JPH06348383A - Character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the device which can input a KANA (Japanese syllabary) character, a Roman letter, a null character and a numeral without providing KANA/Roman letter keys, a small character key and a clear key, can be operated simply, and also, can be constituted simply by selecting successively each Roman letter or KANA character or numeral by an input signal from plural keys which can input each of them. CONSTITUTION:A Roman letter or a KANA character or a numeral belonging to at least two or more modes of a Roman letter mode, a KANA mode, a numeral mode and a null character is allocated to each dial key 5f-5g. In such a state, in the case a depressing operation of the same key is continued, the KANA character, an alphanumeric character and the numeral allocated to the key concerned are displayed successively and cyclically. Accordingly, by suspending the depressing operation of the key concerned at the time point when a desired display is obtained, the character and the numeral belonging to the KANA mode, the Roman letter mode and the numeral mode are inputted by only operating a ten key 5f-5n and 3p, and can be displayed on an indicator 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character input device for inputting and displaying input characters of English characters, kana characters or numbers in small electronic devices such as mobile phones.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a display operation unit of a conventional character input device used as, for example, a mobile phone. In the figure, 41 is a mobile phone and 42 is a display of a liquid crystal display device or the like. The container 43 is a keypad. The keypad 43 includes a power key, Kana / English key 43b, P1 key, P2 key, select key, F key, and lowercase key 43.
g, clear key 43h, dial keys 43i to 43t,
A start key, a recall key and an end key are provided. The power key is a key for turning the power on and off, and the Kana / English key 43b is a key for switching between Kana and English characters / numbers when inputting characters. The P1 and P2 keys are keys for registering frequently used telephone numbers and calling them with a single operation. The select key, together with the F key, has a telephone directory function for calling the telephone numbers stored in the memory. This is the key to operate when used. The lowercase key 43g is a key operated when displaying lowercase English characters and kana characters, and the clear key 43h is a key used to erase the display on the display 42. Dial keys 43i-43t
Is a ten-key pad 43i to 43q, 43s capable of inputting numbers or characters belonging to at least two modes of alphabetic character mode, kana mode, and numeral mode, and * key 43r, # key 43t used for cursor movement, character confirmation, etc.
Consists of. The start key, the recall key, and the end key are keys for starting a call, recalling the same telephone number, and ending a call, respectively.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the input mode is selected by operating the Kana / English key 43b. For example, when the kana input mode is selected, the 1 key 43
Five characters of "A line" is displayed in i, and "Kou line" is displayed in 2 key 43j.
5 characters are assigned, and 3 keys 43k in the following order
"Sa line", 4 key 43l "Ta line", 5 key 43m "Na line", 6 key 43n "Ha line", 7 key 43o "Ma line", 8 key 43p "Ya line" , 9 key 43q is assigned the character "Ra line", and 0 key 43s is assigned the character "Wa line", and the characters of each line are displayed on the display 42 in the order of eye weight according to the number of pressing operations for each key. Therefore, for example, if the 2 key 43j is pressed once and operated, the display 4
“2” is displayed in 2 and “ki” is displayed by pressing twice, “ku” is displayed by 3 times, “ke” is displayed by 4 times, and “ko” is displayed by 5 times. .

When the mode is switched to the English letter / numerical mode, the number "1" is displayed on the 1 key 43i as the 2 key 43.
For j, the letters "A", "B", "C" and the number "2"
Are assigned in the following order to the 3 keys 43k in the order of the letters “D”, “E”, “F” and the numbers “3”, 4 key 4
3l is the letter "G", "H", "I" and the number "4", 5 keys 43m is the letter "J", "K",
"L" and number "5", 6 key 43n to English letters "M", "N", "O" and number "6", 7 key 43o
English letters "P", "R", "S" and numbers "7", 8
The key 43p has the letters "T", "U", "V" and the number "8", and the 9 key 43q has the letters "W", "X",
"Y" and the numeral "9", and the alphabetic characters "Q" and "Z" and the numeral "0" are assigned to the 0 key 43s, and the above-mentioned alphabet and numerals are assigned to each key according to the number of pressing operations. It is displayed on the display 42 in the above order. So, for example, 2
When the key 43j is pressed once to operate, "A" is displayed on the display 42, and "B" is displayed by two pressing operations, "C" is displayed by three operations, and "2" is displayed by four operations. They are displayed in order. Further, lowercase English characters are input by pressing the lowercase key 43g and then operating each of the English characters, and the input characters are deleted by pressing the clear key 43h.

