JP6011114B2 - Character input device, character input method, and character input program - Google Patents

Description

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

  Conventionally, research has been conducted on a method for allowing a user to input characters in a mobile phone, a tablet PC, or the like.

  For example, a portable terminal device is known that includes a numeric keypad with a fingerprint detection function for detecting a fingerprint of a finger, a fingerprint verification engine for verifying a fingerprint of a finger that has pressed down the numeric keypad, and a mapping pattern memory. The mapping pattern memory in this portable terminal device stores data that associates the type of numeric keypad with a line of 50 sounds (consonant) and data that associates a fingerprint of a finger with a stage of 50 sounds (vowel). I remember it. Then, when the numeric keypad is pressed, the portable terminal device identifies the finger that is pressed according to the fingerprint verification result by the fingerprint verification engine, refers to the association data stored in the mapping pattern memory, and specifies a specific character. Is selected as the input character.

  Also, an input device is known in which each of the 50 sounds (excluding muddy and semi-voiced points) is displayed as a software key, and a kana character corresponding to the software key touched by the user is used as an input character. For example, when the “one” key on the screen is touched with a pen, this input device displays the “zu” and “tsu” keys adjacent to the “one” position. In this input device, the character selected when the touch with the pen is released is selected as the input character.

  Also, a ten key is set on the touch panel, a consonant is determined based on the key touched by the user, and it is separated from the key after being touched or based on whether the user has slid in a predetermined direction based on the touched key. Mobile phones that determine vowels are known.

JP 2009-205519 A JP 2002-91676 A JP 2010-9564 A

  However, in the above-described conventional apparatus, since it is necessary to set many mechanical keys or software keys, the user may feel troublesome to operate fine keys.

  An object of one aspect is to allow a user to perform comfortable character input.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a finger determination unit that determines which of five fingers is a user's finger that has touched the operation surface, and a direction in which the sliding direction of the user's finger that has touched the operation surface is detected A determination unit that determines a vowel according to a finger determined by the detection unit and the finger determination unit, and determines a consonant based on a slide direction detected by the direction detection unit, thereby determining an input kana character And the determination unit determines which region of the plurality of regions set on the operation surface has been touched by the user's finger, thereby determining the user's finger that has touched the operation surface. Is a character input device that determines which of the five fingers it is.

  According to one embodiment, the user can perform comfortable character input.

It is an external appearance example of the portable terminal device 1 which concerns on 1st Example. 3 is a hardware configuration example of the mobile terminal device 1. 2 is a functional configuration example of a mobile terminal device 1. It is a figure which shows a mode that 10 A of character input areas are set to the touch panel 10 of the portable terminal device. It is an example of the correspondence of a finger and a vowel which the input character determination part 44 of the portable terminal device 1 employ | adopts. It is an example of the correspondence between the slide direction and the consonant adopted by the input character determination unit 44 of the mobile terminal device 1. 4 is an example of a correspondence relationship between a finger and a sliding direction and a kana character employed by an input character determination unit 44 of the mobile terminal device 1. 3 is a diagram illustrating a scene in which a user inputs kana characters to the mobile terminal device 1; FIG. 4 is an example of a flowchart executed by a character input control unit 41. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation order when a character “Pi” is input when adding a dakuten or semi-dakuten and changing to a small character are for a kana character input immediately before. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation order when a character “Pi” is input in the case where a kana character input immediately after or simultaneously with the addition of a dakuten or semi-dakuten and a change to a small character is a target. It is a figure which shows a mode that 10 A of character input areas are set to the touch panel 10 of the portable terminal device. 7 is an example of a correspondence relationship between a finger and a sliding direction and a kana character employed by an input character determination unit 44 of the mobile terminal device 2. 6 is a diagram illustrating a scene in which a user inputs kana characters to the mobile terminal device 2 when conversion mode 1 is employed. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a scene in which a user inputs kana characters to the mobile terminal device 2 when conversion mode 2 is employed. 2 is a hardware configuration example of a mobile terminal device 3; 3 is a functional configuration example of a mobile terminal device 3. It is a figure which shows the several area | region set to main input area 10Aa. It is a figure which shows a mode that the user put the finger | toe on each area | region of 10 Aa of main input areas. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a scene in which a user inputs kana characters to the mobile terminal device 3. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a scene in which a user inputs a kana character to the mobile terminal device 3 when the correspondence relationship illustrated in FIG. 13 and conversion mode 1 are employed. It is the figure which illustrated the scene where a user inputs a kana character with respect to the portable terminal device 3 when the correspondence shown in FIG. 13 and the conversion mode 2 are employ | adopted.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a character input device, a character input method, and a character input program will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is an external view of a mobile terminal device 1 according to the first embodiment. The mobile terminal device 1 is a device for inputting characters using a touch panel, such as a mobile phone or a tablet PC. The mobile terminal device 1 includes, for example, a touch panel 10, a mechanical key 20 such as a home key 22, and a main body 30.

  FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration example of the mobile terminal device 1. The mobile terminal device 1 includes a CPU 40, a storage device 50, and a communication device 60 inside the main body 30. The touch panel 10 includes a touch position detection unit 12 and a fingerprint data acquisition unit 14.

  The touch position detection unit 12 is, for example, a capacitive touch sensor, and includes a plurality of electrodes arranged in, for example, a lattice shape inside the touch panel 10. When the user's finger touches the surface of the touch panel 10, the plurality of electrodes generate a capacitance corresponding to the distance between the finger surface and the electrode and a voltage corresponding to the charge.

  Furthermore, the surface portion of the touch panel 10 is, for example, a first glass plate provided with a plurality of photosensor elements arranged in a grid pattern in order from the surface side, and a liquid crystal that controls the transmittance of light emitted from the backlight. The second glass plate is laminated. The fingerprint acquisition unit 14 uses an optical sensor element to reflect light reflected from light emitted from the backlight by an object placed near the surface of the touch panel 10 or an object in contact with the surface (for example, a user's finger). To detect. The fingerprint acquisition unit 14 aggregates the light intensities detected by the plurality of optical sensor elements, generates fingerprint data that is scan image data, and provides the fingerprint data to the CPU 40. Note that the function of generating data may be performed on the CPU 40 side.

  Here, the capacitance type is cited as the configuration for realizing the touch position detection function, and the light detection type is cited as the function for realizing the fingerprint acquisition function. It is not limited. For example, the mobile terminal device 1 may detect a touch position by a light detection method, or may acquire fingerprint data by a capacitance method. Further, the mobile terminal device 1 may perform touch position detection or fingerprint data acquisition by a method other than the capacitance type or the light detection type.

  The CPU 40 executes a program stored in the storage device 50 and performs main control of the mobile terminal device 1. Examples of the storage device 50 include an SSD (Solid State Drive), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory).

  The communication device 60 accesses the Internet and a server by using a radio wave network of a cellular phone or the like using an antenna (not shown) and acquires various information. In addition to the above, the mobile terminal device 1 may include components such as a speaker, a camera, and a television antenna.

  FIG. 3 is a functional configuration example of the mobile terminal device 1. In addition to application software 52 such as a Web browser, the storage device 50 stores character input control software 54 and collation fingerprint data 56. The character input control software 54 is activated, for example, at a scene where the mobile terminal device is activated or when the application software 52 is executed so that text input by the user is required. The installation of the program in the storage device 50 may be performed by various storage media in addition to being stored in advance when the mobile terminal device 1 is shipped, or may be performed via a network such as the Internet. Various storage media include CD (Compact Disc) -ROM, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, SD card, and the like.

  The portable terminal device 1 includes a fingerprint collation unit 42, a slide direction detection unit 43, and an input character determination unit 44 as functional units realized by the CPU 40 starting and executing the character input control software 54. An input control unit 41 is included. Note that these functional units do not need to be realized by a clearly separated program, and may be called by other programs as subroutines or functions. Also, a part of the functional unit may be hardware means such as an LSI (Large Scale Integrated circuit), an IC (Integrated Circuit), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

  The character input control unit 41 first sets a character input area, for example, in the lower half of the touch panel 10. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where the character input area 10 </ b> A is set on the touch panel 10 of the mobile terminal device 1. The character input area 10A includes a main input area 10Aa and an auxiliary input area 10Ab.

  As will be described below, the main input area 10Aa allows the user to touch a finger to perform a predetermined slide operation or the like, so that kana characters (only the sound is turned off in the first embodiment, and “n” is excluded). This is an area for inputting.

  The auxiliary input area 10Ab includes a muddy point input key 10Aba, a semi-turbid point input key 10Abb, a small character change key 10Abc, a “n” input key 10Abd, a space input key 10Abe, a delete key 10Abf, a conversion input key 10Abg, a confirmation key 10Abh, etc. Is set. When these input keys are touched by the user, the dakuten or semi-dakuten are added to the kana characters, changed to small characters (such as “nya”), “n” is entered, or one character is deleted. Conversion from kana characters to kanji, conversion or confirmation of input text.

  The fingerprint collation unit 42 compares the fingerprint data acquired by the fingerprint acquisition unit 14 from the user's finger touching the main input area 10Aa with the fingerprint data 56 for verification, and determines which of the five fingers is the touched finger. Determine. Comparison between fingerprint data is performed by, for example, a known rotation correction process or pattern matching process. The fingerprint data for verification 56 is data registered in advance by the user touching each of the five fingers with the main input area 10Aa in accordance with the guidance display of the mobile terminal device 1 or the like. The user can use the character input function using the fingerprint by performing such an operation.

  The slide direction detection unit 43 detects the slide direction of the user's finger that has touched the surface of the touch panel 10. In order to detect the sliding direction, it is necessary to specify a representative position (coordinates) touched by the user's finger at each time point. For example, the slide direction detection unit 43 obtains the center of gravity of a plurality of coordinates output from the touch position detection unit 12, and detects a vector from the start point to the end point of the center of gravity point as the slide direction of the user's finger.

  The input character determination unit 44 determines a vowel (50 sound steps) according to the finger determined by the fingerprint collation unit 42 as described above, and a consonant (50 sounds) based on the slide direction detected by the slide direction detection unit 43. The kana character to be input is determined by determining the line of (1).

  FIG. 5 is an example of a correspondence relationship between a finger and a vowel employed by the input character determination unit 44 of the mobile terminal device 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the input character determination unit 44 includes the thumb and “A” level, the index finger and “I” level, the middle finger and “U” level, the ring finger and “E” level, the little finger and “O” level. ”Are associated with each other.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a correspondence relationship between the sliding direction and the consonant adopted by the input character determination unit 44 of the mobile terminal device 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the input character determination unit 44 displays the “a” line when there is no slide, the “ka” line when the user's finger slides upward, and the “ When it is slid to the right, the consonant is determined for the “ta” line. Further, the input character determination unit 44 displays “NA” when the user's finger slides in the lower right direction, “HA” when the user's finger slides downward, and “MA” when the user slides in the lower left direction. When sliding leftward in a row, consonants are determined for the “ya” and “wa” rows, respectively. Further, the input character determination unit 44 determines the consonant in the “ra” line when the user's finger slides in the upper left direction. For example, the input character determination unit 44 defines the angle in the clockwise direction with the upward direction being 0 degree, and if the angle is between 0 degree and 22.5 degrees, or between 337.5 degrees and 360 degrees, "Direction". Also, the input character determination unit 44 determines “upper right direction” if the angle is between 22.5 degrees and 67.5 degrees. For other angles, the input character determination unit 44 similarly determines the direction. FIG. 7 is an example of a correspondence relationship between the finger and slide direction and the kana characters employed by the input character determination unit 44 of the mobile terminal device 1. “·” In the “Operation” column in FIG. 7 indicates that the user has left without sliding after touching, and the other arrows indicate the direction of sliding after touching.

  When the mobile terminal device 1 determines the kana character input by the above-described association, the user can perform comfortable character input. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a scene in which the user inputs kana characters to the mobile terminal device 1. FIG. 8 shows a scene in which the user inputs three characters “sa”, “to”, and “u”. As shown in FIG. 8, the user can input “sa” by first touching the main input area 10 </ b> Aa with a thumb and sliding the thumb in the upper right direction. Next, the user can input “to” by touching the main input area 10 </ b> Aa with a little finger and sliding the little finger to the right. Next, “u” can be input by touching the main input area 10 </ b> Aa with the middle finger and releasing the middle finger from the touch panel 10 without sliding the middle finger.

  Thus, the user who uses the portable terminal device 1 can perform intuitive and efficient character input. For this reason, the user can perform high-speed input as he / she becomes skilled in character input. Further, since the frequency of troublesome operations such as carefully touching finely set mechanical keys and software keys is reduced, the user can perform comfortable character input.

  FIG. 9 is an example of a flowchart executed by the character input control unit 41. In addition, the order in which each process is performed in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 can be changed in any way as long as a similar process result is obtained.

  First, the character input control unit 41 waits until a touch operation is performed on the touch panel 10 (S100).

  When a touch operation is performed on the touch panel 10, the character input control unit 41 determines whether the touch operation is performed on the main input area 10Aa (S102).

  In the case of a touch operation on the main input area 10Aa, the character input control unit 41 acquires fingerprint data from the fingerprint acquisition unit 14 (S104), compares the fingerprint data with the fingerprint data for verification 56, and the touched finger is detected. It is determined which of the five fingers is (S106).

  Next, the character input control unit 41 determines whether or not the user's finger has slid more than a predetermined distance (for example, about several [mm] to about several tens [mm]) (S108). When it is determined that the user's finger has slid a predetermined distance or more, the character input control unit 41 detects the slide direction (S110), and is input based on the finger determined in S106 and the slide direction determined in S110. A kana character is determined (S116).

  When the user's finger has not slid by a predetermined distance, the character input control unit 41 determines whether or not the user's finger has left the touch panel 10 (S112). When it is determined that the user's finger has moved away from the touch panel 10, the character input control unit 41 determines “no slide” (S114), and is input based on the finger determined in S106 and the determination “no slide”. Kana characters are determined (S116).

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is obtained in S102 (that is, a touch operation on the auxiliary input area 10Ab), the character input control unit 41 performs auxiliary input processing (S118). In the auxiliary input process, the character input control unit 41 performs a process such as adding a cloud point to the kana character input immediately before when the “cloud point” input key 10Aba is touched.

  Here, the addition of a dakuten or semi-dakuten and a change to a small character may be performed on the kana character input immediately before or on the kana character input immediately after. When the size of the touch panel 10 is large enough to be operated with both hands, the user may be allowed to input kana characters while touching the “dakuten” input key 10Aba or the like.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation sequence when the character “Pi” is input when the addition of a muddy point or a semi-turbid point and a change to a small character target a kana character input immediately before. is there. On the other hand, FIG. 11 shows the operation sequence when the character “Pi” is input when the addition of a muddy point or semi-turbid point and the change to a small character are for a kana character that is input immediately or simultaneously. FIG.

  According to the first embodiment described above, it is possible to make the user perform comfortable character input.

<Second embodiment>
Hereinafter, the portable terminal device 2 according to the second embodiment will be described. Since the appearance, hardware configuration, functional configuration, flowchart, and the like are the same as those of the first embodiment, the description of the first embodiment is incorporated and the description is omitted.

  The character input control unit 41 of the mobile terminal device 2 also performs addition of muddy or semi-voiced sound, change to a small character, and input of “n” by a user operation on the main input area Aa. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the character input area 10 </ b> A is set on the touch panel 10 of the mobile terminal device 2.

  FIG. 13 is an example of a correspondence relationship between the finger and slide direction and the kana characters employed by the input character determination unit 44 of the mobile terminal device 2. In FIG. 13, the symbol on the left side of “+” in the “Operation” column indicates the same operation as the case of the mobile terminal device 1 (hereinafter referred to as basic operation), and the symbol on the right side of “+” indicates the basic operation. Indicates the operation to be added.

  An operation in which one “·” is written on the right side of “+” in the “operation” column indicates an operation of touching with another finger during the basic operation. “During basic operation” means, for example, between the touch for inputting a 50-tone clear sound (excluding “n”) and the end of the slide (in the case of “A” line, during touch). is there. For example, while the user is touching without sliding with the thumb (“A” in the basic operation), the user inputs the small character “A” by touching the main input area 10Aa with another finger. Can do.

  In the “Operation” column, two operations with “•” on the right side of “+” are operations for adding semi-voiced sound or changing to a small character “”. In the figure, an operation of touching with two other fingers or an operation of touching and sliding with other fingers is shown. Hereinafter, the conversion mode that requires the former will be referred to as conversion mode 1, and the conversion mode that requires the latter will be referred to as conversion mode 2.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a scene in which the user inputs kana characters to the mobile terminal device 2 when the conversion mode 1 is employed. FIG. 14 shows a scene in which the user inputs three characters “da”, “tsu”, and “pi”. As shown in FIG. 14, the user first touches the main input area 10Aa with a thumb, slides the thumb to the right, and touches the main input area 10Aa with another finger, thereby Can be entered. Next, the user touches the main input area 10Aa with the middle finger, slides the middle finger to the right, and touches the main input area 10Aa with the other two fingers, thereby “ Can be entered. Next, the user touches the main input area 10Aa with the index finger, slides the index finger downward, and touches the main input area 10Aa with the other two fingers, thereby to write the small character “Pi”. Can be entered.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a scene in which the user inputs kana characters to the mobile terminal device 2 when the conversion mode 2 is employed. FIG. 15 also shows a scene in which the user inputs three letters “DA”, “T”, and “PI”, as in FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 15, the user first touches the main input area 10Aa with a thumb, slides the thumb to the right, and touches the main input area 10Aa with another finger, thereby Can be entered. Next, the user touches the main input area 10Aa with the middle finger, slides the middle finger to the right, and further touches and slides the main input area 10Aa with the other finger, thereby “ Can be entered. Next, the user touches the main input area 10Aa with the index finger, slides the index finger downward, and touches the main input area 10Aa with another finger and slides it, so that the character “Pi” is written. Can be entered. The slide width of “the other finger” in the conversion mode 2 may be smaller than the slide width related to the normal operation. That is, the input character determination unit 44 may determine whether or not “another finger” has slid using a distance smaller than the “predetermined distance” in S108 of FIG. 9 as a criterion.

  In the input of semi-voiced sound and small character “tsu” as in conversion mode 1 and conversion mode 2, the work is complicated, so these characters have muddy or semi-voiced sound that are white in FIG. It may be assigned to a “na” line or “ma” line that is not present.

  According to the second embodiment described above, it is possible to allow the user to perform comfortable character input, as in the first embodiment.

  Further, the mobile terminal device 2 of the second embodiment can make the number of keys set in the auxiliary input area 10Ab smaller than that of the first embodiment. For this reason, the mobile terminal device 2 of the second embodiment can make the main input area 10Aa wider than that of the first embodiment. Further, since the mobile terminal device 2 of the second embodiment can reduce the number of touches on the touch panel 10, a user who is skilled in handling the device can input characters more efficiently than the first embodiment. can do.

<Third embodiment>
Hereinafter, the portable terminal device 3 according to the third embodiment will be described. Since the appearance is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description of the first embodiment is incorporated and the description is omitted.

  FIG. 16 is a hardware configuration example of the mobile terminal device 3. The mobile terminal device 3 includes a CPU 40, a storage device 50, and a communication device 60 inside the main body 30. The touch panel 10 includes a touch position detection unit 12.

  FIG. 17 is a functional configuration example of the mobile terminal device 3. In addition to application software 52 such as a Web browser, the storage device 50 stores character input control software 54 and collation fingerprint data 56. The character input control software 54 is activated, for example, at a scene where the mobile terminal device is activated or when the application software 52 is executed so that text input by the user is required.

  The mobile terminal device 3 includes an input area detection unit 45, a slide direction detection unit 43, and an input character determination unit 44 as functional units realized by the CPU 40 starting and executing the character input control software 54. A character input control unit 41 is provided. Note that these functional blocks do not need to be realized by a clearly separated program, and may be called by other programs as subroutines or functions. Further, a part of the functional blocks may be hardware means such as LSI, IC, FPGA or the like.

  The input area detection unit 45 detects which area of the plurality of areas set in the main input area 10Aa is touched by the user's finger. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a plurality of areas set in the main input area 10Aa. In the main input area 10Aa, a thumb input area 10Aaa, an index finger input area 10Aab, a middle finger input area 10Aac, a ring finger input area 10Aad, and a little finger input area 10Aae are set. In these areas, for example, an outline or the like is displayed so as to be visually recognized by the user. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the user places a finger on each area of the main input area 10Aa. 18 and 19 are diagrams assuming that the user has a right-hand effect, but the mobile terminal device 3 may have a function of changing an area for a left-handed user.

  Even if a plurality of areas are set in this way, five areas are sufficient, so the number of areas is smaller than those using ten keys as input keys or setting input keys for 50 sounds. . For this reason, the portable terminal device 3 can make a user perform comfortable character input compared with the apparatus which employ | adopted the conventional input method.

  The slide direction detection unit 43 detects the slide direction of the finger touching the touch panel 10 in each region, as in the first and second embodiments.

  The input character determination unit 44 determines the vowel according to the finger corresponding to the area detected by the input region detection unit 45, and determines the consonant based on the slide direction detected by the slide direction detection unit 43. Determine the kana character to be used. For example, the correspondence shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 13 is used for the correspondence between the finger and the sliding direction and the kana characters. When the correspondence shown in FIG. 13 is employed, conversion mode 1 and conversion mode 2 can be employed as in the second embodiment.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a scene in which the user inputs kana characters to the mobile terminal device 3. FIG. 20 shows a scene in which the user inputs three characters “sa”, “to”, and “u”. As shown in FIG. 20, the user can input “sa” by first touching the thumb input area 10Aaa with a thumb and sliding the thumb in the upper right direction. Next, the user can input “to” by touching the little finger input area 10Aae with the little finger and sliding the little finger to the right. Next, by touching the main input area 10Aac with the middle finger and releasing the middle finger from the touch panel 10 without sliding, “U” can be input.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a scene in which the user inputs kana characters to the mobile terminal device 3 when the correspondence relationship and the conversion mode 1 illustrated in FIG. 13 are employed. FIG. 21 shows a scene in which the user inputs three characters “da”, “tsu”, and “pi”. As shown in FIG. 21, the user first touches the thumb input area 10Aaa with the thumb, slides the thumb to the right, and touches the main input area 10Aa with another finger, thereby Can be entered. Next, the user touches the middle finger input area 10Aac with the middle finger, slides the middle finger to the right, and touches the main input area 10Aa with the other two fingers, thereby “ Can be entered. Next, the user touches the index finger input area 10Aab with the index finger, slides the index finger downward, and touches the main input area 10Aa with the other two fingers, thereby making the small character “PI”. Can be entered.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a scene in which the user inputs kana characters to the mobile terminal device 3 when the correspondence relationship shown in FIG. 13 and the conversion mode 2 are employed. FIG. 22 shows a scene in which the user inputs three characters “da”, “tsu”, and “pi”. As shown in FIG. 22, the user first touches the thumb input area 10Aaa with a thumb, slides the thumb to the right, and touches the main input area 10Aa with another finger, thereby Can be entered. Next, the user touches the middle finger input area 10Aac with the middle finger, slides the middle finger to the right, and touches and slides with the other finger to the main input area 10Aa, so that the small letter “ Can be entered. Next, the user touches the index finger input area 10Aab with the index finger, slides the index finger downward, and touches and slides the main input area 10Aa with the other finger, whereby the character “Pi” is written. Can be entered.

  In the above input example, the finger corresponding to the input area of each finger is touched and slid. However, in the third embodiment, the position of the vowel input at the touched location is uniquely determined, so the operation is performed with which finger. May be. For example, when inputting “sa”, it is possible to touch 10Aaa, which is originally the thumb input area, with the index finger and slide it to the upper right.

  According to the third embodiment described above, as in the first and second embodiments, the user can perform comfortable character input.

  The portable terminal device in the first to third embodiments is an example of “character input device”. Further, the surface of the touch panel 10 in the first to third embodiments is an example of the “operation surface”. Further, the fingerprint data acquisition unit 14 and the fingerprint collation unit 42 in the first or second embodiment, or the input area detection unit 45 in the third embodiment is an example of the “discrimination unit”. Further, the slide direction detection unit 43 in the first to third embodiments is an example of the “detection unit”. The input character determination unit 44 in the first to third embodiments is an example of a “determination unit”. The fingerprint data acquisition unit 14 in the first or second embodiment is an example of an “acquisition unit”. Further, the storage device 50 in the first or second embodiment is an example of a “storage unit”.

  As mentioned above, although the form for implementing this invention was demonstrated using the Example, this invention is not limited to such an Example at all, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, various deformation | transformation and substitution Can be added.

  For example, as an operation for adding a semi-voiced sound or changing to a small character “” (corresponding to “••” in FIG. 13), an operation of touching with two other fingers during a basic operation Although the operation of touching and sliding with another finger is illustrated, the present invention is not limited to this. The portable terminal device may request the user to perform an operation of touching twice with another finger during the basic operation as an operation for adding a semi-voiced sound or changing to a small character “”.

The following items are further disclosed regarding the embodiment including the first to third examples.
(Appendix 1)
A discriminator for discriminating which of the five fingers the user's finger touching the operation surface;
A detection unit for detecting a sliding direction of a user's finger touching the operation surface;
Determining a vowel according to the finger determined by the determining unit, determining a consonant based on a sliding direction detected by the detecting unit, and determining a kana character to be input;
A character input device comprising:
(Appendix 2)
A character input device according to appendix 1,
An acquisition unit for acquiring fingerprint data from a user's finger touching the operation surface;
A storage unit for storing fingerprint data for each finger of the user acquired in advance,
The discrimination unit collates the fingerprint data acquired by the acquisition unit with the fingerprint data stored in the storage unit, so that the user's finger touching the operation surface is any of the five fingers. To determine if it exists,
Character input device.
(Appendix 3)
A character input device according to appendix 1,
The determination unit determines which of the plurality of regions set on the operation surface is touched by the user's finger, so that the user's finger touching the operation surface is one of the five fingers To determine if it is a finger,
Character input device.
(Appendix 4)
The character input device according to any one of appendices 1 to 3,
When the determination unit detects an operation of touching and sliding the operation surface by the user with a finger, when a finger different from the finger related to the operation touches the operation surface, adding a cloud point, Add at least some of the addition of semi-turbidity points and changes to small letters,
Character input device.
(Appendix 5)
The character input device
Determine which of the five fingers is the user ’s finger touching the operation surface,
Detecting the sliding direction of the user's finger touching the operation surface;
Determining a vowel according to a finger that has been identified as one of the five fingers and determining a consonant based on the detected sliding direction to determine an input kana character;
Character input method.
(Appendix 6)
The character input method according to appendix 5,
The character input device is
Get fingerprint data from the user's finger touching the operation surface,
By collating the acquired fingerprint data with the fingerprint data stored in the storage unit storing the fingerprint data for each finger of the user acquired in advance, the user's finger touching the operation surface is To determine which finger it is,
Character input method.
(Appendix 7)
The character input method according to appendix 5,
The character input device is
Which of the five fingers is the user's finger touching the operation surface by determining which region of the plurality of regions set on the operation surface is touched by the user's finger To determine the
Character input method.
(Appendix 8)
The character input method according to any one of appendices 5 to 7,
The character input device is
In the process of determining, when detecting an operation of touching and sliding the operation surface by the user with a finger, adding a cloud point when a finger different from the finger related to the operation touches the operation surface , Perform at least part of adding semi-turbidity and changing to small characters,
Character input method.
(Appendix 9)
In the character input device,
The user's finger touching the operation surface is identified as one of the five fingers,
Determining the direction in which the finger of the user touching the operation surface slides on the operation surface;
Determining a vowel according to a finger that has been identified as one of the five fingers, and determining a consonant based on the detected sliding direction, thereby determining an input kana character;
Character input program.
(Appendix 10)
A character input program according to appendix 9,
In the character input device,
Fingerprint data is obtained from the user's finger touching the operation surface;
By collating the acquired fingerprint data with the fingerprint data stored in the storage unit storing the fingerprint data for each finger of the user acquired in advance, the user's finger touching the operation surface is To determine which finger it is,
Character input program.
(Appendix 11)
A character input program according to appendix 9,
In the character input device,
Which of the five fingers is the user's finger touching the operation surface by determining which region of the plurality of regions set on the operation surface is touched by the user's finger To determine,
Character input program.
(Appendix 12)
The character input method according to any one of appendices 9 to 11,
In the character input device,
In the process of determining, when detecting an operation of touching and sliding the operation surface by the user with a finger, adding a cloud point when a finger different from the finger related to the operation touches the operation surface , Execute at least part of adding semi-turbidity and changing to small characters,
Character input program.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable terminal device 10 Touch panel 12 Touch position detection part 14 Fingerprint data acquisition part 20 Mechanical key 22 Home key 30 Main-body part 40 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 41 Character input control part 42 Fingerprint collation part 43 Slide direction detection part 44 Input character determination part 45 Input area detection part 50 Memory | storage device 52 Application software 54 Character input control software 56 Fingerprint data for collation 60 Communication apparatus

