JPS639253B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to a key input device, and an object of the present invention is to provide a key input device suitable for a handy type device that can input kana characters, alphabetic characters, and numbers even with a small number of keys. In recent years, key input devices for terminals are becoming smaller and lighter, and there is a strong demand for hand-held type devices and lower prices. However, conventional key input devices are configured to be based on English text and numeric keys, and allow kana characters to be input when operating the kana keys, so a minimum of 50 keys for kana characters is required. The current situation is that it is difficult to make it into a handy type. Therefore, the present invention has first and second selection keys for selecting between kana character input and alphabetic character input, and a part of the plurality of alphabetic character input keys other than the first and second selection keys. In addition to serving as a numeric input key,
an identification circuit that identifies the operation of the first and second selection keys, and an identification circuit that identifies the operations of the first and second selection keys; and one or two input keys that follow the operation of the first or second selection keys based on the identification result of this identification circuit. Equipped with a character conversion circuit that distinguishes each operation as English character information or Kana character information, even with a small number of keys, Kana character, English character information,
The device allows input of numbers, thereby making it possible to make it into a handy type.One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a key input device, in which 1 is a control section, 2 is a key section, and 3 is a display section, in which keys of the key section 2 are selected by a selection signal X _o output from the control section 1. and when a key signal Y _n generated at a timing corresponding to the operated key is input to the control unit 1, input information D corresponding to the key signal Y _n is displayed on the display unit 3. There is. The key part 2 has 30 keys arranged in a 5x6 arrangement as shown in Fig. 2A.
are arranged in a matrix, with some of the alphanumeric input keys also serving as numeric input keys. 4,
Reference numeral 5 denotes a "kana" key and an "ALPHA" key as first and second selection keys for selecting between kana character input and alphabetic character input. As the selection signal X _o , selection signals X ₁ to X ₅ whose timings are shifted in time as shown in FIG. 3 are applied from the control unit 1. For example, when the "A" key 6 is operated, the key signal As shown in FIG. ₃ , a key signal is generated at the timing of the selection signal X2 on the output line _Y1 to which the "A" key 6 belongs among the output lines _Y1 to _Y6 as _Yn . FIG. 2B shows the connection between the key contact 7 of the key unit 2, the selection signal X _o , and the key signal Y _n . The table below shows the characters pressed on the input keys when inputting kana characters, and FIG. 4 shows a detailed circuit diagram of FIG. 1.

【table】

[Table] In Fig. 4, 8 is a control circuit, 9 is a key selection signal generation circuit, 10 is an English character conversion circuit, 11 is a key input circuit, 12 is a key identification circuit, 13 is a first matching circuit, and 14 is a first matching circuit. 2 a matching circuit, 15 a kana character conversion circuit, 16 a consonant character generation circuit, and 17 a vowel character generation circuit. In this configuration, the operation of each part when displaying, for example, a kana character "ka" on the display section 3 will be explained. From the above table, the kana character "ka" can be input by pressing the "K" key 18 and the "A" key 6 in sequence. As mentioned above, some of the alphanumeric input keys are also used as numeric input keys, so
First, the "kana" key 4 shown in FIG. 2 is operated. Along with this, the key input circuit 11 takes in a key signal, and the key identification circuit 12 outputs kana key identification signals a and b. When the kana key identification signal a is input, the control circuit 8 identifies that the next alphabetic character key to be operated is kana character input information. Similarly to the control circuit 8, the kana character conversion circuit 15 to which the kana key identification signal b is input also identifies that the next English character key to be operated is kana character input information. Next, when you operate the "K" key 18,
The key signal passes through the key input circuit 11 and is converted by the English character conversion circuit 10 into, for example, a JIS code (JIS6220) signal c, which is input to the first coincidence detection circuit 13. The control circuit 8 generates activation signals d and e to activate the first matching circuit 13 and the consonant character generating circuit 16, and the consonant character generating circuit 16 activates the first matching circuit 1.
3 “K, S, T, N, H, M, Y, R, W,
Sequentially outputs the JIS code signal f of "N, Z, P",
The first matching circuit 13 starts comparing the signal c and the signal f. In the case of this example, a match is detected when the signal f is "K", and the first match circuit 13 outputs the match signal g to the control circuit 8, and at the same time, the signal h of the matching JIS code of "K" for which the match is detected. is supplied to the kana character conversion circuit 15. Next, when the "A" key 6 is operated, the key signal is similarly converted to a JIS code and supplied to the second matching circuit 14, and the control circuit 8 generates activation signals i and j to start the second matching circuit. The matching circuit 14 and vowel character generation circuit 17 are activated. The vowel character generation circuit 17 that has been activated is “A, I, U,
The JIS code signals k of "E, O" are sequentially output to the second matching circuit 14, and the second matching circuit 14 starts comparing the signals c and k. When the second matching circuit 14 detects a match with "A", it outputs a matching signal l to the control circuit 8 and also outputs a matching signal l to the kana character conversion circuit 15.
A signal m of the JIS code of "A" for which a match is detected is supplied. "K" in the kana character conversion circuit 15
``A'' is recognized, converted to the JIS code ``KA'', and sent to the display section 3, completing the input of the kana character ``KA''. In this way, all of the kana characters shown in the table can be identified and displayed by inputting them in Roman alphabet format. Next, we will explain how to input alphanumeric characters and numbers. When inputting English characters, as in the case of inputting kana characters, when the "ALPHA" key 5 is first input, the key identification circuit 12 supplies an alpha key identification signal to the control circuit 8 and the kana character conversion circuit 15. . As a result, the control circuit 8 and the kana character conversion circuit 15 stop operating, and the first key operated after the "ALPHA" key 5 is determined to be an English character, and the output signal c of the English character conversion circuit 10 is output to the display. 3
supplied as is. If you want to output a number, do not operate the "Kana" key 4 or "ALPHA", but instead operate the alphabetic key that corresponds to the number, from "0" to
You can input "9". In this case, the key identification circuit 12
Since the numeric keys do not operate in the same way as inputting alphabetic characters, the numeric keys are converted into JIS codes by the alphabetic character conversion circuit 10 and supplied to the display unit 3. The "CLR" key 19 in FIG. 2 is a key for erasing the display data on the display section 3, and the "ENT" key 20 is a key for moving and storing the displayed data in another memory or the like. These two keys 19 and 20 have special dedicated outputs in the key input circuit 11, and can be used as desired. A specific example will be described in which characters are input in the order of alphabetic letters, numbers, and kana characters. Example 1 If the input data is "W2",
You can key in by pressing "ALPHA" → "W" → "2" → ("V") → "Kana" → "K" → "E". Example 2 If the input data is "VC32 TV",
"ALPHA" → "V" → "ALPHA" → "C" →
"3"("W") → "2"("V") → "Kana" → "T"
”
→ “E” → “Kana” → “R” → “E” → “Kana”
You can key in by → "H" → "I" → "Kana" → "Z" → "Z". The operation when the input data is "n", voiced sound, handakuten, and kana "a" will be explained in detail as follows. In the case of ``n'', voiced sound, and handakuten, you can input them using the NN, ZZ, and PP input keys, respectively, as shown in the table on page 4. As an example, the case of dakuten will be explained in detail. In this case, press "Kana" key 4 and then "Z"
When the key is operated, the first matching circuit 13 detects a match with the consonant "Z", and the second matching circuit 14 does not detect a match with the vowel. Subsequently, when the "Z" key is operated, the first and second matching circuits 13 and 14
is detected in the same way as above, and the kana character conversion circuit 1
5, it is recognized as a consonant "Z" and "Z" and is used as a dakuten. Similarly, if the input data is the kana "N", when you operate the keys "Kana" → "N" → "N", the kana character conversion circuit 15 converts the consonants "N" and "N".
It is recognized as ``n'' and given the kana name ``n''. If the input data is a handakuten, when you press the keys "kana" → "P" → "P", the kana character conversion circuit 15 distinguishes it as a consonant "P" or "P" and sets it as a handakuten. . In the case of one vowel, for example, if the input data is "A", when the "Kana" key 4 is operated and then the "A" key is operated, the first and second matching circuits are input via the English character conversion circuit 10. The "A" signal is input to 13 and 14. The first matching circuit 13 receives “K, S, T, N, H, M,
The consonant letters “Y, R, W, N, Z, P” are output to the second matching circuit 14, and the vowel letters “A, I, U, E, O” are output from the vowel letter generating circuit 17. Therefore, in this case, the first matching circuit 13 cannot detect a match, only the second matching circuit 14 detects a match, and the kana character conversion circuit 15 recognizes the kana "a". With this configuration, only 30 keys can be used to handle alphanumeric characters, numbers, etc., instead of the 50 or more keys that were previously required.
Kana characters can be input, and the input device can be made smaller and lighter. As explained above, according to the key input device of the present invention, first and second selection keys are provided for selecting input of kana characters and input of alphabetic characters, and the first or second selection keys are provided.
Because the structure is configured so that one or two operations of an alphabetic character key following a selection key operation are determined as alphabetic character information or kana character information, it is possible to input alphabetic characters, numbers, and kana characters with fewer keys than before. This is useful for devices that require a small number of keys, and can contribute to the development of handheld key input devices. Furthermore, in the present invention, when inputting kana characters, the code signal c output from the English character conversion circuit 10 is compared with the consonant character code signal f and the vowel character code signal k in the first and second matching circuits 13 and 14, First,
A kana character code signal specified by the consonant code signal h and the vowel code signal m whose matches are detected by the second matching circuits 13 and 14 is obtained from the kana character conversion circuit 15, and a match is determined by distinguishing between consonants and vowels. Because of this structure, the conversion itself can be performed extremely quickly, and moreover, can be performed accurately.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the key input device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the key part of the device, and FIG.
The figure is a waveform diagram of a key selection signal, and FIG. 4 is a specific configuration diagram of FIG. 1. 4... "Kana" key [first selection key], 5...
..."ALPHA" key [second selection key], 8...
Control circuit, 9...Key selection signal generation circuit, 10...
...English character conversion circuit, 11...Key input circuit, 12
...Key identification circuit, 13, 14...First and second matching circuits, 15...Kana character conversion circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 It has first and second selection keys for selecting between kana character input and alphabetic character input, and some of the plurality of alphabetic character input keys excluding the first and second selection keys are used as numeric input keys. an English character conversion circuit 10 which also serves as the input key and outputs a code signal c corresponding to the operated input key of the English character input key; and a key identification circuit 12 which identifies the operation of the first and second selection keys. and a consonant character generating circuit 16 which sequentially outputs a consonant character code signal f and a vowel character code signal k while this key identification circuit 12 detects the operation of the first selection key and recognizes a kana character input instruction, and a vowel character code signal f and a vowel character code signal k, respectively. A code signal c outputted from the character generation circuit 17 and the English character conversion circuit 10 by one or two operations of the English character input key following the operation of the first selection key.
The consonant character code signal f, the vowel character code signal k
first and second matching circuits 13 and 14 for comparison,
A kana character conversion circuit 15 is provided which outputs a kana character code signal specified by the consonant code signal h and the vowel code signal m whose match is detected by the first and second matching circuits 13 and 14, and instructs input of English characters. When the key identification circuit 12 recognizes the operation of the second selection key, it stops the kana character conversion operation of the kana character conversion circuit 15 and converts the kana character into English corresponding to the alphabetic character key operated after the second selection key. A key input device configured to output a code signal c output from a character conversion circuit 10.