JPH09188004A - Character input apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the input operability and diversity of a space in a hiragana input mode. SOLUTION: A character input apparatus has a hiragana/kanjl conversion data memory means (1) storing a code of a half em space and a code of an em space as the kanji code of a conversion destination setting one of both codes to a reading code, a kanji conversion command means (2) generating a conversion command to the kanji to a temporary decision character and a kanji candidate taking-out means (3) setting the code of the temporary decision character to a reading code when the conversion command to a kanji is applied to the temporay decision character to access the hiragana/kanji conversion data memory means to take out a kanji candidate and providing a plurality of the taken-out kanji candidates to a user at the same time or one by one and taking out the half em space and the em space as the kanji candidate when the temporary decision character is one space.

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 taking in input characters, for example, a seal making device in which unevenness corresponding to an input character string is formed on a stamp face member, or an input character string is printed on a tape. The present invention can be applied to a tape printing device or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A transfer object of a stamp making device is a stamp face member, and a printed material of a tape printer is a label.
Users often require these devices to transfer characters by other character information processing devices and to mix characters of various character sizes in addition to the print target, and therefore, in stamp making devices and tape printing devices. Has various character sizes, and it is possible to change the character size partially. Such various character sizes include not only character sizes having the same number of dots vertically and horizontally but also character sizes contracted in the horizontal direction. Since there are many types of full-width characters in size and switching between them is easy, half-width characters are not available in conventional tape printers. The user was requested to respond with a small full-width character size.

For this reason, as for the space, only a command for vacating a space having the same size as the full-width character (hereinafter referred to as a full-width space) has been prepared.

Unlike a character information processing apparatus such as a so-called word processor that prints a general sentence, a stamp making device or a tape printer does not have a paragraph change in an input character string that occurs in a general sentence. Many, there are few spaces in the input string. If there is a space in the input character string, there is a certain limit such as when clearly distinguishing the first name and the second name in the character string of the name, or when clearly distinguishing the department and section in the character string of the department name of the company. To be The stamp making device and the tape printing device have a function to automatically determine the pitch between characters according to the number of characters, and when this function is applied,
When a space is provided so as to clearly distinguish between the above-mentioned name and name, or between a department and a section, the blank space in this space becomes quite large because a full-width space is applied. A result may be formed that makes many users feel uncomfortable. For example, it may be desired to use a full-width space for 2 characters and 2 first names, and to use a half-width space for 2 characters and 3 first names.

As a device that can pass such a problem,
A device has already been proposed in which, in addition to full-width characters for other characters, as for spaces, in addition to full-width spaces, half-width spaces having half the size in the horizontal direction are provided.

[0006]

By the way, when selecting and inputting a full-width space or a half-width space, as described above, there are many cases in which kanji characters are used before and after the name. In this case, the space is not the same as the Kana-Kanji conversion target like the alphabetic characters, so the input procedure is to enter the space after confirming the front Kanji, and confirm the rear Kanji. It can't be done collectively.

Further, providing the operation keys for the two types of spaces separately may confuse the operation. Therefore, conventionally, only the basic full-width space (or half-width space) is input. Corresponding to a normal input operation, the other half-width space (or full-width space) is input by a symbol selection operation. Therefore, in the case of inputting Chinese characters before and after the space as described above, if the input space is not a basic space, the input operation becomes quite complicated.

The problem caused by not preparing such half-width characters basically occurs in the case of numbers as well. For example, you may be required to enter each of the two-digit numbers that specify the month and day in half-width numbers.
Also in this case, there is a problem that half-width numbers must be selected by symbol input, which cannot be executed through the kanji determination operation.

Further, the input character string to the stamp making device or the tape printing device is different from a general sentence. Therefore, the user may want to use a comma, a period, or the like, contrary to the rules of Japanese sentences. For example, you may want to separate the Japanese words before and after by a comma. Also in this case, there is a problem that it cannot be executed through the kanji determination operation.

The first aspect of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a character input device with improved operability for selectively inputting a full-width space and a half-width space. It is a thing.

The second aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a character input device with improved operability for selectively inputting full-width numbers and reduced numbers. It is what

Further, the third aspect of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and improves the operability for selectively inputting a Japanese language delimiter and a corresponding European language delimiter. It is intended to provide the character input device.

[0013]

In order to solve such a problem, the character input device of the first aspect of the present invention includes (1) a half-width space to which a character size that is half the normal character size is allocated, and Kana-Kanji conversion information storage means that stores the double-byte space code assigned the same character size as the Kanji code of the conversion destination with one code as the reading code, and (2) for temporary fixed characters Kanji conversion command means for generating a conversion command to Kanji, and (3) When a conversion command to Kanji is given to a temporarily fixed character, the code of the temporarily fixed character is used as a reading code to store the above Kana-Kanji conversion information. A means for accessing the means to retrieve the kanji candidates and presenting the retrieved kanji candidates to the user at the same time or one at a time. And characterized in that it has a kanji candidate extracting means for taking out the em space as kanji candidate.

In the character input device of the first aspect of the present invention,
Half-width space and full-width space are targeted for kana-kanji conversion, and half-width space or full-width space is selected and input through kana-kanji conversion operation. Thereby, for example, operability in the case of inputting a character string in the order of kanji, space, kanji can be improved.

In order to solve the above problems, the character input device of the second aspect of the present invention is: (1) Reduced numbers (half-width numbers are Kana-Kanji conversion information storage means that stores a full-width numeral code to which the same character size as the normal character size is assigned as the Kanji code of the conversion destination using the full-width numeral code as the reading code. , (2) Kanji conversion command means for generating a conversion command to Kanji for temporary fixed characters, and (3) When a conversion command to Kanji is given to temporary fixed characters, the code of the temporary fixed characters is given. The kana-kanji conversion information storage means is accessed as a reading code to extract a kanji candidate, and a plurality of the extracted kanji candidates are presented to the user at the same time or one by one. If, and having a kanji candidate extracting means for taking out the reduction numbers and double-byte numbers as kanji candidate.

In the character input device of the second invention,
Reduced numbers and full-width numbers are targeted for kana-kanji conversion, and reduced or full-width numbers are selected and input through the kana-kanji conversion operation. Thereby, for example, operability in the case of inputting a character string in the order of kanji, numbers, and kanji can be improved.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the character input device of the third invention is (1) a Japanese sentence delimiter such as a punctuation mark, a punctuation mark or a bracket used in a Japanese sentence, and a corresponding European sentence. Kana-Kanji conversion information storage means that stores the Japanese delimiter code as the Kanji code of the conversion destination using the Japanese delimiter code as the reading code, and (2) Japanese sentence delimiters entered in Hiragana input mode. Character capture means that captures symbols as temporarily fixed characters that can be converted to kanji, (3) Kanji conversion command means that issues a conversion command for temporarily fixed characters to kanji, and (4) For temporarily fixed characters When a command to convert to kanji is given, the kana-kanji conversion information storage means is accessed by using the code of the temporarily fixed character as a reading code to extract the kanji candidates, and a plurality of the extracted kanji candidates are read simultaneously or one by one. To present to the user,
When the provisionally determined character is a Japanese sentence delimiter, it has a Kanji candidate extraction means for extracting the Japanese sentence delimiter and the corresponding European delimiter as a Kanji candidate.

In the character input device of the third invention,
The Japanese sentence delimiter and the corresponding European sentence delimiter are targeted for Kana-Kanji conversion, and the Japanese sentence delimiter and the corresponding European delimiter are selected and input through the Kana-Kanji conversion operation. Thereby, for example, operability can be improved when a character string is input in the order of Kanji, delimiter (especially European delimiter), and Kanji.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in which a character input device according to the present invention is applied to a stamp making device will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The seal stamp creating apparatus of this embodiment is roughly divided into the electrical components shown in FIG. 2 (the information processing unit, the seal imprint transfer controller, etc.) and the mechanical optical components shown in FIG. Light beam irradiator, etc.). Note that FIG.
Also shows the structure of the stamp body. Further, FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the seal making apparatus.

First, FIG. 2 shows the electrical components of this embodiment.
Will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

This electrical component is mainly for taking in the imprint pattern information and controlling the mechanical optical component, and corresponds to a kind of information processing device, and other information processing. Similar to the device, the input section 1
0, a control unit 20 and an output unit 30. The control unit 20 executes processing according to the information from the input unit 10 and the processing stage at that time, and controls the mechanical optical configuration unit via the output unit 30 according to the processing result and the like. is there.

The input section 10 comprises a key input section 11, a changeover switch 12 for switching the state of the apparatus, and various detection sensor groups 13.

The change-over switch 12 is composed of, for example, a dial switch, and instructs to turn on / off the power supply, start exposure to the stamp main body (stamp face member), and open the lid 65 of the space for accommodating the stamp main body. It is something that As the detection sensor, a sensor for detecting the stamp type, a sensor for detecting the mounting of the ink ribbon, and a sensor for detecting the mounting and position of a plate-making sheet described later are provided.

The key input section 11 is, to a large extent, a character selection dial section 11 for outputting a general operation signal for character input.
B, and a function key unit 11A that outputs an operation signal related to a function other than character input and a special operation signal for character input such as deletion of an input character or symbol character input.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the character selection dial portion 11B is a cursor movement in which a circular selection line feed key 80 in the center and a ring portion around it are divided into four when viewed from above. The keys 81 to 84 and a character selection dial 85 formed of an annular portion around the keys 81 to 84. FIG. 5 shows the character allocation and the character input function allocation in the character selection dial unit 11B. FIG.
For simplicity of notation in the drawings, circles and annular portions are shown as rectangles.

The character selection dial 85 is rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise, and can be positioned, for example, with an angle divided into 54 in the circumferential direction as a unit angle. As shown in FIG. 5, the character selection dial 85 is printed with “AIUEO ...” On the outer circumference and “ABCDE ...” On the inner circumference, and controls the character signal at the position where the character designation mark 86 points. It is to be sent to 20. Note that the character signals for, for example, “A” and “A” assigned to the same unit angle are the same, and the control unit 20 indicates “A” according to the character type signal held inside at that time. , "Or" A "is entered.

Here, full-width spaces, full-width numbers, and sentence delimiters (phrases, periods, punctuation marks, commas, etc.), which will be described later, are also selected by the character selection dial 85.

The selection line feed key 80 is a push key, and the selection line feed key 80 includes "select" and "line feed".
Is printed. The control unit 20 executes the line feed operation when the selection line feed key 80 is operated in a state where the cursor is positioned on the line including only the confirmed character, and executes the selection action otherwise.

The upward cursor movement key (cursor up movement key) 81 is a push key, and characters "↑" and "no conversion" are printed. Control unit 20
When the cursor up movement key 81 is operated, a warning is issued in the character input state in which neither the non-conversion operation nor the cursor up movement operation can be accepted, and in the character input states in which other cursor up movement operations cannot be accepted. The non-conversion operation is executed, and the cursor move operation is executed in the other character input state.

The leftward cursor movement key (cursor left movement key) 82 is a pressing key, and the characters "←" and "lowercase" are printed on the cursor left movement key 82. . When the cursor left movement key 82 is operated, the control unit 20 issues a warning in a character input state in which neither a lower case conversion (including upper case return at the time of alphabet input) nor a cursor left movement operation is accepted, and otherwise. In the character input state in which the cursor left movement operation of is not accepted, the lower case conversion operation is executed, and in the other character input states, the cursor left movement operation is executed.

Further, the downward cursor movement key (cursor downward movement key) 83 is a push key, and the characters "↓" and "conversion reading shortening" are printed on the cursor downward movement key 83. Has been done. The control unit 20
When the cursor down movement key 83 is operated, a warning is issued in a character input state in which neither the kana-kanji conversion operation nor the cursor down movement operation can be accepted, and kana-kanji conversion in a character input state in which other cursor down movement operations cannot be accepted. Execute the operation and execute the cursor down movement operation in the other character input state.

Furthermore, the right cursor movement key (cursor right movement key) 84 is a push key,
Characters “→” and “AA” are printed on the cursor right movement key 84. When the cursor right movement key 84 is operated, the control unit 20 displays the hiragana,
Switching between katakana and alphabet A A A warning is issued in the character input state in which neither the A cursor movement operation nor the cursor right movement operation can be accepted, and A A conversion operation is executed in the character input state in which other cursor right movement operations cannot be accepted. Then
Executes the cursor right move operation in other character input state.

The output section 30 is composed of a mechanical optical constituent drive circuit group 31 for driving and controlling each of the mechanical optical constituents, which will be described later, and a drive circuit 32 of the display device 33. The circuits 31, 32 drive the corresponding components under the control of the control unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 6, the display device 33 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display 33A capable of displaying 6 characters, and a plurality of indicators 33B-1 to 33B-n formed of LEDs arranged around the liquid crystal display 33A. Consists of. The liquid crystal display 33A displays a guidance message to the user and a character string input by the user. Each indicator 33B-1, ..., 33B-n
On the surface of the device related to, the characters 33C-1, ..., 3 indicating the attributes and states assigned to the indicator are displayed.
3C-n is printed and the corresponding indicator 33
B-1, ..., 33B-n are lit, extinguished, and blinking to indicate the contents of the current attribute or state.

In the case of this embodiment, basically, on the display screen at the time of character input, the cursor fixed display system is adopted in which the cursor is fixedly displayed at the fifth character display position 33A-5 on the liquid crystal display 33A. The display position of the input candidate character pointed by the character selection dial 85 is the sixth character display position 33A-6 on the liquid crystal display 33A.
Stipulated. Furthermore, as a display mode of each character on the liquid crystal display 33A, "Positive display",
There are "negative display" and "flashing display" that repeats these. “Positive display” is a display mode of fixed characters or semi-fixed characters, “negative display” is a display mode of temporary fixed characters,
The “blinking display” is a display mode of the input candidate characters designated by the character selection dial 85. In the following, as necessary, the characters for "positive display" (fixed characters and semi-fixed characters)
Is referred to as "positive character", the character (tentatively determined character) targeted for "negative display" is referred to as "negative character", and the character (input candidate character) targeted for "flashing display" is referred to as "flashing character".

The mechanical optical component drive circuit group 31
, Which are composed of various drive circuits, are collectively shown here. Among the elements of the mechanical and optical components, there are various components that require drive control, as will be described later.
In reality, there is a drive circuit for each of the constituent elements.

The control unit 20 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and has a CPU 21, a ROM 22, and
RAM 23, character generator ROM (CG-R
OM) 24, an input interface 25, and an output interface 26 are connected via a system bus 27.

The ROM 22 includes various processing programs for creating a seal including a processing program for inputting characters (see FIGS. 1, 10, 11 and 11) executed by the CPU 21, dictionary data for kana-kanji conversion, etc. The fixed data of is stored.

In the case of this embodiment, the kana-kanji conversion dictionary data stores not only general kana-kanji conversion data but also data about spaces, numbers and sentence delimiters as shown in FIG. There is. In the area of the candidate kanji code that uses the code of the half-width space as the reading code, the codes of the full-width space and the half-width space are stored. Further, in the area of the candidate kanji code in which the code of full-width numeral “1” is used as the reading code, codes of full-width numeral “1”, half-width numeral “1” and 1/3 reduced numeral “1” are stored. Further, in the candidate kanji code area in which the code of the punctuation is the reading code, the code of the punctuation and the period are stored. The 1/3 reduced number is a number for which a print result similar to that obtained by horizontally reducing the full-width number by 1/3 can be obtained.

The RAM 23 is used as a working memory by the CPU 21, and also stores fixed data related to user input. RAM
23 is backed up even when the power is turned off.

The CG-ROM 24 stores a dot pattern (font) of characters and symbols prepared in the seal making device, and corresponds to when code data specifying the characters and symbols is given. The dot pattern is output. Here, as the display font, although not shown, a half-width space font,
Half-width and 1/3 reduced number fonts are also available. These fonts are also prepared as normal one-character-sized fonts.

The input interface 25 serves as an interface between the input section 10 and the control section 20,
The output interface 26 includes an output unit 30 and a control unit 20.
Interface between the two.

The CPU 21 uses the processing program in the ROM 22 determined according to the input signal from the input unit 10 and the processing stage at that time, while using the RAM 23 as a working area, and if necessary, the ROM 22 and the RAM 2.
The fixed data stored in No. 3 is used as appropriate for processing, and the processing status, processing result, etc. are displayed on the display device 33, and each unit of the mechanical optical configuration unit (FIG. 3) is driven. I will make a seal.

FIG. 8 shows a buffer provided in the input interface 25, various buffers prepared in the RAM 23 for character input, and the like. Although the buffer structure for inputting characters is arbitrary, it is assumed here that it is shown in FIG.

The input interface 25 comprises a character selection dial buffer 90 for buffering character signals from the character selection dial 85, and a push key buffer 91 for buffering operation signals from the push keys 80 to 85.

In the RAM 23, a kanji candidate buffer 92 for buffering kanji candidates at the time of kana-kanji conversion and a character signal buffered in the character selection dial buffer 90 are collected as “hiragana”, “katakana” or “alphabet”. A first character type buffer 93A that buffers information about whether to include characters and a character selection dial buffer 9
A second character type buffer 93B that buffers information as to whether the character signal buffered at 0 is captured as uppercase letters or lowercase letters, and whether the input character string is a fixed character or a semi-fixed character. , A cursor area buffer 95 for buffering cursor position information, a display buffer 96 for buffering contents to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 33A, and a negative character (temporary fixed character). ) And a negative character buffer 97 that buffers).

Next, the structure of the mechanical optical structure and the seal main body will be described with reference to FIG.

The stamp main body 40 is composed of a rod-shaped base 41, a sponge member 43 for improving the conformity between the convex surface of the stamp surface member and the paper surface, and a flat stamp surface member 42.
The stamp face member 42 includes a base layer 42A that does not react with ultraviolet rays and an ultraviolet curable resin layer 42B.
2B is exposed to the outside. The ultraviolet curable resin layer 42B can be removed by a predetermined liquid except the cured portion.

The mechanical optical structure shown in FIG. 3 is mainly composed of a printing structure and an ultraviolet irradiation structure.

The printing configuration follows the thermal transfer method,
Fixed print head 50, platen roller 51, ink ribbon 52, supply reel 53, take-up reel 54
And a roller 55 and the like for changing the traveling direction of the ink ribbon 52. Further, the insertion hole 56 of the plate-making sheet (see FIG. 9), the discharge hole 57 of the plate-making sheet, and the guide member (the mounting of the plate-making sheet or the like) for guiding the plate-making sheet inserted from the plate-making sheet insertion hole 56 to the printing position. (Including a detection sensor for detecting the position) 58, a separation mechanism 59 that separates the ink ribbon 52 and the plate-making sheet that have run from the printing position and guides the separated plate-making sheet to the discharge hole 57.

As shown in FIG. 9 for a square mark, the plate-making sheet 60 is composed of a sheet main body 62 having a back surface coated with an adhesive and a release paper 61 provided on the back surface thereof. The plate-making sheet 60 has the same size regardless of the type of stamp, and the through-hole 6 that gives the reference of the print start position.
3A and 63B are symmetrically provided. Seat body 6
2 is divided by a half cut into a portion 62A having the same shape as the outer shape of the stamp face member 42 that differs depending on the type of stamp and another portion 62B, and only the portion 62A can be separated and peeled off. When the plate-making sheet 60 is inserted through the insertion hole 56, the plate-making sheet 6
The end portion of 0 and the ink ribbon 52 are overlapped with each other and are positioned at the printing position between the print head 50 and the platen roller 51.

Under the control of the control unit 20, the print head 50 generates heat when the heat generation drive circuit (see reference numeral 31 in FIG. 2) is driven to transfer the ink of the ink ribbon 52 to the plate making sheet 60. is there.

Here, in the thermal transfer type ink ribbon 52, the transferred portion becomes transparent without ink. That is, the ink ribbon 52 after transfer is composed of a portion that can transmit ultraviolet rays (a portion where ink has been removed) and a portion that blocks transmission of ultraviolet rays (a portion where ink remains). Therefore, the imprint pattern is printed, and the transferred ink ribbon 52 in which a portion corresponding to the imprint pattern is transparent is used as a negative film.

At the time of plate making, the ink ribbon 52 and the plate making sheet 60, which have passed through the printing portion composed of the print head 50 and the platen roller 51, in the superposed state are separated by the platen roller 51 (or a driving roller (not shown)) to the separating mechanism 59. The separation mechanism 59 separates the ink ribbon 52 and the plate-making sheet 60.

The separated plate-making sheet 60 is sent to the discharge hole 57. On the other hand, the separated ink ribbon 52 is
The stamp main body 40 is stopped at a position facing the ultraviolet curable resin layer 42B. The ink ribbon 52 that has run during such plate making is wound on the take-up reel 54.
It is designed to be wound up by.

Plate-making sheet 60 discharged from discharge hole 57
By peeling off the printed portion 62A in and sticking it to the top of the stamp body 40, it is possible to visually recognize what kind of stamp surface the stamp body 40 has.

As an ultraviolet irradiation configuration, an ultraviolet irradiation light source (for example, having a parabolic mirror) 70 is fixedly provided, for example, and the control unit 20 controls turning on and off. In addition, the transparent plate 71 that moves back and forth makes the ink ribbon 5
It is provided on the side opposite to the ultraviolet curable resin layer 42B of the stamp face member 42 with the sheet 2 in between. The transparent plate 71 enhances the adhesiveness between the ink ribbon 52 functioning as a negative film and the ultraviolet curable resin layer 42B at the advancing position (the position taken when the changeover switch 12 is instructing to start exposure), and the retreating position. Therefore, the running of the ink ribbon 52 is not disturbed.

Next, the flow of a general procedure performed by a user who creates a seal using the seal creating apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

The user operates the changeover switch 12 to turn on the power source, and then operates various keys of the key input unit 11 to input the imprint pattern information (character string). The input of the seal imprint pattern information involves not only the input of the character string that constitutes the seal imprint, but also the input of various attributes such as the typeface of the character, vertical writing and horizontal writing, and the character size.

When the user finishes the input of the seal imprint pattern information, he or she generally operates the layout display key of the key input unit 11 to execute the layout display and confirms whether or not the seal imprint is desired. . Depending on the layout display,
After confirming the validity of the imprint, the user inserts the plate-making sheet 60 through the insertion hole 56 until it abuts, and then the key input unit 1
The plate making key 1 is operated to execute the plate making process, and the ink ribbon 52 is made to form a negative film. CPU 21
When the plate making key is operated, the input character string is expanded in the print buffer on the RAM 23 according to various attributes related to the input character string, and then the print head 50, the platen roller 51, etc. are driven to perform printing. The negative film is prepared by executing the negative film, and the negative film is conveyed to the position facing the stamp face member 42.

When the plate making process is completed, the user operates the changeover switch 12 to instruct the exposure. The CPU 21
The ultraviolet ray irradiating light source 70 is activated to irradiate the stamp face member 42 with ultraviolet rays. At this time, the irradiation is continued until the irradiation time determined according to the type of the seal main body 40 attached elapses, and the predetermined irradiation time elapses. At the same time, an exposure end message is displayed and the irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet ray irradiation light source 70 is stopped. By such an exposure process, the ultraviolet curable resin layer 42B of the stamp member 42 is cured only in the portion corresponding to the imprint pattern.

When the exposure is completed, the user operates the changeover switch 12 to instruct the opening of the lid 65, and when the lid 65 is opened, the exposed stamp main body 40 is taken out. Then, the stamp face member 42 of the stamp body 40 taken out is dipped in a container containing a predetermined liquid (for example, water) and reciprocally moved to wash it, thereby removing the non-cured portion and making the stamp face member 42 uneven. Let it form. After that, the seal is completed by wiping off the predetermined liquid from the seal body 40 with a cloth or the like.

This embodiment is characterized in that the number of kana-kanji conversion objects is increased. In the following, processes affected by increasing the number of Kana-Kanji conversion objects will be sequentially described.

FIG. 10 shows a space (half-width space) in the character selection dial 85, and when the space code is stored in the character selection dial buffer 90, the selection line feed key 80 is operated and the pressed key buffer is operated. It is stored in 91 and shows the processing when the CPU 21 is interrupted. It should be noted that in FIG. 10, the step of discriminating between the selection command and the line feed command is omitted, and the processing when the selection command is given is shown.

First, the CPU 21 determines, based on the contents stored in the first character type buffer 93A, whether the current character input mode is the hiragana input mode or any other katakana input mode or alphabet input mode (step 100). .

In the hiragana input mode, a few bits are added to the space code stored in the character selection dial buffer 90 to be converted into a half-width space code, which is stored in the negative character buffer 97 as a temporary fixed character and selected. Clear the character dial buffer 90 (step 10
1) After that, the display buffer 96 is updated according to the stored contents of the cursor position buffer 95, the text area 94, and the negative character buffer 97, and the half-width space is used as a negative character together with the already input character string (positive character or negative character). Display on the liquid crystal display 33A (step 10)
2).

When it is determined in the step 100 that the mode is the katakana input mode or the alphabet input mode, the CPU 21 causes the character selection dial buffer 90.
A few bits are added to the space code stored in to convert it to a half-width space code and store it as a confirmed character in the text area 94, and the character selection dial buffer 90 is cleared (step 103). 95, the text area 94 and the negative character buffer 97, the display buffer 96 is updated according to the stored contents, and the half-width space is displayed as a positive character on the liquid crystal display 33A together with the already input character string (positive character or negative character) (step. 104).

In the case of this embodiment, since it is premised on the seal that the pitch between characters cannot be made large,
A half-width space is also selected as the reference space, and therefore the above-described processing is performed.

It should be noted that substantially the same processing is performed when the selection line feed key 80 is operated while the numeral (full-width numeral) is in the blinking state, and therefore its explanation is omitted. Further, when the selection line feed key 80 is operated while the punctuation is blinking, substantially the same processing is performed, and therefore the description thereof is omitted. When the punctuation mark is displayed in a blinking state, the input mode is the hiragana input mode or the katakana input mode (by the first character type buffer 93A), and in the alphabet input mode, the character selection number 85 indicates the same position. Even if you are doing it, it will blink as a period.

Next, the processing in the case where the cursor down movement key 83 is operated as the conversion key in the state where the negative character (temporarily fixed character) is displayed will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 1, the step of discriminating between the cursor down movement command and the conversion command is omitted, and the processing when the conversion command is given is shown. Further, for simplicity of explanation, it is assumed that only spaces are described as kana-kanji conversion information other than general kana-kanji conversion information. Even when numbers and sentence delimiters are stored as kana-kanji conversion information, the same processing as shown in FIG. 1 is performed.

The CPU 21 firstly operates the negative character buffer 97.
It is determined whether or not the beginning of the temporarily fixed character string that is the conversion target on the left side (which can be specified based on the stored contents of the cursor position buffer 95) including the cursor position stored in is a half-width space (step 200).

If an affirmative result is obtained, the kana-kanji conversion dictionary data is accessed to take out candidate kanji (in this case, full-width spaces and half-width spaces) and store them in the kanji candidate buffer 92 (step 201).

On the other hand, when a negative result is obtained in step 200, the CPU 21 determines whether or not there is a half-width space in the middle of the temporary fixed character string to be converted on the left side including the cursor position (step 202). If an affirmative result is obtained, the temporarily fixed character string on the left side of the half-width space is targeted, the longest matching Kanji candidate is searched by accessing the Kana-Kanji conversion dictionary data, and the Kanji candidate is obtained. It is stored in the kanji candidate buffer 92 (step 203). If a negative result is obtained also in step 202, C
The PU 21 obtains a kanji candidate by searching the longest matching kanji candidate by accessing the kana-kanji conversion dictionary data for the entire temporarily fixed character string that is the conversion target on the left side including the cursor position, and the kanji candidate is the kanji candidate. Buffer 92
(Step 204).

When the kanji candidates are obtained as described above, the display buffer 96 is operated based on the stored contents of the kanji candidate buffer 92, and the cursor is added to any of the kanji candidates to add all or part of the kanji. Liquid crystal display 33A candidates
(Step 205), the user selects (by key 80) or next candidate (by key 82 or 84).
It is determined whether or not has been instructed (step 206).

When the next candidate is designated, the CPU 2
In step 1, the process returns to step 205 to switch the Kanji candidates displayed by adding the cursor, and also switch and display the other Kanji candidates displayed.

On the other hand, when a command for selecting a Kanji candidate is given, a text area 94 for storing the confirmed character of the selected Kanji character (may be a full-width space or a half-width space) stored in the Kanji candidate buffer 92. , And delete the negative character used for reading from the negative character buffer 97 (step 208).
The display buffer 96 is operated according to the contents stored in the text area 94, the negative character buffer 97, etc. to return the display to the character input screen.

Through the above-described processing, the half-width space displayed in negative characters can be confirmed as a full-width space or a half-width space, if necessary.

When the non-conversion key (81) is operated for a negative character of a half-width space, the conversion flowchart is not shown, but a non-conversion operation is performed like other negative characters. Is stored in the text area as a fixed character (positive character).

Therefore, the negative character string "Yamada Taro" can be easily converted into "Yamada Taro" having spaces in full-width or half-width by a conversion or no conversion operation.