Claims (5)

A discriminator for discriminating which of the five fingers the user's finger touching the operation surface;
A detection unit for detecting a sliding direction of a user's finger touching the operation surface;
Determining a vowel according to the finger determined by the determining unit, determining a consonant based on a sliding direction detected by the detecting unit, and determining a kana character to be input;
Equipped with a,
The determination unit determines which of the plurality of regions set on the operation surface is touched by the user's finger, so that the user's finger touching the operation surface is one of the five fingers To determine if it is a finger,
Character input device. A discriminator for discriminating which of the five fingers the user's finger touching the operation surface;
A detection unit for detecting a sliding direction of a user's finger touching the operation surface;
Determining a vowel according to the finger determined by the determining unit, determining a consonant based on a sliding direction detected by the detecting unit, and determining a kana character to be input;
Equipped with a,
When the determination unit detects an operation of touching and sliding the operation surface by the user with a finger, when a finger different from the finger related to the operation touches the operation surface, adding a cloud point, Add at least some of the addition of semi-turbidity points and changes to small letters,
Character input device. The character input device according to claim 2 ,
An acquisition unit for acquiring fingerprint data from a user's finger touching the operation surface;
A storage unit for storing fingerprint data for each finger of the user acquired in advance,
The discrimination unit collates the fingerprint data acquired by the acquisition unit with the fingerprint data stored in the storage unit, so that the user's finger touching the operation surface is any of the five fingers. To determine if it exists,
Character input device. The character input device
Determine which of the five fingers is the user ’s finger touching the operation surface,
Detecting the sliding direction of the user's finger touching the operation surface;
A vowel is determined according to a finger that is identified as one of the five fingers, and a kana character to be input is determined by determining a consonant based on the detected sliding direction ,
Which of the five fingers is the user's finger touching the operation surface by determining which region of the plurality of regions set on the operation surface is touched by the user's finger To determine the
Character input method. In the character input device,
The user's finger touching the operation surface is identified as one of the five fingers,
Detecting a direction in which a user's finger touching the operation surface slides on the operation surface;
The vowel is determined according to the finger that has been identified as one of the five fingers, the consonant is determined based on the detected sliding direction, and the input kana character is determined ,
Which of the five fingers is the user's finger touching the operation surface by determining which region of the plurality of regions set on the operation surface is touched by the user's finger To determine,
Character input program.

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