JPH11353091A - Key input device and system for mounting the same onto miniaturized information communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key input device capable of highly efficiently inputting signals such as figures, characters or command within a small operation part area and to mount the key input device so as to use it both for signal input by double hand operation and transmission/reception procedure input by single hand operation. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a panel 1 for applying an uneven touch, signals are previously allocated to the protrusions and recesses of the panel 1 and in fixture key operation, the signal at a finger position on the panel is inputted. As one style of the panel 1, the projecting and recessed parts not less than 12 in total are provided within the moving range of the thumb. In the other style, the protrusions and recesses not less than six in total are provided within the respective moving ranges of the thumb and forefinger. The protrusion is formed from rotatable balls 2-5, and ruggedness is generated by the difference of heights between the balls or an inter-ball valley part. When mounting such a device into a portable telephone, a ball group is arranged so as to include the required number of rugged parts within the finger moving range by double hand operation and single hand operation and a mechanism is provided for changing the allocation of signals to the rugged parts.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention A key input device for inputting data such as numbers and characters or a command for controlling a device to an information device, a communication device, a game device, etc. while keeping the operation unit area small. Fields related to. Also, the field relates to a mounting method of a key input device suitable for both character input by two-hand operation and transmission / reception by one-hand operation in a small information communication device such as a mobile phone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an input device to information equipment,
Although a keyboard was generally used, a large operation unit area was required to ensure operability. The handwriting input method often used for mobile devices can share the display and the operation unit, but has a problem that the input speed is low and erroneous input is involved. The software keyboard system, which uses a pointing device and a graphic keyboard for display on a display, does not require a physical keyboard and is advantageous for miniaturization, but has poor operability and low input speed. In reality, it is not possible to achieve both the downsizing of the input device and the efficient input of character data by using other conventional methods.

[0003]

A key input device capable of inputting various numbers, characters, and commands with high efficiency while keeping the operation unit area small, and using both hands with the key input device. To be mounted on small information and communication equipment so that it can be used for input of numbers, characters, and commands by operation and input of transmission and reception procedures by one-handed operation

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the key input device of the present invention includes a panel for giving a tactile sensation of unevenness, and a numeral, a character, a command and the like are previously set in a convex portion and a concave position on the panel. Numbers, characters, commands, and the like to be input are determined based on the assignment and the position of the finger on the panel at the position of the convex portion or concave portion. In one mode of the panel, a total of 12 or more convex portions and concave portions are provided within the moving range of the thumb on the panel. In another embodiment, each of the moving ranges of the thumb and the index finger includes six or more convex portions and concave portions in total. In the latter panel configuration, four or more rotatable balls are arranged in the movement range of each finger, and uneven portions are generated by steps of the valleys between the balls or differences in the height of the balls.

In a method of mounting a key input device on a small-sized information communication device, a necessary number of concave and convex portions are shared by both hands for inputting numbers, characters, commands, and the like and for one-handed transmission / reception operations while using a concave and convex panel. A mechanism is provided for arranging the ball group so as to be included in the movement range of the thumb and forefinger, and changing the signal assignment method to the uneven portion in the two-hand operation and the one-hand operation. If necessary, a part of the ball is also used as a track ball of a pointing device, or the key input device is incorporated in a mouse or the like, and a signal selected by a finger position is displayed before input is confirmed.

[0006]

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the key input device of the present invention is applied to a joystick of a game machine or the like. Uneven panel 1
, Four rotatable balls 2, 3, 4, 5 are arranged. The ball rotates, allowing the finger to move smoothly while in contact with the ball, giving the finger an uneven tactile sensation, and guiding the finger to a target position through the tactile sensation. The ball is lowered together with the housing by the pressure applied from the finger, and one or more balls are lowered according to the finger position, and the switches 6, 7, 8, 9 are turned on / off.
Decide the combination of The device detects the finger position from the combination of ON / OFF, transmits a signal assigned to the finger position to the display device, and the display device displays the signal. When a strong force is further applied from the finger, the entire uneven panel is lowered, and the switch 10 is turned on. The switch 10 serves as a determination key, and determines an input signal based on a finger position when the switch is turned on or turned off.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which the key input device of the present invention is mounted on a mobile phone. A liquid crystal display screen 11 and concavo-convex panels 12 and 13 operated by thumbs of left and right hands are provided on the surface of the device, and each thumb smoothly moves on a ball of 2 rows and 3 columns. Here, the balls 14, 15 and 16, 17 in the center row
Is higher than the other balls, helping to recognize the finger position and preventing accidentally pressing the other balls when only the ball in the center row is desired to be pressed. Confirmation keys 18 and 19, which are operated with the index fingers of the left and right hands, are provided on the back of the apparatus, and the input signal is decided based on the thumb position when the decision key is pressed. The screen of FIG. 3 is displayed on the display device of the mobile phone, and the characters assigned to the ball position (convex portion) and the valley portion (concave portion) are shown. Here, the character assigned to the convex part is surrounded by a circle, and the character (selected character) at the thumb detection position is displayed in an emphasized manner. Before pressing the enter key, the selected character can be freely changed by moving the thumb.

When the mobile phone is gripped with one hand, the thumb of the gripping hand moves on the ball in 2 rows and 3 columns to select a number or a command, and determines an input signal with the index finger on the back. In this case, the screen of FIG. 4 is displayed on the display device. In the one-handed operation, only the upper concavo-convex panel is used, but the signal assignment to the ball position (convex portion) and the ball valley portion (concave position) is different from that in FIG. An uneven panel, a determination key, an antenna 20, microphones and speakers 21, 22 and the like are arranged symmetrically on the device, and as shown in FIG. 5, the direction of the mobile phone when the mobile phone is grasped and the display of the display device are displayed. Can be operated by one hand with either the left or right hand.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the key input device 23 of the present invention is mounted on a mouse 24. The mouse button 25 is configured to also serve as a decision key. According to this embodiment, the operation of inputting characters by moving the thumb on the concavo-convex panel and the operation of pointing by moving the mouse can proceed smoothly without interruption. FIG. 6 shows a mouse for right-hand operation, but all alphabetic character types can be input by using a left-hand mouse or a left-hand key input device in which an uneven panel is arranged at the position of the thumb of the left hand. . In the conventional method, it was necessary to change the keyboard and the mouse, so the work was interrupted when switching between character input and pointing. However, according to the present method, there is no need to change the keyboard.

FIG. 7 shows a method of inputting characters by placing the thumb and forefinger of the left and right hands on the uneven panel. The apparatus includes uneven panels 26 and 27 for placing left and right thumbs on the apparatus and uneven panels 28 and 29 for placing left and right index fingers. Each uneven panel has a configuration similar to that of FIG. Each finger moves on four balls on the concavo-convex panel, and selects an input signal based on which convex portion (ball) or concave portion (between balls) the finger is on.

[0011]

According to the above-mentioned means, since signals are assigned to both the convex portion and the concave position of the uneven panel, it becomes possible to select various signals within a small area. When the convex portion is realized by a rotating ball, the operator can accurately grasp the finger position within a small operation range by using the feel of the unevenness of the ball group that comes into contact with the finger. In addition, a finger can be smoothly guided to a target position on a rotating ball, and a signal to be input can be selected. In the mounting method of the present key input device to a small information communication device, the uneven panel can be used for both hand operation and one hand operation, and efficient signal input can be performed in both operations. If necessary, a part of the ball can be used also as a track ball of a pointing device, or the key input device can be incorporated in a mouse or the like so that the signal input and the pointing operation can be continued without interruption. Further, the signal selected by the finger position is displayed before the input is confirmed, and the finger position can be corrected while looking at the screen.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the key input device of the present invention is configured for a joystick. The ball is housed in a cylindrical housing so as to be rotatable. Here, in order to make the structure easy to understand, the ball housing and the uneven panel are drawn separately from the device. When a force is applied from a finger to the ball housing and the uneven panel, the ball housing and the uneven panel move down along the broken line in the hole of the uneven panel and the device, and turn ON / OFF the switches below these.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which the key input device of the present invention is mounted on a mobile phone.

FIG. 3 shows an example of signal assignment to an uneven portion of two uneven panels and an example of display on a display device in the case of performing character input using a mobile phone with both hands.

FIG. 4 shows an example of signal allocation to an uneven portion of an upper uneven panel and an example of display on a display device in a case where a transmission / reception operation is performed by holding a mobile phone with one hand.

FIG. 5 shows how to hold a vertically symmetric mobile phone when operated with the right hand and when operated with the left hand.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the key input device of the present invention is mounted on a mouse.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the arrangement of an uneven panel operated by the thumb and the index finger of both hands.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Uneven panel 2, 3, 4, 5 Rotatable ball 6, 7, 8, 9 Finger position identification switch 10 Confirmation key switch 11 Liquid crystal display screen 12, 13 Uneven panel 14, 15 Rotatable in center row Ball (for left thumb) 16, 17 Rotatable ball in center row (for right thumb) 18 Confirmation key (for left index finger) 19 Confirmation key (for right index finger) 20 Antenna 21, 22 Microphone and speaker 23 Key input device 24 Mouse 25 Mouse Button 26 Right / Thumb Uneven Panel 27 Left Thumb Uneven Panel 28 Right Hand Index Finger Uneven Panel 29 Left Hand Index Finger Uneven Panel

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI H04Q 7/32 G06F 3/023 310K H04M 1/02 H04B 7/26 V 1/23

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. For the purpose of inputting data such as numbers and characters or a command for controlling a device (hereinafter, the data and the command are collectively referred to as a signal) to an information device, a communication device, a game device, etc. A key input device having the following configurations (a), (b), (c), and (d). (A) A plurality of projections are provided at a finger contact portion on the device, and a tactile sensation of unevenness is generated by a step between a projection and a valley between projections or a difference in height between projections. Hereinafter, the finger contact portion that generates the tactile sensation of unevenness is referred to as an unevenness panel. (B) It has a mechanism for identifying the convex portion or concave position where the finger is located on the concave / convex panel, and assigns a signal to each convex portion and concave position in advance, and assigns a signal to the convex portion or concave position of the finger position. Is input at the time of operating the confirmation key of (c). Alternatively, a method is adopted in which an input signal is determined at the same time as the finger position identification. In this case, a signal assigned to the convex portion or the concave position of the finger position is input at the time of finger position identification. (C) A key for determining a signal assigned to a finger position on the uneven panel as an input signal (referred to as a determination key) is provided separately from the uneven panel, or a part of the uneven panel is movable. It is configured to function as a confirmation key. Alternatively, in the method in which the input signal is determined at the same time as the finger position identification, the finger position identification mechanism is configured to also have the function of the determination key. (D) A plurality of protrusions of the uneven panel are realized by rotatable balls. 2. The key input device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the balls for realizing the projections of the uneven panel function as a track ball of a pointing device. A key input device having the configuration according to claim 1, which is installed on a pointing device such as a mouse. 3. The moving range of the thumb includes a total of 12 or more convex portions and concave portions, or the moving range of the thumb and the index finger includes at least 4 rotatable balls, Providing a concavo-convex panel including a total of six or more concave positions, assigning a signal to both the convex portion and the concave position on the concave-convex panel, and selecting a signal assigned to the convex portion or the concave position at the finger position as an input signal. A key input device characterized by the above-mentioned. 4. The key input device according to claim 1, wherein the finger position on the concave / convex panel is identified before the input signal is determined by the enter key, and the convex portion or the concave portion of the identified position is identified. A key input device, comprising: a mechanism for transmitting a signal assigned to a display device to a display device. 5. A method for mounting a key input device having the characteristics of claim 3 on a small-sized information communication device, wherein the small-sized information communication device is gripped by one hand when the small-sized information communication device is gripped with one hand so as to be suitable for transmission and reception. A mechanism for arranging the uneven panel so that the moving area of the thumb of the hand includes four or more convex sections of the uneven panel according to claim 3, and for changing a method of assigning signals to the uneven section at the time of character input and at the time of transmission / reception. A method for mounting a key input device on a small-sized information communication device, comprising: