JP3323387B2 - Character input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character input device for inputting input characters, for example, a stamp making device in which irregularities corresponding to the input character string are formed on a stamp face member, or an input character string printed on a tape. The present invention can be applied to a tape printing apparatus or the like that performs the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A stamp making device and a tape printing device are required to be inexpensive due to limited applications, and the number of characters to be formed on a stamp member or tape in one operation is small. Instead of a separately prepared character input device, a character input device in which an operation unit for character input is provided in a housing of the device main body is applied. In addition, since a lot of space is allocated to the mechanical structure for attaching the seal and forming irregularities on the stamp surface member, and the mechanical structure for transporting the tape and printing on the tape, The panel surface must be small, so a character input device using a character selection dial key (hereinafter referred to as a character selection dial) that rotates and designates an input candidate character at a position facing the character designation mark is applied. Often done.

In a character input device for designating a character with a press key corresponding to the character, a control unit to which the operation signal is given can immediately detect which character is designated, but when a character selection dial is used, Since the character signal is always output from the character selection dial, the character represented by the character signal from the character selection dial cannot be immediately recognized when instructed, and the selection of the character represented by the character signal from the character selection dial is confirmed. By operating the selection key to perform the operation, the control unit takes in that the character represented by the character signal from the character selection dial has been selected.

In this case, the character indicated by the character selection dial is displayed on the display unit even before the selection key is operated in order to present the character indicated by the character selection dial to the user to perform a selection operation. After the selection key is operated, the character is displayed on the display unit in such a manner as to notify the user of the selection.

As a method for switching the display mode before and after the selection key is pressed, a conventional method is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No.
No. 22, JP-A-1-102923, JP-A-1
JP-A-102924 and JP-A-1-135541.

The methods described in these publications have the same basic part, and a fixed dial character display area for displaying a character for indicating a character selection dial is provided in a display area of a display unit. Indicate the characters of the character selection dial before and after the operation of the selection key in the display area, and after operating the selection key, attach the cursor to the dial character display area and display it. Is to clarify. After that, when the character selection dial is rotated or the selection key is operated again, the character string displayed so far is shifted, and the character for the character selection dial is selected in the dial character display area. It is displayed in a mode of a candidate state that is not instructed.

[0007]

However, in the conventional display method of the instruction character of the character selection dial, the change of the display mode before and after the operation of the selection key changes from the state without the cursor to the state with the cursor added. Therefore, the degree of appealing to the user's vision that the operation of the selection key has been accepted is small, that is, the user must consciously confirm the presence or absence of the cursor,
In a situation where the user is not operating, it may become uneasy whether or not the operation of the selection key has been accepted. Therefore, the selection key is continuously operated. In the conventional method, even when the operation of the selection key is continued, the selection of the instruction character of the character selection dial is determined, and an unnecessary character is input.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and has a character input which enables a user to reliably recognize whether or not a character selection operation designated by the character selection means has been accepted. An attempt was made to provide a device.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a character input device comprising: (1) a desired character of a plurality of candidate characters arranged in a predetermined order; Character selection means for outputting a corresponding signal; (2) selection and determination means for determining selection of candidate characters related to the signal output by the character selection means; and (3) a plurality of display areas for one character. Display means for displaying the input character string, and (4) in response to the input signal from the character selection means, replacing the candidate characters one after another and displaying them in a predetermined display area of the display means, Display control means for shifting and displaying each character displayed in the display area when the selection of the candidate character is confirmed by the selection confirming means, and (5) the display control means, after the shift, from the character selecting means. When a signal corresponding to a candidate character other than the candidate character is output , Wherein the blinking display the new candidate characters according to the signal from the infused means in a predetermined display area of the display means.

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the second aspect of the present invention
The character input device includes (1) a plurality of characters arranged in a predetermined order.
Output a signal corresponding to a desired one of the candidate characters
Character selection means, and (2) the signal output by this character selection means.
Means for determining the selection of the candidate character, and (3) 1
It has multiple display areas for characters and displays the input character string
Display means, and (4) input signals from the character selection means.
In response, replace candidate characters one after another and
In the display area of
When the selection of the complementary character is confirmed, it is displayed in the display area.
Display control means for shifting and displaying each character to be displayed,
(5) Delete candidate characters displayed in a predetermined area of the display
(6) display control
In the means, the selection of the candidate character is determined by the selection determining means.
When shifting each character displayed in the display area
Later, the above character selection means matches candidate characters other than the candidate character.
When a corresponding signal is output, a predetermined display area of the display means is displayed.
New candidate characters related to the signal from the character selection means are displayed in the area.
(7) In addition, the candidate character
When the instruction to delete is given, the display control means
Deleting the candidate character from the predetermined display area of the
To keep the display of the specified display area blank.
And features.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which a character input device according to the present invention is applied to a seal making device will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

The seal making apparatus according to this embodiment is roughly divided into an electrical component (such as an information processing unit and an imprint transfer control unit) shown in FIG. 2 and a mechanical optical component (such as a printing unit or a printer) shown in FIG. A light irradiation unit). Note that FIG.
Also shows the configuration of the seal body. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the stamp making apparatus.

First, the electrical components of this embodiment are shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

This electrical component is mainly for controlling the mechanical optical component by taking in imprint pattern information, and corresponds to a kind of information processing apparatus. Like the device, the input unit 1
0, a control unit 20, and an output unit 30. The control unit 20 performs a process according to information from the input unit 10 and a processing stage at that time, and controls the mechanical and optical components via the output unit 30 according to the processing result and the like. is there.

The input unit 10 comprises a key input unit 11, a changeover switch 12 for switching the state of the apparatus, and various detection sensor groups 13.

The changeover switch 12 is constituted by, for example, a dial switch, and instructs power ON, power OFF, activation of exposure to the stamp body (seal face member), and opening of the lid 65 of a space accommodating the stamp body. Or something. As the detection sensor, a sensor that detects a seal type, a sensor that detects attachment of an ink ribbon, and a sensor that detects attachment or a position of a plate making sheet described later is provided.

The key input unit 11 is roughly divided into a character selection dial unit 11 for outputting a general operation signal for character input.
B and a function key unit 11A that outputs operation signals related to functions other than character input and special operation signals for character input such as input character deletion and symbol character input. The function key unit 11A is provided with a delete key.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the character selection dial section 11B moves the cursor by dividing the center circular selection line feed key 80 and its surrounding ring portion into four parts when viewed from above. It is composed of keys 81 to 84 and a character selection dial 85 composed of a ring portion around the keys. FIG. 5 shows the character assignment and the character input function assignment in the character selection dial section 11B. FIG.
Indicates a circular or annular portion in a rectangular shape for simplicity in the notation of the drawings.

The character selection dial 85 is rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise. For example, the character selection dial 85 can be positioned at an angle divided into 54 in the circumferential direction as a unit angle. As shown in FIG. 5, the character selection dial 85 has "Aioo ..." printed on the outer periphery and "ABCDE ..." on the inner periphery, and controls the character signal at the position where the character designation mark 86 points. 20. Note that the character signals for, for example, “A” and “A” assigned to the same unit angle are the same, and the control unit 20 determines “A” in accordance with the character type signal held internally at that time. "A" or "A" has been input.

The select line feed key 80 is a press key. The select line feed key 80 includes "select" and "line feed".
Is printed on it. The control unit 20 executes the line feed operation when the selection line feed key 80 is operated in a state where the cursor is positioned on the line including only the fixed character, and otherwise executes the selection operation.

The upward cursor movement key (cursor upward movement key) 81 is a press key, and characters "@" and "no conversion" are printed. Control unit 20
When the cursor up key 81 is operated, a warning is issued in a character input state in which neither a non-conversion operation nor a cursor up operation is accepted, and in a character input state in which other cursor up operations are not accepted. A non-conversion operation is performed, and a cursor-up movement operation is performed in another character input state.

A cursor movement key (cursor left movement key) 82 to the left is a press key, and characters "←" and "lower case" are printed on the cursor left movement key 82. . When the cursor left movement key 82 is operated, the control unit 20 issues a warning in a character input state in which neither a lower case conversion (including upper case return at the time of alphabet input) nor a cursor left movement is accepted, and otherwise. In the character input state where the cursor left movement operation cannot be accepted, the lowercase conversion operation is executed, and in other character input states, the cursor left movement operation is executed.

Further, a cursor moving key (cursor moving key) 83 downward is a press key, and characters "↓" and "conversion reading shortening" are printed on the cursor moving key 83. Have been. The control unit 20
When the cursor down key 83 is operated, a warning is issued in a character input state in which neither the kana-kanji conversion operation nor the cursor down operation can be accepted, and a kana-kanji conversion in a character input state in which other cursor down movement operations cannot be accepted. Execute the operation, and execute the movement under the cursor in the other character input state.

Further, a right cursor movement key (cursor right movement key) 84 is a press key.
The cursor right movement key 84 has characters “→” and “A” printed thereon. When the cursor right movement key 84 is operated, the control unit 20
When switching between katakana and alphabets, a warning is issued in the character input state where neither the A conversion operation nor the cursor right movement operation can be accepted, and the A A conversion operation is performed in the character input state where other cursor right movement operations cannot be accepted. And
The cursor right movement operation is executed in other character input states.

The output section 30 is composed of a mechanical optical component drive circuit group 31 for driving and controlling each component of a mechanical optical component, which will be described later, and a drive circuit 32 of the display device 33. The circuits 31 and 32 drive corresponding components under the control of the control unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 6, the display device 33 includes a liquid crystal display 33A capable of displaying, for example, six characters, and a plurality of indicators 33B-1 to 33B-n, which are arranged around the liquid crystal display 33A. Consists of The liquid crystal display 33A displays a guidance message for the user and a character string input by the user. Each indicator 33B-1,..., 33B-n
, The characters 33C-1,..., 3C indicating the attribute or status assigned to the indicator
3C-n is printed and the corresponding indicator 33
.., 33B-n are turned on, off, and blink to indicate the contents of the current attribute and state.

In the case of this embodiment, a cursor fixed display method is adopted in which a cursor is fixedly displayed on the fifth character display area 33A-5 of the liquid crystal display 33A on the display screen at the time of character input. The display area of the input candidate character indicated by the character selection dial 85 is the sixth character display area 33A-6 of the liquid crystal display 33A.
Stipulated.

Further, as the display mode of each character on the liquid crystal display 33A, there are "positive display", "negative display", and "flashing display" which repeats these. "Positive display" is a display mode of fixed characters or semi-fixed characters (fixed characters that allow only conversion between Hiragana and Katakana).
"Negative display" is a display mode of provisionally determined characters in which the characters from the character selection dial 85 are captured and the currently displayed hiragana can be converted into hiragana, katakana, or kanji, and "blinking display" Is a display mode of the input candidate character indicated by the character selection dial 85.

The mechanical and optical component drive circuit group 31
Are composed of various drive circuits, but are collectively shown here. Among the components of the mechanical optical components, there are various components that require drive control, as described later,
In practice, there is a drive circuit for each component.

The control unit 20 is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer, and includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22,
RAM 23, character generator ROM (CG-R
OM) 24, an input interface 25, and an output interface 26 are connected via a system bus 27.

The ROM 22 stores various processing programs for creating a seal including a processing program for character input executed by the CPU 21 (see FIG. 1) and fixed data such as dictionary data for kana-kanji conversion. .

The RAM 23 is used as a working memory by the CPU 21, and stores fixed data relating to user input. RAM
23 is backed up even when the power is turned off.

