JPH036550B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a character input device that is not equipped with character keys for inputting characters, and in particular, it displays predetermined characters sequentially in a predetermined order by operating a character search key, and provides input instructions. If there is, the configuration involves inputting the characters displayed at that time.

It is an object of the present invention to display the progress status of a character search simultaneously with the search characters without providing a dedicated display area on the display section in a character input device having the above configuration.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises: a display section for displaying characters; a display control means for sequentially displaying characters on the display section in accordance with a predetermined order each time a character search key is operated; A character input device comprising a character input means for inputting the currently displayed characters when an input instruction is given during sequential display, the character input device having character indicators arranged around the display section in accordance with a predetermined order of the characters. Further, the display control means sequentially displays the characters each time the character search key is operated, and at the same time displays the display progress according to the character index to display a part of the display section corresponding to the index. The feature is that it can be used to display marks.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on Examples.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the external appearance of an electronic English-Japanese/Japanese-English dictionary with a computer function, which is an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a mode selection switch, which selects power off, meter, English-Japanese, and Japanese-English modes. Reference numeral 2 is a search key for sequentially advancing characters. In the English-Japanese mode, if this key is operated, alphabets are displayed sequentially in alphabetical order. Also, in Japanese-English mode, if you operate this key, katakana characters will be displayed in alphabetical order. 3 is a character input/headword order search key, and in the English-Japanese mode (Japanese-English mode), specify the desired alphabet (katakana) by operating the character forward search key 2 or the character backward search key described later. Then, by operating this key, after the specified character is input, English words (Japanese) starting with the input character will be sequentially read from memory in alphabetical order (50 syllabary order) and displayed. Ru. 4 is a character reverse search key that functions as a backward search key for characters until the character input/headword forward search key 3 is operated, and after the operation of key 3, it functions as a reverse headword search key. This is also a headword backward search key. 5 is a translation instruction key;
After calling up the desired English word (Japanese) by operating the headword forward search key 3 or headword backward search key 4, if you operate this key, you can select the Japanese word corresponding to the above English word (Japanese). (English word) is displayed. 6 is a display section, 7, 8
are character indicators printed on the periphery of the display section 6 in advance. This character indicator is designed to display the progress of the search operation in an analog way when searching for characters or searching for headwords, so that the user can intuitively grasp the progress of the search operation. This is what is being done.

Note that keys other than the above-mentioned keys are keys used in the computer mode.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining the search operation progress display using the character index.

FIG. 2 1 is a diagram showing dots used to display the progress of the search operation in the English-Japanese mode.
Among the dots on the upper and lower sides of the lower seven digits, the dots at the positions shown in the figure are used.

Fig. 2 shows the display when searching for the character “d”.
This example shows a case where ``d'' is specified, and as shown in the figure, the specified character "d" is displayed in the most significant digit, and the specified character is displayed from the character index of "a". The progress of the character search operation is displayed in an analog manner by lighting up all the dots corresponding to each character index up to the character index "d".

Note that the progress status of the character search operation may be displayed by lighting up only the dot corresponding to the character index of the specified character. Furthermore, the number of dots corresponding to each character index may be a plurality of dots instead of one.

Figure 2.3 shows the display when searching for headwords as “desk”
This example shows the case where the word "desk" is specified, and as shown in the figure, the top two characters of the currently specified word "desk" are displayed in the top two digits. At the same time, a headword search is performed by lighting up all the dots corresponding to each character index from the character index of "a" to the character index of the second character "e" of the specified word "desk". The progress of the operation is displayed in analog form.

In this case as well, the progress status of the headword search operation may be displayed by lighting only the dot that corresponds to the character index of the second character of the currently specified headword. good.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing dots used to display the progress of the search operation in the Japanese-English mode.
The dots on the top and bottom of the lowest five digits are used. Fig. 3 2 shows the display when searching for a character, taking as an example the case where the character "U" is specified, and Fig. 3 3 shows the display when searching for a headword.
This example shows a case where the word "Udetokei" is specified. As shown in FIG. 3, in the Japanese-English mode, the upper four digits are used to display headwords.

