line assignment pattern includes a pattern in which a character string for each line of the text to be edited is assigned to the first key unit 3a or the second key unit 3b. The punctuation mark assignment pattern includes a pattern in which the character string to be edited is assigned to the first key unit 3a or the second key unit 3b in the unit of the punctuation mark or punctuation mark.

  In the embodiment, a case where the electronic device 1 realizes the first key unit 3a and the second key unit 3b with ten keys will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first key unit 3a and the second key unit 3b of the electronic device 1 may be realized with a number of keys greater than ten or may be realized with a number of keys smaller than ten. Further, the first key unit 3a and the second key unit 3b may be realized as different numbers of keys.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of assignment of characters or character strings to the first key 50. The example illustrated in FIG. 12 illustrates an example in which the user uses the electronic device 1 in a landscape orientation. The example shown in FIG. 12 shows an example of editing the document data 9F shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the electronic device 1 uses the movement to the front key group and the rear key group for the physical keys 3b ₁₀ and 3b ₁ out of the ten physical keys 3b of the second key unit 3b. A function to be selected by the user is assigned, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the electronic device 1 may use all of the ten physical keys 3b of the second key unit 3b as characters or character string assignment targets.

A pattern P1 indicates an allocation pattern in units of “Hiragana”. For example, when the hiragana assignment pattern is selected by the user, the electronic device 1 converts the kanji in the document data 9F into hiragana. For example, the electronic device 1 assigns each of the plurality of hiraganas in the order of the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₂ of the second key unit 3b. For example, when the document data 9F includes more hiragana characters than eight characters, the electronic apparatus 1 uses the ninth and subsequent hiraganas as the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b. ₃ and 3b ₂ can be repeatedly assigned.

A pattern P2 indicates an allocation pattern in units of “one character”. For example, the electronic device 1, a plurality of document data 9F each character, physical key _3b 9 of the second key unit _{3b, 3b 8, 3b 7,} 3b 6, 3b 5, 3b 4, the 3b 3, 3b ₂ Assign in order. For example, when the document data 9F includes more than eight characters, the electronic device 1 uses the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ and 3b ₂ can be repeatedly assigned.

A pattern P3 indicates an allocation pattern in units of “words”. For example, the electronic device 1 converts each of the plurality of words of the document data 9F to the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₂ of the second key unit 3b. Assign in order. For example, when the document data 9F includes more words than eight words, the electronic device 1 converts the _ninth and subsequent words into physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b _4. 3b ₃ and 3b ₂ can be repeatedly assigned in this order. In the example illustrated in FIG. 12, the electronic device 1 has been described with respect to the case where the document data 9F is converted into hiragana and divided into words, but is not limited thereto. For example, the electronic device 1 may classify words based on a character string in which hiragana and kanji are mixed without converting the document data 9F into hiragana.

A pattern P4 indicates an allocation pattern in units of “one line”. For example, the electronic device 1 converts each of the first to eighth character strings in the document data 9F into the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b _{4 of} the second key unit 3b. 3b ₃ and 3b ₂ are assigned in this order. For example, when the document data 9F includes more characters than eight lines, the electronic device 1 converts the character strings in the ninth and subsequent lines into physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b _4. 3b ₃ and 3b ₂ can be repeatedly assigned in this order.

In the example shown in FIG. 12, the electronic device 1 has “MA”, “B” as the pattern P 1 in each of the physical keys 3 b ₉ , 3 b ₈ , 3 b ₇ , 3 b ₆ , 3 b ₅ , 3 b ₄ , 3 b ₃ , 3 b _2. Assign each hiragana of “ta”, “go”, “ji”, “tsu”, “o”, “a”, “i”.

In the example shown in FIG. 12, the electronic device 1 uses the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₂ as “Pattern P2”. The characters “ma”, “ta”, “after”, “day”, “o”, “kai”, “i”, and “de” are assigned.

In the example shown in FIG. 12, the electronic device 1 uses the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₂ as “Pattern P3”. Also, the words "gojitsu", "aoi", "can", "ko", "wo", "heart town", and "ni" are assigned. In the present embodiment, the electronic device 1 describes a case where words are assigned by hiragana, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the electronic device 1 may classify a document including kanji and hiragana into words without converting the kanji in the document data 9F into hiragana.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 12, the electronic device 1 uses 1 of the document data 9F as the pattern P4 in each of the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b _2. Each character example in the 8th line from the line is assigned.

  In the present embodiment, the electronic device 1 has been described with respect to the case where the document data 9F is a horizontally written document, and thus displays a landscape editing screen. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the electronic device 1 may display a vertical editing screen even if the document data 9F is written horizontally.

  Next, an example of character editing processing by the electronic device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 26 are diagrams showing examples of display screens related to the character editing process. For example, when the electronic device 1 executes the Japanese character editing process using the character input control program 9B, the electronic device 1 displays the editing screens shown in FIGS. The edit screens shown in FIGS. 13 to 26 include an edit field 45. The third key unit 3c may be used for confirming the first key unit 3a and the second key unit 3b. The electronic device 1 may use some keys of the first key unit 3a or the second key unit 3b for the confirmation operation. For example, the electronic device 1 may use a key to which no pattern is assigned in the first key unit 3a or the first key unit 3b for the confirmation operation.

  The edit column 45 includes a column for displaying a document to be edited, characters, and the like. The edit field 45 is displayed between the first key unit 3a and the second key unit 3b. For example, when the touch screen display 2 is in the landscape orientation, the edit field 45 has the first key unit 3a disposed above and the second key unit 3b disposed below. For example, when the touch screen display 2 is vertically oriented, the edit field 45 has the first key unit 3a arranged on the left side and the second key unit 3b arranged on the right side.

When the electronic device 1 is requested to edit the text of the document data 9 </ b> F, the electronic device 1 displays the editing screen shown in FIG. 13 on the touch screen display 2. The electronic device 1 displays information indicating the document of the document data 9F in the edit column 45. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the electronic device 1 assigns each of the types of assignment patterns to each of the physical keys 3a ₁₀ , 3a ₉ , 3a ₈ , 3a ₇ , 3a ₆ , 3a ₅ of the first key unit 3a. ing. The electronic device 1, delete function characters are assigned to the physical keys 3a ₅ of the first key unit 3a. The electronic device 1 does not display the information assigned to the first key unit 3a on the touch screen display 2. In the scene shown in FIG. 13, since the allocation pattern is not fixed, the electronic device 1 does not assign a character or a character string to the second key unit 3b.

As shown in FIG. 14, the user performs a selection operation such as long touch, tap, or double tap on the physical key 3 a ₉ corresponding to “one character”. Selection operation includes, for example, a physical key 3a ₉ in temporarily selected state, the operation from the physical key 3c ₁ of the third key unit 3c for either physical key 3c _3. When the electronic device 1 detects a selection operation for the physical key 3a ₉ via the touch screen 3d, the electronic device 1 determines the selection state of the physical key 3a ₉ . In this case, the electronic device 1 outputs a sound such as “You have set a text to be read out” from the speaker 11. The electronic device 1 executes the character editing process to convert the document data 9F into the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , the second key unit 3b with a single character pattern corresponding to the selected physical key 3a ₉ . Assign to 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₂ .

In the example illustrated in FIG. 14, the electronic device 1 includes “MA” and “MA” of the document data 9F in each of the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b _2. Each of the letters “ta”, “after”, “day”, “o”, “kai”, “i”, “de” is assigned. The electronic device 1 assigns to each of the physical keys 3b ₁₀ and 3b ₁ a function for selecting the previous and next character group movement. When the “previous” physical key 3b ₁₀ is selected, the electronic device 1 assigns to the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₂ . A character group before the current character group can be newly assigned. When the “next” physical key 3b ₁ is selected, the electronic device 1 assigns to the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₂ . A character group next to the current character group can be newly assigned. For example, when the character group does not exist in front of or behind the displayed character group, the electronic device 1 notifies the physical keys 3b ₁₀ and 3b ₁ that no function is assigned or the character group does not exist. Also good.

As shown in FIG. 15, the user performs a temporary selection operation on the physical key 3b ₉ . The temporary selection operation includes, for example, an operation such as a touch on the physical key 3b ₉ . When the electronic device 1 detects the provisional selection operation of the physical key 3b ₉ via the touch screen 3d, the electronic device 1 outputs “ma” sound corresponding to the physical key 3b ₉ from the speaker 11 by a reading process. The reading process includes, for example, a process of converting data to be read into sound. Data to be converted as speech includes characters, character strings, and the like. Similarly, when the user touches the physical key 3b ₈ and the physical key 3b ₇ in order, the electronic device 1 outputs “ta” and “after” sounds from the speaker 11. In addition, when a character is a Chinese character, the electronic device 1 can output the reading of a character and the example which uses a character as a word with an audio | voice. For example, when the character is “after” the Chinese character, the electronic device 1 can read “go,...

  As described above, when editing the character or character string, the electronic device 1 can assign the character or character string to be edited to the predetermined first key 50 in a pattern designated by the user. The electronic device 1 can notify the user of the character or character string assigned to the first key 50 by voice. As a result, the user touches the second key unit 3b arranged along the edge F2 (the bottom side shown in FIG. 15) of the housing 1h of the electronic device 1, thereby confirming the character to be edited and the arrangement of the characters. This makes it easy to find the editing position in the editing field 45. By operating the second key unit 3b, the user can read out characters at his / her own pace or read out from a desired character, so that the efficiency of checking the editing position can be improved. Therefore, the electronic device 1 can improve the operability of searching for a location that the user wants to edit. The electronic device 1 can reduce the possibility that the user mistakes a part that the user wants to edit.

As shown in FIG. 16, when correcting the character “after”, the user performs a selection operation on the physical key 3 b ₇ . When the electronic device 1 detects a selection operation on the physical key 3b ₇ via the touch screen 3d, the electronic device 1 changes the physical key 3b ₇ to a selected state. The electronic device 1 accepts editing for the selected character, that is, enables the editing function. In this case, the electronic device 1 may display the “after” character in the edit field 45 corresponding to the physical key 3b ₇ in a display mode different from other characters. In the example illustrated in FIG. 16, the electronic apparatus 1 highlights the “after” character in a size larger than other characters. For example, the electronic device 1 may display a cursor for “after”. When the electronic device 1 accepts the editing, the electronic device 1 assigns a pattern type for inputting Japanese “kana” to the first key unit 3a.

As shown in FIG. 17, the electronic device 1 has “a line”, “ka line”, “sa line” of character input for each of the physical keys 3 a ₁₀ ,..., 3 a ₁ of the first key unit 3 a. , “Ta line”, “na line”, “ha line”, “ma line”, “ya line”, “ra line”, and “wa line”. In this case, the electronic device 1 can notify the user that the assigned character is assigned to the first key unit 3a. The electronic device 1 further displays a third key area 47 on the editing screen shown in FIG. The third key area 47 includes an area for displaying a plurality of software keys. The third key area 47 is provided at a position overlapping the touch screen 2B. The third key area 47 is provided along the first key unit 3a. That is, the third key area 47 is provided along the edge F1 of the housing 1h. In the third key area 47, a plurality of third keys 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e, and 54f are displayed. The plurality of third keys 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e, 54f of the present embodiment are arranged in a line from the left side of the screen to the right side along the first key unit 3a. The electronic device 1 displays a status notification column 44 and a third key region 47 on the editing screen so as to be between the first key unit 3a and the editing column 45. The electronic device 1 has a display size of the edit field 45 smaller than that of the edit field 45 shown in FIG. In the following description, the plurality of third keys 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e, and 54f are described as the third key 54 when not distinguished. In this case, the electronic device 1 maintains the assigned state of the second key unit 3b as shown in FIG.

  In the embodiment, the electronic apparatus 1 will be described with respect to an example in which the third key area 47 is provided along the first key unit 3a. For example, the electronic device 1 may provide the third key area 47 along the second key unit 3b. In the embodiment, the electronic apparatus 1 describes an example in which the status notification column 44 and the editing column 45 are provided on the editing screen having the third key area 47, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the electronic device 1 does not have to provide the status notification column 44 and the edit column 45 on the editing screen having the third key area 47. For example, the electronic device 1 may provide only one of the status notification column 44 and the editing column 45 on the editing screen having the third key area 47. For example, the electronic device 1 may provide the third key area 47 along the first key unit 3a and the second key unit 3b when the state notification column 44 and the edit column 45 are not provided on the editing screen.

As shown in FIG. 18, the user has a temporarily selected operation on the physical keys 3a ₁₀ of the first key unit 3a. When the electronic device 1 detects a temporary selection operation for the physical key 3a ₁₀ via the touch screen 3d, the electronic device 1 changes the physical key 3a ₁₀ to the temporary selection state. In this case, the electronic apparatus 1 outputs a sound such as “A row” from the speaker 11. The electronic device 1 assigns the input candidate corresponding to “A” and the conversion key to the third keys 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e, and 54f. In the example illustrated in FIG. 18, the electronic device 1 adds “a”, “i”, “u”, “e”, “o”, “conversion” to each of the third keys 54 a, 54 b, 54 c, 54 d, and 54 e. "Is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the user performs a selection operation on the third key 54 a to which the character “a” is assigned. When the electronic device 1 detects a selection operation on the third key 54a via the touch screen 2B, the electronic device 1 receives an input of a character corresponding to the third key 54a and changes the third key 54a to a selected state. The electronic device 1 displays the selected character in the status notification column 44 on the screen. In the example illustrated in FIG. 19, the electronic device 1 displays the character “a” corresponding to the selected third key 54 a in the status notification column 44.

