JP2004054938A - Operation button used in information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation button used in an information terminal capable of inputting words and sentences in a short time by minimum number of times of depressing. <P>SOLUTION: The operation button is used in the information terminal displaying ten numbers in a display image plane in correspondence to depressed operation buttons. It is provided with a first display part having five vowels from A to O displayed in a longitudinal arrangement with a number of left side row numbers or right side row numbers at the top in a five row three line operation button body composed of a left side row, a middle row and a right side row, and ten consonants from K to N that can be combined with the vowels for romanized spelling input displayed in a longitudinal arrangement in the operation button body other than those displaying the vowels, and a second display part displayed in a predetermined arrangement in an operation button body portion adjacent to the first display part and prompting input of numbers that can be selected and changed over from the first display part by a predetermined input mode change over operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile information terminal such as a mobile phone and a PDA, and an operation button that can input characters and numbers, but is provided in a general telephone, an electric appliance, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, operation buttons provided on portable information terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs, general telephones and electric appliances that require input of characters and numbers, and the like, a Roman alphabet input method of inputting Japanese by a combination of alphabets, and hiragana. There is a method of inputting Japanese by pressing the key (see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-207608
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional input method, for example, when the number 1 key is pressed once, a is displayed, when it is pressed once more, a is displayed, when it is pressed once more, c is displayed when it is pressed once more, and when it is pressed once more, it is displayed o. However, for example, there is a disadvantage that five presses are required to display "o", and the number of presses is increased to display a target character.
[0005]
In view of the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages, the present invention relates to a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA having a limited number of operation buttons, a general telephone or an electric appliance which requires input of characters and numerals, and the like. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an operation button for a mobile phone or the like that can easily input a target word or sentence in a short time with a minimum number of operation buttons.
[0006]
The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become more completely apparent when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are merely for explanation and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the operation buttons used in the information terminal according to the present invention correspond to the pressed operation buttons, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, and “1”, “2”, “ "3", "4", "5", "6" located in the second row, "7", "8", "9" located in the third row, and located in the fourth row An operation button used for an information terminal for displaying ten numbers up to "0" on a display screen, comprising: a 5-row, 3-column operation button body composed of a left column, a middle column, and a right column; The five vowels a, i, u, e, and o, which are displayed in a vertical arrangement starting from the number "1" of "1" or the number "3" in the right column, and other than the display of these vowels K, s, t, which can be input in Roman characters in combination with the vowels displayed in a vertical array on the operation button body of a first display unit having ten consonants of n, h, m, y, r, w, and n, and upper, second, and third operation button main body parts adjacent to the first display unit A second display unit that is displayed in a predetermined arrangement on the row and the fourth row, and that can be switched to and selected from the first display unit by a predetermined input mode switching operation; And the type of the selected input mode is displayed on the display screen by the input mode switching operation.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.
[0008]
In the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a portable information terminal that cannot have a full keyboard such as a mobile phone or a PDA, and a general device that can input characters and numerals. The operation button of the present invention used for a telephone, an electric appliance, and the mobile phone 2 in the present embodiment. The operation button 1 may be integrated with the operation button shape usually used for the mobile phone 2, or individually or individually. In the embodiment, the individually formed operation button body 3 and the operation button body 3 are printed on the operation surface portion or the bottom surface portion which is usually operated by the user by the same printing method as the conventional one. , E, o vowels 4 and k, s, t, n, h, m, y, r, k, s, t, n, h, m, y, r printed on the operation surface portion or bottom surface portion of the operation button body 3 other than the vowels 4 child of w, n 5 and a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and the same as those in the related art on the operation button main body adjacent to the first display part 6. A second display unit 8 on which a numeral 7 of 0 is printed and which can be used by switching to the first display unit 6 by a predetermined operation, a second display unit 8 and the first display unit 6 AB printed on the body part of the mobile phone 2 adjacent to the operation button body 3 or in the body part of the mobile phone 2 close to the operation button body 3 in this embodiment. , CD, EF, GH, IJ, KL, MN, OP, QR, ST, UV, WX, YZ. , Adjacent to the first display unit 6 and the second display unit 8 Printed on the work button body site, it is constituted by conventional and fourth display section 12 capable of inputting hiragana 11 as well.
[0009]
The first display unit 6 is an input mode in which Roman characters can be input. In the present embodiment, the vowels 4 of a, i, u, e, and o are vertically arranged in the left column of the operation button body 3. The consonants 5 of k, s, t, n, h, m, y, r, w, and n are the operation surface portions of the operation button body 3 other than the vowels 4 being printed. Alternatively, it is printed on the bottom surface, respectively. In the present embodiment, a description has been given of a case in which vowels 4 are printed on the operation buttons 1 located on the left column of the mobile phone 2. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this. The vowel 4 may be printed.
[0010]
Since the alphabet 9 of the third display unit 10 is printed in combination of two divisions of AB, CD, EF, GH, IJ, KL, MN, OP, QR, ST, UV, WX, and YZ, When inputting, the target alphabet 9 can be easily found, and the target alphabet 9 can be input in a short time with a small number of presses. Although the alphabet 9 of the third display unit 10 is described as being printed on the main body part of the mobile phone 2 close to the operation button main body 3, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the alphabet 9 is not limited to this. The first display unit, the second display unit 8 or the fourth display unit 12 may be selectively printed on a main body part of the mobile phone 2 close to the operation button main body 3.
[0011]
When the first display unit 6, the second display unit 8, the third display unit 10, or the fourth display unit 12 is used, the input is performed by the same operation method as in the related art, for example, by pressing a predetermined key. The mode can be switched and used, and the type of the selected input mode is displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone 2.
[0012]
The operation button 1 of the mobile phone 2 having the above-described configuration is used in the mobile phone 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the input mode of the operation button 1 is such that a number can always be input as in the related art. When the operation button 1 is pressed, the number corresponding to the pressed operation button 1 is displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone 2 when the operation button 1 is pressed.
[0013]
Next, using the same operation method as before, or a control button or the like provided on the mobile phone 2 for selecting or determining various modes, for example, pressing leftward to input numbers, rightward When the input mode is switched so that the first display unit 6 can be used by performing an operation such as inputting a Roman character, the operation button 1 enters a state where a Roman character can be input. For example, when inputting "cloud" in Roman characters, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation button 1 corresponding to the consonant 5 "k" is pressed (S1), and then the operation corresponding to the vowel 4 "u" is performed. Button 1 is pressed (S2). Subsequently, the operation button 1 corresponding to "m" of the consonant 5 is pressed (S3), and the operation button 1 corresponding to "o" of the vowel 4 is further pressed (S4), whereby the operation button 1 is pressed four times. By pressing the button, "cloud" can be input, so that a target word or sentence can be input easily and efficiently. Therefore, when a long sentence is input, the number of presses can be reliably reduced and the input operation can be performed easily, and when using e-mail or the like, if the number of characters is charged, the efficiency can be improved. Costs can be reduced. It should be noted that the input of a cloud mark, a punctuation mark, and other symbols normally prepared in the mobile phone 2 can be input by pressing the assigned operation button as in the related art. In addition, since the first display unit 6 has the vowels 4 and the consonants 5, the input can be efficiently performed in a short time with both hands and the thumb or the like.
[0014]
Further, as in the conventional case, after the input hiragana is displayed, if the kanji conversion key is operated, the kanji is converted into kanji by referring to a built-in dictionary or the like. If the desired kanji is not displayed, press the kanji conversion key continuously to display the next candidate. To confirm, enter the next kana or press the confirm key. After the hiragana is displayed, if the confirmation key or the hiragana confirmation key is pressed, the hiragana is confirmed.
[0015]
After the hiragana is displayed, press the katakana confirmation key to convert to katakana. At the time of input switching, characters are displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone in the same manner as in the past, as characters that can be input, but a color coding method using a backlight or the like is used as a method of displaying usable input methods. May be distinguished. Further, in the present embodiment, the explanation has been made using the individually formed operation buttons. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the operation button body may be connected to and integrally formed with the operation buttons. Good. Further, in the present embodiment, the arrangement of the operation buttons 1 of the mobile phone 2 has been described, but the present embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the operation buttons 1 may be appropriately arranged in five rows horizontally and three columns vertically. Good.
Different Embodiments of the Invention
Next, different embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 to 12 will be described. In the description of the different embodiments of the present invention, the same components as those in the first embodiment of the present invention are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.
[0016]
The second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is different from the first embodiment of the present invention mainly in that a vowel 4 and a consonant 5 are printed on the operation button body 3. The first display unit 6 and the second display unit 8 that is printed on the operation button main body adjacent to the first display unit 6 and that prompts the input of the numeral 7 are used in this manner. The same operation and effect as in the first embodiment of the present invention can be obtained with the operated button 1A.
[0017]
The third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is mainly different from the second embodiment of the present invention in that the first display unit 6 and the The third display unit 10 for prompting the input of the alphabet 9 is printed on the operation button main body part adjacent to the second display unit 8. The same operation and effect as those of the embodiment can be obtained.
[0018]
The fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is different from the second embodiment of the present invention mainly in that it is adjacent to a second display section 8 for prompting the input of a numeral 7. The same operation and effect as those of the second embodiment of the present invention can be obtained even with the operation button 1C configured as described above in that the third display unit 10 for prompting the input of the alphabet 9 is printed on the operation button main body. Can be obtained.
[0019]
The fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is different from the first embodiment of the present invention mainly in that the operation button main body part adjacent to the first display unit 6 is provided. In that the third display unit 10 having two alphabets 9 as one set is printed, the operation buttons 1D thus configured cannot input numbers, but have a full keyboard such as a PDA. By equipping a portable information terminal, a general telephone, an electric appliance, or the like that cannot be used, the number of presses can be reduced, and a target word or sentence can be input efficiently and in a short time.
[0020]
In the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments of the present invention, the operation buttons used for the mobile phone 2 have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a full keyboard such as a PDA may be used. It may be used as an operation button used for an electric appliance such as a portable information terminal, a general telephone, a television, a video, a home appliance having a communication function which cannot be provided, or a touch panel such as a liquid crystal display used for these. Further, in each of the embodiments of the present invention, the operation button which has been formed in a substantially square shape has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a round shape, an elliptical shape, a triangular shape, or the like depending on a product to be incorporated, or What combined these shapes etc. may be used. Further, in each of the embodiments of the present invention, the first display unit 6, the second display unit 8, the third display unit 10, or the fourth display unit 12 may be configured such that the first display unit 6, the third display unit 10, or the fourth display unit 12 is printed on the operation button body. Although the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first, second, third, or fourth display portion is selectively and appropriately printed on the mobile phone main body corresponding to the operation button printed thereon. May be.
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, the following effects can be obtained in the present invention.
[0021]
(1) An operation button body used for a mobile phone and the like, and the vowels a, i, u, e, and o displayed in a predetermined arrangement on the operation button body and the operation buttons other than the display of the vowels A first display portion having a consonant which can be input in Roman characters in combination with the vowels displayed in a predetermined arrangement on the main body, and a predetermined arrangement on an operation button main body portion adjacent to the first display portion; Since the displayed second display unit prompts the input of a number and can be selected by switching between the first display unit and the predetermined display unit by a predetermined operation, the target word or sentence can be pressed with a minimum You can easily enter numbers. Therefore, anyone can easily input.
[0022]
(2) According to the above (1), since the input can be easily performed with a minimum number of presses, the input can be performed efficiently and in a short time. Therefore, when a long text is input, the number of presses can be reliably reduced and the input operation can be performed easily.
[0023]
(3) According to the above (1), when using e-mail or the like, if the number of characters is charged, the cost can be efficiently reduced.
[0024]
(4) According to the above (1), the same operation buttons as those in the related art can be used, so that new equipment and the like are not required, and the production can be performed at the same cost as the related art.
[0025]
(5) Both the second and third aspects provide the same functions and effects as the above (1) to (3), and can be used in the same manner as in the related art.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a reference diagram of a mobile phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an operation button according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation button according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of Roman character input according to the first embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an operation button according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation button according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an operation button according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of operation buttons according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an operation button according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of operation buttons according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an operation button according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of operation buttons according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 1A to 1D: operation buttons, 2: mobile phone, 3: operation button body, 4: vowel, 5: consonant, 6: first display unit, 7: ··· Numbers, 8: second display unit, 9: alphabet, 10: third display unit, 11: hiragana, 12: fourth display unit.

Claims (3)

Corresponding to the pressed operation button, "1", "2", "3" located in the upper row, "4", "5", "6" located in the second row, and located in the third row Operation buttons used on an information terminal for displaying on the display screen ten numbers up to "7", "8", "9", and "0" located in the fourth row;
A five-row, three-column operation button body composed of a left column, a middle column, and a right column, a vertical arrangement of the number "1" in the left column or the number "3" in the right column. The five characters vowels a, i, u, e, and o, and the vowels displayed in a vertical arrangement on the operation button body other than those in which the vowels are displayed, are used to input Roman characters. A first display having 10 consonants k, s, t, n, h, m, y, r, w, n that can be played;
The upper, second, third, and fourth rows of the operation button main body adjacent to the first display section are displayed in a predetermined arrangement, and the first input mode is switched by a predetermined input mode switching operation. A second display unit for prompting the input of the number, which can be switched to and selected from the display unit;
An operation button used for an information terminal that displays a type of an input mode selected by the input mode switching operation on the display screen. Corresponding to the pressed operation button, “1”, “2”, “3” located in the upper row, “4”, “5”, “6” located in the second row, and An operation button used for an information terminal for displaying ten numbers on a display screen, such as “7”, “8”, “9” located at the fourth row and “0” located at the fourth row;
A, i, u, e, a, i, u, e, which are displayed in a vertical array starting from the number “1” in the left column of the operation button body of 5 rows and 3 columns constituted by a left column, a middle column, and a right column k, s, t, n, which are displayed in a vertical arrangement beginning with the five vowels of o and the number of “2”, which can be used to input Roman characters in combination with the vowels on the middle row operation button body h, five consonants, and m, y, r, w displayed in a vertical array starting with the number of "3", which can be used to input a Roman character in combination with the vowel on the operation button body in the right column. , A first display having five consonants of n.
The upper, second, third, and fourth rows of the operation button main body adjacent to the first display section are displayed in a predetermined arrangement, and the first input mode is switched by a predetermined input mode switching operation. A second display unit for prompting the input of the numeral, which can be selected by switching the display unit;
Operation buttons used for information terminals equipped with. Corresponding to the pressed operation button, “1”, “2”, “3” located in the upper row, “4”, “5”, “6” located in the second row, and An operation button used for an information terminal for displaying ten numbers on a display screen, such as “7”, “8”, “9” located at the fourth row and “0” located at the fourth row;
A, i, u, e, a, i, u, e, which are displayed vertically in the right column of the five-row, three-column operation button body composed of the left column, the middle column, and the right column, starting with the number “3” k, s, t, n, which are displayed in a vertical arrangement beginning with the five vowels of o and the number of “2”, which can be used to input Roman characters in combination with the vowels on the middle row operation button body h, five consonants, and m, y, r, w displayed in a vertical array starting with the number of "1", which can be used to input a Roman character in combination with the vowel on the operation button body in the left column. , A first display having five consonants of n.
The operation buttons are displayed in a predetermined arrangement on the operation button main body part adjacent to the first display unit, and can be switched to and selected from the first display unit by a predetermined input mode switching operation. A second display;
Operation buttons used for information terminals equipped with.

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