FIG. 4 shows specific key operations and displays in the English-Japanese mode, taking as an example the case of translating the word "boat" into Japanese.

First, press the character forward search key ().
As a result, "a" is displayed in the most significant digit of the display section, and the dot corresponding to the character index of "a" lights up. If you continue to press the forward search key, the displayed character will change to “b” and “b”
A new dot corresponding to the character index lights up.

Here, by pressing the character input/headword order search key (ⓓ), a search for a headword starting with "b" is started. That is, while the above-mentioned key is pressed, headwords starting with "b" are sequentially read out in alphabetical order, the top two characters are displayed, and the above-mentioned search operation progress status is displayed.

When the spelling that is the same as the top two letters of the target word "boat" is displayed, the press of the headword order search key is released. As a result, all spellings of the headword being read at that time are displayed. In the figure, “body” is displayed.

Since I had gone too far in finding the desired entry word “boat,” I pressed the entry word reverse search key (). Each time this key is pressed, the previous entry word is displayed (full spelling display). In this case, since the entry word immediately before "body" was "boat," the target word "boat" is displayed with one key operation.

When the desired headword is displayed, press the translation instruction key. As a result, the translated word for the above "boat" is displayed.

If the displayed entry word when the entry word order search key is released is a entry word that precedes the target entry word, the entry word order search key is subsequently pressed. Each time you press the headword order search key, the next headword will be displayed in sequence (full spelling display), so keep pressing this key until the desired word is displayed, and the desired headword will be displayed. Press the translation instruction key at that point.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the schematic structure of this embodiment.

In the figure, 11 is a microprocessor, 12
1 is a key input device; 13 is a memory (ROM) for storing dictionary information; 14 is a display control unit; 6 is a display unit;
15 is an address bus, and 16 is a data bus.

The microprocessor 11 is a key input device 12
The operated key is determined by outputting a key strobe signal KS and reading a key input signal KI. It also specifies the address of the memory 13 and reads its contents. The display control unit 14 is a type of memory that stores whether each dot on the display unit 6 is lit or not lit, and the microprocessor 11 writes information corresponding to the display pattern to the display control unit 14. to perform the desired display.

The microprocessor 11 includes a ROM 17 for storing control programs, a RAM 18 used as registers and flags, an arithmetic control section 19, an input/output buffer (not shown), and an internal bus (not shown) that communicates them. ) is provided.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing part of the contents stored in the memory 13.

In the figure, WA is a word information storage area, in which English words are sequentially stored in alphabetical order, and immediately after each English word, a Japanese word synonymous with the English word is stored. SA is a storage area that stores information for sequentially reading the Japanese words stored in the word information storage area WA in alphabetical order or vice versa. .) are stored sequentially in the order in which the Japanese words are arranged in alphabetical order. EA is an English word start address table storage area that sequentially stores the addresses (ST.AD.) of the first English words starting with each letter from "a" to "z", and
JA is a Japanese start address table storage area that sequentially stores the addresses (ST.AD.) of the area where the first Japanese address starting with each character from "a" to "wa" is stored. .

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the microprocessor. However, only the parts related to the present invention are shown.

In the figure, F ₁ is the character sequential search key ()
Or _{, a} flag indicating that the character backward search key () has already been pressed. A flag indicating that the input/headword forwarding search key has been pressed. SC is a character code buffer, B is a buffer, and C is a counter.

In this embodiment, the correspondence between characters and character codes is "a←→01, b←→02, ..., z←→26", "
A←→27, B←→28, ..., 7←→70".

After the power is turned on, initialization (clearing each buffer, resetting each flag, etc.) is performed, and the state of the mode switch is read. If not in calculator mode, proceed to dictionary routine.

When the character forward search key is pressed, flag _F1 is set, and then the character code a for "a" is displayed in English-Japanese mode, and the character code (a) for "A" is changed in Japanese-English mode. , are input into the character code buffer SC, and characters are displayed and character search operation progress status is displayed based on the contents of the SC (Fig. 4, 1). When the forward search key is pressed for the second time and thereafter, the contents of the character code buffer SC are counted up, and the character display and character search operation progress status display based on the contents of the SC are performed in the same manner as above. Figure 4 2]. In addition,
When the content of the character code buffer SC becomes larger than the character code of "z" (z) or the character code of "wa" (wa) due to the above count-up, the character code of "a" (a) or The character code for "A" (A) is input to the SC.

When the backward character search key is operated, the character search is performed in the reverse order of the character forward search key.

If you call up the desired character by operating the character forward search key or backward search key and then press the character input/headword forward search key, flag F ₃ will be set and character input will be performed (the character code buffer will be reset). (The character code stored in SC is input into buffer B), and a search for the first English or Japanese word starting with the input character is performed. Then, the top two characters (in the case of English words) or 2 to 4 characters (in the case of Japanese words) of the searched word and the progress status of the headword search operation described above are displayed.

Continue to press the character input/headword order search key, and when the content of counter C becomes equal to the set value Cm, flag _F2 is set, and then the next English word in alphabetical order or the next Japanese word in alphabetical order word is read and its top 2 characters or 2-4
The display of characters is performed together with the headword search operation progress display.

From then on, as long as you continue to press the above key, English words or Japanese words will be read out in alphabetical order or alphabetical order, and the top 2 or 2 to 4 characters will be displayed as the entry word search progress status. It is carried out together with

When the specified spelling is displayed, if you release the above character input/headword order search key,
After the flag _F2 is reset and the counter C is cleared, all spellings of the headword being read at that time are displayed.

If the search operation has progressed too far, operate the headword reverse search key () from now on. Each time this key is pressed, the previous entry word is read out and its full spelling is displayed. In the opposite case, continue to operate the headword order search key. Each time this key is operated, the next headword is read out and its full spelling is displayed.

If the translation instruction key is operated when the desired headword is displayed, the translated word will be read out and displayed.

In the above embodiment, a headword search is performed by specifying one character, but the present invention is also applicable to an embodiment in which a headword search is performed by specifying two or more characters. Needless to say, it can be implemented.

As explained in detail above, according to the present invention,
The searched characters are sequentially displayed, and at the same time, the progress of the search is displayed as marks on character indicators placed around the display using a display element that displays characters. You can simultaneously and clearly check the current character and the search progress status, allowing you to perform input operations smoothly.

Furthermore, since a dedicated display area for displaying the progress status on the display unit is not required, efficient display can be performed, which is useful in devices with a small display capacity.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the external appearance of an electronic English-Japanese/Japanese-English dictionary with a computer function, which is an embodiment of the present invention;
3 and 3 are diagrams for explaining the search operation progress display in the same embodiment, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing specific key operations and displays in the same embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the same embodiment.
The figure shows a part of the stored contents of the memory for storing dictionary information in the same embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the microprocessor in the same embodiment. Code, 1...Mode selection switch, 2...Character forward search key, 3...Character input/headword order search key, 4...Character backward search/headword reverse search key, 5...Translation instruction key, 6... Display unit, 7, 8...Character index, 11...Microprocessor, 12...Key input device, 13...Memory, 1
4...Display control unit, 15...Address bus, 16...Data bus, 17...ROM, 18...RAM, 19...
Arithmetic control unit, F ₁ , F ₂ , F ₃ ...Flag, SC...Character code buffer, B...Buffer, C...Counter.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A display unit for displaying characters; a display control means for sequentially displaying characters on the display unit in a predetermined order each time a character search key is operated; If there is an input instruction, a character input device is provided with a character input means for inputting the displayed character at that time, character indicators are arranged around the display part according to a predetermined order of the characters, Further, the display control means sequentially displays the characters each time the character search key is operated, and at the same time marks the display progress according to the character index using a part of the display section corresponding to the index. A character input device characterized by: