JPH04257055A - Character inputting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the operation of inputting a character 'UN' (Japanese syllabary) at the time of inputting the character by roman letters by providing an exclusive inputting means for inputting the character 'UN'. CONSTITUTION:When it is decided that the key of punctuation marks or a long vowel is not operated, whether or not a 'UN' key 98a is operated is decided. When the key 98a is operated, a character sound window 97 is cleared at an edit small window 96, and then when a small character 94a is operated, this is released. That is, when the key 98a is operated, the character 'UN' is immediately displayed at the edit small window 96.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character input device suitable for application to an electronic notebook device (portable computer).

0002

2. Description of the Related Art When entering characters (Japanese) into an electronic notebook device or a word processor, there is a method of inputting kana characters and converting them into kanji as necessary. Another method is to input in romaji.

[0003] Roman characters are input using vowels or a combination of consonants and vowels. However, there are various input methods for the character "n". For example, if a comma or period mark is input next to ``N'', the character ``n'' may be input. There is also a device in which when a consonant character is input next to the letter "N", the letter "N" is input.

0004

However, the above-described operation method that combines the letter N and punctuation marks has a problem in that it is difficult to understand the operation intuitively. Also, the way to combine the letter N and consonant letters is, for example, if you are trying to input ``Onna'', you can input ``ONNA'', but if you are trying to input ``Kan'' and input ``KANI'', It ends up being the input for ``crab''. As described above, when using this operating method, there is a problem in that the user must always be careful whether the character input after the letter N is a consonant or a vowel.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and is intended to enable the character "n" to be input easily.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The character input device of the present invention includes a consonant input means that is operated when inputting consonants of the Roman alphabet, a vowel input means that is operated when inputting the vowels of the Roman alphabet, and a character input means operated when inputting the consonants of the Roman alphabet. '' or ``n''.

[0007]

[Operation] The character input device having the above structure is provided with a dedicated input means for inputting the character "n". Therefore, when inputting characters in Roman letters, the operation for inputting the character "n" becomes easy, and the operability is improved.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of an embodiment in which the character input device of the present invention is applied to an electronic notebook device (portable computer). The main body 1 is provided with a power switch 2, which is turned on when the device is used and turned off when the device is discontinued. A brightness adjustment switch 3 is provided to the left of the power switch 2 to adjust the brightness of the screen 8 (brightness of the LCD 22, which will be described later). Further, a case 4 is provided on the side of the main body 1. This case 4 houses a pen 6, which has a switch 7 at its tip and is connected to the main body 1 via a cord 5, when not in use. This pen 6
can be placed in a groove 10 horizontally formed in the upper part of the main body 1 when taken out from the case 4. A speaker 9 is provided on the left side of the groove 10 to output a predetermined sound.

There are two switches 11 on the upper right side of the main body 1.
, 12 are provided. The switch 11 is a change-over switch that changes the brightness of the backlight, which will be described later, into, for example, two levels, and the switch 12 is a volume change-over switch that changes the volume of the sound output from the speaker 9 into, for example, three levels. The switch 13 provided on the left side of the main body 1 is
This is a stop switch that is operated when stopping a predetermined operation midway (for example, when stopping the sound being emitted). There is also a memory (IC) card 70 (Fig. 5) on the left side of the main body 1.
A socket 14 is arranged in which a device (see above) is attached. A socket 15 is provided on the rear side of the main body 1. A socket 16 is also provided inside a battery mounting section 1a on the rear side of the main body 1 into which a battery 19 is mounted. For example, RS232C cables, modems, and other adapters are connected to these sockets 15 and 16. Furthermore, on the upper left side of main body 1, there is an
A connection terminal 18 of the adapter 17 is provided.

FIG. 2 shows a more detailed example of the configuration of the screen 8. In this example, tablet 21 (X
A tablet 21a for detecting the position in the axial direction and a tablet 21b for detecting the position in the Y-axis direction are provided at the top. An LCD 22 is provided below the tablet 21. The LCD 22 is composed of glass plates 22a and 22b provided above and below, and a liquid crystal 23 inserted between the glass plates 22a and 22b. A fluorescent screen (EL) 26 is arranged below the LCD 22. When the fluorescent screen 26 as a backlight generates light, the light is transmitted to the LCD.
22. Since the tablets 21a and 21b are formed of transparent members, the image displayed on the liquid crystal 23 can be observed from above in the figure. Printed circuit board (PCB)
) 25 is loaded with parts (not shown) and is electrically connected to the LCD 22 via a rubber connector 24. It is also electrically connected to the tablet 21 through a conductive film 27 .

FIG. 3 shows a more detailed example of the structure of the fluorescent screen 26. In this embodiment, an insulating film 33 is placed between the electrode 31 and the light emitting section (the other electrode) 32. By applying a predetermined voltage between the electrode 31 and the light emitting section 32, the light emitting section 32 emits light. The electrode 31 and the light emitting section 32 are formed in a plate shape, and can illuminate the screen 8 uniformly.

[0012] In addition to this, it is also possible to use a fluorescent tube as the backlight. In addition, a fluorescent tube is installed on the side of the main body as a side light, and the light is transmitted to the LC using a light transmission member.
It is also possible to transmit the light to the rear of the D22 so that it can be illuminated.

FIG. 4 shows position detection using a tablet and LC
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the principle of display by D. tablet 2
1 has, for example, 512 electrodes in the X-axis direction,
It has 342 electrodes in the Y-axis direction. This results in
It becomes possible to detect 512×342 pixels. The tablet controller 46 controls the clock generation circuit 45a and sequentially applies a predetermined voltage to each of the 342 electrodes. Next, the clock generation circuit 45b is controlled, and the clock generation circuit 45b is controlled.
A voltage is sequentially applied to the 12 electrodes. That is, the tablet 21 is scanned by clocks generated by the clock generation circuit 45a and the clock generation circuit 45b. When the pen 6 approaches a predetermined position on the tablet 21, a predetermined capacitance is formed between the tablet 21 and the pen 6. When the pen 6 is pressed against the tablet 21, the switch 7 at the tip of the pen 6 is turned on.
The electric charge generated between the terminal and a predetermined electrode on the tablet 21 is detected and supplied to the tablet controller 46 via an amplifier 47. Since the tablet controller 46 manages the clock generation timing of the clock generation circuits 45a and 45b, it is possible to detect the pressed position by the pen 6 on the tablet 21 from the detection signal supplied from the pen 6 and the clock generation timing. can. The tablet controller 46 supplies the thus detected operation coordinates of the pen 6 to the CPU 41. CPU41
constantly monitors the position where the pen 6 presses the tablet 21 and the switch 7 is turned on (pen down), and the position where the pen 6 leaves the tablet 21 and the switch 7 is turned off (pen up). Then, press the pen down to accept the input, and press the pen up to confirm the input.

On the other hand, the CPU 41 is connected to the LCD controller 4.
3 and writes data corresponding to the image to be displayed in the memory (V-RAM) 44. LCD controller 4
3 reads data from the memory 44 and supplies a signal corresponding to the data to the drive circuit 42b. LCD22 is
It has 512 electrodes in the horizontal direction and 342 electrodes in the vertical direction, corresponding to the tablet 21. The drive circuit 42a applies a predetermined voltage to each of the 342 electrodes one by one. Further, the drive circuit 42b sequentially applies voltages corresponding to image data to the 512 electrodes. In this way, each pixel on the LCD 22 is scanned, and the LCD
A predetermined image will be displayed on 22.

FIG. 5 shows a more detailed electrical configuration of the main body 1. The CPU 41 is connected to various ICs via a bus line 57. In addition to the system program for the entire device, the ROM 51 has written therein, for example, a kana-kanji conversion program for the word processor function, a dictionary table therefor, a recognition program for handwritten input, a dictionary table therefor, and the like. The working RAM 52 stores data necessary for operation as needed. A backup battery 54 (separate from the battery 19) is connected to the backup RAM 53, so that necessary data is backed up even when the power to the main body of the apparatus is turned off. The timer IC 55 as a time measurement means of the present invention uses a battery 54.
It counts the clock from the crystal oscillator 56 and outputs the date and time data at that point in time. The above-mentioned LCD controller 43 and tablet controller 46 are also connected to the CPU 4 via the bus line 57.
Connected to 1.

The audio processing circuit 58 connects the sockets 14 to 1.
A predetermined audio signal is generated in response to an input from 6 or a command from CPU 41, and is output to adder 59. The sound memory 61 is controlled by the CPU 41 and outputs a pre-stored predetermined sound (for example, a warning sound "eh?") to the adder 59. The adder 59 adds the output of the audio processing circuit 58 and the output of the audio memory 61, and outputs the result to the speaker 9 via the audio volume controller 60. A volume changeover switch 12 is connected to the volume controller 60, and the volume can be controlled by operating the switch 12.

The fluorescent screen (backlight section) 26 includes a power supply circuit 64 (when the power switch 2 is turned on, the battery 1
9 or an AC adapter 17) is supplied via an inverter circuit 63. The brightness of the fluorescent screen 26 can be adjusted to two levels via the inverter circuit 63 by switching the selector switch 11 (for example, a brightness suitable for a bright room and a brightness suitable for a dark room).
can be switched to Separately, by controlling the brightness adjustment switch 3, the brightness of the LCD 22 can be controlled to a desired value in multiple stages. The switch 65a is turned on/off depending on whether the battery 19 attached to the main body 1 is a primary battery or a secondary battery. The switch 65b is connected to the battery 19.
The capacitance of the capacitor is detected and the device is turned on/off depending on the size of the capacitance. These switches 65a, 65b, etc. are connected to the key interface 62 via a power supply circuit 64. The key interface 62 is also connected to the brightness adjustment switch 3, the changeover switch 11, the stop switch 13, and the like. The key interface 62 supplies signals corresponding to on/off of these switches to the CPU 41.

An IC card 70 is connected to the socket 14, and the CPU 41 can exchange data, programs, etc. with the IC card 70 via an IC card interface 66. In addition, sockets 15, 1
6 is connected to an adapter 71, and is connected to the CPU 41 via an expansion interface 68.

Next, the process for inputting characters (Japanese) in Roman characters will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 9. In the explanation, reference will be made to the input screens shown in FIGS. 11 to 22 as necessary.
These screens themselves will be explained in detail later.

[0020] In step S1 of FIG.
It is determined whether or not a is being touched by the pen 6. If it has been touched, proceed to step S2, and edit small window 9
Set the characters to be displayed in 6 to be Hiragana (Figure 14). If it is determined in step S1 that the button 93a for selecting hiragana has not been selected, the process advances to step S3, and a check is made to determine whether the key 93b for "Roma", which is represented in katakana, has been touched with the pen 6. is determined. If it has been touched, the process advances to step S4, and the characters to be displayed in the small editing window 96 are set to katakana. In this way, the button 93a for selecting the mode for representing characters in hiragana is displayed as "Roma", and the button 93b for selecting the mode for representing characters in katakana is displayed in katakana. Since it is expressed as ``Rome,'' the text display corresponds to the button display, allowing for intuitive operation.

[0021] In step S5, the clear key 92b
If it is determined that the board key 92d has not been operated, the process advances to step S9, and it is determined whether or not the board key 92d has been operated. If the board key 92d is operated, the process advances to step S10, and the mode switching menu 89 (
Figure 13) is displayed. Then, in step S11, it is determined whether the button 89f for selecting the Roman board in the menu 89 has been selected. Button 89
If any of the buttons 89a to 89e other than f is selected, Roman alphabet input will no longer be performed and the process ends. If none of the buttons 89a to 89e are operated, the process advances to step S12, and waits until the button 89f is selected, and if the button 89f is selected, the process returns to step S1.

[0022] In step S9, the board key 92d
If it is determined that the cancel key 92c has not been operated, the process advances to step S13, and it is determined whether or not the cancel key 92c has been operated. If the cancel key 92c is operated, the process advances to step S14, and the editing small window 96 and the consonant window 9 are
7 is further returned to the previous state from the state immediately before the cancel key 92c was operated. Furthermore, the process returns to step S7, and if the lowercase key 94a has been operated, it is released.

[0023] In step S13, cancel key 92c is pressed.
If it is determined that the lowercase key 94a has not been operated, the process advances to step S15, and it is determined whether the lowercase key 94a has been operated. If operated, step S1
Proceeding to step 6, the lowercase character status is set. That is, after this lowercase key 94a is operated, the next character to be input is "t" for "touch" or "i" for "whiskey".
are entered as small characters, such as .

In step S15, the lowercase key 94
If it is determined that a has not been operated, the process advances to step S17, and it is determined whether or not a consonant key among the keys 98 has been operated, that is, a key other than the vowel keys A, I, U, E, O, or a punctuation mark key. It is determined whether or not a key other than the key 98a has been operated. If it is determined that the consonant key has been operated, the process advances to step S18, and it is determined whether or not a consonant is displayed in the consonant window 97 (FIG. 16). If no consonant character is displayed in the consonant window 97, step S19
Then, the consonant character corresponding to the operated key is displayed in the consonant window 97. If a consonant character is already displayed in the consonant window 97, the process advances to step S20, and the character corresponding to the operated key is displayed in the consonant window in accordance with the conversion rule shown in FIG. If a key other than the rules shown in FIG. 10 is operated, that key operation is ignored. For example, if the letter G is already displayed in the consonant window 97, if the letter Y is inputted next, and then a vowel is inputted after that, it will be displayed as follows: Since it is an input, the input of the letter Y is accepted and displayed. Even if the letter W is input after the letter G, it is accepted because there is a possibility that the input is ``gua'', ``guu'', ``guu'', ``guu'', ``guu''. However, if characters other than the characters Y and W are input, these characters are ignored because they do not exist in the conversion rules.

Next, in step S17, if it is determined that no consonant key has been operated, the process advances to step S21, and it is determined whether or not a punctuation mark, comma mark, or long sound key has been pressed. If it is determined that these keys have been operated, the process proceeds to step S22, and the editing small window 96 is caused to display a period, a comma, or a long sound in accordance with the operation. Then, the process proceeds to step S23, where the consonant window 97
Clear. Furthermore, the process proceeds to step S7, and if the lowercase key 94a is selected, it is released.

[0026] In step S21, punctuation marks or
If it is determined that the long key has not been operated, the process advances to step S24, and it is determined whether or not the "n" key 98a has been operated. If the key 98a is operated, the process advances to step S25, where the character "n" is displayed in the small editing window 96, and the process further advances to step S26, where
Clear the consonant window 97, then step S7, S8
, if the lowercase key 94a has been operated, it is released. That is, when the key 98a is operated, the character "n" is immediately displayed in the editing small window 96.

If it is determined in step S24 that the key 98a is not operated, the process proceeds to step S24.
The process advances to step 27, where it is determined whether or not a vowel key has been operated. If it is determined that the vowel key has been operated, the process advances to step S28, and it is determined whether or not a character is displayed in the consonant window 97. If a consonant is displayed in the consonant window 97, the process advances to step S29, and the process shown in FIG.
Kana conversion is performed according to the conversion rules shown in 0. Then, the characters resulting from the conversion are displayed in the editing small window 96, and the characters in the consonant window 97 are deleted. Characters that do not exist in the rules shown in FIG. 10 are ignored. If the lowercase letter key 94a has been operated immediately before, a lowercase letter is displayed in the small editing window 96. For example, consonant window 97
, when vowel key A is operated next, the edit window 96 will display:
“Gya” is displayed. And the letters of consonant window 97,
GY is erased (FIGS. 16 to 18). Step S
29, proceed to steps S7 and S8, and press the lowercase key 94.
If a has been operated, it is released.

If it is determined in step S28 that no character is displayed in the consonant window 97, the process advances to step S30, and the character "A" corresponding to the operation key is displayed.
, "i", "u", "e" or "o", edit small window 9
6. If the lowercase letter key 94a has been operated immediately before, these letters are displayed as lowercase letters. Further, the process proceeds to steps S7 and S8, and after the lowercase letter key is released, the process returns to step S1.

If it is determined in step S27 that the vowel key has not been operated, the process proceeds to step S3.
1, it is determined whether the write key 92a has been operated. If the write key 92a is not operated, the process advances to step S32 and other processing is executed. Write key 9
If it is determined that 2a is being operated, the process advances to step S33, and the characters displayed in the small editing window 96 are displayed at the position where the cursor 100 (FIG. 22) is displayed on the input display area 83. . And step S3
4, erase the characters displayed in the editing small window 96 and the consonant window 97, then proceed to steps S7 and S8,
If the lowercase key 94a has been operated, it is released.

Next, specific input screen diagrams will be explained with reference to FIGS. 11 to 22.

An icon display area 81 is provided at the top of the screen 8 shown in FIG. 11, and various icons 82 are displayed, including an icon 82a for "Katsuji". An input display area 83 is provided below the icon display area 81, and an action page is displayed there. Various buttons 84 are displayed on the right side of the screen 8, including a "Mill" button 84a and a "Kaku" button 84b. In this embodiment, each mode is set because the button 84b is highlighted. In each mode, action, connection, and report pages are provided, and the user can write predetermined information on any of these pages. On the action page, a schedule such as performing a predetermined action on a predetermined date at a predetermined time is entered. Fill in your address, phone number, etc. on the connection page. Write down any ideas you come up with and any other necessary notes on the report page. Although not shown, when the viewing mode is set by operating the button 84a, the pages are classified into daily, weekly, monthly, check, action, telephone, address, report, and other pages, and the predetermined page is selected. It is now possible to see. Information entered in actions, connections, reports, etc. is automatically written to the relevant viewing page, and can be viewed on the viewing page.

For example, when writing predetermined information on the action page shown in FIG. 11, an operation is first performed to pull out the type plate necessary for writing. Therefore, the user first moves the pen 6 down to the "Katsuji" icon 82a displayed in the icon display area 81, and then pulls down the pen 6 in the direction of the input display area 83. still,
At this time, when the pen 6 is moved down to the icon 82a, an arrow is displayed from the icon display area 81 toward the input display area 83 to prompt the user to drag the icon downward. When the pen 6 is lifted up on the input display area 83, the type plate 85 is displayed in an enlarged manner as shown in FIG. In the initial state when the type plate 85 is pulled out from the icon display area 81, it is set as a handwriting board, and a grid 86 is displayed. When a predetermined character is handwritten into the square 86 using the pen 6, the stroke is recognized as a pattern, and the character obtained as a result of the pattern recognition is displayed in the square 86. If the characters displayed in the square 86 are correct, touch the write button 88 with the pen 6 to write the characters displayed in the square 86 at a predetermined position in the input display area 83 (the position where the cursor is displayed). It is now possible to do so.

When inputting Roman characters, if the board key 87 is touched with the pen 6 in the state shown in FIG. 12, the board switching menu 8 will be displayed as shown in FIG.
9 (window) is displayed. In the menu 89, any of the following can be selected by touching the keys 89a to 89f with the pen 6: handwriting, short sentence input, telephone kanji list, font change, and Roman board. In the state shown in FIG. 13, when the key 89f for selecting the Roman board is touched with the pen 6, the type plate 85 is converted to the Roman board as shown in FIG.

On the right side of this Roman board are a write key 92a (corresponding to the write key 88 in FIG. 12), a clear key 92b, a cancel key 92c, and a board key 92d (corresponding to the board key 87 in FIG. 12). ) is displayed. The keys 91a and 91b are the keys 98
This key is used to select whether to display the full keys or the Roman alphabet keys. The key 93a is a key selected to display characters input in Roman characters in hiragana, and the key 93b is a key operated to set a mode in which characters input in Roman characters are displayed in katakana. The key 93c is a key operated to directly display the alphabet input using the key 98 in uppercase letters, and the key 93d is a key operated when the alphabet input by operating the key 98 is displayed in lowercase letters. It is.

The key 94 corresponds to a shift key for only one character. For example, when the key 93c is selected and the key 98 is operated, the alphabet corresponding to the key 98 is displayed in the editing small window 96. However, when the key 94 is operated, the character corresponding to the key 98 operated immediately thereafter is displayed as a lowercase letter, which is the opposite setting state to the setting state of the key 93c. Next, key 9
When 8 is operated, subsequent characters will be displayed in capital letters again in accordance with the settings of the key 93c. Similarly, if the key 98 is operated while the key 93d is set, the alphabet corresponding to the operation of the key 98 will be displayed in lower case in the editing window 96; The character corresponding to the key 98 input immediately after is displayed in uppercase, contrary to the setting state of the key 93d. Next, key 9
When 8 is operated, subsequent characters are displayed as lowercase alphabets in accordance with the settings of the key 93d.

A consonant window 97 is provided on the right side of the editing small window 96, and the consonant input therein is displayed. Further to the right of the consonant window 97, a previous delete button 95 is displayed. However, before this, delete button 9
5 is displayed in an unclear manner, so
It is considered unusable in the current mode. In the usable state, the display is changed to a clear display. The user can determine whether or not the key is usable by looking at this display state. When the key 98 is operated, the character corresponding to the operation is displayed at the position of the cursor 99 in the editing small window 96. In addition, in FIG. 14, the full key key 91
Since a is in the selected state, the key 98 is displayed as a full key.

In the state shown in FIG. 14, when the Roman character key 91b is touched with the pen 6, the Roman character input board of the type plate 85 is converted to a Roman character board, as shown in FIG. In this state, only keys 98 necessary for inputting consonants and keys necessary for inputting vowels are displayed. Also, the character ``
A key 98a is operated when inputting ``n'', and keys 98b to 9 are operated when inputting a period, a comma, or a long sound.
8d is displayed as a key exclusively for Roman letters. Further, the keys 94 on the full-key board are lowercase keys 94
It is converted to a. When the key 98 is operated after operating the lowercase key 94a, only the next character is displayed as a small character. When the key 91b is selected and the board is set for Roman letters, keys 93c and 93d are used to display the alphabet as it is in the editing window 96.
is omitted. Therefore, edit the alphabet in the small window 96
cannot be displayed as is. To enter the alphabet as is, you need to change to a full-key board.

When the key 91b is operated to set the board for Roman letters, it is also possible to display the alphabet in the editing small window 96. However, doing so increases the possibility of erroneous operation. Therefore, in this embodiment, the alphabet is not directly input on the Roman alphabet board.

In FIG. 16, the key 91b is used to set the board for Roman characters, and the key 93a is used to open the editing window 96.
It is set so that the characters entered are displayed in hiragana. In this state, two consonants, G and Y, are input using the key 98 and are displayed in the consonant window 97. From this state, as shown in FIG.
When 8a is pressed down with the pen 6, key A is highlighted. Then, when you lift up pen 6 from key A,
As shown in FIG. 18, the highlighted display of key A is canceled and the character "Gya" is displayed in the editing small window 96. The letters G and Y in the consonant window 97 are then deleted.

FIG. 19 shows a state in which the character ``Gyakute'' is inputted into the small editing window 96 in this way, and then the pen 6 is moved down to the ``N'' key 98a. At this time, the key 98a is highlighted. Then, when the pen 6 is pressed up using the key 98a, the character "n" is displayed in the editing window 96 at the position where the cursor 99 is located, as shown in FIG. As a result, in the editing window 96, “
This means that the characters ``Gyakuten'' are inserted and displayed. In this state, if the previous deletion key 95 is touched with the pen 6, one character displayed on the left side of the cursor 99 will be deleted, and the cursor will move to the left side.

FIG. 21 shows a state in which the key 93b is operated and the editing small window 96 is set to display katakana. In the state of FIG. 21, '
The key 98a is shown in a pen-down state with the pen 6, and the display of the key 98a is highlighted. Thereafter, when the pen 6 is pressed up using the key 98a, the katakana ``n'' is inserted and displayed in the editing window 96.

FIG. 22 shows a state in which the letters "Gamble" are displayed in katakana in the editing small window 96 in this manner. In this state, press the clear key 92b into the pen 6.
When touched, the characters "Gamble" displayed in the small editing window 96 are deleted. And clear key 9
2b, the cancel key 92c becomes usable, and when this cancel key 92c is touched with the pen 6, the previous operation (operation of the clear key 92b) is canceled, and as a result, the clear key 92b is displayed in the editing small window 96. The character ``Gamble'' before operating will be displayed. Furthermore, when the write key 92a is touched with the pen 6, the characters "Gamble" displayed in the small editing window 96 are displayed at the position where the cursor 100 is located in the input display area 83.

In this way, when the input of characters is completed, the pen 6 is moved down to the type plate 85, the pen 6 is dragged in the direction of the icon display area 81, and when the pen 6 is moved up on the icon display area 81, ,
The type plate 85 is housed in the icon display area 81. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the state returns to the state where the "Katsuji" icon 82a is displayed in the icon display area 81.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the tablet 2
Although 1 is of a capacitive type, it is also possible to configure it with a piezoelectric type or a light sensing type. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to input using a tablet but also to input using a normal keyboard.

[0045]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the character input device of the present invention, when inputting characters in Roman letters, a dedicated input means for inputting the character ``n'' is provided, which improves operability. improved, reducing the risk of erroneous operation. Therefore, quick input processing becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a portable computer to which a character input device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a screen in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a fluorescent screen in the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection relationship between a tablet and an LCD in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the overall electrical connection relationship in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a Roman character conversion operation in the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

16 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5. FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

18 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5; FIG.

FIG. 19 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 20 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 21 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 22 is a diagram of an input screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

6 Pen 8 Screen 21 Tablet 22 LCD 41 CPU 81 Icon display area 82 icon 83 Input display area 85 Type plate 98 key 98a "N" key

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A consonant input means that is operated when inputting consonants in the Roman alphabet, a vowel input means operated when inputting the vowels in the Roman alphabet, and a dedicated operation when inputting the character "n" or "n". A character input device characterized in that it is provided with a dedicated input means for inputting data.