JP2008102833A - Character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a character input device that enables character selection that reduces the number of operations without degrading intuitive operability when inputting characters having a long character key array distance.
An arbitrary character key is selected by moving to another adjacent character key from among character keys composed of a representative key and a subordinate key related to the representative key. Pointing device that performs input to determine character keys, keyboard storage unit that stores operating conditions at the time of determination and selection for each character key, and each character stored in pointing device input and keyboard storage unit And a control unit that controls the operation at the time of determination or selection of each character key based on the operation condition for each key, and the control unit is arranged adjacent to a predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key Control to move to the representative key.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input device that selects and inputs characters.

In a conventional character input device, character keys are arranged in a two-dimensional array of vertical and horizontal to simplify character input. First, the first row in the row (representative key), for example, “Akasana ...” is displayed. If you select the target character, for example, “Ta” from among them, the column (subordinate key) corresponding to that character, “Chitetsu” will be displayed. For example, Patent Document 1 is known that enables character input for simple operations.
JP-A-2005-149552

  However, in the conventional configuration, in order to input a character, first, a row of character keys (representative keys) displayed vertically and horizontally is selected one by one, and a desired character key is selected, and then a column (subordinate) is selected. It is necessary to select and determine the desired character key of the key), and there is a problem that the operation becomes very large when inputting a character whose character key array is far away. For example, in order to enter “ri” after entering “to”, after returning to “ta” which is the representative key of “to”, “ta → na → ha → ma → ya → ra” in order. It is necessary to select a key and select “Ri”, which is a subordinate key of “Ra”, in order from “Ra → Ri”, and the operation is very difficult to understand.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a character input device that enables character selection that reduces the number of operations without degrading intuitive operability when inputting characters with a long character key array distance.

  A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a character input device. In the present invention, an arbitrary character key is selected or selected by moving to another adjacent character key from character keys composed of a representative key and a subordinate key related to the representative key. Pointing device that performs input to determine character keys, keyboard storage unit that stores operating conditions at the time of determination and selection for each character key, and each character stored in pointing device input and keyboard storage unit And a control unit that controls the operation at the time of determination or selection of each character key based on the operation condition for each key, and the control unit is arranged adjacent to a predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key. Control to move to the representative key.

  The character key is preferably a single character.

  Moreover, it is preferable that a character key is a character of 2 characters or more.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the representative key is a kana character.

  Further, it is preferable that the pointing device directly selects the character key by designating a position on the pointing device.

  The pointing device preferably selects a character key by inputting a direction and a distance.

  Moreover, it is preferable to further include a display unit that displays character keys in accordance with control of the control unit, and the representative keys are displayed on the display unit in a plurality of groups.

  The representative keys are preferably divided into two groups and are displayed at both the upper and lower ends or the left and right ends of the display unit.

  Further, it is preferable that the position where the subordinate key is displayed is shared with the position where the other subordinate key is displayed, and other subordinate keys sharing the display position are not displayed when a subordinate key is displayed.

  In addition, it is preferable that the operation condition for selecting the second representative key adjacent from the predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key is different from the operation condition for selecting between the other character keys.

  The operation condition for selecting the second representative key adjacent to the predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key is to specify the position in a specific area on both the upper and lower ends or the left and right ends on the pointing device. Preferably there is.

  The operating condition for selecting the second representative key adjacent to the predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key is that the pointing device direction and distance are input at a certain acceleration or more. preferable,

  Moreover, it is preferable that the operation condition for selecting the second representative key adjacent to the predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key is to keep pressing the pointing device for a certain time or more.

  The second aspect of the present invention is directed to a character input method. The present invention stores a keyboard storage step for storing operation conditions at the time of determination and selection for each character key of a character key composed of a representative key and a subordinate key related to the representative key, and the keyboard storage step. A control step for controlling the operation at the time of determination or selection of each character key based on the operation condition for each character key, and the control step is adjacent to a predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key. Control is performed to be movable to the second representative key.

  The third aspect of the present invention is directed to a character input program that is executed by a computer of a character input device. The present invention relates to a keyboard storage step for storing operating conditions at the time of determination and selection for each character key of a character key composed of a representative key and a subordinate key related to the representative key, and a keyboard storage step. And a control step for controlling the operation at the time of determination or selection of each character key based on the operation conditions for each character key stored in step (b), and in the control step, a predetermined subordinate related to the first representative key is executed. Control is performed so as to be movable from the key to the adjacent second representative key.

  As described above, according to each aspect of the present invention, the user can input a character having a long character key arrangement distance with an intuitive and few operation, and the operability can be greatly improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the character input device 1 includes a pointing device 11, a keyboard storage unit 12, a control unit 13, and a display unit 14.

  The pointing device 11 is a touch pad that can be pressed, for example, and the user operates the touch pad to move to adjacent character keys one by one to select an arbitrary character key and then press the touch pad to enter the character key. To decide.

  Here, selection of a character key is an operation of operating the pointing device 11 to determine a character key as one determination candidate in the process until a desired character key is determined. Determination of a character key is a determination candidate. This is an operation of confirming the character key that has become, and actually inputting the character based on the operating condition of the confirmed character key.

  The pointing device 11 may be any device such as a mouse, a trackball, a touch panel, a tablet, a keyboard, a joystick, or a game pad. For example, when using a mouse, a pointer is operated to select a character key and a mouse button. It may be determined by clicking.

  The keyboard storage unit 12 stores at least one virtual keyboard 2. FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of the virtual keyboard 2. The virtual keyboard 2 includes a plurality of character keys for a user to input characters, and stores operating conditions and display attributes at the time of determination and selection for each character key. In the virtual keyboard 2 of FIG. 2, as an operation condition when each character key is selected, the correspondence between the character input when it is determined, the operation of the pointing device 11 and the number of the character key to be selected next Information is stored as a setting item. As display attributes, the file name of the character image to be displayed, the coordinates on the display unit 14 for displaying the character image, the width and height for displaying the character image, and the numbers of the related representative keys are held as setting items. For example, in the data of the character key 1, “A” is displayed in a predetermined area of the display unit 14 when determined as the operation condition when the character key 1 is selected. Information indicating that the character key 26, the character key 2, the character key 21, and the character key 6 are selected when the direction, the upward direction, and the downward direction are operated is stored. A.jpg ”, the image is displayed at the coordinates (100, 100) on the display unit 14 with the width 80 and the height 80, and the information that the character key is the representative key is held. If the last number of the display attribute is not entered, it indicates that the character key is a representative key. The representative key is always displayed on the display unit 14. When the number of the last setting item of the display attribute is entered, the number is the number of the related representative key, and indicates that the character key is a subordinate key. The subordinate key is displayed until the representative key other than the related representative key is selected after the related representative key is selected.

  Note that the order of the setting items is not limited as long as the setting items can be distinguished from each other both in the operation condition and the display attribute. Moreover, you may increase / decrease the number of setting items as needed. The operating condition only needs to correspond to the input of at least one pointing device 11, but it is desirable to correspond to as many pointing devices 11 as possible. For example, it is desirable to correspond to a direction and distance input with a mouse or the like, a position on a device input with a touch panel or the like, or a specific key input with a keyboard or the like.

  The control unit 13 displays the character key image acquired from the keyboard storage unit 12 at a predetermined position on the display unit 14 based on the display attribute of the character key. When the input from the pointing device 11 is acquired, the character key is selected based on the operation condition of the character key, and the display of the character image is changed to indicate that the character key is selected. When the determination information is acquired from the pointing device 11, a character is input based on the operating condition of the selected character key and displayed on the display unit 14.

  Note that the display of the character image when the character key is selected is changed by the control unit 13 changing the color of the image. However, as long as the method can be distinguished from other character keys, the shape and the shape can be changed. The size may be changed, or an image for selection specified by a character key in advance may be used.

  The display unit 14 corresponds to the entire area that can be displayed by a display device such as a liquid crystal monitor or a projector, or a part thereof, and displays character key images, inputted characters, information necessary for processing in the present embodiment, and the like. .

  The image held by the character key may be any image. For example, a photo, an illustration, a music jacket, and the like are stored, and when the image is selected, processing such as a corresponding slide show and music playback is performed. You may do it. In addition, text data may be used instead of the image. In this case, the control unit 13 may convert the text data into an image and output it to the display unit 14. When the display unit 14 does not exist in the configuration of the character input device 1, the selected or determined character key or the input character may be guided by voice.

  Next, an outline of the operation of the character input device 1 configured as described above will be described.

  First, the control unit 13 reads the virtual keyboard 2 stored in the keyboard storage unit 12 and displays an image with the set coordinates and size based on the display attribute of the character key, for example, as shown in FIG. It is displayed at a predetermined position of the unit 14. In FIG. 3, the representative keys are displayed in a row in the vertical direction at the left end and the right end of the display unit 14. The position where the dependent key is displayed is shared with the position where the other dependent key is displayed, and is displayed when a specific condition held by the dependent key is satisfied. FIG. 3 is a screen immediately after the character input device 1 is activated, and the subordinate keys are not displayed. The control unit 13 detects the input of the pointing device 11 and starts the operation of the character input device 1 from a state where “A” is selected.

  When the character input device 1 is activated, it may be started in a state where a specific character key is selected, such as a state where “A” is selected. Moreover, it is possible to start with no character key being selected while displaying the subordinate keys.

  A character key is selected, and the character to be entered is one character of hiragana. Thereby, the word which combined the character freely can be input. The characters to be input may be characters other than hiragana, and may be characters such as katakana, alphabets, and numbers.

  Further, the character input by determining the character key may be a plurality of characters. For example, by using nouns, verbs, conjunctions, etc., as characters entered with the character keys, you can easily create long sentences such as “Today”, “Ha”, “Slow down”, “Soon”, “Home”, “Arrive”, etc. It becomes possible to make. Also, the input character may be the sentence itself. It is also possible to use a predictive conversion function such as that used in mobile phones to input words that have been input so far or previously stored phrases.

  The representative key is “Adan” of “Akasata ...”, and the characters “Idan”, “Udan”, “Edan”, and “Odan” following it are subordinate keys. Each subordinate key is associated with a representative key. For example, the subordinate keys “I”, “U”, “E”, “O” are associated with the representative key “A”, and the subordinate keys “KI”, “KU”, “KE”, “KO” , It is associated with the representative key “ka”.

  When the character key “Adan”, which is the representative key, is selected, the related subordinate keys are displayed on the display unit 14 and become selectable. For example, as shown in FIG. 3a, when the representative key “ta” is selected, the subordinate keys “chi”, “tsu”, “te”, and “to” related to “ta” are displayed next to “ta”. And can be selected.

  In the present embodiment, the condition that the subordinate key is displayed is that a related representative key is selected, and the condition that the subordinate key is not displayed is that a representative key other than the related representative key is selected. As a result, the space for displaying the dependent keys can be shared, and the user can effectively use the display unit. The operability can be greatly improved.

  In the state of FIG. 3a, select “ta → chi → tsu → te → to” and then select “ra”. Then, “chi”, “tsu”, “te” and “to” are displayed as shown in FIG. 3b. As shown in FIG. 3c, “RI”, “RU”, “RE”, and “RO” are displayed. The display attributes are set so as to be displayed next to the related representative keys when the condition is satisfied for each of the other subordinate keys.

  The display attribute of the character key may be specified in any way. For example, the subordinate key related to the representative key displayed on the left side of the display unit 14 is displayed when “left representative key is selected” and displayed when “right representative key is selected”. The sub keys related to the representative key displayed on the right side of the display unit 14 are displayed when “the right representative key is selected” and “the left representative key” is set. It may be set not to be displayed when “is selected”. By setting in this way, it becomes possible to select “ku” without selecting “ka” from the state where “te” is selected as shown in FIG. 4, and the number of operations can be further reduced. .

  In FIG. 3, the representative keys are displayed at both the left and right ends on the display unit 14, but may be displayed at both the upper and lower ends. By using both the left and right ends or the upper and lower ends, an operation using the end of the pointing device as a clue is possible, and the operability can be improved. When the virtual keyboard 2 is circular or elliptical, it may be displayed on the circumference.

  When the pointing device 11 is input, the control unit 13 selects a character key based on the operation condition of the character key of the virtual keyboard 2 stored in the keyboard storage unit 12. For example, in FIG. 2, the operation condition of “to” of the character key 20 is “te” when the pointing device 11 is used to input “←”, and “so” or “ It is set so that “ra”, which is a representative key not associated with itself, is selected when an input indicating “↓” is performed, and “→” is selected when an input indicating “→” is performed. In this way, “ra” is displayed next to “to” so that it can be selected next. For example, when inputting “tori”, conventionally “to → to → tsu → chi → ta” Compared to the need to perform the selection operation of →→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→ →→ Can do. When using a pushable touchpad, the input to indicate “←”, “↑”, “↓”, and “→” is an operation of tracing the surface of the touchpad with your finger leftward, upward, downward, or rightward. Corresponds. When the touch pad is depressed, the selected character key is determined, and the character set in the operating condition is input to a predetermined position on the display unit 14.

  When using a device such as a mouse, a trackball, a cursor key, or a rotary switch that does not correspond to a character key on the pointing device 11, the character key is selected by inputting the operation direction of the pointing device 11. Set the operating conditions to Further, even when a device such as a touch pad or a touch panel that can correspond to a position on the pointing device 11 and a character key is used, the character key may be selected as an input in the operation direction. As a result, a fine operation is possible, and the pointing device can be made small.

  When a touch pad or touch panel for inputting a position on the device is used as the pointing device 11, the virtual keyboard 2 is stored in the keyboard storage unit 12 so that the position on the device corresponds to each character key as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. Is preferably stored as.

  FIG. 5 a is a correspondence diagram of the operating conditions of the “left menu” used when the representative key displayed on the left side of the display unit 14 is selected, and FIG. 5 b is the representative displayed on the right side of the display unit 14. FIG. 10 is a correspondence diagram of operating conditions of a “right menu” used when a key is selected. 5a and 5b, the control unit 13 selects the character key corresponding to the position on the device based on the correspondence diagram of the operating conditions of the virtual keyboard 2.

  FIG. 6 shows the position on the touch pad and the position of the finger 3 to be operated when the touch pad is used as the pointing device 11. The touch pad outputs the position of the center of gravity of the area where the touch pad and the finger 3 are in contact with each other. Therefore, there is an area 31 that is difficult to specify in a normal operation. This area can be specified by performing a special operation different from usual, such as using the fingertip or deforming the finger using the inner frame of the device. When selecting a character key using the position on the touchpad, an unrelated representative key is not inadvertently selected by setting an adjacent unrelated representative key in an area 31 that cannot be specified by normal operation. Therefore, operational errors can be reduced. For example, in the state of “left menu” in FIG. 5A, the character keys “ha”, “ma”, “ya”, “ra”, and “wa” for switching to the “right menu” cannot be designated by normal operation on the right side of the touchpad. The character keys “a”, “ka”, “sa”, “ta”, and “na” for switching from the “right menu” to the “left menu” in FIG. 5b cannot be designated by normal operation on the left side of the touchpad. By setting the area 31, the user may inadvertently select the right menu while operating the “left menu”, or may inadvertently select the “right menu” while operating the “left menu”. Can be prevented and operability can be improved. In addition, “A”, “KA”, “SA”, “TA”, “NA” in the “left menu” state and “HA”, “MA”, “YA”, “RA”, “WA” in the “right menu” state can be normally operated. By setting the area to a large area, it is easy to select related representative keys, and it is difficult to select non-related representative keys, and operability can be greatly improved. In this case, the correspondence between the position on the touch pad and the character key is different when the “left menu” is operated and when the “right menu” is operated.

  Note that when using a device such as a mouse, a trackball, or a rotary switch that cannot correspond to a character key on a position on the pointing device 11, the input of the pointing device direction and distance exceeds a certain acceleration. Even if it is possible to select a representative key other than the related representative key, the same effect can be obtained.

  Also, when using a device such as a cursor key to input by pressing a switch, it is possible to select a representative key other than the related representative key by pressing and holding the key for a certain time or longer. Is obtained.

  In this way, when selecting a representative key other than the related representative keys, it is desirable to set the key so that it cannot be easily selected by a normal operation in order to prevent erroneous operation. However, if it is possible to easily select a representative key other than the related representative key, it may be set so that it can be easily selected.

  In addition, when a subordinate key is selected, the operation condition may be set so that a subordinate key other than the subordinate key having the same related representative key cannot be selected. For example, when “te” is selected, it is set so that subordinate keys other than the subordinate keys “chi”, “tsu”, “to”, etc., whose related representative keys are the same cannot be selected until another representative key is selected. To do. When a touch pad or the like that uses a position on the device as an input is used as the pointing device 11, it is realized by setting the correspondence between the position on the touch pad and the character key as an operation condition as shown in FIG. When the device for inputting the direction is used as the pointing device 11, it is realized by not setting the selection operation for the input of “↑” and “↓” of the pointing device 11 under the operation conditions of FIG. 2. By doing so, it is possible to prevent a character on another line from being inadvertently selected by the input of the pointing device 11 and to improve operability.

  Hereinafter, the overall operation of the character input device 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  In FIG. 8, the control unit 13 first performs an initialization process shown in FIG. 9 described later (step S100). When the initialization process is completed, preparation for inputting characters is completed.

  Next, the control unit 13 determines whether or not a determination operation has been performed by the pointing device 11 (step S1). If the determination operation has been performed (Yes in step S1), a character key determination process described later is performed (step S200), and a character is input.

  If the determination operation has not been performed (No in step S1), it is determined whether or not the selection operation has been performed by the pointing device 11 (step S2). If a selection operation has been performed (Yes in step S2), a character key selection process described later is performed (step S300).

  Next, the control unit 13 determines whether or not an operation for terminating the character input device has been performed (step S3). If the end operation has been performed (Yes in step S3), the process of the character input device ends. If the end operation has not been performed (No in step S3), the process returns to the process of step S1 and the process of the character input device. Execute. The end operation is an instruction to end the operation of the character input device 1 and corresponds to a specific input of the pointing device 11.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the initialization process of the character input device. In FIG. 9, the control unit 13 first reads the virtual keyboard 2 from the keyboard storage unit 12 (step S101).

  Next, the control unit 13 displays a character key image on the display unit 14 based on the character key display conditions of the virtual keyboard 2 (step S102).

  Next, the representative key “A” is selected as an initial state (step S103), and the display state of the image “A” is changed to display a subordinate key related to “A” (step S104). .

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing character key determination processing. First, the control unit 13 refers to the operation condition of the selected character key (step S201). Next, a character is input based on the operating conditions, the character is displayed in a predetermined area of the display unit 14 (step S202), and the character determination process is terminated. When the determined character is output to a device or program other than the character input device 1, it is performed in the character key determination processing flowchart.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the character key selection process. First, the control unit 13 refers to the input of the pointing device 11 (step S301).

  Next, referring to the operation condition of the currently selected character key (step S302), a character key is newly selected based on the input of the pointing device 11 and the operation condition of the character key (step S303).

  Then, the character key image selected immediately before is restored to the original image, and the newly selected character key is displayed in a different color so that it can be seen that it has been selected (step S304). The process ends.

  The configuration described in the above embodiment is merely a specific example and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Any configuration can be employed within the scope of the effects of the present application.

  As described above, the character input device, method, and program according to the present invention enable intuitive and efficient character input. For example, characters of mobile terminals such as in-vehicle terminals and mobile phones that require high operability, for example. Useful for input.

The block diagram of the character input device 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing showing the structure of the virtual keyboard 2 which concerns on embodiment of this invention The figure showing the example of a display of the character key which concerns on embodiment of this invention The figure showing the example of a display of the character key which concerns on embodiment of this invention The figure showing the example of a display of the character key which concerns on embodiment of this invention The figure showing the example of a display of the character key which concerns on embodiment of this invention The figure showing an example of the corresponding position on the touchpad concerning the embodiment of the present invention. The figure showing an example of the corresponding position on the touchpad concerning the embodiment of the present invention. The figure showing an example of the field setting on the touchpad concerning the embodiment of the present invention. The figure showing the correspondence example of the touchpad and character key which concern on embodiment of this invention The flowchart showing operation | movement of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart showing the initialization process of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart showing the determination process of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart showing the selection process of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Character input device 2 Virtual keyboard 3 Finger 11 Pointing device 12 Keyboard control unit 13 Control unit 14 Display unit 31 Area not normally touched on touch pad

Claims (15)

Select an arbitrary character key by moving to another adjacent character key from the character keys composed of the representative key and the subordinate key related to the representative key, or determine the selected character key A pointing device that performs input for
A keyboard storage unit for storing operation conditions at the time of determination and selection for each character key;
A control unit for controlling the operation at the time of determination or selection of each character key based on the input of the pointing device and the operation condition for each character key stored in the keyboard storage unit;
The said control part is a character input device controlled to be movable to the 2nd 2nd representative key adjacent from the predetermined subordinate key relevant to a 1st representative key.   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the character key is a single character.   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the character key is a character having two or more characters.   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the representative key is a kana character.   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device directly selects the character key by designating a position on the pointing device.   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device selects the character key by inputting a direction and a distance.   The character according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays the character key in accordance with control of the control unit, wherein the representative key is displayed on the display unit in a plurality of groups. Input device.   The character input device according to claim 7, wherein the representative keys are divided into two groups and are displayed at both upper and lower ends or left and right ends of the display unit.   The position where the subordinate key is displayed is shared with the position where another subordinate key is displayed, and other subordinate keys sharing the display position are not displayed when a subordinate key is displayed. The character input device according to claim 7.   The operation condition for selecting a second representative key adjacent to a predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key is different from the operation condition for selecting between other character keys. Character input device.   An operation condition for selecting a second representative key adjacent to a predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key is to designate positions within specific regions at both the upper and lower ends or the left and right ends on the pointing device. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the character input device is a character input device.   The operating condition for selecting the second representative key adjacent to the predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key is that the pointing device direction and distance are input at a certain acceleration or higher. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the character input device is characterized.   The operation condition for selecting a second representative key adjacent to a predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key is to keep pressing the pointing device for a predetermined time or more. The character input device described in 1. A keyboard storage step for storing operation conditions at the time of determination and selection for each character key of a character key composed of a representative key and a subordinate key related to the representative key;
A control step for controlling the operation at the time of determination or selection of each character key based on the operation condition for each character key stored in the keyboard storage step,
The control step is a character input method for controlling to move from a predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key to the adjacent second representative key. A character input program to be executed by a computer of a character input device,
In the computer,
A keyboard storage step for storing operation conditions at the time of determination and selection for each character key of a character key composed of a representative key and a subordinate key related to the representative key;
A control step for controlling the operation at the time of determination or selection of each character key based on the operation condition for each character key stored in the keyboard storage step;
A character input program for causing the control step to execute control so as to be movable from a predetermined subordinate key related to the first representative key to the adjacent second representative key.

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