JP4886582B2 - Character input device, character input program, and character input method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a character input device for easily and accurately inputting characters without considering a direction to drag a finger. <P>SOLUTION: The character input device is provided with a touch type input part, a selection key displaying part for displaying all the representative characters included in the character group as a selection key, an input character selection candidate determining part for determining one character group corresponding to any of respective selection keys as an input character selection candidate when a user's contact start position on the input part corresponds to the selection key, a return detecting part for detecting a return of a slide trajectory when a user's finger slides on the input part in a contact state, a character switching part for switching a character within input character selection candidates on the basis of the number of returns, and an input character determining part for determining an input character by ending the character switching operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input device and a character input program. More specifically, the present invention relates to a character input on a screen by a user touching a finger or pen with a touch input device represented by a touch panel, a touch pad, or a tablet. The present invention relates to a character input device for display.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a character input device for an information device having a character display screen, there is one that includes a touch panel on a screen and displays a text box and a software keyboard on the screen. The software keyboard has a representative character key that represents the first character (hereinafter referred to as a representative character) of the Kana 50 syllabary table such as “a”, “ka”, “sa” for inputting kana characters. Contains. The user can feed characters within the line corresponding to the representative character key by pressing the representative character key. For example, if the representative character key “ka” of “ka line” is pressed once, “ka” is displayed in the text box on the screen, and “ki” is displayed when pressed again (twice in total). When the character to be input is displayed, the character is determined by pressing the enter key or the representative character key on another line. Moreover, when it is desired to input a muddy sound or a semi-voiced character, it can be realized by pressing a character type conversion key after inputting a clear sound.

As a character input device including a touch-type software keyboard, there is one disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 in addition to the above-described conventional technology.
In the device described in Patent Document 1, a user touches a character input key that is a software key and performs a drag operation in a predetermined direction while being in a contact state, thereby converting a character type (for example, converting a clear sound to a muffled sound, a half tone, and a half tone). Muddy sound, long sound). This apparatus has an advantage that character types can be easily converted as compared to a hardware keyboard because it is not necessary to separately press a key such as a cloud point as in a numeric keypad operation on a hardware keyboard.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-108607

However, the above prior art has the following problems.
That is, in the prior art that can feed characters from “ka” to “ki”, etc., the same representative character key must be pressed many times in order to feed characters. For this reason, in order not to accidentally press the adjacent representative character key, the user needs to watch the representative character key during the key operation. Then, since the text box is not viewed, there is a possibility that the character input cannot be performed accurately due to too many or too few characters being fed. In addition, after pressing the representative character key once to determine the line, if you are looking at the text box when feeding characters, you may accidentally press the adjacent representative character key, and characters may not be entered correctly. . In recent years, a character input device provided with a software keyboard is often provided in a car navigation device of an automobile. Since the automobile shakes, the possibility of erroneous key operation with respect to the car navigation device is further increased.
In addition, when it is desired to continuously input characters on the same line, there is a problem that the character determination operation is troublesome. For example, to input “Koke”, it is necessary to press the “Character determination key” after inputting “K”.

Further, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has the following problems.
That is, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the conversion character type varies depending on the direction in which the finger is dragged (such as muffled sound and semi-voiced sound), and thus the user determines in advance which character type is converted by dragging in which direction. It is necessary to remember. If the direction of dragging is wrong, a character different from the character to be input is input. Further, when the device is provided in the automobile navigation device, there is a possibility that even if the user remembers the direction to be dragged, it cannot be dragged in the intended direction when shaking occurs. Also, since the number of converted character types differs for each Kana character key, it is difficult to store the correspondence between the drag direction and the converted character type for all Kana character keys.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a character input device having a touch-type input unit, it is possible to accurately feed characters without looking at a character input key. An object of the present invention is to provide a character input device and a character input program capable of inputting simple characters.

A character input device according to the present invention includes:
A character input device for selectively inputting an arbitrary character from a character group and displaying the input character on a screen,
The above characters are
One or more representative characters;
Including one or more subordinate characters subordinate to each of the representative characters,
One representative character and the subordinate character subordinate to the representative character constitute one character group,
The character input device
A touch-type input unit;
A selection key display unit that displays all the representative characters included in the character group as selection keys;
When the user's contact start position on the input unit corresponds to any one of the selection keys, the input character selection candidate determination unit determines one character group corresponding to the selection key as an input character selection candidate. When,
When the user's finger or the like slides on the input unit in a contact state, a folding detection unit that detects the locus of the slide and the folding of the locus;
A character feed unit that performs a character feed operation within the determined input character selection candidate based on the number of times of wrapping;
And an input character determining unit that determines an input character by terminating the character feeding operation.

  The present invention may further include an input character display unit that sequentially displays characters during the character feeding operation by the character feeding unit, and displays the characters after the character feeding operation as input characters.

  According to the present invention, in a character input device including a touch-type input unit, it is possible to accurately feed characters without looking at a character input key, thereby enabling accurate character input. Further, the user can perform a character feeding operation without worrying about the direction in which the finger slides.

In the present invention,
The input unit is a touch panel or a touchpad,
The input character determination unit preferably terminates the character feeding operation when a user's finger or the like is released from the touch panel or the touch pad.

  According to this configuration, since the character feed operation is finished when the finger is released from the touch panel or the touch pad, it is not necessary to operate the character confirmation key as in the conventional case, and it is possible to input characters more quickly.

In the present invention,
The input unit is a touchpad,
The selection key display unit preferably displays a cursor on one of the selection keys corresponding to the contact position of the user on the touch pad.

  According to this configuration, since the cursor is displayed on the selection key when the input unit is a touch pad, it is possible to more accurately operate the selection key and accurately input characters.

In the present invention,
The character feeding unit performs the character feeding operation in the order of the positive direction when the turning angle of the locus is within the range of the first angle to the second angle, and the turning angle of the locus is the third angle. To the fourth angle, the character feeding operation is preferably performed in the reverse order.

  According to this configuration, character feeding can be performed in two directions, the forward direction and the reverse direction. Therefore, if the characters are sent too much, the sending can be easily returned.

In the present invention,
The above characters are Japanese kana characters,
Each of the above representative characters is a character included in the first row of the Japanese Kana character table,
Each of the character groups is preferably composed of characters included in a row of the Japanese kana character table.

  According to this configuration, Japanese kana characters can be input quickly and accurately.

  In the present invention, the character input device is preferably mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

According to this structure, the said character input device is mounted in the vehicle which a shake produces. Therefore, even if a user (driver) shakes in the vehicle, he / she can input characters quickly and accurately.
For example, when the character input device is provided in a navigation device equipped with a touch panel, even if shaking occurs in the vehicle, a character feed operation can be performed without removing the finger from the touch panel, so that characters can be input quickly and accurately. be able to.

In the present invention,
The trajectory is configured by connecting the contact points of the user on the input unit detected intermittently, and the folding detection unit includes the contact point to be detected and the contact points before and after the contact point. And the angle formed by the line segment connecting the contact point to be folded back and two or more contact points before and after the contact point are within a predetermined angle range. Sometimes, it is preferable to determine that there is a return at the contact point to be detected.

  According to this configuration, since the folding detection unit determines the presence / absence of folding using two determination criteria, even if the slide trajectory is disturbed due to noise or the like, it can accurately determine the presence / absence of folding. Therefore, the character input device can perform a character feeding operation more accurately.

A program for character input according to the present invention includes:
A character input program for causing a computer to execute the following steps in order to selectively input an arbitrary character from a character group in a touch type input unit,
The above characters are
One or more representative characters;
Including one or more subordinate characters subordinate to each of the representative characters,
One representative character and the subordinate character subordinate to the representative character constitute one character group,
The above character input program is
A selection key display step for displaying all the representative characters included in the character group as selection keys;
An input character selection candidate determination step for determining, as an input character selection candidate, one character group corresponding to the selection key when the contact start position of the user on the input unit corresponds to any one of the selection keys. When,
When the user's finger or the like slides in the contact state on the input unit, a folding detection step of detecting the slide locus and the folding of the locus;
A character feed step for performing a character feed operation within the determined input character selection candidate based on the number of times of folding;
By terminating the character feed operation, the computer is caused to execute an input character determination step for determining an input character.

  The character input device and the character input program according to the present invention can accurately feed characters without looking at the character input key in a character input device having a touch-type input unit. Character input. In addition, the user can perform a character feeding operation without worrying about the direction of dragging a finger or the like.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the character input device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a kana character input method in the character input device 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the control unit 3.
The character input device 1 is a device for selectively inputting an arbitrary character from a character group and displaying the input character on a screen.

  The character group includes one or more representative characters and one or more dependent characters subordinate to each representative character. One representative character and a subordinate character subordinate to the representative character constitute one character group.

  Although the kind of character group is not specifically limited, For example, a Japanese kana character group can be mentioned. In this case, each representative character is, for example, a character included in the first row of the Japanese kana character table (50-syllabary table). Specifically, “a”, “ka”, “sa”, “ “Ta”, “NA”, “HA”, “MA”, “YA”, “RA”, “WA”. Each character group is composed of each character included in a column of the Japanese kana character table. For example, a character group (ta line) having “ta” as a representative character includes characters “ta”, “chi”, “tsu”, “te”, and “to”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the character input device 1 includes an input unit 2, a control unit 3, a display unit 4, and a voice output unit 5.

  The input unit 2 is a touch-type character input device that functions in response to contact with a user's fingertip, pen, or the like (hereinafter simply referred to as a finger). Specific examples of the input unit 2 include a touch panel, a touch pad, a digitizer, and a pen tab red. The input unit 2 detects the presence or absence of finger contact and the coordinates of the contact point. Examples of the detection method include various methods such as a pressure-sensitive method, a capacitance method, an elastic ultrasonic method, an optical method, and an electromagnetic induction method.

The display unit 4 is a display device having a screen capable of displaying characters. Examples of the display unit 4 include various thin display devices such as CRT, liquid crystal, plasma, and organic EL.
The input unit 2 can be provided integrally on the screen of the display unit 4. In this case, the input unit 2 can function as a touch panel, for example. Alternatively, the input unit 2 can be provided at a position away from the display unit 4. In this case, the input unit 2 can function as a touch pad in a notebook computer, for example.

As shown in FIG. 2, the screen of the display unit 4 includes a selection key display unit 12 and an input character display unit 13 as regions for displaying characters.
The selection key display unit 12 displays all representative characters included in the character group as selection keys 14.
The input character display unit 13 sequentially displays characters 15 during a character feeding operation, which will be described later, and displays characters 16 after the character feeding operation, which will be described later, as input characters.

  The control unit 3 includes a CPU 6 and a ROM / RAM 7 as shown in FIG. The control unit 3 controls the operation of the entire character input device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 3 includes an input character selection candidate determination unit 8, a loopback detection unit 9, a character feed unit 10, and an input character determination unit 11 as functional blocks.

  When the finger touch start position on the input unit 2 corresponds to any one of the selection keys 14 (see FIG. 2), the input character selection candidate determination unit 8 selects one character group corresponding to the selection key 14 Are determined as input character selection candidates. For example, when the touch start position of the finger corresponds to the selection key 14 with “ta”, each character “ta”, “chi”, “tsu” of “ta line”, which is one character group corresponding to the selection key 14. "," "Te" and "to" are determined as input character selection candidates.

  When the finger is slid in the contact state on the input unit 2 (drag operation) on the input unit 2, the return detection unit 9 detects the slide trajectory and the return of the trajectory. An algorithm for determining whether or not there has been a push back will be described later.

The character feed unit 10 performs a character feed operation within the input character selection candidate determined by the input character selection candidate determination unit 8 based on the number of times of return detected by the return detection unit 9. For example, when each character of “Ta line” is determined as an input character selection candidate by the input character selection candidate determination unit 8, the character feed unit 10 sets “Ta” to “Chi” in response to the first return. The character is sent to “T”, and “C” is sent to “T” in response to the second turn. In addition, the character sending unit 10 sends “to” to “ta” in response to the fifth turn.
Note that the character sending unit 10 may send “to” to the dakuten character “DA” for the fifth turn. Furthermore, characters may be sequentially sent in the order of “da” → “ぢ” → “zu” → “de” → “do”. Further, for example, “tsu” may be sent to the small character “tsu” and then “tsu” may be sent to “te”.

  In addition, the input character display unit 13 sequentially displays characters during the character feeding operation as described above. For example, when the contact start position of the finger corresponds to “ta”, the input character display unit 13 displays “ta”, and immediately when “ta” is fed to “Chi” by the character feeding unit 10 “Ch” is displayed on the screen, and when “Chi” is sent to “T”, “T” is displayed immediately. In order to clearly indicate to the user that a character feeding operation is in progress and further character feeding operations are possible, characters can be displayed in a blinking state, for example.

The input character determination unit 11 determines an input character by terminating the character feed operation.
The operation for terminating the character advance operation is performed based on an instruction from the user. Although the specific means is not particularly limited, for example, when a touch panel or a touch pad is used as the input unit 2, the character feeding operation is terminated when the finger leaves the touch panel or the touch pad. Can be made. Alternatively, when a touch pad capable of detecting a finger pressing operation is used as the input unit 2, the character feeding operation is terminated when the finger further presses the touch pad while the finger is touching the touch pad. be able to. The pushing operation of the finger can be detected by a switch provided under the operation surface of the touch pad, or can be detected by the expansion of the contact area between the finger and the operation surface at the time of pushing. After the input character is determined by the finger pressing the touch pad, the character input device 1 can be put into a standby state for the next character input by releasing the finger from the touch pad.

  The input character display unit 13 displays the character after the character feeding operation is completed as the input character as described above. For example, when the character feed is terminated by “te”, the input character display unit 13 displays “te” as the input character. In order to clearly indicate to the user that the input character has been determined after the character feed operation has been completed, the determined input character can be displayed in a lit state, for example.

  The voice output unit 5 is a device that can convert characters into voice data and output the voice data, and can be composed of, for example, a character / voice converter and a speaker. For example, the voice output unit 5 can output the same character as the character displayed by the input character display unit 13 as a voice in synchronization with the display operation of the input character display unit 13.

  Next, the operation of the character input device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the operation of the character input device 1. The character input device 1 first operates in the “character group selection mode” (steps S100 to S103 in FIG. 4), and then operates in the “input character selection mode” (steps S200 to S206 in FIG. 5). When the power is turned on, the character input device 1 is in the “character group selection mode”.

  First, in step S100, the input unit 2 detects the presence or absence of a finger contact, and detects the coordinates of a contact point (hereinafter referred to as contact coordinates) when the finger is in contact. If a finger contact is detected, the process proceeds to step S101. If finger contact is not detected, the process returns to step S100.

  Next, in step S101, the control unit 3 inputs the contact coordinates detected by the input unit 2. Next, in step S102, the control unit 3 stores the input contact coordinates in a coordinate buffer. Here, the coordinate buffer is a memory area that stores, for example, contact coordinates arranged in time series. Next, in step S <b> 103, the control unit 3 determines a “line” (a line, a line, a line,...) Of one kana character corresponding to the contact coordinates based on the input contact coordinates. This “line” determination operation is a character group determination operation. Next, in step S104, the process proceeds to the “input character selection mode”.

  When the process proceeds to the “input character selection mode” (see FIG. 5), first, in step S200, the input unit 2 detects the presence or absence of a finger contact, and detects the contact coordinates when the finger is in contact. If a finger contact is detected, the process proceeds to step S201. If no finger contact is detected, the process proceeds to step S205.

  In step S201, the control unit 3 inputs the contact coordinates detected by the input unit 2. Next, in step S202, the control unit 3 additionally stores the input contact coordinates in the coordinate buffer. Next, in step S203, the control unit 3 refers to the contact coordinates accumulated in time series (in the storage order) in the coordinate buffer, calculates a trajectory obtained by connecting the contact coordinates in the storage order, It is determined whether or not there is “wrapping”. The algorithm for determining whether or not to return will be described later. If it is determined that there is a return, the process proceeds to step S204. If it is determined that there is no return, the process returns to step S200.

  Next, in step S204, the control unit 3 sends one “dan” (Adan, Idan, Udan,...) Of the currently selected kana character. For example, if the input character selection candidate is a character group of “Ta line”, “Ta” is sent to “Chi” corresponding to the first turn. For the second turn, “chi” is sent to “tsu”. For the fifth turn, “to” is sent to “ta”. The sent character is immediately blinked and displayed in the text box of the display unit 4.

  On the other hand, when contact is not detected in step S200 (for example, when a finger is removed from the touch panel), in step S205, the control unit 3 determines the currently selected kana character as an input character. When the input character is determined, the character is lit in the text box, and the process is terminated.

  FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams showing examples of the aliasing determination algorithm in step S203 in FIG. 6 and 7, each point indicated by a cross represents a contact coordinate input by the control unit 3 at a constant time interval. Numbers 0 to 8 of each point indicate that the contact coordinates are detected in order from the smallest number. Currently, point 8 is the latest contact coordinate.

  Now, with reference to FIG. 6, consider the case where it is determined whether or not there is a return at point 5 three points before point 8 when the contact coordinates of point 8 are input. In the determination of whether or not there is a return, the return detection unit 9 forms an angle θ1 (in this case, the lines 4-5 and 5-6) between the line 5 connecting the point 5 to be determined and the points 4 and 6 before and after it. ) And the angle θ2 between the point 5 to be determined and the points 3 and 7 before and after the point 5 (in this case, the angle between the line segments 3-5 and 5-7) ) Is calculated. When both θ1 and θ2 are equal to or smaller than a predetermined angle θ0 (for example, 90 degrees), it is recognized that there is a turn. Here, the reason why not only θ1 but also θ2 is used as a folding determination criterion is to prevent a minute zigzag unintended by the user due to noise or the like from being recognized as folding. In the locus shown in FIG. 7, which is another example, a minute zigzag is generated near the point 10 due to noise or the like. In this case, θ1 is an erroneous determination criterion due to noise, and is smaller than the predetermined angle θ0. For this reason, if only θ1 is used as a determination criterion, it is erroneously determined that there is a return at point 10. However, by using not only θ1 but also θ2 as a criterion, it is possible to correctly determine that there is no aliasing at point 10 based on θ2 larger than θ0. In order to further improve the determination accuracy, θ3 and θ4 (not shown) may be further added to the determination criteria by the same method.

Next, a kana character input method in the character input device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a transparent input unit 2 (touch panel) is disposed on the screen of the display unit 4. On the screen of the display unit 4, selection keys 14 corresponding to the representative characters “a”, “ka”,..., “Wa” of the kana character table are displayed.

  Here, for example, when the user wants to input the character “TO”, first, the user touches the area corresponding to the selection key 14 of the representative character “TA”. Then, the drag operation is started without releasing the finger from the touch panel, and the trajectory loop-back operation is repeated until “to” is displayed while viewing the input character display unit 13 which is a text box. At this time, the input character display unit 13 updates (feeds characters) and displays the character every time the locus folding operation is performed. If the finger is removed from the touch panel when the desired character “TO” is displayed, the input character is determined as “TO”.

As described above, when the finger touches the input unit 2, the character input device 1 determines “row” according to the coordinates of the contact start position. Next, the direction in which the finger slides is folded back on the input unit 2 to send the character “column” in the determined “line”. Next, when the finger leaves the input unit 2, the input character is determined. Therefore, the user can accurately feed characters without looking at the character input keys, and can always input characters accurately. In addition, since the character input device 1 determines the number of characters to be fed within the same line based on the number of times the finger drag trajectory is folded, the user can press the touch panel less frequently. Further, the character input device 1 does not require a complicated character input operation, can input characters by an intuitive input operation, and can perform quick character input.
Further, when the character input device 1 continuously inputs characters on the same line, the input character is determined when the finger is released, so that it is not necessary to separately press the “confirmation key” as in the prior art.
In addition, since the character input device 1 includes the voice output unit 5, it is possible to audibly recognize the determination of “line” and the selection and determination of “stage”, and the user can more reliably input state. Can be recognized.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a character input device according to the second embodiment will be described. The character input device according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, but differs in the following points. That is, in the first embodiment, the character feeding direction is one direction ("step" is sent downward), but in the second embodiment, there are two character feeding directions, the forward direction and the reverse direction. The “forward direction” is the same direction as the feed direction in the first embodiment (“stage” is sent downward), and the “reverse direction” is the direction opposite to the “forward direction” (“stage”). ”Is sent upward). Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the first embodiment. The same configurations and steps as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the control unit 30 in the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 30 includes an input character selection candidate determination unit 8, a aliasing detection unit 90, a character feed unit 100, and an input character determination unit 11 as functional blocks. The character input device of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the folding detection unit 9 is replaced with the folding detection unit 90 and the character feeding unit 10 is replaced with the character feeding unit 100.

