JPS58178436A - Character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate input operation and to simplify a circuit by inputting a character in KATAKANA (square form of Japanese syllabary) on a input part where plural input elements are arranged in a matrix and outputting a corresponding signal, and converting it into HIRAGANA (cursive form of Japanese syllabary) and outputting corresponding HIRAGANA. CONSTITUTION:Plural input elements are arranged in a matrix of, for example, five by five to constitute the input part 1 and when KATAKANA, e.g. (c') is inputted thereupon, one of signals (a), (b)-(v) corresponding to a pressed input elements among A, B-V is stored is a memory 2. With a HIRAGANA button 7, a switching part 6 is connected to a contact m. When an input button 3 is pressed, a pulse signal P is generated and a readout control part 4 reads signals (a)-(v) out of the memory 2 and sends them to a character generator 9. The character generator 9 constitute corresponding HIRAGANA (a') from the signals (a)-(v) and (a') is displayed at a display part through a display control part 10. Consequently, the input operation is facilitated and complicate HIRAGA NA is displayed with less input elements.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character input device that inputs characters using a plurality of input elements.

(b) Prior Art and Problems In the conventional character input method, an input key (for example, a push button key with the letter "a" written on it) is provided for each character, and pressing this key allows you to enter a sentence. ? The system uses a method of inputting information. Therefore, nearly 50 input keys are required to input the Japanese 50 syllables. When providing a character input means in a pocketable electronic device (about the size of a business card), the conventional method using character keys is limited by the relationship between the key top size and the number of keys, making it difficult to put it into practical use. As a means to solve this problem, the applicant has previously applied for a graphic input method (filed on April 6, 1980) and an input device (filed on April 6, 1982). However, this input method uses an input section in which input elements are arranged in a matrix.As this input section, for example, push button switches with key tops smaller than conventional character keys are arranged in a matrix (e.g. vertically and horizontally). By arranging the key tops closely (5 each, 25 in total), the operation surface formed by the key top group is used.By drawing the shape of a character (or figure) with your finger on this operation surface, you can draw characters (or figures) can be entered.

In this method of inputting characters using an input section (operation surface) in which input elements are arranged in a matrix,
If you draw the letter “A” on the operation surface, the katakana “A” will be input, and if you draw the letter “A”, the hiragana “A” will be input.
"A" is input. On the other hand, if you input both katakana "a" and hiragana "a" by simply drawing the katakana "a" on the operation surface, the input speed will be faster. Further, there is an advantage that the key signal identification means in the input section can be simplified.

(c) Purpose of the Invention The present invention focuses on the above points, and aims to provide a character input device that facilitates character input.

(d) Structure of the Invention The present invention provides an apparatus having an input section in which a plurality of input elements are arranged in a matrix, and in which the drawn character is input by drawing a character shape on the input section. , comprising means for converting a signal emitted from an input element of the input section into hiragana character data by drawing the shape of a katakana character on the input section; This is a character input device characterized by inputting corresponding hiragana characters.

(e) Examples of the invention The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 and 2
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is an input section, 2 is a memory, 3 is an input button, and 4 is a successive output control section.

5 is a katakana button, 6 is a switching section, 7 is a flat name button, 8.9 is a character generator, 10 is a display control section, and 11 is a display section.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, 1, J, M, N,
Q, R, S, U, V, W.

X and Y are key numbers, katakana display data is displayed, and L is Haru. When push button keys are arranged in a matrix, five in each direction, the key top groups (A to Y) are arranged as shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, key numbers are attached only to the required key tops. Among this key top group (A-Y), as shown in Figure 2 (a), touch key numbers (hereinafter simply referred to as keys) from A to E as if drawing characters horizontally, and then press key J. Stop, then press the key Ht--as a starting point, M
, R, and vt, the kana character "a" is drawn. By similar operations, it is possible to draw the kana character ``ko'' as shown in FIG. 2(b), and the kana character ``o'' as shown in FIG. 2(c). This figure 2 (a), (
As is clear from comparing the three cases b) and (c), the contents of the key groups that can be touched for each kana character are different, so the characters can be distinguished by identifying the signals emitted from each key group. . The present invention provides a character input device that manually inputs characters by drawing the shape of a character on the input section in which a plurality of keys are arranged.
It is possible to input hiragana (for example, ``a'') by drawing the shape of ``a'').

The first reason to draw and input katakana when inputting hiragana is that katakana requires fewer strokes.

The second reason is that when the number of key tops on the input unit is small, inputting in katakana is more advantageous. For example, a 5×5 (25 keys) keyboard layout is sufficient for inputting the 50 syllabary characters of katakana, but an additional number of keys is required for inputting the 50 syllabary characters of hiragana. Furthermore, if the number of keys in the input section is small, the number of signals generated from the keys can be reduced, thereby simplifying the identification process. Furthermore, in the case of katakana, since the character shape is square, it is easy to extract and identify singular points (for example, curved corners) of the character.

In FIG. 3, when the plate name button 7 is pressed, the control pulse P3
As a result, the switching section 6 becomes the contact point (A) side. Next, input section 1
keys A, B, C, D, E, J, H, M,
If you touch R and V sequentially to draw the shape of the letter "A", the key signals from each key will be a+ 1)+ e+ d, e+
J+ h+ m, r+ V are emitted in the order of memory 2.
is stored in Note that the key signals (a-v) are different signals. When the input button 3 is pressed after drawing the shape of the letter "A", a control pulse P1 is emitted, which causes the readout control section 4 to read the key signals (a-V) in the memory 2.
k is read out, and the hiragana "a" is displayed at 11. By drawing the katakana ``a'' on the input section 1 in this manner, it becomes possible to input the hiragana ``a''.

On the other hand, the character generator 8 generates a key signal a = v by drawing the shape of the katakana "A" on the input section l.
It has means for generating katakana display data K(7) when received. In the case of katakana manual power, when the katakana button 5 is pressed, the switching unit 6 switches to the contact point (b) 11 by the control pulse P2.
1Il. Next, the key signal a generated by drawing the letter "A" is input to the input section 1 in the same manner as described above.
"v is stored in the memory 2. Then, when the input button 3 is pressed, the key signals a - v in the memory 2 are stored in the switching unit 6.
It is sent to the character generator 8 through the contact (b) t-. The character generator 8 generates katakana display data K(7)k in response to the key signals a to V.

Therefore, the katakana character "A" will be displayed on the display section 11.

(f) As per the effects of the invention, in the case of a flat plate master, the input section is
This allows input by simply drawing the shape of a katakana, which has the advantage of simplifying the input operation and making it easier to identify input signals.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, and the symbols used in the figures are as follows. 1 is an input section, 2 is a memory, 3 is an input button, 4 is a readout control section, 5 is a katakana button, 6 is a switching section, 7 is a flat name button, 8.9 is a character generator, 10 is a display control section, 11 is a display section, A,
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Claims (1)

[Claims] In a device having an input section in which a plurality of input elements are arranged in a matrix, and by drawing a character shape on the input section, the drawn characters are input. A means for converting a signal emitted from an input element of the input section into hiragana character data by drawing a shape is provided, and a hiragana character corresponding to the katakana character is inputted by drawing the shape of the katakana character on the input section. A character input device characterized by: