RU2451981C2 - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: information technology.

SUBSTANCE: input device has: a base with an input area; one or more touch-sensitive sections on the input area for detecting touching of the input zone or contact movement thereon; a control unit for retrieving data corresponding to any input operation from memory and inputting the retrieved data depending on the position or direction of movement of the contact spot detected by the touch-sensitive section relative a reference section lying on the input area.

EFFECT: possibility of accommodating the entire desired set of input symbols on a minimum area, which is needed for miniaturisation purposes, and which also allows input of each of said symbols with a single manoeuvre.

24 cl, 37 dwg

Description

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an input device, and in particular, to such an input device that allows the entire desired set of input characters to be placed on a minimum area, which is required for miniaturization, while allowing each of these characters to be input in one go.

State of the art

With the development of software, semiconductor technologies, and information processing technologies, information equipment is being miniaturized, while the range of characters introduced into such information equipment is growing and is increasingly in demand.

However, the input of various symbols and commands into such information equipment entails many problems. For example, an input device, in particular a keyboard that is used for personal or laptop computers, cannot be infinitely reduced in size. That is, the input device makes it difficult to miniaturize information equipment. Also, in the case of an input device like a touch screen used in personal digital organizers (PDAs) or a keyboard input device like in mobile phones, the user is faced with the inconvenience of a low input speed and a high probability of error.

In order to accelerate the input of symbols, numbers and other signs into information equipment, such as personal computers, laptops, PDAs, mobile phones and other devices, it is necessary to implement the so-called principle of inputting one phoneme (symbol) at a time. If this principle is respected in relation to the Korean national Hangul alphabet, information equipment should be equipped with buttons or keys for entering more than 24 characters. If you enter characters in the Japanese alphabet or another foreign language in the input device, you may need more buttons or enter keys than for the Hangul alphabet.

However, since the traditional input device used in one or another information equipment implements an input principle such that a specific character is assigned to each input key, and it will be difficult to fit the user’s key to touch or press the user's finger on a personal portable information terminal more than 24 finger-sized input keys each, for example, on a mobile phone, where the area reserved for the input keys is small.

For this reason, it has still been difficult to miniaturize the keyboard. In the case of a mobile phone, since more than 24 Hangul characters must be entered using a total of 12 buttons, several symbols are inevitably assigned to one button. As a result, tremolo-dialing is observed when the user presses the corresponding buttons twice or thrice to enter one character (phoneme), which increases the time of entering the character, thereby causing inconvenience to the user.

Recently, for small-sized terminals, such as mobile phones or PDAs, there is a tendency to enlarge the screen to effectively deliver more diverse information than television, the Internet and other media. In this regard, among the products currently on sale, some models use a touch-sensitive liquid crystal screen, which allows the user to enter characters through the screen without highlighting a separate input area. In this case, the touch screen preferably has a maximum size, however, it is still difficult to place a sufficient number of keys on the touch screen for entering characters and various functional commands. In other words, the entire screen cannot be used as a keyboard. Furthermore, if the keys are made small to fit a sufficient number of keys on a part of the touch screen, the small keys are tightly located on the touch screen, thereby leading to typos during the input operation. In addition, it is actually difficult to quickly enter a character like on a keyboard.

Further, if a small number of keys are located on the touch screen to increase the size of the keys, more than two keys must be pressed repeatedly to enter the desired character, making it impossible to enter it quickly.

To solve this problem, a symbol input method was proposed in which certain basic symbols, namely Sky (·), Earth (-) and Man (|), symbolizing the Hangul three main components of the Universe in the ideology of the alphabet, are combined to enter the desired symbol. However, this method also does not solve the problem of tremolo-dialing. In addition, with respect to the English alphabet, an input method known as T9 was proposed. But the problem with this input method is that the principle of inputting one phoneme (symbol) at one time is not respected for it.

In addition, input methods have been proposed, such as a keyboard that is wound around the hand, a virtual laser keyboard where the keys are projected onto the underlying surface and pressed with a finger, the position of which is determined by the sensor, and similar solutions.

However, such input devices are inconvenient for users because they must always be carried with them. In addition, since characters can be entered into such a device only when the input device is placed on some base, such an input device is unsuitable for a personal portable information terminal, which requires that the characters can be entered on the fly while holding the device with one hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Formulation of the problem

Accordingly, the present invention attempts to solve the above problems of the prior art, and the present invention is to provide an input device that allows you to fit all the characters intended for input on the minimum input pad, as required for miniaturization, as well as allowing each of the assortment of characters to enter in one reception, which will allow fast and error-free character entry.

Another objective of the present invention is to create an input device in which erroneous input is minimized, and the user's finger moves in basic directions that are easy to memorize, which allows for quick and accurate character input.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an input device that allows you to enter related characters in one position (as a single input data object) according to the input operation, which allows you to enter a large amount of data even on a cramped site and can be applied in various information equipment, thereby reducing weights and miniaturization of information equipment.

Technical solution

To solve these problems, according to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an input device comprising:

- the base with the input pad;

- one or more sensor sections located on the input site for recording a touch of the input site or contact movement along it;

- a control unit for extracting data corresponding to each input operation from the memory and inputting the extracted data, depending on the position or direction of movement of the contact spot, which are sensed by the touch section, relative to the reference section located on the input site.

The sensor section divides the input pad accordingly into several direction indicator sections spaced circumferentially and radially away from the reference section, and the control unit is designed to extract and enter data assigned to each direction indicator section, depending on where the sensor section registers contact.

The sensor section can occupy the entire input area, and on the input site there are several sections, direction indicators, spaced evenly around the circumference and radially away from the reference section.

The input operation can be performed in such a way that the contact spot moves radially outward from the reference section in the direction of any of the direction indicator sections.

The input operation can be performed in such a way that the contact spot moves radially inward from any of the direction indicator sections towards the reference section.

The input operation can be performed in such a way that the contact spot moves from one of the direction indicator sections to another direction indicator section, while passing through the landmark section.

The input operation can be performed in such a way that the contact spot moves from any of the direction indicator sections in a direction tangential to a circle of a certain radius centered in the landmark section.

The control unit enters data corresponding to some input operation, separating various signals depending on the direction of movement of the contact spot in the direction indicator sections.

The input operation can be performed in such a way that the contact spot moves in orbit around the landmark section.

The control unit extracts and enters various characters depending on the particular section indicating the direction at which the input operation begins and at which it ends, as well as on the direction of movement and the distance traveled by the contact spot.

The input operation can be performed in such a way that the contact spot moves forward and backward along the corresponding direction indicator sections around the reference section.

The input operation can be performed in such a way that the contact spot moves left and right in the corresponding direction indicator sections around the reference section.

The input operation can be performed in such a way that the contact spot moves forward and backward and to the left and to the right along the corresponding direction indicator sections around the reference section.

When the reference section has a touch sensor for detecting contact with it.

Corresponding input operations can be performed in combinations of two or more input operations to enter Korean characters or English characters.

Corresponding input operations can also be performed in combination with more than one input operation for entering numbers, special characters, mode switching commands or functional commands.

Direction sections may be provided in an amount from four to twelve directions.

If the input operation can be performed by moving the contact spot, a multi-register input operation is performed, i.e. input operation with more than two registers, depending on the stroke length of the contact spot.

The touch section may contain on its lower side a pressure sensor for detecting pressure on any of the direction indicator sections, which allows a multi-register input operation, i.e. input operation with more than two registers, depending on the pressure.

The touch section may include a touch panel located on the input site.

The touch section may include a touch screen.

The landmark section or at least one of the direction indicator sections may include direction indicators for indicating a direction of movement of the contact spot during an input operation near it.

Direction indicators can display the character entered by the input operation according to the corresponding direction indicator.

Direction indicators may vary in size and color depending on the input mode in which the character is entered.

The landmark section may be configured to move around the input site.

The waiting area can be located at the edge of the input area, and when the contact spot is moved to the waiting area by dragging behind the landmark section or any of the direction indicators, the direction indicators can be hidden on the touch screen, and when the landmark sections are touched to return it to the input area , direction indicators are shown again at the input site.

In this case, the landmark section or direction indicators may be configured to adjust their transparency.

The landmark sections may be provided, at least in the amount of two, arranged vertically on the edge of the input site and with a certain interval between them.

The landmark sections may be provided in at least two in number, arranged horizontally to the left and right of the entry site.

The landmark section and the touch section may be provided in an amount of two, respectively, above and below or left and right on a base adjacent to the touch screen.

The input device may further comprise a display section for displaying a character extracted by its control unit, the display section having a portion for displaying characters and other characters assigned to an input operation for that device.

The input device may further comprise a display section on the basis for displaying a character extracted by its control unit, the display section containing on the side a section for displaying characters and other characters assigned to an input operation for this device.

If the operating mode of the input device can be switched from the character input mode to the mouse emulation mode, the mouse pointer is moved by the movement of the contact spot, and the left and right mouse buttons are simulated by touching.

If the operating mode of the input device switches from the character input mode to the joystick emulation mode, the movements of the game character are controlled by the movement of the contact spot, and various manipulations with the game character can be activated by touching.

As the contact spot moves, as the spot moves away from the landmark section 30, the movement speed of the mouse pointer or game character may gradually increase.

The landmark section can be provided in two sets at the input site, then the mouse or game character is moved using one of the two landmark sections, and the left and right mouse buttons are simulated or various manipulations of the game character are activated using another section - reference point.

The direction indicator sections can be provided in the amount of eight, then eight characters are entered by touching, and in addition, the contact spot moves radially inward from each of the eight direction indicator sections to the reference section or radially outward from the reference section to each of eight sections-direction indicators, which in total allows you to enter 24 characters.

The direction indicator sections can be provided in the amount of four, then four characters are entered by touching, and, in addition, the contact spot moves radially inward from each of the four direction indicator sections to the reference section or radially outward from the reference section to each of four sections-direction indicators, which allows you to enter a total of 12 characters, while the sections-landmarks and sections-direction indicators are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the input area, which allows you to enter a total of 24 characters a.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an input device comprising:

- touch sensor touch, which provides an input pad;

- a landmark section located on the input site;

- four direction indicator sections spaced evenly around the circumference and radially away from the reference section;

- direction indicators provided on the side of the landmark section and each direction indicator section to indicate the direction of movement of the contact spot during the input operation performed on the landmark section or any of the direction indicator sections;

- a control unit for extracting data corresponding to a particular input operation from the memory and inputting the extracted data, depending on whether the touch sensor detects contact with a certain section-indicator of direction, as well as on the direction of movement of the contact spot when passing through the section - a reference point or from the direction of movement of the contact spot forward / backward or left / right on one or another section-direction indicator.

In this case, the touch sensor may include a touch screen.

The input device may also comprise four auxiliary direction indicator sections between respective direction indicator sections.

Vowel characters can be entered by moving the contact spot through the landmark section, while consonants can be entered by moving the contact spot forward / backward and left / right on a particular direction indicator section, and various functional commands can be entered by touching a particular index section directions.

The landmark section, the direction indicator sections and the direction indicators can be provided in the amount of two sets, respectively, on the left and right sides of the touch sensor, that is, the device may contain two input organs.

The direction of motion of the contact spot moving along the landmark section can be recorded in one of four directions or eight directions.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an input device comprising:

- touch sensor touch, which provides an input pad;

- a landmark section located on the input site;

- four direction indicator sections spaced evenly around the circumference and radially away from the reference section;

- direction indicators on the side of the landmark section and each direction indicator section to indicate the direction of movement of the contact spot during the input operation performed on the landmark section and each of the direction indicator sections;

- a touch sensor of depression from below for registration of pressing of this or that section-direction indicator;

- a control unit for extracting data corresponding to a particular input operation from the memory and input of the extracted data, depending on whether the touch sensor registers contact with a particular section-direction indicator, or the touch sensor registers a click on a particular a direction indicator section, or movement is recorded in one direction or another of the contact spot through the landmark section or its movement forward / backward and left / right on one or another direction indicator section.

In this case, the touch sensor may include a touch screen.

Consonants can be entered by moving the contact spot forward / backward and left / right on one or another direction indicator section, while vowels can be entered by touching and pressing one or another direction indicator section.

The input device may further comprise four auxiliary direction indicator sections between respective direction indicator sections.

Vowel characters can be entered using one of the following actions: touching a particular direction indicator section or moving the contact spot through the landmark section; while various functional commands can be entered through the second of these actions.

The landmark section, the direction indicator sections and the direction indicators can be provided in the amount of two sets, respectively, on the left and right sides of the touch sensor, that is, the device may contain two input organs.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an input device comprising:

- touch sensor touch, which provides an input pad;

- two landmark sections, on the left and on the right side at the input site;

- four direction indicator sections spaced evenly around the circumference and radially away from the reference section;

- direction indicators on the side of the reference section and each of the direction indicator sections to indicate the direction of movement of the contact spot during the input operation performed on the reference section and each of the direction indicator sections;

- a control unit for extracting data corresponding to a particular input operation from the memory and input of the extracted data, depending on whether the touch sensor detects the touch of a particular section-direction indicator, or the movement of the contact spot is recorded in one direction or another through the landmark section, or its movement in a certain direction on one or another section-direction indicator.

In this case, the touch sensor may include a touch screen.

The direction of movement of the contact spot on a particular section-direction indicator can be set as one of the following directions: forward / backward or left / right.

The direction of movement of the contact spot on each direction indicator section can be provided in at least one of the directions: by a contact movement inward, when the contact spot moves from one or another section of the direction indicator to the direction of the reference section, or by contact movement outward, when the contact spot moves away from a particular direction indicator section.

The direction indicator sections may additionally contain four auxiliary direction indicator sections, which will give a total of eight direction indicator sections, while the movement of the contact spot on each direction indicator section is provided in at least one of the directions: contact movement inward, when the contact spot moves from a particular section of the direction indicator to the side of the landmark section, or by a contact movement outward, when the contact spot moves in the direction away from one or oh-pointer section direction.

The direction of movement of the contact spot moving through the landmark section can be recorded in one of four or eight directions.

The input device may further comprise four auxiliary direction indicator sections between respective direction indicator sections.

Various functional commands can be entered by moving the contact spot through the landmark section, and characters can be entered by touching a particular section-direction indicator or auxiliary section-direction indicator, as well as moving the contact spot on a particular section-direction indicator or auxiliary section-pointer directions.

Vowels can be entered by touching one or another direction indicator section, and consonants can be entered by moving the contact spot on one or another direction indicator section or auxiliary direction indicator section.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an input device comprising:

at least an input section of a plurality of input elements arranged in a circle around a landmark;

- a touch section for separately registering the touch of each of the input elements and contact movement on each input element;

- a control unit for extracting data corresponding to each input element from the memory and inputting the extracted data, based on the registration by separate touch sensors for each input element, or external contact movement, when the contact spot moves from a landmark to the outside of an input element , or internal contact movement, when the contact spot moves from the point of reference to the inner side of an input element.

In this case, the input section may take the form of a complete ring formed as a unit.

In addition, the input element for input operations by the internal contact movement and the external contact movement may include a direction indicator showing a direction of movement of the contact spot during a given input operation.

Additionally, the input section may allow the input operation in a circular contact motion, in this case, the control unit, when the contact spot moves in a circular path during the input operation in a circular contact motion, recognizes the first and last input operation as a valid input and processes such an input operation.

In addition, the control unit performs an input operation after determining that a character corresponding to each of the input operations is entered if at least two of the following operations:

- touch input operations,

- input operations by internal contact movement,

- input operations by external contact movement,

- input operations in a circular contact motion,

recognized as one continuous input operation.

Advantages of the Present Invention

The inventive input device allows you to place on the minimum input pad all the desired characters, and the landmark section is located as required for miniaturization, and also allows each of the placed characters to enter in one go, which entails a quick and error-free set.

In addition, the inventive input device provides the inconvenience of data input due to a simple configuration, and the input method is based on movements in some basic directions that the user is not difficult to master. In addition, since the inventive input device allows you to place three characters on one input section, and the user can selectively enter one of them, so you can enter a diverse set of data in a limited space, such a device can be used for various information equipment, providing weight reduction and miniaturization of such equipment.

In addition, the inventive input device allows you to continuously perform various input operations, for example, input by touch, input by internal contact movement, input by external contact movement and input by circular contact movement, without interrupting contact, which provides quick input of characters. Moreover, the character layout for input operations is performed separately, i.e. the consonants and vowels of the Hangul alphabet are divided into two separate groups in accordance with the location of the symbol, as a result of which one or several phonemes can be entered in one go.

Description of drawings

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1a shows in perspective an input device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1b shows, with an increase, various modifications of the sensor section of Fig. 1a.

Figure 2 shows in front an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figa and Fig.3b schematically show various options for the input operation performed using the inventive input device.

Figa-4f show with an increase in various modifications of the section-direction indicator for the inventive input device.

Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b schematically show various layout options of the landmark section and the direction indicator section for the inventive input device.

6a-6c show in plan a variant in which the inventive input device is provided in two sets.

Figa and Fig.7b show in plan a variant in which the landmark section, the direction indicator section and the direction indicator of the inventive input device are arranged to move around the screen.

Fig. 8 schematically shows an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 9a-9e schematically show various embodiments of an input operation according to the embodiment of Fig. 8.

FIG. 10 schematically shows modifications of an additional key according to the embodiment of FIG.

11 schematically shows an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 schematically shows various embodiments of an input operation according to the embodiment of FIG. 11.

13 schematically shows an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 schematically shows an input operation according to the embodiment of Fig. 13.

15 schematically shows an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 schematically shows various embodiments of an input operation according to the embodiment of Fig. 15.

17 schematically shows an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 18 schematically shows an input operation according to the embodiment of Fig. 13.

19 schematically shows an input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 schematically shows a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 schematically shows another modification of the embodiment of FIG. 19.

Fig. 22 schematically shows another modification of the embodiment of Fig. 19.

Embodiments of the invention

The following describes in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As can be seen from the drawings, the inventive input device 1 comprises a base 10 with an input platform 25; several sensor sections 20 located on the input site 25 for recording a touch of the input site or contact movement along it; and a control unit (not shown) for extracting data corresponding to a particular input operation from a memory (not shown) and inputting the extracted data depending on the position of the contact spot or the direction of its movement detected by the sensor section 20, relative to the reference section 30, provided on the side of the input pad 25.

Fig. 1a shows in perspective an input device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

It is seen from FIG. 1a that the sensor section 20 is located on the input platform 25, which is available on one side of the base 10, and is designed to record the touch of the input platform 25 or contact movement along it.

The sensor section 20 may take various forms. For example, the sensor section 20 may be in the form of a touch panel 21, as shown in FIG. 1a, and may be equipped with a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, a pressure sensor (switch), a resistance sensor or the like, in the plural, as shown in FIG. .1b (a) -1b (c). Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, the touch section may be in the form of a touch screen 23, where the touch panel 21 also serves as a display.

Briefly, the touch section 20 comprises a touch panel 21 or a touch screen, where the touch panel 21 further serves as a screen, as well as a touch sensor for detecting touch and contact movement with a finger or an object.

In addition, the sensor section 20 can have only one sensor, but several sections can be geometrically correctly located on a given input space, for example, on the touch panel 21 or the touch screen. Moreover, if the touch section 20 is in the form of a touch panel 21 or a touch screen 23, the input pad is divided relative to the landmark section by the direction indicator sections 50, and a touch section 20 can be formed on the divided input pad 25.

In addition, the sensor section 20 may be provided over the entire surface of the entry platform 25, as shown in FIG. 1a, or may also cover parts of this surface corresponding to each of the direction indicator sections 50, as shown in FIG. 1b (a) and described below. In addition, the sensor section 20 may be present only on a part of the surface of the input platform 25 relative to the landmark section 30, as shown in FIG. 1b (b), and may also be performed on the input platform 25 in the form of a line, as shown in FIG. .1b (c).

Moreover, the landmark section 30 may further have a sensor at a landmark location (not shown) for detecting the touch of the landmark section 30.

At the same time, a control unit (not shown) is electrically connected to the sensor section 20 and serves to extract data about the character corresponding to a particular input operation from the memory (not shown) and enter the extracted data in accordance with the position recorded by the sensor section 20 contact spot or the direction of its movement relative to the reference section 30, available on the side of the input site.

Implementation option 1

An input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 1a-7b.

First, as can be seen in FIG. 1b (a) and FIG. 1b (b), the landmark section 30 is located on the side of the entry platform 25. The landmark section 30 is a guideline for touching or moving the contact spot recorded by the sensor section 20. Thus, the control unit (not shown) determines the relative position of the contact spot or its direction of movement with respect to the landmark section 30.

Landmark section 30, as shown in fig.1b (a) and fig.1b (b), can be fixedly placed on the side of the platform 25 input. If the touch section 20 is in the form of a touch panel 21 or a touch screen 23, as shown in FIG. 1a and FIG. 2, the landmark section 30 may be adapted to be dragged along the entry area 25, as shown in FIG. 7 (a ) and Fig. 7 (b).

The latter case is described below with reference to figure 2.

When the input device 1 is not in a character input mode, i.e. is in standby mode, landmark section 30, direction indicator section 50 or direction indicators 33, 55 are located on a settling platform 26 located on one side of the touch screen 23. Further, when the device is switched from standby mode to character input mode, the user may drag the landmark section 30, the direction indicator section 50, or the direction indicators 33, 55 located on the settling platform 26 toward the input platform 25 to carry out character input operations. In this case, the user can arbitrarily select a location for the landmark section 30 when entering a character, which makes the device more convenient for the user.

In this case, the direction indicator section 50 and the direction indicator 55 can be made in such a way that they are not visible when they are on the settling platform 26, but become visible on the input platform 25 when they are moved there. The landmark section 30 can also be made so that it disappears from view if it is within a certain time interval at the settling platform 26, but becomes again visible when the user touches the settling platform 26 or makes contact movement for more than a certain the time interval after touching the sump.

3a (a) shows that the direction indicator sections 50 are spaced radially away from the center of the landmark section 30. Of course, if only four direction indicator sections 50 are provided, four such sections can be positioned on the sensor sections 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d, as shown in FIG. 1b (a).

In this case, preferably, the direction indicator sections 50 are spaced regularly around the circumference and radially away from the reference section 30 and are spaced at equal angles from one another. In addition, direction sections 50 of the direction can be provided in various quantities. For example, four such sections may be provided at the sensor sections 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d, as shown in FIG. 1b (a), or eight such sections may be provided, as shown in FIG. 3a (a). Naturally, you can place 12 sections-pointers 50 directions.

Each direction indicator section 50 is associated with a specific symbol, therefore, when a touch is recorded on a particular direction indicator section 50, the control unit extracts a specific symbol assigned to the corresponding direction indicator section 50 from the memory and enters the extracted symbol.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 1a, the side part 15 of the display on the base 10 can be configured to display a character extracted by the control unit. In this case, the display portion 15 may be further provided with a character display portion 56 (see FIGS. 6a and 6b) for displaying characters assigned to a particular input operation with respect to the landmark section 30.

The character display portion 56 displays a character assigned to an input operation relative to the landmark section 30, which allows the user to enter characters while looking at the character display portion 56. Of course, the symbol display portion 56 may be configured to become visible or hidden as a result of user actions.

The basic input operation for the input device described above according to this embodiment is described below in detail in connection with FIGS. 3a and 3b.

The term “symbol” as used in this application means consonants or vowels of the alphabet used in a particular country, for example, the Korean alphabet Hangul, English, Japanese alphabet and others, and is understood in a narrow sense, excluding numbers, signs or the like.

As seen in FIG. 3a, eight direction indicator sections 50a-50h are spaced uniformly around the circumference and radially away from the reference section 30. A symbol is assigned to each direction indicator section 50, therefore, when a touch is detected, respectively, of the direction indicator section 50a , the control unit extracts the character code assigned to this direction indicator section 50a from the memory and enters the extracted character code.

In this case, the sensor section 20 can be additionally equipped with a touch sensor (not shown) from below for registering clicks on one or another section of the direction indicator 50. In this case, a two-register input can be made in the form of a touch or a click on each of the direction sections 50 of the direction. Alternatively, the touch sensor can also be made in the form of a pressure sensor, which allows you to enter by only pressing more than two registers, depending on the pressure on one or another section-pointer 50 directions.

3a (b) shows examples of various character input operations depending on the direction of movement of the contact spot outside the landmark section 30.

», а если контактное пятно движется справа налево над секцией-ориентиром 30 (позиция «b» на фиг.3a(b)), вводится согласная хангыля «

». Далее, если контактное пятно движется снизу вверх справа от секции-ориентира 30 (позиция «c» на фиг.3b(b)), вводится гласная хангыля «

», а если контактное пятно движется сверху вниз справа от секции-ориентира 30 (позиция «d» на фиг.3b(b)), вводится гласная хангыля «

».For example, if the contact spot moves from left to right above the landmark section 30 (position “a” in FIG. 3a (b)), a consonant Hangul “

", And if the contact spot moves from right to left over the landmark section 30 (position" b "in Fig. 3a (b)), a consonant Hangul is introduced"

". Further, if the contact spot moves upward to the right of the landmark section 30 (position “c” in FIG. 3b (b)), a vowel hangeul “

", And if the contact spot moves from top to bottom to the right of the landmark section 30 (position" d "in Fig.3b (b)), the vowel Hangeul"

".

In other words, when the movement of the contact spot is detected by the touch portion 20, the control unit recognizes the direction of movement of the contact spot depending on the coordinates of its start and end positions, using the landmark section 30 as the origin for retrieving, thus, a character code corresponding to one or another input operation, by distinguishing one input operation from another.

Similarly, FIG. 3a (c) shows a situation where the contact spot moves at an oblique angle (eg, 45 °) relative to the landmark section 30. FIG. 3a (d) illustrates a situation where the contact spot moves with passage along the landmark section 30. FIG. 3a (e) shows a situation where the contact spot moves radially away from the reference section 30 in the direction of a particular direction indicator section. Fig. 3a (f) illustrates a situation where the contact spot moves radially inward from one or another direction indicator section towards the reference section 30.

3a (g) illustrates a situation where the contact spot passes through the landmark section 30 at a certain angle. That is, for example, the contact spot moves from the direction indicator section 50 for six hours of the imaginary dial to the direction section 50 for the direction of three hours or half past five through the reference section 30. In addition, depending on the initial position of the contact spot and the position of the section - direction indicator 50, which it reaches, various characters can be entered by contact movement through the landmark section 30.

Finally, FIG. 3a (h) illustrates rocking input, i.e. an input method in which character input occurs when the user touches the landmark section 30 and moves the touch position from the landmark section 30 to any of the direction indicator sections 50, thereby changing the initial touch area, thereby introducing a character corresponding to the index section 50 a direction located in a direction in which there is a change in the touch area.

», который требуется ввести, пользователь сперва касается секции-ориентира 30, а затем перемещает контактное пятно от секции-ориентира 30 в сторону секции-указателя 50с направления, не разрывая контакт, т.е. положение касания, тем изменяя область касания. Другими словами, пользователь наклоняет свой палец в направлении секции-указателя 50с направления, которой присвоена гласная хангыля «

», при этом касаясь пальцем секции-ориентира 30.That is, if the direction indicator section 50c of FIG. 3a (a) is assigned the symbol “

"To be entered, the user first touches the landmark section 30, and then moves the contact spot from the landmark section 30 towards the direction indicator section 50c without breaking the contact, i.e. touch position, thereby changing the touch area. In other words, the user tilts his finger in the direction of the pointer section 50c of the direction to which the Hangul vowel is assigned "

", While touching the finger of the landmark section 30.

на фиг.3a(h)), которого пользователь касался первоначально. В данном случае контактное пятно меньшей площади указывает направление на три часа воображаемого циферблата, а секции-указателю 50с направления на три часа присвоен символ «

», то есть гласную хангыля «

» можно ввести посредством операции ввода качанием, изображенной на фиг.3a(h).As a result, a contact spot is formed on one side of the landmark section 30, the area of which is less than the area of the landmark section 30 (shown by hatching

on figa (h)), which the user originally touched. In this case, the contact spot of a smaller area indicates the direction for three hours of an imaginary dial, and the symbol “three hours” indicates 50

", That is, the vowel of Hangeul"

"Can be entered through the swing input operation shown in Fig. 3a (h).

Moreover, if the swing input operation is performed, shown in figa (h), to perform multi-register input operations, you can change the force of pressing the touch section.

Now consider fig.3b. Fig. 3b (a) shows the movement of the contact spot forward and backward on the respective direction indicator sections 50, spaced radially away from the reference section 30. Fig. 3b (b) shows the movement of the contact spot left and right on the corresponding index sections 50 directions spaced radially away from the reference section 30. On fig.3b (c) shows the movement of the contact spot forward and backward, as well as left and right on the corresponding sections of the direction indicators 50, spaced radially away from the section of the reference 30. On fig.3b (d) and ig.3b (e) shows the circular motion of the contact-patches around a guide section 30.

In short, the inventive input device 1 distinguishes input operations, for example input by touch, as shown in FIG. 3a (a), and input by contact movement, i.e. moving the contact spot, as shown in figa (b), when entering characters assigned to the corresponding input operations.

In this case, the corresponding input operations shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b may be used individually or in combinations of more than two input operations.

To begin with, the following describes the case where the above input operations are applied separately.

In FIG. 3a (a), a total of eight characters can be entered by touching the eight direction indicator sections 50, in addition, a total of eight characters can be entered by moving the contact spot, as shown in FIG. 3a (b), and a total of 16 characters can be entered so that four characters are entered in each oblique direction in figa (b).

The following describes specific examples of application of an input device based on the various input operations listed above in connection with FIGS. 4a-4f.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show four direction sections 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d located around the landmark section 30. However, the input device may be configured with eight direction sections 50a-50h as shown in FIG. .3a (a) or 12 direction indicator sections located around the landmark section 30, or with five direction indicator sections 50a-50e arranged in a circular arc centered on the landmark section 30, as shown in FIG. 4a (e )

Each of the direction indicator sections 50 may be provided with direction indicators 55 to indicate the direction of movement of the contact spot near a particular direction indicator section 50. In addition, the symbol assigned to a particular input operation can be displayed on each of the direction indicators 55 or each of the direction indicator sections 50, as shown in FIG. 4 (f).

A case where more than two basic input operations are combined is described below in connection with FIG.

Fig. 4a shows a combination of the input operations shown in Fig. 3a (a) and Fig. 3b (c).

That is, four direction indicator sections 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d are located around the reference section 30, which allows you to enter four characters by touching one section of the direction indicator 50 and 16 characters can be entered by moving the contact spot on one section or another - direction indicator 50. As a result, a total of 20 characters can be entered.

At the same time, the number of sections-direction indicators 50 can be freely changed. So, if eight direction indicator sections 50 are provided and character input is possible through one of four contact spot movements on each of the direction indicator sections 50, as shown in FIG. 3a (a), a total of 40 characters can be entered.

Thus, in the case of Hangeul, the direction indicators and direction indicators are sufficient for assigning all 24 Korean characters, as well as in the case of the English alphabet for assigning all 26 English characters. Other characters or command keys, such as cancel, enter, numbers, special characters (characters) and the like, can be assigned to direction indicator sections and direction indicators that are not yet involved in input operations.

Also, if more than three basic input operations are combined, Korean characters, English characters, numbers, signs, as well as commands, such as cancel, input and the like, they can all be assigned to direction indicator sections and direction indicators, so that the desired character can be entered directly without switching input mode.

Thus, the inventive input device 1 allows you to place the entire set of required characters on the minimum input area, where the landmark section 30 is located, as required for miniaturization, and also allows each of the placed characters to be entered in one go, which allows you to quickly and accurately enter characters.

In addition, the inventive input device can be made so that with respect to input by contact movement, the corresponding input operations are recognized as multi-register based on the different stroke lengths of the contact spot.

For example, with respect to an input operation in which the contact spot moves from the landmark section 30 to the direction indicator section 50 for 12 hours of an imaginary dial, as shown in FIG. 3a (e), if the contact spot stroke “a” is relatively short, the operation the input is performed in the first register, but if the contact path “b” is relatively long, the input operation is performed in the second register, due to which a total of 16 characters can be entered using only the basic input operations from figa (e).

In the case of multi-register input by contact movement, i.e. with more than two registers, the latter differ in the stroke length of the contact spot.

Alternatively, the touch section 20 from the bottom is additionally equipped with a pressure sensor (not shown) for detecting clicks on one or another section of the direction indicator 50; in this way, the touch section 20 registers a touch by the user's finger, as well as a click on the touch section, which allows multi-register input, i.e. input with more than two registers. In addition, the pressure sensor can be made in the form of a pressure sensor or the like, which will allow multi-register input by only pressing, distinguishing the registers by the force of pressing.

In this case, the inventive input device 1 can be performed in such a way that it is possible to enter characters through the landmark section 30, along with the basic input operations described above.

For example, an input operation may be performed by touching the landmark section 30 or by contact movement through it, as shown in FIG. 4a. Thus, in FIG. 4a, eight characters can be entered through only the landmark section 30. In this case, the landmark section 30 is further provided with direction indicators 33 for indicating the direction of movement of the contact spot during input operations on the landmark section 30.

Indicators 33 of the direction can be performed on the landmark section 30 in the form of lines or arrows that differ in the direction of movement of the contact spot, as well as in the form of triangles arranged around a circle around the landmark section 30, oriented in accordance with each of the directions of the contact spot, as shown in fig.4b. The direction indicator in the form of dividing lines or arrows is indicated as position 33a, and the direction indicator in the form of a triangle is indicated as position 33b.

As described above, input operations, multi-register variants of the respective input operations and input operations of the character through the landmark section 30 can be performed individually or in combination for the purpose that the entire set of required characters can be displayed.

Moreover, if the basic input operations shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b are combined with input operations through the landmark section 30, characters can be separately assigned to the corresponding input operations depending on their type.

For example, vowels such as Korean, English vowels and the like can be assigned to input operations through the landmark section 30, and consonants such as Korean, English consonants and the like can be assigned external to the orientation section of the input operations .

Also, in addition to characters, landmark sections 30 can be assigned numbers, signs, or various commands, such as cancel, enter, and the like.

Further, vowels can be assigned to input operations by touching one or another section of direction indicator 50, consonants can be assigned to contact input operations, and numbers, signs or various commands can be assigned to input operations through landmark section 30.

At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4b, between the respective direction indicator sections 50, additional direction indicator sections 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d can additionally be arranged in which the contact input operation is not provided. The auxiliary direction indicator sections 51a, 51b, 51c and 51d are configured such that only a touch is recorded when entering the symbols assigned to it.

In addition, the inventive input device 1 further comprises direction indicators 55 and 33 for indicating the direction of movement of the contact spot during various operations of inputting and displaying characters entered by such.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the triangular direction indicators 55 and 33b may be arranged in a circle around each of the direction indicator sections 50, as well as around the landmark section 30, according to each of the input operations

Naturally, the shape and arrangement of direction indicators 55 and 33, as shown in FIG. 4f, can be freely changed.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 4f, each of the direction indicators 55 and 33b can display the symbols assigned to the respective input operations.

In this case, the characters displayed on the direction indicators 55 and 33b may be configured to vary depending on the input mode. For example, in the Korean character input mode, only Korean consonants and vowels are displayed on direction indicators 55 and 33b. In the input mode of English characters, only English consonants and vowels are displayed on direction indicators 55 and 33b. In addition, direction indicators 55 and 33b may be configured to hide from view at the command of the user.

In this case, on the side 15 of the display or touch screen 23, a character display section 56 may be provided for displaying a particular input operation and the symbols assigned to it, instead of direction indicators 55 and 33b arranged in a circle around the direction indicating sections 50 and the reference section 30. In this case, of course, it is possible to change the appearance of the characters displayed in the portion 56, depending on the input mode.

Next, FIG. 4c shows an input operation in a circular contact motion. The input operation in FIG. 4c is performed in such a way that the contact spot moves in a circle around the landmark section, as shown in FIG. 3b (d) and FIG. 3b (e). The principle of entering in a circular contact movement is that the user touches a finger of a certain section of the direction indicator 50 and moves the contact spot in a circle, clockwise or counterclockwise, around the reference section 30; and at the same time, the symbol assigned to that section-pointer 50 of the direction at which the circular contact movement ends is introduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4d, when a touch input operation and a circular contact motion input operation are performed, various types of symbols can be input. For example, as shown in FIG. 4d, it is assumed that the first symbols are assigned to direction sections 50a-50h, and the second symbols are assigned to direction indicators 55. In this case, if the touch input operation is performed, the first character assigned to the direction indication sections 50a-50h is inputted, and if the input operation is performed by contact movement outward, the second character assigned to the direction indicator 55 is entered.

In this case, it is assumed that the character input operation is completed after a character is first inputted in a certain position, and then a character is finally inputted by the input operation by a circular contact movement. In this case, if the first input operation is a touch input operation, the first character is entered, and at the end of the input operation, the first character is also entered. That is, in the input operation by the circular contact motion, the first two characters are entered in a row.

Further, if the first input operation is an input operation with a contact outward movement, a second character is inputted, and a second character is also input at the end of the input operation. That is, the first two characters are continuously inputted by the input operation in a circular contact motion.

In this case, the character according to the first input is entered at the end of the input operation, regardless of whether the character input operation has been completed by a touch input operation or an input operation by a contact outward movement.

In addition, the direction indicator section 50 and the direction indicator 55 can only be located on a part of the circumference and spaced radially away from the reference section 30, as shown in FIG. 4e. That is, the direction indicator sections 50 and the direction indicator 55 can be arranged in a semicircle shape or other shape around the landmark section 30.

In this case, if there are two sets of input devices, the direction of movement of the contact spot on each of the direction indicator sections 50 can be set in such a way that the character is entered only in the forward and backward directions, left and right, or in and out.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the landmark sections 30 are located on the right and left sides of the touch screen 23, respectively, and the eight direction indicator sections 50a-50h are spaced uniformly around the circumference and radially away from the landmark section 30 At each of the direction indicator sections 50, there are only direction indicators 55 which prescribe a contact outward movement (Fig. 5a) or a contact inward motion (Fig. 5b).

The combination of input operations provided for each of the input devices may vary depending on the current input mode.

For example, the combination of input operations shown in Fig. 3a (a) and Fig. 3a (b) is used in the Korean character input mode, and the combination of input operations shown in Fig. 3a (a) and Fig. 3a (b), used in the input mode of English characters.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 6a, a mode display portion 57 may be provided in the upper left of the display 15 and the touch screen 23 to display the current character input mode.

In addition, the inventive input device 1 may contain two sections of the landmark 30 with two sets of input devices. In this case, two sets of input devices can be located on the base 10, the touch panel 21 or the touch screen 23, as shown in figa-6c.

Further, two sets of input devices can be arranged relative to each other vertically, as shown in FIG. 6a, or horizontally, as shown in FIG. 6b.

In addition, the landmark section 30, the direction indicator sections 50 and the direction indicators 55 are arranged in two sets on the touch screen 23, as shown in FIG. 6c. At the same time, various objects from the set of input data, for example, characters of the Hangul alphabet, foreign languages, including English, Japanese, and others, special characters, signs, and the like, are displayed in the direction sections 50 and direction indicators 55, provided in two sets for the corresponding sections benchmarks 30.

Thus, if there are two sets of input devices, those may be designed to perform identical or different input operations. That is, one of the two input devices can be designed to work with combinations of input operations shown in figa (a) and figa (a), and the second input device can be designed to work only with input operations shown in fig. .3b (d).

The input device set shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b can be located on the right and left sides of the touch screen 23. In this case, the vowels are introduced by contact movement through the landmark section 30, and the consonants are introduced by moving the contact spot forward / backward and left / right to one or another section-pointer 50 directions. Various functional commands, for example, input, space, cancel, and others, can be entered by touching one or another section of the direction indicator 50. In this case, the options for the shape and location of the input device kit are not limited to the above-described arrangement; on the contrary, it is possible to arrange the input device kit from Fig. 4a and Fig. 4c, as well as with Fig. 4b and Fig. 4d, vertically or horizontally.

As described above, if there are two sets of input devices, four meaningful directions of contact movement through the landmark section 30 can be provided.

Also, in the aforementioned case, the touch section 20 (including the touch panel 21 or the touch screen 23) further comprises a touch sensor that allows multi-register input by touching or pressing a particular direction indicator section 50. In this case, consonants can be entered by contact movement to the left and right on one or another section-index 50 of the direction, and vowels can be entered by touching or clicking on one or another section-index 50 of the direction.

Moreover, if auxiliary sections-direction indicators 51 are provided, vowels can be entered, by choice, by touching or pressing a particular section-direction indicator 50, either by contact movement with a particular section-direction indicator 50, or by contact movement through the landmark section 30, while various functional commands, such as input, space, cancel, and others, can be entered through another of these movements.

The inventive input device 1 can emulate a mouse. For example, if the user activates the switch 13 on the basis of 10 or performs the corresponding input operation on the touch screen 23 to switch from the character input mode to the mouse emulation mode, the mouse functions are reproduced by touching or contacting the input area 25.

In other words, the mouse pointer can be moved with a contact movement, and pressing the left mouse button can be simulated by touching.

At the same time, the left mouse button performs normal functions, such as pressing the left and right buttons or vertical scrolling, typical of a mouse on a desktop personal computer or laptop.

Moreover, in particular, as shown in FIGS. 3b (d) and 3b (e), the vertical scrolling is controlled by entering in a circular contact motion.

At the same time, as shown in FIG. 6b, where the two landmark sections 30 are arranged in two sets on the right and left sides at the top of the touch screen 23, the input device on the right side of the touch screen can emulate a joystick, i.e. control the movement of the game character, and through the input device on the left side of the touch screen, you can enter commands to activate various character techniques.

In the case of moving the game character, if the contact spot moves along the pad 25 away from the reference section 30, an increase in the speed of movement of the mouse pointer or game character can be envisaged.

In this case, the landmark section 30 can be located on the input site 25 with the possibility of moving in a certain direction along the input site 25. That is, as shown in FIG. 7a, the landmark section 30 can be moved by the user on the touch screen 23 by dragging the landmark section 30 or any of the direction indicator sections 50 or the direction indicator 55.

If, for example, the user touches the landmark section 30 once, the corresponding direction is stored. If the user touches the landmark section 30 more than twice within a predetermined time, the landmark section 30 becomes possible to move.

In this case, the landmark section 30, the direction indicator sections 50 and the direction indicators 55 are arranged to move in parallel with each other in response to a drawing by the user.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7a, when the user moves the landmark section 30 or the direction indicator 55 by touch, the landmark section 30 can be moved to the settling platform 26. In this case, the landmark section 30, the direction indicator section 50 and the direction indicator 55 displayed on the touch screen 23 in the form of a moving point 31.

In other words, the landmark section 30, the direction indicator sections 50 and the direction indicators 55 are held in the form of a moving point 31 within the settling platform 26. The landmark section 30, the direction indicator sections 50 and the direction indicators 55 are designed so that when the user touches the movable point 31 on the settling platform 26 to withdraw it from the settling platform 26, they are again displayed on the touch screen 23 in the original form of the input device.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 7b, the landmark section 30 may be displayed in the form of a small dot to indicate the origin on the touch screen. A “small point" refers to a circle or polygon designed to serve as a guide for the user to find the origin.

In the input device of the type of the touch screen, the landmark section 30 is made in a user-recognizable form of a small point, and the direction indicators 33 of the landmark section 30 are made transparent. In this case, you can simultaneously perform input operations and observe the screen, which eliminates the need for a separate space for input on the screen, and therefore, the screen is used more efficiently.

Second implementation option

An input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described below in connection with FIGS. 4b and 8-10. Elements of the second embodiment corresponding to similar elements of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numbers.

In this embodiment, the sensor section 20, as shown in FIG. 1b (c), comprises several linear sensors 20e and 20f that distinguish between inward contact and outward contact. Linear sensors 20e and 20f are preferably in the form of annular strips at the entry site, as shown in FIG. 1b (c).

If the line sensors 20e and 20f detect a contact or contact loss at the input site at the same time, the control unit regards this as a touch input operation. If the line sensors 20e and 20f sense contact or loss of contact sequentially in a direction away from the reference point 30a, the control unit regards this as an operation of contacting outwardly. In contrast, when the line sensors 20f and 20e sense contact or loss of contact sequentially in the direction of the landmark location 30a, the control unit regards this as an input operation by contact movement inward.

Moreover, the choice of linear sensors 20e and 20f is not limited in terms of their type, as long as they are capable of detecting the touch of a user's finger or object for data entry, for example, optical sensors, capacitive, pressure sensors, touch sensors can be used. Many linear sensors 20e and 20f may be provided.

The sensor section 20 of FIG. 1 b (c) is described in detail below.

The eight linear direction sensors 20g are spaced evenly around the circumference and radially away from the landmark 30a. The internal linear sensor 20e and the external linear sensor 20f are located on the inside and outside of the linear direction sensors 20g in order to recognize the sequence in which the linear sensors 20e and 20f detect contact or contact loss.

A contact detection signal is generated when the linear direction sensors 20g sense the touch, or the internal linear sensor 20e and the external linear sensor 20f sense the touch simultaneously and together with the linear direction sensors 20g. Alternatively, a contact detection signal is generated when a touch of the internal linear sensor 20e or the external linear sensor 20f alone is detected for a predetermined time and together with the touch of the linear direction sensor 20g.

An outward contact detection signal is generated when the internal linear sensor 20e, the linear direction sensor 20g, and the external linear sensor 20f sense the touch sequentially in this order, away from the landmark 30a. At the same time, an inward contact motion detection signal is generated when the external linear sensor 20f, the linear direction sensor 20g, and the internal linear sensor 20e sense the touch sequentially in this order, in the direction of the landmark location 30a.

», «

», «

», «

», «

», «

», «

» и «

» в качестве первых символов. Когда первый элемент ввода, которому присвоен первый символ, регистрирует касание, сенсорная секция 20 расценивает это как ввод первого символа. Вторым элементам 62 ввода по секциям 60 ввода назначены вторые согласные «

», «

», «

», «

», «

», «

», «ᅳ» и «

» в качестве вторых символов при операциях ввода контактным движением внутрь. Третьим элементам 63 ввода по секциям 60 ввода назначены гласные «

», «

», «

», «

», «

», «

», «

» и «

» в качестве третьих символов при операциях ввода контактным движением внутрь. Следует отметить, что привязка согласных и гласных не ограничена вышеуказанным вариантом, но может быть так или иначе модифицирована в интересах удобства пользователя.The input sections 60 are located on the sensor section 20. As shown in FIG. 8, each of the input sections 60 contains several input elements 61, 62 and 63. The first consonants 61 in the input sections 60 are assigned the first consonants "

","

","

","

","

","

","

"And"

»As the first characters. When the first input element to which the first character is assigned registers a touch, the touch section 20 regards this as input of the first character. Second consonants are assigned to second input elements 62 in input sections 60 "

","

","

","

","

","

"," ᅳ "and"

»As the second characters in the input operations by contact movement inward. The third input elements 63 in the input sections 60 are assigned vowels "

","

","

","

","

","

","

"And"

»As the third characters in the input operations by contact movement inward. It should be noted that the binding of consonants and vowels is not limited to the above option, but can be modified in one way or another in the interests of user convenience.

In the input device 1 in this embodiment, the input sections 60 are characterized in that they form the shape of a complete circular ring.

In the input sections 60 with such a sign, the input elements 61, 62 and 63 are additionally intended for input by pressing, which is produced if the pressure when pressing the elements exceeds the pressure set in advance by touching. Since the characters can be entered by touching and clicking on the input elements 61, 62 and 63, it becomes possible to enter additional data. Input by pressing is implemented using conventional input keys or pressure sensors, which allow you to enter a character by clicking on the input elements 61, 62 and 63. In this case, the touch input operation performed before the input operation by pressing is ignored, or the touch registration signal and the registration signal of pressing can be combined to perform the input operation by pressing.

», которое не имеет характерного направления. Возможно применение указателей в форме иных символов или цветов для различения направлений ввода.As can be seen in Fig. 8, for each of the input elements 61, 62 and 63 located on the input section 60, there is a symbolic direction indicator, which makes it easier for the user to perform contact movement inward and contact movement outward with input elements 61, 62 and 63. Namely, with the second input element 62, there is a symbolic pointer “Δ” of contact movement inward, and with the third input element 63 there is a symbolic indicator “Δ” of contact movement outward. In addition, with the first input element 61, there is a symbolic input pointer by touching “

”, Which has no characteristic direction. You can use pointers in the form of other characters or colors to distinguish input directions.

In this case, if the touch of the input section 60 and the contact movement are carried out without interruption, it is possible to enter with a circular contact movement (see Fig. 9b (3)) in order to carry out the input operations together.

When entering in a circular contact motion, the input operation is performed in a circular motion. In this case, although a touch of several input elements 61, 62 and 63 is detected, the control unit processes the first and last input operations as meaningful. As the latter, the input operation is regarded as when contact loss is detected or the contact spot does not change position for a predetermined time upon completion of the input operation by contact movement.

Various input operations of the input device according to the second embodiment are described in detail below in connection with FIG. 9 (a) and FIG. 9 (b).

Fig. 9 (a) illustrates a process in which characters are inputted by a touch input operation, a contact outward movement and a contact inward movement.

», назначенного первому элементу 61 ввода на данной секции 60 ввода. Затем, когда выполняется операция ввода контактным движением наружу, что обозначено как ②, производится выбор символа «

», назначенного третьему элементу 63 ввода на этой секции 60 ввода. Наконец, когда выполняется операция ввода контактным движением внутрь, что обозначено как ③, производится выбор символа «

», назначенного второму элементу 61 ввода на этой секции 60 ввода. Таким образом, тремя последовательными операциями вводится полный слог алфавита хангыль «

».Namely, first, when the user touches the input section 60, which is indicated as ①, the symbol “

"Assigned to the first input element 61 in this input section 60. Then, when the input operation is performed by contact movement outward, which is indicated as ②, the symbol “

"Assigned to the third input element 63 in this input section 60. Finally, when the input operation is performed by contact movement inward, which is indicated as ③, the symbol “

"Assigned to the second input element 61 on this input section 60. Thus, in three consecutive operations, the full syllable of the Hangul alphabet is introduced:

".

Fig. 9 (b) illustrates a process in which characters are inputted by an input operation by a contact outward motion, a contact inward motion, and a circular contact motion.

», назначенного первому элементу 61 ввода на секции 60 ввода, расположенной в направлении на 12 часов воображаемого циферблата. Затем производится выбор символа «

», назначенного третьему элементу 63 ввода на секции 60 ввода, расположенной в направлении на 6 часов, что обозначено как ②. Далее контактное пятно перемещается по окружности по часовой стрелке до касания секции 60 ввода, расположенной в направлении на 10 часов, что обозначено как ③. После этого, когда контакт разрывается или касание регистрируется в течение заданного времени, символы «

» и «

», для которых регистрировалось касание в ходе контактного движения по окружности, игнорируются, а вместо них производится выбор символа «

», назначенного первому элементу 61 ввода, т.е. последнему положению контактного пятна в направлении на 10 часов. Таким образом, тремя последовательными операциями вводится полный слог алфавита хангыль «

».Namely, first, when the input operation is performed by contact movement inward, which is indicated as ①, the symbol “

"Assigned to the first input element 61 on the input section 60 located in the 12-hour direction of the imaginary dial. Then the symbol “

"Assigned to the third input element 63 on the input section 60 located in the direction of 6 hours, which is indicated as ②. Next, the contact spot moves in a circle clockwise until it touches the input section 60 located in the direction of 10 hours, which is indicated as обознач. After that, when the contact breaks or the touch is registered for a specified time, the symbols "

"And"

"For which touch was recorded during the contact movement around the circle are ignored, and instead of them the symbol"

"Assigned to the first input element 61, i.e. the last position of the contact spot in the direction of 10 hours. Thus, in three consecutive operations, the full syllable of the Hangul alphabet is introduced:

".

», назначенный для ввода касанием, вводится, только если последняя операция ввода распознается по потере контакта. Если же последняя операция ввода распознается по уходу контактного пятна контактным движением внутрь, вводится символ «

», назначенный для ввода контактным движением внутрь. Также может быть предусмотрено, что если последняя операция ввода распознается по уходу контактного пятна контактным движением наружу, вводится символ «

», назначенный для ввода контактным движением наружу.Moreover, for input operations it may be provided that the symbol "

”, Assigned for touch input, is entered only if the last input operation is recognized by the loss of contact. If the last input operation is recognized by leaving the contact spot with a contact movement inward, the symbol “

”, Designated for insertion by contact movement inward. It may also be provided that if the last input operation is recognized by leaving the contact spot with the contact movement outward, the symbol “

"Assigned for input by contact movement out.

There are various ways to recognize input operations in a circular contact motion during their execution. The input operation in a circular contact motion can be recognized by means of a set of limit switches placed between the corresponding input elements, or it can be recognized as a situation when signals from other sensors are recorded in a row before recording contact loss.

Alternatively, a circular contact input operation may be recognized as a situation where characters assigned to respective input elements 61, 62 and 63 are entered in a row.

Fig. 9 (c) illustrates a process in which characters are introduced by a contact movement outward and a contact movement inward.

», назначенного второму элементу 62 ввода на секции 60 ввода, расположенной в направлении на 1 час воображаемого циферблата. Затем контактным движением наружу производится выбор символа «

», назначенного третьему элементу 63 ввода на секции 60 ввода, расположенной в направлении на 12 часов, что обозначено как ②. Далее, контактным движением внутрь производится выбор символа «

», назначенного второму элементу 62 ввода на секции 60 ввода, расположенной в направлении на 12 часов, что обозначено как ③. Таким образом, тремя последовательными операциями вводится один полный слог алфавита хангыль «

». При этом, поскольку операция ввода выполняется одним непрерывным движением, символ вводится быстро и просто.Namely, first, when the input operation is performed by contact movement inward, which is indicated as ①, the symbol “

"Assigned to the second input element 62 on the input section 60, located in the direction of 1 hour of an imaginary dial. Then, with the contact movement outward, the symbol “

"Assigned to the third input element 63 on the input section 60 located in the direction of 12 hours, which is indicated as ②. Further, by a contact movement inward, the symbol “

"Assigned to the second input element 62 on the input section 60 located in the direction of 12 hours, which is indicated as ③. Thus, in three consecutive operations, one complete syllable of the Hangul alphabet is introduced “

". Moreover, since the input operation is performed in one continuous movement, the character is entered quickly and easily.

Fig. 9 (d) illustrates a process in which characters are inputted by touch input operations, outward contact movement, inward contact movement, and circular contact movement.

», назначенного первому элементу 61 ввода на этой секции 60 ввода. Затем, когда выполняется операция ввода контактным движением наружу по секции 60 ввода, расположенной в направлении на 3 часа, что обозначено как ②, производится выбор символа «

», назначенного третьему элементу 63 ввода на этой секции 60 ввода. Далее, контактное пятно перемещается по окружности по часовой стрелке от секции 60 ввода на 3 часа до регистрации контакта на секции 60 ввода, расположенной в направлении на 6 часов, что обозначено как ③. После этого, когда контактное пятно уходит внутрь по секции 60 ввода, расположенной в направлении на 6 часов, производится выбор символа «

», назначенного второму элементу 62 ввода на этой секции 60 ввода. Таким образом, тремя последовательными операциями вводится полный слог алфавита хангыль «

».Namely, first, when the user touches the input section 60 located in the 9-hour direction of the imaginary dial, which is indicated as как, the symbol “

"Assigned to the first input element 61 in this input section 60. Then, when the input operation is performed by a contact movement outward along the input section 60 located in the 3-hour direction, which is indicated as как, the symbol “

"Assigned to the third input element 63 in this input section 60. Further, the contact spot moves in a clockwise circle from the input section 60 for 3 hours until the contact is registered on the input section 60 located in the 6 hours direction, which is indicated as ③. After that, when the contact spot goes inward along the input section 60 located in the direction of 6 hours, the symbol “

"Assigned to the second input element 62 on this input section 60. Thus, in three consecutive operations, the full syllable of the Hangul alphabet is introduced:

".

Fig. 9 (e) illustrates a process in which characters are inputted by touch input operations, circular contact movement, contact movement inward.

», назначенного первому элементу 61 ввода на этой секции 60 ввода, посредством операция ввода касанием. Таким образом, тремя последовательными операциями вводится полный слог алфавита хангыль «

».Namely, first, when the user touches the input section 60 located in the 12 o'clock direction of the imaginary dial, which is designated as ①, the symbol ᄀ, assigned to the first input element 61 on this input section 60 is selected by the touch input operation. Then the contact spot moves in a circle counterclockwise until it touches the input section 60, located in the direction of 9 hours. In this case, the contact spot goes inward, and thus the symbol “ᅳ” is assigned to the second input element 62 in the input section 60 located in the 9-hour direction. Further, when the contact spot moves until it touches the input section 60 located in the direction of 5 hours, which is indicated as ③, the symbol “

"Assigned to the first input element 61 on this input section 60, by a touch input operation. Thus, in three consecutive operations, the full syllable of the Hangul alphabet is introduced:

".

The inventive input device 1 allows you to enter characters by a single manipulation of an input element, based on the principle of entering one phoneme at a time (touch, contact movement inward, contact movement outward), but can also provide the ability to enter multiple phonemes in one go (touch + contact movement inward + contact movement outward), as shown in figa and fig.9e.

Similarly, the inventive input device can be performed so that if at least two of the operations: input operations by touch, input operations by contact movement inward, operations input by contact movement outward and operations input by circular contact movement are registered as one continuous input operation, then the block The control determines which of the characters should be entered, and then processes the input operation.

At the same time, one continuous input operation is an input operation in which more than two input operations are not performed separately, but, on the contrary, sequential input operations are performed in one piece at a time without completing each input operation after the first.

In the input device according to this embodiment, two input sections 60 can be provided. The input device contains two input sections 60, so that the touch detection signal, the contact movement inward registration signal and the contact outward registration signal generated by the respective input elements 61, 62 and 63 can be doubled, which will allow for a lot more characters at the input site. Also, the input device may contain two input sections, on which the characters are located in the same quantity as those on the same input section in four directions, respectively.

As can be seen in FIG. 10 (a) and FIG. 10 (b), the input sections 60 form the shape of a complete round ring made as a unit. The input section 60 may include an input element that additionally registers a press, and four extended keys 65 inside or outside the ring, sensitive to touch or press. Keys 65 extended dialing can be assigned characters or various functional commands such as OK, cancel, call up menus and the like.

Implementation option 3

An input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention is described below in connection with FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. Elements of the second embodiment, matching the same elements of the first and second embodiments, are indicated by the same reference numbers.

As shown in FIG. 11, the input section 60 according to this embodiment includes a first input section 60a located inside the second input section 60b. The first input elements 61 are on the first input section 60a, the second input elements 62 are on the second input section 60b, and the third input elements 63 are at the junction of the first and second input sections 60a and 60b.

In this case, the first characters are assigned to the first input elements 61, and the second characters are assigned to the second input elements 62. The first input elements 61 and the second input elements 62 face the center of the annular input section and are intended for input operations by contact movement inward. The third characters are assigned to the third input elements 63, which are facing away from the center of the annular input section and are intended for input operations by contact movement out.

In this embodiment, when the first input element 61 is touched on the first input section 60a or the input operation is performed by contact movement inward, the first character assigned to the first input element 61 is inputted. Similarly, when the second input element 62 is touched on the second input section 60b or the input operation is performed by contact movement inward, the second character assigned to the second input element 62 is entered.

In this case, simultaneously with the input operation by the contact movement inward on the second input element 62, the input operation by the contact movement inward can be performed on the first input element 61. In this case, the selection of one of the two input elements along the stroke length of the contact spot recorded by the sensor section 20 in the area corresponding to the input section 60 during the input operations by the contact movement inward. That is, the stroke length of the contact spot extending inside the first input section 60a from the touch position of the first input element 61 is compared with the stroke length of the contact spot extending inside the first input section 60a from the touch position of the second input element 62. Thus, since the stroke of the contact spot from the second input element 62 is greater than the same stroke of the contact spot from the first input element 61, the determination of which of the two characters assigned to the first input element 61 and the second input element 62 is made according to different lengths the course of the contact spot.

Finally, the third input element 63 only responds to outward contact movement. That is, if an input operation is performed on the third input element 63 by a touch or a contact movement inward, the symbol assigned to the third input element 63 is not entered.

Moreover, although the present embodiment is described on the basis of the presence of the first, second and third input elements 61, 62 and 63 in only four directions around the circumference, elements can, of course, be provided in a larger number of directions, for example, in six directions, eight or the like quantity. In addition, the input device with sets of the first, second and third input elements 61, 62 and 63 in four directions can contain a total of two sets of input devices, which would expand the input character set.

The input operation of the input device according to the third embodiment is described below in detail and in connection with FIG.

» пользователь сперва касается второго элемента 62 ввода или перемещает контактное пятно в направлении внутрь через второй элемент 62 ввода, что обозначено как ①, при этом производится выбор символа «

», назначенного второму элементу 62 ввода. При этом в процессе ввода контактным движением внутрь, хотя контактное пятно проходит в своем движении внутрь через первый элемент 61 ввода, которому назначен символ «

», выбирается все равно символ «

», назначенный второму элементу 62 ввода, что обусловлено сравнительно большей длиной хода за счет разных расстояний, проходимых контактным пятном в своем движении через первую и вторую секции 60а и 60b ввода.As shown in FIG. 12 (a), for entering the syllable of the Hangul alphabet "

"The user first touches the second input element 62 or moves the contact spot inward through the second input element 62, which is indicated as ①, and the symbol"

"Assigned to the second input element 62. Moreover, in the process of input by the contact movement inward, although the contact spot passes in its movement inward through the first input element 61, to which the symbol "

", The symbol"

"Assigned to the second input element 62, which is due to the relatively large stroke length due to different distances traveled by the contact spot in its movement through the first and second input sections 60a and 60b.

».Then the user moves the contact spot outward, which is indicated as ②, to enter the character "

".

», который назначен второму элементу 62 ввода. При этом, чтобы ввести символ «

», удерживается в течение заданного времени контакт со вторым элементом 62 ввода либо на втором элементе 62 ввода выполняется операция ввода контактным движением внутрь.After that, the user moves the contact spot around the circumference in the direction of the second input element 62 located on the second input section 60b, which is indicated as ③, to select the symbol "

", Which is assigned to the second input element 62. At the same time, to enter the symbol "

", The contact with the second input element 62 is held for a predetermined time, or the input operation is performed on the second input element 62 by a contact movement inward.

» пользователь сперва касается первого элемента 61 ввода или перемещает контактное пятно в направлении внутрь от первого элемента 61 ввода, что обозначено как ①, при этом производится выбор символа «

», назначенного первому элементу 61 ввода. Затем пользователь перемещает контактное пятно в направлении наружу, что обозначено как ②, для ввода символа «

», назначенного третьему элементу 63 ввода. После этого пользователь перемещает контактное пятно по окружности в направлении первого элемента 61 ввода, расположенного на первой секции 60а ввода, что обозначено как ③, чтобы выбрать символ «

», назначенный первому элементу 61 ввода. При этом для ввода символа «

» удерживается контакт с первым элементом 61 ввода в течение заданного времени либо на первом элементе 61 ввода выполняется операция ввода контактным движением внутрь.On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), for entering the syllable of the Hangul alphabet "

"The user first touches the first input element 61 or moves the contact spot inward from the first input element 61, which is indicated by как, and the symbol"

"Assigned to the first input element 61. Then the user moves the contact spot outward, which is indicated as ②, to enter the character "

"Assigned to the third input element 63. After that, the user moves the contact spot around the circumference in the direction of the first input element 61 located on the first input section 60a, which is indicated as ③, to select the symbol "

"Assigned to the first input element 61. Moreover, to enter the character "

"Contact is maintained with the first input element 61 for a predetermined time, or the input operation is performed on the first input element 61 by a contact movement inward.

During the operations of FIG. 12 (a) and FIG. 12 (b), there is no contact with any other input elements between the first input and the last input, in the process of moving the contact spot around the circumference. However, if a touch of some input element between the first input and the last input is detected, the character to be entered can be determined according to the rules for the input operation by circular contact movement indicated for the first and second embodiments.

Implementation option 4

An input device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is described below in connection with FIGS. 13 and 14. Elements of the fourth embodiment matching the same elements of the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numbers.

For this embodiment, a character input method is described in which a character is inputted through a multi-register touch input operation. Here, a multi-register touch input operation is understood to be a character input procedure in which, if within a predetermined time after touching the area on the sensor section 20, on which two symbols are displayed, a pressure exceeding a certain preset level is recorded, the control unit regards the input operation as a multi-register input operation touch and enter one of these two characters.

That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the input section 60 comprises a first circular ring-shaped input section 60c and a second input section 60d inside the first. In this case, the first input section 60c contains a first input element 61 and a second input element 62 to which two Hangul consonant alphabets are assigned, respectively, while the second input section contains a third input element 63 and a fourth input section 64 to which two vowels are assigned, respectively Hangul alphabet.

» и «

», соответственно, при давлении меньше заданного, вводится символ «

». Напротив, если первый элемент 61 ввода и второй элемент 62 ввода одновременно подвергаются касанию при давлении больше заданного, вводится символ «

». При этом при первом и втором элементах 61 и 62 ввода имеется индикатор направления для указания того, что символ вводится посредством операции ввода контактным движением внутрь, как показано на фиг.13, поэтому определенный символ может быть введен за счет только приложения определенной силы при касании. К тому же, если контактное пятно проходит в направлении внутрь через первый и второй элементы 61 и 62а ввода без разрыва контакта, за счет приложения определенной силы при касании можно ввести определенный символ. То есть ввод символа производится сочетанием операции ввода контактным движением внутрь и многорегистровой операции ввода касанием.In this case, the first input element 61 and the second input element 62 respond to a multi-register touch input operation. That is, if the user simultaneously touches the first input element 61 and the second input element 62 to which the symbols “

"And"

", Respectively, when the pressure is less than the set, the symbol"

". On the contrary, if the first input element 61 and the second input element 62 are simultaneously touched at a pressure greater than a predetermined one, the symbol “

". At the same time, with the first and second input elements 61 and 62, there is a direction indicator for indicating that the character is entered by the input operation by contact movement inward, as shown in FIG. 13, therefore, a specific character can be entered only by applying a certain force when touched. In addition, if the contact spot passes inward through the first and second input elements 61 and 62a without breaking the contact, a certain character can be entered by touching a certain force when touched. That is, character input is performed by a combination of the input operation by contact movement inward and the multi-register input operation by touch.

Meanwhile, the extended keys 65 may be located in the center of the second input section 60d.

The handling of an input device according to a fourth embodiment is described in detail below in connection with FIG.

» пользователь сперва одновременно касается первого и второго элементов 61 и 62 ввода, которым назначены символы «

» и «

» соответственно, или же касается только второго элемента 62 ввода, которому назначен символ «

», что обозначено как ①. При этом, когда пользователь одновременно касается первого и второго элементов 61 и 62 ввода, прикладывая давление ниже заданного, производится выбор символа «

», назначенного первому элементу 61 ввода. Следовательно, первый и второй элементы 61 и 62 ввода должны быть нажаты при давлении выше заданного. Как вариант, для ввода символа «

» контактное пятно можно двигать в направлении внутрь через первый и второй элементы 61 и 62 ввода, прикладывая давление более заданного.As shown in FIG. 14, for entering the Hangul alphabet syllable “

"The user first simultaneously touches the first and second input elements 61 and 62, which are assigned the characters"

"And"

"Respectively, or only concerns the second input element 62 to which the symbol"

”, Which is designated as как. Moreover, when the user simultaneously touches the first and second input elements 61 and 62, applying pressure below a predetermined value, the symbol “

"Assigned to the first input element 61. Therefore, the first and second input elements 61 and 62 must be pressed at a pressure above a predetermined value. Alternatively, to enter the character "

»The contact spot can be moved inward through the first and second input elements 61 and 62, applying a pressure of more than a given.

» и «

» не вводится. Затем выбирается один из символов «

» и «

», назначенных третьему и четвертому элементам 63 и 64 ввода, через которые проходит контактное пятно в своем движении наружу. При этом один из двух символов «

» и «

» выбирается по прилагаемой силе касания при движении контактного пятна, проходящего через третий и четвертый элементы 63 и 64 ввода. В данном случае, поскольку требуется ввести символ «

», назначенный третьему элементу 63 ввода, необходимо, чтобы контактное пятно проходило через третий и четвертый элементы 63 и 64 ввода при давлении ниже заданного.Then the contact spot is moved to the second input section 60d, which is indicated as ②, passing it through the third and fourth input elements 63 and 64. In this case, the symbol is selected by a combination of input operations by contact movement outward and multi-register input operations by touch, and therefore, since the third and fourth input elements 63 and 64, through which the contact spot passes, are oriented in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the contact spot when entering on the first and second elements 61 and 62 entries, none of the characters "

"And"

»Not entered. Then one of the characters "

"And"

"Assigned to the third and fourth input elements 63 and 64, through which the contact spot passes in its movement out. In this case, one of the two characters "

"And"

»Is selected by the applied touch force when moving the contact spot passing through the third and fourth input elements 63 and 64. In this case, since the symbol “

"Assigned to the third input element 63, it is necessary that the contact spot passes through the third and fourth input elements 63 and 64 at a pressure below a predetermined value.

» и «

», назначенных первому и второму элементам 61 и 62 ввода, расположенных в направлении на 3 часа воображаемого циферблата, что обозначено как ③. При этом для выбора символа «

» первый и второй элементы 61 и 62 ввода должны регистрировать касание при давлении ниже заданного либо же только первый элемент 61 ввода должен регистрировать касание. Как вариант, чтобы выбрать символ «

», назначенный первому элементу 61 ввода, контактное пятно можно перемещать в направлении внутрь через первый и второй элементы 61 и 62 ввода, прикладывая давление выше заданного.Then the user touches the characters "

"And"

"Assigned to the first and second input elements 61 and 62, located in the 3-hour direction of the imaginary dial, which is denoted by ③. Moreover, to select the symbol "

»The first and second input elements 61 and 62 must register a touch at a pressure below a predetermined pressure or only the first input element 61 must register a touch. Alternatively, to select the symbol "

"Assigned to the first input element 61, the contact spot can be moved inward through the first and second input elements 61 and 62, applying pressure above a predetermined value.

Implementation option 5

An input device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is described below in connection with FIG. 15 and FIG. Elements of the fifth embodiment corresponding to similar elements of the first to fourth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numbers.

For this embodiment, input operations are illustrated that differ in the stroke length of the contact spot.

Namely, as shown in FIG. 15, the input section 20 according to this embodiment includes a first input section 60e in the center, a second ring-shaped input section 60f around the first input section 60e and a third input section 60g around the second input section 60f also in the form rings. In this case, the first input section 60e comprises four input elements 61 indicating a direction for input operations by contact outward movement.

In addition, in this embodiment, the sensor section 20 is preferably provided at locations corresponding to the input sections 60e, 60f and 60g.

», «

», «

» и «

», назначенных соответственно четырем элементам 61 ввода, может быть введен как таковой непосредственно операцией ввода касанием, но может быть введен в форме символа «

», «

», «

» или «

» многорегистровой операцией ввода контактным движением наружу.Moreover, each of the four characters "

","

","

"And"

"Assigned to the four input elements 61, respectively, can be entered as such directly by a touch input operation, but can be entered in the form of a symbol"

","

","

" or "

»Multi-register operation of input by contact movement out.

In this case, a multi-register operation of input by a contact movement out is understood to be such a character input procedure that in the case when the touch section 20 registers the contact spot offset by a distance more than specified during its movement when a certain character is entered, the control unit regards the input operation as a multi-register contact input operation outward and introduces a specific character.

», что обозначено как ①, вводится символ «

». Затем, когда контактное пятно перемещается наружу в положение, обозначенное как ②, при этом проходя в контакте через второй и третий участки 60f и 60g ввода, вводится символ «

».That is, in the example of FIG. 16 (a), when the user touches the input element 61 to which the symbol “

", Which is designated as ①, the symbol" is entered

". Then, when the contact spot moves outward to the position designated as ②, while passing in contact through the second and third input portions 60f and 60g, the symbol “

".

», но движение контактного пятна прекращается или происходит потеря контакта на второй секции 60f ввода, что обозначено как ①, вводится символ «

». Затем, когда контактное пятно перемещается через элемент 61 ввода наружу к третьему участку 60g ввода, что обозначено как ②, вводится символ «

».In the example of FIG. 16 (b), when the user moves the contact spot through the input element 61 to which the symbol “

", But the movement of the contact spot stops or there is a loss of contact on the second input section 60f, which is indicated as ①, the symbol" is entered

". Then, when the contact spot moves outwardly through the input element 61 to the third input portion 60g, which is indicated as ②, the symbol “

".

», таковой вводится. Затем, когда контактное пятно перемещается через элемент 61 ввода наружу в положение, обозначенное как ②, т.е. между второй и третьей секциями 60f и 60g ввода, вводится символ «

».Further, in the example of FIG. 16 (c), when the user touches the input element 61 to which the symbol “

”, Such is introduced. Then, when the contact spot moves outwardly through the input member 61 to a position designated as ②, i.e. between the second and third input sections 60f and 60g, the symbol "is entered

".

», таковой вводится. Затем, когда контактное пятно перемещается наружу прочь с третьей секции 60g ввода, вводится символ «

».Finally, in the example of FIG. 16 (d), when the user moves the contact spot outward to the position indicated by ①, i.e. between the second and third input sections 60f and 60g through the input element 61 to which the symbol "

”, Such is introduced. Then, when the contact spot moves outward away from the third input section 60g, the symbol “

".

Although only four input elements 61 are shown for this embodiment, the number of input elements 61 is not limited thereto, and other input algorithms other than described may be combined to perform various input operations.

Implementation option 6

An input device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention is described below in connection with FIG. 17 and FIG. 18. Elements of the sixth embodiment, corresponding to similar elements of the first to fifth embodiments, are denoted by the same reference numbers.

As can be seen in FIG. 17, the input section 60 contains the first to fourth input elements 61, 62, 63 and 64, to which, according to the radial position, the first consonants, the second consonants, the first vowels and the second vowels are respectively assigned. The first and second consonants can be entered by multi-register input operations by touch or by contact movement inward, and the first and second vowels can be entered by multi-register operation of input by contact movement outwards.

Moreover, by multi-register operations of input by a contact movement inward or by a contact movement outward, it is understood that the characters introduced in such an operation differ in the force applied when the input section is touched during the movement of the contact spot to enter some character.

», назначенный третьему элементу 63 ввода, движение контактного пятна в процессе контактного движения наружу необходимо остановить на третьем элементе 63 ввода либо разорвать на этом элементе контакт. Однако, если требуется ввести символ «

», назначенный четвертому элементу 64 ввода, контактное пятно следует переместить по секции 60 ввода через третий элемент 63 ввода наружу до касания четвертого элемента 64 ввода.At the same time, the first and second vowels can be entered only by a multi-register operation of input by contact movement out. By a multi-register operation of input by a contact outward movement, it is understood that the characters introduced in such an operation differ in the stroke length of the contact spot. As can be seen in FIG. 18, if you want to enter the symbol "

"Assigned to the third input element 63, the movement of the contact spot in the process of contact outward movement must be stopped on the third input element 63 or to break the contact on this element. However, if you want to enter the symbol "

"Assigned to the fourth input element 64, the contact spot should be moved along the input section 60 through the third input element 63 outward until the fourth input element 64 touches.

Implementation option 7

An input device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention is described below in connection with FIGS. 19-21. Elements of the seventh embodiment corresponding to similar elements of the first to sixth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numbers.

This embodiment illustrates the case when the input pad is made in the form of an input key on a touch screen. That is, as shown in FIGS. 19 (a) and 19 (b), the input pad includes a first input section 60h serving as a landmark and second input sections 60i spaced radially around the first input section 60h in four directions.

The second input sections 60i shown in Fig. 19 (a) respond to multi-register input operations by contact movement inward, according to arrows pointing in the direction of the first input section 60h, multi-register input operations by contact movement outward, according to arrows pointing away from the first section 60h input, and touch input operations, so a total of five different input operations can be performed. Since the second input sections 60i are arranged in four directions, a total of eight input operations can be performed by the second input sections 60i.

Meanwhile, the first input section 60h shown in FIG. 19 (b) responds to touch input operations and multi-register input operations by contact movement in four directions to the cardinal points, so a total of nine input operations can be performed.

Thus, the combination of the input operations shown in FIG. 19 (a) and FIG. 19 (b) allows a total of 9 input operations on the first input section 60h and 20 input operations on the second input sections 60i, and a total of 29 operations input.

In addition, the second input portions 60i can be distinguished by the generation of two signals, for example, touch - push, push - press first register - press second register or other similar combinations, which will give a total of eight signals or a total of 24 signals for data input. In this case, it is possible to implement a design in which a first input section 60h is added to the second input sections 60i, providing input of 24 data elements.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 20, the second input sections 60i may be spaced in six or eight directions around the first input section 60h.

Finally, the input device may be configured such that a protruding portion 66 is formed on each contact area, as shown in FIG. Then the multi-register input operation can be performed by touch, so that the user touches the protruding portion while moving the contact spot outward or inward. Using the protruding section 66, the user can determine the direction of movement and the course of the contact spot, even without looking at the input device.

At the same time, FIG. 22 shows an example in which the input section 60 is in the form of a touch panel or touch key. As can be seen in Fig.22, on the front surface of the circular input section 60 there is a sensor for detecting contact and movement of the contact spot in the directions inward, outward, in horizontal and vertical directions. At the same time, pressing can be used to enter functional commands, for example, space, enter, return, and others.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular illustrative embodiments, it is not limited to these options, but only the appended claims. It should be understood that specialists in the art can change or modify these options for implementation, without going beyond the scope of patent protection and without departing from the essence of the present invention.

Claims (24)

1. An input device comprising:
- a sensor section located on the input site and configured to register the touch of the input area or contact movement along it;
- several direction indicator sections spaced evenly around the circumference and radially away from the landmark located on the input site; and
- a control unit configured to retrieve data from the memory corresponding to a particular input operation and enter the extracted data depending on which of the direction indicator sections the touch sensor detects the contact, or on the direction of movement of the contact spot on one or another direction indicator section. 2. The input device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a landmark section located at the landmark, and direction indicators located on one side of at least one landmark section or each of the direction indicator sections to indicate the direction of any of the input operations according to the direction of movement of the contact spot performed on the reference section and on one or another section-direction indicator; the control unit is configured to extract data from the memory corresponding to a particular input and input operation of the extracted data depending on the direction of movement of the contact spot passing through the landmark section. 3. The input device according to claim 2, characterized in that it is configured to perform an input operation by one of the following actions: bringing the contact spot into contact with any of the direction indicator sections; or moving the contact spot away from the landmark section in the direction of a particular direction indicator section; moving the contact spot inward in the direction of the reference section from a particular section-direction indicator; or moving a contact spot from one of the direction indicator sections to another direction indicator section through the landmark section; or moving a contact spot from a particular direction indicator section tangentially to a circle of a certain radius centered on the landmark section; moving the contact spot around the circumference of the landmark section; moving the contact spot diagonally around the landmark section; moving the contact spot back and forth on certain sections-direction indicators around the landmark section; moving the contact spot left and right on certain sections-direction indicators around the landmark section; and moving the contact spot forward and backward, as well as left and right on certain sections-direction indicators around the landmark section. 4. The input device according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit enters data corresponding to a particular input operation, distinguishing signals in the direction of movement of the contact spot on one or another section-direction indicator. 5. The input device according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit extracts and enters various characters during the input operation, depending on which section of the direction indicator the input operation starts at and which ends, as well as the direction of movement and the stroke length of the contact spots. 6. The input device according to claim 2, characterized in that the landmark section contains a touch section at the landmark location for registering the touch of the latter. 7. An input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that if the input operation is performed by moving the contact spot, a multi-register input operation is performed, i.e. input operation with more than two registers, depending on the stroke length of the contact spot. 8. The input device according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a touch sensor located below the touch section and designed to record the click on a particular direction indicator section, while the control unit extracts from the memory and enters data corresponding to pressing to one or another section-direction indicator registered by the section-pointer, and retrieves from the memory and enters two or more different data elements depending on the strength of clicking on one or another section-direction indicator. 9. The input device according to claim 2, characterized in that the direction indicators display a character entered by the input operation according to one or another direction indicator. 10. The input device according to claim 2, characterized in that the landmark section is configured to move around the input site. 11. The input device according to claim 1, characterized in that if the touch section is designed as a touch screen, then there is a settling pad located on the side of the input pad, and also when the contact spot is moved to the settling pad, touching at of this landmark section or any of the direction indicators, the image of the direction indicators on the touch screen is turned off, and when the landmark sections are touched to return it to the input pad, the direction indicators are again displayed on the input pad. 12. The input device according to claim 1, characterized in that if the touch section is designed as a touch screen, then the landmark section or sections-direction indicators and direction indicators are presented in an amount of at least two pieces and are located on the edge or left and right side of the input pad or base adjacent to the touch screen, and spaced from each other at a certain distance. 13. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a display section for displaying characters extracted by the control unit, the display section comprising a character display portion for displaying characters or characters assigned thereto for an input operation. 14. The input device according to claim 2, characterized in that when the operating mode of the input device is switched from the character input mode to the mouse emulation mode, the pointer is moved by moving the contact spot, and the left and right mouse buttons are emulated by touching the mouse. 15. The input device according to claim 2, characterized in that when the operating mode of the input device is switched from the character input mode to the joystick emulation mode, the movement of the game character is performed by moving the contact spot, and various functions of the game character are activated by touching the game character. 16. The input device according to any one of paragraphs.14 or 15, characterized in that when moving the contact spot as it moves away from the reference section, the speed of movement of the pointer or game character gradually increases. 17. The input device according to any one of paragraphs.14 or 15, characterized in that the landmark section is provided in two sets at the input site, so that the mouse or game character is moved using one of the two landmark sections, and the left and right-click or activation of various functions of the game character is made through another. 18. The input device according to claim 2, additionally containing four auxiliary sections-direction indicators located between the sections-direction indicators. 19. The input device according to claim 2, characterized in that the input operation includes moving the contact spot through the landmark section, moving the contact spot back and forth and left-right on one or another direction indicator section, wherein consonant characters are entered by any movement of the contact spot through the landmark section or by moving the contact spot back and forth or left-right on one or another direction indicator section and contacting one or another direction indicator section; vowels are entered in a different way, and functional commands are also entered in a different way. 20. The input device according to claim 1, containing several input elements located on each section-direction indicator, while the control unit extracts from the memory data corresponding to a particular input element, and enters the extracted data based on sensor readings obtained from the ability of the sensor section to register the touch of each of the input elements, the contact movement outward, when the contact spot is moved from the reference point to the outside of one or another input element, and the contact movement inward where the contact spot is moved from the point of reference to the inside of a particular input element. 21. The input device according to claim 20, characterized in that the input section form the shape of a solid complete round ring. 22. The input device according to claim 20, characterized in that the input element for the input operation by the contact movement inward and for the input operation by the contact movement outward along with the input elements comprises a direction indicator indicating a direction of movement of the contact spot during the input operation. 23. The input device according to claim 20, characterized in that the input section enables the input operation in a circular contact movement, and the control unit regards it as significant and processes the first input operation and the last input operation when moving the contact spot around the circle. 24. The input device according to item 23, wherein the control unit performs an input operation after establishing that a character corresponding to a particular input operation is required to be entered if two or more of the following operations: input by touch, input by contact movement inward, input operations by contact movement outward and operations of input by circular contact movement are recorded as one continuous input operation.

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