KR20040000052A - Apparatus for inputting letters by sense key and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A device for inputting characters by a sense key and a method therefor are provided to input a key input signal in a key input mode, and to activate sense input units in a sense input mode, then to recognize a contact position of the sense input units as a contact signal, thereby inputting Korean alphabet by using fingers. CONSTITUTION: A key input unit(110) arrays many key input buttons in matrix type, generates a key input signal, and outputs the generated key input signal. Sense input units(120) have Y-line and X-line electrodes, located on a back side of the key input unit(110), and generate contact signals when the X-line and the Y-line electrodes are contacted by corresponding to pressure on a certain part of the key input unit(110). An MSM(130) inputs the key input signals to process the signals, activates the sense input units(120) in a sense input mode, and recognizes a contact position of the sense input units(120) as a contact signal.

Description

Character input device and method by sense key {APPARATUS FOR INPUTTING LETTERS BY SENSE KEY AND METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a character input device and method using a sense key, and more particularly, to a character input device and method using a sense key that can be applied when inputting a character in a portable terminal.

In general, current mobile phone users use not only communication using a simple call function but also communication using a text message transmission. Here, the text message refers to a short message service (SMS), which is a bidirectional data radio calling service according to the standard of the mobile communication globalization system (GSM), and is a service for transmitting data at a maximum speed of 150 bytes between the terminal and the terminal. . You can send and receive messages consisting of letters and numbers between the terminal or the network. Service types include short message transmission, emergency message display, date / time recording, and message recognition.

However, in a conventional portable terminal, a PDA uses an electronic pen to always input a character, and therefore, it must always be carried. In a mobile phone, there is a problem in that a user presses a button of a keypad several times.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems is to provide a character input device and method by the sense key to provide a user convenience by inputting the Hangul in the manner of writing a character using a finger on a conventional keypad, the object thereof There is this.

1 is a block diagram showing a character input device using a sense key according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method using a sense key according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

110: key input unit 120: sense input unit

130: MSM

In order to achieve the above object, a character input device using a sense key of the present invention includes: a key input unit in which a plurality of key input buttons are arranged in an M × N matrix form, and generating and outputting a key input signal according to an external input; Sense that has N Y line electrodes and M X line electrodes and is located on the back of the key input unit so that corresponding X and Y line electrodes are contacted by a pressure applied to a specific portion of the key input unit to generate a contact signal. An input unit; And a controller configured to receive and process the key input signal in a key input mode, activate the sense input unit in a sense input mode, and recognize a contact position of the sense input unit as a touch signal.

In addition, in order to achieve the above object, the character input method using the sense key of the present invention comprises the steps of: determining a method of the Hangul input mode; If determined as a sense input mode, waiting for a sense input; Determining whether new characters are input in the sense input; When it is determined that a new character is input, the letter being input by the touch of a finger is recognized and input as a part of the new character; And determining whether there are no more characters to input next, and ending the process if there are no more characters to enter, and if there are additional characters to enter, returning to determining whether new characters are entered. Steps.

Hereinafter, the most preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the technical idea of the present invention. .

First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a character input apparatus using a sense key according to an embodiment of the present invention. The character input apparatus using the sense key according to the present invention includes a key input unit 110 and a sense input unit 120. And a controller 130.

The key input unit 110 has a plurality of key input buttons arranged in an M × N matrix form, and generates and outputs a key input signal according to a user's button input. The key input unit 110 may have an M value of 3 and an N value of 3 according to an example of a general mobile phone.

In addition, the sense input unit 120 has N Y line electrodes and M X line electrodes and is located on the back of the key input unit 110 to correspond to a pressure applied to a specific portion of the key input unit 110. The X and Y line electrodes are in contact with each other to generate a contact signal, and input the contact signal to the controller 130 to be described later. Here, the sense input unit 120 includes a first base 121, N Y line electrodes 122, a second base 123, M X line electrodes 124, and an insulation unit 125. .

The first base 121 mounted in the sense input unit 120 is implemented to contact the rear surface of the key input unit 110. Here, the first base 121 is interviewed with a first connection terminal unit (not shown) integrally formed with N Y line electrodes 122 to be described later and one end of M X line electrodes 124 to be described later. A second connecting terminal portion (not shown) is formed.

In addition, the N Y line electrodes 122 mounted in the sense input unit 120 are formed in a printing form on the sheet of the first base.

On the other hand, the second base 123 mounted in the sense input unit 120 has an upper surface facing the rear surface of the first base 121.

In addition, the M X-line electrodes 124 mounted in the sense input unit 120 are formed in a printing form on the upper surface of the sheet of the second base 123.

Meanwhile, the insulating means 125 mounted in the sense input unit 120 may include the first base 121 and the X line electrodes 122 and the X line electrodes 124 at predetermined intervals. Located between the second base 123.

In addition, the controller 130 receives and processes the key input signal in a key input mode, and activates the N Y line electrodes 122 and the M X line electrodes 124 in a sense input mode. The contact position of the N Y line electrodes 122 and the M X line electrodes 124 is recognized as a contact signal.

Referring to the operation of the character input device by the sense key of the present invention described above is as follows.

In the sense input mode, the N, Y line electrodes 122 and the M, X line electrodes 124 are rubbed as if writing the buttons 1, 2, 5, 8 and 1, 4, 7, 5 with a finger. ), The corresponding electrode is activated to input the letter 'ga' to the controller 130. Here, the order recognized as input is consonant-> (double consonant)-> vowel-> (double vowel)-> (supported consonant)-> (supported double consonant), to indicate that the input of one character is finished One of the buttons on the keypad that is not used for inputting the sense can be displayed.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method using a sense key according to an embodiment of the present invention, which will be described below.

First, the method of the Hangul input mode is determined (S201).

In the determination of the Korean input mode, when it is determined as the sense input mode S, the controller 130 is activated to wait for the input of the sense input unit 120 (S202).

Next, it is determined whether new characters are input in the sense input (S203). This determination can be made by using a button operation except for a sense input key among the buttons of the terminal keypad.

When it is determined that a new character is input, the letter which is input by the touch of a finger is recognized as a part of the new character and is input to the controller 130 (S205). When it is determined that a new character is not input, the finger The letter that is input by the touch of is recognized as the letter that is connected to the previous input character and is input to the controller 130 (S204). Here, the input method of the letter is 'a' can be input by rubbing the 1, 2, 5, 8 button, 'b' is the method of rubbing the 1, 4, 7, 8 button Can be entered. In addition, the case of 'ㅅ' may be input by rubbing the buttons 2, 7, 9, and the case of 'ㅇ' may be input by rubbing the 2, 4, 8, 6. In other alphabets, the Korean alphabet can be input by rubbing the buttons on the keypad according to the shape of the Korean alphabet.

Next, it is determined whether there are no more characters to input, and the process is terminated when there are no more characters to enter. If there are additional characters to be input, the process returns to the step of determining whether new characters are to be input. (S206).

If it is determined in the general input mode (G) that the Hangul input mode is determined, the character is input by the general key input method of the cellular phone (S207).

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is not limited to the drawings shown.

In the present invention, in the PDA, since the electronic pen is used, it must be carried at all times, and in the mobile phone, in order to solve the problem of inputting by pressing the button of the keypad several times, it is necessary to input through the keypad as if writing in Korean. By making it possible, any user who can write Korean has an advantage of allowing the user to easily input characters.

Claims (7)

A plurality of key input buttons arranged in an M × N matrix form and configured to generate and output a key input signal according to an external input; Sense that has N Y line electrodes and M X line electrodes and is located on the back of the key input unit so that corresponding X and Y line electrodes are contacted by a pressure applied to a specific portion of the key input unit to generate a contact signal. An input unit; And A control unit which receives and processes the key input signal in a key input mode, activates the sense input unit in a sense input mode, and recognizes a contact position of the sense input unit as a touch signal Character input device by the sense key, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 1, M is 3 and N is 3 Character input device using a sense key, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, wherein the sense input unit, A first base in contact with a rear surface of the key input unit; N Y-line electrodes formed on the sheet of the first base; A second base having an upper surface opposite the rear surface of the first base; M X-line electrodes formed on the upper surface of the sheet of the second base; And Insulating means located between the first base and the second base such that the Y-line electrodes and the X-line electrodes maintain a predetermined distance. Including, The first base is provided with a first connection terminal portion integrally formed with the N Y line electrodes and a second connection terminal portion interviewed with one end of the M X line electrodes, respectively. Character input device using a sense key, characterized in that. Determining a method of the Hangul input mode; If determined as a sense input mode, waiting for a sense input; Determining whether new characters are input in the sense input; When it is determined that a new character is input, the letter being input by the touch of a finger is recognized and input as a part of the new character; And The process returns to the step of judging whether there are no more characters to input next, and ending the process if there are no more characters to input, and determining whether new characters are to be input if there are additional characters to input. Character input method by the sense key, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 4, wherein In determining the method of the Korean input mode, if it is determined that the general input mode, the step of inputting characters by the general key input method of the mobile phone Character input method by the sense key, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 4, wherein If it is determined that a new letter is not input, the letter that is input by the touch of a finger is recognized as the letter that is connected to the previous input letter and is inputted. Character input method by the sense key, characterized in that it comprises a. The method according to claim 4 or 6, The method of inputting the alphabet by the touch of a finger is to rub a plurality of buttons on the keypad according to the shape of the Hangul. Character input method using a sense key, characterized in that.