  When the finger slides on the input unit 2 while in contact with the input unit 2, the return detection unit 90 detects the slide trajectory and the return of the trajectory. The turn-back detection unit 90 determines that the user has issued a character feed instruction in the forward direction when the turn-back angle is within the range from the first angle to the second angle, and the turn-back angle is determined from the third angle. When it is within the range of the fourth angle, it is determined that there has been a character feed instruction in the reverse direction from the user.

The character feeding unit 100 sequentially performs the character feeding operation in the forward direction when the folding angle of the slide locus is within the range of the first angle to the second angle, and the folding angle of the slide locus is changed from the third angle. When it is within the range of the fourth angle, the character feeding operation is sequentially performed in the reverse direction.
As a result, the character feeding unit 100 can feed characters in two directions, the forward direction and the reverse direction.
The first angle, the second angle, the third angle, and the fourth angle are not particularly limited. For example, they are set to 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 0 degrees, and 30 degrees, respectively. be able to.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing in the “input character selection mode” in the second embodiment. Among these, Steps S200 to S202 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted. Further, since the “character group selection mode” is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  In steps S303 and S304, the control unit 30 uses the contact coordinates to determine whether or not the folding of the slide track is in the range from the first angle to the second angle, and whether or not the folding of the slide track is from the third angle to the fourth. It is determined whether the angle is within the range. A specific determination method will be described later. If it is determined in step S303 that there is no folding within any of these ranges, it is determined that there is no folding operation, and the process returns to step S200. When the return of the slide track was in the range from the first angle to the second angle, or when the return of the slide track was in the range of the third angle to the fourth angle, the return was made Then, the process proceeds to step S304. If it is determined in step S304 that the return of the trajectory is in the range from the first angle to the second angle, the process proceeds to step S305. If it is determined that the return of the locus is in the range from the third angle to the fourth angle, the process proceeds to step S306.

  Here, the algorithm in steps S303 and S304 will be described. Whether or not the return of the trajectory is within the range from the first angle to the second angle is a determination as to whether or not there has been an instruction to feed characters in the forward direction. For this determination, as described above, for example, 60 degrees is set as the first angle and 90 degrees is set as the second angle. When both θ1 and θ2 in FIG. 6 are within the range of the first angle to the second angle, it is determined that there is an instruction for feeding characters in the forward direction.

  On the other hand, the turn-back determination as to whether or not the turn-back of the trajectory is in the range from the third angle to the fourth angle is a determination as to whether or not there has been a character feed instruction in the reverse direction. Therefore, for this determination, a determination criterion different from the criterion for determining whether or not there is an instruction for feeding characters in the forward direction is set. For example, as described above, the third angle is set to 0 degrees and the fourth angle is set to 30 degrees. Then, if both θ1 and θ2 in FIG. 6 are within the range of the third angle to the fourth angle, it is determined that there is an instruction to feed characters in the reverse direction. As a result, it is possible to distinguish and determine the character feed instruction in the forward direction and the character feed instruction in the reverse direction.

  As described above, the character input device according to the second embodiment has the same effect as that of the first embodiment. For example, by making the turn angle of the slide track a steep angle, the “stage” is reversed. You can send characters. Therefore, for example, even when the “stage” is sent too much in the forward direction, the user can easily return the “stage” in the reverse direction, and can input characters with peace of mind.

  The present invention can be suitably used for a television device, a car navigation device, a personal computer, a DVD, a mobile phone, a PDA, and the like that are required to input characters quickly with a simple operation.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the character input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the kana character input method in the character input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the functional structure of the control part in 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the character input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the character input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the aliasing determination algorithm, and is a figure which shows the case where it is not influenced by noise It is a figure which shows an example of the aliasing judgment algorithm, and shows a case where it is affected by noise The block diagram which shows the functional structure of the control part in 2nd Embodiment. Flowchart showing processing in “input character selection mode” in the second embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Character input device 2 Input part 3 Control part 4 Display part 8 Input character selection candidate determination part 9 Return detection part 10 Character feed part 11 Input character determination part 12 Selection key display part 13 Input character display part

Claims (11)

A character input device for selectively inputting an arbitrary character from a character group,
The character group is:
One or more representative characters;
Including one or more subordinate characters subordinate to each of the representative characters,
One representative character and the subordinate character subordinate to the representative character constitute one character group,
The character input device includes:
A touch-type input unit;
A selection key display unit that displays all the representative characters included in the character group as selection keys;
An input character selection candidate determination unit that determines one character group corresponding to the selection key as an input character selection candidate when a contact start position of the user on the input unit corresponds to any one of the selection keys When,
When the user's finger or the like slides on the input unit while in a contact state, a folding detection unit that detects the locus of the slide and the folding of the locus;
Wherein based on the number of folding, equipped with, a character feed unit that performs a character feed operation in the determined input character in the selected candidate, the character input device.   2. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: an input character display unit that sequentially displays characters during the character feeding operation by the character feeding unit and displays the characters after the character feeding operation as input characters. Character input device. An input character determination unit that determines an input character by ending the character feed operation by the character feed unit;
The input unit is a touch panel or a touch pad,
The character input device according to claim 2, wherein the input character determination unit ends the character feeding operation when a user's finger or the like is released from the touch panel or the touch pad. The input unit is a touchpad,
The character input device according to claim 2, wherein the selection key display unit displays a cursor on one of the selection keys corresponding to a contact position of the user on the touch pad.   The character feeding unit performs the character feeding operation in the order of the positive direction when the turning angle of the locus is within the range of the first angle to the second angle, and the turning angle of the locus is a third angle. The character input device according to claim 2, wherein the character feeding operation is performed in the reverse order when the angle is within a range of the fourth angle to the fourth angle. The character group is a Japanese kana character group,
Each of the representative characters is a character included in the first row of the Japanese Kana character table,
3. The character input device according to claim 2, wherein each of the character groups includes characters included in a row of the Japanese kana character table.   The character input device according to claim 2, wherein the character input device is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. The character input device according to claim 2, wherein the character input device is mounted on a mobile phone or a PDA. The trajectory is configured by connecting user contact points on the input unit detected intermittently,
The folding detection unit includes an angle formed by a line segment connecting the contact point of the folding detection target and a contact point before and after the contact point, and two or more of the contact point of the folding detection target and the contact point. 3. The character according to claim 2, wherein it is determined that there is a return at the contact point to be detected when both angles formed by line segments connecting the contact points are within a predetermined angle range. Input device. A character input / output program for causing a computer to execute the following steps in order to selectively input an arbitrary character from a character group in a touch type input unit,
The character group is:
One or more representative characters;
Including one or more subordinate characters subordinate to each of the representative characters,
One representative character and the subordinate character subordinate to the representative character constitute one character group,
The character input program is:
A selection key display step of displaying all the representative characters included in the character group as selection keys;
An input character selection candidate determining step for determining, as an input character selection candidate, one character group corresponding to the selection key when the contact start position of the user on the input unit corresponds to any one of the selection keys. When,
When the user's finger or the like slides on the input unit while being in a contact state, a folding detection step for detecting the locus of the slide and the folding of the locus;
Wherein based on the number of folding, for character input program for executing a character feed step of performing character feeding operation in the determined input character in the selected candidate before Symbol computer. A character input method for selectively inputting an arbitrary character from a character group in a touch-type input unit,
The character group is:
One or more representative characters;
Including one or more subordinate characters subordinate to each of the representative characters,
One representative character and the subordinate character subordinate to the representative character constitute one character group,
The character input program is:
A selection key display step of displaying all the representative characters included in the character group as selection keys;
An input character selection candidate determining step for determining, as an input character selection candidate, one character group corresponding to the selection key when the contact start position of the user on the input unit corresponds to any one of the selection keys. When,
When the user's finger or the like slides on the input unit while being in a contact state, a folding detection step for detecting the locus of the slide and the folding of the locus;
A character input method comprising: a character feed step of performing a character feed operation within the determined input character selection candidate based on the number of times of folding.

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