JPH05313806A - Simple character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply and quickly input the characters at a low cost by pushing keys with variation of these pushing speeds and inputting the assigned characters at each pushing speed of keys. CONSTITUTION:A key pushing speed deciding means decides the specific one of several speed ranges where the pushing speed of a relevant key is included. Then, it is decided whether the pushing speed (VEL) of a certain key is higher than a fixed level (X) or not (S52). If so, the selection of a capital letter is decided and a capital letter table stored previously in a ROM is read out (S53). If not, the selection of small letter is decided and a small letter table stored previously in the ROM is read out (S54). Then, the character data assigned to the pushed key are selected out of the relevant table based on the pushed key.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character input device. 2. Description of the Related Art In addition to word processors, personal computers and the like, recently, there are some devices having a built-in microcomputer that require character input. For example, in the recent electronic musical instruments, it is necessary to input the name in characters when memorizing a song, rhythm, tone color or the like that is made by myself. Conventionally, character input was mainly performed by the following three methods. For inputting characters in a word processor, a personal computer, or the like, an ordinary keyboard provided with character keys to which alphabets are assigned in a one-to-one correspondence and an upper / lower case switching key is used. By pressing the ten keys (keys 0 to 9), the characters assigned to the ten keys are input. As shown in Fig. 1, the numeric keypad has three letters such as alphabets.
Assign each character. In FIG. 1, 11 is an operation panel, 1
2 is a display for displaying input characters, 30 is a numeric keypad, 31
Is a case change key, and 32 is a key for confirming an input character for each character. When the ten-key is pressed, the character assigned to the ten-key is displayed on the display unit 12, so the character to be input is displayed on the display unit 12 by pressing the ten-key up to three times. The character you want to input is the display 12
Is displayed, the key 32 is pressed to confirm the character. To switch between uppercase and lowercase, use the key 31 shown in FIG.
This is done by pressing. As shown in FIG. 2, a character is selected by the dial 33. The dial 33 is provided with a small hole 34, and when a finger is put into the hole 34 and the dial is rotated, a character assigned in advance is displayed on the display device 12 according to the rotation angle of the dial. Then, rotate the dial to display the character you want to input on the display 12, and press the key 3
Press 2 to confirm character by character and determine the input character. [0006] The prior art has the following problems. (1) In the above case, the uppercase and lowercase letters can be input together by pressing the letter keys while pressing the uppercase and lowercase switching keys. However, pressing the letter key and the case switch key at the same time requires skill, so
In many cases, the upper and lower case switching key and the character key are separately pressed twice to input, and the key operation is complicated. Also, since this kind of keyboard has many keys, initial cost is required. (2) In the above case, many key operations are required to select one character, which is troublesome. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, since three characters are assigned to each of the ten numeric keys, for example, in the case of the uppercase mode at present, to select the lowercase letter "c",
It is necessary to press the numeric keypad “1” three times to select the capital letter “C” and to press the key 31 to switch to lowercase letters. In addition, the key 32 to confirm the selected character
You need to press once. As described above, it is necessary to perform the key operation up to five times to determine one character, and rapid character input cannot be performed. (3) In the above case as well, it is necessary to rotate the dial 33 shown in FIG. 2 to select the character to be input and to press the key 31 to confirm the input character, so that quick character input is possible. I can't. Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is what kind of means should be taken to perform simple and quick character input at low cost. In order to solve such a problem, the present invention employs a character input device as described below. There is provided a key pressing speed discriminating means for discriminating to which speed range the key pressing speed belongs (key pressing speed). Then, data (character table) in which one character is assigned to each key corresponding to the speed range is prepared in advance for the number of the speed range and stored in a storage means such as a ROM. That is, for example, when discriminating the key pressing speed in two steps, up and down, based on a certain speed, two character tables are prepared, and the one corresponding to the speed range where the key pressing speed is slow is the character table of the lowercase alphabet, the key pressing speed. The ones corresponding to the fast speed range are stored in the uppercase alphabetic character table. When a certain key is pressed, the key pressing speed of the key is judged by the key pressing speed judging means, and a specific character table corresponding to the key pressing speed is called from the upper storage means to press the key. A means for selecting and inputting the characters assigned to the generated key is provided. [Operation] A key is pressed while changing the key pressing speed, and the characters assigned to each key at each key pressing speed are input. Even with the same key, you can select uppercase and lowercase letters by changing the keypressing speed, so you can enter all characters with a single keypress operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As an example of the character input device according to the present invention, an electronic musical instrument in which the keys of the keyboard also function as character input keys will be described below. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a keyboard of a word processor or a personal computer as well as the electronic musical instrument. (1) Outline of Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 3 shows an outline of the configuration of an embodiment of an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 denotes a keyboard which, in the performance mode, detects a key depression / key release operation by the player and supplies the information to the sound source 16. As a unique feature of the present invention, when a certain key is pressed in the character input mode, the character assigned to each key in advance is selected according to the key pressing speed, and the display on the operation panel 11 is selected. 12
To display. Reference numeral 11 denotes an operation panel, which is a display 12 for displaying various keys and messages for controlling the electronic musical instrument,
A key 18 for switching between the performance mode and the character input mode is provided. Reference numeral 13 is a central processing unit (CPU), and R
It controls each part of the electronic musical instrument according to a control program stored in the OM 15. Reference numeral 14 is a RAM (random access memory)
Which is the work area of the CPU 13. Reference numeral 15 is a ROM in which a control program for operating the CPU is stored. The ROM also stores a plurality of character tables in which one character is assigned to each key of the keyboard. Reference numeral 16 is a sound source. When the keyboard is operated in the performance mode, the sound source 16 supplies the musical tone signal of the operated key to the amplifier based on the information supplied from the keyboard 10, and the musical tone is produced from the speaker. Reference numeral 17 denotes a bus (a common path for transferring information for transferring data and programs). Reference numeral 18 is a key for switching the performance mode and the character input mode. A normal keyboard performance can be performed by operating the keys 18 in the play mode and operating the keyboard. When the key 18 is operated to enter the character input mode, the keyboard functions as a character input key, and the keyboard is not played.
Character input becomes possible. (2) Assignment of Characters to Keyboard As shown in FIG. 4, one letter is assigned to each key of the keyboard. In the one shown in FIG. 4, characters are assigned only to the white key. It is convenient to enter characters by displaying the characters assigned to each key (encircled in the figure) on the operation panel at the base of each key on the keyboard. This character may be displayed on each key. (3) Processing operation of the embodiment The processing operation when a character is input will be described using this embodiment. When inputting characters, operation panel 11
The upper key 18 is operated to switch the performance mode to the character input mode. As shown in FIG. 4, since the characters assigned to each key are displayed in the back of the keyboard, the input person inputs the character he or she wants to input by pressing the key on the keyboard while watching the character. .. To distinguish between uppercase and lowercase letters, change the key pressing speed. In this embodiment, if the key pressing speed is higher than a certain value, it is determined to be uppercase, and if it is lower than it is lowercase. So if you want to type in capital letters, you can press the key quickly, and if you want to type in lower case, you can press the key slowly. When the key is pressed in this way, the input character is confirmed by one key pressing operation, and the display 1 on the operation panel 11
Display the confirmed character in 2. The character input described above is performed in accordance with the processing procedure of the control program incorporated in the ROM 15. The processing procedure is shown in FIG. The numerical value with S added to the head of the figure indicates the procedure procedure number. The processing procedure will be described below. When the key 18 is pressed to enter the character input mode, the character input process starts (S50). First, it is determined whether or not there is a key event (a key event exists if any key on the keyboard is pressed, and no key event exists if no key is pressed) (S51). .. (3-1) When No Key is Pressed In this case, the determination process of S51 is "no", and the process returns to S51 to prepare for a key press. (3-2) When any key is pressed If the determination process of S51 is "yes", the processes of S52 and thereafter are performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the speed at which the key is pressed (this key pressing speed is displayed as "VEL" in FIG. 5) is greater than a certain value (displayed as "X" in FIG. 5) (S5).
2). (3-2-1) When the key pressing speed is higher than a constant value When the key pressing speed (VEL) is higher than a constant value (X),
It is determined that the uppercase letter is selected, and the process of S53 is performed. The process of S53 is a process of reading from the ROM 15 a character table for uppercase characters stored in the ROM 15 in advance. (3-2-2) When the key pressing speed is equal to or lower than the fixed value When the key pressing speed (VEL) is equal to or lower than the constant value (X), it is determined that the lowercase letter is selected, and the process of S54 is performed. .. S
The process of 54 is a process of reading a lowercase character table stored in the ROM 15 in advance from the ROM 15. When the character table is read in the process of S53 or S54, the character data assigned to the depressed key is selected from the character table based on the key depressed next (S55). Then, the character data is displayed on the display 12 (S56). When the process of S56 is completed, the process returns to the process of S51 again to prepare for the next character input. The above is the description of the processing operation of the embodiment. As described above, when the character input device according to the present invention is used, uppercase and lowercase letters can be selected by changing the key pressing speed. It only needs to be done once, and it is possible to enter characters quickly with simple operations. Further, in the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention, since the keys of the keyboard play the role of keys for inputting characters, it is not necessary to provide keys for inputting characters, and the cost required for that can be saved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a part of an operation panel used in a conventional character input method. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of an operation panel used in a conventional character input method. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration of an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between keys on a keyboard of an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention and characters assigned to each key on the keyboard. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a character input processing procedure of the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention. [Explanation of Codes] 10 Keyboard 11 Operation Panel 12 Display 13 CPU 14 RAM 15 ROM 16 Sound Source 17 Bus 18 Keyboard Play / Character Input Switching Key 30 Numeric Keypad that Allows Character Input 31 Upper / Lower Case Switching Key 32 Key to Determine Input Character 33 Dial for selecting characters 34 Small hole provided for rotating dial 33

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H03M 11/14 G10H 1/18 101 4236-5H

Claims (1)

What is claimed is: 1. In a character input device having a key (key), key pressing speed determining means for determining to which speed range the key pressing speed (key pressing speed) belongs Storage means for storing the number of data (character table) to which one character is assigned for each key in correspondence with the speed range judged by the key pressing speed judgment means, and when a certain key is pressed, The key pressing speed of the key is determined by the key pressing speed determining means, a specific character table corresponding to the key pressing speed is called from the storage means, and the character assigned to the pressed key is selected and input. A character input device provided with means for performing.