JPS58197541A - Character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To input characters with keys whose number is less than the number of kinds of character, and to reduce the size of a device, by dividing plural characters into groups each containing characters >=2, and providing keys corresponding to the character groups and a means for specifying a character in each group. CONSTITUTION:Plural characters are divided into groups each containing characters >=2. For example, KATAKANA (square form of Japanese syllabary) is divided into groups (a), (ka)-(ra) and keys are provided corresponding to the groups; and characters (i-o), (ki-ko)-(yu, wa, n), (ri-ro) which belong to the keys are inscribed in an inscription part 32 under the keys. When (a) is inputted, a key (a) is pressed and then (a) is displays at the left end of a display part 26. For (o), the key (a) is pressed five times and then (a), (i)-(o) are displayed successively in order by turns. When the same character is inputted successively, a punctuation key 22 is pressed. Consequently, many characters are inputted with less keys and a key array is stored easily to reduce the size of the device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a character input device that inputs characters using character keys. Character keys are the most widely used method for inputting characters. In this method, the number of character keys required is equal to the number of character types, for example, 26 for Alphabet, and about 45 for Alphabet. In order to downsize the device, it is desirable to have fewer keys accommodated in the operation panel, so a method is usually adopted in which a shift mechanism is provided to reduce the number of keys by half. Even so, in the case of the Japanese alphabet, more than 20 character keys are required, which limits the miniaturization of the operation panel, that is, the device, and has the drawback of poor operability.

The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a character input device that facilitates character input.

The present invention divides a plurality of characters into a plurality of character groups containing at least two or more characters, and includes an input key provided for each character group and means for selecting and inputting a character within the character group. The character input device is characterized in that, by operating the entry key, a character within a character group to which the long key belongs is selected and input.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view explaining an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram explaining an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an inverter, 4, 1
0, 14, 20, 23 are OR circuits, 5.15 is an AND circuit, 6 is a quaternary counter, 7, 17 are reading sections, 8.18 is an address section, 9.19 is a memory, 21 is a timer circuit, 2
2.22' is a delimiter key, 24 is a switching unit, 25 is a register, 26 is a display unit, 27 is a display control unit, 28 is a character generator, 29 is a control unit, 30 is a translation key, 31 is a dictionary file, 32 is a display section, 33 is a switching key, A, E, I,
L, O, R, U, X, A, power.

Su, Ri, Su, Ha97. Ya, Uha oyster-1A, , X
, are control pulses, CH, , CH2, CHn are character information,
CL beam o.

Coupals, Sl, S2+ S3. Sn is contact, a, b
, (!+ d+ X+'-y, z is the character code, el
le2+e3. en is the digit position of the register, tl is the character code section, t2 is the character information section, P.

P2. P3 is a pulse signal, and r a + r X is a reset signal. Figure 1(a) is a front view of the electronic English-Japanese dictionary.
Similarly, (b) is a front view of the electronic Japanese-English dictionary. In the present invention, when inputting alphabets, input keys - rAJ, rEJ, rIJ, rLJ, ro'' are used as shown in FIG. 1(a).
, rRJ.

rUJ and "X" are provided, and characters are input by operating these input keys. In addition to the notation of the input key, characters that can be input by that input key are written in the notation section 32 at the bottom of each input key. For example, when the input key A is pressed once, the letter rAJ is displayed on the left end (first digit) of the display section 26, and when it is pressed the next time, the letter "A" disappears and the letter rBJ is displayed at the same position. Similarly, as the input key A is pressed, the characters [DJ] are displayed. More oysters
When A is pressed, the characters rAJ are displayed again. In this way, by pressing the input key, the input key (for example, 10
Characters that map to (e.g. rA”, “B”, rc” and “
D") will be displayed in cycles, so press the input key at the required time.
It's okay to stop pressing . If the input key is held down, each character is displayed alternately at a predetermined speed, so that the desired character can be entered in a short time. Figure 1 (b
) is an example of an electronic Japanese-English dictionary for inputting the Japanese syllabary, and it has input keys (``a'' to ``u'') with the first letters of the ``rows'' of the syllabary. be. The method of inputting characters is the same as that for the alphabet in FIG. 1(a), so the explanation will be omitted. Note that the separator key 22 is used when inputting the same character consecutively, for example, when pressing the input key "0" twice in succession, such as when inputting the word "C00L". It is used for delimiting, pressing the input key "O", the delimiter key, and "0" in that order.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an electronic English-Japanese dictionary. Character code section t of dictionary file 31 in FIG.
1 stores a group of words spelled in English (a b a = z y ), and the character information section t2 stores character information (CH, ~CH
n) is accommodated. In FIG. 2, for example, if the desired character is rAJ, pressing the input key A activates the pulse generator 1, which outputs a pulse signal P.
1 causes the quaternary counter 6 to advance by one step. Therefore, if the character "A" is displayed on the left end (first digit) of the display section 26 and the required character is "C", pressing the input key A two more times will display the quaternary counter. is converted into ternary and the character code C in memory 9 is
is read out by the reading section 7, and the OR circuit 10 and the switching section 24
The digit position e+Vc of the register 25 is set through the contact St. Therefore, the character "C" appears on (the first digit of) the display section 26.
is displayed. In this way the letters "A", rBJ, "C"
If you want to input either I'D or J, use the character key A. If you keep pressing this letter key A,
Flip-flop 2 remains set, AND
When the circuit 5 is open, the codes a, b, e and d are sequentially read out. Also, when the quaternary counter 6 has counted out, the character code a is read out again cyclically starting from the character code a. Therefore, the desired character is displayed on the display section 26. When displayed, press the letter key A.
If you stop pressing , input is complete. Letters "X", "Y"
” or “z”, the character key X can be operated in the same manner as described above.

In the notation section 32 of FIG. 1(a), characters that can be input by each person's keys A to X are written, so the user looks at this and selects the desired input key.

For example, when inputting any of the characters "L" to "N", it is sufficient to select and use the input key "L", which has the advantage of requiring fewer input keys compared to the conventional method. There is. In Figure 2, operate the input key A to enter a character (for example, "B
"), and then input the second character "Y" by operating the input key -X. The control pulse X1 generated by pressing the input key X is O
Since the pulse signal P2 is input to the timer circuit 21 via the R circuit 20, the switching unit 24 is activated by the pulse signal P2 generated thereby.
is switched to contact S2. Therefore, the character code OC~2) read out from the memory 19 by operating the input key-X
is set in the second digit position e2 of the register 25, so the input character is displayed in the second digit position of the display section 26. Also, when using the same input key twice in a row, for example, when operating the input key to spell the letter rAJ and the letter "D" in succession, operate the input key A to spell the letter rAJ.
After inputting J and then pressing the separator key 22 (see FIG. 1), the user operates the input key A again to input the next character rDJ.

The switching unit 24 is switched to the contact S2 by the pulse signal P3 generated by pressing the delimiter key 22 in FIG. Furthermore, each time a different input key is operated, the 4/
The ternary counter is reset by a reset signal (ra to rx). For example, when input key X is used after input key A, the quaternary counter 9 is reset by the reset signal ra.

In Figure 2, the required word (
For example, if you press the translation key 30 after inputting ``ABA''), the control section 29 activated by this searches the dictionary file 31 and searches the character code section 1. The character information CH+ of the term corresponding to the (aba) term is extracted and sent to the character generator 28. Therefore, information (meaning, etc.) regarding the input word (ABA) is displayed on the display section 26.

FIG. 3 is an example of a calculator having arithmetic means added with both the functions of an English-Japanese dictionary and a Japanese-English dictionary. For inputting alphabetic characters,
Similar to Figure 1 (a), dedicated input keys A-X (8 in total)
It also serves as a calculation key for inputting Japanese syllabary. When the switching key 33 in FIG. 3 is set, for example, the numeric key (7) is switched to the function of the input key (support) shown in FIG. It becomes possible to input "tsu", "ko", and "o". The number of input keys shown in FIG. 1 may be set in accordance with the character type; for example, in the case of alpha bent, it may be six input keys.

As described above, the present invention uses fewer input keys than the number of character types to be input, which has the advantage of reducing the burden of remembering the keyboard layout and improving character input speed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a front view for explaining another embodiment of the present invention. The symbols used in the figure are as follows. 1.11 is the pulse generator, 2.12 is the flip 70 tube, 3.13 is the inverter, 4.10.14.20.23
is an OR circuit, 5, 15 is an AND circuit, 6 is a quaternary counter, 7, 17 is a reading section, 8, 18 is an address section, 9゜19
is a memory, 21 is a timer circuit, 22.22' is a delimiter key, 24 is a switching section, 25 is a register, 26 is a display section, 27
is a display control unit, 28 is a large piece generator, 29 is a control unit, 30
is a translation key, 31 is a dictionary file, 32 is a notation part, 33
are switching keys, A, E, I, L, 0°R, U,
X, A, Power, Su, Ri, Su, Ha, Ma, Ya, Uha, oyster-1
A, , X are control pulses, CH+, CH2-CHn are character information, CL beam O, cupulse, S+ e S2 s
S3 + S n is a contact, ae bg Cg dl
X, 'l HZ is the character code, el 5e2te3te
n is the digit position of the register, z is the character code section, 12 is the character information section, Pat P21 Ps is the pulse signal, ra,
rx is a reset signal. Patent applicant Kazuyuki Kinoshita Procedural amendment (intoxication) l Indication of the case 1982 Patent Fraud Application No. γ7γ01f-3 Person who makes an amendment Relationship with the case Patent applicant 4 Number of inventions increased by amendment None 5. Date of amendment order

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of characters are divided into a plurality of character groups containing at least two or more characters, and an input key provided for each character group and a means for selecting and inputting a character in the character group are provided. A character input device characterized in that, by operating a key, a character within a character group to which the input key belongs is selected and input.