As an example, when inputting the name "Kyoto", first, the Kana / English key 43b is pressed to select the Kana mode, and then the following keys are operated successively. That is, the 2 key 43j is pressed twice (“ki”), 8
Press the key 43p three times ("Yo"), press the small letter key 43g ("Yo"), press the 1 key 43i three times ("U"),
Press the 4 key 43l five times ("to"). As a result, "Kyoto" is displayed on the display 42.

[0006]

Since the conventional character input device is constructed as described above, the kana / English key 43b is operated to input either the kana mode or the English / numeric mode before inputting a character. It must be selected, and it is necessary to press the Kana / English key 43b every time when switching between the Kana mode and the English / Numeric mode. Also, when converting to lowercase, the lowercase key 43g must be pressed each time. I won't. Furthermore, the Kana / English key 43b, the lower case key 43g, and the clear key 43h must be provided separately from the dial keys 43i to 43t, and there is a problem in that they are complicated in terms of operation and structure.

The invention of claim 1 was made to solve the above problems, and kana characters, English characters, and blanks are provided without providing the Kana / English key 43b, the lowercase key 43g, and the clear key 43h. You can enter letters and numbers,
An object is to obtain a character input device that is easy to operate and has a simple configuration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a character input device capable of promptly obtaining necessary input and display by restricting unnecessary input and display.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a character input device capable of promptly obtaining a desired display without unnecessary display when the input operation in the same mode continues. .

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a character input device in which an alphabetic character, a kana character, or a numeral belonging to at least two modes of an alphabetic character mode, a kana mode, and a numeral mode is used. It is provided with a control circuit for sequentially selecting by characters input from a plurality of keys capable of respectively inputting characters, kana characters or numbers.

In the character input device according to a second aspect of the present invention, the control circuit has a limiting function for limiting selection between the modes.

Further, in the character input device according to the invention of claim 3, the control circuit is provided with a priority selection function for sequentially selecting from alphabetic characters, kana characters or numbers belonging to the same mode as the last key operation. It is what

[0013]

In the character input device according to the present invention, the control circuit belongs to at least two or more modes only by operating a plurality of keys capable of inputting each alphabetic character or kana character or numeral respectively. Is sequentially selected, alphabetical characters, kana, numbers, and blank characters assigned to individual keys are sequentially displayed each time the assigned key is pressed, and can be easily selected. In addition, it is not necessary to press this key every time the displayed character is changed, and the selected characters are displayed sequentially by continuing to press the character. Therefore, release the pressing when the required character is displayed. You can easily select the character you need.

Further, in the character input device according to the invention of claim 2, the display is restricted so as not to display the English characters or kana in other alphabet mode or kana mode, for example, when only registering the numbers, so that the display is prompt. You can get the input and display you need.

Further, in the character input device according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the character is input next time, the characters that are frequently used and belong to the same character mode as the character input last time are sequentially selected and displayed. The desired display can be quickly obtained without displaying.

[0016]

【Example】

Example 1. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, 1 is a telephone, 2 is a display, and 3 is a keypad. The display 2 is composed of a liquid crystal display element, and telephone-specific information such as the mode type is displayed in the first line in the top row, the name of the telephone owner in the second row in the middle row, and the telephone number in the third row in the lower row. Is displayed. The keypad 3 includes a power key, P1 key, P2 key, F key, select key,
Dial keys 3f to 3q, a start key, a recall key, and an end key are provided. The power key is a key for turning the power on and off, and the P1 key and the P2 key are keys for registering frequently used telephone numbers and calling them with one operation. The F key is a key to be operated when the telephone directory function for calling the telephone number stored in the memory is used together with the select key. The dial keys 3f to 3q are numeric keys 3f to 3n and 3p capable of respectively inputting numbers or characters belonging to at least two modes of alphabetic character mode, kana mode, and numerical mode, and * keys 3o used for moving the cursor, fixing characters, and the like. It consists of the # key 3q. The start key, the recall key, and the end key are keys for starting a call, recalling the same telephone number, and ending a call, respectively.

Each of the dial keys 3f to 3q is assigned an English character, a Kana character, or a number belonging to at least two modes of an alphabetic character mode, a Kana mode, a numeral mode, and a blank character. That is, the 1 key 3f is assigned 5 letters of "A line" and its lowercase letter and the numeral 1, and the 2 key 3g is 5 letters of "K line" and the English letters "A", "B", " C "and its lower case" a ",
"B", "c" and the number "2" are assigned. Similarly, for the 3 key 3h, the 5 characters of "Sa line", the letters of "D", "E", "F", the lower case letters of "d",
"E", "f" and number "3", 4 keys 3i "Ta line" 5 letters, consonant "tsu", English letters "G", "H",
"I", its lowercase letters "g", "h", "i", and the numeral "4", and 5 keys 3j are "Na" five letters, English letters "J", "K", "L", lowercase "j", "k",
"1" and the number "5", the 6 key 3k is "C" 5
Letters, English letters "M", "N", "O", lowercase letters "m", "n", "o" and numbers "6", 7 key 3l
Is the five characters of "ma line", the English letters "P", "R",
"S", lowercase letters "p", "r", "s" and number "7", 8 key 3m "Ya line" 3m, English letters "T", "U", "V" , Lowercase “t”, “u”,
"V" and the number "8", the 9 key 3n is "Ra" 5
Letters, English letters "W", "X", "Y", lowercase letters "w", "x", "y" and numbers "9", 0 key 3p
Is assigned two letters of "wa row", English letters "Q", "Z", lower case letters "q", "z" and numeral "0". The recall key is supplementarily assigned with a dakuten "", a semi-dakuten "°", an apostrophe "'", a colon ":", a blank character "", and the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the telephone 1 of this embodiment. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves to and from a fixed base station terminal, and 22 denotes transmission from the antenna 21 or the antenna 21.
It is a duplexer that separates the radio wave received by the device into a transmission radio wave and a reception radio wave. Reference numeral 23 is a reception mixer that mixes a reception radio wave demultiplexed by the transmission / reception demultiplexer 22 with a carrier signal of a specific frequency output from the frequency synthesizer 24 to perform frequency conversion for demodulation, and 25 is a reception mixer. Mixer 2
3 is an amplifier that amplifies the frequency-converted received signal output from the circuit 3. Reference numeral 26 is a demodulator that demodulates the received signal amplified and output by the amplifier 25, and 27 is a received signal processing circuit for interfacing with the receiver 28 such as generation of a call tone and impedance conversion. Two
Reference numeral 8 is a receiver for converting a received signal into voice.

29 is a microprocessor, ROM, RA
Reference numeral 30 is a control circuit for generating control signals for controlling various operations of the telephone 1 including M and the like, and 30 is a drive circuit 31 for driving the display 2, a keypad 3 and a control circuit 29 electrically. This is the I / O port to connect to.

Reference numeral 32 is a transmitter for converting voice into an electric signal, and reference numeral 33 is a transmission signal processing circuit for controlling processing of a signal for modulation. 34 is a modulator for FM-modulating the audio signal input from the transmission signal processing circuit 33,
Reference numeral 35 is a transmission mixer that mixes the signal modulated by the modulator 34 with the carrier signal input from the frequency synthesizer 24 to convert the frequency for transmission. Reference numeral 36 denotes a transmission demultiplexer 2 for power-amplifying the signal input from the transmission mixer 35.
2 is a transmission power amplifier to be input to.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of this embodiment.

When the power key 3a is pressed to turn on the power, the internal circuits of the telephone 1 are initialized. In this state, the control circuit 29 automatically sets the character input device to a numeric mode for key input for a call for sequentially inputting the telephone number of the other party. That is, in the initial state, the character input device is in the numeric mode, and the numeric keypad 3f of the keypad 3 is used.
Each of ~ 3n and 3p corresponds to only the number written on the key surface. In this case, the operator operates the ten keys 3f to 3n and 3p with the numbers corresponding to the telephone numbers of the other party.
When is pressed and key input is performed (step ST1), the control circuit 29 determines whether or not the current mode is the character input mode (step ST2). The number corresponding to the number is displayed on the display unit 2. In this way, the telephone numbers of the other party are sequentially input, and after the telephone numbers are displayed on the display 2, the operator presses the start key, and the telephone 1 automatically displays the telephone numbers displayed on the display 2. You can call and talk.

When inputting characters such as Kana and English in the telephone book function for pre-registering the telephone owner name and its telephone number, the telephone book function is set by operating the F key 3d and the select key 3e. Then, the control circuit 29 causes the I / O
A cursor is displayed on the second line of the display device 2 via the O port 30 and the drive circuit 31, and the mode switching means is set to the character input mode (the determination result of step ST2 is YE.
S).

In this case, when a specific ten-key is pressed (step ST1), the control circuit 29 determines that it is in the character input mode (step ST2), and then determines which of the character input modes is currently in effect. The determination is made (step ST3). When the character input mode is first switched to after the power is turned on, there is no preset mode. Therefore, the control circuit 29 sets the character input device to the kana mode (step ST4), and the ten keys 3f to 3n and 3p are pressed. The first kana character of the kana characters assigned to the pressed key, that is, the character in the first column of each row, is displayed on the display unit 2.
To display. For example, when the 1 key 3f is pressed, “A” is displayed on the display device 2.

Next, when the same 1 key 3f is pressed (step ST1), the character input mode is set at this time (step ST2). Since the current character input mode is kana mode (step ST3), kana mode is set as it is. Then, it is determined whether or not the pressed key is the same as the previously pressed key (step ST7). In this case, since the keys are the same, the control circuit 29 generates a command signal for displaying the character in the next column on the same line, in this case, "a", on the display device 2 (step ST8). This means ten keys 3f-3n, 3p
The same applies when the same key is continuously pressed after the previous pressing operation of. That is, the control circuit 29 issues a command to display a predetermined character on the display device 2 (step ST
5) In the next step, it is immediately determined whether or not a key input is made (step ST1). If the key is continuously pressed, it is determined that a key input is made, and the process proceeds to step ST2 and the subsequent steps.

When the same key pressing operation is sequentially performed in this manner, the kana characters of the lines assigned to the keys for the pressing operation are sequentially displayed on the display device 2, and the last kana character of the line is displayed. After is displayed, the lowercase letters for the line, if any, are displayed. For example, 1 key 3
If the pressing operation of f is continued, "a", "a",
"U", "E", "O" are displayed in sequence, then "A",
“I”, “”, “”, and “” are displayed. After the pressing operation is further continued and all the Kana characters on the line and the lowercase characters on the line with lowercase letters are displayed, the alphabetic mode, or in the case of keys to which no alphabetic characters are assigned, belongs to the numeric mode. English letters or numbers are displayed (step ST8). For example, in the case of the 1 key 3f, since the English character is not assigned, the numeral mode is selected and the numeral "1" belonging to the numeral mode is displayed. 2 keys 3g
When the operation of is continued, the display 2
"Ka", "ki", "ku", "ke", "ko", "A",
“B”, “C”, “a”, “b”, “c”, and “2” are sequentially displayed. In addition, in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the display of the operation steps in the numeric mode is omitted.

When the same key is further pressed after the numbers belonging to the numeral mode are displayed in this way, kana characters belonging to the kana mode are displayed again from the first column. For example, in the case of the 1 key 3f, "1" is displayed and then "A" is displayed, and in the case of the 2 key 3g, "2" is displayed and then "C" is displayed. That is, when the same key is continuously pressed, the Kana character, the English character, and the number assigned to the key are sequentially and cyclically displayed, and when the desired display is obtained, the key is pressed. By canceling the operation, the characters and numbers belonging to the kana mode, the alphabet mode, and the numeric mode are displayed on the ten keys 3f to 3n and 3p (voice marks, semi-voiced marks, apostrophes, colons, blank characters, etc. in addition to them, the recall key ) Can be input and displayed on the display 2.

Of course, if a character desired by the operator exists in the kana characters belonging to the kana mode, the operator displays the character and then the same or another key (step ST
Operate 9) to select the next display character. At this time, the control circuit 29 inputs to the display device 2 a command signal for displaying from the display of characters or numbers belonging to the same mode as the mode input and displayed by the previous operation (step ST).
3, ST6, ST10; similar steps are provided in the flowchart of the numeral mode not shown in FIG. 3) (priority selection function). Generally, when inputting / displaying Kana characters, English characters or numbers in the phonebook function, etc., there are many cases where characters or numbers belonging to the same Kana mode, English character mode, or numeric mode are input and displayed in succession several times. To preferentially select the display of the letters or numbers belonging to the same mode as the input and displayed mode and start the display from the letters or numbers contributes to obtaining the desired display quickly.

