KR100466874B1 - Apparatus and method for inputting in personal digital assistant - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an input device and an input method for a portable terminal, the input device for a portable terminal according to the present invention, the frame on the panel having one or more sliding through holes; A sliding panel inserted into the sliding through hole to perform a sliding displacement in a left top, a bottom left, a top right and a bottom right direction; A strut protrusion protruding from a bottom portion of the sliding panel; A plurality of input members disposed at predetermined intervals on the bottom edge surface of the sliding panel; At least one elastic member disposed on a bottom surface of the sliding panel adjacent to the input member; It has a configuration including a, and is positioned on a touch screen, such as a mobile terminal to displace the sliding panel in the interior of the sliding through the corresponding input key of the touch screen and the corresponding input member corresponding to the predetermined, The present invention relates to an input device for a portable terminal capable of performing a data input operation and having an effect such as a simple configuration and easy and quick input operation.

Description

Input device for portable terminal and its input method {Apparatus and method for inputting in personal digital assistant}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device for a portable terminal and an input method thereof, and in particular, is placed on a touch pad of a portable terminal such as a PDA, and the sliding panel is displaced on a corresponding input key, thereby easily inputting the data. The present invention relates to an input device for a portable terminal and an input method thereof, which can be easily and quickly inputted.

As is well known, portable terminals such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), palm-top computers, etc. are provided with touch screens, and the touch screens are gradually miniaturized and thinned according to continuous technology development. The trend is going.

The touch screen has a small screen size according to the above-mentioned miniaturization trend. When the touch screen is operated using a finger on an input key outputted from the screen, contamination of the touch screen, damage by nails, etc. may occur, and its durability As it significantly lowers the value, it must be contacted with the corresponding input key with a separate sharp pin (hereinafter referred to as “touch pen”) to perform data input or function selection.

However, the touch pen, which is provided separately, has a risk of loss, and a data input operation using the same may generally use only one touch pen, thereby causing a problem in that a quick and easy input operation cannot be achieved.

In addition, in the case of data input by a hand on the touch screen, the handheld terminal is held by the hand, and the touch screen is partially hidden by the hand held by the handheld terminal, making it difficult to grasp the data input operation, etc. And malfunctions caused by contamination.

Therefore, the input operation can be easily performed without providing a separate touch pen, and the data input operation can be performed quickly and easily by using both hands, and the input operation can be achieved while holding the portable terminal. In addition, the appearance of an input device for a portable terminal, which can prevent damage of the touch screen and can easily grasp whether or not an input is made, has been required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and to provide an input device and an input method for a portable terminal that can achieve an easy and quick input operation using both hands. There is a purpose.

Another object of the present invention, by having a configuration including a sliding panel having a plurality of input members and the strut projection, the frame having one or more sliding through holes of an inner diameter larger than the sliding panel, thereby seating on the touch screen The present invention provides an input device for a portable terminal capable of inputting a corresponding data or selecting a function by a pressing action by matching the sliding panel with a corresponding input key forming a screen output from the touch screen.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an input device for a portable terminal capable of continuously inputting up to four data by one displacement operation by providing four input members in one sliding panel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a finger engaging member capable of mounting a protrusion or thumb of a predetermined shape on a central surface of the upper surface of the sliding panel, such as a displacement operation of the sliding panel and a pressing action of the corresponding input key. The present invention provides an easy input device for a portable terminal.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a separate software, such as a user directly installed in the portable terminal, or as the software is pre-stored in the portable terminal at the time of product shipment, the specific part surface of the touch screen and the support projection When the position alignment signal is inputted and the alignment signal is input, the corresponding data is input only when the corresponding input key and the input contact are made by the pressing action of the corresponding input member, thereby preventing input errors. An input device for a portable terminal is provided.

1 is a conceptual diagram of an input device for a portable terminal according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the sliding panel of Figure 1;

3 is an exploded perspective view of the input module according to the present invention;

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ in the state in which the input module of FIG. 3 is fastened.

5 is an exemplary state of use of the input module of FIG. 3 seated on a mobile terminal.

6 is a perspective view showing another example of an input device for a portable terminal according to the present invention;

<Description of reference numerals for major parts of the drawings>

1: input module

10: top plate 11: hollow

12: rim 13, 73: departure prevention jaw

30: sliding panel 31: panel

32: strut protrusion 33: input member

34: elastic member

40: finger mounting member 41: finger mounting

42: pressing protrusion 43: upper right ear pressing protrusion

44: left upper ear pressing protrusion 45: right lower pressing pressure protrusion

46: lower left input projection 47: reference projection

50: guide plate 51: panel

52: input through hole 53: position contact through hole

54: position alignment groove

70: frame 71: sliding through

72: lattice part

100: PDA 101: touch screen

102: position contact a1 to a16: input point

The input device for a mobile terminal according to the present invention for achieving the above object is provided with four input members, the upper and lower left side of the sliding panel including four input members provided at a predetermined position on the surface of the screen or input button By displacing in four directions of upper right and lower right, one of the four input members provided in the sliding panel is matched with four corresponding input points on the input button or the touch screen so that key values of the matched input points are inputted. x A method of inputting four types of characters or symbols is employed.

As a specific configuration of the input device for a portable terminal according to the present invention, a sliding panel including a predetermined shape panel 31 and a plurality of input members 33 disposed at predetermined intervals on a bottom surface of the panel 31. 30; Frame 70 is made of the same shape as the sliding panel 30, the sliding hole 71 having a larger inner diameter is provided with one or more; The frame 70 is mounted on a plurality of input points that form a screen output from a plurality of input buttons or the touch screen 101 configured in the mobile terminal 100, and the sliding panel 30 is Inserted into the sliding through 71 and the sliding displacement is characterized in that the key value of the corresponding input point is input by matching any one of the corresponding input button or the corresponding input point (a1 to a16) and any one of the input member 33 Has

The sliding panel 30 is formed in a quadrangular shape; The bottom surface of the sliding panel 30, further comprising a strut projection 32 protruding from the central portion surface, the input member 33 is one in each of the upper left ear, left lower ear, right upper ear and right lower ear. Deployed; The sliding panel 30 may include any one of the four input members 33 and the 16 input buttons or inputs according to four displacement methods of upper left, lower left, upper right and lower right in the sliding through hole 71. It is preferable that the key value of the corresponding input point matched with any one of the points a1 to a16 is input.

In addition, as the sliding panel 30 is displaced in order to protect the terminal screen from the problem caused by the displacement of the sliding panel or the contact with the input point, the strut protrusion 32 and the plurality of input members 33. And a position contact hole 53 and at least one input hole 52 through which a corresponding part surface penetrates to a predetermined size, and may include a guide plate 50 which closes the bottom surface of the sliding hole 71. .

One or more separation prevention jaws in which an upper surface of the frame 70 adjacent to the sliding through hole 71 extends in a predetermined shape toward the sliding through hole 71 to prevent separation of the sliding panel from the sliding through hole of the frame ( 73) is preferably provided, and the shape of the separation prevention jaw may be appropriately adopted in consideration of the size and shape of the sliding through hole and the sliding panel.

In addition, in order to properly fasten and dismantle the input device according to the present invention to the portable terminal, a fastening part for fastening with the portable terminal 100 may be provided at both ends of the frame 70.

On the other hand, the user is adjacent to the input member 33 for checking the displacement of the sliding panel and the corresponding input member of the sliding panel to the desired input point, and to prevent the input error due to the position alignment at the time of input. One or more recesses on which the tip is hooked and supported in a state in which the elastic member 34 having the tip provided on the part surface and the corresponding input member 33 of the sliding panel 30 coincide with the corresponding input point. An alignment groove 54 may be further provided.

In addition, the upper surface of the sliding panel 30, further comprising a finger holding member 40 having a finger mounting portion 41 on the groove having one or more pressing protrusions 42, the thumb is placed finger It is possible to allow the user to match the input member to a desired input point without pressing the vicinity of the input point through the distribution of the front, rear, left and right forces of the thumb mounted on the member.

The touch screen 101, one position contact 102 on the site surface corresponding to the strut projection 32 in the state in which the sliding panel 30 is displaced so that the corresponding input point and the input member 33 are matched And each of the post projections 32 and the position contact 102 make contact with each other, and only when one of the four input points of the corresponding sliding panel is matched on the desired input point. By inputting a key value of a desired corresponding input point, an error in input can be prevented.

The holding protrusions 32 protruding from the lower surface of the sliding panel 30 are made of a material such as silicon, so that the lower surface of the sliding panel touches the screen with the minimum area during movement, thereby minimizing sliding friction. When one of the four input members is pressed to act as a center point, the input member portion to which pressure is applied performs the downward movement, and the input member portion located in the opposite direction has the operating principle of performing the upward movement. Bar, safer input operation is possible, as well as has the effect of minimizing the input error. In addition, the strut projection allows the terminal to recognize the position data by matching the specific position contact on the screen so that the user can check the current position of the sliding panel according to the displacement of the sliding panel or prevent the error of the key value of the input point. Do it at the same time.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments presented are for illustrative purposes only and the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[First Embodiment]

1 is a conceptual diagram of an input device for a portable terminal according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the bottom surface of the sliding panel 30 of FIG.

1 and 2, 16 input points a1 to a16 form a screen output on a touch screen, and a sliding panel 30 having an area corresponding to 9 input points among the 16 input points is provided. It is provided.

Here, the sliding panel 30, the square panel 31 and the bottom surface of the panel 31, respectively, protruding in the direction of the upper left ear, the lower left ear, the upper right ear, the lower right ear corresponding to four of the input points, respectively. Four input members 33 are provided, and an elastic member 34 having a predetermined elastic restoring force is provided on the part surface adjacent to the input member 33, and the center portion of the bottom surface of the panel 31 is It has a structural feature that is provided with a strut projection 32 which protrudes downward larger than the input member 33. (See Fig. 2)

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, since all 16 input points a1 to a16 and the input member 33 coincide with the sliding panel 30 by a total of four displacement operations, the sliding panel 30 corresponds to an input key value to be input. By matching a specific input point to apply a predetermined pressing force to the upper surface of the input member 33 corresponding to this has the operating principle of inputting the corresponding data through the input point.

In this case, the sixteen input points a1 to a16 that form a screen output on the touch screen are displayed by input keys and / or function selection keys of ordinary letters, figures, symbols, numbers, and the like. 30) Pressing the function selection key or pressing a specific input key for a predetermined time, English uppercase letters, lowercase letters, Japanese hiragana, Japanese words, Korean phonetic letters, Korean vowel letters, numbers, figures, symbols, etc. The user can switch to the commonly used “character switching mode” and select and input the corresponding input characters, so that various characters can be input as 16 input points.

In this case, the input member may be implemented with a projection of the same material as the aforementioned touch pen, and implemented as a non-contact method such as a discharge device and / or magnetic using the electrical contact principle and / or the magnetic detection principle. It may be configured to be embedded in the predetermined portion surface or the inside of the sliding panel 30.

Accordingly, the portable terminal and the input member are configured of the same input / receive system to discharge a predetermined current when the discharge element or the magnetic and the corresponding input point intersect each other, or a predetermined magnetic force is formed in the form of a current through the magnetic. As a specific data is detected may be configured to be input.

Preferably, in implementing the sliding panel 30, a material having one or more functions from a translucent material, a translucent material, or a transparent material is selected, and the touch screen of the mobile terminal through the sliding panel 30. It is good to be able to identify and recognize the corresponding input key forming the screen output from.

Second Embodiment

3 is an exploded perspective view of the input module 1 according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A 'of the input module 1 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an input module 1 of FIG. 3. Is a state of use example seated on the mobile terminal 100, illustrating a configuration in which the above-described first embodiment is embodied and embodied in more detail.

3 to 5, the input module 1 including the sliding panel 30 can be used alone as in the first embodiment, and has the same size and shape as the outer diameter of the input module 1. Two fastening holes (not shown) having an inner diameter of 2 are provided, and thus the input module 1 can be used together with the frame 70 into which the input module 1 is inserted and fastened one by one (see FIG. 5).

Looking at the input module 1 in more detail with reference to Figure 3, it has the same configuration as the sliding panel 30 of the first embodiment, the finger mounting member 40 is configured in a diagonal direction on the upper surface center of the user The thumb is made to be easily mounted. (See Fig. 5)

More specifically, the finger holding member 40 is formed with a U-shaped groove, the finger mounting portion 41 having an end portion such as a thumb placed therein, and a pressing made of a plurality of protrusions on the surface of the finger mounting portion 41. The protrusion 42 is provided with a reference protrusion 47 protruding on the central portion surface, and pressing protrusions 43, 44, 45, 46 protruding from the front, rear, left and right sides of the reference protrusion 47, respectively. Bar, the pressing protrusion 43, the above-mentioned thumb and the like to press the pressing action of the input member 33 provided in each of the upper left, lower left, upper right and the lower right surface of the sliding panel 30, respectively. By selectively pressing 44, 45, 46, the corresponding input member 33 has a working principle of making a contact with a corresponding input key by downwardly moving the strut projection 32 as a centripetal point. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the input operation can be easily performed with only a small force and operation as described above.

On the other hand, having the same shape as the sliding panel 30, but having a larger inner diameter, the top plate 10 having a hollow 11 to be able to flow up, down, left and right of the sliding panel 30 is provided, As the upper edge 12 of the upper plate 10, a plurality of separation prevention jaw 13 extending laterally in a predetermined shape to achieve the separation prevention of the sliding panel 30 is configured, the sliding panel 30 is It has a fastening principle inserted into the hollow (11).

At this time, as the bottom surface of the upper plate 10 accommodating the sliding panel 30, the guide plate 50 having an area equal to or smaller than that of the upper plate 10 and larger than the sliding panel 30. ) Is provided. Here, in the panel 51 which substantially forms the guide plate 50, the strut protrusion 32 and the input member 33 when the sliding panel 30 flows inside the hollow 11. Even if the displacement is to the size that can be projected downward, the input portion 52 and the position contact hole 53 through which the central portion and the corresponding part surface corresponding to the input member 33 is formed, the sliding panel Position alignment grooves for recognizing the tip portion (not shown) of the elastic member 34, which is formed in the 30, is inserted by tactile sense that the input member 33 coincides with the input point of the touch screen 101 ( 54 has a configuration formed a plurality on the upper edge portion of the panel 51.

Therefore, it is understood that the input points forming the screen output through the touch screen 101 may be densely formed by four as shown in FIG. 3 according to the size of the hollow 11. It is also understood that the position contact 102, which is implemented as a predetermined pressure contact, that the alignment for performing substantial input is completed by abutting with the strut protrusion 32, is configured.

In more detail, the operation principle is to press the specific input point of the touch screen 101 by using the input module 1 in the state where the position alignment input signal is not detected through the position contact 102. Even if the mobile terminal 100 is set to not recognize this, there is an advantage that it is possible to prevent the input error in the position alignment is not properly made.

Here, in order to achieve the above-described effects by the position alignment signal is input through the input point 102, a user or the like is directly installed in the target portable terminal 100 to be used using a separate software, It can be loaded through the corresponding A / S center and the like, and when the portable terminal 100 is shipped, the above software is pre-stored and can be provided to the consumer.

Therefore, the present invention can be applied to the existing portable terminal and can be provided with the above-described functions at the time of factory shipment.

Here, the strut projection 32 and the input member 33 is preferably selected from materials constituting a normal touch pen, the shape that can prevent the damage of the surface of the portion in contact with the touch screen 101 Ideally selected and constructed from materials.

In this way, the input module 1 having the above-described configuration can be used as in the first embodiment described above, and inserted into a fastening hole (not shown) formed in the above-described frame 70 to use both hands. Since the input operation is possible, there is an advantage that a quick and accurate input operation is possible. In addition, since 16 input points are composed of two sets, there is an advantage in that it is easier to input various character information using a total of 32 input points, and the input members of the two sliding panels are assigned to each specific input point. Simultaneous input of a function key may be used to input various character information such as Korean-English conversion, Chinese and Japanese selection and input.

The above-exemplified devices may omit some configurations as the manufacturer intends, which will also be within the technical scope of the present invention.

Third Embodiment

6 is a perspective view showing another example of an input device for a portable terminal according to the present invention, in which the sliding panel 30 of the first embodiment described above and the frame 70 of the aforementioned second embodiment are borrowed. By having one structure, the same effect as the 2nd Example can be achieved only by the simplified structure.

In more detail, the grating portion 72 or the double grating portion (not shown) is formed on the side surface of the frame 70 so as to be clamped or gripped to grip a predetermined surface of the mobile terminal 100. It is made of a configuration that can be fixed to the portable terminal 100 by the fastening method of the. In addition, the frame 70 is provided with two sliding through-holes 71 having the same inner diameter as the hollow 11 mentioned in the above-described second embodiment, on the part surface forming the sliding through-holes 71. The above-mentioned separation preventing member 73 has a plurality formed configuration.

In the fastening method, the sliding panel 30 is inserted into the sliding through hole 71 to perform sliding displacement, but also to prevent the sliding panel 30 from being separated by the separation preventing member 73.

Therefore, as a simplified configuration, since the same operation and effect as the above-described second embodiment can be achieved, there is an advantage that it is possible to provide material saving and low manufacturing cost.

The above-described first to third embodiments can be variously modified.

That is, some or all of the specific configurations of the first to third embodiments may be mutually selectively configured, which will also be within the technical scope of the present invention.

As described above, if it is possible to use the input device for a mobile terminal according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and quickly input work by using both hands instead of the touch pen, and the sliding panel is maximized by one displacement operation. There is an effect capable of inputting four data continuously, and on the central portion of the upper surface of the sliding panel is provided with a finger holding member for mounting a projection or thumb of a predetermined shape, the displacement operation of the sliding panel and the corresponding There is an advantage that the pressing action of the input key can be made easily.

In addition, the user is provided with a separate software, such as a user directly installed in the portable terminal, or as the software is stored in the portable terminal at the time of shipment of the product, the specific part surface of the touch screen and the support projections make a position contact It is a very useful invention having the effect that the input of the corresponding data is made only when the input point is made by the target input point and the pressing action of the input member, etc., thereby preventing the input error.

Claims (8)

A sliding panel (30) having a predetermined shape of the panel (31) and a plurality of input members (33) disposed at predetermined intervals on the bottom surface of the panel (31); Frame 70 is formed in the same shape as the sliding panel 30, the sliding hole having a larger inner diameter than the sliding panel 30 is provided with one or more; The frame 70 is mounted on a plurality of input points that form a screen output from a plurality of input buttons or the touch screen 101 configured in the mobile terminal 100, and the sliding panel 30 is The key value of the corresponding input point is inputted by inserting and slidingly displaced into the sliding through hole 71 by matching any one of the desired input buttons or input points a1 to a16 to any one of the input members 33. Characterized in that the input device for a mobile terminal. The method of claim 1, The sliding panel 30 is formed in a quadrangular shape; The bottom surface of the sliding panel 30, further comprising a strut projection 32 protruding from the central portion surface, the input member 33 is one in each of the upper left ear, left lower ear, right upper ear and right lower ear. Deployed; The sliding panel 30 has the four input members 33 according to the four displacement methods of the upper left, lower left, upper right and lower right within the sliding through hole 71. The input device for a mobile terminal, characterized in that the key value of the corresponding input point is input by matching any one of the four input points at the position where the sliding panel 30 is displaced. The method of claim 1, As the sliding panel 30 is displaced, the position contact hole 53 and the one or more input holes 52 through which a portion surface corresponding to the strut protrusion 32 and the plurality of input members 33 penetrate to a predetermined size are provided. Is provided, the guide plate 50 for closing the bottom surface of the sliding through hole (71); One or more departure preventing projections 73 in which an upper surface of the frame 70 adjacent to the sliding through hole 71 extends in a predetermined shape toward the sliding through hole 71; Fastening parts for fastening with the portable terminal 100 at both ends of the frame 70; The input device for a portable terminal, characterized in that one or more is further provided from. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An elastic member (34) having a tip portion provided at a portion surface adjacent to the input member (33); One or more position alignment grooves 54 on one or more recesses in which the tip portion is supported by the corresponding input member 33 of the sliding panel 30 in correspondence with the corresponding input point; Input device for a portable terminal, characterized in that it further comprises. The method according to claim 1, wherein On the upper surface of the sliding panel 30, Input device for a portable terminal, characterized in that it further comprises a finger mounting member (40) having a finger mounting portion (41) on the groove formed with one or more pressing protrusions (42). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The touch screen 101, one position contact 102 on the site surface corresponding to the strut projection 32 in the state in which the sliding panel 30 is displaced so that the corresponding input point and the input member 33 are matched And each of the support projections (32) and the position contact (102) are contacted with each other so that a corresponding key value of a desired input point is input. The sliding panel 30 provided with four input members is displaced in four directions of upper left, lower left, upper right and lower right to move any one of the four input members provided on the sliding panel 30 onto an input button or a touch screen. And a key value of a matched input point in correspondence with four corresponding input points. The method of claim 7, wherein The sliding panel 30 is displaced so that the corresponding input point and any one of the four input members are coincident with each other, and the position contact 102 for confirming the position of the strut protrusion 32 and the sliding panel 30 is provided. A data input method of a terminal, characterized in that a corresponding key value of a desired input point is inputted only when a mutual contact is made.