As shown in FIG. 20, the user performs a temporary selection operation on the physical key 3a ₈ of the first key unit 3a to which “sa line” is assigned, and applies to the third key 54c to which “su” is assigned. The selection operation is being performed. When the electronic device 1 detects a temporary selection operation for the physical key 3a ₈ via the touch screen 3d, the electronic device 1 changes the physical key 3a ₈ to the temporary selection state. In this case, the electronic device 1 assigns the input candidate corresponding to “sa line” and the conversion key to the third keys 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e, and 54f. When the electronic device 1 detects a selection operation on the third key 54c, the electronic device 1 receives an input of a character corresponding to the third key 54c, and changes the third key 54c to a selected state. In the example illustrated in FIG. 20, the electronic device 1 displays the characters “su” corresponding to the selected third key 54 c added to the status notification column 44. In other words, the electronic device 1 displays the character string “Asu” of hiragana in the status notification column 44.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the user performs a selection operation on the third key 54 f of “conversion” in order to convert the inputted character. When the electronic device 1 detects a selection operation for the third key 54f via the touch screen 2B, the electronic device 1 changes the third key 54f to the selected state. In this case, the electronic device 1 acquires conversion candidates for the characters or character strings displayed in the status notification column 44. For example, the electronic device 1 acquires conversion candidates corresponding to characters or character strings from dictionary data, a server, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 22, when the electronic device 1 specifies a conversion candidate for a character or a character string, the electronic device 1 assigns the conversion candidate to the first key unit 3a. In the example illustrated in FIG. 22, the electronic device 1 acquires “Tomorrow”, “Tomorrow”, and “As” conversion candidates as conversion candidates for the character “ASU”. The electronic device 1 assigns the conversion candidates “Tomorrow”, “Tomorrow”, and “As” to each of the physical keys 3a ₁₀ , 3a ₉ , 3a ₈ of the first key unit 3a. In this embodiment, when the electronic device 1 does not display the conversion candidate, the electronic device 1 may display an image of the specified conversion candidate on the editing screen illustrated in FIG. In the present embodiment, the electronic device 1 describes a case where the status notification column 44 and the third key area 47 are erased from the editing screen when the conversion candidate is selected.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 22, the user performs a selection operation on the physical key 3a ₁₀ to which “Tomorrow” is assigned. When the electronic device 1 detects a selection operation for the physical key 3a ₁₀ via the touch screen 2B, the electronic device 1 changes the physical key 3a ₁₀ to a selected state. In this case, the electronic device 1 determines editing of the character assigned to the physical key 3b ₇ of the second key unit 3b. In the example shown in FIG. 22, the electronic apparatus 1 determines that “after” assigned to the physical key 3 b ₇ has been edited to “tomorrow”. In this case, the electronic apparatus 1 may display the confirmed character “Tomorrow” in the status notification column 44.

As shown in FIG. 23, the electronic device 1 reflects the edited character in information indicating the document displayed in the edit field 45. In the example illustrated in FIG. 23, the electronic device 1 changes “after” to be edited in the edit field 45 to “tomorrow” and highlights the “tomorrow” portion. The electronic device 1 newly assigns the edited “tomorrow” to the physical key 3b ₇ of the second key unit 3b to which “after” is assigned. The electronic device 1 notifies by voice that “Tomorrow” has been input.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 23, the electronic device 1 stores the document data 9 </ b> F in each of the physical keys 3 b ₉ , 3 b ₈ , 3 b ₇ , 3 b ₆ , 3 b ₅ , 3 b ₄ , 3 b ₃ , 3 b _{2 on} the editing screen. “Ma”, “Ta”, “Tomorrow”, “Sun”, “O”, “Meeting”, “I”, “De” are assigned. On the editing screen, the electronic device 1 assigns each type of assignment pattern to each of the physical keys 3a ₁₀ , 3a ₉ , 3a ₈ , 3a ₇ , 3a ₆ of the first key unit 3a. The electronic device 1, is assigned the Delete function of editing the physical key 3a _5.

For example, in FIG. 23, the electronic device 1, through the touch screen 3d, physical key _{3b 9, 3b 8, 3b 7} , 3b 6, 3b 5, 3b 4, 3b 3, tentatively selecting operation for one of the 3b ₂ Is detected, the character or character string assigned to the corresponding physical key 3 can be read out. For example, when the user touches the physical keys 3b ₇ and 3b ₆ in order, the user can recognize that the character of “day” is duplicated after “tomorrow” by reading out characters of the electronic device 1. The user performs a deletion operation on the electronic device 1 in order to delete the character “day”.

As shown in FIG. 24, the user performs a selection operation on the “delete” physical key 3a ₅ in order to set character deletion in units of one character. When the electronic device 1 detects the selection operation on the physical key 3a ₅ , the electronic device 1 determines that the deletion of the character or the character string is requested. In this case, the electronic device 1 assigns the character or character string to be edited to the second key unit 3b in character units. Therefore, the electronic device 1 determines that deletion of characters in units of one character has been requested. For example, the electronic device 1 may notify by voice output that the setting is deletion in units of one character.

As shown in FIG. 25, the user performs a selection operation on the physical key 3b ₆ for “day” in order to delete the character “day”. When the electronic device 1 detects a selection operation on the physical key 3b ₆ via the touch screen 3d, the electronic device 1 changes the physical key 3b ₆ to a selected state. In this case, the electronic device 1 confirms deletion of the selected character with respect to the user, and then deletes the character assigned to the physical key 3b ₆ . In the example shown in FIG. 25, the electronic device 1 deletes the “day” characters assigned to the physical key 3b ₆ from the document data 9F. For example, the electronic device 1 notifies the user that a character has been deleted by a reading process. In the example illustrated in FIG. 25, the electronic device 1 outputs a sound “day,... Deleted on Sunday” from the speaker 11.

As shown in FIG. 26, the electronic device 1 deletes the selected character from the document displayed in the edit field 45. The electronic device 1 reassigns the edited character to the second key unit 3b. For example, the electronic device 1 stores “ma” of the document data 9F in each of the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₂ of the second key unit 3b. Each of the letters “ta”, “akira”, “day”, “o”, “kai”, “i”, “de” is assigned. For example, when the user performs a temporary selection operation on the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₂ in order, the character of the electronic device 1 is read out. , You can check the edited characters. In the example shown in FIG. 26, the user can confirm that “later day” of the document displayed in the edit field 45 can be changed to “tomorrow”.

  As described above, when the user selects and operates the second key unit 3b to which the character or the character string is assigned, the electronic device 1 can edit the character or the character string assigned to the second key unit 3b. it can. For example, it is difficult for a visually impaired person to input characters, but it is more difficult to search for a corrected portion of a document. The electronic device 1 can specify the editing part of the document by operating the second key unit 3b, and can change and confirm the character or character string of the editing part. Can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, when the electronic device 1 edits characters in units of one character, even if the number of characters for one physical key increases, the character assigned to the physical key other than the editing target is not changed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the number of characters assigned to the physical key to be edited increases or decreases, the electronic device 1 may reassign the characters assigned to the physical keys to be edited after the editing is confirmed. For example, when the number of characters assigned to the physical key to be edited increases or decreases, the electronic device 1 may request the user to reassign the characters assigned to the physical keys to be edited or later.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 23 described above, the electronic device 1, a physical key _3b 9 of the second key unit _{3b, 3b 8, 3b 7,} 3b 6, 3b 5, 3b 4, 3b 3, in each of 3b ₂ The characters “ma”, “ta”, “tomorrow”, “day”, “o”, “kai”, “i”, “de” of the document data 9F are assigned. That is, unlike the other physical keys of the second key unit 3b, two characters are assigned to the physical key 3b ₇ by editing. For example, when the user wants to assign the edited character to the physical key of the second key unit 3b in units of one character, the user performs a selection operation on the physical key 3a ₉ of the first key unit 3a shown in FIG. When the electronic device 1 detects a selection operation on the physical key 3a ₉ via the touch screen 3d, the electronic device 1 changes the physical key 3a ₉ to a selected state. In this case, the electronic apparatus 1 may output a sound such as “You have set a text to be read out” from the speaker 11. The electronic device 1 executes the text editing processing, a character edited are assigned to the second key unit 3b, again assigned to the second key unit 3b in character pattern corresponding to the physical key 3a _9.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing another example of the display screen related to the character editing process. In the example illustrated in FIG. 27, the electronic device 1 includes the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , 3b ₄ , 3b ₃ , 3b ₂ in the second key unit 3b after editing. Each of the letters “ma”, “ta”, “akira”, “day”, “day”, “o”, “kai”, “i” is assigned. For example, when the user touches the physical keys 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ of the second key unit 3b in order, the characters “day” are duplicated after “Ming” and “Day” by reading out the electronic device 1. Can recognize that In this case, in order to delete the “day” character, the user performs an operation for deleting the “day” character assigned to the physical keys 3b ₆ and 3b ₅ of the second key unit 3b to the electronic device 1. Just do it. For example, when the electronic device 1 deletes a character assigned to the physical key of the second key unit 3b, the edited character is used as a physical key of the second key unit 3b automatically or in response to a user request. It may be reassigned.

  Next, a control processing procedure related to character editing by the electronic device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of an example of control by the electronic device 1. The processing procedure shown in FIG. 28 is realized by the controller 10 executing the character input control program 9B. The processing procedure shown in FIG. 28 is processing executed in a state where character editing is requested by the user.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the controller 10 of the electronic device 1 displays an editing screen on the display 2A (step S101). For example, the controller 10 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 14 on the display 2A. The controller 10 determines whether or not an operation on the first key unit 3a is detected via the touch screen 3d (step S102). If the controller 10 determines that an operation on the first key unit 3a has not been detected (No in step S102), the process proceeds to step S106 described later. If the controller 10 determines that an operation on the first key unit 3a is detected (Yes in step S102), the process proceeds to step S103. The controller 10 determines whether it is a temporary selection operation with respect to the 1st key unit 3a (step S103). If the controller 10 determines that the operation is a temporary selection operation for the first key unit 3a (Yes in step S103), the process proceeds to step S104.

  The controller 10 changes the physical key of the first key unit 3a that has detected the provisional selection operation to the selected state (step S104). For example, when the physical key of the first key unit 3a in the selected state already exists, the controller 10 can cancel the selected state of the physical key. The controller 10 reads out the character or character string assigned to the physical key of the first key unit 3a that has detected the provisional selection operation (step S105). For example, the controller 10 reads out a character or character string assigned to the physical key by a reading process.

  When the reading is finished, the controller 10 determines whether or not to finish the character editing (step S106). For example, the controller 10 determines to end the character editing when it detects a character editing end operation, an end request, or the like. When it is determined that the character editing is not finished (No in step S106), the controller 10 returns the process to step S102 already described. If it is determined that the character editing is to be ended (Yes in step S106), the controller 10 advances the process to step S107. The controller 10 deletes the editing screen from the display 2A (step S107). When the editing screen is deleted, the controller 10 ends the processing procedure shown in FIG.

  If the controller 10 determines that the operation is not a temporary selection operation to the first key unit 3a (No in step S103), the process proceeds to step S108. The controller 10 determines whether the selection operation is performed on the first key unit 3a (step S108). If the controller 10 determines that the operation is not a selection operation on the first key unit 3a (No in step S108), the process proceeds to step S106 already described. If the controller 10 determines that the operation is a selection operation on the first key unit 3a (Yes in step S108), the process proceeds to step S109. The controller 10 executes a character editing process (step S109). The character editing process will be described later. When the character editing process ends, the controller 10 advances the process to step S106 already described.

  FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to an example of a character editing process performed by the electronic device 1. The processing procedure shown in FIG. 29 is realized by the controller 10 executing the character input control program 9B. The processing procedure shown in FIG. 29 is the processing executed in step S109 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 29, the controller 10 of the electronic device 1 assigns characters to the second key unit 3b in a pattern corresponding to the first key unit 3a that has detected the selection operation (step S201). For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the controller 10 converts the characters of the document data 9F into the physical keys 3b ₉ , 3b ₈ , 3b ₇ , 3b ₆ , 3b ₅ , the second key unit 3b based on the selected pattern. _{3b 4,} 3b 3, assigned to 3b _2.

  The controller 10 determines whether an operation on the physical key of the second key unit 3b is detected via the touch screen 3d (step S202). If the controller 10 determines that an operation on the physical key of the second key unit 3b has not been detected (No in step S202), the process proceeds to step S206 described later. If the controller 10 determines that an operation on the physical key of the second key unit 3b is detected (Yes in step S202), the process proceeds to step S203. The controller 10 determines whether it is a temporary selection operation for the physical key of the second key unit 3b (step S203). If the controller 10 determines that the operation is a temporary selection operation for the physical key of the second key unit 3b (Yes in step S203), the process proceeds to step S204.

  The controller 10 changes the physical key of the second key unit 3b that has detected the provisional selection operation to the selected state (step S204). For example, the controller 10 displays characters assigned to the selected physical key in the edit field 45 in a display mode corresponding to the temporary selection state. For example, when the physical key of the selected second key unit 3b already exists, the controller 10 can cancel the selected state of the physical key. The controller 10 reads out the character or character string assigned to the physical key of the second key unit 3b that has detected the provisional selection operation (step S205). For example, the controller 10 reads out a character or a character string assigned to the physical key of the second key unit 3b by a reading process.

  The controller 10 determines whether or not to end the character editing process (step S206). For example, the controller 10 determines to end the editing function when it detects a user's editing end, a request to delete the editing screen, or the like. If the controller 10 determines not to end the character editing process (No in step S206), the controller 10 returns the process to step S202 already described. If the controller 10 determines to end the character editing process (Yes in step S206), the controller 10 ends the processing procedure shown in FIG.

  If the controller 10 determines that the operation is not a temporary selection operation to the physical key of the second key unit 3b (No in step S203), the process proceeds to step S207. The controller 10 determines whether the selection operation is for the physical key of the second key unit 3b (step S207). If the controller 10 determines that the operation is not a selection operation for the physical key of the second key unit 3b (No in step S207), the process proceeds to step S206 already described. If the controller 10 determines that the operation is a selection operation on the physical key of the second key unit 3b (Yes in step S207), the process proceeds to step S208.

  The controller 10 specifies the character corresponding to the physical key of the second key unit 3b that has detected the selection operation as an editing target (step S208). The controller 10 executes an editing process for the specified character (step S209). For example, the character specified as the editing target may be a character string. For example, the editing process includes a process for allowing the user to edit the editing target character assigned to the physical key of the second key unit 3b. For example, in the editing process, a character is input to the user using the physical key of the first key unit 3a and the third key 54 displayed on the touch screen display 2 while maintaining the character assigned to the first key 50. Including processing. For example, the editing process includes a process of converting characters input by the user. For example, the editing process includes a process of reading a character edited by the reading process. For example, in the editing process, when a user's editing confirmation operation is detected, editing for the character to be edited is terminated. For example, the editing process includes a process for causing the user to delete a character assigned to the first key 50. When finishing the editing process, the controller 10 advances the process to step S206 already described.

  In the above embodiment, the electronic device 1 will be described with respect to the case where the character or character string to be edited is assigned to the physical key of the second key unit 3b, but is not limited thereto. For example, the electronic device 1 may assign a character or character string to be edited to a physical key of the first key unit 3a. For example, the user may set a physical key used for editing in the setting data 9Z, and the electronic device 1 may be configured to assign a character or character string to be edited to the set physical key.

  Embodiment which this application discloses can be changed in the range which does not deviate from the summary and range of invention. Furthermore, the embodiment disclosed in the present application and its modifications can be combined as appropriate. For example, the above embodiment may be modified as follows.

  For example, each program shown in FIG. 1 may be divided into a plurality of modules, or may be combined with other programs.

  In the above embodiment, the electronic device 1 has been described as an example of the electronic device including the touch screen 2B. However, the electronic device according to the appended claims is not limited to the electronic device. The electronic device according to the appended claims may be a portable electronic device other than the electronic device. Examples of portable electronic devices include, but are not limited to, mobile phones, tablets, portable personal computers, digital cameras, smart watches, media players, electronic book readers, navigators, and game machines.

30 and 31 are diagrams showing another example of the arrangement of the plurality of physical keys provided in the electronic device 1. The electronic device 1 may arrange a plurality of physical keys divided into several groups. In the example shown in FIG. 30, the electronic device 1 provides a space 50 a between the physical key 3 a ₃ and the physical key 3 a _4, and a space 50 b between the physical key 3 a ₆ and the physical key 3 a ₇ . Furthermore, the electronic device 1 provides a space 50c between the physical key 3b ₃ and the physical key 3b _4, and a space 50d between the physical key 3b ₆ and the physical key 3b ₇ . Accordingly, the electronic device 1 includes the plurality of physical keys 3a _{1 to} 3a ₁₀ included in the first key unit 3a, the group of the physical keys 3a _{1 to} 3a ₃ , the group of the physical keys 3a _{4 to} 3a ₆ , and the physical key. 3a _{7 to} 3a ₁₀ are arranged separately, and a plurality of physical keys 3b _{1 to} 3b ₁₀ provided in the second key unit 3b are assigned to a group of physical keys 3b _{1 to} 3b ₃ and physical keys 3b _{4 to} 3b ₆ . A group and physical keys 3b _{7 to} 3b ₁₀ are arranged separately.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 31, the electronic device 1 includes a partition 60 a between the physical key 3 a ₃ and the physical key 3 a _4, and a partition 60 b between the physical key 3 a ₆ and the physical key 3 a ₇ . Furthermore, the electronic device 1, provided with a partition 60c between the physical key 3b ₃ and the physical key 3b _4, provided partition 60d between the physical key 3b ₆ and the physical key 3b _7. Accordingly, the electronic device 1 includes the plurality of physical keys 3a _{1 to} 3a ₁₀ included in the first key unit 3a, the group of the physical keys 3a _{1 to} 3a ₃ , the group of the physical keys 3a _{4 to} 3a ₆ , and the physical key. 3a ₇ with arranging divided into a group of to 3 a _10, a plurality of physical keys _3b 1 _{~3b 10} provided in the second key unit 3b, a group of physical keys _3b 1 _{~3b 3,} physical key _3b 4 _{~3b 6} groups and physical keys 3b _{7 to} 3b ₁₀ are arranged separately.

32 and 33 are diagrams showing another example of the structure related to the operation surface of the physical key provided in the electronic apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. Illustrate the operation surface of the physical key 3a ₁ from among a plurality of physical keys included in the electronic device 1. In the example shown in FIG. 32, the electronic device 1 comprises, for example, six protrusions 70a~70f to expose the Braille pattern on the operating surface of the physical key 3a ₁ (surface on which a user operates touch). The protrusions 70a to 70f are installed in a state in which the protrusions 70a to 70f can be protruded from the surface by an actuator or the like and can be accommodated inside. The six protrusions 70a to 70f protrude in accordance with the output characters. The physical key 3a ₁ may be installed in a state rotated by 90 degrees from the example shown in FIG. 32 in accordance with the movement of a general finger in the horizontal direction when reading Braille. When the electronic device 1 assigns a character or sentence to be input / output to a physical key, the electronic device 1 may project the protruding portion of the physical key in a protruding pattern corresponding to the character or sentence. As a result, the user can confirm the character assigned to the physical key by recognizing the protruding pattern of the protruding portion by tracing the operation surface of the physical key with a finger.

In the example shown in FIG. 33, the electronic device 1, to divide the operating surface of the physical key 3a ₁ into two regions 80a and the region 80b, the physical keys parallel linear partition 90 in the longitudinal direction of the physical key 3a ₁ 3a ₁ is provided on the operation surface. In the physical key 3a ₁ shown in FIG. 33, the electronic device 1 changes the processing contents depending on which of the two areas 80a and 80b on the operation surface of the physical key 3a ₁ is touched. Can do.

  Another example of the functional configuration of the electronic device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating another example of the functional configuration of the electronic apparatus according to the embodiment. In the above embodiment, the electronic apparatus 1 has been described with an example in which the physical key unit 3 is provided (see FIG. 1). However, the physical key unit 3 can also be configured as an individual unit that can be externally attached. As shown in FIG. 34, the electronic device 1 is connected to the external physical key unit 100 through the communication unit 6 in a communicable state. The external physical key unit 100 includes, for example, a communication unit 101, a memory 102, a physical key unit 103, and a microcomputer 104. The physical key unit 103 includes a first key unit 103a, a second key unit 103b, a third key unit 103c, and a touch screen 103d. The electronic device 1 can receive information about the user's operation on the external physical key unit 100 via the communication unit 6, and can execute the same processing as in the above embodiment.

FIG. 35 to FIG. 42 are diagrams illustrating other structural examples of the electronic device 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, the electronic device 1 may have a structure in which a plurality of physical keys 3a _{1 to} 3a ₃ are arranged on the side surface of the housing 1h.

  As shown in FIG. 37, the electronic device 1 may have a structure in which only a plurality of physical keys are arranged on the user's operation surface. As shown in FIG. 38, the electronic device 1 may have a structure in which only the touch screen 2B and a plurality of physical keys are arranged on the operation surface of the user. As shown in FIG. 39, the electronic device 1 may have a structure in which only a plurality of physical keys and a numeric keypad 200 are arranged on the user's operation surface. When the electronic device 1 shown in FIGS. 37 to 39 does not include the touch screen display 2, document confirmation and character deletion may be performed using physical keys, and character input may be performed using voice input. As shown in FIGS. 40 and 41, the electronic device 1 has a substantially circular form, a touch screen display 2 is arranged inside, and a physical key is arranged on the outer periphery of the structure. There may be. As shown in FIG. 42, the electronic apparatus 1 may be a structure having a substantially cylindrical shape, in which the touch screen display 2 is arranged on the upper surface, and a plurality of physical keys are arranged on the side surface.

  The characterizing embodiments have been described in order to fully and clearly disclose the technology according to the appended claims. However, the appended claims should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, but all modifications and alternatives that can be created by those skilled in the art within the scope of the basic matters shown in this specification. Should be configured to embody such a configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic device 2 Touch screen display 2A Display 2B Touch screen 3 Physical key unit 3a 1st key unit 3b 2nd key unit 3c 3rd key unit 3d Touch screen 4 Illuminance sensor 5 Proximity sensor 6 Communication unit 7 Receiver 8 Microphone 9 Storage 9A Control program 9B Character input control program 9C First key data 9D Second key data 9E Condition data 9F Document data 9Z Setting data 10 Controller 11 Speaker 12 Camera 13 Camera 14 Connector 15 Motion sensor 100 External physical key unit

Claims (3)

A housing,
A plurality of physical keys arranged along an edge of the housing;
A controller that executes character editing processing based on an operation of the physical key;
Storage to store strings,
With
The controller is
When the character editing process is executed, at least one character of the character string is individually assigned to the plurality of physical keys,
An electronic device that accepts editing of a character assigned to a physical key when an operation on the physical key is detected. A housing,
A plurality of physical keys arranged along an edge of the housing;
Storage to store strings,
An electronic device control method comprising:
Executing a character editing process based on an operation of the physical key;
Performing the character editing process, individually assigning at least one or more characters of the character string to a plurality of the physical keys;
And a step of accepting editing of a character assigned to the physical key when an operation on the physical key is detected. A housing,
A plurality of physical keys arranged along an edge of the housing;
Storage to store strings,
In electronic equipment with
Executing a character editing process based on an operation of the physical key;
Performing the character editing process, individually assigning at least one or more characters of the character string to a plurality of the physical keys;
A program that, upon detecting an operation on the physical key, executes a step of accepting editing of a character assigned to the physical key.

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