KR20120024034A - Mobile terminal capable of inputting alphabet - Google Patents

Abstract

The digital information processing apparatus of the present invention includes a display area and a keypad area, and includes a touch screen unit which displays a keypad on the keypad area, generates a touch signal by sensing a touch of the keypad, and corresponds to the touch signal. And a control unit for controlling an alphabet to be displayed on the display area of the touch screen unit, wherein the keypad includes a plurality of rows each having English alphabet keys arranged thereon, and auxiliary rows positioned adjacent to each of the plurality of rows. The controller controls the auxiliary alphabet keys to be displayed on the auxiliary row adjacent to the row where the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged.

Description

Alphabet-type mobile terminal {MOBILE TERMINAL CAPABLE OF INPUTTING ALPHABET}

The present invention relates to a portable terminal, and more particularly, to a portable terminal capable of inputting an alphabet.

Recent advances in electrical and electronic technology have led to code division multiple access (CDMA), personal communication services (PCS), time division multiple access (TDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), advanced mobile phone service (AMPS), and IMT. Various methods such as mobile phones, handheld receipt machines, portable credit card machines, PDAs (personal digital assistants), pagers, door locks, small game machines, remote controls, mice, cameras, home appliances, home delivery Various portable terminals such as terminals have been developed, and these are becoming more compact and lighter. In addition, as various functions are added to electronic devices that have performed simple functions in the past, the necessity of inputting or displaying characters is increasing.

Recently, an input method using a touch or drag using a finger or a stylus pen is applied to a virtual keypad displayed on a screen including a touch screen function in portable terminals. While the touch screen meets the contrary technical requirements of the miniaturization of electronic devices and the enlargement of the display screen, the configuration of the keypad is free, and the touch screen can be input with various characters such as Korean, English alphabets and numbers by simple touch or drag. The scope of application is gradually expanding.

However, text input through the touch screen keypad is possible by touching or dragging with a finger or a stylus pen. Therefore, there is a limitation in improving text input speed compared to a computer keyboard or a portable electronic device having a keypad that can use both hands. .

Recently, a mobile phone employing a qwerty keypad has been widely used to avoid inconvenience in executing various application programs such as e-mail, twitter, and text messaging. The QWERTY keypad was developed for inputting the English alphabet using both hands on a typewriter or a computer keyboard, and it is inconvenient to input keys using one hand in a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone. In addition, there is a disadvantage in that the moving distance is long when entering the alphabet with either the right hand or the left hand.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal with improved key input convenience of a user.

According to a feature of the present invention for achieving the above object, the digital information processing device includes: a display area and a keypad area, and displays a keypad on the keypad area, and generates a touch signal by sensing the touch of the keypad And a controller for controlling a touch screen unit and an alphabet corresponding to the touch signal to be displayed on the display area of the touch screen unit. The keypad includes a plurality of rows each having English alphabet keys arranged thereon and auxiliary rows positioned adjacent to each of the plurality of rows, and the control unit is assisted in an auxiliary row adjacent to a row in which alphabets corresponding to the touch signals are arranged. Controls the display of alphabetic keys.

In this embodiment, the auxiliary alphabet keys displayed in the auxiliary rows include frequently used alphabetic consonant keys and vowels.

In this embodiment, the keypad displayed in the keypad area of the touch screen unit is a qwerty keypad for English alphabet input.

In this embodiment, the plurality of rows arranged on the keypad are alphabets 'Q', 'W', 'E', 'R', 'T', 'Y', 'U', 'I', A first row containing keys corresponding to 'O' and 'P', respectively, the letters 'A', 'S', 'D', 'F', 'G', 'H', 'K', And a second row containing keys corresponding to 'L', respectively, and corresponding to alphabets 'Z', 'X', 'C', 'V', 'B', 'N', and 'M', respectively. A third row containing the keys.

In this embodiment, the auxiliary rows arranged on the keypad include a first auxiliary row arranged on top of the first row, a second auxiliary row arranged between the first row and the second row; And a third auxiliary row arranged between the second row and the third row, and a fourth auxiliary row arranged at the bottom of the third row.

In this embodiment, the controller controls the auxiliary alphabet keys to be displayed in each of the first auxiliary row and the second auxiliary row when the row in which the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged is the first row. When the row in which the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged is the second row, the auxiliary alphabet keys are displayed on each of the second auxiliary row and the third auxiliary row, and the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged. And when the third row is the third row, the auxiliary alphabet keys are displayed in each of the third and fourth auxiliary rows.

In this embodiment, the control unit initially controls to display the function keys on the fourth auxiliary row, and the third auxiliary row and the third row when the row in which the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged is the third row. The auxiliary alphabet keys are displayed on each of the fourth auxiliary rows, and the function keys are controlled to be displayed on the second auxiliary rows.

In this embodiment, the control unit, the consonant and vowel alphabet having a high frequency of use in auxiliary rows located above and below the row in which the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged among the first to fourth auxiliary rows, respectively. Control the keys to be displayed.

In this embodiment, the auxiliary alphabet keys displayed on the auxiliary row located above the row in which the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged are frequently used alphabetic consonants' L ',' N ',' R ',' The auxiliary alphabet keys, which include keys corresponding to T 'and' S ', respectively, and are displayed on an auxiliary row located below a row in which an alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged, are frequently used alphabetical collections' I', Keys corresponding to 'A', 'E', 'O' and 'U' respectively.

In this embodiment, the control unit initially controls such that no keys are displayed in the first to third auxiliary rows.

In this embodiment, further comprising a fifth sub-row arranged at the bottom of the fourth sub-row, wherein the control unit initially has a number key corresponding to each of the numbers 0 to 9 in the first sub-row The display is controlled to be displayed, the punctuation marks and the special character keys are displayed on the fourth sub-row, and the function keys are displayed on the fifth sub-row.

In this embodiment, the controller controls the numeric keys to be displayed in the third sub-row when any one of the alphabetic keys arranged in the first row is touched, and the first and second sub-rows. The auxiliary alphabet keys are controlled to be displayed on the screen.

In this embodiment, when any one of the alphabetic keys arranged in the third row is touched, the punctuation and special character keys are controlled to be displayed on the second sub-row, and the third and fourth sub-rows are controlled. The auxiliary alphabet keys are controlled to be displayed on the screen.

According to the present invention as described above, the convenience of inputting the English alphabet with one hand using the QWERTY keypad is improved.

1 is a view showing the appearance of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal circuit configuration of the mobile communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 1.
Figure 3 shows the change of the keypad when the English alphabet 'J' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention
Figure 4 shows the change of the keypad when the English alphabet 'G' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 shows the change of the keypad when the English alphabet 'T' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 shows the change of the keypad when the English alphabet 'B' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a view showing another example of the keypad displayed on the mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 illustrates a change of the keypad when the English letter 'G' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 7.
9 shows a change in the keypad when the English alphabet 'N' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
10 illustrates a change of the keypad when the English letter 'T' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

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

1 is a view showing the appearance of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present specification, a mobile phone is shown and described as an example of a mobile terminal. However, the digital information processing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone, but is not limited to a personal computer, a PDA, a pager, a door lock, a small game machine, a remote control, a mouse, a camera, a home appliance, The electronic device may be any one of various electronic devices such as a courier box input / output device.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile phone 100 includes a touch screen unit 110. The touch screen unit 110 displays state information generated during the operation of the mobile phone 100, various videos, still images, and the like. In addition, the touch screen unit 110 may include a touch panel to sense contact by a fingertip or other object. When the user touches text or picture information displayed on the touch screen 110 by hand, the mobile phone 100 determines what the user has selected according to the position of the touched screen and processes a corresponding command. . The touch screen unit 110 includes a display unit 112 and a keypad 114. The keypad 114 may be selectively displayed on the touch screen unit 110 when a specific program such as telephone number input, text message transmission, memory recording, etc. is performed.

The keypad 114 includes a plurality of rows L1, L2, L3 and a plurality of auxiliary rows SL1, SL2, SL3, SL4. The plurality of rows L1, L2, and L3 are arranged with English alphabet keys according to a qwerty keyboard layout. That is, in the first row L1, the English alphabets 'Q', 'W', 'E', 'R', 'T', 'Y', 'U', 'I', 'O' and 'P' The keys corresponding to each are arranged in the second row (L2), and the English letters 'A', 'S', 'D', 'F', 'G', 'H', 'J', 'K' and The keys corresponding to 'L' are arranged respectively, and the third row (L3) corresponds to the English alphabets 'Z', 'X', 'C', 'V', 'B', 'N' and 'M'. Keys are arranged.

The auxiliary rows SL1, SL2, SL3, SL4 are arranged adjacent to each of the first to third rows L1, L2, L3. The auxiliary row SL1 is arranged at the top of the first row L1, the auxiliary row SL2 is arranged between the first row L1 and the second row L2, and the auxiliary row SL3 is the second row. It is arranged between the row L2 and the third row L3, and the auxiliary row SL4 is arranged at the bottom of the third row L3. Initially, no keys are displayed in the auxiliary rows SL1, SL2, SL3, and function keys are displayed in the auxiliary row SL4. The function keys displayed on the auxiliary line SL4 are, for example, Korean and English case conversion keys, special character keys, space bar, enter, and back space keys. Although only four auxiliary rows SL1, SL2, SL3, and SL4 are illustrated in FIG. 1, the number and positions of the auxiliary rows may be variously changed.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal circuit configuration of the mobile communication terminal illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile phone 100 includes the touch screen unit 110, the controller 120, the transceiver 130, and the memory 140 illustrated in FIG. 1. The mobile phone 100 may further include not only the above components but also peripheral devices such as a speaker for sound output, a microphone for voice input, a camera for image capturing, and the like.

As described above, the touch screen unit 110 includes a display unit 112 and a keypad 114. The touch screen unit 110 outputs a touch signal according to a user contact to the controller 120. The controller 120 may analyze the key signal from the touch screen unit 110 and calculate position data according to the contact position.

The controller 120 analyzes the key signal output from the touch screen unit 110 to determine whether the touch signal or the drag signal. When the touch signal is input, the controller 120 may display a character corresponding to the touch signal on the display unit 112 of the touch screen unit 110. When the drag signal is input, the controller 120 may determine a moving distance and a direction corresponding to the drag signal, and control the display unit 112 to display a character corresponding to the determined moving distance and the direction.

The transceiver 130 transmits and receives an RF signal with a base station (not shown) through an antenna. The transceiver 130 converts the RF signal received from the antenna into an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, converts the IF signal into a baseband signal, and provides the converted signal to the controller 120. The transceiver 130 converts the baseband signal from the controller 120 into an IF signal, converts the IF signal into an RF signal, and transmits the IF signal to the base station through the antenna.

The memory 140 is a memory for storing a plurality of programs and information necessary for the operation of the mobile communication terminal. The memory 140 may be configured as any one or a plurality of memories, such as nonvolatile memory, flash memory, read only memory (ROM), and volatile memory (random access memory).

Figure 3 shows the change of the keypad when the English alphabet 'J' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the English alphabet 'J' arranged in the second row L2 of the keypad 114 is touched by the user, the keypad 114 shows a touch signal corresponding to the alphabet 'J' in FIG. 2. Output to the control unit 120. The controller 120 controls the alphabet letter 'J' to be displayed on the display unit 112 in response to the touch signal, and controls the secondary alphabet key strings SKEY1 and SKEY2 to be displayed on the auxiliary rows SL2 and SL3. The auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY1 displayed in the auxiliary row SL2 includes keys corresponding to alphabetic consonants L, N, R, T, and S, which are frequently used. The auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY2 displayed in the auxiliary row SL3 includes keys corresponding to alphabetic alphabets I, A, E, O, and U which are frequently used. Since the auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY1 and SKEY2 displayed on the auxiliary rows SL2 and SL3 are arranged around the alphabet 'J', a user's convenience in key input may be increased.

For example, when the user holds the mobile phone 100 with his right hand and touches 'J' on the keypad 114 with his right hand's thumb, the most frequently used alphabet next to 'J' is displayed close to 'J'. Since the 'J' is touched, the movement distance of the finger can be minimized. As another example, when the user grabs the mobile phone 100 with his left hand and touches 'J' using a tool such as one finger of the right hand or a touch pen and then inputs the next alphabet, L, N, R, Since the probability of touching any one of T, S and I, A, E, O, and U is high, the alphabet input speed may be improved.

For example, when the user wants to input 'JANUARY', when the key corresponding to 'J' in the second row L2 is touched, the key corresponding to 'A' is displayed in the auxiliary row SL3, so that the second row L2 is displayed. The moving distance is shortened compared to touching the key corresponding to 'A' located in the).

Figure 4 shows the change of the keypad when the English alphabet 'G' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the English alphabet 'G' arranged in the second row L2 of the keypad 114 is touched by the user, the keypad 114 shows a touch signal corresponding to the alphabet 'G' in FIG. 2. Output to the control unit 120. The controller 120 controls the alphabet 'G' to be displayed on the display 112 in response to the touch signal, and controls the secondary alphabet key strings SKEY1 and SKEY2 to be displayed on the auxiliary rows SL2 and SL3. The auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY1 displayed in the auxiliary row SL2 includes keys corresponding to alphabetic consonants L, N, R, T, and S, which are frequently used. The auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY2 displayed in the auxiliary row SL3 includes keys corresponding to alphabetic alphabets I, A, E, O, and U which are frequently used. The auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY1 and SKEY2 displayed in the auxiliary rows SL2 and SL3 are arranged around the alphabet G. FIG. As such, the auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY1 and SKEY2 are displayed in the auxiliary rows SL2 and SL3 adjacent to the second row L2, and the touched alphabetic keys of the English alphabets arranged in the second row L2 are displayed. In the center, auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY1 and SKEY2 are displayed.

For example, when the user wants to input 'GOOD', when the key corresponding to 'G' in the second row L2 is touched, the key corresponding to 'O' is displayed in the auxiliary row SL3, so that the first row L1 is displayed. The moving distance is shortened compared to touching a key corresponding to 'O' located in the).

Figure 5 shows the change of the keypad when the English alphabet 'T' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the key corresponding to the letter 'T' is arranged in the first row L1. When the key corresponding to the letter 'T' is touched, the auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY1 is displayed on the auxiliary row SL1 located at the top of the first row L1, and the auxiliary row located at the bottom of the first row L1. An auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY2 is displayed in SL2. The auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY1 displayed in the auxiliary row SL1 includes keys corresponding to alphabetic consonants L, N, R, T, and S, which are frequently used. The secondary alphabet key sequence SKEY2 displayed in the secondary row SL2 includes keys corresponding to alphabetic alphabets I, A, E, O, and U which are frequently used.

For example, when the user wants to input 'TO', when the key corresponding to 'T' in the first row L1 is touched, the key corresponding to 'O' is displayed in the auxiliary row SL2, so that the first row L1 is displayed. The moving distance is shortened compared to touching a key corresponding to 'O' located in the).

As such, when any one of the keys corresponding to the alphabets Q, W, E, R, T, Y, U, I, O, and P included in the first row L1 is touched, the auxiliary rows SL1 and SL2 are touched. ) Frequently used alphabets are displayed to increase user's convenience of key input.

Figure 6 shows the change of the keypad when the English alphabet 'B' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the key corresponding to the letter 'B' is arranged in the third row L3. When the key corresponding to the letter 'B' is touched, the auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY1 is displayed on the auxiliary row SL3 located at the top of the third row L3, and the auxiliary row located at the bottom of the third row L3. An auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY2 is displayed in SL4. The auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY1 displayed in the auxiliary row SL3 includes keys corresponding to alphabetic consonants L, N, R, T, and S, which are frequently used. The secondary alphabet key string SKEY2 displayed in the secondary row SL4 includes keys corresponding to alphabetical collections I, A, E, O, and U which are frequently used. As shown in FIG. 1, function keys are initially displayed in the auxiliary row SL4. However, when any one of the keys arranged in the third row L3 is touched, the function keys are displayed in the auxiliary row SL2.

For example, when the user wants to input 'BELOW', when the key corresponding to 'B' in the third row L3 is touched, the key corresponding to 'E' is displayed in the auxiliary row SL4, so that the first row L1 is displayed. The moving distance is shortened compared to touching a key corresponding to 'O' located in the). Subsequently, the key corresponding to 'L' is touched in the auxiliary row SL3, and the key corresponding to 'O' is touched in the auxiliary row SL4 and then corresponds to 'W' arranged in the first row L1. You can enter all of the 'BELOW' by touching the key. At this time, the key corresponding to 'L' arranged in the auxiliary row SL3 and the key corresponding to 'L' and the first row (L2) arranged in the second row L2 instead of the key corresponding to 'O' in the auxiliary row SL4. 'L' and 'O' may be input by touching a key corresponding to 'L' in L1). However, in such a case, the auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY1 and SKEY2 are formed in the auxiliary rows SL1 and SL2, respectively, around 'L' located in the second row L2 and 'O' located in the first row L1. SL3).

7 is a view showing another example of the keypad displayed on the mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the touch screen unit 210 of the mobile phone 200 includes a display unit 212 and a keypad 214. The keypad 214 includes rows L11, L12 and L13 in which alphabetic keys are arranged, and auxiliary rows SL11, SL12, SL13, SL14 and SL15. Rows L11, L12, and L13 are arranged with English alphabet keys according to a qwerty keyboard arrangement. That is, in the first row L11, the English alphabets 'Q', 'W', 'E', 'R', 'T', 'Y', 'U', 'I', 'O' and 'P' Are arranged respectively, and in the second row L12, the English alphabets 'A', 'S', 'D', 'F', 'G', 'H', 'J', 'K' and The keys corresponding to 'L' are arranged respectively, and the third row (L13) corresponds to the English alphabets 'Z', 'X', 'C', 'V', 'B', 'N' and 'M'. Keys are arranged.

The auxiliary rows SL11, SL12, SL13, SL14 are arranged adjacent to each of the first to third rows L11, L12, L13. The auxiliary row SL11 is arranged at the top of the first row L11, the auxiliary row SL12 is arranged between the first row L11 and the second row L12, and the auxiliary row SL13 is the second row. It is arranged between the row L12 and the third row L13, the auxiliary row SL14 is arranged at the bottom of the third row L13, and the auxiliary row SL15 is arranged at the bottom of the auxiliary row SL14. do. Initially, no keys are displayed on the auxiliary lines SL12 and SL13, numeric keys 0 to 9 are displayed on the auxiliary line SL11, and punctuation and special character keys are displayed on the auxiliary line SL14. And function keys are displayed in the auxiliary row SL15. In the auxiliary line SL14, keys corresponding to each of a period (.), Comma (,), exclamation point (!), Question mark (?), Hyphen (-), apostrophe (') and at (@) are arranged. . The function keys displayed on the auxiliary line SL15 are, for example, Korean and English case conversion keys, special character keys, space bar, enter, and back space keys. The auxiliary lines SL14 and SL15 may be arranged not only with the above-mentioned keys but also various symbols and special characters such as #, $,%, ^, &, *, and the like. Although only five auxiliary rows SL11, SL12, SL13, SL14, and SL15 are illustrated in FIG. 7, the number of auxiliary rows and the position in the keypad 214 may be variously changed.

FIG. 8 illustrates a change of the keypad when the English letter 'G' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the English alphabet 'G' arranged in the second row L12 of the keypad 214 is touched by the user, the keypad 214 generates a touch signal corresponding to the alphabet 'G'. The control unit (not shown) configured in the mobile phone 200 controls the alphabet 'G' to be displayed on the display unit 212 in response to the touch signal, and the auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY11 and SKEY12 in the auxiliary rows SL12 and SL13. Control it to be displayed. The auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY11 displayed in the auxiliary row SL12 includes keys corresponding to alphabetic consonants L, N, R, T, and S, which are frequently used, respectively. The auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY12 displayed in the auxiliary row SL13 includes keys corresponding to alphabetic alphabets I, A, E, O, and U which are frequently used. The auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY11 and SKEY12 displayed in the auxiliary rows SL12 and SL13 are arranged around the alphabet G. FIG. As such, the auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY11 and SKEY12 are displayed in the auxiliary rows SL12 and SL13 adjacent to the second row L12, and the touched alphabet keys among the English alphabets arranged in the second row L12 are displayed. In the center, auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY11 and SKEY12 are displayed.

9 shows a change in the keypad when the English alphabet 'N' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the English alphabet 'N' arranged in the third row L13 of the keypad 214 is touched by the user, the keypad 214 generates a touch signal corresponding to the alphabet 'N'. The controller (not shown) configured in the mobile phone 200 controls the alphabet 'N' to be displayed on the display unit 212 in response to the touch signal, and the auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY11 and SKEY12 in the auxiliary rows SL13 and SL14. Control it to be displayed. The sub alphabet key sequence SKEY11 includes keys corresponding to the frequently used alphabetic consonants L, N, R, T, and S, and the sub alphabet key sequence SKEY12 includes the frequently used alphabet collections I, A, Keys corresponding to E, O, and U, respectively. The auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY11 and SKEY12 displayed in the auxiliary rows SL13 and SL14 are arranged around the alphabet 'N'. Meanwhile, although the sign key and the special character keys are displayed on the auxiliary line SL14 in the initial screen shown in FIG. 7, as the keys included in the third row L13 are touched, the auxiliary alphabet key string ( SKEY12) is newly displayed, and the sign key and special character keys are displayed on the auxiliary line SL12. When not only the letter 'N' but also other alphabet keys included in the third row L13 are touched, the sign key and the special character keys are displayed on the auxiliary line SL12, and the auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY12 is the auxiliary line SL14. Is displayed.

For example, when the user wants to input 'NOTE', when the user touches a key corresponding to 'N' arranged in the third row L13, the auxiliary alphabet key columns SKEY11 and SKEY12 are displayed in the auxiliary rows SL13 and SL14. ) Is displayed. Thereafter, the user touches the 'O' key displayed on the auxiliary row SL14, touches the 'T' key displayed on the auxiliary row SL13, and then touches the 'E' key displayed on the auxiliary row SL14.

10 illustrates a change of the keypad when the English letter 'T' is input through the keypad of the mobile phone according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the alphabet 'T' is arranged in the first row L11. When the letter 'T' is touched, the keypad 214 generates a touch signal corresponding to the letter 'T'. The controller (not shown) configured in the mobile phone 200 controls the alphabet 'T' to be displayed on the display unit 212 in response to the touch signal, and the auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY11 and SKEY12 in the auxiliary rows SL11 and SL12. Control it to be displayed. The sub alphabet key sequence SKEY11 includes keys corresponding to the frequently used alphabetic consonants L, N, R, T, and S, and the sub alphabet key sequence SKEY12 includes the frequently used alphabet collections I, A, Keys corresponding to E, O, and U, respectively. The auxiliary alphabet key strings SKEY11 and SKEY12 displayed in the auxiliary rows SL11 and SL12 are arranged around the alphabet 'T'. Meanwhile, in the initial screen shown in FIG. 7, numeric keys are displayed on the auxiliary row SL11, but as the keys included in the first row L11 are touched, the auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY11 is newly added to the auxiliary row SL11. Are displayed, and the numeric keys are displayed in the auxiliary row SL13. When not only the letter 'T' but other alphabet keys included in the first row L11 are touched, the numeric keys are displayed in the auxiliary row SL13, and the auxiliary alphabet key string SKEY11 is displayed in the auxiliary row SL11.

Since the keypad 214 illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10 includes not only the English alphabet but also keys and function keys respectively corresponding to numbers, symbols, and special characters, the user can easily input various characters on one screen. . In particular, only two auxiliary lines may be further included to minimize a finger movement distance when a key is touched to input an English alphabet.

In this embodiment, a case of inputting an English alphabet is described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to not only the English alphabet but also other alphabets. At this time, the auxiliary line shows the alphabets in which the letters are used frequently.

In another embodiment, the keypad input mode setting function of the cellular phone may select whether to use auxiliary rows in addition to the first to third rows. At this time, when the mode is set to use the auxiliary rows, the first to third rows and the auxiliary rows are displayed on the keypad as described above. On the other hand, if the mode is set to not use the auxiliary rows, only the first to third rows are displayed on the keypad.

While the invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, the appended claims should be construed as broadly as possible to include all such modifications and similar arrangements.

100, 200: mobile phone 110, 210: touch screen unit
112, 212: display section 114, 214: keypad

Claims (13)

A touch screen unit which includes a display area and a keypad area, displays a keypad on the keypad area, and generates a touch signal by sensing a touch of the keypad; And
And a controller configured to control the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal to be displayed on the display area of the touch screen unit.
The keypad includes a plurality of rows each having English alphabet keys arranged thereon and auxiliary rows located adjacent to each of the plurality of rows,
And the controller controls the auxiliary alphabet keys to be displayed on an auxiliary row adjacent to a row where an alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged. The method of claim 1,
And the auxiliary alphabet keys displayed in the auxiliary rows include alphabetic consonant keys and vowels that are frequently used. The method of claim 1,
The keypad displayed in the keypad area of the touch screen unit is a qwerty keypad for inputting an English alphabet. The method of claim 2,
The plurality of rows arranged in the keypad,
A second including keys corresponding to the alphabets 'Q', 'W', 'E', 'R', 'T', 'Y', 'U', 'I', 'O', and 'P' respectively. 1 row,
A second row containing keys corresponding to the letters 'A', 'S', 'D', 'F', 'G', 'H', 'K', and 'L', respectively, and
And a third row including keys corresponding to the letters 'Z', 'X', 'C', 'V', 'B', 'N', and 'M', respectively. The method of claim 4, wherein
The auxiliary rows arranged on the keypad,
A first auxiliary row arranged at an upper end of the first row;
A second auxiliary row arranged between the first row and the second row;
A third auxiliary row arranged between the second row and the third row, and
And a fourth auxiliary row arranged at a lower end of the third row. The method of claim 5, wherein
The control unit,
When the row in which the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged is the first row, the auxiliary alphabet keys are displayed on each of the first sub-row and the second sub-row,
Controlling the sub-alphabetical keys to be displayed on each of the second sub-row and the third sub-row when the row in which the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged is the second row; and
And the auxiliary alphabet keys are displayed on each of the third auxiliary row and the fourth auxiliary row when the row in which the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged is the third row. The method of claim 5, wherein
The control unit,
Initially, the function keys are displayed on the fourth sub-row,
When the row in which the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged is the third row, the auxiliary alphabet keys are displayed on each of the third auxiliary row and the fourth auxiliary row, and the function keys are assigned to the second auxiliary row. And a mobile terminal for controlling the display. The method of claim 5, wherein
The control unit,
Characterized by the consonant and vowel alphabet keys are displayed on the auxiliary row located above and below the row of the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal of the first to fourth auxiliary row, respectively, characterized in that the control Mobile terminal. The method of claim 8,
The auxiliary alphabet keys displayed on the auxiliary row located above the row where the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged are frequently used alphabetic consonants 'L', 'N', 'R', 'T' and 'S'. Each of the corresponding keys,
The auxiliary alphabet keys displayed on the auxiliary row located below the row in which the alphabet corresponding to the touch signal is arranged are frequently used alphabetical letters 'I', 'A', 'E', 'O' and 'U'. And a key corresponding to each. The method of claim 5, wherein
The control unit,
And initially not displaying any keys in the first to third sub-rows. The method of claim 5, wherein
Further comprising a fifth secondary row arranged at the bottom of the fourth secondary row,
The control unit,
Initially, numeric keys corresponding to each of the numbers 0 to 9 are displayed on the first auxiliary row, punctuation marks and special character keys are displayed on the fourth auxiliary row, and the fifth auxiliary row is controlled. And a function key is displayed on the mobile terminal. 12. The method of claim 11,
The control unit,
Control to display the numeric keys in the third sub-row when any one of the alphabetic keys arranged in the first row is touched,
And the auxiliary alphabet keys are displayed on the first and second auxiliary lines. The method of claim 11,
When any one of the alphabetic keys arranged in the third row is touched, the punctuation marks and the special character keys are controlled to be displayed on the second sub-row,
And the auxiliary alphabet keys are displayed on the third and fourth auxiliary lines.

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