As described above, in the katakana input mode and the alphabet input mode, the character selection dial 85
The space input from is always confirmed as a half-width space. Therefore, in this embodiment, the full-width space can be input rather than the symbol input. That is, in the middle of a katakana character string or alphabetic character string,
You can enter full-width spaces without changing to Hiragana input mode.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a process for inputting a full-width space in the symbol input process.

When the symbol key of the function key section 11A is operated, the CPU 21 starts the processing program stored in the ROM 22 shown in FIG. And first, C
In step 300, the PU 21 displays the initial symbol type candidates on the liquid crystal display 33A. For example,
Various types of symbols such as unit symbols, descriptive symbols, creature symbols, vehicle symbols, mathematical symbols, and editing symbols are prepared. In this embodiment, a full-width space is one of the editing symbols. It is prepared as. As the initial candidate, the most frequently used symbol type among the symbol types or the symbol type selected immediately before by the learning function is displayed.

After that, in step 301, the CPU 21 selects the selection key (80) or the change keys (82, 84).
Is operated, and when the change key is operated, the current candidate of the symbol type (blinking symbol type) is changed in step 302, and the process returns to step 301 described above.

When the selection key is operated in a situation where a certain symbol type is currently a candidate, the process proceeds from step 301 to step 303, and the CPU 21 discriminates the selected symbol type. When a symbol type other than the editing symbol is selected, the CPU 21 proceeds to the processing routine shown in step 304 and performs symbol selection processing within that symbol type.

On the other hand, if the selected symbol type is the editing symbol, the CPU 21 causes the liquid crystal display 33A to display any editing symbol as an initial current candidate in step 305. In the case of this embodiment, the full-width space is also displayed by taking an area for one character for display. When you display the current candidate edit symbol, the CPU
21. In step 306, it is determined whether the selection key or the change key is operated. If the change key is operated, the current candidate of the editing symbol is changed in step 307, and the process returns to step 306 described above.

When the selection key is operated in a situation where a certain editing symbol is currently a candidate, the process proceeds from step 306 to step 308, and the CPU 21 confirms that the currently editing symbol is selected, The code of the editing symbol is stored next to the last character code in the text area 94, and the display buffer 96 is also operated to return the display to the character input screen at the stage where the symbol key is operated. When the symbol key is pressed, the dot pattern defining the selected editing symbol is displayed at the character input position indicated by the cursor, and the series of processes is completed.

Here, when the selection key is operated in the situation where the full-width space is currently the candidate, step 3
After moving from 06 to step 308, the CPU 21 determines that the full-width space is selected, and the text area 9
This full-width space code is stored next to the last character code so far in 4.

In the case of this embodiment, half-width numbers and 1/3 reduced numbers can be similarly input with symbols.

Even if the sentence delimiter is used as a kana-kanji conversion target, any selected delimiter is an existing one, so the printing process during the plate making process is the same as the conventional one. Further, the printing process of the half-width space is almost the same as the corresponding printing process in the character information processing apparatus having the half-width input function, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, CG
-For the sake of simplification of the ROM 24, fonts for half-width numbers and 1/3 reduced numbers are not prepared. However, as a method of forming a half-width or 1/3 reduced number font from an existing number font and performing a printing process, international patent application PC
Since the method described in the specification of T / JP95 / 02432 and the drawings can be applied, its description is omitted.

According to the above-described embodiment, the half-width space and the full-width space are set as the kana-kanji conversion target, and the half-width space or the full-width space can be selectively input through the kana-kanji conversion operation. Greater diversity
Here, since a full-width space that cannot be designated by the character selection dial is prepared as a symbol, both spaces can be input without converting to the hiragana input mode even in the katakana input mode or the alphabet input mode.

According to the above embodiment, half-width numbers,
1/3 reduced numbers and full-width numbers are subject to Kana-Kanji conversion,
Through the kana-kanji conversion operation, half-width numbers, 1/3 reduced numbers, or full-width numbers can be selectively input, so that the number input operability and versatility in the hiragana input mode can be improved. In this case as well, since reduced numbers that cannot be indicated by the character selection dial are prepared as symbols, numbers of various sizes can be input without converting to hiragana input mode even in katakana input mode or alphabet input mode.

Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the Japanese sentence delimiter and the corresponding European delimiter are targeted for kana-kanji conversion, and the Japanese sentence delimiter and the corresponding western delimiter are converted through the kana-kanji conversion operation. Since the selective input is possible, the operability and variety of the delimiters in the hiragana input mode can be improved.

The device to which the character input device of the present invention is applied is not limited to the stamp creating device, but can be applied to a device such as a tape printer, a personal computer, or a word processor.
It can also be applied to a device that does not have a character selection dial.

In the above embodiment, the half-width space is the reference space, but the full-width space may be used as the reference space.

