JPS6024501B2 - electronic translator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic translator, and more particularly to a portable or pocketable electronic translator suitable for use by overseas travelers, tourists, and the like.

Conventionally, in translation machines, text information that is assumed to be necessary for the user is expressed in a first language and a second language, and these languages are stored in memory in advance in a corresponding manner. A method is being explored in which one of the sentence information of the first or second language is called up as appropriate and the sentence information of the other language is output.

When using the new method, it is desirable to store as many pairs of sentence information as possible in order to expand the scope of translation.

However, as the number of pairs of text information increases, it becomes more difficult and difficult for the user to search for the necessary information. For example, when storing text information for 50 seals, it would be rather difficult for the user to correspond to each key one by one, and if they were compared using numerical codes, a comparison table would be required, which would lead to complexity. There is. The present invention has been made in view of these conventional drawbacks, and provides a new electronic translation device that can instantly find necessary scenes and expressions, especially in conversations and translations for overseas travelers and tourists. It is intended to.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an electronic translation machine (hereinafter abbreviated as translation machine) according to the present invention.

) 1 preferred embodiment is shown. This device 1 has a front panel 2, a keyboard 3 on the panel surface, and a display 4 on the top of the panel.

The keyboard 3 has numeric keys 0 to 9 and alphabet keys a to z, and the bottom row of each key column contains heading information for the key in that column, in other words, the general name of each category. Word information to say, e.g.
Heading information is entered into eight major categories such as basics, air routes, transportation, hotels, meals, sightseeing, shopping, and emergencies. Further, on the right shoulder of each key, category information corresponding to each heading information is written as its subclassification.

In other words, the category information of 4 classifications corresponding to the heading information "Basic" in Oita includes questions, answers, greetings, introductions,
Five categories of debentures have been prepared. Also, the katakana characters A~N are written on the left shoulder of each key. The [Kana] key selects between Kana character input and English character input. This key performs a reverse operation. The [Size] key selects the size of English letters and katakana.

This key is valid only for one character key operation immediately after the operation. The [English translation] key inputs Japanese and translates it into English, and the [Japanese translation] key inputs English and translates it into Japanese. [CL] key is the clear key to clear the display, [Search] key is the search key, [ON] is the power supply O
The N key and [Off] function as a power supply key, the [T] key functions as a key to search for synonyms, and pressing the [Kana] key functions as a no-fon key (1). [→] is the shift key,
Furthermore, for Uji lj winter, ``Bunichi'', which represents sentence information, is written on the right shoulder of the key representing the English letter j, and ``o'', which represents a semi-voiced sound, is written on the left shoulder.

Either "j" or "l sentence sentence" is selected and switched by the [kana] key. For example, if you want to display heading information, that is, example sentences related to "Question", which is one of the major categories of "Basic", first press the [Kana] key to enter the Kana mode, then press the "A" key, i.e. Press the key corresponding to "Question".

Subsequently, when the key representing sentence information, ie, the character lj key, is pressed, the display section 4 displays "Ao Sorehanani desu ka". In this case, "ao" indicates that the example sentence belongs to the category "question" which is category information. If this example sentence is not the sentence desired by the operator, press the [Search] key to display the next example sentence belonging to the same "Question" category, such as "Ao Sore Hadare Desuka",
A desired example sentence can be searched by similar operations. In this case, category information refers to the categories, themes, subjects, types, classifications, etc. necessary for conversations such as tomist, and these are set as appropriate according to the user's request or the manufacturer's selection preferences. be able to.

When the desired example sentence is displayed, the corresponding English translation is displayed by pressing the [English translation] key.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the translator shown in FIG. 1, particularly a reservable panel showing a new configuration of the keyboard panel. That is, in FIG. 1, category information and kana characters are printed on the keyboard panel in advance, but by arranging the key panel as shown, the functions of the translator of the present invention can be added.

(b) According to the present invention, even if the user loses this spare key panel, the user can easily know which key corresponds to which category.
In other words, certain kana character keys, such as the "U" key and the [
This is achieved by pressing the [Toy] key after the [Kana] character operation, and then pressing the [Search] key.

The details will be described later. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the storage state of an example of the storage device (memory) of the present invention. The memory on the left is the storage state of the memory corresponding to the storage device 11 (M,) shown in FIG. Similarly, the memory shown in FIG. 5 is the storage state of the memory corresponding to the storage device 12 (M2) in FIG.

That is, the storage devices 11 and 12 are composed of a memory and a control section for outputting sentence or word information at a designated address. The Japanese language digitally stored in the memory is stored on the 5G, and the English language stored in the memory area is stored in the same order as the Japanese translation or translation as shown in the figure. In this case, the example sentences are stored with the kana character code and semi-voiced sound code of the key specifying the category added. Therefore, if you key in ``ao'' and search, example sentences such as ``ao sorehananidesuka'' will be displayed. Also, if you key in ``U'' and search, ``Wookisoo Simmon~a.'' will be displayed first, as shown in Figure 4. This means that the heading information (
When displaying example sentences belonging to the category ``4/Category r questions'' included in ``Basics'' of
” means that you should enter the key. That is, as described above, this means that the keys corresponding to the categories can be known without having to print the categories on the key panel or the servable key panel (5 in FIG. 2). Figure 4 shows each heading information (major classification)
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining how to operate keys when displaying an example sentence belonging to a certain category (minor classification) corresponding to . In this case, "U-" is added to the beginning of the "U" key and [Search], as shown in Figure 1.
It was chosen because it is located close to the keys and is easy to operate.

Therefore, it goes without saying that a special character other than the kana character "U" may be added to the beginning of the character and stored, and the key operation may also be performed by inputting the special character to perform a search. Similarly, there are A and A at the beginning of the example sentences.

etc. were added because there are no words starting with such letters), and the semi-voiced sound key was chosen because it is located near the [Search] key. In addition, the reason why category information is not assigned to the keys in row C shown in Figure 1 is because there are words starting with pa, pi, pu, be, po, and the digits in display 4 above row C ( This is because the two digits) are used to indicate the key name corresponding to the category. In other words, the display content "A. Sorehananidesuka" in Figure 1 is the upper two digits of the display "
It can be seen that "Ao" is a category "Question" of the heading information "Basic". In this way, in Figure 4, the specific kana characters ``Uha followed by [/・Fifon] key,
When you press the [Search] key, it says “Wukisoo Simmon~a.
", and the basic category "Question" is displayed as "Ao
'' key, and when the [Search] key is further pressed, the message ``Ukiso Kotaee'' is displayed, indicating that the key corresponding to the basic category ``Answer'' is the ``i o'' key. -Sparrow Spring Mini? TAjiku yo de shu L Keian hai Zuchi Mo Kei also allows you to call up example sentences corresponding to the ``Answer'' category of ``Basics'' on the display, for example, ``I.

If you press the [English translation] key, the translation will be displayed as "I don't know." Also, the words in parentheses shown in the memory storage state diagram in Figure 3 are words to be stored in memory when you want to display Japanese example sentences rather than English example sentences.
This is the name of each category. If this word is stored in memory, for example, A
If you want to display example sentences for mswer (answer), enter "1 ANSWER" in sequence and search with the [Search] key.
The category (Answer
) allows you to search for example sentences.

For example, "YESTHANKYOU" is displayed one after another, and when a desired example sentence is displayed, by pressing the [Japanese translation] key, the Japanese sentence corresponding to the English sentence is displayed. In this way, in the memory in Figure 3, a plurality of synonymous pairs of sentence information expressed in a first language (for example, Japanese) and a second language (for example, English) are stored in pairs for each category. A key input means for specifying sentence information belonging to the same category is provided, and a predetermined address (for example, the first address) of sentence information included in each category is specified based on the key input, and the desired sentence is It is designed to output information. Of course, the output may be a display or an audio output. In the case of audio output, this can be achieved by providing a device for synthesizing digital information into audio information and a playback device. The electronic translator according to the present invention is further clarified by the system block diagram of FIG. 5, which shows an example thereof. In the figure, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. In the figure, 3 is a key unit having various keys such as numeric characters, alphabetic characters, kana characters, category information, and function keys, and 4 is a display unit, for example, an alphanumeric dot matrix liquid crystal display.

Reference numeral 5 indicates a register for storing information inputted from the key unit 3, and 6 to 6n indicate each storage section of the register 5, each of which can store one character or number, and the first character input is 3. , and then 32.

7 is a key for specifying sentence information, that is, category information; 8
is the [Search] key, and 9 is the [English translation] key.

10 is a device that generates the stored address of the character stored in register 5 (3) when the [sentence] key 7 is pressed, that is, the address of the first sentence of the category;
(See Figure 3 M3), for example, is a memory that stores sentence information expressed in Japanese, and the sentence information is stored collectively for each category. For example, “A” corresponds to category IJ1, “Question”. When the first address of “Question” is “A”
are stored in correspondence with

Memory 12 is a memory for storing sentence information in memory 11, that is, English sentence information with the same meaning corresponding to Japanese (see M2 in FIG. 3), and 13 is an address counter that indicates the address of memories 11 and 12. When an address is designated, the memories 11 and 12 output paired sentence information.

14 are registers 5 and 16 that constitute an address counter.
is an R/S type flip-flop in which S and R are set and reset inputs, and Q and Q are set and reset outputs.

Next, the operation will be explained.

First, to explain with reference to Fig. 1, for example, one word [N] key [A] key lj K key [Search] key →
If you operate ・・・・・・→ [English translation], the character “A” will be input, but by operating the child key, it will be interpreted as inputting the category “Question”, and it will be included in that category. The first sentence information “Sorehananidesuka” is displayed, followed by [
By operating the [Search] key, the sentence information included in that category is sequentially displayed, and by operating the [English Translation] key, the corresponding English sentence information stored in the memory, ``WHATISIT'', is displayed. (3rd
(see figure).

In other words, assume the category based on the content you want to express,
It has the advantage that sentence information included in that category can be quickly found one after another.

The circuit configuration is such that when a character key is operated on the key unit 3, that character is stored in the temporary memory register 2. If n characters are input, up to 6n are input, but when recalling sentence information, the character is stored in the temporary memory register 2. Only the characters that are memorized, ie, the first manipulated, are valid.

When the keys of the key unit 3 are operated, the flip-flop 15 is set and the flip-flop 16 is reset, and the AND gates 17 and 18 are turned off, so the contents of the register 2, that is, the input characters, are displayed on the display section 4. Ru. For example, if you operate "A" on KEYUNIT 3 and then operate voice; winter key 7, the first sentence information of the category "Question" written on the right shoulder of the "A" key will be stored in memory 1.
The address stored as 1 (M,) is set in the address generator 1 in correspondence with the code of the character "A". The child key 7 is a flip. In order to set the input gate 16, the AND gate 17 is turned on instead of the ASDO gate 19, and the sentence information of the address indicated by the address counter 13, that is, the first sentence information of the category "Question" is displayed on the display 4. Ru. If this sentence is not the desired sentence information, the [Search] key 8 is operated. [Search] key 5 advances the register 14 that constitutes the address. Therefore, the next sentence information, ie, the second sentence information belonging to the "question" category, is displayed on the display 4. In this way, each time you press the [Search] key 8, sentence information in the category "Question" is displayed one after another, and when the desired sentence, for example, "Korehanandesuka" is displayed, press the [English translation] key 9. Flip-flop 15 is reset,
The AND gate T8 is turned on instead of the AND gate 17, and "WHATISTHIS?" stored in the memory 12 is displayed on the display 4 in correspondence with "Korehanandesuka".In addition, in the embodiment, the category information is ``Question'', ``Answer''... ``Payment 1st grade'' is displayed in characters on the key panel, but it is of course possible to display it in symbols other than characters.

As explained above, according to the electronic translator of the present invention, in addition to the usual character information input, necessary category information can be input, and the corresponding sentence or word information can be output from the memory. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment of the electronic translator of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an example of a keyboard panel arranged in the same manner, and FIG.
The figure shows a storage state of the memory of the same machine, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the key operations of the same machine, and FIG. 5 shows a system block diagram of an example of the same machine. In the figure, 1. ...Body, 2...Front panel, 3...Keyboard, 4...Display, 5...Register, 6...Storage section, 7...Text information specification key, 8...Search key, 9
...English translation key, 10...Sentence key, 11,12...
Memory, 13...Address counter, 14...Register, 15, 16...RS type flip-flop, 17-1
9...and gate. Figure 1 Figure 5 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 At least a character input means and an input means for indicating category information to be selected, a means for selectively switching these input means, and a means for selectively switching between these input means, a memory means for storing a plurality of pairs of sentence information for each category information; and means for specifying a predetermined address of sentence information belonging to a predetermined category information in the memory based on an input means for specifying the category information. An electronic translator characterized by comprising the following.