As a specific example of the input and display method described above, the case of registering "Kaisha TEL" will be shown. First, the 2 key 3g is pressed once (“F” is displayed), and then the 1 key 3f is pressed twice (the display is sequentially changed to “A” and “A”). Similarly, the 3 key 3h is pressed twice (display is “sa” → “shi”), and the 8 key 3m is pressed 4 times (display is “ya” → “you” → “yo” → “ya”). . Here, the # key 3q is pressed to confirm the display of "C". By this operation, the control circuit 29 confirms the input display by the pressing operation, and the display by the next pressing operation of the ten-key starts from the character in the first column of the character line assigned to the ten-key. The # key 3q is used to confirm the input when the input by the operation of the same key continues. If you continue to press the 8 key 3m and continue to press,
The display is "Ya", "Yu", "Yo", "Ya", "Yu",
Since it changes to "yo" and "T", the input of the character "T" is confirmed by releasing the pressing of the 8 key 3m at the time when the character "T" is displayed. Next, when the 3 key 3h is pressed, the character mode at this time is the alphabet mode, so the control circuit 29
Sets the character input device to English mode (step ST
3, ST10), it is determined whether or not the same key is operated (step ST11). In this case, since the key pressing operation different from the previous operation was performed, "D" which is the first candidate of the English character assigned to the key pressed this time is displayed (step ST13). When the 3 key 3h is subsequently pressed, the next candidate English letter “E” assigned to the 3 key 3h is displayed via step ST1, step ST2, step ST3, step ST10 and step ST11 (step ST1).
2). Thus, the English letter "E" is displayed with the 3 key, 3h, 2
It can be obtained by pressing only once. Then, if the 5 key 3j is continuously pressed, the display changes to "J", "K", "L", and when the display of the English character "L" is obtained, the pressing of the 5 key 3j is released, The input of English letter "L" is confirmed. By the above operation, the input of the character string of "Kaisha TEL" is completed.

Next, a method of changing the information of this embodiment and a method of correcting the information when an erroneous input is made will be described. * Use the 3o and #keys 3q to move the cursor for positioning the character input. When overwriting, move the cursor to the position of the character to be changed, and enter the character again by entering the character at that position. Make changes.

In addition, when deleting the input character,
It can be erased by inputting the blank character using the recall key to which the blank character is assigned. Blank characters may be assigned not only to the recall key but also to all of the ten keys 3f to 3n and 3s. In this case, if you select a blank character with one of the ten keys, the blank character will take precedence even if you press any other ten key. As it is displayed, multiple characters can be erased quickly.

As an example of the erasing operation, an operation for erasing the character string of "TEL" of the registered character string "Caisha TEL" will be described.

First, the * key 3o or # key 3q is pressed to move the cursor to the position of the character "T". Next, press one of the ten keys to display blank characters,
Erase the letter "T". Subsequently, the characters "E" and "L" are erased by pressing another different ten key twice. The above operation completes the deletion of the character string "TEL".

Example 2. In the above embodiment, the case where all of the kana mode, the alphabet mode, and the numeric mode can be entered has been shown, but it is necessary to display only a specific mode, for example, when only the numeric mode is required when registering a telephone number. In such a case, by operating the F key 3d and the select key 3e, it is possible to limit the characters assigned to the ten keys so that only the characters belonging to the required mode are displayed. Specifically, in the flowchart of FIG. 3, a step of determining whether or not the input display mode is restricted is added, and if the determination step is YES, a step of determining which mode is restricted is added (limit function). . Further, the program may be changed to the selected mode and only the characters belonging to the mode may be displayed. In this embodiment, for example, if the 2 key 3f is continuously pressed while being limited to the kana mode, “A”, “A”, “U”,
After displaying "e", "o", "a", "i" ..., only "a", "i" ... characters that belong to the kana mode are displayed again, and you can enter the required character string quickly and easily. can do.

[0035]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the alphabetic characters, the kana characters, or the numbers belonging to at least two modes of the alphabetic character mode, the kana mode, and the numeral mode are sequentially selected only by operating the ten-key pad. With this configuration, the number of operation keys can be reduced, the character input device can be downsized, and the number of keys to be operated at the time of character input is small, so that operability can be improved.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, since it is configured so that selection between modes can be restricted,
There is an effect that a desired input display can be performed quickly and easily.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since it is configured such that the characters belonging to the same mode as the previous key operation can be sequentially selected, it is possible to quickly obtain the intended display. It has the effect of being able to

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a conventional character input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Display 3 Keypad 29 Control circuit

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 7, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0004