The CG-ROM 24 stores a dot pattern of a character or a symbol prepared in the stamp making apparatus. When a code data for specifying the character or the symbol is given, the CG-ROM 24 corresponds to the dot pattern. Is output.

The input interface 25 interfaces between the input unit 10 and the control unit 20.
The output interface 26 includes an output unit 30 and a control unit 20.
Interface between the two.

The CPU 21 uses a processing program in the ROM 22 determined according to an input signal from the input unit 10 and a processing stage at that time, while using the RAM 23 as a working area.
The processing is performed by using the fixed data stored in the storage device 3 as appropriate, and the processing status, the processing result, and the like are displayed on the display device 33 and the respective components of the mechanical and optical components (FIG. 3) are driven. Or make a seal.

FIG. 7 shows a buffer provided in the input interface 25, various buffers prepared for character input in the RAM 23, and the like.

The input interface 25 has a character selection dial buffer 90 for buffering a character signal from the character selection dial 85 and a press key buffer 91 for buffering operation signals from the press keys 80 to 85. The RAM 23 stores a kanji candidate buffer 92 for buffering kanji candidates at the time of kana-kanji conversion, and whether the character signals buffered in the character selection dial buffer 90 are to be fetched as "hiragana", "katakana" or "alphabet". A first character type buffer 93A for buffering information and a second character type buffer 93B for buffering information as to whether a character signal buffered in the character selection dial buffer 90 is to be captured as uppercase or lowercase. A text area 94 for storing the input character string together with information on whether each character is a fixed character, a semi-fixed character, or an unfixed character; a cursor position buffer 95 buffering cursor position information; Display buffer 9 buffering the content to be displayed on display 33A Bets are prepared.

Here, the display buffer 96 stores the first to sixth character display areas 33A-33 of the liquid crystal display 33A.
The area is divided into areas corresponding to 1 to 33A-6, and information on how to output the developed dot pattern is added to each area. That is, the developed dot pattern is directly used in the liquid crystal display 33.
A (corresponding to a positive display), the developed dot pattern is inverted and output to the liquid crystal display 33A (corresponding to a negative display), or the developed dot pattern is directly output to the liquid crystal display 33A. Information indicating whether to invert and output the data at a predetermined cycle (corresponding to a negative display) is added.

Next, the structure of the mechanical optical components and the seal body will be described with reference to FIG.

The stamp body 40 includes a stock 41 and a sponge member 43 for enhancing the conformity between the stamp member protruding portion and the paper surface.
And a flat stamping member 42. The stamp surface member 42 is composed of a base layer 42A and a UV-curable resin layer 42B that are insensitive to UV rays, and the UV-curable resin layer 42B is exposed to the outside. The ultraviolet curable resin layer 42B can be removed with a predetermined liquid except for the cured portion.

The mechanical and optical components shown in FIG. 3 are mainly composed of a printing configuration and an ultraviolet irradiation configuration.

The printing configuration follows the thermal transfer system,
Fixed print head 50, platen roller 51, ink ribbon 52, supply reel 53, take-up reel 54
And a roller 55 for changing the traveling direction of the ink ribbon 52. Further, an insertion hole 56 of the plate making sheet (see FIG. 8), a discharge hole 57 of the plate making sheet, a guide member 58 for guiding the plate making sheet inserted from the insertion hole 56 of the plate making sheet to the printing position, A separation mechanism 59 is provided for separating the ink ribbon 52 and the plate making sheet that have been run, and guiding the separated plate making sheet to the discharge hole 57.

As shown in FIG. 8, the plate 60 is made up of a sheet body 62 having a back surface coated with an adhesive, and a release paper 61 provided on the back surface. The plate-making sheet 60 is of the same size regardless of the type of the seal, and has a through hole 6 that provides a reference for the printing start position.
3A and 63B are symmetrically formed. Seat body 6
2 is half-cut into a portion 62A having the same shape as the outer shape of the stamp face member 42, which differs depending on the type of stamp, and another portion 62B, so that only the portion 62A can be peeled off. The plate 60 is inserted into the insertion hole 56.
When the printing head 5 is inserted from the printing head 5, the end of the plate making sheet 60 and the ink ribbon 52 are superimposed.
0 and a printing position between the platen roller 51.

Under the control of the control unit 20, the print head 50 generates heat when the heat generation drive circuit (see reference numeral 31 in FIG. 2) is driven to transfer the ink of the ink ribbon 52 to the plate 60. is there. In the ink ribbon 52 of the thermal transfer system, the transferred portion becomes depleted of ink and becomes transparent. That is, the transferred ink ribbon 52
Are composed of a part that can transmit ultraviolet rays (a part from which ink has been removed) and a part that blocks transmission of ultraviolet rays (a part where ink remains). Then, print processing of the imprint pattern,
The transferred ink ribbon 52 in which the portion corresponding to the imprint pattern became transparent was used as a negative film.

At the time of plate making, the ink ribbon 52 and the plate making sheet 60 that have passed through the printing section composed of the print head 50 and the platen roller 51 reach the separation mechanism 59 by the platen roller 51 and the like, and the ink ribbon 52 and The plate making sheet 60 is separated.

The separated plate-making sheet 60 is sent to a discharge hole 57. On the other hand, the separated ink ribbon 52
The seal body 40 is stopped at a position facing the ultraviolet curable resin layer 42B. The ink ribbon 52 that has traveled during such a plate making operation is taken up by a take-up reel 54.
It is made to be wound up by.

The plate making sheet 60 discharged from the discharge hole 57
By peeling off the printed portion 62A and attaching the printed portion 62A to the top of the stamp body 40, it is possible to visually recognize what kind of stamp surface the stamp body 40 has.

As an ultraviolet irradiation structure, an ultraviolet irradiation light source (for example, having a parabolic mirror) 70 is fixedly provided, and the control unit 20 controls turning on and off.
Further, a transparent plate 71 which moves forward and backward is provided on the opposite side of the ultraviolet curing resin layer 42B of the stamp face member 42 with the ink ribbon 52 interposed therebetween. That is, the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation light source 70 reaches the ultraviolet curable resin layer 42B via the transparent plate 71 and the ink ribbon (negative film) 52. The transparent plate 71 enhances the adhesion between the ink ribbon 52 functioning as a negative film and the ultraviolet curable resin layer 42B at the advancing position (the position taken when the changeover switch 12 is instructing the start of exposure), and the retreating position. Thus, the running of the ink ribbon 52 is not obstructed.

Next, a flow of a general procedure performed by a user for creating a seal using the seal creating apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

After the user operates the changeover switch 12 to turn on the power, the user operates various keys of the key input unit 11 to input the imprint pattern information (character string). The input of the imprint pattern information involves not only the input of the character string constituting the imprint, but also the input of various attributes such as a character typeface, vertical and horizontal writing, and character size.

Upon completion of the input of the imprint pattern information, the user executes the layout display and confirms whether the imprint is the desired one. After the user confirms the validity of the imprint by the layout display, the user inserts the plate making sheet 60 until it comes into contact with the insertion hole 56, then operates the plate making key of the key input unit 11 to execute the plate making process, thereby executing the ink ribbon 52. To make a negative film. The CPU 21
When the prepress key is operated, the input character string is expanded in the print buffer on the RAM 23 according to various attributes related to the input character string, and then the print head 50 and the platen roller 5 are moved.
A negative film is created by driving the printer 1 and the like to perform printing, and the negative film is transported to a position facing the stamp surface member 42.

When the plate making process is completed, the user operates the changeover switch 12 to instruct exposure. The CPU 21
The ultraviolet irradiation light source 70 is activated to irradiate the stamp surface member 42 with ultraviolet light, an exposure completion message is displayed when a predetermined irradiation time has elapsed, and the ultraviolet irradiation from the ultraviolet irradiation light source 70 is stopped. Thereby, only the portion corresponding to the imprint pattern of the ultraviolet curable resin layer 42B of the stamp face member 42 is cured.

When the exposure is completed, the user operates the changeover switch 12 to open the lid 65, and takes out the exposed stamp body 40. Thereafter, the stamp surface member 42 of the stamp body 40 taken out is immersed in a container containing a predetermined liquid, and is reciprocated and washed by washing, thereby removing the uncured portion and forming the stamp member 42 with irregularities. To complete.

The present invention has a feature in the processing when the selection line feed key 80 and the character selection dial 85 in the character selection dial section 11B are operated during the character input operation.

First, the processing of the CPU 21 when the character selection dial 85 is operated will be described with reference to FIG.

The character selection dial 85 outputs a character signal each time it is rotated by a unit angle, and outputs a pulse signal for latching the character signal in the character selection dial buffer 90.
The character signal of the character indicated by the character designation mark 86 is buffered in the character selection dial buffer 90. At this time, the CPU 21 starts the processing program shown in FIG.

First, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the blinking display has been performed on the sixth character display area 33A-6 of the liquid crystal display 33A based on the contents stored in the display buffer 96 (display mode information). A determination is made (step 100). That is, it is determined whether or not the operation of displaying the character indicated by the character selection dial 85 as an input candidate character has already been started.

Here, if a negative result is obtained, the CPU 21
Operates a part of the display buffer 96 to erase the cursor currently displayed in the fifth character display area 33A-5 of the liquid crystal display 33A (step 10).
1). At this time, the cursor position buffer 95 is not updated.

When a positive result is obtained in the determination in step 100, or when the processing in step 101 is completed,
A character buffer determined by the character signal buffered in the character selection dial buffer 90 and the character type signals buffered in the first and second character type buffers 93A and 93B is read out from the CG-ROM 24 and displayed on the display buffer. The character is displayed on the sixth character display area 33A-6 of the liquid crystal display 33A while the character displayed by the character selection dial 85 is displayed in the sixth character area of the liquid crystal display 33A (step 10).
2).

The operation shown in FIG. 1A is repeatedly executed each time the character selection dial 85 is rotated by a unit angle.

The cursor is not displayed when the sixth character display area 33A-6 of the liquid crystal display 33A is switched to the blinking display state, because the blinking display character is the current character to be processed. This is because, when the cursor is displayed with the cursor left in the fifth character display area 33A-5, the meaning of displaying the cursor cannot be understood by the user, which may cause confusion.

As shown in FIG. 1A, even if the character selection dial 85 is rotated in a state where there are no characters blinking and displayed (input candidate characters), the shift operation of the display character string is executed. Not done.

Next, the processing of the CPU 21 when the selection line feed key 80 is operated will be described with reference to FIG.

When the selection line feed key 80 is operated,
The operation signal is buffered in the press key buffer 91. At this time, the CPU 21 determines which of the press keys 80 to 84 of the character selection dial section 11B has been operated based on the operation signal of the buffer 91. Here, when it is determined that the selective line feed key 80 has been operated,
The processing program shown in FIG.

First, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the sixth character display area 33A-6 of the liquid crystal display 33A has been blinkingly displayed on the basis of the contents stored in the display buffer 96 (display mode information). A determination is made (step 200). That is, it is determined whether or not the operation of displaying the character indicated by the character selection dial 85 as an input candidate character has already been started.

Here, if a positive result is obtained, the CPU 21
Is the character signal buffered in the character selection dial buffer 90 and the first and second character type buffers 93A.
And the character information determined by the character type signal buffered in 93B is stored in the text area 94 at a position next to the position indicated by the cursor position information in the cursor position buffer 95 (step 201). At this time, if the character information is Hiragana, it is stored in the text area 94 indicating that it is a provisionally determined character, and if the character information is katakana or alphabet, it is determined that it is a determined character.

Thereafter, the CPU 21 updates the cursor position information in the cursor position buffer 95 from the current position to the position indicating the next position, and updates the updated cursor position information and the contents stored in the updated text area 94. And updates the display buffer 96 based on the
The display is switched to a display in which the display character string is shifted to the left by one region (step 202). The liquid crystal display 3
The cursor is displayed in the fifth character display area 33A-5 of 3A by performing additional cursor development for the display buffer 96 (step 203). Further, a blank (background) is displayed in the sixth character display area 33A-6 of the liquid crystal display 33A by performing a process of extinguishing the dot pattern in the corresponding area of the display buffer 96 (step 204). If the character selected by the character selection dial 85 this time is selected at an intermediate position of the existing character string, in the process of step 204, the character immediately after the insertion is replaced with the sixth character instead of the blank. Display area 3
It is displayed on 3A-6. Steps 202 to 204
Need not be in this order. Although the cursor is illuminated and displayed, it may be blinked.

If a negative result is obtained in the determination in step 205, the CPU 21 executes another selection operation or a line feed operation.

As described above, when the input candidate character specified by the character selection dial 85 is selected, the display character string is shifted.

Next, referring to FIG. 1C, the CPU when the delete key in the function key section 11A is operated.
The process of No. 21 will be described.

When the delete key is operated, the operation signal is buffered in a function key buffer (not shown) of the input interface 25, and at this time, the CPU 21 operates based on the operation signal of the buffer to transmit the function key 11A.
It is determined which of the pressed keys has been operated. Here, when it is determined that the delete key has been operated, FIG.
The processing program shown in FIG.

The CPU 21 first determines whether or not the blinking display has been performed on the sixth character display area 33A-6 of the liquid crystal display 33A based on the contents stored in the display buffer 96 (display mode information). A determination is made (step 300). That is, it is determined whether or not the operation of displaying the character indicated by the character selection dial 85 as an input candidate character has already been started.

Here, if a positive result is obtained, the dot pattern in the sixth area of the display buffer 96 is erased, and a blank (background) is displayed in the sixth character display area 33A-6 of the liquid crystal display 33A. At the same time, the cursor is returned to the fifth character display area 33A-5 (step 301). If the character selected by the character selection dial 85 at this time is selected at an intermediate position of the existing character string, in the processing of step 301, the character before the insertion operation is displayed as the sixth character instead of the blank space. Region 33A-
6 is displayed. If a negative result is obtained in step 300, another deletion process is performed (step 3).
02).

That is, in the case of this embodiment, even if the blinking display character (input candidate character) is deleted, the display character string is not shifted. Conventionally, when an input candidate character is deleted, a shift operation has been performed to return to the previous display state. This shift operation at the time of deletion has to be performed because the fixed display position of the cursor and the display position of the input candidate character are the same. That is, in the case of this embodiment, the display switching at the time of deleting the input candidate character can be speeded up by the amount not performing the shift operation as compared with the related art.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a change in display contents according to the operation of the embodiment. In FIG. 9, the number with a frame indicates the line number and the head of the line.

Now, as shown in FIG. 9A, it is assumed that the character "ho" is blinking in the sixth character display area 33A-6 of the liquid crystal display 33A. When the selection line feed key 80 is operated in this state, the CPU 21 determines that there is a blinking character (input candidate character), and that selection of this input candidate character has been instructed, as shown in FIG. 9B.
The character string including this character is shifted to the left and displayed, the cursor is also displayed in the fifth character display area, and the sixth character display area is left blank. Since the input candidate character is "hiragana", the character "ho" is displayed as a temporarily determined character.

In the state shown in FIG. 9B, it is assumed that the character selection dial 85 is rotated clockwise by one unit angle. Character selection dial 8 with no blinking characters displayed
5 has been operated, the CPU 21 causes the cursor in the fifth character display area to disappear as shown in FIG.
The character "ma" defined by the character selection dial 85 is displayed in the sixth character display area.

When the delete key is operated in the state shown in FIG. 9 (c), the CPU 21 issues a delete command in the presence of blinking characters (input candidate characters). As shown in FIG. 9D, the character "ma" in the sixth character display area is deleted, and the cursor is returned to the fifth character display area.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, when an input candidate character indicated by the character selection dial 85 is selected, the blinking display is eliminated and the character string including the selected character is shifted. Because it was made to be displayed,
The user can reliably recognize that the selection operation has been accepted, and in this respect, the operability is better than in the past.

The application device of the character input device of the present invention is not limited to a seal making device, but can be applied to other devices having a character selection dial.

The character selecting means for outputting the input candidate characters by the movement operation of the mechanical member is not limited to the dial type as in the above-described embodiment, and the input is made by sliding the knob in a straight line. It may output candidate characters one after another.

[0082]

As described above, according to the character input device of the present invention, when the selection of the candidate character is confirmed by the selection deciding means, each character displayed in the display area is shifted. It is possible to reliably recognize that the operation has been accepted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a character input process characteristic of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a layout diagram showing a mechanical optical component of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an external configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a character selection dial section 11B of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a display device 33 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a buffer and the like of a RAM during character input according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a plate making sheet 60 of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a change in display content according to an operation in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 input unit, 11 key input unit, 20 control unit, 21
... CPU, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... RAM, 30 ... output unit, 80 ... selection line feed key, 85 ... character selection dial.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tomoyuki Niimura 2-10-18 Higashikanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside King Gym Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hitoshi Hayama 3-5-3 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano Prefecture Seiko Epson Corporation (56) References JP-A-62-66316 (JP, A) JP-A-4-88527 (JP, A) JP-A-6-75942 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/023 G06F 3/02 G06F 15/02

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A character selecting means for outputting a signal corresponding to a desired one of a plurality of candidate characters arranged in a predetermined order, and a candidate character relating to a signal outputted by the character selecting means. Selection determination means for determining the selection of a character, display means having a plurality of display areas for one character and displaying an input character string, and candidate characters in response to an input signal from the character selection means. Are displayed one after the other and displayed in the predetermined display area of the display means, and when the selection of the candidate character is determined by the selection determination means, the characters displayed in the display area are shifted and displayed. Control means, the display control means, when a signal corresponding to a candidate character other than the candidate character is output from the character selection means after the shift, the character selection means in a predetermined display area of the display means Faith from Character input device for causing blink a new candidate characters according to the. 2. The display control means according to claim 1, wherein when the selection of the candidate character is determined by said selection and determination means, and said candidate character is shifted, said determined candidate character is displayed in a display mode other than blinking. The character input device according to claim 1 , wherein: 3. The display control means, wherein the selection of the candidate character is confirmed by the selection deciding means, and when the candidate character is shifted, a cursor is added to the decided candidate character for display. 2. The character input device according to claim 1 , wherein: 4. A plurality of candidate sentences arranged in a predetermined order.
Character selection that outputs a signal corresponding to the desired one of the characters
Means and selection of candidate characters related to the signal output by the character selecting means
Has a plurality of display areas for one character, and displays an input character string.
In response to the input signal from the character selecting means.
Characters are replaced one after another, and
Together to be displayed on the pass, the candidate sentence Ri by the the selective final determination means
When the character selection is confirmed, the
Provided that a display control means for displaying by shifting each character, and a candidate character deletion instructing means for instructing deletion of a candidate character displayed in a predetermined area of the display means, said display control means, the selective final determination Candidate characters by means
Is displayed in the above display area when the selection of
After shifting each character, the candidate sentence
When a signal corresponding to a candidate character other than
A signal from the character selecting means in a predetermined display area of the display means.
To display the new candidate characters according to, also, by the candidate character deletion instructing means, when the instruction is given to delete the candidate characters, the display control means, the candidate character from the predetermined display area of the display means is deleted, it features and be Rubun shaped input device to maintain the display of the predetermined display area blank.