JPH05298262A - Kana character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease the total number of keys and also to reduce the key pushing frequency by securing such a constitution where by assigning a single line (consonant) and a single column (vowel) of the Japanese syllabary to a single key and a single KANA (Japanese syllabary) character is inputted in combination of a line and a column. CONSTITUTION:A display part 1 is provided together with the key input parts 2-7 including the keys 2 which turn on/off and clear a power supply, the character/numeric character keys, the arithmetic/control keys 4, the mode selection keys 5, the call keys 6, and an input key 7. Then the KANA characters are inputted by means of an input means 3 which has plural keys and assignes a single line and a single column of the Japanese syllabary to a single key. When a key is pushed, a detector means decides the first or second input of the key for input of a single KANA character. A key designation deciding means decides a line designation key with the first input and a column designation key with the second input respectively. Then a deciding means decides the input KANA character with the first and second key inputs.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a kana character input device in a portable electronic device, and its object is to reduce the number of keys of the kana character input device and to simplify the operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional kana character input device, a conventional technique will be described by taking an input key of an electronic system notebook (FIG. 6) and an input key of an electronic memo (FIG. 7) as an example. As shown in FIG. 6, all consonants (K, S, T, N,
H, M, Y, R, W) and all vowels (A, I, U, E, O)
Keys are assigned one by one to, for example, in order to input "ne", the "N" key and the "E" key may be pressed successively. On the other hand, in the electronic memo, as shown in FIG. 7, a key is assigned to each line one by one, and the input character changes according to the number of times the key is pressed, that is, Adan → Idan → Udan → Edan → Odan. . For example, to enter "ne", enter "naninuneno"
Press the key four times. This English alphabet input is disclosed in JP-A-58-52722, "Character input method".

The input keys used in the electronic system notebook shown in FIG. 6 make the input operation easy, that is, the number of key operations is small, but for all consonants (9 types) and all vowels (5 types), the keys must be pressed. Since they are assigned one by one, 14 keys are required to input kana characters. Therefore, the size of the input key cannot be reduced, and it is difficult to downsize the electronic device.

Further, with the input keys shown in FIG. 7 used in the electronic memo, one key is assigned to each line, so that only 10 keys are required for kana character input, and the input keys can be reduced in size. However, in order to input one kana character, it is necessary to press the same key many times, resulting in poor operability. That is, there is a problem with both input keys, and it is desired to develop an input key having the advantages of both input keys.

[0005]

With the input keys used in the electronic system notebook, the input operation is easy, that is, the number of key operations is small, but all consonants (9 types) and all vowels (5) are required.
Since one key is assigned to each (type), 14 keys are required for kana character input. Therefore, the size of the input key cannot be reduced, and it is difficult to downsize the electronic device.
Also, with the input keys used in electronic memos, one key is assigned to each line, so only 10 keys for entering kana characters are required, and the input keys can be reduced in size.
In order to input one kana character, the same key has to be pressed many times, resulting in poor operability. In other words, there is a problem with both input keys, and it is desired to develop an input key having the advantages of both input keys.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems. According to the invention of claim 1, one line of Japanese syllabary ( An input unit having a plurality of keys to which both consonants) and one step (vowel) are assigned, and whether the pressed key of the input unit is the first key input or the second key input is detected. Detecting means, and a key which, in response to the detection by the detecting means, determines that the key is the row designation key if the key is the first key input, and is the row designation key if the key is the second key input. The invention further includes a designation determining means and a determining means for determining a kana from the combination of the first and second keys by the key determining and determining means. Ten for defining the Japanese syllabary kana It is intended to be constructed from the key. In the invention according to claim 3, the kana character input device is mounted on a portable electronic device.

[0007]

The present invention is for inputting a kana character using an input means having a plurality of keys in which one row (consonant) and one step (vowel) of the Japanese syllabary are assigned to one key. In response to the key press, the detecting means detects whether the key press is the first key input or the second key input when inputting one kana character, and the key designation determining means determines the first key input. If it is input, the key is determined to be the row designation key, and if it is the second key input, the key is determined to be the row designation key. Then, the confirming means confirms the input kana character from the first key input and the second key input.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a front view of an electronic device employing the kana character input device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a key layout diagram of an electronic device employing the kana character input device of the present invention, and FIG. A table of kana characters input from two key operations of the kana character input device is shown in FIG. 4, a block diagram of the kana character input device of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4, and a flow chart of the kana character input device of the present invention is shown in FIG. .

In FIG. 1, the electronic device has a display unit 1 and key input units 2 to 7, and the key input unit turns on / off a power source.
FF and clear key 2 and letter / number key 3
And a calculation / control key 4, a mode selection key 5, a call key 6 and an input key 7.

FIG. 2 shows a key layout diagram of the letter / number keys 3. Speaking of kana characters, consonants and vowels are assigned to one key to form gojyuon. Consonants require 10 keys from A to W, but vowels from A to O need only 5 keys, so the remaining 5
Assign a sound or "n" to each key. For example, when you type "chi", press the "Ta line / Edan" key followed by the "Ka line / Idan" key, and when you type "Kya"
You can press the "column" key followed by the "c row / ayawa" key, as shown in the table in Fig. 3. That is, the first key operation selects a row and the second key operation selects a row. specify.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, a block diagram shows a KEY 11 as an input means for inputting characters and numbers, an LCD 12 as a display means for confirming the input contents, a ROM 13 containing a program and a telephone number. RAM 14 which is a storage means for storing input contents such as a schedule
And a CPU 15 which is a control means for controlling all the means.

The operation of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the character key is pressed, the CPU 15 determines whether or not the flag is reset to determine whether or not the key is the first key pressed (S1). Here, if the flag is reset, that is, if the key is pressed for the first time (YES), the key functions as a row designating key, the key is stored in the RAM 14, and the flag is set (S2). On the other hand, when the flag is set, that is, when the key is pressed for the second time (NO), the key functions as a row designation key, the row is designated according to the type of the key, and the process proceeds to the next process. (S4). Then, the key pressed the first time is called from the RAM 14, the line is selected according to the type of the key pressed the first time, and the input kana character is specified (S5). Then, the kana characters are displayed on the LCD 12 and the flag is reset (S6).

[0013]

According to the present invention, since one row (consonant) and one step (vowel) of the Japanese syllabary are assigned to one key, a kana character input device in which the total number of keys is reduced can be provided. Not only that, if the kana character input device is adopted in an electronic device, the size of the electronic device main body can be reduced. Moreover, since one kana character can be input by combining lines (consonants) and steps (vowels), it is possible to provide a kana character input device that requires a small number of key presses, thereby eliminating the burden of key input on the operator and making electronic It can be expected that the operability of the device will be improved. That is, the present invention is an epoch-making kana character input device that simplifies the key operation of the conventional electronic memo and reduces the number of keys of the electronic system notebook.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an electronic device that employs a kana character input device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a key layout diagram of an electronic device that employs the kana character input device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a table of kana characters input by two key operations of the kana character input device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a kana character input device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the kana character input device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a key layout diagram of input keys of a conventional electronic system notebook.

FIG. 7 is a key layout diagram of an input key of a conventional electronic memo.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Display 2 Keys for turning on / off and clearing the power 3 Character / number keys 4 Math / control keys 5 Mode selection keys 6 Call keys 7 Input keys 11 KEY 12 LCD 13 ROM 14 RAM 15 CPU

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H03M 11/08 G06F 15/20 504 F 6798-5L

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. One row of Japanese syllabary (consonant) for one key
And an input means having a plurality of keys to which both one step (vowel) is assigned, and a detection means for detecting whether the pressed key of the input means is the first key input or the second key input. In response to the detection by the detection means, the key designation judgment is such that the key is determined to be the row designation key if the first key input, and the row designation key if the second key input. An apparatus for inputting kana characters, comprising: means for determining a kana from the combination of the first and second key by the key designation determining means. 2. The kana character input device according to claim 1, wherein said input means is composed of ten keys for defining a kana of Japanese syllabary. 3. The kana character input device according to claim 1, wherein the kana character input device is mounted on a portable electronic device.