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

When the mode is switched to the English letter / numerical mode, the number "1" is displayed on the 1 key 43i as the 2 key 43.
For j, the letters "A", "B", "C" and the number "2"
Are assigned in the following order to the 3 keys 43k in the order of the letters “D”, “E”, “F” and the numbers “3”, 4 key 4
3l is the letter "G", "H", "I" and the number "4", 5 keys 43m is the letter "J", "K",
"L" and number "5", 6 key 43n to English letters "M", "N", "O" and number "6", 7 key 43o
English letters "P", "R", "S" and numbers "7", 8
The key 43p has the letters "T", "U", "V" and the number "8", and the 9 key 43q has the letters "W", "X",
"Y" and the numeral "9", and the alphabetic characters "Q" and "Z" and the numeral "0" are assigned to the 0 key 43s, and the above-mentioned alphabet and numerals are assigned to each key according to the number of pressing operations. It is displayed on the display 42 in the above order. So, for example, 2
When the key 42j is pressed and operated once, "A" is displayed on the display 42, and "B" is displayed by pressing the key 42j twice, "C" by pressing it 3 times, and "2" by pressing it 4 times. They are displayed in order. Also, lowercase English letters are displayed after displaying them.
-43g is pressed to input the character, and the input character is erased by pressing the clear key 43h.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0015

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Furthermore, the character input device in the invention of claim 3, since the next time the input display sequentially selects from Rubun letter belonging to the character mode and the same character mode was last entered, the unnecessary display The desired display can be quickly obtained without doing.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Each of the dial keys 3f to 3q is assigned an English character, a Kana character, or a number belonging to at least two modes of an alphabetic character mode, a Kana mode, a numeral mode, and a blank character. That is, the 1 key 3f is assigned 5 letters of "A line" and its lowercase letter and the numeral 1, and the 2 key 3g is 5 letters of "K line" and the English letters "A", "B", " C "and its lower case" a ",
"B", "c" and the number "2" are assigned. Similarly, for the 3 key 3h, the 5 characters of "Sa line", the letters of "D", "E", "F", the lower case letters of "d",
"E", "f" and number "3", 4 keys 3i have 5 characters "ta line", consonant " t ", English letters "G", "H",
"I", its lowercase letters "g", "h", "i", and the numeral "4", and 5 keys 3j are "Na" five letters, English letters "J", "K", "L", lowercase "j", "k",
"1" and the number "5", the 6 key 3k is "C" 5
Letters, English letters "M", "N", "O", lowercase letters "m", "n", "o" and numbers "6", 7 key 3l
Is the five characters of "ma line", the English letters "P", "R",
"S", lower case "p", "r", "s" and number "7", 8 key 3m "Ya line" 3 letters and its small sentence
Letters , English letters "T", "U", "V", lowercase letters "t", "u", "v" and numbers "8", 9 key 3n
Is the five characters of "La", the English characters "W", "X",
Three sentences of "Y", lower case "w", "x", "y" and number "9", and 0 key 3p "wa", "wo", "n"
Letters , English letters "Q", "Z", lowercase letters "q", "z"
And the number “0” is assigned. The recall key is supplementarily assigned with a dakuten "", a semi-dakuten "°", an apostrophe "'", a colon ":", a blank character "", and the like.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0034

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Example 2. In the above embodiment, Kanamodo, alphabet mode, a case that can enter all the numeric mode, for example, when only numeric mode register or the like of the telephone number is required, such as, automatically in response to information to be registered
In addition, it is also possible to limit the characters assigned to the ten keys so that only the characters belonging to the required mode are displayed. Specifically, in the flowchart of FIG. 3, a step of determining whether or not the input display mode is restricted is added, and if the determination step is YES, a step of determining which mode is restricted is added (limit function). . Further, the program may be changed to the selected mode and only the characters belonging to the mode may be displayed. In this embodiment, if, for example, the Kana mode is restricted and the 2 key 3f is continuously pressed, "A", "I", "U", "E",
After displaying "o", "a", "i" ..., only "a", "i" ... characters that belong to the kana mode are displayed again, and you can enter the required character string quickly and easily. .

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04B 7/26 V 9297-5K

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A control circuit for switching between an alphabet mode for inputting and displaying uppercase or lowercase English characters, a kana mode for entering and displaying kana characters, and a numeric mode for entering and displaying numbers, and each of the above A keypad having a plurality of keys capable of respectively inputting alphabetic characters, kana characters, or numbers belonging to at least two modes of the modes, and a display for displaying the alphabetic characters, kana characters, or numbers input by the keypad In the character input device having, the control circuit sequentially selects the English letters, Kana letters, or numbers belonging to at least two modes of the respective modes by input signals from the plurality of keys. Character input device. 2. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit has a limiting function for limiting selection between the modes. 3. The control circuit has a priority selection function for sequentially selecting from alphabetic characters, kana characters, or numbers belonging to the same mode as the mode at the time of the previous key operation.
Character input device described.