JP5463241B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device for character input.

  Some input devices for inputting characters include, for example, a mechanical keyboard or a numeric keypad or a touch panel on which a keyboard or numeric keypad is displayed. The touch panel has many advantages such as a high degree of freedom in key layout and an intuitive operation. For this reason, in recent years, the number of input devices equipped with touch panels has increased rapidly. When inputting to the touch panel, it is necessary to display a plurality of keys on the touch panel. However, when a key for accepting input such as a numeric keypad or a full keyboard is displayed on the touch panel having a small display area, the displayed key is changed to the user's finger. It may be smaller than the area. In this case, when the user performs input to the touch panel with a finger, the user may accidentally press a plurality of keys.

  The operation of the conventional touch panel when a plurality of keys are pressed simultaneously will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 (see, for example, Patent Document 1). FIG. 11 shows a state where the user is pressing a plurality of keys. Specifically, when the user inputs “honjitsuha” by inputting Roman characters, the user tries to press the key “A” to input the tenth character “a”, and mistakenly “A” and “ It looks as if "S" is being pressed. In a conventional touch panel, when a user's finger touches over a plurality of keys, characters having a large contact area between the finger and the key are displayed on the display. Since the contact area 532 related to the key “S” is larger than the contact area 531 related to the key “A”, the character “s” corresponding to the key “S” is not the “A” intended by the user as shown in FIG. Will be displayed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-127796

  In the conventional touch panel, when the user presses a plurality of keys, an erroneous character is displayed unless the contact area between the user's finger and the intended key is the largest. As the size of the key decreases, it becomes more difficult to press the intended key (correct key) so that the contact area is maximized. When an unintended character (wrong character) is displayed, the user must delete the displayed character and press the key corresponding to the correct character again. This work is troublesome.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art is to provide an input device in which correct characters are easily displayed when an input is accidentally made across a plurality of keys (input areas). It is to provide.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the input device according to the first aspect is
A first display for displaying a plurality of keys to which characters are assigned;
A second display for displaying characters;
When an input is made with a pressed object, an input area that is set for each of the plurality of keys and is displayed among the input areas for displaying characters assigned to the keys on the second display unit is detected. An input detector;
A storage unit for storing character arrangement patterns;
A control unit that controls the second display unit to display a character of a key corresponding to the input region when the input detection unit detects an input to the input region;
When the control unit detects an input across a plurality of input areas, the control unit compares the characters displayed on the second display unit with the character arrangement pattern stored in the storage unit, Predicting a character to be input by input across the plurality of input areas, and inputting a key input area to which the predicted character is assigned from a key input area to which a character not predicted by the prediction is assigned And controlling the second display unit to display the character of the key corresponding to the input area where the degree of contact of the input is the largest based on the input area after the setting. It is characterized by.

An input device according to the second aspect is
A first display for displaying a plurality of keys to which characters are assigned;
A second display for displaying characters;
When an input is made with a pressed object, an input area that is set for each of the plurality of keys and is displayed among the input areas for displaying characters assigned to the keys on the second display unit is detected. An input detector;
A communication unit for communicating with a server in which a character arrangement pattern is stored;
A control unit that controls the second display unit to display a character of a key corresponding to the input region when the input detection unit detects an input to the input region;
When the input detection unit detects an input across a plurality of input areas, the control unit displays the character displayed on the second display unit and the character arrangement pattern stored in the server through the communication unit. Through communication with the server, predicting a character to be input in the input across the plurality of input areas by the comparison, and an input area of a key to which the predicted character is assigned, A key corresponding to an input area that is set to be larger than an input area of a key to which a character that is not predicted by the prediction is assigned, and that has the highest degree of contact of the input, based on the input area after the setting The second display unit is controlled to display the character.

  According to the input device according to the present invention configured as described above, even if an input is made across a plurality of keys (input areas) by mistake, correct characters can be easily displayed.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the input device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a display screen example of the display unit of FIG. FIG. 4 is a display screen example of the display unit of FIG. FIG. 5 is an example of vibration presented by the tactile sensation providing unit of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where the user is pressing a plurality of keys. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an input area according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a contact area according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a display screen example of the display unit of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an input area according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the user is pressing a plurality of keys on a conventional touch panel. FIG. 12 is a display screen example of a conventional touch panel.

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

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Examples of the input device 101 of the present invention include a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone terminal, a portable music player, a portable TV, a bank ATM (Automated Teller Machine), and a station ticket vending machine. The input device 101 includes a touch panel 102 including a display unit 103 and an input detection unit 104, a storage unit 105, a tactile sensation providing unit 106, and a control unit 107.

  A display unit (first display unit and second display unit) 103 is a key or button for inputting characters (hereinafter, a key, a button, an object for inputting a character, etc. are abbreviated as a key), In addition, the input character is displayed, and is configured using, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL display panel. Note that characters include not only hiragana, katakana and alphabets but also numbers and symbols. A character is assigned to the key. When an input is performed on a key, characters assigned to the key are displayed on the display unit 103. That is, the key indicates the input area corresponding to the character. When input is performed in a certain input area, characters assigned to keys corresponding to the input area are displayed on the display unit 103. It should be noted that the input area is not always fixed to the area of the key, and the input area can be set wider (or narrower) than the key. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the shape of the key and the input area coincide with each other unless input is performed across a plurality of keys. The character corresponding to the input area (key) means, for example, the character of the key corresponding to the input area and the character assigned to the key corresponding to the input area.

  The input detection unit 104 detects an input by a user's finger, a stylus pen or the like (pressed object), and is configured by a known method such as a resistance film method, a capacitance method, or an optical method. In particular, the input detection unit 104 detects an input to an input area (key) corresponding to a character. In order for the input detection unit 104 to detect an input, it is not essential for the pressed object to physically press the input detection unit 104. For example, when the input detection unit 104 is an optical type, the input detection unit 104 detects the position where the infrared rays on the input detection unit 104 are blocked by a finger, a stylus pen, or the like. There is no need to press it.

  The input detection unit 104 detects which input area (key) is input, and further, the degree of contact between the detected input area (key) and the pressed object (for example, area or pressure). For example, an area sensor whose output voltage changes according to the contact area and a pressure sensor whose output voltage changes according to the contact pressure are also included. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the degree of contact refers to the contact area.

  The storage unit 105 stores various input information, a (correct) character arrangement pattern, and the like, and also functions as a work memory. A (correct) character arrangement pattern is an arrangement of words (sentence correct in language) or a sentence or an alphabet array that is (correctly) kana-converted in romaji input.

  The tactile sensation providing unit 106 vibrates the input detection unit 104 and presents a tactile sensation to a user's finger or stylus pen (pressed object) that is pressing the input detection unit 104. For example, a vibration element such as a piezoelectric element It is configured using. The tactile sensation to be presented may be any vibration, and the frequency, period (wavelength), amplitude, and waveform can be appropriately set according to the tactile sensation to be presented.

  The control unit 107 controls and manages the entire input device 101 including each functional block of the input device 101. Here, the control unit 107 is configured as software executed on any suitable processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for each process (for example, DSP (Digital Signal Processor)). Can be configured. When the input detection unit 104 detects an input to the input area, the control unit 107 controls the display unit 103 to display the key characters corresponding to the input area. Other processing performed by the control unit 107 will be described in detail in the description of FIG.

  Hereinafter, a case where the user intends to input “Honjitsuha” will be described. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the input method is Japanese (kana) romaji input. The user tries to input "H", "O", "N", "J", "I", "T", "S", "U", "H", and "A". Suppose you also press the key.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing performed by the input device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a display screen example of the display unit. The display unit 103 includes, for example, a main display unit (second display unit) 111 and a key display unit (first display unit) 112 as shown in FIG. The key display unit 112 is for a user to input, and displays a plurality of keys to which characters are assigned. The main display unit 111 is for displaying the input result to the key display unit 112, and displays characters.

  First, when an input to a key displayed on the key display unit 112 is performed by a pressed object such as a user's finger or a stylus pen, the input detection unit 104 detects this input (step S101). That is, in step S101, it is detected which key (input area) is the input.

  Subsequently, based on the detection result of the input detection unit 104, the control unit 107 determines whether or not the input to the key is an input across a plurality of keys (step S102). When the input to only one desired key is performed (No in step S102), the control unit 107 accepts a character corresponding to the detected input as a character to be displayed on the main display unit 111 (step S103). . When the character to be displayed corresponds to a kana character (for example, the character to be displayed is a vowel (“A” “I” “U” “E” “O”)), the control unit 107 should display the character. The characters are kana converted and displayed on the main display unit 111 (step S104). In addition, when the character to be displayed does not correspond to the kana character (for example, the character to be displayed is a consonant), the control unit 107 displays the character to be displayed on the main display unit 111 (step S104). That is, alphabets are displayed on the main display unit 111. With each input up to “H”, “O”, “N”, “J”, “I”, “T”, “S”, “U”, and “H”, the display on the main display unit 111 is “h” as shown in FIG. , “Hon”, “hon”, “honj”, “honji” “honji t”, “honji ts”, “honjitsu”, “honji h”. As described above, in the present specification, when the character of the key corresponding to the input area (character corresponding to the key) is displayed on the main display unit 111 (second display unit), it corresponds to the input area. Characters that are actually assigned to keys (for example, O) are not only displayed as they are, but the letter “O” that is actually assigned to keys corresponding to input is already accepted as a character to be displayed. It should be noted that a mode of displaying “ho” in association with “H” (displayed) is also included. Further, in the present embodiment, for example, an uppercase letter “H” and a lowercase letter “h” are assigned to the key “H”, respectively. h ”is displayed. In the present specification, there is no particular difference between uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet. After displaying the accepted characters on the main display unit 111, the control unit 107 can present the tactile sensation to the pressed object by controlling the tactile sensation providing unit 106 to vibrate the input detection unit 104 (step S105). ). For example, the control unit 107 can cause the tactile sensation providing unit 106 to generate a sine wave having one cycle as shown in FIG.

  Next, a description will be given of a method of displaying characters when an input is performed across a plurality of keys, that is, an input of “A”. In the following description, an input that spans a plurality of keys is described as an input that spans two keys, but the same applies to an input that spans three or more keys. Note that the input over a plurality of keys is not only an input in which the times when the plurality of keys are pressed completely coincide with each other, but is short enough to be distinguished from an interval at which the user continuously inputs two characters in normal character input. Also includes input by pressing multiple consecutive keys at intervals. This short interval serving as a threshold is a matter that can be freely set in consideration of the pressing speed of the user, the processing speed of the touch panel, and the like.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the user has made an input across both the “A” and “S” keys. Then, the input detection unit 104 detects that the input is for the keys “A” and “S” (step S101), and the control unit 107 determines that the input is input across a plurality of keys (step S102). Yes).

  Subsequently, the control unit 107 predicts a character to be input next based on the character (character string) displayed on the main display unit 111 (step S106). The prediction is performed, for example, by comparing a (correct) character arrangement pattern stored in the storage unit 105 with a character (character string) displayed on the main display unit 111. Further, the control unit 107 stores the past user input history in the storage unit 105 and predicts a character to be input by comparing the input history with the character (character string) displayed on the main display unit 111. You can also. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the control unit 107 predicts a character to be input based on a (correct) character arrangement pattern that is an alphabet arrangement associated with a kana character. Since “h” displayed on the main display unit 111 in the previous input is (correctly) converted into kana (corresponding to the kana character), there is a high possibility that a vowel is input in this input. Therefore, the control unit 107 predicts that a vowel (“A”, “I”, “U”, “E”, “O”) is a character to be input. That is, the displayed character is “h”, and the character arrangement patterns stored in the storage unit 105 are “ha”, “hi”, “hu”, “he”, and “ho”. Then, by comparing “h” with “ha”, “hi”, “hu”, “he”, and “ho”, the character to be input becomes a vowel (“A” “I” “U” “ E ”“ O ”). Note that since the user performs input across both the “A” and “S” keys, the control unit 107 predicts only “A” as a character to be input in an input across a plurality of input areas. (In the input over a plurality of input areas, a character to be input may be predicted from among the key characters respectively associated with the plurality of input areas.)

  Then, the control unit 107 enlarges the input area corresponding to the predicted character and sets it so as to be larger than the input area of the character not predicted by the prediction (step S107). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 107 sets an input area 121 larger than the key area for the character “A” and sets an input area 122 smaller than the key area for the character “S”. To do.

  After setting the input area, based on the input area after setting, the input detection unit 104 detects a contact area between the input object and a pressed object such as a user's finger (step S108). From FIG. 8, the contact area relating to the letter “A” is the contact area 131, and the contact area relating to the letter “S” is the contact area 132.

  Based on the detection result of the contact area by the input detection unit 104, the control unit 107 accepts a character (“A”) corresponding to the input region with the largest contact area as a character to be displayed on the main display unit 111 (step S109). ).

  Since the character to be displayed (“A”) is a vowel, the control unit 107 performs kana conversion on the character to be displayed and displays it on the main display unit 111 (step S104). That is, since the character “h” is displayed on the main display unit 111 in the previous input, the control unit 107 displays the corresponding hiragana (kana character) “ha” according to the configuration of “h” and “a” in FIG. As shown in FIG. After displaying the accepted characters on the main display unit 111, the control unit 107 can present the tactile sensation to the pressed object by controlling the tactile sensation providing unit 106 to vibrate the input detection unit 104 (step S105). ). Note that the control unit 107 can control the tactile sensation providing unit 106 so that a different tactile sensation is presented to the pressed object depending on whether or not the accepted character is an input across a plurality of keys.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 107 of the input device 101 stores the characters displayed on the main display unit 111 and the storage unit 105 when the input detection unit 104 detects an input over a plurality of input areas. The key to which the character that should be input by the input across multiple input areas is predicted and the input area of the key to which the predicted character is assigned is assigned the character that is not predicted The key characters corresponding to the input area with the highest degree of input contact are displayed based on the input area after setting. As the input area of the key to which the predicted character is assigned increases, the contact area with the pressed object tends to increase. Therefore, the predicted character is easily displayed on the main display unit 111. Since the predicted character is likely to be the character intended by the user, if the user accidentally inputs across multiple input areas, the character that is not intended by the user (wrong character) is displayed in the main display. The possibility of being displayed on the part 111 is reduced. As a result, the number of corrections of erroneous characters is reduced, and the efficiency of character input work is increased.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 107 predicts a character to be input by comparing the character displayed on the main display unit 111 with the (correct) character arrangement pattern stored in the storage unit 105. can do. This makes it easy to display characters that make up words and sentences (correct as a language) and characters that are (correctly) kana converted on the main display unit 111.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the drawings and examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various modifications and corrections based on the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that these variations and modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, the functions included in each member, each means, each step, etc. can be rearranged so as not to be logically contradictory, and a plurality of means, steps, etc. can be combined into one or divided. Is possible.

  In the description of the embodiment of the present invention described above, an alphabet array associated with a kana character as a (correct) character array pattern is stored in the storage unit 105, and a character to be input is predicted based on the alphabet array. It is assumed that it will be done. However, the (correct) character arrangement pattern is not limited to the alphabet arrangement associated with the kana characters, and a character string constituting a word described in the dictionary can also be selected. For example, when the user inputs the English word “fantastic”, it is assumed that the user has mistakenly input the “I” key and the “O” key by inputting the eighth character “i”. At this time, the control unit determines whether “fantasti” or “fantasto” corresponds to a character string constituting a (correct) character arrangement pattern. Since a word including “fantasto” does not exist as an English word, the control unit predicts that the character to be input is “i”. Then, the control unit sets the input area 221 of the character “I” to be larger than the input area 222 of the character “O” as shown in FIG. Since both “I” and “O” are vowels, if the (correct) character array pattern is an alphabet array associated with a kana character, not only “I” but also “O” is input. Predicted as a power character. Therefore, when the (correct) character arrangement pattern is a character string constituting a word described in the dictionary, a highly accurate prediction is realized. If there is a word including “fantasto”, the control unit compares the number of words composed of the letter “i” with the number of words composed of the letter “o”, and determines the number of candidates. The input area for a large number of characters can be maximized.

  In addition, when the key is pressed with a certain pressing load equal to or greater than a certain level, the control unit 107 can be configured to accept a character corresponding to the key. In this case, the input device 101 detects a pressing load on the input detection unit 104. For example, a load detection unit configured using an element that linearly reacts to a load such as a strain gauge sensor or a piezoelectric element. To prepare. When the input device 101 includes a load detection unit, the control unit 106 provides not only a vibration but a hard and hard touch feeling (real click feeling) that is felt when a mechanical key is pressed against a pressed object. The tactile sensation providing unit 106 can be controlled so as to be presented. In order to present a realistic click feeling, for example, in step S105, when the pressing load exceeds a certain value (for example, 1N [Newton]), the touch feeling is set to be presented. Thereby, the pressure sense of the user is stimulated until the pressing load exceeds a certain value, and when the pressing load exceeds the certain value, the tactile sensation providing unit 106 vibrates the input detection unit 104 to stimulate the user's tactile sense. Is possible. In this way, by stimulating the user's pressure and tactile sensation, it is possible to present the user with a hard and hard feel. The input detection unit 104 itself is not physically displaced like a mechanical key even when pressed, but when the user operates the mechanical key by presenting the touch feeling as described above to the touch target You can get the same realistic click feeling. As a result, the user can perform an input operation to the input detection unit 104, which originally does not have feedback by pressing, without a sense of incompatibility. A clicked hard tactile sensation can be realized by, for example, presenting a sine wave of 140 Hz to 500 Hz for one period or a rectangular wave for one period. In addition, when the tactile sensation providing unit 106 and the load detecting unit are configured using piezoelectric elements, the tactile sensation providing unit 106 and the load detecting unit can be configured by sharing the piezoelectric elements. This is because the piezoelectric element generates electric power when pressure is applied and deforms when electric power is applied.

  In addition, the “first display unit” and the “second display unit” in the description of the present embodiment may be configured with two screens by separate hardware, or one screen by one hardware. It may be configured by two display areas. The first display unit that displays a plurality of keys to which characters are assigned is configured integrally with the input detection unit, and displays the keys by drawing the keys and the like on the touch sensor. An input to the key may be detected.

  In addition, the input device 101 according to the present embodiment may include a communication unit that communicates with a server that stores a character arrangement pattern, instead of the storage unit 105 that stores a character arrangement pattern. In such an input device 101, when the control unit 107 detects an input that spans a plurality of input areas, the control unit 107 displays the characters displayed on the second display unit (main display unit 111) and the server. The stored character arrangement pattern is compared by communicating with the server via the communication unit, and the comparison predicts a character to be input by input across the plurality of input areas, and the predicted The input area of the key to which the character is assigned is set to be larger than the input area of the key to which the character not predicted by the prediction is assigned, and the touch of the input is based on the input area after the setting The character arrangement pattern is stored in the input device 101 by controlling the second display unit so as to display the character key corresponding to the input area having the largest degree. Even without the storage unit 105, by using a server that character array pattern is stored, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the input device 101 in the embodiment described above.

  The input device 101 according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 105 that stores character arrangement patterns. The storage unit 105 also includes an external storage unit that can be connected to the input device 101 through an interface such as a USB. Please note that.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Input device 102 Touch panel 103 Display part 104 Input detection part 105 Memory | storage part 106 Touch display part 107 Control part 111 Main display part 112 Key display part 121,122,221,222 Input area 131,132 Contact area

Claims (2)

A first display for displaying a plurality of keys to which characters are assigned;
A second display for displaying characters;
When an input is made with a pressed object, an input area that is set for each of the plurality of keys and is displayed among the input areas for displaying characters assigned to the keys on the second display unit is detected. An input detector;
A storage unit for storing character arrangement patterns;
A control unit that controls the second display unit to display a character of a key corresponding to the input region when the input detection unit detects an input to the input region;
When the control unit detects an input across a plurality of input areas, the control unit compares the characters displayed on the second display unit with the character arrangement pattern stored in the storage unit, Predicting a character to be input by input across the plurality of input areas, and inputting a key input area to which the predicted character is assigned from a key input area to which a character not predicted by the prediction is assigned And controlling the second display unit to display the character of the key corresponding to the input area where the degree of contact of the input is the largest based on the input area after the setting. An input device characterized by. A first display for displaying a plurality of keys to which characters are assigned;
A second display for displaying characters;
When an input is made with a pressed object, an input area that is set for each of the plurality of keys and is displayed among the input areas for displaying characters assigned to the keys on the second display unit is detected. An input detector;
A communication unit for communicating with a server in which a character arrangement pattern is stored;
A control unit that controls the second display unit to display a character of a key corresponding to the input region when the input detection unit detects an input to the input region;
When the input detection unit detects an input across a plurality of input areas, the control unit displays the character displayed on the second display unit and the character arrangement pattern stored in the server through the communication unit. Through communication with the server, predicting a character to be input in the input across the plurality of input areas by the comparison, and an input area of a key to which the predicted character is assigned, A key corresponding to an input area that is set to be larger than an input area of a key to which a character that is not predicted by the prediction is assigned, and that has the highest degree of contact of the input, based on the input area after the setting The input device controls the second display unit so as to display the characters.

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