Further, in the above embodiment, the space or the number input in the hiragana input mode (including the hiragana input mode by the Roman character conversion) is the target for the kana-kanji conversion. However, the katakana input mode or the alphabet input mode is shown. The space or number input in step may be set as a kana-kanji conversion target, and further, the space or number input by symbol selection may be set as a kana-kanji conversion target. The same may be applied to the delimiter.

[0098]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
Since half-width spaces and full-width spaces are set as kana-kanji conversion targets, and half-width spaces or full-width spaces can be selectively input through the kana-kanji conversion operation, it is possible to improve the operability and variety of spaces in the hiragana input mode.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the reduced number and the full-width number are set as the kana-kanji conversion target, and the reduced number or the full-width number can be selectively input through the kana-kanji conversion operation. Input operability and versatility can be improved.

Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the Japanese sentence delimiter and the corresponding European delimiter are targeted for Kana-Kanji conversion, and the Japanese sentence delimiter and the corresponding European delimiter are processed through the Kana-Kanji conversion operation. Since the symbols can be selectively input, the operability and variety of the delimiters in the hiragana input mode can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a processing flowchart when a selection command for a provisionally fixed character is issued according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical component of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a layout view showing a mechanical optical component of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an external configuration example of an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a character selection dial unit 11B of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a display device 33 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of kana-kanji conversion dictionary data according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a buffer and the like of the RAM 23 at the time of character input according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a plate-making sheet 60 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a processing flowchart when a selection command is issued when a space is an input candidate according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a processing flowchart when inputting a double-byte space symbol according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Input part, 11 ... Key input part, 20 ... Control part, 21
... CPU, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... RAM, 30 ... Output unit, 80 ... Selection line feed key, 85 ... Character selection dial.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tomoyuki Niimura 2-10-18 Higashi-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside King Jim Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hitoshi Hayama 3-3-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano Seiko -In Epson Corporation

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A code for a half-width space to which a character size that is half the normal character size and a full-width space to which a character size that is the same as the normal character size is assigned are read as one code. Kana-Kanji conversion information storage means for storing as the conversion destination Kanji code, Kanji conversion command means for generating a conversion command for converting the temporary fixed character into Kanji, and conversion command for converting the temporary fixed character into Kanji Is given, the kana-kanji conversion information storage means is accessed by using the code of the provisionally determined character as a reading code to retrieve the kanji candidate, and a plurality of the retrieved kanji candidates are presented to the user at the same time or one by one. If the temporarily fixed character is one of the above spaces, it must have a Kanji candidate extraction means that extracts half-width spaces and full-width spaces as Kanji candidates. Character input device according to claim. 2. A character capturing means for capturing one of the spaces input in the hiragana input mode as a temporary fixed character that can be converted into kanji.
Character input device described in. 3. A symbol storage means for storing, together with various symbols, a space other than the one space as a symbol, and one symbol is selected from the symbols stored in the symbol storage means. 3. The character input device according to claim 1, further comprising a symbol selection input means for confirming the input of the selected symbol. 4. A reduced-width number assigned a character size that is smaller than the normal character size in the horizontal direction and a full-width numeric code assigned the same character size as the normal character size Kana-Kanji conversion information storage means for storing as a Kanji code of the conversion destination that is a reading code, Kanji conversion command means for generating a conversion command to Kanji for the temporarily fixed character, and Kanji for the temporarily fixed character. When a conversion command is given to the user, the kana-kanji conversion information storage means is accessed by using the code of the temporarily fixed character as a reading code to extract kanji candidates, and a plurality of extracted kanji candidates are presented to the user at the same time or one by one. When the provisionally determined character is the above-mentioned full-width numeral, it has a kanji candidate extracting means for extracting the reduced number and the full-width numeral as a kanji candidate. Character input device to. 5. The character input device according to claim 4, further comprising a character importing unit that imports the full-width numeral input in the hiragana input mode as a temporary fixed character that can be converted into a kanji character. . 6. A symbol storage means for storing the reduced numeral as a symbol together with various symbols, and one symbol selected from the symbols stored in the symbol storage means to select the selected symbol. 6. The character input device according to claim 4, further comprising a symbol selection input means for confirming the input of. 7. A delimiter for Japanese sentences such as punctuation marks, punctuation marks and brackets used in Japanese sentences, and a corresponding European delimiter symbol code are converted to the Japanese sentence delimiter code as a reading code. Kana-Kanji conversion information storage means that is stored as the Kanji code of, and a character importing means that imports the Japanese sentence delimiter entered in the Hiragana input mode as a provisionally fixed character that can be converted to Kanji. Kanji conversion command means for generating a conversion command to a kanji for fixed characters, and when a conversion command to kanji is given to the temporary fixed characters, the kana-kanji conversion information is used as the reading code using the code of the temporary fixed characters. A method for accessing a storage means to retrieve a kanji candidate and presenting a plurality of the retrieved kanji candidates to the user at the same time or one by one, wherein the provisionally determined character is the Japanese sentence delimiter. In the case of symbols, a character input device comprising: a Japanese character delimiter and a corresponding European character delimiter as a Kanji candidate extracting unit.