JP2014135708A - Character input method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a character arrangement of virtual switches adapted for a tap/flick operation in the operation of selecting actual switches.SOLUTION: Any one of a plurality of virtual switches for alternative character selection displayed on an image display screen as virtual switches for character input is explicitly selectively displayed as a virtual switch ready for alternative character selection in a state to select a character, and each character assigned to the explicitly selectively displayed virtual switch ready for alternative character selection is alternatively selected under an analogous association between a character arrangement related to alternative selection from the virtual switches for alternative character selection and a switch arrangement related to alternative selection from actual switches for alternative selection where an alternative selection operation is to be executed.

Description

  The present invention forms a human interface in a computer, and includes a virtual switch in which Japanese kana characters, Western alphabet characters, and other document notation character groups specific to each language are displayed on an image display means, and a virtual switch The present invention also relates to a character input method and apparatus in a terminal device such as a computer, which performs character input for document creation in accordance with each language by merging with another switch that performs selection operation and instruction operation instead.

  The keyboard is the most practical means of human interface for inputting characters in computers, from the Genesis to the present of computers. This keyboard is currently used from large computers to portable ultra-small mobile computers. It is said that it is practically sufficient for the input of alpha beds in Western countries.

  However, the CPU that forms the brain of the computer has become ultra-compact, the computer itself has been incorporated into various electrical products, the era has entered the century of ubiquitous computing, and the relationship between humans and computers must maintain an increasingly strong relationship. The situation has to come.

  In Patent Document 1, four characters are assigned to one key top, the assigned characters are displayed on the key top, and a plurality of key tops to which a set of four characters is assigned are displayed. , Select a character group by selecting one, then tilt the selected key top to the one displaying the character and select the character. A character selection means is disclosed.

  In Patent Documents 2, 3, and 4, almost as in Patent Document 1, five multiple characters are assigned to one key top, and the assigned characters are displayed on the key top in the center, left, right, and up, By selecting and selecting one of a plurality of key tops consisting of a set of five character groups, the key top is displayed in the center by pressing it vertically. An actual key switch type character selection means using a real switch that selects a character and selects a character displayed in the tilted direction by tilting and pressing the key top is disclosed. Has been.

  On the other hand, as a human interface for transmitting information to a computer, a pointing device such as a mouse or a trackball, a means for recognizing the movement of a human body by a camera, a voice recognition means, a handwritten character recognition means, etc. Various interface devices have been proposed as to whether characters cannot be input.

  Among them, the character palette displayed on the monitor screen of the computer is selected by using a pointer that is moved by a mouse or trackball, and the characters are selected and a touch sensor is provided on the upper surface of the character palette. In recent years, many virtual switches have been proposed and put into practical use, such as selecting displayed characters and figures by touching them directly with a finger or stylus pen (touch).

  In the case of input using a conventional real keyboard (hereinafter referred to as a real keyboard), a switch that forms a human-operated entity is indispensable, and what is difficult to miniaturize is displayed on the monitor screen. In the character palette, the object that the person operates is a virtual switch. Similarly, the pointer that the person operates is composed of virtual figures and patterns in the shape of arrows and fingers that can move freely on the screen. It is a virtual keyboard with no substance projected on the monitor screen.

  Similarly, even in a virtual keyboard using a touch sensor, a switch that is touched by a human becomes a virtual switch that does not have a substance, which increases the flexibility of the character arrangement of the character palette and the shape and size of the key top. It is possible to change the display mode instantly and easily change the function of the virtual switch.

  As a result, in the character input method of the virtual keyboard by the virtual switch, the character arrangement of the character palette and the selection specification of the character selection are various, and the specification of the attack to the virtual switch, for example, the one by the pointer, A touch sensor such as a double-click has a variety of touch, tap, flick, etc., which are complicated.

  Patent Document 4 discloses a real key switch similar to Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above, but instead of the virtual key switch, each line of the Japanese syllabary diagram in Japanese kana characters is used. Is displayed on the key top of each character selection / selection virtual switch to indicate the key top, and the five moving directions and behaviors of the pointer indicated by the pointer indicate the five characters related to the first character group (consonant). A method for selecting a character (vowel) is described.

  This patent document 4 also describes a device using a substantial key switch. For this, it is indicated on the key top what characters are assigned in the direction in which the key top is tilted. It has not been.

  Patent Document 5 discloses a trackball that is gripped by a hand and rotates a ball, and a plurality of switches are arranged around the ball of the trackball, and each switch is selected by a thumb that rotates the ball It is described that two switches are provided under the ball and operated when the ball is pushed down.

  In Patent Document 6, a trackball ball is rotated with a chin or a lip around the jaw, and a plurality of switches are arranged around the trackball ball. It is described that a selection operation is performed with a chin or lips to be rotated, and when the ball is pushed down, the two switches below it are operated in order.

  In Patent Document 7, the first character group of each line of the Japanese syllabary diagram in Japanese kana characters is displayed on the key top pattern of each character selection / selection virtual switch, and the key top pattern is displayed on the fingertip or stylus pen. A method is described in which the user taps or flicks in either the vertical or horizontal direction (referred to as a gesture in Patent Document 7) and selects five character groups related to the line. .

  In this patent document 7, the selection corresponding characters are arranged diagonally, so that the selection can be made by flicking in the diagonal direction, and another selection corresponding element is arranged in the direction between the four vertical and horizontal directions. It is described that the number of alternative selection elements can be increased to four or more by flicking in the direction.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 8, Japanese kana characters and English alphabet characters are tapped and flicked using a 3 × 3 matrix-like character input virtual switch having first and second selection opportunities. It is described that the attribute of a character that requires input is changed by performing a flick operation in an oblique direction at the second selection opportunity.

  Further, Patent Document 9 discloses that Korean characters assigned to a standard keyboard are transferred to a virtual switch arranged in a 3 × 2 matrix, and characters are input. Is emulated on a virtual switch arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix based on the character arrangement assigned to the real keyboard.

  In Patent Documents 8 and 9, the character input virtual switch displayed on the television screen is normally pointed with a pointer by a trackball that is held and operated by a hand, like a conventional virtual switch. It is disclosed that a character can be input by a click operation.

  Further, in Patent Documents 11 and 12, multilingual characters assigned to a standard keyboard, and the arranged characters according to the appearance frequency of each language and the degree of relationship between the characters are performed by a tap / flick operation. A virtual keyboard having a 3 × 3 matrix structure for inputting characters has been filed by the applicant of the present invention.

  However, at present, the character arrangement of the virtual switch character palette displayed on the screen and the attack specification to the virtual switch have created various specifications depending on the language of the characters that require input. There is a drawback that it cannot be unified.

  In particular, in order to make common use among multiple languages and to apply the language of each country or region to a predetermined alternative selection virtual switch pattern, Japanese kana characters, English, French, Since Alphabed, which corresponds to each language such as German, differs in the origin of the language itself, it was difficult to coexist on a compact character palette.

  Now that the world has become stateless, in order to be able to handle multiple languages on the Internet, it is necessary to find some commonality and create an integrated human interface environment.

For example, paying attention to the unique attributes of characters, hiragana characters (hereinafter referred to as kana or kana characters), katakana characters (hereinafter referred to as kana or kana characters), vowels, consonants, clear sounds, Attributes can be divided into muddy sounds, semi-turbid sounds, straight sounds, stuttering sounds, etc. In the case of the English alphabet, attributes can be divided into uppercase letters, lowercase letters, vowels, consonants, accents, and the like.
Similarly, a Hangul character can be divided into consonant vowels, vowel vowels, single vowels, compound vowels, and the like.

However, it is difficult and practically impossible to find attributes that are common to all multilingual languages such as national languages and regional languages around the world. In consideration of the above, a virtual keyboard in which virtual switches for each language are arranged, that is, a character input standby screen (corresponding to a character palette, but in this specification, a basic input screen that is always displayed) is formed, Furthermore, when constructing a new character array and operation method, there are as few exceptions as possible between languages, simplifying the operation procedure, sharing operability between different languages, and the flow of operations. A new virtual switch that enables seamless exchange between languages, attributes, numbers, symbols, etc. without stopping or returning Character input methods and devices there is a need for that.
Patent Documents 7 to 12 have been proposed for the purpose of solving the above-described problems.

  In particular, in the future of computer generation, digital devices will be miniaturized, and the form will be far from independent personal computers. Tablet PCs, electronic dictionaries, mobile phones (including smartphones), digital cameras, still image viewers, video viewers , Voice recording / playback device, music playback device, electronic book reader, electronic textbook, other portable terminals, etc. have multiple functions, and all of them adopt a human interface with a monitor screen equipped with a touch panel As for character input, it is considered essential to shift from a real keyboard to a virtual keyboard (character input standby screen) using a virtual switch.

  However, on the other hand, the monitor screens of digital televisions and personal computers have been increased in size, and it has become difficult to make a human interface and a character input screen that can be operated by directly touching display characters.

  When moving from a real keyboard to a virtual keyboard, keep in mind that a digital divide that makes a difference in the benefits of digital evolution, depending on the language used, should never occur. I must.

  In the present invention, when the transition from the real keyboard to the virtual keyboard is performed, in order to facilitate the transition of the English alphabet input, particularly the character input as a sentence, the English alpha bed characters in Patent Documents 11 and 12 are used. 3 × 3 or 4 × 3 matrix proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2003-08249 and 2004-12 for alpha-letter character input using a combination of characters similar to a plurality of character groups each including a set of five characters. In the virtual switch for character input of the structure, it can be easily input as words of each language, and this character input method and the technology of the virtual switch for character input configured by using the method are separated from the operator. By the way, the character input virtual switch displayed on the large monitor screen that cannot be touched directly by the operator, or the flick input operation because the screen is too small It is an object of the present invention to provide a character input method and apparatus that can follow the character array of the character input virtual switch suitable for document input as it is, even in a character input virtual switch having a resolution lower than the above resolution.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-24636 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-265618 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-49272 JP 2000-112636 A JP 2005-216195 A JP 2006-139327 A JP 2009-266236 A JP 2012-027741 A JP2012-060545A JP 2012-177906 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-087773 Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-089774

  The issues we are trying to solve are as Japanese kana characters, English, French, German, etc. Alphabed characters, Korean Hangul characters, Thai, Arabic, etc. Coordinate with each language, eliminate complicated rules and complicated procedures, and select words and sentences intended to be input by the operator according to the appearance of each character in the character set according to the language used. , For character input of tap / flick operation developed specifically for touch panel so that input finger can follow the extremely compact input operation path and complete input as words and phrases Use the virtual switch and its character layout as it is on the standby screen for tap / flick operations and do not use the touch panel or touch panel. Without contacting the and to allow the character input is to provide a character input method device.

  Entering the mobile computing era, the character input interface uses a touch panel and a character input pad with a virtual switch displayed on the monitor screen, and the virtual switch is operated by an appropriate pointing means to input characters. Japanese kana characters have achieved easy-to-understand and easy-to-operate character input using a character input screen with a small number of characters as in Patent Documents 4 and 7, while others Languages, especially English, German, French, etc. (hereinafter each language using the alphabet is abbreviated as English, etc.) For conventional arrangements for touch sensing (multiple selection of characters by pressing a key multiple times in succession) The touch-tap flick operation, which is an extension of the “top selection method”, has been adopted, and no positive measures have been taken, making it inconsistent with Japanese kana characters. There is a mismatch in the character input of portable terminal devices that do not identify the mobile phone, electronic books, electronic dictionaries, mobile notebook computers, and the like.

As a request regarding character input, an elderly person or an unskilled person is desired to have an easy-to-understand even at a low speed, no complicated rules, and few options that are not hidden and displayed.
However, on the other hand, it is certain that a character input method capable of inputting characters at a high speed even if a high level of skill is required, and for that purpose, the character input means of Patent Documents 8 to 12 are proposed. Has been.

  Patent Documents 11 and 12 consider that the redundancy of the character selection operation is deleted by displaying a virtual switch on an image display screen provided with a touch panel and performing a tap / flick operation input on the virtual switch. A 3 × 3 matrix virtual switch similar to the 3 × 4 matrix input standby screen for inputting kana characters in Japanese syllabary shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-28256. Provides a character method and device using virtual switches in English and other languages with an interface that approximates operability and basic specifications, and is consistent with this 3 × 3 matrix structure to improve input efficiency Text means with an input area with a hotspot.

  A means for selecting a character by tapping and flicking a virtual switch displayed on the image display screen with the touch panel by a finger or a stylus pen or the like is selected by moving the pointing means away from the touch panel. Since it is an indispensable requirement to move in the dimensional space, pointer operations such as arrows of pointing means operated with a normal mouse etc. should be executed by simulating by replacing the input operation with a pointer. Is an impossible operation.

  In the character selection for selecting and selecting a large number of characters with this two alternative selection opportunities, the end of the first selection opportunity and the beginning of the second selection opportunity are overlapped and merged. The end of the selection opportunity can be transferred to the beginning of the first selection to the virtual switch that requires the next selection by escaping the pointer to the three-dimensional space.

  In this case, the effect of movement of the pointer in the three-dimensional space differs depending on whether the character selection is examined in units of one character or in units of one word unit or one paragraph unit.

  On the touch panel, the first selection starts when the touch sensor is touched. When the touch sensor is touched, the first selection has already been completed, and the behavior of the pointer thereafter is the second selection. The behavior of the pointer becomes a tap on the spot touched and a flick in four directions after touching. The end of this behavior is due to the pointer leaving the touch panel and escaping to the three-dimensional space. This is the end of the examination for each character.

  When this situation is observed from the virtual switch side, on the touch panel, a virtual switch including a character intended for the first selection (touch-in) and a fingertip for selecting the second target character (touch-out) (touch-out) It can be seen that the behavior of the (pointer) is performed in one behavior.

  This one-behavior character selection operation is performed in a chain through a three-dimensional space, where one character selection is made to correspond to one behavior of the fingertip, and one character is originally selected by requiring two selection confirmation actions. Is replaced with a continuous single behavior selection operation to reduce redundancy.

  This tap / flick operation to the virtual switch using the touch panel reduces the redundancy in principle in the selection means to select one of many options regardless of the character type and character arrangement of the language arranged on the virtual switch. There is work to do.

  However, in English, etc., character input is in units of one word (word), one paragraph (standard phrase, paragraph), and reduced redundancy, ease of input, ease of remembering, expandability of use, etc. Then, like the character arrangement of the keyboard, the character arrangement assigned to the virtual switch standby screen (the screen for executing the tap / flick operation) must be taken into consideration.

Character arrangements related to character input are the same as those in Japanese keyboards, such as Japanese alphabets, or combinations of letters that have been well known since ancient times, and English quatity and dovolac arrangements. Depending on the characteristics of the sentence in a language such as English, it may be an array in which the selection efficiency is probabilistically increased in accordance with the appearance frequency of characters and the combination frequency (degree of association) between consonants.
In addition, there are many newly developed character input arrangements for long-term use in combination with future flick operation development.

  The combination of a plurality of characters assigned to the virtual switch and the mutual positional relationship between the plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches for selecting / selecting the plurality of characters are as described above when the pointer such as the fingertip moves in the three-dimensional space. This movement path has an important relationship with the one-to-one mapping relationship with respect to the spelling of words (words).

  It is preferable for the human interface to use the arrangement of the selected character string for character input over a long period of time, and this increases the proficiency of the human interface.

  In English, the proficiency level related to character input acquired by an individual learns and stores the spelling of a word accurately and the movement path of a fingertip that moves the space on the virtual switch to input the word. Also, even in Japanese Japanese syllabary arrangements, learning and storing the movement path of fingertips when inputting kanji idioms and fixed phrases, as well as the position of particles (tenaniha), prompting sounds, pronunciation, and long sounds. The skill level thus learned and stored can reach individual special skills and skills as individual-specific abilities corresponding to the personal property relating to character input.

  In addition, the proficiency level related to special skills and skills for many words and idioms that have been improved by individuals as they trained in their youth can be remembered even when the multiplication tables they trained in childhood have become older. As can be seen, the special skills and skills that follow the movement path for each word related to the character arrangement by tap flick input acquired in the early years are not easily reduced even in the old age.

  This special skill and skill is based on the assumption that a tap / flick operation using a touch panel can be used as a human interface, and the individual's learning ability is exhibited on a character input standby screen having a specific character arrangement.

  However, the environment that requires character input is not limited to an environment in which an image display screen provided with a touch panel can be accessed.

  For example, in the future aging society, a large TV will be attached to the center of the living room, and the TV will be viewed from a remote location, and the TV will be connected to the Internet using a monitor screen. Use it to create text and image content, use a large TV environment, and attach a large image display monitor to the monitor screen a little away from the center or at a high place where you can not touch the screen directly. A presentation environment where the presenter shakes his hand to give a presentation, and a small monitor operating environment for operating a small monitor screen such as a wristwatch-type terminal, a very small mobile phone, and a digital camera, and a head For use with special monitors such as mount displays and projectors Also, it is raised as those that can not be character input by the tap-flick operation.

  In particular, in an aging society in the future, those who are familiar with character input arrangements in Japanese, English, and other languages are also able to freely use personal computers and smartphones in the normal healthy life, and input characters by tapping and flicking. In the old age, the main part of the body was damaged, and the monitor screen suspended from the top with the suspension arm, the monitor screen of the head mounted display mounted on the head, and the ceiling wall surface with the projector In a bed supine operation environment, such as operating a personal computer screen, Internet screen, or TV screen while watching the monitor screen projected on the monitor, monitor the special skills and skills of character input using tap and flick input acquired normally. It becomes an environment that can not be demonstrated against the screen.

  The present invention exerts a mastered ability in the character arrangement of tap / flick input even in the above-mentioned large TV utilization environment, presentation environment, minimal monitor operation environment, and bed supine operation environment using a special monitor, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a character input method and apparatus capable of inputting characters close to normal childhood even for people who have a brain or physical function disorder after adulthood and cannot perform tap flick input.

According to the present invention, the above problem is solved as follows.
(1) Character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) in which any one of a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches displayed on the image display screen as a character input virtual switch can select a character As an explicit selection display,
For each character assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) that is explicitly selected and displayed, the character arrangement related to the selection of the character selection / selection virtual switch and the selection selection operation are executed. An alternative selection is performed via an alternative selection switch that performs an alternative selection that is similarly associated with the switch arrangement.
In this way, the first selection operation of the character input virtual switch displayed on the monitor screen is performed on the virtual switch of the monitor screen, and each option of the second character selection virtual switch is explicitly specified. It is possible to perform character selection of each character that should be explicitly selected by another selection switch while being displayed and visually observed on the monitor screen, away from the monitor screen. As a result, even at the end of the first selection, there is no obstacle on the monitor screen such as a fingertip or a hand that disturbs the display, and the second character selection is actually performed. The character selection switch is located away from the monitor screen, near the monitor screen, or in the hands, hands, feet, or chin of a remote operator. You It is possible.
This does not require that the first alternative selection operation and the second alternative selection operation be performed by repeating the same alternative selection method using a touch sensor or the like provided on the image display screen. Therefore, the physical (including software) switch means for performing the first selection and the physical (including software) switch means for performing the second selection can be performed separately.

(2) In the above item (1), the character input virtual switch imitates the character arrangement of the real keyboard.
In this way, since the existing character arrangement is applied, there is no new problem such as standardization.

(3) In the above item (2), the character arrangement of the actual keyboard is a quatity arrangement.
In this way, since the existing character arrangement is applied, there is no new problem such as standardization.

(4) In the above item (2), the character arrangement of the actual keyboard is a dovolac arrangement.
In this way, since the existing character arrangement is applied, there is no new problem such as standardization.

(5) In the above item (2), the character array of the actual keyboard is the character array of each language assigned to the standard keyboard according to each language.
In this way, since the existing character arrangement is applied, there is no new problem such as standardization.

(6) In the above item (1), the character input virtual switch defines a character arrangement of a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches according to the alphabetical order.
In this way, the character arrangement of the alphabet is determined from ancient times, and the character arrangement is applied in that order, so that there is no new problem such as standardization.

(7) In the above item (1), the character input virtual switch determines a character arrangement of a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches according to one or both of the appearance frequency of characters and the degree of relationship between characters. It becomes.
In this way, the operation frequency of the switching movement of the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is reduced according to the appearance frequency of the characters and the degree of the relationship between the characters, and the character selection selection with a high switching frequency is performed. Since the selection virtual switch (current switch) can form a hot spot that gathers in one place, the character input operation can be made efficient.

(8) In the above item (7), the character arrangement of the plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches is a character arrangement corresponding to the appearance frequency of the alphabet in English.
In this way, the operation frequency of the switching movement of the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is reduced according to the appearance frequency of the alphabetic characters and the degree of the relationship between the characters, and the frequency of the switching is selected. Since the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) having a high value can form a hot spot that gathers at a specific part, the character input operation can be made efficient.

(9) In the above item (7), the character arrangement of the plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches is arranged in accordance with the appearance frequency of English alphabets and the degree of relation between consonants.
In this way, the operation frequency of the switching movement of the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is reduced according to the appearance frequency of the alphabet characters and the degree of relation between the alphabet characters, and the switching is selected. Since the frequently selected character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) can form a hot spot that gathers at a specific part, the character input operation can be made efficient.

(10) In the above item (1), the character input virtual switch has a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches in a Japanese alphabet.
If it does in this way, since the character arrangement defined from ancient times is used, the subject of standardization etc. will not newly arise.

(11) In any one of the above items (1) to (10), a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches displayed on the image display screen are tapped / flicked via a touch sensor provided on the image display screen. This is a character input virtual switch that selects and selects each character assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch by operation.
In this way, it is possible to solve some problems that the tap / flick operation has.
For example, if a touch sensor is provided on a large monitor screen, it becomes expensive, and it becomes difficult to see the entire screen for viewing or working at a touchable distance.
Further, it is possible to eliminate the fact that the tap / flick operation cannot be operated away from the monitor screen.
Most importantly, the path of idioms that have been experienced and learned by the tap flick operation and can be used as a skill that has been trained as it is on a character input screen that does not perform the tap flick operation.

(12) In any one of the above items (1) to (11), the character input virtual switch is configured by arranging character selection / selection virtual switches in a 3 × 3 matrix.
This makes it possible to move to any position, which is a characteristic unique to a 3x3 matrix, by using a single moving operation, and by using a simple and highly symmetric matrix structure, making it compact. Therefore, it is possible to form a unified character input environment that is rich in decorative design and has high functionality corresponding to various character types and character arrangements.

(13) In any of the above items (1) to (12), the character selection selection virtual switch or the character selection selection virtual switch (current switch) is the character selection selection selection virtual switch or character selection selection selection virtual Characters representing switches (current switches) are arranged in the center, and four characters are arranged in the four directions on the left, right, top, and bottom of the periphery.
In this way, with the representative option at the center, the direction line is orthogonal at the center, and the other four options are arranged in the direction in which the direction line is radially directed from the center to the most geometrical. A five-choice selection switch that is structurally simple and easy for anyone to understand can be configured, and a blind operation can be easily performed without looking at the selection switch itself.

(14) In any of the above items (1) to (13), the character selection / selection virtual switch or the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is the character selection / selection selection virtual switch or character selection / selection selection virtual Characters representing switches (current switches) are arranged in the center, and characters, symbols, or instructions are arranged in any of the diagonal diagonals around them.
In this way, when the character selection / selection virtual switch originally assigned as the five-option selection switch is selected as the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch), diagonally diagonally, Extended characters, symbols and instructions can be added.

(15) In the above item (14), the character is a vowel sound having the same attribute as the sound of a kana character or a sound.
In this way, it is possible to select the kana characters in the Japanese syllabary arrangement, the stuttering of the most frequent “I” vowel as the character of the overnight sound, and include the stuttering in this Japanese syllabary arrangement. Can be stored in a 3 × 3 matrix.

(16) In the above item (14), the character is a full-width or half-width separator.
In this way, the last character of the word is selected without changing the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) after selecting any character in the half-width space that is an English delimiter. Subsequent to this, you can enter a delimiter space.
The same applies to the delimiters for Korean characters. In Japanese, it is easy to adjust the character spacing and the indentation at the beginning of a line.

(17) In the above item (14), the symbol is a symbol related to four arithmetic operations.
In this way, it is possible to input four arithmetic symbols and numbers using two five-choice selection switches that form character input virtual switches, and two number virtual switches and symbol virtuals in a 3 × 3 matrix. When the switch is used, the input related to the numerical calculation similar to the numeric keypad switch can be performed.

(18) In the above item (14), the command is a command for changing the attribute of the character assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch or the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch).
In this way, the attributes of the characters that can be entered that are currently assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) can be changed temporarily just before the input, so the first character of the English word Can be easily capitalized, hiragana characters can be mixed with katakana characters, and French or German accented or accented characters can be entered.

(19) In the above item (18), the character attribute is any one of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, hiragana, katakana, clear sound, muddy sound, semi-voiced sound, consonant, vowel, accent, and an attribute unique to each language.
In this way, the attributes of the characters that can be entered that are currently assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) can be changed temporarily just before the input, so the operation for changing the attributes can be performed. Therefore, it is not necessary to operate a function expansion unit different from the control of the character input mode.
As a result, the first character of the English word can be capitalized, a katakana character can be added to a flat character, and an accented or accented character in French or German can be easily input.

(20) In the above item (14), the command is a command assigned to a shortcut key of an operation system in a computer.
In this way, on the keyboard, a plurality of fingers of the left hand are used to assign a shortcut key determined by a combination pressing operation of a plurality of keys in an oblique direction in the same procedure as selecting one character. It is also possible to operate with just the thumb of the user, and when entering English letters by tapping and flicking, the assignment in the diagonal direction is often undefined and vacant. In graphic applications that can define many shortcut keys and do not require many character inputs, the input controller can be used as a human interface that also serves as a trackball pointer.

(21) In any one of the above items (1) to (20), a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches displayed on the image display screen as character input virtual switches are displayed as a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches. A shadow mask that clearly indicates the area is displayed in advance in a transparently superimposed state for each character selection / selection virtual switch.
In this way, the area of the one-by-one character selection / selection virtual switch can be visually observed separately, and the buttons of the actual switch can be visually observed.

(22) In any one of the above items (1) to (21), the plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches include a shadow mask that clearly indicates a region of the character selection / selection virtual switch, and the character selection / selection virtual switch A character mask for displaying each character assigned to is displayed in advance in a transparently superimposed state.
In this way, the area of each character selection / selection virtual switch can be visually separated as if the buttons of the actual switch are lined up, and assigned to each character selection / selection virtual switch. The displayed characters are also visually classified and displayed, and the entire character arrangement can be clearly visually confirmed.

(23) In any one of the above items (1) to (22), the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is any one of brightness, saturation, and hue with respect to each of the surrounding character selection / selection virtual switches. In other words, the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is explicitly selected and displayed in a bright and conspicuous manner.
In this way, the character selection and selection virtual switch (current switch) including the currently selectable character is clearly displayed brighter than the other character selection and selection virtual switch as a switch in the current state. In the character input virtual switch, it is more visible than the other characters in the character selection one-selection virtual switch, and the center character figure displayed in the current state and the index characters in the left, right, top and bottom are displayed. As a result, the finger is unconsciously responding to the switch at the position corresponding to the target character that requires selection, and the character input selection operation is performed naturally. Can do.

(24) In any one of the above items (1) to (23), the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) displays each character assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch). The character mask to be selected and the current mask that is explicitly selected and displayed as a state in which the character can be selected are transparently overlapped to be explicitly selected and displayed.
In this way, each character selection / selection virtual switch can be always selected as a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch), and can always be applied to any character selection / selection virtual switch.

(25) In the above item (24), the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) replaces each character assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) with the character selection / selection virtual switch. Characters that represent switches (current switches) are placed in the center, and character masks that display other characters in the left, right, up, and down directions around the representative characters and characters around the four sides The display area of the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is divided into a cross shape and explicitly selected and displayed with a current mask having an index frame drawn in a cross shape.
In this way, as a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch), it can be constantly applied to any character selection / selection virtual switch, and selectable characters can be displayed with an index frame that clearly indicates the direction of character placement. By picking up the characters, the selection direction of the characters that need to be selected can be transmitted to the operator, and the selection operation can be performed unconsciously.

(26) In the above item (25), the current mask displays another index notation displayed on the character mask at the four corners outside the cross-shaped index frame surrounding each character of the character mask.
In this way, apart from the characters in the index frame where characters are basically input, four expanded options are provided at the four diagonal corners outside the index frame, and nine-choice selection is performed. This nine-choice selection switch structure can give the operator a strong image of a 3x3 matrix structure and can arrange the switches at hand in a 3x3 matrix square And

(27) In the above item (26), the index notation is a figure indicating a character, a symbol, or an instruction.
In this way, the standard characters of the language that needs to be selected are the characters in the index frame of the five-choice selection switch that constitutes each character selection / selection virtual switch. Characters that have slightly different attributes from the above characters, commands for changing attributes, and symbol figures representing symbols associated with characters in the index frame can be assigned as extended characters or extended functions.

(28) In the above item (27), the character is a vowel sound having the same attribute as the sound of a kana character or a sound.
In this way, the characters in the index frame of the five-choice selection switch constituting each character-choice-selection virtual switch are consonant sounds and silent sounds as consonant sounds according to the character arrangement of the conventional syllable diagram. It is understood that it consists of a combination of vowels, and the vowels and double vowels of “Ya, Yu, Yo” are related to the clear sound and muddy character in the index frame, with some changes in the character attributes Can be understood as a letter and can be used to understand the principles of the Japanese syllabary diagram.

(29) In the above item (27), the symbol is a delimiter symbol that forms a full-width or half-width blank character.
In this way, even if the selected character selection virtual switch (current switch) is any of the selected character selection virtual switches, after selecting a character in the virtual switch, the selected character selection virtual switch Without changing the (current switch), you can enter spaces to separate words, enter Hangul delimiters, Japanese indentation spaces, etc. in the same way as extended commands. The character input operation can be facilitated.

(30) In the above item (27), the symbol is a symbol related to four arithmetic operations.
In this way, when the five characters of the character selection / selection virtual switch are two five-option selection virtual switches (numbers 1 to 5, 6 to 0), the character selection / selection virtual switch (current The four corners of addition “+”, subtraction “−”, multiplication “*”, division “/”, total “=”, digit symbol “,” decimal symbol “. ”And the unit price symbol“ @ ”are assigned to each other, so that only two character selection / selection virtual switches can be used to input numerical values similar to those of a numeric keyboard used for numerical calculation notation and numerical notation.

(31) In the above item (27), the command is a command to change the attribute of the character assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch or the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch).
In this way, the attribute change can be made transiently, and the temporary attribute change can be made in multiple ways.

(32) In the above item (31), the character attribute is any one of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, hiragana, katakana, clear sound, muddy sound, semi-voiced sound, consonant, vowel, accent, and an attribute unique to each language.
In this way, the attribute conversion (change) of the character that needs to be selected can be selected after the attribute conversion is performed again immediately before selecting the character that needs to be selected and the display state after the attribute conversion is overconfirmed. In addition to making a reliable selection, the character that needs to be selected requires multiple attribute conversions, for example, a second attribute conversion from silent to muddy sound and from muddy sound to semi-turbid sound is performed only at the second selection opportunity. be able to.

(33) In the above item (27), the command is a command assigned to a shortcut key of an operation system in a computer.
In this way, when inputting alphabetic characters, at the second selection opportunity of each character selection / selection virtual switch, the standard character is set to 5 alternatives, and the upper left and upper right corners of the diagonal are undefined or “ Shortcut keys can be assigned to many parts as "ad" and "return", and an instruction by simultaneous operation of a plurality of keys can be selected in the same mode as the operation of a single key.

(34) In any one of the above items (1) to (33), an alternative selection real switch for executing an alternative selection operation is a character selection / selection virtual switch or a character selection / selection selection virtual switch (current switch). A center switch and a center switch, left, right, up, down, four switches in the center corresponding to the position of the center where the character is assigned and the four positions of the center, left, right, up, down It has.
In this case, the selection operation is performed unconsciously so that the selection of the character visually observed with the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) matches the moving direction of the fingertip for selecting the character. I can expect that.

(35) In any one of the above items (1) to (34), the alternative selection real switch for executing the alternative selection operation is a character selected by the character selection / selection virtual switch or the character selection / selection selection virtual switch (current switch). The switch is provided with diagonal switches that correspond to each other in a similar manner from the center to which they are assigned.
In this way, the selection of the character viewed in the diagonal direction with the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) matches the diagonal direction in which the fingertip that selects the character moves to perform the selection operation. Can be expected to be done unconsciously.

(36) Character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) in which any one of a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches displayed on the image display screen as a character input virtual switch is selected and displayed in an explicit current state A character selection and selection virtual switch (current switch) selection means to select as,
Each character that is assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) and is explicitly displayed in the current state is assigned to the character selection and selection operation of the character selection / selection virtual switch. And an alternative selection execution switch means for selecting one of the switch arrangements relating to the alternative selection of the alternative selection switches to be executed in association with each other in a similar manner.
In this way, the first selection operation of the character input virtual switch displayed on the monitor screen is performed on the virtual switch of the monitor screen, and each option of the second character selection virtual switch is explicitly specified. It is possible to perform character selection of each character that should be explicitly selected by another selection switch while being displayed and visually observed on the monitor screen, away from the monitor screen. it can.
As a result, even at the end of the first selection, there is no obstacle such as a fingertip or a hand that disturbs the display on the front of the monitor screen, and the second character selection is actually performed. The character selection / selection switch can be moved away from the monitor screen.
As a result, it is necessary to display the index display of selectable characters to assist the second selection operation at a position far away from the center of the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch). And not.
Further, the place where the selection operation is actually performed can be in the vicinity of the monitor screen or in the vicinity of the operator's hand, hand, foot, or chin far from the display screen.
Further, since it is not essential to perform the first alternative selection operation and the second alternative selection operation by repeating the same alternative selection means using a touch sensor or the like provided on the image display screen. The physical (including software) switch means for performing the second selection and the physical (including software) switch means for performing the second selection can be performed separately.

(37) In the above item (36), the image display screen is a digital television, tablet PC, smart phone, mobile phone, electronic dictionary, electronic book, digital camera, digital clock, digital calendar, head mounted display, projector, or other computer. Is an electronic device having a monitor screen, and any monitor screen.
If it does in this way, it can use as a character input means of all the electronic devices with a built-in computer and a monitor screen.

(38) In the above item (36), the character-selection-selection virtual switch (current switch) selection means is selected and displayed immediately before the selection, and the character-selection-selection virtual switch (current switch) in the explicit current state is selected. This is a pointing device that operates from one of a plurality of adjacent character selection / selection virtual switches away from the image display screen to change the explicit current state.
In this way, any one of a mouse, a trackball, a flat pad, and a pen tablet can be used as a pointing device for operating the pointer on the image display screen by operating from a position away from the image display screen. A simple controller can be configured.

(39) In the above item (38), a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches adjacent to a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) of each character input virtual switch arranged inside the virtual switch display area This is a virtual image character selection / selection virtual switch in which the arrangement pattern is arranged as a continuous pattern outside the virtual switch display area.
In this way, a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches are arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix in the virtual switch display area, and moved once to any one of the character input virtual switches in the virtual switch display area. With the operation, the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) can be changed.

(40) In the above item (36), the pointing device that changes the explicit current state is a trackball that is housed in a controller held by a hand and rotates the ball with a thumb.
In this way, it is possible to instruct to move in the diagonal direction in addition to the vertical and horizontal directions only by the operation of the thumb of the hand holding the controller, and the moving operation in eight vertical and horizontal directions becomes easy.

(41) In the above item (36), the pointing device that changes the explicit current state is a trackball that is provided near the image display screen and rotates the ball with a finger.
In this way, it is possible to instruct movement in an oblique direction in addition to the vertical and horizontal directions, and the movement operation in eight vertical and horizontal directions becomes easy.

(42) In the above (40) or (41), the trackball is provided with a switch that is actuated by pressing the ball rearward of the ball.
In this way, it is possible to easily select the character at the center of the current switch continuously with the operation of moving the current switch by rotating the ball.

(43) In the above (40) or (41), after the trackball operates a switch that operates by pressing the ball rearward, the pressing force is stronger than the pressing force that operated the switch. It has another switch that works with
In this way, it is possible to easily perform a command for exiting from the character selection mode and an operation for switching to another control mode not related to character input.

(44) In the above item (36), the pointing device for changing the explicit current state is housed in a controller held by a hand, and the scroll wheel that rotates the wheel with the thumb and the switches provided on the left and right of the scroll wheel. is there.
This eliminates the need for a current switch moving means that occupies the center position of the five-way switch, so that the five-way switch can be replaced with a switch means with a four-way center push. The controller is inexpensive and the structure is simplified.

(45) In the above item (36), the pointing device for changing the explicit current state is provided in the vicinity of the image display screen, and includes a scroll wheel that rotates the wheel with a finger and a switch provided on the left and right of the scroll wheel. is there.
This eliminates the need for a current switch moving means that occupies the center position of the five-way switch, so that the five-way switch can be replaced with a switch means with a four-way center push. The controller is inexpensive and the structure is simplified.

(46) In the above item (36), the pointing device that changes the explicit current state is a two-way or four-way switch that is housed in a controller held by a hand and operated by a finger.
In this case, since the current switch moving means that occupies the center position of the five-way selection switch is eliminated in the center, the five-way selection switch can be replaced with a switch means with a four-way center push. In addition, the controller is inexpensive and the structure is simplified.

(47) In the above item (36), the pointing device that changes the explicit current state is a two-way or four-way switch that is provided near the image display screen and is operated with a finger.
In this case, since the current switch moving means that occupies the center position of the five-way selection switch is eliminated in the center, the five-way selection switch can be replaced with a switch means with a four-way center push. In addition, the controller is inexpensive and the structure is simplified.

(48) In the above item (36), an actual alternative selection actual switch means for selecting and selecting each character displayed in the current state is stored in a controller held by a hand and operated with a finger. A switch provided in the center, and a four-way switch provided in four directions on the left, right, and top of the center switch.
In this way, the first selection operation of the character input virtual switch displayed on the monitor screen is performed on the virtual switch of the monitor screen, and each option of the second character selection virtual switch is explicitly specified. The second selection operation can be performed by another alternative selection switch that can be operated with a finger in a controller that is held by a hand while being displayed and visually observed on the monitor screen. Can be executed.
As a result, even at the end of the first selection, there is no obstacle on the monitor screen such as a fingertip or a hand that disturbs the display, and the second character selection selection is actually performed. The selection switch can be set away from the monitor screen.

(49) In the above item (36), the actual selection means for selecting and selecting each character displayed in the current state is stored in a controller held by a hand and operated with a finger. A switch provided in the center, and a four-way switch provided in four directions on the left, right, and top of the center switch.
In this way, the first selection operation of the character input virtual switch displayed on the monitor screen is performed on the virtual switch of the monitor screen, and each option of the second character selection virtual switch is explicitly specified. The second selection operation can be performed by another alternative selection switch that can be operated with a finger in a controller that is held by a hand while being displayed and visually observed on the monitor screen. Can be executed.
As a result, even at the end of the first selection, there is no obstacle on the monitor screen such as a fingertip or a hand that disturbs the display, and the second character selection selection is actually performed. The selection switch can be set away from the monitor screen.

(50) In the above item (36), a substantial alternative selection real switch means for selecting and selecting each character displayed in the current state is provided near the image display screen and operated with a finger. A switch provided in the center, and a four-way switch provided in four directions on the left, right, and top of the center switch.
In this way, the size of each character input virtual switch in the virtual switch display area on the monitor screen is sufficient to require the four-way switch method for the selection operation between the similar pitches. It can be provided as a size.

(51) In the above item (36), a substantial alternative selection real switch means for selecting and selecting each character displayed in the current state is provided in the vicinity of the switch provided on the rear surface of the trackball. It is a four-way switch that is operated with a finger and is provided in four directions on the left, right, and top of the central switch.
In this way, between the movement operation of the current switch by the trackball and the selection operation related to the five-choice selection without causing a sense of incongruity, while visually observing the current switch, It is possible to operate with the thumb all the way, such as rotating the ball with the thumb, pressing the ball with the thumb, releasing the thumb from the ball, and pressing the left / right / up / down switch with the released thumb.
Furthermore, the acquisition of visual information from the eyes and the operation of reflecting the result on the thumb uses an organ that can survive and function to the end when a person is damaged in the brain. Thus, in the bed supine operation environment, it is possible to work as a human interface until the very end.

(52) In the above item (51), the switch provided in the center and the four-way switches provided in the four directions on the left, right, and top of the center switch are four-way switches with a center push switch.
In this way, the five-choice selection switch for selecting a standard character can be constituted by an existing four-way switch with a center push switch which is unitized, and the controller can be made compact and inexpensive. .

(53) In the above item (42), the actual selection means switch means for selecting and selecting each character displayed in the current state includes a switch provided on the rear surface of the trackball and the vicinity thereof. It is an 8-way switch that is provided and operated with a finger, and switches are provided in four directions on the left, right, top, and bottom of the central switch, and four diagonal diagonal directions.
In this way, the eight switches in the left, right, up, down, and diagonal directions therebetween can be configured as an integral structure, so that a thin film type thin sheet switch can be obtained.

(54) In the above item (36), the actual selection means switch means for selecting and selecting each character displayed in the current state includes a center switch and four right and left upper and lower sides of the center switch. This is an eight-way switch with a center push switch, in which switches are provided in four directions and four diagonal diagonal directions.
In this way, an existing 8-way switch with a center push switch having a one-body structure can be used as it is, so that a small, compact and inexpensive controller can be provided.

According to the present invention, the character array of the character input virtual switch used for the tap flick operation on the monitor screen with the conventional touch sensor can be used for the character input virtual switch of the present invention. Character input can be performed by utilizing the skills related to character selection learned and trained by flick operations.
According to the present invention, the first selection operation of the character input virtual switch displayed on the monitor screen is performed on the virtual switch of the monitor screen, and each option of the virtual switch for the second character selection is clearly indicated. The character selection of each character to be explicitly selected is performed by another alternative selection switch at a position away from the monitor screen while being visually displayed on the monitor screen. As a result, even at the end of the first selection, there are no obstacles on the monitor screen such as fingertips or hands that obstruct the display, and the second character selection is actually selected. The character selection / selection switch is located away from the monitor screen, near the monitor screen, or in the hands, hands, feet, or chin of a remote operator. there were It can be.
This does not require that the first alternative selection operation and the second alternative selection operation be performed by repeating the same alternative selection method using a touch sensor or the like provided on the image display screen. Therefore, the physical (including software) switch means for performing the first selection and the first stage of the physical (including software) switch for performing the second selection can be performed separately.
In addition, the first selection operation of the character input virtual switch displayed on the monitor screen is performed on the virtual switch of the monitor screen, and each option of the virtual switch for the second character selection is explicitly displayed. While viewing it on the monitor screen, it is possible to perform character selection of each character to be selected and displayed explicitly at a position away from the monitor screen by another selection switch.
As a result, even at the end of the first selection, there is no obstacle on the monitor screen such as a fingertip or a hand that disturbs the display, and the second character selection selection is actually performed. The selection switch can be set away from the monitor screen.
As a result, the display of the selectable character index to assist the second selection operation is separated from the center of the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) until it is not hidden by the touched fingertip. It is not necessary to display it at the specified position.
The place where the selection operation is actually performed can be in the vicinity of the monitor screen, or in the vicinity of the operator's hand, hand, foot, or chin far from the display screen.
Furthermore, it is not essential to perform the first alternative selection operation and the second alternative selection operation by repeating the same alternative selection means using a touch sensor or the like provided on the image display screen. The physical (including software) switch means for performing the first selection and the physical (including software) switch means for performing the second selection can be performed separately.

FIG. 1 shows a procedure for carrying out the present invention. In a large screen digital television receiver, the browser requests input of required characters on the screen operating the browser of the Internet, and the present invention is responded accordingly. It is a front view of the digital television receiver which shows the character input operation condition which opens the character input edit screen which concerns on this, and is going to input a character. Example 1 2 is a perspective view of a hand holding the controller of the television receiver in FIG. 1 having the character input switch means according to the present invention. Example 1 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the controller in FIG. Example 1 FIG. 4 is a front view of the character input editing screen under the control of the browser on the digital television screen shown in FIG. Example 1 FIG. 5 is a front view of a character input edit screen in which the character input edit screen shown in FIG. 4 is under the control of the present invention. Example 1 FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a situation in which character input is performed by applying the same character input virtual switch as that of the present invention to a tablet PC having a so-called 10-inch type (generally B5 size of paper standard). It is. (Conventional example) FIG. 7 shows a situation where character input is performed by applying the same character input virtual switch as that of the present invention to a multi-function phone having a width of 60 to 70 mm and a length of 110 to 120 mm, commonly called a smartphone. It is a perspective view shown. (Conventional example) FIG. 8A shows a display state of each character selection / selection virtual switch in a 3 × 3 matrix virtual switch display area in which the character arrangement is a quater arrangement, and FIG. 8B shows the display state of FIG. It is a front view of the virtual switch which expands and represents one of the character selection one selection virtual switches of these. Example 1 FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing various current display states in which the character selection / selection virtual switch is a current switch that is a character selection / selection virtual switch. Example 1 10A to 10D, the character mask, the shadow mask, and the current mask are overlaid on each other to superimpose the normal display state of the character selection selection virtual switch and the plurality of current display states. A schematic diagram illustrating the procedure for configuring the current switch shown in each, a normal display character selection and selection virtual switch configured by overlapping a character mask and a shadow mask in (e), and (f), It is a schematic diagram explaining the display state of a character selection / selection virtual switch, each showing a current switch configured by superimposing a current mask on a character mask. Example 1 FIG. 11 shows a 3 × 3 matrix character input virtual switch in which the character array is a quater array (numerical right column) in (a), and each character selection virtual switch in the character input virtual switch is shown in (b). Any one of the switches is in a transitioned state as a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch), and the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) sequentially moves in eight directions that are vertically and horizontally slanted. FIG. 4 shows a correlation diagram in which each character selection / selection virtual switch is arranged in order along the moving direction and the mutual relationship is examined. Example 1 FIG. 12A shows a 3 × 3 matrix character input virtual switch in which the character arrangement is a dovolak arrangement (numerical right column) in FIG. 12A, and each character selection virtual switch in the character input virtual switch is shown in FIG. Any one of the switches is in a transitioned state as a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch), and the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) sequentially moves in eight directions that are vertically and horizontally slanted. FIG. 4 shows a correlation diagram in which each character selection / selection virtual switch is arranged in order along the moving direction and the mutual relationship is examined. (Modification) FIG. 13A shows a 3 × 3 matrix character input virtual switch in which the character array is a dovolak array (number left column) in FIG. 13A, and each character selection virtual switch in the character input virtual switch is shown in FIG. Any one of the switches is in a transitioned state as a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch), and the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) sequentially moves in eight directions that are vertically and horizontally slanted. A correlation diagram is shown in which each character-selection-selection virtual switch is arranged in order along the moving direction and the mutual relationship is examined. In FIG. (Modification) FIG. 14 shows a character input virtual switch in the form of a 3 × 3 matrix in which the character arrangement is an appearance frequency arrangement (number right column) in (a), and each character selection selection in the character input virtual switch is shown in (b). Any one of the virtual switches is in a transitioned state as a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch), and the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is sequentially turned vertically and horizontally in eight directions. FIG. 4 shows a correlation diagram in which each character selection / selection virtual switch is arranged in order along the moving direction to examine the mutual relationship, and FIG. 8 (c) shows an example of use of the extended number part. (Modification) FIG. 15 shows a 3 × 3 matrix character input virtual switch in which the character arrangement is a consonant combination arrangement (number right column) in (a), and each character selection selection in the character input virtual switch is shown in (b). Any one of the virtual switches is in a transitioned state as a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch), and the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is sequentially turned vertically and horizontally in eight directions. FIG. 6 shows a correlation diagram in which the character selection / selection virtual switches are arranged in order along the movement direction in order to check the mutual relationship of the moving situation. (Modification) FIG. 16A shows a 3 × 3 matrix character input virtual switch in which the character arrangement is an alpha bed arrangement (number right column) in FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B shows each character selection selection in the character input virtual switch in FIG. Any one of the virtual switches is in a transitioned state as a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch), and the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is sequentially turned vertically and horizontally in eight directions. FIG. 6 shows a correlation diagram in which the character selection / selection virtual switches are arranged in order along the movement direction in order to check the mutual relationship of the moving situation. (Modification) FIG. 17 shows a character input virtual switch in the form of a 3 × 3 matrix in which the character arrangement is Japanese alphabetical arrangement in (a), and in FIG. 17 (b), each character alternative selection virtual in the character input virtual switch is shown. Any one of the switches is in a transitioned state as a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch), and the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) sequentially moves in eight directions that are vertically and horizontally slanted. FIG. 4 shows a correlation diagram in which each character selection / selection virtual switch is arranged in order along the moving direction and the mutual relationship is examined. (Modification) FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a character input matrix in which a virtual switch group in the form of a 3 × 3 matrix in the Japanese syllabary arrangement shown in FIG. 17 is illustrated as a virtual switch adjacent as a virtual image outside the 3 × 3 matrix area. It is. (Modification) FIG. 19 is a rear view of a digital camera showing an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera. (Example 2) FIG. 20 is a front view of a mobile phone showing an example in which the present invention is applied to a small mobile phone. (Example 3) FIG. 21 shows a modification in which the virtual switch display area in FIG. 20 is the dovolac arrangement shown in FIG. 13 and the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is displayed larger than that shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a correlation diagram illustrating the mutual relationship between three matrix virtual switch groups arranged in eight vertical and horizontal diagonal directions with one of the virtual switches of the virtual switch group transitioning to a character input state. (Modification of Example 3) 22 is a front view of an essential part of the cellular phone showing a modification in which the virtual switch display area of the character input standby screen of the cellular phone shown in FIG. 20 is displayed by the current switch shown in FIG. (Modification of Example 3) FIG. 23 is a front view of an essential part of a mobile phone in which a current switch similar to FIG. 22 is further enlarged. (Modification of Example 3) FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the controller showing another modified example in which the controller is operated with the chin or the lower lip. (Modification of Example 1) 25 is a left side view showing a usage state of the controller shown in FIG. (Modification of Example 1)

  The present invention relates to a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) in which any one of a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches displayed on an image display screen as a character input virtual switch can select a character. ) As an explicit selection display and each character assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) explicitly selected and displayed is related to the selection of the character selection / selection virtual switch. Provided is a character input method in which a character arrangement and a switch arrangement relating to an alternative selection of an alternative selection real switch for performing an alternative selection operation are selected in association with each other in a similar manner to input a character.

  Further, the present invention provides a character selection / selection virtual switch (1) which is selected and displayed in an explicit current state from any one of a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches displayed on the image display screen as character input virtual switches. The character selection and selection virtual switch (current switch) selection means to be selected as the current switch and the character selection and selection virtual switch (current switch) are assigned to each character displayed in the explicit current state. The character arrangement relating to the alternative selection of the character alternative selection virtual switch and the switch arrangement relating to the alternative selection of the actual selection selecting switch for executing the alternative selection operation are associated with each other in a similar manner. There is provided a character input device provided with actual alternative selection actual switch means.

1 to 18 show an implementation point of the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows a character input standby screen 4A according to the present invention when displaying a browser screen 3 of the Internet on a monitor screen 2 of a large TV receiver 1 of 40 inches or more and inputting a required search character. Is assigned and displayed in a required display area of the monitor screen 2.

The television receiver 1 is in a positional relationship in which the operator cannot directly touch the monitor screen 2 at a distance of 2 to 3 meters from an operator (not shown) who operates the monitor screen 2 to input characters. The television receiver 1 is operated by a controller 6 that is held by a right hand 5 by an operator and connected by a general-purpose wireless interface of any one of acoustic, optical, and electromagnetic.
Of course, the controller 6 can be connected via a USB or other wired interface.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the right hand 5 of the operator holds a controller 6 that is large enough to fit in the hand, and a trackball 8 that is rotated with the thumb 7 is provided on the top surface of the controller 6. is there.

  The controller 6 shown in FIG. 3 also functions as the controller 6 in the television reception mode of the television receiver 1, and at that time, the trackball 8 is monitored in the television reception mode, the browser mode when connected to the Internet, and other application operation modes. An arrow-shaped pointer 9 that moves within the screen 2 can be freely moved by rotating the ball 10 of the trackball 8 with the thumb 7.

  The pointer 9 can freely move within the monitor screen 2 and operate the Internet browser screen 3 and the like, like a computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a personal computer) operating in a general-purpose operation system.

  The controller 6 includes a first switch group 11 provided with a plurality of switches on the rear surface (substantially lower surface) of the ball 10 of the trackball 8 and the periphery of the ball 10, and a scroll wheel provided on the upper end of the controller 6. In the vicinity of 12, a second switch group 13 provided with a plurality of switches and a third switch group 14 provided with a plurality of switches arranged below the trackball 8 are provided.

  The trackball 8 in the center of the first switch group 11 includes two switches S1 and S2 that operate when the ball 10 is pressed rearward from the front surface on the rear surface of the ball 10.

  The two switches S1 and S2 provided on the rear surface of the trackball 8 abut on each other in series so that the pressing force (not shown) of the two pushbutton switch type snap switches is applied to each other. The pressing force applied to the ball 10 is applied simultaneously to both switches S1 and S2, and the operating pressures for turning on both switches S1 and S2 are different from each other.

  When the ball 10 is pressed from the front surface to the rear surface by the thumb 7 that is rotating the ball 10, the switch S1 having a lower operating pressure is turned ON first, and when the ball 10 is further pressed and pressed. The switch S2 set to a strong operating pressure is turned on.

The switch S1 is a switch for transmitting a mouse left click signal in the personal computer when the trackball 8 is in the pointing mode for controlling the arrow-shaped pointer 9. The ball 10 is rotated by the thumb 7 and the pointer 9 is moved to a desired position. When the ball 10 is pressed with the thumb 7 rotating the ball over the icon to activate the switch S1, the switch S1 emits an event signal to the icon.
The rotation of the ball 10 of the trackball 8 is detected behind the ball 10 by an optical ball rotation detection sensor (not shown), and the switches S1 and S2 are provided behind the rotation detection sensor. However, since it is interlocked with the movement of the ball 10 in the front-rear direction, the details of this rotation detector are omitted.

  On the monitor screen 2, when the pointer 9 is overlapped with a required icon and the icon is to be moved to another place, the ball 10 is rotated while the switch S1 is maintained, and the personal computer is rotated. In the drag state in the operation, the icon is moved to a desired place, the pressing force of the thumb 7 is released, the switch S1 is returned, and the icon is dropped at that position.

  However, when the drag distance is long and there is a limit in rotating the ball 10 without releasing the thumb 7, that is, when dragging is difficult while maintaining the operation of the switch S1, the pointer 9 is displayed on the icon. The switch S1 is operated in a state where the two are stacked, and the ball 10 is further pressed to operate the switch S2.

  The operation of the switch S2 works to maintain the ON state of the switch S1, and also maintains the state even when the pressing force of the ball 10 is withdrawn at one end. Can move with the icon attached, and in this state, the thumb 7 is free to contact and disengage from the ball 10, so that the ball 10 can be freely rotated to attach the icon. 9 is moved to a desired location, and the ball 10 is pressed at that position to activate the switch S1 to drop the icon.

  The drag operation similar to the normal drag operation and click lock is performed by the pointer 9 that does not target the icon, such as enclosing a range on a diagonal line or moving a slider in various applications in various applications. Also used in control.

  The first switch group 11 diagonally right above (hereinafter, up, down, left, and right and diagonal represent the left and right directions, the up and down direction, and a 45 degree direction of the ball 8 when the ball 10 of the trackball 8 is viewed from the front. The switch S3 on the exposed surface of the ball 10 is the front side in front and the back side of the exposed surface is the rear side in the rear). When the trackball 8 is in the pointing mode, the switch S3 generates a right click signal in the personal computer. The upper left switch S4 is a mode changeover switch for switching the trackball 8 from the pointing mode to the extended control mode, and the lower right switch S5 is a command switch for attaching or returning a personal computer, The lower switch S6 is a personal computer operating system (copy or advance command switch). Is assigned to the call key of the shortcut mode signal according to the S) it has been used.

  The above-described trackball 8, the switches S1 and S2 behind the trackball 8, and the upper and lower switches S3 to S6 in the first switch group 11 provided around the trackball 8 are in the television reception mode or the application use mode of the personal computer. The operation of the pointer 9 works in the same manner as the pointing device disclosed in Patent Document 5.

  The first switch group 11 in the present invention is provided with the above-described switches S3 to S6 at diagonally up, down, left and right diagonally when viewed from the front of the trackball 8 and is expanded in comparison with a pointing means composed of a normal mouse or trackball. A switch with a four-way center push switch that works as a pointing means with a function switch, and that is used for a controller of a television device, a game machine, a mobile phone, a portable audio device, etc. The four-way switch unit 15 includes four switches S7 to S10 having the same function as the four-way switch portion.

  Each of the four switches S7 to S10 of the four-way switch unit 15 has a switch S7 on the left side, a switch S8 on the right side, a switch S9 on the upper side, a switch S10 on the lower side, The connecting lines are mounted on the wiring board 16 so as to be orthogonal to each other at the center of the ball 10, and the wiring board 16 is provided with a hole 17 that penetrates the ball 10 of the trackball 8.

  Centering on the hole 17 penetrating the ball 10, on the front surface of the wiring board 16 on which the four-way switch unit 15 is mounted, the operation shafts of the switches S 7 to S 10 (shaft members operated to turn on and off the switches) A circular donut-shaped rocking plate 18 that is in contact with the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge is provided, and the donut-shaped rocking plate is directly above (front) of the operation shaft of each switch S7 to S10 in the donut-shaped rocking plate 18. Four switch operation protrusions 19 a to 19 d are provided that protrude from the front surface of 18 and have an upper end slightly lower than the exposed top surface of the ball 10. Accordingly, when the ball 10 is rotated with the thumb 7 or when the thumb 7 is touching the ball 10, any one of the four switch operation projections 19a to 19d is searched for and touched with the thumb 7, and the four switch operation projections 19a to 19d are touched. The relative positions of 19d can be confirmed.

  A combination of the four switches S7 to S10 of the four-way switch unit 15 and the switch S1 provided behind the ball 10 is a four-way center push switch (substantially 5 This switch has an equivalent structure as a switch function, and the conventional 4-way center push switch has a mechanism structure that protrudes in the center and has an upper surface orthogonal to the operation shaft. By tilting the fixed rocking plate (both circular and square) in four directions, four switches that operate by tilting the shaft in four directions, and pushing the rocking plate in the axial direction of the shaft (Center push) is mainly composed of one switch to be operated.

The second switch group 13 provided in the vicinity of the scroll wheel 12 includes a switch S11 that works when the scroll wheel 12 is pressed backward while rotating the scroll wheel 12 up and down with the thumb 7, and a switch S12 provided on the left side of the scroll wheel 12. And a switch S13 provided on the right side of the scroll wheel 12.
Substantially, the scroll wheel 12 outputs an intermittent signal accompanying rotation, and an ON / OFF signal of the switch S11 that presses backward, and the second switch group 13 intermittently transmits the rotation. This includes the output of ON / OFF signals of rotary switches (not shown) that output signals.

  When this second switch group 13 is used as the controller 6 of the television receiver 1, the scroll-shaped channel list is displayed on the monitor screen 2 with a vertically long bowl-shaped channel list (currently displayed in the vertical direction). When the current display matches the target channel, the scroll wheel 12 is pressed and the switch S11 behind the switch S11 is changed. Operates to select (confirm) a channel.

  The channel list can be changed for each reception channel group such as BS, CS, terrestrial digital, etc. At that time, either the right switch S13 or the left switch S12 of the second switch group 13 is pressed to display on the monitor screen 2. It is possible to change channel groups that are arranged in the left and right direction (the display list is one, but the appearance is that a bowl-like list is hidden in the left and right direction).

  Further, when the program guide is displayed, the current display in the program guide is moved to the right by the right switch S13 and to the left by the left switch S12, the target channel of the program guide is selected, and the scroll wheel 12 is selected. , Rotate the broadcast time zone up and down, align the current display with the program of the target time zone, and when selecting the program, press the scroll wheel 12 to activate the switch S11, Perform the operation to confirm the selection of the program.

  Below the trackball 8, the six switches S14 to S19 arranged in a 3 × 2 matrix form the third switch group 14, and the third switch group 14 is an essential component in the present invention. Although not used, in the character input operation environment according to the present invention, a shortcut key used in an application corresponding to the OS constituting the environment is assigned and used.

  When used as the controller 6 of the television receiver 1, various function menu calls, channel selection list calls, operation procedures are returned, other function switches assigned to the digital television as a standard, or a group of those switches. Is displayed on the television screen as a virtual switch, assigned to an appropriate function switch, such as calling a virtual controller.

  The television receiver 1 is normally displayed in a single screen mode, and the character input standby screen 4 can be freely positioned like a multi-screen (multi-window system) when the OS is Windows (trademark of Microsoft Corporation). Although it cannot be displayed on the screen, it can be assigned to a desired position and displayed in the same manner as in the operation menu screen or channel list.

  Of course, if the OS that forms the platform of the television receiver 1 is a multi-window, the character input standby screen 4 can be separately started up as a dedicated application screen.

  FIG. 1 shows a state in which a browser screen 3 is assigned to the left side of the monitor screen 2 and a character input standby screen 4 is assigned and displayed below the free space on the right side. The pointer 9 is an example of the entire monitor screen 2. It can be moved and displayed in a pointer layer that covers the area, and can be moved within the entire area of the television image.

  When character input is required, the character input standby screen 4 is sufficiently longer than the click at which the switch S3 on the upper left side of the first switch group 11 in the controller 6 issues a mode switching signal originally assigned to the switch S3. The character input standby screen 4A is called to the monitor screen 2 by pressing and holding for a time, for example, about 2 to 3 seconds.

  Note that in the long press switch operation of the required switch and the combination switch operation in which multiple switches are pressed simultaneously, the normal setting function is in a standby state immediately after the switch is turned on, and performs the assigned function when the switch is turned off thereafter. As a signal to output, a long press operation and simultaneous press operation by a timer are enabled.

  FIG. 4 shows the character input standby screen 4A immediately after being called. The pointer 9 maintains the pointing mode in the arrow state, and the pointer 9 moves the ball to the browser screen 3 or the character input standby screen 4. 10 is in a state of receiving a left click control signal by the switch S1 on the rear surface.

  When the monitor screen 2 of the television receiver system is in the multi-screen mode (multi-window system), the character input standby screen 4A is newly opened.

  In order to change the character input standby screen 4A to the character input standby screen 4 that enables character input according to the present invention, each character is selected in a 3 × 3 matrix form in the character input standby screen 4A as shown in FIG. A pointer 9 is placed inside the virtual switch display area 21A of the character input virtual switch 21 in which the one selection virtual switch 20 is arranged, and in this state, the switch on the upper right side of the first switch group 11 in the controller 6 The character input standby screen 4 shown in FIG. 5 can be obtained by pressing and holding S4 for a sufficiently long time, for example, about 2 to 3 seconds, for a time sufficiently longer than that at the time of clicking to generate the right click signal originally assigned to the switch S4. it can.

  Each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is a virtual switch that can select and select a plurality of characters, and each character input selection virtual switch 20 divides the virtual switch area into squares, 5 selected characters are assigned to the center of the square area, left and right, top and bottom, and any one of the 5 characters can be alternatively pointed and selected by some means. ing.

  Conventionally, a touch sensor is provided in front of the display screen of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 to form a touch panel, and the display area of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 and the touch area of the touch panel are overlapped when characters are selected. At the same time, which character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is selected and which character of the selected character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is selected and selected, character input is performed by the virtual switch. .

  Patent Documents 1 to 4 show conventional examples in which each part of the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is configured by one real switch, and one character selection / selection is performed by tapping on the virtual switch using the touch panel. Patent Documents 4 and 7 to 12 show conventional examples performed by a flick operation, and the conventional example in which each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix structure is a kana character 50 Japanese syllabary. The arrangement is shown in Patent Documents 7 to 12, and the alphabetic alphabet arrangement is shown in Patent Documents 9 to 11, respectively.

  In the present invention, each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 arranged and displayed in a 3 × 3 matrix structure on the display screen is displayed on the display screen without using a tap / flick operation on the touch panel. The character selection / selection virtual switch 20 including the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is selected and displayed explicitly as a character selection / selection virtual switch 22 in a current state in which a character can be selected. Each character assigned to 22 is selected and provided in the first switch group 11 in the actual controller 6 by associating each character arrangement of the character selection / one selection virtual switch 20 with each switch arrangement. The alternative is to select one by a character selection / selection switch different from the character selection / selection virtual switch 22 explicitly displayed.

  Each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 shown in the character input standby screens 4A and 4 has different character groups depending on the language in which the characters are input, and in accordance with the operation efficiency and convenience of the tap / flick operation, The character arrangement to each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is changed.

  FIG. 11 to FIG. 17 show modifications of the alphabet and kana character selection / selection virtual switch 20 arranged and displayed in a 3 × 3 matrix structure.

  The character arrangement in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 to FIG. 10 is based on the character arrangement that is standardly adopted as the alphabet arrangement in the actual keyboard shown in FIG. It is.

  The character input standby screens 4A and 4 shown in an enlarged manner in FIGS. 4 and 5 include a character input virtual switch 21 that functions as a character input means, and predicts and displays words and boilerplates by inputting a small number of characters. A character input editing screen 23 is provided for displaying and correcting input characters and editing a plurality of words and numeric symbols.

  The character input editing screen 23 includes a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches 20 arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix in the character input virtual switch 21 and each side of the character input virtual switch 21. The left-side function switch group 24L and the right-side function switch group 24R for inputting a character type change command of the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 and a control code related to character input editing, and the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 An input character display screen 25 that displays input characters in the order of input, and a predicted word that displays predicted words and fixed phrases in the order of prediction from the character strings sequentially input to the input character display screen 25 A display screen 26 and a text editing screen 27 for editing a plurality of words as necessary are provided.

  The wording display screen 26 classifies the predicted words to be selected and displayed for each field of the phrase and displays them in a list in the predicted order using the input character string as an index according to the frequency of use and the like. The scroll wheel 12 of the controller 6 moves the current display part 26a, which is explicitly displayed by changing the color and brightness, in the vertical direction, aligns the current display part 26a with a desired word and phrase, and presses the scroll wheel 12. Then, the switch S11 is operated to confirm the selection.

At this time, in order to change the predicted word field, the left and right switches S11 and S12 of the scroll wheel 12 are pressed to scroll the reserved word list field indicated by the tag in the upper part of the predicted word display screen 26 in the horizontal direction. The display field can be changed.
The phrase selected and confirmed on the predicted word display screen 26 is sent to the text editing screen 27. At that time, in the case of an English word, a space for a delimiter is added after the word and sent.

  When the character input standby screen 4A in the pointing mode shown in FIG. 4 is changed to the character input standby screen 4 of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, the pointer 9 of the arrow disappears, and the character selection of the portion pointed by the pointer 9 is selected. The state in which the one-selection virtual switch 20 can select a character is explicitly changed by changing at least one of lightness, saturation, hue, or a plurality of adjacent one-character selection-selection virtual switches 20 As the current state (hereinafter, this state is abbreviated as current display), the character selection / selection virtual switch 22 is changed.

  The character selection / one-selection virtual switch 22 in each character-selection / selection virtual switch 20 is configured to rotate the ball 10 with the thumb 7 in eight directions up and down, left and right by the trackball 8 of the controller 6 held by the right hand. The character selection / selection virtual switch 22 currently selected and currently displayed can be moved to one of the character selection / selection virtual switches 20 adjacent in the eight directions.

  The movement of the current display is performed by the rotation of the ball 10 in the same manner as the movement of the pointer 9 in the pointing mode. The movement of the pointer 9 in the pointing mode is continuously performed by sequentially changing high-resolution coordinate points. On the other hand, in the movement of the current display, in the movement of the current display, the movement direction of the section after the rotation in the initial rotation of the ball 10 is stabilized for one continuous rotation of the ball from the start of the movement to the stop. Then, the current display is moved by one section toward the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 in the discriminated direction by discriminating it into any one of eight directions, that is, left, right, up, down, and diagonal.

  As a result, even if the ball 10 is rotated more or less, the current display is changed only once per rotation movement of the ball 10, and it seems like an overshoot that passes the target. Does not cause any inconvenient movement.

  In addition, when the ball 10 starts rotating with the thumb 7 away from the ball 10 in the initial stage of the rotation of the ball 10, an unstable section occurs when the thumb 7 touches the ball 10. It is preferable to detect the stable section after discriminating 10 and move toward the target direction to discriminate the rotation direction.

  In the present invention, as described above, the five characters assigned to the currently displayed character selection / selection virtual switch 22 are replaced with the selection / selection function of the currently displayed character selection / selection virtual switch 22. Regardless of whether the character selection of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is associated with the switch arrangement of the switch means for actually executing the selection / selection, another character selection / selection selection switch is used for selection. It is in.

  6 and 7 show a conventional example in which each character selection virtual switch 20 arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix is provided in the same area as the virtual switch display area 21A of the character input virtual switch 21. FIG.

  FIG. 6 shows the same character input standby screen 4A as that shown in FIG. 4 on the tablet PC 100 of a so-called 10-inch type (generally paper standard B5 size) and each of the same 3 × 3 matrix arrangement. This is a conventional example in which a character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is displayed and a character is input.

  FIG. 7 shows a character selection virtual of 3 × 3 matrix arrangement on the character input standby screen 4 to a multi-function telephone 200 having a width of about 60 to 70 mm and a length of about 110 to 120 mm. This is a conventional example in which the switch 20 and the function switch groups 24L and 24R on both sides thereof are displayed as a character input standby screen 4B to show a character input state.

  In addition, also in the character input standby screens 4A and 4B in the conventional example, the same parts as those of the present invention will be described by using the reference numerals of the detailed description of the present invention.

  The tablet PC 100 in FIG. 6 includes a touch panel 102 on the front surface of the monitor screen 101, and the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is displayed at the center of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 displayed on the monitor screen 101. A character graphic 28 representative of the assigned character is displayed in a large size, and the touched character selection / selection virtual switch 20 can be selected by touching the part of the character graphic 28 with a fingertip or the like. ing.

  The selected character selection / selection virtual switch 20 selects and touches the character of the character graphic 28 displayed in the center by tapping the pointing means such as the touched fingertip by releasing it from the touch panel 102 as it is. The same character as the index character 29 displayed in the direction is selected by a flick operation by sliding the fingertip in the direction of the index character 29 indexed on the left, right, top and bottom of the center character and releasing it from the touch panel 102. It is like that.

  Note that in the case of a conventional kana character Japanese syllabary arrangement, the index character 29 may not be displayed (see Patent Documents 4 and 7).

  The same applies to the smartphone 200 of FIG. 7. The touch screen 202 is provided in front of the monitor screen 201, and each character assigned to each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is selected and input by a tap / flick operation. .

On the other hand, in the tablet PC 100 shown in FIG. 6, as in the smartphone 200 shown in FIG. 7, each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 in the 3 × 3 matrix arrangement and the function switches 24L and 24R on both sides (character input standby) When the screen 4B) is enlarged and displayed over the entire width of the monitor screen 101, the size of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is displayed larger, so that the discrimination resolution between the index characters 29 increases, and as a result, the first Without touching the center character figure 28 and selecting the character selection / selection virtual switch 20, the user directly touches the part of each index character 29 of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 to select the corresponding character. It is also possible to enable input.
For the types of character arrangement of the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 and details thereof, refer to FIGS.

  The present invention makes it possible to configure a character input environment in which a tap / flick operation using a conventional touch panel and a character input operation according to the present invention coexist in one system environment.

  For example, the controller 6 can be connected to the tablet PC 100 via a wireless interface to perform character input according to the present invention.

  Thus, a person who has mastered character input by tap / flick operation to the character array of each index character 29 assigned to each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 uses the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 of the same character array. In the character input of the present invention, since the character input operation path corresponding to the input word is the same, even when the character input device of the present invention is used for the first time, training for memorizing the character input operation path is performed. You can continuously demonstrate the skills that you should call personal property that you have mastered by tapping and flicking.

  8 to 11 show display forms of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 according to the present invention, various current display forms of the character selection / selection virtual switch 22, and characters of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20. An array is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, in the virtual switch display area 21A on the character input standby screen 4, each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix and a conventional touch panel is provided. In the character input by the used tap / flick operation, an example is shown in which the character array assigned to each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is a quatity array.

In FIG. 5A, each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is assigned to select 5 characters, and each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is arranged at the center of each virtual switch. From the top of the left column of the 3 × 3 matrix structure to the bottom of the 3 × 3 matrix structure, t , g , b, and from the top of the center column to the bottom, y , h , n, and the top of the right column 1 , 6 , @ are assigned below. The underline below the characters is a substitute for the waveform underline shown.

  In FIG. 5B, as representative of one character selection / selection virtual switch 20, the characters representing the five character groups of the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 are characterized by the virtual switch 20. As the character figure 28 shown with particular attention, a waveform underline is attached below the representative character, and it is made larger than the other four index display characters 29, and the color is made conspicuous as necessary. It is displayed in the center of the virtual switch area.

  Each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 in the 3 × 3 matrix structure is represented by the symbol in FIG. 8B, and the same 3 × 3 matrix structure in FIG. Regarding the one representing each character selection / selection virtual switch 20, the notation of the reference numerals is omitted except for the main ones.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the other four characters in the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 are assigned in association with the left / right / upper / lower directions of each switch region, and these characters are assigned to the left / right of the virtual switch region. The index characters 29 are displayed near the side and the upper and lower sides.

  The character arrangement of the quatity layout shown in FIG. 8A is a two-column (column) between the left and right index fingers when both hands are placed at the home position on a standard alphabetic keyboard. Key tops are arranged in the vertical direction) corresponding to t, g, b in the left column of the matrix and y, h, n in the center column, and assigned to each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 The five character groups thus obtained are a set of character groups in which five characters on the left side including t, g, and b of each stage (key group arranged in the left-right direction) where t, g, and b are provided on the keyboard. Similarly, for the character group in the center column of the matrix in FIG. 8A, a set of five characters on the right side including y, h, and n in each row where y, h, and n are also included on the keyboard. As a group of characters.

  Similarly, regarding the character group of the numbers and symbols in the right column of the matrix of FIG. 8A, the numerical key group in the upper part of the keyboard is a set of five character groups of 1 to 5 and 6 to 0, and further the keyboard. A plurality of symbol characters on the right side are assigned to the right column of the matrix as a set of five characters, each of which includes necessary characters.

  The character arrangement of the quarter arrangement shown in FIGS. 8 and 11 is a character arrangement used for character input by the tap / flick operation disclosed in Patent Documents 10 to 12, and similarly, the dovolac arrangement shown in FIGS. 15 are arranged in the order of appearance frequency, the consonant order in FIG. 15, the alpha bed arrangement in FIG. 16, and the Japanese syllabary arrangement in FIG. 17. It is disclosed as an input character array. The alpha bed arrangement and the Japanese syllabary arrangement are also disclosed in Patent Document 8.

  Each of the character selection / selection virtual switches 20 arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix has a 3 × 3 matrix outer shape, a virtual switch display area 21A, and a basic character unique to the character arrangement corresponding to various character arrangements. In the display image of the tap / flick operation using this conventional touch panel, the display area of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 omits the central character graphic 28 and its index characters 29 in the display area. The background pattern of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is displayed with a uniform color tone and brightness.

  In the present invention, one of the character selection / selection virtual switches 20 arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix is used as a character selection / selection virtual switch 22 that is specially selected. In other words, it is distinguished from other adjacent character selection / selection virtual switches 20 and explicitly instructed to select, and the character selection / selection virtual switch 22 instructed to select is assigned to the virtual switch. A cross-shaped index frame 30 for clearly indicating the position and direction to which each character group is assigned is attached around each index character 29 and can be used as an alternative selection switch at the present time. The current display indicates that it is possible.

  FIG. 9 shows a state in which the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is currently displayed as the character selection / selection virtual switch 22 and is shown in a 3 × 3 matrix for ease of explanation. A plurality of current display states are shown.

However, the actual character selection / selection virtual switch 22 is a current display of any one of nine character selection / selection virtual switches 20 arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix. The current is not displayed at the same time.
In the following description, the character selection / selection virtual switch 22 in a state where each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is currently displayed will be described as a current switch 22A.

  Each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 includes a character mask 31 for displaying each character in which characters assigned to the virtual switch are arranged in the assigned position direction, and each virtual of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20. In order to clearly separate the switch areas adjacent to each other, the shadow mask 32 for shading each switch area and the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 are selected to select a character It is displayed by a combination with a current mask 33 indicating that the current selection is displayed as the alternative selection virtual switch 22.

  FIG. 8A shows a state in which each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is represented only by the character mask 31. To use it as a virtual switch for a tap / flick operation using the touch panel, the state remains unchanged. It is enough.

  However, in order to clearly distinguish the virtual switch area of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20, a shadow mask 32 for applying a quadrangular pyramid-shaped shadow shown in FIG. The shadow of a three-dimensional button such as a flat square, a trapezoid, or a rounded trapezoid is overlaid in a transparent state on the area of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20.

  It should be noted that the conventional virtual switch area is shaded, and the switch area is shown in a three-dimensional button state in order to have a strong decorative meaning and equalize the priority and added value of a plurality of selection switch areas. The shading applied to each switch that has the same function is even.

  FIGS. 10A to 10F show how to overlay the character mask 31, the shadow mask 32, and the current mask 33, and also show a plurality of examples of the current mask 33. FIG.

    FIG. 10A shows a display process of forming a normal display form of the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 by superimposing a shadow mask 32 with a quadrangular pyramid shadow on the character mask 31 in a transparent state. Show.

  The shadow mask 32 displays the virtual switch area in a decorative manner as a three-dimensional switch in the same manner as in the prior art, and also makes the current mask 33 for current display, which will be described later, stand out from the other character selection / selection virtual switch 20. The purpose is to keep the brightness and saturation near the outer periphery of each switch area low.

  In FIG. 10B, a current mask 33 depicting a cross-shaped index frame 30 is superimposed on the character mask 31 in a transparent state so that the center character graphic 28 and the index characters 29 in the four directions are trimmed. The brightness and saturation of the outer four corners of the index frame 30 are slightly lower than in the cross pattern of the index frame 30 so that the inside of the cross pattern can be recognized brightly and clearly. The display process of the standard character selection / selection virtual switch 22 is shown, which explicitly indicates that the character in the frame 30 is in a current state in which the character is currently selected and designated to be freely selected.

    In FIG. 10C, as in FIG. 10B, the function expansion current mask 33 a in which symbols or characters of extension instructions are displayed on the character mask 31 at the outer four corners of the index frame 30 in a transparent state. The display process of the selected character selection / one selection virtual switch 22 is shown.

  In this function-enhanced current mask 33a, the “next” character in the diagonally upper left corner 34 that forms a diagonal in the square switch area indicates that an instruction to advance the operation procedure or the like can be output. “Return” in the upper right corner 35 indicates that a command for returning the operation procedure to the previous position can be output.

  Similarly, the arrow in the diagonally lower left corner 36 forming a diagonal in the switch area indicates that a command for changing the attribute of the character assigned to the character mask 31 can be output.

  This attribute change allows you to select uppercase letters when changing the attribute when it is currently possible to select lowercase letters of the alphabet. On the keyboard, it plays the same role as the “Shift” key. The attribute change is a temporary attribute change, and all the characters assigned to the virtual switch are changed and newly displayed, and the input of character selection is waited for the characters displayed after the attribute change. It is what you want to do.

  Similarly, the diagonally upwardly facing lower right corner 37 indicates that a character string delimiter code, for example, a half-width space code or a full-width blank code can be output.

    In FIG. 10D, similarly to FIG. 10C, the selected character expansion current mask 33b displayed by expanding characters that can be selected to the outer four corners of the index frame 30 is superimposed on the character mask 31 in a transparent state. The display process of the character selection / selection virtual switch 22 in which the selected character is expanded is shown.

  In this selected character expansion current mask 33b, the addition “+” symbol at the diagonally upper left diagonal corner 34, the subtraction “−” symbol at the diagonally upper right diagonal corner 35, and the diagonally left diagonal The multiplication “*” symbol in the lower corner 36 and the division “/” symbol in the diagonally lower right corner 37 that form the diagonal are the numbers in the character group 31 in which the character mask 31 is “1” or “6”. In this case, an arithmetic symbol can be input at the character input opportunity of the number group, and a central character figure as shown in the extended number part shown below in FIGS. 12 (c) and 13 (c). For a pair of two numbers in which 28 is “1” or “6”, it is possible to emulate a numeric keyboard dedicated to calculated numbers with two selected character expansion current masks 33b.

  FIG. 10 (e) shows a display form of the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 displayed as a standard separately.

  FIG. 10 (f) shows a display form of the character selection / selection virtual switch 22 that is normally displayed in the current state.

  In addition, in FIGS. 10A to 10D, the reference numerals in FIGS. 10E and 10F are referred to for those components that are not detailed in detail.

  As described above, a plurality of current masks 33, 33a, and 33b are prepared according to the required input status.

  One of the current masks 33 constituting the standard character selection / selection virtual switch 22 shown in FIG. 10 (b) is that only characters surrounded by the cross-shaped index frame 30 are valid. This is the simplest and most basic display format.

  In the standard current mask 33, the character of the central character figure 28 in the character mask 31 is selected and inputted by the switch S1 that works first by pressing the ball 10 in the controller 6, and the switch S7 on the left side of the ball 10 The right switch S8, the upper switch S9, and the lower switch S10 are used to select one of the four index characters surrounded by the cross-shaped index frame 30 and corresponding to the left, right, and upper and lower positions, respectively. It has become.

  In addition, in the function expansion current mask 33a and the selected character expansion current mask 33b in FIGS. 10C and 10D, the left diagonal upper corner 34 and the diagonal right upper corner 35 that are diagonal to each other in the current masks 33a and 33b. The commands and characters or symbols assigned to the left oblique lower corner 36 and the right oblique lower corner 37 are arranged in diagonal directions with respect to the ball 10 in the controller 6, and the current mask 33a, In the same manner as the display direction of the four corners in 33b, the switch S4 is in the upper left corner 34, the switch S3 is in the upper right corner 35, the switch S6 is in the lower left corner 36, and the lower right corner 37 is the same. The switches S5 are made to correspond to each other, and the switches S3 to S6 are selected and operated to select characters or characters written in the outer four corners of the index frame 30. Inputting an instruction code or character code symbols.

  FIG. 11 shows a case where any one of the character selection / selection virtual switches 20 arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix is selected, and the character assigned to the selected character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is changed to the controller. The transition on the 3 × 3 matrix array of the character selection / selection virtual switch 22 (hereinafter abbreviated as current switch 22A) that explicitly displays that the selection is possible by the switch operation of 6 It is shown as a correlation diagram of a 3 × 3 matrix array.

  FIG. 11A shows a character arrangement of each character selection virtual switch 20 in the same manner as the character input virtual switch 21 in the pointing mode of FIGS. 1 and 4 and the tap / flick operation mode of FIGS. The character input virtual switch 21 is formed by overlaying a shadow mask 32 on each virtual switch on each character mask 31 having the character arrangement of ## EQU2 ## In the character input virtual switch 21, the current switch 22A is not displayed. The basic character input virtual switch 21 is shown.

  In FIG. 11B, the current switch 22A on the 3 × 3 matrix is rotated diagonally up, down, left, and right with respect to one rotation operation of the ball 10 by rotating the ball 10 of the controller 6 in the direction indicated by the arrow. This shows all the situations in which the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is moved in the direction for each one (one pitch).

  The current switch 22A can also move the current switch 22A by rotating the ball 10 toward the outside of the virtual switch display area 21A that divides the inside and outside of the 3 × 3 matrix. In this case, the current switch 22A does not actually move outside the virtual switch display area 21A, but is virtually arranged as a ghost image outside the virtual switch display area 21A (which actually exists on the image map in programming). The character switch 22A moves toward the ghost image of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20, and as a result, the current switch 22A moves to the position of the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 of the corresponding image in the virtual switch display area 21A. 22A is displayed.

  In the above situation, when all the arrows (not shown) shown in FIG. 11B are omitted and the virtual switch display areas 21A of the character input virtual switches 21 are connected to each other, the character input virtual switch 21 shown in the center. On the other hand, regarding the relationship between the other character input virtual switch 21 adjacent to the outside of the virtual switch display area 21A, the Japanese example of the Japanese syllabary arrangement shown in FIG. 17B and FIG. The following will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 11B and FIG. 17B, the character input virtual switch 21 in the center of the figure is an actual character input virtual switch 21 ′ to which the current switch 22A actually moves, and the character input virtual switch adjacent to the periphery thereof. Assuming that the switch 21 is a virtual character input virtual switch 21 ″ composed of ghost images, the character input virtual switch 21 ′ in the center of FIG. 11B and FIG. 17B has eight ghost images. It can be seen that the virtual character input virtual switch 21 ″ is surrounded by the surrounding area.

  From this, the central real character input virtual switch 21 ′ is surrounded by the left and right sides of the real character input virtual switch 21 ′, the upper and lower sides, and diagonal corners that are diagonal to each other. The character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is adjacent as a continuous pattern with left and right and upper and lower symmetrical sides of the actual character input virtual switch 21 ′ and diagonally symmetrical corners. I understand.

  FIG. 18 shows a ghost image in which the actual character input virtual switch 21 ′ is adjacent to the actual character input virtual switch 21 ′ shown in the center of FIG. 17B by omitting the arrows in FIG. In the character input virtual switch 21 ″, only one adjacent character selection / one selection virtual switch 20 is shown side by side.

  In FIG. 18, the character input virtual switch 21 'in the center shown by applying the shadow mask 32 to the character mask 31 is the character selection of the character input virtual switch 21 "consisting of the ghost image shown only by the character mask 31 around it. It is adjacent to the one selection virtual switch 20.

  In the state shown in FIG. 18, the actual character input virtual switch 21 ′ with the shadow mask 32 applied to any one of the character selection / selection virtual switches 20 of each character group (A to W). Even if a 3 × 3 matrix is divided around the virtual switch 20 (hereinafter referred to as a character mask 31 ′ to which each character group is assigned) assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 assigned to The character mask 31 'is surrounded by eight other character masks 31' except for itself, and the eight sides of the left, right, up, and down are surrounded by the character mask 31 '. It is adjacent to the assigned character mask 31 '.

  Therefore, in the 3 × 3 matrix structure, a character mask to which a target character is assigned by one movement operation in any one of the eight directions when moving to any position on the matrix. It can be seen that it has a special structure that can be moved to the 31 'position.

  However, in order to actually move the current switch 22A, it is impossible to move toward the outside of the actual character input virtual switch 21 ′ toward the virtual current switch 22A indicated by only the character mask 31. When rotating in the direction of the virtual character input virtual switch 21 ″ shown only by the character mask 31, there is a character mask 31 of the same character as the character mask 31 of the ghost image in that direction. The current switch 22A is moved to the character mask 31 at the symmetrical position in the input virtual switch 21 ′.

  FIGS. 11 to 16 show modified examples in which the character arrangement of alphabetic characters that can be input by the character input virtual switch 21 is different, and FIG. 17 shows a modified example of the Japanese syllabary arrangement.

  FIG. 18 is a modified example in which the ghost image adjacent to the vicinity of the character input virtual switch 21 of the Japanese syllabary arrangement shown in FIG.

  FIGS. 11A to 17A show a character input virtual switch 21 in which a shadow mask 32 is superimposed on a character mask 31 in each virtual switch. The character input virtual switch 21 displays a current switch 22A. The basic character input virtual switch 21 is not shown, and each of FIGS. 11 to 17 shows a modification in which the character arrangement of the character mask 31 is different.

  FIG. 11B to FIG. 17B show the state in which the current switch 22A moves in the 3 × 3 matrix for each modification example having a different character arrangement in accordance with the direction in which the current switch 22A moves. It covers all possible positions.

  In FIG. 11, as described above, each character mask 31 is formed by defining five character groups for each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 in the character input virtual switch 21 based on the QWERTY arrangement on the real keyboard. Is.

  12 and 13 show five character groups for each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 in the character input virtual switch 21 based on the DVORAK arrangement in the real keyboard, and each character mask 31 is formed. FIG. 12 shows a modification in which a sequence of numbers and symbols is arranged on the right side, and FIG. 13 is a modification example in which numbers and symbols are arranged on the left side.

  Similarly, in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13C, the numeric part current mask 33 is used as the selected character expansion current mask 33b shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a modified example in which the same arithmetic operation function as that of the numeric keypad switch can be exhibited.

  FIG. 14 shows the character array as the appearance frequency array, FIG. 15 shows the consonant connectivity order array, FIG. 16 shows the alphabetical order array, and FIG. 17 shows the character input virtual switch 21 composed of the above Japanese Japanese alphabet array. It is.

The character input virtual switch 21 shown in FIG. 11 to FIG. 17 inputs characters by rotating the ball 10 of the controller 6 with the thumb 7 and selectively moving the current switch 22A to a desired position.
At that time, the five characters of the character mask 31 that are clearly displayed and divided by the index frame 30 of the current switch 22A that has been moved and newly displayed are provided in the vicinity of the ball 10 of the controller 6. The actual switches S1 and S7 to S10 are used to select and input characters with the thumb 7 in accordance with the display positions of the character graphic 28 and the index character 29 of the character mask 31 of the current switch 22A.

  The five characters explicitly displayed on the current switch 22A are linked to the character of the character graphic 28 shown in the center of the index frame 30 and the switch S1 on the rear surface of the ball 10 in the center of the controller 6 to form a cruciform shape. The left index character 29 character in the index frame 30 is linked to the left switch S7 of the ball 10, and the right index character 29 character in the cross-shaped index frame 30 is linked to the right switch S8 of the ball 10. The character of the upper index character 29 in the cross-shaped index frame 30 is linked to the switch S9 on the upper side of the ball 10, and the character of the lower index character 29 in the cross-shaped index frame 30 is the lower side of the ball 10. Is linked to the switch S10.

  In this way, each character of the index character 29 corresponds to the display position of each character and the switch arrangement position in the controller 6, and the current switch 22 A selects the character with the surrounding shadow mask 32. The lightness and saturation are set higher than those of the selection virtual switch 20 so as to be visually recognized. When the current switch 22A is visually observed, the thumb 7 is placed on the switch corresponding to the character for selection. In response, the corresponding character is selected and operated.

  The speed of the response of this switch operation can be improved by practicing and training and can be made skilled. During this practice and training, the same character arrangement as that of the character input virtual switch 21 is previously learned by tapping and flicking. Since the character arrangement in the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is the same, even a beginner of character input of the present invention can improve the character input operation in a short period of time without being confused by the input operation. Can do.

  Further, if the user is proficient in the tap / flick operation, the character input virtual switch 21 having the same character arrangement as that of the skilled character arrangement can be used to move the finger or the pointer during the tap / flick operation in inputting a word or phrase. It is only necessary to move the current switch 22A by following the same input path as in FIG.

  In particular, the movement path to the hot spot where the operation frequency is concentrated in the dovolac arrangement of FIGS. 12 and 13, the appearance frequency arrangement of FIG. 14, and the consonant appearance frequency arrangement of FIG. The operation is exactly the same.

  Note that the hot spot is selected as the current switch 22A in the portion where the frequently-selected character group (character input virtual switch) is collected first (first time) in the tap / flick operation, in the present invention. This is a portion where frequently selected character selection / selection virtual switches 20 are gathered.

Specifically, in the Dvorak arrangement of FIG. 12, four character choices of “ e ” in the middle of the left column, “ t ” on the right side, “ c ” on the right side, and “ p ” on the left side thereof are selected. The selection virtual switch 20 forms a hot spot.

In the Dvorak arrangement of FIG. 13, since the numeric string is arranged on the left side, “ e ” of the vowel character group is the center of the 3 × 3 matrix, and the four character selection / selection virtual switches 20 in the upper right corner are displayed. A hot spot is formed. In this case, in the case of the tablet PC 100 shown in FIG. 6, the operation movement range of the thumb is narrowed, and characters can be input efficiently.

  In the present invention, when the character selection / one selection virtual switch 20 having a high probability of being selected gathers to form a hot spot, the movement range of the current switch 22A is reduced, and a plurality of switches within the same current switch 22A are formed. Since the chance of selecting a character increases, a plurality of characters can be successively input by the switches S7 to S10 and the switches S3 to S6 without moving (switching) the current switch 22A.

Similarly, in the appearance frequency array of FIG. 14, four character selection / selection virtual switches 20 in the upper left corner, that is, “ e ” in the center of the left column, “ t ” on the right side thereof, “ c ” on the upper side thereof, The character selection / selection virtual switch 20 of “ w ” adjacent to the left forms a hot spot, and in the consonant coupling arrangement of FIG. 15, “ e ” at the center of the left column and “ A character selection / selection virtual switch 20 of t 4, “ n ” above it, and “ l ” adjacent to the left forms a hot spot.

  In this consonant combination array, consonants that frequently appear in succession are gathered in one character selection / selection virtual switch 20, so that the current switch 22 </ b> A is not moved (switched). The consonants to be played are continuously input, and the switching operation of the current switch 22A can be reduced.

  On the other hand, when the current switch 22A is the function expansion current mask 33a or the selected character expansion current mask 33b, the vicinity of the ball 10 is determined according to the characters and symbols displayed in the four corners 34 to 37 outside the index frame 30. The switches S3 to S6 provided in the oblique direction are operated with the thumb 7 to input signals of the corresponding characters and symbols.

  The character mask 31 of Japanese Japanese syllabary arrangement shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 has a roaring sound frequently used in each consonant line at the upper left, upper right, and lower right in the diagonal direction. In the “Hamama” line, a roaring character with “nya, yo, yo” is assigned as a roaring character of one character per night.

In addition, in the lower left corner, a symbol for instructing attribute conversion can be input. For the “A” line, the attribute conversion for lower case conversion is performed, and for the “ka, sa, ha,” line with muddy sound, it is converted to muddy sound. The attribute conversion is further assigned with multiple attribute conversion for converting the sound into semi-voiced sound by the second selection of the “ha” line.
In this attribute conversion, before selecting one character, the attribute is converted in advance and the display character is displayed as the character after the attribute conversion, and then the display character after the attribute conversion is selected and selected.

  The lower case conversion of the “a” line is a lower case letter that is subscripted to make clear sound and muddy sound stutter, and the sound of stuttering with “nya, yu, yo” is already prepared in the consonant part, but other In the roar of the night, after the letters of the night, the lowercase letters of the vowels are superimposed to make a roar of the night. However, there are two character codes.

  Also, in the vowel “a” line, the other line “ka, sa, ta, na, hama, ra” (a double vowel with the letters “a, ぅ, ぉ” superimposed on the letters of the vowel). “Ya, Yu, Yo” is assigned to diagonal positions that form the same diagonal, and there is no “Ya” line in the character selection / selection virtual switch 20.

  This “Ya, Yu, Yo” is pronounced as “Ia = Ya”, “Io = Yu”, “Io = Yo” by overlaying “A, ぅ, ぉ” on the vowel “I”. It can also be interpreted as a vowel stutter (double vowel), and the attribute of this is the vowel, and at the same diagonal position as the other scrambles of “ka, sa, tana, hana, ma, ra” It is assigned as a roar of the vowel “I” (」vowel).

  The conventional matrix of Japanese syllabary arrangements for tap / flick operations has at least 10 choices with “A, K, S, T, N, H, Y, R, W” as representative characters. Since a selected character group is required, to form a square matrix, a 4 × 3 matrix must be used, which causes a problem inconsistent with the alpha bed matrix shown in FIGS. Yes.

  In the examples shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, since the “ya” line is included as a vowel sound in the “a” line, there are nine alternative selected character groups and can be configured as a 3 × 3 matrix. Therefore, in the present invention, the consistency with the alphabet character is improved, the problem is solved, and the movement of the current switch 22A can be moved to all positions by one movement operation. It can be demonstrated.

  However, since the moving operation toward the outside of the virtual switch display area 21A cannot be performed by the conventional tap / flick operation, the path of the fingertip or the pointer is followed when inputting a word or phrase. Even if the person is skilled, the input operation of the present invention requires new practice and training.

  FIG. 19 shows another embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera 300.

  In the following description, even if the embodiments are different, the same portions and functions that are described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed portions described in the first embodiment are described. Detailed description will be omitted.

  As an example, the digital camera 300 has the dimensions of the back surface of the camera body 39 having a width of 96 mm and a height of 58 mm, and a monitor screen 2b having a width of 57 mm and a height of 42 mm is provided to the left. .

  In the upper right part of the right side of the monitor screen 2b, three camera operation switch groups 40 are provided in one vertical row, and the track ball 8 is placed in the center at the lower right corner of the camera body 39 in the same manner as the controller 6 shown in FIG. The character input operation switch group 11a having the same ten switches S1 to S10 as the first switch group 11 is provided at the lower part and the periphery of the ball 10.

  On the monitor screen 2b, a character input standby screen 4C, which is called from the camera monitor mode by long-pressing the switch S3 on the upper right side of the character input operation switch group 11a for a long time, is initially displayed in the pointing mode. Is displayed.

  In the character input standby screen 4C, a predicted word display screen 26 is displayed on the lower left, a character input virtual switch 21 having function switch groups 24L and 24R on the right and left, and an input character display screen 25 on the upper side. In addition, a photographed image file name editing area 27a is displayed at the top thereof so as to be interchangeable with the text editing screen 27.

  In this pointing mode, the pointer 9 indicated by a virtual line is moved by rotating the ball 10 of the trackball 8, pressing the ball 10 at a desired position, and operating the switch S1 below it to operate the personal computer. Executes selections and instructions in the same way as A drag operation can also be performed by operating the switch S2.

  In the pointing mode in which the character input standby screen 4C is displayed, when the switch S4 on the upper left of the character input operation switch group 11a is pressed long, the character input virtual switch 21 shown in FIG. 5 displays the current switch 22A. Then, the character input standby screen 4C in which the current switch 22A is movable is displayed.

  In conventional character input by tap / flick operation, a character input virtual switch 21 enables character input by providing a touch panel on the front surface of the monitor screen 2b. The size of the virtual switch display area 21A) is 22 mm × 22 mm in the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the 3 × 3 matrix, and the size of one side of one character selection / selection virtual switch 20 is 22/3 = 7 .33 mm, making it difficult to perform fine tap / flick operations with the fingertips, approaching the limit of fingertip recognition resolution of the touch sensor, and increasing the probability of erroneous recognition.

In the case where the present invention is applied in FIG. 19, the current switch 22A moved by the operation of the ball 10 is moved by 1 pitch in units of 7.33 mm. The figure 28, the surrounding index frame 30 and the index character 29 can be sufficiently visually recognized.
The movement of the current switch 22A is not related to the resolution of the monitor screen 2b or the size of the display image, and does not require the fine operation ability of the ball 10, so that the operation ability of the thumb 7 is highly skilled. Does not require the ability to control.

  When the movement of the current switch 22A is clearly confirmed by the rotation operation of the ball 10, the selection of the character assigned to the character mask 31 of the current switch 22A is arranged on the rear surface of the ball 10 and on the left, right, top and bottom. When the five switches S1, S7 to S10 and the current switch 22A are the function expansion current mask 33a or the selected character expansion current mask 33b, in addition to the five switches S1, S7 to S10, a ball Since it is selected by four switches S3 to S6 provided in 10 diagonal directions, the selection can be made reliably regardless of the size of the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 and the resolution of the monitor screen 2b. .

  The other eight switches S3 to S10, including the switches S1 and S2 on the rear surface of the ball 10, rotate in advance with the thumb 7 while considering the operability in order to make an alternative selection with the thumb 7. Since it is arranged at the appropriate position, the size of the character input virtual switch 21 in the virtual switch display area 21A displayed on the monitor screen 2b, that is, the size of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 and the size displayed on the virtual switch display region 21A. The operability of character input does not depend on the spacing between the character graphic 28 and the index character 29 in the character mask 31 and the character size.

  After a suitable number of characters on the input character display screen 25 are selected on the character input standby screen 4C, the character string is converted into kanji, or an appropriate word is selected from the predicted word group displayed on the predicted word display screen 26. For selection, the switch S4 used for switching from the pointing mode to the character input standby screen 4C is pressed and changed to the pointing mode, and then the pointer 9 is operated by rotating the ball 10. When the pointer 9 reaches the required position, the ball 10 is pressed to activate the switch S1, and an operation signal for selection or confirmation can be issued to perform a character input operation.

  On the other hand, when the character input operation switch group 11a including the trackball 8 is released from the character input mode described above, it is switched to the operation mode of the digital camera 300, and the trackball 8 and the switches S1 and S2 below it are It becomes a pointing mode for controlling the pointer 9 and controls a menu screen and a control object (icon) on the monitor screen of the digital camera 300.

  Further, when the pointer 9 is in the subject image, the trackball 8 can determine the focus position of the autofocus on the subject image portion that overlaps the pointer 9, and the trackball 8 can be operated by any of the surrounding switches. The rotation of the ball 10 of the ball 8 can be switched between zoom-up and zoom-down modes to adjust the magnification of the subject image and the shooting area.

  Further, the switches S1 and S2 on the rear surface of the ball 10 are two-stage switches, similar to the shutter button of a normal digital camera, and the ball 10 is lightly moved by bringing the pointer 9 to a predetermined part of the subject image. Press to fix the focus position and distance of the autofocus with the switch S1 activated, and then operate the camera body 39 slightly while keeping the switch S1 activated, so that the subject in the monitor screen 4C The image is cropped, and when it is aligned with the proper position and the proper shutter chance is reached, the ball 10 is pressed harder and the switch S2 is activated to release the shutter.

  The use of the two-stage switches S1 and S2 is not different from the operation of the shutter button of the conventional digital camera, but the operation mode is switched by the operation of an appropriate function switch and interlocked with the zoom mechanism. In operation, zoom adjustment and shutter timing adjustment can be performed with the thumb 7 alone.

  In addition, the four switches S7 to S10 in the four-way switch unit 15 (not shown) on the left, right, top and bottom of the ball 10 are mounted on the digital camera 300 and can be freely assigned and used as control switches for the multi-function system.

  FIG. 20 shows an embodiment in which a mobile phone 400 that is slightly smaller than the multi-function mobile phone 200 shown in FIG. 7 is used. The mobile phone 400 has a width of 52 mm, a height of 103 mm, and a monitor screen 2c. A character input standby screen 4D is displayed at the bottom of the monitor screen 2c.

  The character input standby screen 4D has a predicted word display screen 26 on the left side, a character input virtual switch 21 having function switch groups 24L and 24R on the right and left sides, and an input character display screen 25 on the upper side. it's shown.

  Further, a text editing screen 27 for editing a transmission sentence such as an email is displayed at the upper part.

  The size of the virtual switch display area 21A displaying the character input virtual switch 21 is a square of 17 mm × 17 mm, and one size of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 forming a 3 × 3 matrix is 17 / 3 = 5.7 mm, and in order to input characters by tapping and flicking using the touch panel, the thickness of the finger becomes relatively large, each character selection / selection virtual switch 20, and character selection / selection The resolution that the touch sensor identifies each character assigned to the virtual switch 20 is lowered, and even when a tap / flick operation is input by a gesture operation called a gesture, gesture gesture (finger gesture) When the size of the fingertip is reduced, the fingertip before touching extended on the screen for operation is a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches 20. At the same time, it is difficult to identify the target character selection / selection virtual switch 20 with the shadow of the finger.

  A character input operation switch group 11b including a trackball 8 is provided at the lower center of the monitor screen 2c.

  The character input operation switch group 11b has the same structure as the first switch group 11 of the first embodiment and the character input operation switch group 11a of the second embodiment, and each switch achieves the same function. The detailed description of is omitted.

  The character input virtual switch 21 on the character input standby screen 4D is switched to the current switch 22A selectively by the operation of the ball 10 of the trackball 8, and a substantial switch group S1 provided around the trackball 8 is provided. Through S10, the character group of the character mask 31 displayed by the current switch 22A and the characters and functions displayed by the function expansion current mask 33a or the selected character expansion current mask 33b are selected and input.

  In this case, the character input operation is performed at the actual distance between the switches of the character input operation switch group 11b regardless of the display size of the character input virtual switch 21 displayed on the monitor screen 2c. High certainty of operation.

  When the character input operation switch group 11b is disconnected from the character input mode, the pointer or cursor on the monitor screen 2c is controlled by operating the trackball 8, and the rear surface of the ball 10 is controlled with respect to the pointer or cursor. The switches S1 and S2 can issue instructions and command signals.

  Further, the switches S3 to S6 on the diagonals around the ball 10 are extended function switches, and the switches S7 to S10 on the four sides of the ball 10 are added to the switch S1 on the rear surface of the ball 10, and It can be used in the same manner as a 4-way switch with a center push switch that is widely used in mobile phones.

  Further, in the pointer mode, when the switch S2 on the rear surface of the ball 10 is kept pressed for about 2 to 3 seconds when reaching the click lock state or the drag state, the character is displayed after the long press state is detected. Any one of the switches S1 to S10 of the input operation switch group 11b can be operated as a command switch for assigning a new extended function as a double-pressing operation of the switch. The container 300 can be used.

  Further, when the track ball 8, the ball 10, the first switch group 11 and the character input operation switch groups 11a and 11b by the surrounding switches S1 to 10 are released from the character input mode of the present invention, The track ball 8, the ball 10, and the switches S1 and S2 on the rear surface of the ball 10 can act as mouse-compatible pointers for general-purpose personal computers. It works as a switch compatible with the four-way movement key with the arrow above, and diagonally diagonal four-way switches S3 to S6 can be assigned to shortcut keys such as copy, paste, return, and forward on a general-purpose personal computer as appropriate. it can.

  FIG. 21 shows a modification in which the current switch 22A shown in the embodiment of FIG. 20 is displayed larger than each character selection virtual switch 20 in the character input virtual switch 21, and is the same as the dovolac arrangement shown in FIG. In the character input virtual switch 21, a correlation diagram for each display position of each current switch 22A is shown in which the current switch 22A at each position is displayed twice as large as the area of the original character selection / selection virtual switch 20.

  When the current switch 22A is made larger than the original character selection / selection virtual switch 20 and the center is superimposed on the original character selection / selection virtual switch 20, the area used as a 3 × 3 matrix in the character input virtual switch 21 Swells and protrudes from the virtual switch display area 21A.

  Further, the enlarged current switch 22A hides the surrounding character selection / selection virtual switch 20 and makes it difficult to recognize the character graphic 28 and the index character 29 of another character selection / selection virtual switch 20 to be selected next.

  FIG. 21 shows the position of the virtual switch display area 21A and each current switch 22A, with their feature points fixed and overlapped, and the current position of each current switch 22A in the 3 × 3 matrix and the virtual switch display. It is possible to display an arbitrary enlargement ratio (logically, the area ratio is 9 times or less) without connecting each current switch 22A to the outside from the virtual switch display area 21A by connecting the display position in the area 21A. And

  The feature point is that the outer contour of the 3 × 3 matrix forms a virtual switch display area 21A, and the original position of each character selection / selection virtual switch 20 matches the matrix position of each 3 × 3 matrix. It is stored.

  In particular, the 3 × 3 matrix structure is the simplest and symmetrical structure next to the 2 × 2 matrix structure.

  For example, in FIG. 21A, when each matrix element of each 3 × 3 matrix (each character selection / selection virtual switch 20) is compared with its outer contour line (virtual switch display area 21A), one row and one column. The eyes (p) overlap each other in common with the upper left corner, and the first row and second column (c) overlap each other in common with the center of the upper side, and the first row and third column (1) are The upper right corners overlap each other, the second row and the first column (e) overlap each other in the center of the left side, and the second row and the second column (t) have the center of gravity at the center. Commonly overlap each other, the second row and the third column (6) overlap each other in the center of the left side, and the third row and the first column (j) overlap each other in the lower left corner. The third row and the second column (w) overlap each other in the center of the lower side, and the third row and the third column (/). The lower right corners overlap each other in common, and the overlapping points are attributes related to the position of each matrix element, that is, the upper left corner, the upper side center, the upper right corner, the left side center, the center of gravity, and the right side. , The lower left corner, the lower center, and the lower right corner are attributes unique to the nine matrix elements.

  FIG. 21B shows the character input virtual switch 21 of the dovolak arrangement shown in FIG. 21A from the first row and the first column in the upper left corner to the third row and the third column in the lower right corner sequentially. A correlation diagram is shown in which each current switch 22A is enlarged and displayed in a state where the area of the switch 20 is doubled by the area ratio and the feature points are overlapped.

  FIG. 12B shows a state in which the current switch 22A is not enlarged, and FIG. 21B shows an example in which the current switch 22A is enlarged to double the area, but the above-described overlapping of feature points is maintained. Has been.

  FIG. 22 shows the same cellular phone 300 as in FIG. 20 displaying the character input virtual switch 21 portion with the enlarged procedure of the current switch 22A shown in FIG.

  FIG. 23 shows the part of the character input virtual switch 21 in a state where the enlargement magnification of the current switch 22A is four times the area ratio of the original character selection / selection virtual switch 20 and the above feature points are overlapped. A cellular phone 300 similar to that of FIG. 22 is shown.

  The modified example of the enlarged display of the current switch 22A can also be applied to the first and second embodiments. In this way, the current switch 22A that is explicitly enlarged and displayed in the first embodiment can be The graphic switch 28 and the index character 29 can be easily identified from a distance, and in the second and third embodiments, even if the character input virtual switch 21 is displayed in a small size, the current switch selected and enlarged is displayed. In 22A, the character graphic 28 and the index character 29 can be easily identified.

  24 and 25 show a modification of the controller 6 in the first embodiment.

  The controller 6a shown in FIG. 24 includes a trackball 8 in which the front surface of the ball 10 protrudes in the center of the front plate 41 whose upper end is slightly inclined backward, and two switches S1 and S2 are provided on the rear surface of the ball 10. I have.

  On the left and right and top and bottom of the ball 10, operation switches S <b> 7 to S <b> 10 are provided at equal intervals with the ball 10, which are push button switch type and have a large operation button.

  In addition, operation switches S3 to S6 having operation buttons having the same size as the operation buttons of the operation switches S7 to S10 are provided on diagonal four sides of the ball 10.

  The operation switches S3 to S10 are arranged vertically and horizontally and arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix, and the height of each button is the same in the row arrangement on the left and right. The upper end of the central ball 10 (the uppermost end of the protruding portion) is slightly higher than the left and right buttons.

  In addition, with respect to the vertical column arrangement, a step 42 is provided between the rows that are arranged side by side and that gradually decreases slightly from the bottom to the top.

  The lower surface 44 of the controller 6a is firmly fixed to the upper surface of the mounting table (not shown) so as not to fall down.

  The controller 6a includes a track ball 8 according to the first embodiment, a ball 10 thereof, a first switch group 11 including the surrounding switches S1 to 10 and a character input operation switch group 11a shown in the second and third embodiments. , 11b, and a detailed description of the relationship between the current switch 22A and the operation switches S1 to S10 will be omitted.

  25 displays the character input standby screen 4 shown in FIG. 5 on the large monitor screen 2 shown in FIG. 1 using the controller 6a, and the character input operator 43 moves away from the monitor screen 2. The operation status for inputting characters on the character input standby screen 4 is shown.

  The character input operator 43 is in a situation where both hands cannot be used, and the ball 10 of the controller 6 a and the operation switches S <b> 1 to S <b> 10 are operated by the lips 45 and the jaw 46.

  In this use situation, the current switch 22A that is moved by the ball 10 of the trackball 8 rotates the ball 10 in the direction in which the current switch 22A is to be moved regardless of the amount of rotation of the roll 10. , It can be moved by one in the operation direction.

  For this reason, adjustment operations such as adjusting the rotation amount of the ball 10 to adjust the position or over-driving the ball 10 are not required.

  In addition, as described with reference to FIG. 18, to move to any position in the 3 × 3 matrix, only one rotation operation of the ball 10 is required, and subsequent character selection can be performed by one selection operation. Character input is possible with limit character selection operations.

  The controller 6a shown in FIG. 24 is configured to be operated with the lips 45 and the chin 46. However, the size of the controller 6a is increased, and each switch or the like is arranged on a flat tread board to operate with the foot. You can also

  In the present invention, the movement of the current switch 22A, which is the character selection / selection virtual switch 22 on the character input standby screen 4, is described as being performed by the trackball 8 of the controller 6 shown in FIG. It is also possible to select the character selection / selection virtual switch 20 of the character group desired to be selected by moving the current switch 22A using the scroll wheel 12 and the left switch S12 and the right switch.

  For example, the rotation of the scroll wheel 12 moves the current switch 22A in the vertical direction, and when the current switch 22A reaches the upper and lower ends of the virtual switch display area 21A, moves the current switch 22A to the opposite end in the vertical direction. In this way, the scroll wheel 12 is moved so as to rotate in the vertical direction following the rotation direction of the scroll wheel 12.

  At this time, the movement pitch of the current switch 22A is about every 1 count or 2 counts of the rotation signal output from the scroll wheel 12.

  To move the current switch 22A in the left-right direction, the left switch S12 moves one pitch to the left by a single switch ON operation, and when the switch is continuously turned ON, the current switch 22A moves to the left of the virtual switch display area 21A. When reaching this end, it is moved to the right end on the opposite side, and then rotated to move sequentially to the left.

  Similarly, the right switch S13 rotates the current switch 22A to the right by rotating the current switch 22A to the right by one pitch or continuously.

  Each character in the current switch 22A is selected by selecting the character related to the character graphic 28 in the center of the index frame 30 by the switch S1 on the rear surface of the ball 10 in the first switch group 11, and similarly surrounded by the index frame 30 in all directions. Each character related to the index character 29 can be selected by the switches S7 to S10 on the four sides of the ball 10 in the same direction as the cross direction of the index frame 30.

  In the case where the trackball 8 is not used as the pointing means in the case described above, for example, when the trackball 8 does not exist in the center, each switch corresponding to the five characters assigned to the current switch 22A is set to the center. The switch S1, the switch S7 to the switch S10 can be configured with a four-way switch with a push switch. As a result, the switch S1 and the four-way switch unit 15 can be configured as a single switch structure part. it can.

  That is, in the controller 6 of FIG. 3, there is no hole 17 through which the ball 10 is inserted in the center of the wiring board 16, and a four-way switch with a center push switch can be provided on the front surface of the wiring board 16.

  Furthermore, an electrode of a touch sensor used for a touch pad or the like is embedded on the upper surface of a flat push button-like component for pressing the center push switch in the four-way switch with a center push switch, It is possible to substitute the trackball 8 by sliding the thumb 7 as pointing means.

  In this case, the switch S1 on the rear surface of the ball 10 is replaced by a center push switch, and the switch S2 that is jointly operated with the switch S1 is provided on the rear surface of the four-way switch with the center push switch, and the operation of the four-way switch is performed. Set to operate at a pressure higher than the pressure.

  Furthermore, by adopting a four-way switch with a center push switch having an eight-way switch structure, the switches S3 to S6 in the four oblique directions in the first switch group 11 can be accommodated in one switch component. I can do it.

  Thereby, the number of parts constituting the controller 6 is reduced, and an inexpensive controller 6 can be configured.

  The controller 6 can be used as a controller that is gripped and used by the hand of the television receiver 1 and other peripheral devices. If the peripheral device includes the monitor screen 2, it is easy to input characters. Can be possible.

  The peripheral devices include the tablet PC 100 of FIG. 6, the smartphone 200 of FIG. 7, the digital camera similar to FIG. 19, the mobile phone similar to FIG.

  Monitor screens include notebook PCs, tablet PCs, screens of head-mounted displays and projectors connected to other terminals, digital clocks, digital calendars, electronic dictionaries, electronic pucks, and other home appliances. It can correspond to the monitor screen 2 of the attached electronic device.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modified forms without departing from the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Television receiver 2 Monitor screen 2a Monitor screen 2b Monitor screen 3 Browser screen 4 Character input standby screen 4A Character input standby screen 4B Character input standby screen 4C Character input standby screen 4D Character input standby screen 5 Right hand 6 Controller 6a Controller 7 Thumb 8 Track ball 9 Pointer 10 Ball 11 First switch group 11a Character input operation switch group 11b Character input operation switch group 12 Scroll wheel 13 Second switch group 14 Third switch group 15 Four-way switch unit 16 Wiring board 17 Hole 18 Donut-shaped swing Moving plates 19a to 19d Switch operation protrusion 20 Character selection / selection virtual switch 20a Character selection / selection virtual switch 21 Character input virtual switch 21 ′ Real character input virtual switch 21 ″ Virtual character input virtual switch 21A Virtual switch display area 22 Character selection selection virtual switch 22A Current switch 23 Character input edit screen 24L Function switch group 24R Function switch group
25 Input character display screen 26 Predictive word display screen 27 Text edit screen 27a Captured image file name edit area 28 Character graphic 29 Index character 30 Index frame 31 Character mask 31 'Character mask 32 Shadow mask 32
33 Current mask 33a Function expansion current mask 33b Selected character expansion current mask 34 Left diagonal upper corner 35 Right diagonal upper corner 36 Left diagonal lower corner 37 Right diagonal lower corner 39 Camera body 40 Camera operation switch group 41 Front panel 42 Step 43 Character input operator 44 Bottom 100 Tablet PC
200 Smartphone 300 Digital Camera 400 Mobile Phone S1-S19 Switch

Claims (54)

As one of a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches displayed on the image display screen as character input virtual switches, a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) that makes a character selectable state is clearly indicated. And selectively display
For each character assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) that is explicitly selected and displayed, the character arrangement related to the selection of the character selection / selection virtual switch and the selection selection operation are executed. A character input method, wherein a switch arrangement relating to alternative selection of an alternative switch is selected in association with each other in a similar manner.   The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the character input virtual switch imitates a character arrangement of a real keyboard.   The character input method according to claim 2, wherein the character layout of the actual keyboard is a quatity layout.   The character input method according to claim 2, wherein the character array of the actual keyboard is a dovolac array.   The character input method according to claim 2, wherein the character arrangement of the actual keyboard is a character arrangement of each language assigned to the standard keyboard according to each language.   The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the character input virtual switch defines a character array of a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches according to an alphabetical order.   The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the character input virtual switch defines a character array of a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches according to one or both of the appearance frequency of characters and the degree of relationship between characters. .   The character input method according to claim 7, wherein the character array of the plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches is a character array corresponding to an appearance frequency of an alphabet in English.   The character input method according to claim 7, wherein the character array of the plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches is a character array corresponding to the appearance frequency of English alphabets and the degree of association between consonants.   The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the character input virtual switch has a plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches arranged in Japanese alphabets.   A plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches displayed on the image display screen display the characters assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch by a tap / flick operation via a touch sensor provided on the image display screen. The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the character input virtual switch is selected one by one.   The character input method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the character input virtual switch includes character selection and selection virtual switches arranged in a 3x3 matrix.   The character-selection-selection virtual switch or the character-selection-selection-selection virtual switch (current switch) places a character representing the character-selection-selection-selection virtual switch or the character-selection-selection-selection virtual switch (current switch) in the center, and The character input method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein four characters are arranged in four directions on the left, right, top, and bottom of the periphery.   The character-selection-selection virtual switch or the character-selection-selection-selection virtual switch (current switch) places a character representing the character-selection-selection-selection virtual switch or the character-selection-selection-selection virtual switch (current switch) in the center, and The character input method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a character, a symbol, or a command is arranged in any one of four diagonally surrounding corners.   The character input method according to claim 14, wherein the character is a stuttering vowel with the same attribute as a stuttering of a kana character or a stuttering.   The character input method according to claim 14, wherein the symbol is a full-width or half-width separator.   The character input method according to claim 14, wherein the symbol is a symbol related to four arithmetic operations.   15. The character input method according to claim 14, wherein the command is a command for changing an attribute of a character assigned to the character selection and selection virtual switch or the character selection and selection virtual switch (current switch).   The character input method according to claim 18, wherein the character attribute is any one of an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, a plain, a katakana, a clear sound, a muddy sound, a semi-voiced sound, a consonant, a vowel, an accent, and an attribute unique to each language.   15. The character input method according to claim 14, wherein the command is a command assigned to a shortcut key of an operation system in a computer.   A plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches displayed on the image display screen as character input virtual switches have shadow masks that clearly indicate the display areas of the plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches for each character selection / selection virtual switch. The character input method according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the character input method is preliminarily displayed in a transparently superimposed state.   A plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches transparently transmit a shadow mask that clearly indicates a region of the character selection / selection virtual switch and a character mask that displays each character assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch. The character input method according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the character input method is displayed in advance in a state of being overlapped.   The character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) changes the brightness, saturation, or hue of each of the surrounding character selection / selection virtual switches to change the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch). 23. The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the character input method is explicitly selected and displayed so as to stand out brightly.   The character selection and selection virtual switch (current switch) is explicitly selected as a character mask that displays each character assigned to the character selection and selection virtual switch (current switch) 24. The character input method according to claim 1, wherein the current mask to be displayed is transparently overlapped and explicitly selected and displayed.   The character-selection-selection virtual switch (current switch) displays each character assigned to the character-selection-selection virtual switch (current switch) as a character representing the character-selection-selection virtual switch (current switch). In the center, around the representative character, with a character mask that displays other characters in four directions on the left, right, top, and bottom, and an index frame drawn in a cross so as to capture the characters around the four sides, 25. A character input method according to claim 24, wherein the display area of the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) is explicitly selected and displayed with a current mask divided into a cross.   26. The character input method according to claim 25, wherein the current mask displays another index notation displayed on the character mask at the four corners outside the cross-shaped index frame surrounding each character of the character mask.   27. The character input method according to claim 26, wherein the index notation is a character, a symbol, or a figure indicating an instruction.   28. The character input method according to claim 27, wherein the character is a stuttering vowel with the same attribute as a stuttering of a kana character or a stuttering.   28. The character input method according to claim 27, wherein the symbol is a delimiter that forms a full-width or half-width blank character.   The character input method according to claim 27, wherein the symbol is a symbol related to four arithmetic operations.   28. The character input method according to claim 27, wherein the command is a command for changing an attribute of a character assigned to the character selection and selection virtual switch or the character selection and selection virtual switch (current switch).   The character input method according to claim 31, wherein the attribute of the character is any one of an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, a plain, a katakana, a clear sound, a muddy sound, a semi-voiced sound, a consonant, a vowel, an accent, and an attribute unique to each language.   28. The character input method according to claim 27, wherein the command is a command assigned to a shortcut key of an operation system in a computer.   The selection actual switch that executes the selection operation selects the center position where the character is assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch or the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch), and the left / right / up / down of the center The character input method according to any one of claims 1 to 33, further comprising: a central switch that corresponds to each other's four positions in a similar manner, and four switches on the left, right, top, and bottom in the center. .   The actual switches that perform the selection operation are positioned at positions that are diagonally square from the center where the characters are assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch or the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch). The character input method according to any one of claims 1 to 34, further comprising an oblique four-way switch that corresponds to each other. One of a plurality of character selection and selection virtual switches displayed on the image display screen as a character input virtual switch is selected as a character selection and selection virtual switch (current switch) selected and displayed in an explicit current state. , Character selection and selection virtual switch (current switch) selection means,
Each character that is assigned to the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) and is explicitly displayed in the current state is assigned to the character selection and selection operation of the character selection / selection virtual switch. A character input device comprising: substantial alternative selection real switch means for selecting and selecting switch arrangements relating to alternative selection of execution alternative selections to be executed in a similar manner to each other .   The image display screen is a monitor screen of any one of a digital TV, a tablet PC, a smart phone, a mobile phone, an electronic dictionary, an electronic book, a digital camera, a digital clock, a digital calendar, a head mounted display, and a projector. Character input device.   A plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches adjacent to a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) in which the character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) selection means is selected and displayed immediately before selection and is in an explicit current state. 37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the character input device is a pointing device that is operated from a position distant from the image display screen to change the explicit current state.   A plurality of character selection / selection virtual switches adjacent to a character selection / selection virtual switch (current switch) are arranged outside the virtual switch display area with the arrangement pattern of each character input virtual switch arranged inside the virtual switch display area. 40. The character input device according to claim 38, which is a virtual switch for selecting characters of virtual images arranged as a continuous pattern.   37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the pointing device for changing the explicit current state is a trackball that is housed in a controller held by a hand and rotates the ball with a thumb.   37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the pointing device for changing the explicit current state is a trackball provided near the image display screen and rotating the ball with a finger.   The character input device according to claim 40 or 41, wherein the trackball is provided with a switch that is operated by pressing the ball rearwardly behind the ball.   The trackball is provided with another switch that operates with a pressing force stronger than the pressing force that actuates the switch after actuating the switch that actuates the ball by pushing the ball rearward after the ball. Or the character input device of 41.   37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the pointing device for changing the explicit current state is a scroll wheel that is housed in a controller held by a hand and rotates the wheel with a thumb, and a switch provided on the left and right of the scroll wheel.   37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the pointing device for changing the explicit current state is a scroll wheel provided in the vicinity of the image display screen and rotating the wheel with a finger, and a switch provided on the left and right of the scroll wheel.   37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the pointing device that changes the explicit current state is a two-way or four-way switch that is housed in a controller held by a hand and is operated by a finger.   37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the pointing device for changing the explicit current state is a two-way or four-way switch provided near the image display screen and operated by a finger.   The actual alternative means for selecting and selecting each character displayed in the current state is housed in a controller held by a hand and operated with a finger. 37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the character input device is a four-way switch provided in four directions on the left, right, and top of the switch.   The actual alternative means for selecting and selecting each character displayed in the current state is housed in a controller held by a hand and operated with a finger. 37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the character input device is a four-way switch provided in four directions on the left, right, and top of the switch.   A substantial alternative selection real switch means for selecting and selecting each character displayed in the current state is provided in the vicinity of the image display screen and operated with a finger. 37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the character input device is a four-way switch provided in four directions on the left, right, and top of the switch.   An actual alternative means for selecting each character displayed in the current state is a switch provided on the rear surface of the trackball, and is provided in the vicinity of the switch and operated with a finger. 37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the character input device is a four-way switch provided in four directions, left and right and up and down, of the provided switch and the central switch.   52. The character input device according to claim 51, wherein the switch provided in the center and the four-way switch provided in the four directions on the left, right, top and bottom of the center switch are four-way switches with a center push switch.   An actual alternative means for selecting each character displayed in the current state is a switch provided on the rear surface of the trackball, and is provided in the vicinity of the switch and operated with a finger. 37. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the character input device is an eight-way switch provided in the four switches on the left, right, top, and bottom of the center switch, and the diagonal diagonals in the four directions.   An actual alternative means for selecting and selecting each character displayed in the current state has a switch provided in the center, four directions on the right and left and up and down of the central switch, and slanting in the four directions. The character input device according to claim 36, wherein the character input device is an 8-way switch with a center push switch provided with a switch on a diagonal.