JP5495702B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device, and more particularly to an input device capable of easily correcting an erroneous input.

  As an input device for inputting characters, for example, there are devices having a mechanical keyboard or a numeric keypad, or devices having a touch panel on which a keyboard, numeric keypad, or the like is displayed. The touch panel has many advantages such as a high degree of freedom in key layout and an intuitive operation. For this reason, in recent years, the number of portable terminals equipped with a touch panel has increased rapidly. Examples of the portable terminal include a cellular phone, a portable music player, and a portable television. Since these portable terminals are required to be portable, it is necessary to reduce the size of the casing. When inputting a touch panel, it is necessary to display a plurality of keys. However, when a numeric keypad or full keyboard of a portable terminal familiar to the user is displayed on the touch panel, the displayed key is larger than the area of the user's finger. It gets smaller. In this case, when the user performs input to the touch panel with a finger, there is a possibility that a plurality of keys are erroneously pressed and erroneous input is performed.

  The operation of the conventional touch panel will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 shows a state where the user is pressing a plurality of keys. Specifically, the user is erroneously pressing “E” and “D” in an attempt to press the fifth character “E” of “convenient”. In a conventional touch panel, when a user's finger touches across a plurality of keys, characters corresponding to the center of gravity of the contact are displayed on the display. Therefore, in the case of FIG. 9, “D” corresponding to the center of gravity of the contact is displayed instead of “E” intended by the user. If the user inputs “N” as the sixth character without noticing the erroneous input of “D”, the display screen is as shown in FIG. 10, for example. The key display unit displays keys for user input, the main display unit displays input characters, and the sub display unit predicts the character string displayed on the main display unit. Candidates are displayed. In this case, in order to correct the erroneously entered “D”, the user once returns the cursor to the position of “D”, deletes the erroneously entered character “D”, and then corrects the correct character “E”. "Must be entered. Such correction of erroneous input is a time-consuming operation for the user, and causes a reduction in the work efficiency of character input. For this reason, in order to increase the efficiency of character input work, it is required to correct erroneous input efficiently.

  In the conventional erroneous input correction method, it is determined whether or not an input character matches an erroneous input pattern registered in advance. If they match, the input character is determined to be an erroneously input character, and correction candidates registered in advance for the erroneously input character are displayed on the touch panel. By displaying the correction candidates, the user can notice an erroneous input. When the user selects a correction candidate displayed, an erroneously input character is corrected (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 08-297663 A

  However, in the conventional erroneous input correction method, even if the input character is an erroneous input, the correction candidate is not displayed on the touch panel unless it matches the previously registered erroneous input pattern. For this reason, the user may continue the input work without noticing the erroneous input. If the user notices an erroneous input, the user must return the cursor to the erroneous input character, delete the erroneous input character, and re-enter the correct character. Such erroneous input correction is troublesome for the user.

  Even if the entered character is an incorrect input and matches the pre-registered erroneous input pattern, the correct input character must be deleted and re-entered unless the correct character is in the pre-registered correction candidates. I must.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art is to delete an erroneously input character and input a correct character again without previously registering an erroneously input pattern and a correction candidate. An object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can correct an erroneous input without any problem.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the input device according to the first invention is
A display unit;
An input detection unit for detecting an input to the input area corresponding to the character;
A load detection unit for detecting the input pressing load;
If the input detected by the input detection unit that span multiple input area displayed on the display unit a character the degree of contact corresponding to the largest input region of the previous SL plurality of input regions as an input character And a control unit that causes a character corresponding to another input area to be displayed as a correction candidate character and displayed on the display unit even when the next character is input ,
Wherein, when the pressure load of the input for the correction candidate characters displayed on the display unit satisfies the load standard, that for displaying the input character on the display unit is changed to the correct candidate character It is a feature .

In addition, the control unit
Display a key assigned a character on the display unit,
When the pressing load of the inputs to the key corresponding to the correction candidate characters displayed before Symbol display unit satisfies the load standard, Ru said input character is displayed on the display unit is changed to the correct candidate character and this is desirable.

The input device further includes:
A tactile sensation presentation unit that vibrates the input detection unit;
The control unit controls the tactile sensation providing unit so as to present a tactile sensation with respect to a pressing object pressing the input detection unit when the input character is changed to the correction candidate character.
It is desirable.

  According to the input device according to the present invention configured as described above, when input over a plurality of input areas is performed, a correction candidate character (correction candidate) is registered without previously registering an erroneous input pattern and a correction candidate. Is displayed on the display. By inputting the correction candidate character, the input character is changed to the correction candidate character and displayed. That is, an erroneously input character can be corrected without deleting the erroneously input character and re-entering the correct character.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a character display method of the input device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a display screen example of the display unit of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a process performed by the input device of FIG. 1 when there is an input across a plurality of keys. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method of correcting an erroneous input in the input device of FIG. FIG. 6 is an example of a display screen of the display unit in FIG. 1 at the time of erroneous input correction. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a movable region of the user's finger on the display unit of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a load standard. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a load standard. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a mobile phone as an application example of the input device of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state where the user is pressing a plurality of keys. FIG. 12 is a display screen example of a conventional touch panel.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Examples of the input device 101 of the present invention include a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, a portable music player, a portable TV, a bank ATM (Automated Teller Machine), and a station ticket vending machine. The input device 101 includes a touch panel 102 including a display unit 103 and an input detection unit 104, a storage unit 105, a load detection unit 106, a tactile sensation providing unit 107, and a control unit 108.

  The display unit 103 displays keys or buttons for inputting characters and the input characters, and is configured using, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL display panel. Note that characters include not only hiragana, katakana and alphabets but also numbers and symbols. Characters are assigned to keys or buttons (hereinafter abbreviated as keys). When an input is performed on a key, characters corresponding to the key are displayed on the display unit 103. That is, the key indicates the input area corresponding to the character. When an input is performed in a certain input area, characters assigned to the input area are displayed on the display unit 103. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the shape of the key matches the input area. In the present invention, it should be noted that the input area corresponding to the character and the shape of the key do not necessarily match, and the input area can be set wider (or narrower) than the key. Further, the keys may not be displayed corresponding to the input area.

  The input detection unit 104 detects input by a user's finger, stylus pen or the like (pressed object), and is configured by a known method such as a resistance film method, a capacitance method, or an optical method. In particular, the input detection unit 104 detects an input to an input area (key) corresponding to a character. In addition, for the input detection unit 104 to detect an input, it is not essential that the pressed object physically presses the input detection unit 104. For example, when the input detection unit 104 is an optical type, the input detection unit 104 detects a position where the infrared rays on the input detection unit 104 are blocked by a finger, a stylus pen, or the like. It is not necessary to press.

  The input detection unit 104 detects which key is input, and also detects the degree of contact (eg, area and pressure) between the detected key and the pressed object. It also has a function of an area sensor that changes the output voltage according to the area and a pressure sensor that changes the output voltage according to the contact pressure. For convenience of explanation below, the degree of contact refers to the contact area.

  The storage unit 105 stores various input information and also functions as a work memory.

  The load detection unit 106 detects an input pressing load detected by the input detection unit 104, and includes, for example, an element that linearly reacts to a load such as a strain gauge sensor or a piezoelectric element.

  The tactile sensation providing unit 107 vibrates the input detection unit 104 and presents a tactile sensation to a user's finger or stylus pen (pressed object) pressing the input detection unit 104. For example, a vibration element such as a piezoelectric element It is configured using. The tactile sensation to be presented may be any vibration, and the frequency, period (wavelength), amplitude, and waveform can be appropriately set according to the tactile sensation to be presented. Further, examples of a more realistic tactile sensation that improves a user's operational feeling include a tactile hard tactile sensation, a soft tactile sensation such as bull or buni, and a tactile sensation that can be recognized as vibration such as a bull. A clicked hard tactile sensation can be realized by, for example, presenting a sine wave of 200 Hz to 500 Hz for one period or a rectangular wave for one period. A soft tactile sensation such as bull or beech can be realized by, for example, presenting a sine wave of 200 Hz to 500 Hz for two or three periods. A tactile sensation that can be recognized as a vibration such as a bull can be realized by, for example, presenting a sine wave for four cycles or more. In addition, when the load detection part 106 and the tactile sensation presentation part 107 are comprised using a piezoelectric element, the load detection part 106 and the tactile sensation presentation part 107 can be comprised sharing a piezoelectric element. This is because the piezoelectric element generates electric power when pressure is applied and deforms when electric power is applied.

  The control unit 108 controls and manages the entire input device 101 including each functional block of the input device 101. Here, the control unit 108 is configured as software executed on an arbitrary suitable processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for each process (for example, DSP (Digital Signal Processor)). Can be configured.

  The control unit 108 will be described in more detail. When the input detection unit 104 detects an input to the key, the control unit 108 causes the display unit 103 to display a character corresponding to the detected input as an input character. The input character is a character corresponding to (assigned to) the key displayed on the display unit 103 when an input to the key is detected. When the input detected by the input detection unit 104 is input across a plurality of keys, the control unit 108 corresponds to the key having the largest contact area between the pressed object such as a user's finger and the key among the plurality of keys. Characters are displayed on the display unit 103 as input characters, and characters corresponding to keys other than the key having the largest contact area among the plurality of keys are displayed on the display unit 103 as correction candidate characters. The correction candidate character is a character displayed on the display unit 103 instead of being displayed as an input character because it is not the key having the largest contact area. That is, when an input is made across a plurality of keys, characters corresponding to all the keys of the plurality of keys are displayed on the display unit 103, although there is a difference between the input character and the correction candidate character depending on the contact area. Is done. For this reason, there is a correct character in either the input character or the correction candidate character. That is, it is possible to display the correction candidate character on the display unit 103 without registering the erroneous input pattern and the correction candidate character in advance. When the correction candidate character is displayed on the display unit 103, the new input detected by the input detection unit 104 is an input corresponding to the correction candidate character displayed on the display unit 103, and the pressing load of the input is a load. When the criterion is satisfied, the control unit 108 changes the input character to a correction candidate character and causes the display unit 103 to display the input character. That is, when an incorrect character is displayed as an input character and a correct character is displayed as a correction candidate character, the user inputs the correction candidate character with a pressing load that satisfies the load standard for correcting the character. Incorrect input characters can be corrected.

  Hereinafter, a case where the user intends to input “convenient” will be described. The user tries to input “C”, “O”, “N”, “V”, “E”, “N”, and when inputting “C”, “N” (third character) and “E”, other users mistakenly Suppose you also press a key.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a character display method of the input device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a display screen example of the display unit when “C”, “O”, “N”, “V”, “E”, and “N” are input. The display unit 103 includes, for example, a main display unit 109, a sub display unit 110, and a key display unit 111 as shown in FIG.

  First, when an input to the key displayed on the key display unit 111 is performed by a pressing object such as a user's finger or a stylus pen, the input detection unit 104 detects this input (step S101). That is, in step S101, it is detected which key is the input. Then, the input detection unit 104 detects the contact area between the pressed object and the key (step S102). Subsequently, based on the detection result of the input detection unit 104, the control unit 108 determines whether or not the input to the key is an input across a plurality of keys (step S103). Since “O”, “V” and “N” (sixth character) are input only to one desired key “O”, “V” and “N” (No in step S103), The control unit 108 displays a character corresponding to the detected input on the main display unit 109 as an input character (step S108).

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, a method for displaying characters when input is performed across a plurality of keys, that is, “C”, “N” (third character), and “E” will be described. . FIG. 4 shows a case where the input across the “E” and “D” keys is erroneously made when inputting “E”.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the user has made an input across both the “E” and “D” keys. Then, the input detection unit 104 detects that the input is for the keys “E” and “D” (step S101), and detects the contact area between the pressed object and the keys “E” and “D” (step S101). S102).

  Subsequently, based on the detection result of the input detection unit 104, the control unit 108 determines that the current input is input across a plurality of keys (Yes in step S103), and determines the contact area for “E” and “ The contact area for “D” is compared (step S104). The control unit 108 assigns priorities in descending order of the contact area, and causes the storage unit 105 to store the characters corresponding to the detected input and the priority order of each character (step S105). The priority order is defined as the first candidate, the second candidate, and the third candidate in order from the key with the largest contact area, and other than the first candidate is hereinafter referred to as a correction candidate. Referring to FIG. 4, the control unit 108 determines that the letter “D” corresponding to the key with the largest contact area is the first candidate, and sets the letter “E” corresponding to the key other than the key with the largest contact area as the first candidate. The second candidate is determined to be “D”, and the second candidate is stored as “E”.

  Next, the control unit 108 reads out the first candidate “D” from the storage unit 105 and causes the main display unit 109 to display the first candidate “D” as an input character (step S106). Further, the control unit 108 reads out characters (“E”) other than the first candidate from the storage unit 105 and causes the main display unit 109 to display characters other than the first candidate (“E”) as correction candidate characters (step S109). S107). At this time, the control unit 108 can display the correction candidate character (“E”) on the main display unit 109 in association with the input character (“D”) corresponding to the correction candidate character. The display in association is a display in a mode in which the user can clearly recognize which input character on the main display unit 109 is a correction candidate character. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 108 can display the correction candidate characters surrounded by a balloon below the corresponding input characters. If the correspondence between the input character and the correction candidate character is known, the position of the correction candidate character is not limited to the lower part or the vicinity of the input character. It should be noted that the input area corresponding to the correction candidate character and the range surrounded by the balloon may be matched or may not be matched.

  In the input of “C”, it is assumed that input is performed across the keys “C” and “V”, and “C” is the first candidate and “V” is the second candidate. In the input of “N” (third character), it is assumed that input is performed across the “N” and “M” keys, and “M” is the first candidate and “N” is the second candidate. When the user inputs “N” without noticing the erroneous input of “D”, the display on the main display unit 109 becomes “comvdn” as shown in FIG. 3, and “v”, “n”, “ “e” is displayed below “c”, “m”, and “d”, respectively.

  In FIG. 3, the three correction candidate characters are all the same size and surrounded by balloons of the same size, but the display mode of the correction candidate characters is not limited to FIG. 3. . For example, the control unit 108 can display the correction candidate character with a size corresponding to the contact area to the key corresponding to the correction candidate character. The larger the ratio of the contact area to the key corresponding to the correction candidate character with respect to the contact area to the key corresponding to the first candidate, the higher the possibility that the character that the user originally wanted to input is the correction candidate character. I can say that.

  The control unit 108 can highlight and display an input character displayed on the main display unit 109 by an input across a plurality of keys. The highlight display is a highlight display performed to make the user recognize that an input has been performed across a plurality of keys. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 108 can highlight “c”, “m”, and “d” on the main display unit 109.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 108 displays the prediction conversion candidates (for example, “comvdn” and “COMVDN”) of the input character string “comvdn” displayed on the main display unit 109 on the sub display unit 110. Can be displayed. The input character string is a character string composed of characters corresponding to (assigned to) the key displayed on the main display unit 109 when an input to the key is detected. The predictive conversion candidate is a word or sentence candidate including a character string displayed on the display unit 103. Although not shown, the control unit 108 can also display the predicted conversion candidate of the correction candidate character string including the correction candidate character on the sub display unit 110. The correction candidate character string including the correction candidate character is a character string composed of the input character string displayed on the display unit 103 and the correction candidate character. For example, the control unit 108 causes the sub display unit 110 to display prediction conversion candidates (for example, “vomvdn”, “VOMVDN”, “convenience”, “convenient”, and “conveniently” ”) of the correction candidate character strings“ vomvdn ”and“ conven ”. You can also.

  Further, the control unit 108 can also display the correction candidate characters on the main display unit 109 when there is no predictive conversion candidate for the input character string displayed on the main display unit 109. As shown in FIG. 3, words including the input character string other than the input character string (“comvdn”) displayed on the main display unit 109 converted into lowercase letters and uppercase letters are predicted conversion candidates. The case where it does not exist can be the case where there is no predictive conversion candidate for the input character string displayed on the main display unit 109.

  With reference to FIG.5 and FIG.6, the correction method of the erroneous input which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the state of FIG. 3 is demonstrated. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method of correcting an erroneous input in the input device of FIG. FIG. 6 is a display screen example of the touch panel of FIG. 1 at the time of erroneous input correction.

  First, a correction method for the erroneous input character “m” will be described. When a new input corresponding to the correction candidate character (“n”) on the main display unit 109 is made by the user's finger or the like, the input detection unit 104 detects the input (step S111). Here, the input corresponding to the correction candidate character is the input to the key (“N”) on the key display unit 111 corresponding to the correction candidate character (“n”) on the main display unit 109 as shown in FIG. The input is not limited to only the input, but also includes input performed directly on the input area corresponding to the correction candidate character on the main display unit 109. When the user holds an input device that is a mobile terminal in his / her hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the range in which the user can extend his / her finger without burden (finger movable region) may be limited. In such a case, it is more convenient for the user that the input corresponding to the correction candidate character can be realized by the input to the key on the key display unit 111 corresponding to the correction candidate character.

  Subsequently, the load detection unit 106 detects this new input pressing load, and the control unit 108 determines whether or not this pressing load satisfies a load standard (step S112). The load reference can be arbitrarily set in consideration of the pressing load of the user, the processing performance of the input device, and the like, and is set as shown in FIG. The new input detected by the input detection unit 104 is an input to the key (“N”) corresponding to the correction candidate character (“n”) displayed on the key display unit 111, and the pressing load of this input is a load. If the criterion is satisfied (Yes in step S112), that is, if the pressing load satisfies the criterion A of FIG. 8, the control unit 108 changes the input character (“m”) to the correction candidate character (“n”). It is displayed on the main display unit 109 (step S113). As a result, the display on the main display unit 109 is “convdn”, and “v” and “e” are displayed below “c” and “d”, respectively.

  When the predictive conversion candidate of the input character string of the main display unit 109 is displayed on the sub display unit 110, after step S113, the control unit 108 changes the predictive conversion candidate of “comvdn” to the predictive conversion candidate of “convdn”. Change (step S114). As a prediction conversion candidate of “convdn”, for example, “convdn” and “CONVDN” are given as shown in FIG.

  In step S112, the new input detected by the input detection unit 104 is an input to the key corresponding to the correction candidate character displayed on the key display unit 111, and the pressing load of this input does not satisfy the load standard ( In step S112, the control unit 108 can newly display a character corresponding to the key as an input character on the main display unit 109 (similar to step S108). By providing the load reference, the user can change the input for display on the main display unit 109, the input character, and the correction candidate character when inputting to the key displayed on the key display unit 111. And input for.

  The control unit 108 controls the tactile sensation providing unit 107 so that the user can clearly recognize that the input pressing load by the user's finger or the like satisfies the load standard and the control unit 108 has changed the input character to the correction candidate character. Then, the input detection unit 104 can be vibrated, and a tactile sensation can be presented to the pressed object that is pressing the input detection unit 104.

  If correction is to be continued, steps S111 to S114 are repeated. Since the character “e” originally desired to be input is displayed on the main display unit 109 as a correction candidate character, the user tries to correct the input character “d”. When the input detection unit 104 detects an input corresponding to the correction candidate character “e” by a user's finger, stylus pen, or the like (step S111), and the pressing load of the input satisfies the load criterion (Yes in step S112), The control unit 108 changes the input character “d” on the main display unit 109 to the correction candidate character “e” for display (step S113). As a result, the display on the main display unit 109 is “conven”, and “v” is displayed below “c”.

  When the prediction conversion candidate of the input character string of the main display unit 109 is displayed on the sub display unit 110, after step S113, the control unit 108 changes the prediction conversion candidate of “convdn” to the prediction conversion candidate of “conven”. Change (step S114). Examples of “conven” predictive conversion candidates include “convenience”, “convenient”, and “conveniently”.

  When the input detection unit 104 detects an input corresponding to the prediction conversion candidate “convenient”, the control unit 108 changes the input character string “conven” displayed on the main display unit 109 to the prediction conversion candidate “convenient”. Display. As described above, a desired “convenient” is displayed on the main display unit 109. At this time, the correction candidate “v” that has not been corrected disappears from the main display unit 109.

  As described above, when the candidate character string predicted conversion candidate is displayed on the sub display unit 110 when the correction candidate character is displayed as the input character on the main display unit 109, the input detection unit 104 performs the prediction conversion. When the input corresponding to the candidate (for example, “convenient”) is detected, the control unit 108 can change the input character string “comvdn” to the predicted conversion candidate “convenient” and display it on the main display unit 109. As a result, a desired “convenient” is displayed on the main display unit 109 without performing input corresponding to the correction candidate character.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the input detected by the input detection unit 104 is input across a plurality of input regions (keys), the control unit 108 determines the degree of contact (contact area) among the plurality of input regions. The character corresponding to the input region with the largest touch is displayed on the display unit 103 as the input character, and the character corresponding to the input region other than the input region with the highest degree of contact among the plurality of input regions is displayed as the correction candidate character. And the new input detected by the input detection unit 104 is an input corresponding to the correction candidate character displayed on the display unit 103, and the input character is corrected when the pressing load of the input satisfies the load criterion. The candidate character is changed and displayed on the display unit 103. When an input is made across a plurality of keys, a character corresponding to a key other than the key having the largest contact area is displayed on the display unit 103 as a correction candidate character (correction candidate). It is not necessary to register an erroneous input pattern and correction candidate characters in advance. Even if an incorrect character is displayed as an input character on the display unit 103 (main display unit 109) by an input across a plurality of keys, the correct character is displayed on the display unit 103 (main display unit 109) as a correction candidate character. Will be. A user changes an incorrect input character on the display unit 103 (main display unit 109) to a correct correction candidate character by inputting the correct correction candidate character on the display unit 103 with a pressing load that satisfies the load standard. Is possible. That is, an erroneously input character can be corrected without deleting the erroneously input character and re-entering the correct character. Since correction is performed only when the pressing load satisfies the load standard, unnecessary correction can be prevented when the user accidentally touches the correction candidate character. Therefore, the efficiency of character input work is improved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 108 causes the display unit 103 to display a key to which a character is assigned, and a new input detected by the input detection unit 104 corresponds to the correction candidate character displayed on the display unit 103. When the input pressing load satisfies the load standard, the input character can be changed to a correction candidate character and displayed on the display unit 103. That is, the user can correct an erroneously input character by operating a key displayed on the key display unit 111. Since it is not necessary to directly input the correction candidate character displayed on the main display unit 109 in order to correct an erroneously input character, as shown in FIG. This is particularly effective when the finger movable area is limited.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 108 inputs a new input detected by the input detection unit 104 to the key corresponding to the correction candidate character displayed on the display unit 103, and the pressing load of the input is If the load standard is not satisfied, a character corresponding to the correction candidate character can be newly displayed on the display unit 103 as an input character. In other words, the user adjusts the pressing load and performs input to the key to display the character corresponding to the key on the main display unit 109, or to display the input character and the correction candidate character corresponding to the key. It can also be changed. For example, when the input character string “com” and the correction candidate characters “v” and “n” (see FIG. 3) are displayed on the main display unit 109, By pressing the key “V” with a pressing load that does not satisfy the standard, “v” is displayed on the main display unit 109 as an input character. In this case, the input character “c” is not changed to the correction candidate character “v”.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 108 controls the tactile sensation providing unit 107 to present a tactile sensation to the pressed object that is pressing the input detection unit 104 when the input character is changed to the correction candidate character. can do. Thus, the user can clearly recognize that the input pressing load by the user's finger or the like satisfies the load standard. Since it is not necessary to confirm that the input character has been changed to the correction candidate character by looking at the main display unit 109, the character input operation can be performed efficiently.

  In this embodiment, when the input character is changed to a correction candidate character, the control unit 108 presses a mechanical key so that the tactile sensation providing unit 107 improves the user's operational feeling, not just vibration. It is possible to present a hard and hard tactile sensation (real click feeling) that can be felt at the time of pressing. The input detection unit 104 itself does not physically displace like a mechanical key even when pressed, but when the user operates a mechanical key by presenting the tactile sensation as described above to the pressed object You can get the same realistic click feeling. Thereby, the user can perform an input operation to the touch panel that does not originally have feedback by pressing without a sense of incongruity.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and corrections based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the functions included in each member, each means, each step, etc. can be rearranged so as not to be logically contradictory, and a plurality of means, steps, etc. can be combined into one or divided. Is possible.

  In the description of the embodiment of the present invention described above, an optical touch panel can be adopted as the touch panel. Therefore, when the input detection unit detects an input, the pressing object physically presses the input detection unit. Although it demonstrated that it was not essential, when a resistive film type touch panel is employ | adopted for a touch panel, an input is detected because a press thing presses an input detection part. In this case, there exists a load standard (B in FIG. 9) for detecting an input as shown in FIG. That is, when the pressing load on a certain key satisfies the standard B, the character corresponding to the key is displayed on the display unit as the input character. The reference for changing the input character to the correction candidate character described above is set to a value larger than the load reference for detecting the input, for example, as shown in FIG.

  Further, in the description of the embodiment of the present invention described above, the load standard related to correction is used as the standard for changing the input character to the correction candidate character. However, the correction may be performed by long press or double click. it can. For example, when the control unit has a function of measuring the pressing time for the input detection unit, the control unit changes the input character to the correction candidate character when the input pressing time corresponding to the correction candidate character satisfies the time criterion. Can be displayed on the display unit. Further, when the control unit is provided with a function of measuring the input interval of two consecutive inputs, when the input interval corresponding to the two consecutive correction candidate characters satisfies the input interval criterion, the control unit The input characters can be changed to correction candidate characters and displayed on the display unit.

  Further, in the description of the embodiment of the present invention described above, it is assumed that the characters (“v”, “n”, “e”) displayed as the correction candidate characters are all different, but the same character is the correction candidate character. The input device according to the present invention can also be set so that erroneously input characters can be corrected even when displayed as. For example, a case will be described in which “conven” is input and the user inputs over the “N” and “M” keys in two “n” inputs. In both cases, it is assumed that “M” is the first candidate and “N” is the second candidate. That is, the display on the main display unit is “comvdm”, and the correction candidate character “n” is displayed below both input characters “m”. At this time, when using a load standard related to correction as a standard for changing the input character to the correction candidate character, for example, the load standard is provided in two stages, and the correction candidate character “n” is applied with a pressing load that satisfies the first stage load standard. If the corresponding input is made, change the first input character “m” (“m” to the right of “o”) to “n” and display it on the main display. When the input corresponding to the correction candidate character “n” is performed with a pressing load that satisfies the standard, the second input character “m” (“m” on the right of “d”) is changed to “n”. The control unit can be set to display on the main display unit. In addition, when using a time reference for correction as a reference for changing an input character to a correction candidate character, for example, two time references are provided and the correction candidate character “n” is handled with a pressing time that satisfies the first time reference. When the input is performed, the first input character “m” is changed to “n” and displayed on the main display unit, and the correction candidate character “n” is changed to the correction candidate character “n” with a pressing time satisfying the second time standard. When the corresponding input is performed, the control unit can be set so that the second input character “m” is changed to “n” and displayed on the main display unit. In addition, when the input interval standard for correction is used as a standard for changing the input character to the correction candidate character, for example, the input candidate and the correction candidate character to be changed can be selected according to the number of inputs within the input interval standard. It is also possible to set a control unit. For example, when the input corresponding to the correction candidate character “n” is performed twice in succession within the input interval criterion, the control unit changes the first input character “m” to “n” and changes the main character When the input corresponding to the correction candidate character “n” is performed three times in succession within the input interval standard, the second input character “m” is changed to “n” and the main display is displayed. Can be displayed.

  Further, in the above description of the embodiment of the present invention, the description has been given on the assumption that an input is made over two keys. However, an error is similarly caused when an input is made over three or more keys. Input characters can be corrected. In this case, only the number of correction candidate characters is increased, and the control unit displays correction candidate characters including characters corresponding to keys other than the key having the largest contact area on the main display unit. The control unit can also change the display size, display order, display position, etc. of the correction candidate characters according to the priority order.

  In addition, a threshold value can be provided for the contact area between the pressed object such as the user's finger and the key, and the control unit can set the priority only for the key exceeding the threshold value. Thereby, the number of the correction candidate character strings displayed on the sub display unit can be reduced. Therefore, the display space of the display unit can be used effectively. This is particularly effective when the display area of the sub display section cannot be increased. Since the smaller the contact area, the higher the possibility of being pressed by mistake, there is no problem even if a threshold value is provided and characters corresponding to a key with a large contact area are preferentially displayed on the sub display unit.

  In the above embodiment, the input device having a touch panel has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to an input device having a touch panel. The present invention can be applied to any input device including a mechanical key (or button) for detecting an input by a user instead of the touch panel and a display for displaying a character corresponding to the detected input. . Examples of such an input device include a personal computer having a mechanical key (for example, a keyboard and a numeric keypad), a mobile phone, a credit card terminal, and the like. For example, when applied to a mobile phone as shown in FIG. 10, the display unit 103 according to the above-described embodiment corresponds to the display 203 of the mobile phone, and the input detection unit 104 corresponds to the mechanical key 204 of the mobile phone. In this case, character input and correction are performed by operating the mechanical key 204. The correction can be performed, for example, by pressing a key corresponding to the correction candidate character string or by moving the cursor to the correction candidate character string on the display 203 with a cursor key or the like and determining.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Input device 102 Touch panel 103 Display part 104 Input detection part 105 Memory | storage part 106 Load detection part 107 Tactile sense presentation part 108 Control part 109 Main display part 110 Sub display part 111 Key display part 203 Display 204 Key

Claims (3)

A display unit;
An input detection unit for detecting an input to the input area corresponding to the character;
A load detection unit for detecting the input pressing load;
If the input detected by the input detection unit that span multiple input area displayed on the display unit a character the degree of contact corresponding to the largest input region of the previous SL plurality of input regions as an input character And a control unit that causes a character corresponding to another input area to be displayed as a correction candidate character and displayed on the display unit even when the next character is input ,
Wherein, when the pressure load of the input for the correction candidate characters displayed on the display unit satisfies the load standard, that for displaying the input character on the display unit is changed to the correct candidate character Characteristic input device. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes:
Display the key assigned the character on the display,
When the pressing load of the inputs to the key corresponding to the correction candidate characters displayed before Symbol display unit satisfies the load standard, Ru said input character is displayed on the display unit is changed to the correct candidate character input device comprising a call. In the input device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, further,
A tactile sensation presentation unit that vibrates the input detection unit;
The control unit controls the tactile sensation providing unit to present a tactile sensation to a pressed object that is pressing the input detection unit when the input character is changed to the correction candidate character. Input device.

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