JPH01211020A - Character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the constitution of a character input device by performing the input of characters to be displayed on a display device incorporated to a telephone set, etc., through designation of a cursor and with no use of a keyboard. CONSTITUTION:The character groups obtained by segmenting the numeric characters, KANA (Japanese syllabary) character, the alphabet, etc., are displayed at a display part 25. Then one character is discriminated from others in the displayed character group and displayed with operations of specific keys D1-D4. Under such conditions, a setting key 17 is operated for input of a specific character. Thus the input of optional characters are possible with operations of those keys D1-D4.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is a method for displaying character information to be displayed on a small display installed in a telephone, etc., without using character keys corresponding to the so-called characters. The present invention relates to a character input device that allows easy input.

(Prior Art) Recently, small displays such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have been installed in telephones to display various information related to telephone operations. For example, the calling telephone number is displayed when a dial pad is operated, and when an abbreviated number is operated, the name of the destination preset for the abbreviated number is displayed in kana characters.

By the way, the setting of character information to be displayed on this kind of display device in correspondence with the above-mentioned abbreviated number is conventional.For boat fishing, after setting and registering the abbreviated number, a predetermined numeric code as shown in Fig. 13 is used. This is done by entering the code in sequence using the phone's dial pad.

For example, to enter the message "Tokyo Shoshi" that indicates the destination assigned to the abbreviated number [02], r 45.13.22.83.13.10.32.83
, 13, 32, and 50J are entered in order from the dial pad.

However, in order to input character information in this way, it is necessary to search in advance for the numerical code corresponding to the character to be input according to the code table shown in FIG. Numbers must be entered from the dial pad. Therefore, the character input operation is extremely troublesome, and input errors are likely to occur.

On the other hand, instead of such a character input method, it is conceivable to input characters using a so-called kana φ key (keyboard) in which characters and keys are associated with each other.

However, providing a large number of keys corresponding to each of the plurality of characters to be entered on a device such as a telephone is extremely inconvenient in terms of installation space, etc., and also causes problems such as an undesirable increase in costs. occurred.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the past, input settings for character information to be displayed on a display installed in a telephone etc. were performed exclusively by dialing.
This is done by inputting a numerical code using a pad or the like, and there is a problem in that the input operation is very cumbersome.

The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and its purpose is to display character information to be displayed on a small display installed in a telephone, etc. using character keys corresponding to the characters on a so-called keyboard. An object of the present invention is to provide a character input device that allows easy input without using a .

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides: ■ Displaying a cursor on a display section having a predetermined character display area to specify a character input position, and changing the display position of the cursor to a second position. The character input position is set and controlled by changing it using the 1 key. ■In addition, a plurality of character groups formed by dividing a plurality of characters such as kana characters, numbers, alphabets, symbols, etc. to be input into a predetermined number are displayed on the display section, and a group of characters displayed on this display section. is selected and controlled using the second key. ■Then, one character in the group of characters displayed under this control is indicated using a pointer symbol, etc., to distinguish it from other characters and display it. Control selection using . ■The fourth button to instruct character input in this state.
The present invention is characterized in that when a key is operated, the character identified and displayed is input.

Specifically, for example, a group of kana characters is selectively displayed line by line according to the alphabetical order, one character from the displayed group of kana characters is selected and specified, and the specified character is inputted. It is characterized by the fact that

(Function) According to the present invention, the display position of the cursor on the display unit having a predetermined character display area is changed by operating the first key to specify the character input position, and the character input position is specified. Displaying a plurality of character groups formed by dividing a plurality of characters consisting of letters, numbers, alphabets, symbols, etc. into a predetermined number on the display section by operating a second key, and then operating a third key. to selectively distinguish and display one character in the group of displayed characters from the other characters, and in this state, by operating a fourth key, the character identified and displayed can be easily inputted. becomes possible.

For example, by operating the second key, a group of kana characters is selectively displayed line by line, and by operating the third key, one character in the displayed group of kana characters is selected and specified, and the specified character is It becomes possible to input by operating the fourth key. Further, the character input position can be changed as appropriate by operating the first key.

Therefore, according to this device, it is possible to input desired characters very easily and accurately by only operating the first to fourth keys.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Ru.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of an embodiment of the device, which is implemented by being incorporated into a telephone, for example, as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, l is a plurality of keys used for character input, and selective operation information of these keys l is sent to the key sense unit 2.
Detected at A controller 3 comprising a microprocessor or the like executes a processing procedure to be described later according to the information on the operation keys detected by the key sense unit 2, and controls the operation of an LCD control unit 5 that drives a liquid crystal display (LCD) 4 to display a display. This controls the display of characters, etc. on the LCDA.

The LCD 4 has a matrix of display areas capable of displaying characters over a plurality of lines, for example, a character display area of (16 characters x 3 lines).

Now, the plurality of keys l used for character input are divided into predetermined units as described below, including a first key consisting of a "backward" key 11 and a "forward" key 12, which are used to control the input position of characters. "Mu" key 13 used to control selective display of character groups. A second key consisting of a "ma" key 14, an r4J key 15 used to select and control one character in a displayed group of characters. r) A third key consisting of the J key 16, a fourth key consisting of a "setting" key 17 for instructing character input, and an "end" key 18 for instructing the end of character input processing. Become.

The telephone set shown in Fig. 2 uses the character input device configured as shown in Fig. 1 as a function for inputting characters such as outgoing messages to be displayed on the display when, for example, a speed dial operation is performed. It is constructed by incorporating it.

In FIG. 2, 21 is the telephone main body, 22 is a handset, 23 is a dial pad provided on the front panel of the telephone main body 21, and 24 is a function selection used for various telephone services. key, and 25
is a display device consisting of a liquid crystal display or the like. The liquid crystal display (LCD) 4 in this device is realized, for example, by using this display 25 as it is.

The plurality of keys l for character input described above are provided here on the front panel of the telephone main body 21 in parallel with the dial pad 23, but for example, the function selection key 2
It may also be realized by switching the functions of the dial pad 23 by the operation in step 4.

It goes without saying that the arrangement structure of the plurality of keys 1 is not limited to the example shown in the figure.

As mentioned above, the feature of this device, which is implemented by being incorporated into a telephone, for example, is that it manages a plurality of characters to be input by dividing them into groups of a predetermined number of characters, as shown in Figure 3, for example. At the same time, the character display area of the LCD 4 is managed, for example, as shown in FIG.
Based on the operation, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, character input processing is performed while controlling the display.

That is, in this device, multiple characters to be input (kana characters and some symbols are shown here) are divided into five characters each, and each character group is managed by line code, and each character group in each character group is Each character is managed by a column code.Specifically, kana characters are classified into "A line", "Rokugyo", etc. according to the so-called alphabetical order, and each kana line is assigned a line code [00, 01, ~OC], and each character in each line is assigned a column code [00,01
, ~04], respectively.

In addition, when alphabets etc. are included as input target characters, these characters are also classified into every five characters, and a line code consecutive to the above-mentioned line code is set and managed in the same way.

Then, the character display area spanning three lines of the LCD 4 is
As shown in the figure, the first digit code [0, 1, 2] specifies the row for each character display position, and the second digit code [0, 1, 2, 2] specifies the column position in that row. ~F].

However, these management codes are shown in hexadecimal.

Based on this management structure, this device executes the processing procedure shown in FIG. 6 based on the operation information of the key l described above, thereby controlling the character display on the LCDA as shown in FIG. It allows you to input characters sequentially while using the keyboard.

This processing procedure will be explained below.

First, when character input processing is started, the character display on the LCD 4 is cleared and the kana line code (KLC) is cleared.

Initialization processing consisting of initial value setting of the start address of the kana line display position (KLADR), the kana character input position address (KADI?), and the kana line point code (KLPC) is executed (step A).

After this initialization processing, display processing of kana lines (step B)
, and cursor display processing (step C). Here, in the above-mentioned kana line display processing (step B), as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an example of the processing procedure is shown. , the character group is displayed at the display position on the LCD 4 indicated by the start address of the kana line display position (KLADR), and one character in the displayed character group can be identified from the others according to the kana line point code (KLPC). Specifically, this is performed by displaying a point symbol (*) in the display area above one character in the character group displayed as described above.

Cursor display processing (step C) is performed by displaying a cursor at a character input position on the LCDA in accordance with the kana character input position address (KADR), similar to the kana display shown in FIG. Due to such display processing, the LCD 4
Above, character/symbol information (cursor [-], point symbol [*], kana character group [aiweo]) as shown in FIG. 5(a) is displayed as an initial screen.

In this state, the user waits for the selective input of the key 1 described above, and determines the type of the input key (step D
1. D2. ~D8). Then, depending on the type of key input, the process corresponding to that key is executed as follows.

When the "ma" key 13 is input, the kana line point code (KLPC) is initialized and the kana line point code (KLPC) is initialized.
LC) is incremented (step E), and it is determined whether the incremented kana line code (KLC) exceeds the maximum value [OC] of line codes that are managed separately as described above (step F). If the kana line code (KLC) exceeds the maximum line code value [OC], change the kana line code (KLC) to the minimum line code value [00 (Step G)], and if it does not exceed the line code minimum value [OC]. is the incremented kana line code (K
LC) is used as is, and the process returns to the above-mentioned kana line display process (step B).

Furthermore, when the "mu" key 14 is input, the kana line point code (KLPC) is initialized and the kana line point code (KLPC) is initialized and the kana line point code (KLPC) is initialized.
KLC) is decremented (step H), and it is determined whether the decremented kana line code (KLC) is smaller than the minimum value [00] of the line codes that are managed separately as described above (step I). ). If the kana line code (KLC) becomes smaller than the minimum line code [Oo], change the kana line code (KLC) to the maximum line code [QC] (Step J), and if it is not smaller. In this case, the decremented kana line code (KLC) is used as is and the process returns to the above-mentioned kana line display process (step B).

Through the above processing, the character group displayed on the LCDJ is changed and controlled on a line-by-line basis. As a result, in the state of the initial screen mentioned above, "If the mano key 13 is operated once,
The displayed kana character group is changed to [Kakikukeko] as shown in FIG. 5(b). And "ma" key 13 °
The input operation is repeated, and after the character group of the line indicated by the line code [OC] is displayed, the character group of the first line is displayed again. Further, when the "mu" key 14 is input, the kana line is displayed in the reverse direction in the same manner.

In other words, by operating the mano key 13 and the mu key 14, the kana lines (character group) displayed on the LCD 4 are selectively displayed by scrolling.

On the other hand, in a state where the kana line consisting of
- When the J key 16 is operated, the kana line point code (
LPC) is incremented (step K). Then, the incremented kana line point code (KL
PC) is the value [
04] is determined (step L).
If the value exceeds the value, the kana line point code (KLPC) is changed to a value [00] indicating the left end position of the display area of the character group (step M).

After controlling the kana line point code (KLPC) as described above, the pointer symbol is displayed using the kana line point code (KLPC) (step N).
. This pointer symbol display process is similar to the kana display process illustrated in FIG.
The pointer symbol [*
] is displayed. Thereafter, the cursor display process shown in step C is executed, and the process returns to the key input waiting process described above.

In addition, when r4J key 15 is input, the kana line point code (KLPC) is decremented at step P.
), decremented kana line point code (KLP
It is determined whether the value of C) exceeds the value [00] indicating the left end position of the display area of the character group (step Q).
, if it exceeds the corresponding kana line point code (KLPC)
is changed to the value [04] indicating the right end position of the display area of the character group (Ste Tsubu R).

Thereafter, the processing shown from step N described above is executed.

``rl'' key like this16. And by inputting the rl key 15, the display position of the pointer symbol [*] indicating one of the character groups displayed on the LCD 4 is changed and controlled as shown in FIG. *] will change the character that is specified and displayed to distinguish it from other characters.

Now, when the "setting" key 17 is input, the kana display process is started, and the kana character of the character specified by the pointer symbol [*] displayed based on the above-mentioned kana line point code (KLPC) is activated. Input position address (
KADR) is displayed at the character input position (cursor display position) (step S). After that, the kana line code (KLC) and kana line point code (Kl, PC) that specify that character are used as character codes,
It is stored in a predetermined input character storage unit together with information on the display position, and the value of the kana character input position address (KADR) is incremented (step T). Then, according to the incremented kana character input position address (KADR), the cursor display process shown in step C described above is executed, and the cursor is displayed at the next character input position.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5(d), the character specified by the above-described key operation is input, and the next character is input by the same processing procedure in step D described above.
This will return to the processing from .

In addition, when the "backward" key 11 or "forward J key I2 is operated, the kana character input position address (KADR) is decremented (step V) or incremented by the processing procedure shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In step W), the character input position indicated by the cursor display is changed and controlled.1, the cursor display process described above (step C) is executed, and the process returns to the state of waiting for key input.

In addition, when the "end" key 18 is operated, the first
Step X)
, erases the character Φ symbol displayed on the LCDA, and ends the character input process.

Thus, according to the present device configured in this way and executing the processing operation as described above under selective input of instructions from the plurality of keys 1, a group of pre-classified characters can be input to the second key ("ma").
Key 18. When a character group containing the character to be input is displayed selectively by operating the "M" key 14), the third key ("(" key 15.r) is pressed.
Use the J key 18) to specify the character you want to input using the pointer symbol [*], then press the fourth key ("
By operating the "SET" key 17), the character can be input very easily. Moreover, if you want to correct the characters you have entered, operate the first key ("backward" key 11, "forward" key 12) to change the cursor display position that specifies the character input position, and then This can be achieved by performing the character input process described above.

Therefore, compared to conventional character input methods, characters can be input much more easily and efficiently.

Furthermore, there are no problems associated with using a keyboard. Therefore, great effects can be achieved as a character input device incorporated into a telephone or the like.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, as shown in Fig. 12(a), instead of using a pointer symbol, one character in a group of displayed characters can be inverted and displayed with high brightness so that it can be distinguished from other characters and selectively specified. It's okay. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 12(b) and 12(e), a plurality of consecutive character strings may be simultaneously displayed, and one character among the characters may be distinguished from the other characters and displayed.

Furthermore, the type of display is not limited to an LCD, and may be a plasma display, and the number of displayed characters, display lines, etc. are not particularly limited. It is also possible to limit the direction in which the kana line display is changed and the direction in which the pointer symbol display position is changed to only one direction.

In this way, the number of keys required for character input can be further reduced. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied not only to the telephone set shown in the embodiment, but also to facsimile machines and the like. In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, character information to be displayed on a display provided in a telephone etc. can be input using a very simple procedure, and a small number of keys can be used effectively. Since it is possible to input characters using the printer, it not only simplifies character input but also prevents an increase in the cost of the device, which has great practical effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

ff11 to FIG. 11 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main parts, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a telephone in which the embodiment device is incorporated, and FIG. 3 is an input Figure 4 is a diagram showing the management format of target characters, Figure 4 is a diagram showing the display area management format, Figure 5 is a diagram showing the display format of characters and symbols in the character input processing procedure, and Figures 6 to 11 are characters FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of an input processing procedure. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the display form of characters and symbols in another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of character codes used in conventional character input processing. l...Key, 2...Key sense unit, 3...Controller, 4...Liquid crystal display (LCD; display unit), 5...
...LCD control unit, 11... "Backward" key (first key), 12... "Forward" key (first key), 11.
, rVJ key (2nd (7) +-), 14-rAJ
key (second key), 15... "(" key (third key), [6... "-1 key (third key), 17..." key (third key),
..."Setting J key (4th key). Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 6 (Mi^I) Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 12 Figure 13

Claims (1)

[Claims] means for specifying a character input position by displaying a cursor on a display section having a predetermined character display area; a first key for controlling the character input position by varying the display position of the cursor; means for displaying a plurality of character groups formed by dividing a plurality of target characters into a predetermined number on the display section; a second key for selecting and controlling the character groups displayed on the display section; means for distinguishing and displaying one character in a group of characters displayed on a display unit from other characters; a third key for selecting and controlling the character to be identified and displayed; A fourth key for instructing input of a character into the character input position, and means for inputting a character identified and displayed on the display section when the fourth key is operated. A character input device characterized by: