KR20090021008A - Electronic apparatus and method for inputting character in electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device and a character input method are provided to prevent limit of the function of printing of LCD by separating a touch pad and an LCD. An electronic device comprises an input unit, a controller and an output unit. Command from user is input to the input unit. According to one selection among a key input mode and a writing input mode, the controller(30) recognizes the input signal generated in the input unit as a key input signal or a writing input signal. The output unit(40) outputs command execution result of the controller about the input of a user. The input unit includes a touch pad(10) and a backside plate.

Description

Electronic apparatus and method for inputting character in electronic apparatus}

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly, to an electronic device having a keyboard capable of handwriting input and a character input method using the same.

Recently, electronic devices supporting handwriting input have increased for convenient character input in various electronic devices. The handwriting input includes a touch pad in an electronic device, and when a predetermined area of the touch pad is touched and input by a stylus pen or a finger, a function corresponding to the area is executed, and the user directly writes a character directly on the touch pad. When inputting, the system recognizes this and detects which character is input.

However, the electronic device supporting the writing input according to the related art is a method in which a touch pad is attached to an LCD and provided as one input / output device, or two LCDs are provided and one of them serves as an output device. The other one was provided with a touch pad to perform a role as an input device.

According to the former method, since an output area for displaying content displayed on a general output device is displayed on one LCD, an input area such as a plurality of input keys for receiving touch input or a predetermined area for handwriting input must be displayed together. The disadvantage was the limited space.

And the damage of LCD is caused by continuous touch operation.

On the other hand, according to the latter method, one LCD performs only an output operation, and one LCD is convenient to perform an operation of displaying the shape of an input key to be input by a touch pad or an area to be input by hand, but two LCDs are provided. Since it must be increased manufacturing costs, it was difficult to achieve miniaturization and light weight of the electronic device.

That is, according to the electronic device according to the prior art, the output function of the LCD is excessively limited or damage to the LCD is caused, or the manufacturing cost of the electronic device is high and the size and weight of the electronic device cannot be achieved, resulting in inconvenience in use and uneconomical. there was.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device and a character input method for preventing the output function of the LCD is limited by the touch pad and the LCD is configured separately. will be.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device and a text input method that can reduce the manufacturing cost, achieve miniaturization and light weight by separately configuring a touch pad and an LCD, but not having a separate LCD.

According to a feature of the present invention for achieving the above object, the present invention includes an input unit for receiving a command from a user; A controller for recognizing an input signal generated by the input unit as a key input signal or a handwriting input signal according to selection of a key input mode or a handwriting input mode; And an output unit configured to output a command execution result of the controller with respect to a user input, wherein the input unit comprises: a touch pad; It includes a rear plate for supporting the touch pad on the bottom of the touch pad.

In addition, a keyboard keyboard may be printed on the touch pad or the rear plate.

In addition, the touch pad may include one or more handwriting recognition areas allocated for handwriting recognition.

When two or more handwriting recognition areas are provided, the controller may recognize a character from a handwriting input signal generated in one handwriting recognition area and activate a handwriting input of another handwriting recognition area to receive a handwriting input signal. .

The output unit may display one or more handwriting output areas allocated for outputting handwriting input contents generated in the handwriting recognition area in the handwriting input mode.

The controller distinguishes each handwriting recognition area according to the selection of the handwriting recognition area using mode, and receives only one handwriting recognition unit in one handwriting recognition area to recognize a character or without distinguishing each handwriting recognition area. Characters may be recognized by receiving a plurality of handwriting recognition units.

In the handwriting input mode, the controller may recognize a key of a part of the keyboard keyboard printed on an area other than the handwriting recognition area of the touch pad as a function key.

On the other hand, the present invention, the input unit comprising a touch panel having a handwriting recognition area and the back plate for supporting the touch panel, an output unit and a method for inputting characters to an electronic device including a controller, (a) Sensing a touch input of the input unit; (B) when the input mode is a key input mode, recognizing the touch input as a key input and executing a corresponding operation of a key printed on the touch panel or the rear plate at a position where the touch input is detected; (C) if the input mode is a handwriting input mode, recognizing the touch input as a handwriting input, outputting the handwritten input characters to a predetermined area in an output form as input form, and comparing and decoding the memory information with memory information; (D) recognizing that a character is input according to the decryption result of step (c) and executing the operation.

In this case, the text input method may include: (ㅁ) determining whether the touch input is detected in the handwriting recognition area; (Iii) If it is determined that the touch input is detected by a touch pad corresponding to an area other than the handwriting recognition area, the touch input is recognized as a key input, and the touch input is detected. And performing a corresponding operation of a key printed on the touch pad or the rear plate at a position.

And the character input method, (g) in the handwriting input mode, a part of the area other than the handwriting recognition area is given a function different from the function of the key printed on the touch pad or the back plate, and outputs the function of the key It may be performed further comprising the step of displaying.

Meanwhile, the present invention provides a method for inputting a character into an electronic device including an input unit configured to include a touch panel on which a handwriting recognition area is formed and a back plate supporting the touch panel, an output unit, and a controller. Selecting a handwriting input mode; (B) selecting one of Korean mode and English mode; (C) when the Hangul mode is selected in step (b), distinguishing each handwriting recognition area, recognizing that only one handwriting recognition unit is input in one handwriting recognition area, and comparing and decoding the memory information with memory information; (D) if the English mode is selected in step (b), recognizing that a plurality of handwriting recognition units are input without distinguishing each handwriting recognition area, and comparing and decoding the information with memory information; (E) recognizing that the character according to the result of the comparative decoding in the step (c) or (d) is inputted, and performing the operation.

In the electronic device and the character input method according to the present invention as described in detail above, the following effects can be expected.

In other words, since the touch pad and the LCD are separated, the output function of the LCD can be prevented from being limited.

In addition, in the electronic device and the character input method according to the present invention, the touch pad and the LCD are separately configured, but there is an advantage that the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the size and weight can be reduced by not having a separate LCD.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings a specific embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention as described above will be described in detail.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is an exemplary view showing an example of the output unit and the touch pad of the electronic device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a specific embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention, the touch pad 10 is provided as an input means.

In this case, the electronic device may be a portable computer, an electronic dictionary, a game machine, or the like.

The touch pad 10 is the same as a touch pad generally used by a contact capacitive type, a pressure resistive film type, an infrared sensing type, an ultrasonic type, or the like.

A bottom plate (not shown) is provided on the bottom of the touch pad 10.

An upper surface of the rear plate is provided to contact the bottom surface of the touch pad 10 to support the touch pad 10.

A keyboard keyboard may be printed on the touch pad 10 or the rear plate. This is to indicate what function is allocated to each area of the touch pad 10 because an image device such as an LCD is not provided at the bottom of the touch pad 10 unlike the general case.

The touch pad 10 may perform a function such as the content of a key printed in a corresponding area according to the selection of an input mode, or a touch input of a user's handwriting type in a specific area regardless of the content of the printed key. The recognized character may be recognized as input.

That is, the input mode of the touch pad 10 is divided into a key input mode and a handwriting input mode, and a text input method using the touch pad 10 varies according to each mode selection.

To this end, the touch pad 10 is printed with not only a keyboard keyboard but also a mark for distinguishing the writing recognition area 20. This can be confirmed with reference to FIG. 2, which shows an example of a touch pad of an electronic device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the touch pad 10 having a keyboard keyboard printed thereon is printed with a border shape for dividing a specific area (diagonally processed portion), which indicates the writing recognition area 20.

The handwriting recognition area 20 is a predetermined area of the touch pad 10 for receiving a user's handwriting input. In the handwriting input mode, the user can manually write Korean, English, Chinese characters, etc. on the handwriting recognition area 20. You will enter a character.

Two handwriting recognition areas 20 may be provided in a quadrangular shape as shown, but the shape and number of the handwriting recognition areas 20 may be differently designed as necessary. In addition, the entire touch pad 10 may be the writing recognition area 20.

On the other hand, in the electronic device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the coordinate information generated by the touch input from the touch pad 10 is received, the coordinate information according to the input mode divided into the key input mode and the handwriting input mode The controller 30 is provided to perform an operation by processing differently.

The controller 30 continuously receives and processes coordinate information of a touch input generated on the touch pad 10.

First, in the key input mode, when the touch input occurs, the controller 30 compares the input coordinate information with the key region information stored in the memory to determine which area among the various printed key regions.

Then, the function (the same function as the printed information) in the key input mode of the corresponding key area is performed.

In the handwriting input mode, the controller 30 accumulates and stores coordinate information input when a touch input occurs, and compares the stored coordinate information with the character pattern information stored in the memory until the touch input is interrupted. Determine which character is entered.

At this time, the controller 30 compares coordinate information with the character pattern information and recognizes a character as in the general character recognition method.

On the other hand, in a specific embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device includes an output unit 40 as an output means. The output unit 40 is an image output means, and is provided as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other general display means.

The output unit 40 is provided separately from the touch pad 10. That is, in the present invention, as in the general case, the touch pad is installed on the LCD so that the input / output device is not provided as one, but the input device and the output device are separated.

The output unit 40 outputs various information according to the performance of the system operation.

In particular, the handwriting output area 50 is allocated to the output unit 40 in the handwriting input mode. The writing output area 50 is a screen area corresponding to a part of the output part 40 and is not allocated in the key input mode.

The handwriting output area 50 is formed in a shape and number corresponding to the handwriting recognition area 20 as shown in FIG. 2.

First, if the user is performing a handwriting input on the handwriting recognition area 20, the handwriting input area 50 outputs the user's handwriting input contents in the input form as it is. This is done by accumulating touched coordinates and displaying the user's input.

Therefore, when a user inputs a text into the handwriting recognition area 20, the user may refer to the content displayed on the handwriting output area 50, thereby increasing the accuracy of the user's text input.

In addition, in the handwriting input mode, the output unit 40 may further display additional information in addition to the handwriting output area 50.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, in the handwriting input mode, various key areas printed on other areas not corresponding to the handwriting recognition area 20 of the touch pad 10 are allocated in the key input mode. If a function and another function (a function different from the printed content) are assigned, the function of the corresponding key can be displayed.

For example, in FIG. 2, in the handwriting input mode, a 'correction' function may be assigned to the 'L' key.

On the other hand, as the usage mode of the handwriting recognition area 20 is set differently, the handwriting output area 50 may be displayed differently.

The system may be designed to allow the user to set different modes of use of the handwriting recognition area 20. In this case, only a part of the handwriting recognition area 20, which is provided with two or more, may be used as the handwriting recognition area 20. Selects a use mode of the handwriting recognition area 20, such as using a combination of the two handwriting recognition areas 20 as if they are one area, or adjusting the size of the handwriting recognition area 20. It can also be used.

In this case, the handwriting output area 50 corresponds to a user's use mode of the handwriting recognition area 20, and displays only a part of the handwriting output area 50 or the two handwriting output areas (divided into two). 50 may be displayed as one area, or may be displayed by adjusting the size of the writing output area 50.

Alternatively, the system may be designed to automatically convert the above-described usage modes according to system operation.

For example, when the character input in the handwriting input mode is English, that is, in the English mode, the alphabet is simpler in shape than Korean, and the character recognition technology for English is developed, so that it is easily recognized even if entered in units of words. Therefore, when two or more of the handwriting recognition areas 20 are recognized as one handwriting recognition area 20 and a letter is input in units of words, the handwriting output area 50 is also displayed in one area so that the letters are represented in units of words. You can output it.

In this case, the controller 30 recognizes the plurality of handwriting recognition areas 20 as one handwriting recognition area 20, and reports that the plurality of handwriting recognition units are input together in the handwriting recognition area 20. The handwriting input input to one handwriting recognition area 20 is classified for each handwriting recognition unit, and is compared with the character pattern information stored in the memory.

In this case, the handwriting recognition unit may be an alphabet unit in the case of English, or may be a letter unit in the case of inputting Korean, or may be one unit each of the initial, neutral, and finality. In Japanese, hiragana or katakana units, and in the case of Chinese characters, each of the letter units may be handwriting recognition units, which can be set in various ways according to the system.

For example, if English is input in one handwriting recognition area 20 in units of words, the controller 30 classifies them in alphabetical units and compares and deciphers them with character pattern information stored in a memory.

On the other hand, when the Korean language is input in the handwriting input mode, the shape of the Korean language is more complicated than that of English. Therefore, when the Korean language is inputted in units of words, it is more difficult to recognize the system in English than the English language. Recognizing 20 separately and inputting text in syllable units or in initial / neutral / final units, the handwriting output area 50 is also displayed in a plurality of areas to display text in syllable or initial / neutral / terminological units. You can output it.

At this time, the controller 30 distinguishes each handwriting recognition area 20 and recognizes it, and only one handwriting recognition unit is input to one handwriting recognition area 20, and compares it with the character pattern information stored in the memory. do.

This may be applied in consideration of each language characteristic in other foreign language modes besides English mode or Korean mode.

The operation of the electronic device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

First, among the plurality of keys printed on the touch pad 10, a mode selection key for converting the key input mode and the handwriting input mode is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the positions of 5 rows and 4 columns of the keyboard are provided. This can be the 'handwriting' key in.

For example, when the electronic device is an electronic dictionary, when the dictionary function is selected, the electronic device is initially set to the key input mode, and the user may enter the handwriting input mode only when the user inputs the 'handwriting input' key. have. Alternatively, the input mode may be set in the reverse order of priority.

When a word is input in the key input mode, when the coordinate information input to the controller 30 is compared with the key area information, it is determined that the coordinate information corresponds to the 's' key area. 30 outputs the alphabet 's' to the region where the input of the output unit 40 is activated.

If the electronic device is an electronic dictionary and is currently searching for an English word, the electronic device may perform an operation of sequentially outputting the first word of the alphabet 's' category of the English dictionary to the bottom.

Meanwhile, the user's touch input is continuously generated, and the coordinate information input to the controller 30 sequentially corresponds to the 's', 'p', 'e', 'a', and 'k' key areas. If it is determined that the coordinate information, the controller 30 sequentially outputs the alphabet 's', 'p', 'e', 'a', 'k' in the region where the input of the output unit 40 is activated. do.

In the alphabet 's' category of the English dictionary, the English words consisting of the alphabets 's', 'p', 'e', 'a', and 'k' are sequentially searched from the beginning. Perform an operation to output to.

On the other hand, when the user enters the writing input mode by touching the 'writing input' key, the controller 30 detects this and displays the writing output area 50 on the output unit 40. .

In this case, as described above, a function allocated to some of the keys existing in the area of the touch pad 10 that does not correspond to the handwriting recognition area 20 may be displayed together.

When a user writes a character in the handwriting recognition area 20, coordinate information generated by a touch input is transmitted to the controller 30, and the controller 30 inputs the text and the handwriting output area 50. It accumulates in the corresponding area in the display.

In addition, the controller 30 accumulates and stores input coordinate information.

Then, according to the setting of the system, when the user's handwriting input is stopped and the set time has elapsed, or when the user touches the 'I' key, the controller 30 uses the accumulated coordinate information. Characters are recognized by comparison with the character pattern information stored in the memory.

For example, when the user sequentially inputs 's', 'p', 'e', 'a', and 'k' into the handwriting recognition area 20, the controller 30 writes the handwriting. The text input status is displayed in the output area 50 as it is, and the recognized text is sequentially displayed in the area where the text input is activated.

Accordingly, an English word consisting of the letters 's', 'p', 'e', 'a', and 'k' is searched for and output to the bottom in alphabetical order.

In this case, alphabets may be input to each of the handwriting recognition areas 20 according to the usage mode of the handwriting recognition area 20. That is, 's' may be input in the left region of the two handwriting recognition regions 20 shown in FIG. 2, and 'p' may be input in the right region during the time that the character recognition process is in progress in the left region. After the 's' input to the region is recognized and 's' is displayed in the activated region, 'e' may be input in the left region and 'a' in the right region. After 'e' is recognized again, the word 'speak' can be searched by entering 'k' in the left area.

That is, when two or more handwriting recognition areas are provided in the handwriting input mode, the controller 30 recognizes a handwriting input generated in one handwriting recognition area 20 and simultaneously writes another handwriting recognition area 20. By activating the input and receiving the writing input signal, the character recognition and the input are simultaneously performed in the plurality of handwriting recognition areas 20, thereby reducing the character recognition time.

At this time, in recognizing each alphabet, the controller 30 may automatically perform a character recognition operation after a set time elapses after each alphabet input operation according to a system setting, or as described above after the character input. The controller 30 may perform the character recognition operation only when the touch input of the I 'key region is accompanied.

In addition, in the use mode different from that described above, if the two handwriting recognition areas 20 are recognized as one area, and 'speak' is input in word units over the two areas, the handwriting output area 50 also has one. It can be displayed in the area of. The controller 30 searches for the English word 'speak' through a process of recognizing a character by classifying the handwriting input input in a word unit in an alphabet unit.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a specific embodiment of the character input method of the electronic device according to the present invention as described above, another embodiment, and another embodiment will be described in detail.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method of an electronic device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention in stages.

As shown in FIG. 3, the text input method of the electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention begins with the step S100 of waiting for a user's touch input.

In addition, the touch pad 10 monitors whether a user's touch input is generated (S110), and when a touch input is detected, a coordinate of a point at which the touch input is generated is detected and received by the controller 30 (S120).

However, if the touch input of the user is not detected in step 110, the system continuously waits for input.

On the other hand, when the coordinates of the touch input point is detected, when the controller 30 receives it, the controller 30 determines the input mode of the system (S130).

As a result of determination, when it is determined that the input mode is the key input mode, the corresponding key area of the detected touch input is compared with the key area information stored in the memory, and then recognized. The operation corresponding to the function in the mode is performed (S140).

When the execution of the operation is completed, the process returns to the input standby state (S100).

On the other hand, if it is determined in operation 130 that the input mode of the system is set to the handwriting input mode, the coordinates of the touch input point are accumulated and stored, and the touch input of the user is kept as it is. Output to (S150).

At this time, even if the user's touch input is not completed, the shape of the character that is continuously input is displayed in the writing output area 50 in real time.

When the user's touch input is completed, a process of decrypting which character is input is performed by comparing the accumulated coordinate information with the character pattern information stored in the memory (S160).

When the character decoding process is completed in step 160, the system operation when such a character is input is performed (S170), and waits again for a user's touch input (S100).

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4, the character input method of the electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention begins with the step S200 in which the handwriting input mode is selected by a user.

When the handwriting input mode is selected, the handwriting output area 50 is displayed on the output unit 40 (S210). In addition, when a separate function in the handwriting input mode is assigned to some of the printed keys that do not correspond to the handwriting recognition area 20, the output unit 40 may display these functions together. S220).

On the other hand, waiting for a user's input in the handwriting input mode (S230) is performed. In operation S240, the controller may monitor whether a user's touch input is generated in the input standby step.

If it is detected in step 240 that the user's touch input is generated, the controller 30 detects the coordinates of the touch input point (S250).

As a result of the coordinate detection in operation 250, when it is determined that the touch input is generated in the writing recognition area (S260), an image corresponding to the touch input is displayed on the writing output area 50 in real time (S270).

In operation S280, a process of recognizing a character is performed by comparing the coordinate information detected in operation 250 with the character pattern information stored in a memory.

The controller 30 performs the operation of the system according to the character recognition result through the above process (S290).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 260 that the touch input is made outside the writing recognition area 20, the controller 30 executes a function of executing the function in the writing input mode of the corresponding key area where the touch input has occurred. Perform (S300).

In this case, the function of each key area that does not correspond to the handwriting recognition area 20 in the handwriting input mode may be the same as the function in the key input mode or may be different from the function in the key input mode as described above. If the function in the handwriting input mode of the specific key area is different from the function in the key input mode, it may be displayed on the output unit 40 in step 220.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 5, the character input method of the electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention, starts from the step (S400) in which the handwriting input mode is selected.

In addition, the controller 30 determines the language mode set in the system (S410). In this case, the language mode will be described with an example of including only the Korean mode and the English mode.

However, the language mode may be configured to include various languages, such as Japanese, Chinese, and Chinese, in addition to Korean and English, and may be applied to each language characteristic described below.

First, when it is determined in step 410 that the system language mode is the English mode, the controller 30 displays only one writing output area 50 on the output unit 40 (S420).

When the touch input is generated in the handwriting recognition area (S440), and the touch input occurs in the handwriting recognition area (S450), the controller 30 detects coordinates of the touch input point. In operation S460, an image corresponding to the touch input is displayed in real time in the one writing output area 50 in operation S470.

The controller 30 recognizes touch inputs generated over the plurality of handwriting recognition areas as touch inputs generated in one area, and divides them into character recognition units and compares them with character pattern information stored in a memory. (S480).

If the character is recognized in step 480, the system performs an operation according to the recognized result (S520).

 On the other hand, if it is determined in step 410 that the language mode of the system is the Hangul mode, the output unit 40 writes the handwriting output area by the number corresponding to the plurality of handwriting recognition areas 20 of the touch pad 10. The display is divided (S430).

As in the case of the English mode, waiting for touch input to the plurality of handwriting recognition areas 20 (S440) and detecting whether a touch input occurs (S450) and detecting coordinates of the touch input point S460 is performed.

The coordinate information detected in step 460 is transmitted to the controller 30, and the controller 30 outputs an image corresponding to a user's touch input to each of the handwriting recognition areas 20 for the handwriting output area 50. ) Are displayed separately in the divided and displayed area (S500).

Then, for each coordinate information input to each of the handwriting recognition areas 20, a comparison and decoding operation with the character pattern information of the memory is separately performed (S510).

Subsequently, the controller 30 performs a system operation according to the character decryption result (S520).

The rights of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above, but are defined by the claims, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the claims. It is self-evident.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an exemplary view showing an example of an output unit and a touch pad of the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a step-by-step method of inputting a character of an electronic device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a step-by-step method of inputting a character of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method of an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention in stages.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

10: touch pad 20: handwriting recognition area

30: controller 40: output unit

50: handwriting output area

Claims (11)

An input unit for receiving a command from a user; A controller for recognizing an input signal generated by the input unit as a key input signal or a handwriting input signal according to selection of a key input mode or a handwriting input mode; It consists of an output that outputs the result of the controller's command execution on the user's input: The input unit, A touch pad; And a rear plate supporting the touch pad at a bottom of the touch pad. The method of claim 1, The touch pad or the back plate, Electronic keyboard characterized in that the keyboard keyboard is printed. The method of claim 2, The touch pad, And at least one handwriting recognition area allocated for handwriting recognition. The method of claim 3, wherein Two or more handwriting recognition areas; The controller, An electronic device, characterized by receiving a writing input signal by recognizing a character from a writing input signal generated in one writing recognition area and activating the writing input of another writing recognition area. The method of claim 3, wherein In the output unit, In the handwriting input mode, at least one handwriting output area allocated for outputting handwriting input content generated in the handwriting recognition area is displayed. The method of claim 4, wherein The controller, Depending on the handwriting recognition mode selection mode, By distinguishing each handwriting recognition area, one handwriting recognition area recognizes letters by inputting only one handwriting recognition unit, or recognizes letters by receiving a plurality of handwriting recognition units without distinguishing each handwriting recognition area. Electronic equipment. The method of claim 4, wherein The controller, And in a handwriting input mode, a key of a part of the keyboard keyboard printed on an area other than the handwriting recognition area of the touch pad is recognized as a function key. In the method of inputting characters to an electronic device including a touch panel having a handwriting recognition area and a back plate supporting the touch panel, an output unit and a controller, (A) detecting a touch input of the input unit; (B) when the input mode is a key input mode, recognizing the touch input as a key input and executing a corresponding operation of a key printed on the touch panel or the rear plate at a position where the touch input is detected; (C) if the input mode is a handwriting input mode, recognizing the touch input as a handwriting input, outputting the handwritten input characters to a predetermined area in an output form as input form, and comparing and decoding the memory information with memory information; (D) a character input method of an electronic device, comprising the step of recognizing that the character according to the decryption result of step (c) is input and executing a corresponding operation. The method of claim 8, The character input method, (ㅁ) determining whether the touch input is detected in the handwriting recognition area; (Iii) If it is determined that the touch input is detected by a touch pad corresponding to an area other than the handwriting recognition area, the touch input is recognized as a key input and the touch input is detected. And executing a corresponding operation of a key printed on the touch pad or the rear plate at a position. The method of claim 9, The character input method, (G) In a handwriting input mode, a part of an area other than the handwriting recognition area is given a function different from that of a key printed on the touch pad or the back plate, and further comprising displaying the function of the key on an output unit. Character input method of an electronic device, characterized in that performed by. In the method of inputting characters to an electronic device including a touch panel having a handwriting recognition area and a back plate supporting the touch panel, an output unit and a controller, (A) selecting a handwriting input mode; (B) selecting one of Korean mode and English mode; (C) when the Hangul mode is selected in step (b), distinguishing each handwriting recognition area, recognizing that only one handwriting recognition unit is input in one handwriting recognition area, and comparing and decoding the memory information with memory information; (D) if the English mode is selected in step (b), recognizing that a plurality of handwriting recognition units are input without distinguishing each handwriting recognition area, and comparing and decoding the information with memory information; And (e) recognizing that the character according to the result of the comparative decoding in the step (c) or (d) is input and executing the corresponding operation.

Images