JP5461345B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

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

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

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

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-127796

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

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

In order to solve the above-described problems, the input device according to the first aspect is
A first display for displaying a plurality of keys to which characters are assigned;
A second display for displaying characters;
When an input by a pressed object is made, an input area that is set for each of the plurality of keys and is displayed among the input areas for displaying characters associated with the keys on the second display unit is detected. An input detector;
A load detection unit for detecting a pressing load on the input detection unit;
A storage unit for storing character arrangement patterns;
When the input detection unit detects an input to the input area, and the load detection unit detects a pressing threshold value that is equal to or higher than a load threshold for displaying characters, the character of the key corresponding to the input area is displayed. A control unit for controlling the second display unit,
When the control unit detects an input across a plurality of input areas, the control unit compares the characters displayed on the second display unit with the character arrangement pattern stored in the storage unit, A load threshold value for predicting a character to be input in an input across the plurality of inputs and displaying the predicted character is lower than a load threshold value for displaying a character not predicted by the prediction. It is characterized by setting as follows.

An input device according to the second aspect is
A first display for displaying a plurality of keys to which characters are assigned;
A second display for displaying characters;
When an input by a pressed object is made, an input area that is set for each of the plurality of keys and is displayed among the input areas for displaying characters associated with the keys on the second display unit is detected. An input detector;
A load detection unit for detecting a pressing load on the input detection unit;
A communication unit for communicating with a server in which a character arrangement pattern is stored;
When the input detection unit detects an input to the input area, and the load detection unit detects a pressing threshold value that is equal to or higher than a load threshold for displaying characters, the character of the key corresponding to the input area is displayed. A control unit for controlling the second display unit,
When the input detection unit detects an input across a plurality of input areas, the control unit displays the character displayed on the second display unit and the character arrangement pattern stored in the server through the communication unit. A load threshold for predicting a character to be input in the input across the plurality of inputs, and displaying the predicted character by the comparison. Is set so as to be lower than a load threshold for displaying characters not predicted by.

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

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

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

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Examples of the input device 101 of the present invention include a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone terminal, a portable music player, a portable TV, a bank ATM (Automated Teller Machine), and a station ticket vending machine. The input device 101 includes a touch panel 102 including a display unit 103 and an input detection unit 104, a storage unit 105, a load detection unit 106, a tactile sensation providing unit 107, and a control unit 108.

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

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

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

  The storage unit 105 stores various input information, a load threshold for displaying characters, a (correct) character arrangement pattern, and the like, and also functions as a work memory. The load threshold is an item that the control unit 108 can arbitrarily set for each key. A (correct) character arrangement pattern is an arrangement of words (sentence correct in language) or a sentence or an alphabet array that is (correctly) kana-converted in romaji input.

  The load detection unit 106 detects a pressing load on the input detection unit 104, and is configured using an element that linearly reacts to a load such as a strain gauge sensor or a piezoelectric element, for example.

  The tactile sensation providing unit 107 vibrates the input detection unit 104 and presents a tactile sensation to a user's finger or stylus pen (pressed object) that is pressing the input detection unit 104. For example, a vibration element such as a piezoelectric element It is configured using. The tactile sensation to be presented may be any vibration, and the frequency, period (wavelength), amplitude, and waveform can be appropriately set according to the tactile sensation to be presented. Further, the tactile sensation providing unit 107 can present not only vibrations but also a hard and hard tactile sensation (real click feeling) that can be felt when a mechanical key is pressed to the pressed item. By setting conditions for presenting tactile sensation (for example, the pressing load exceeds 1 N [Newton]), the user's pressure sensation is stimulated until this condition is satisfied. The detection unit 104 can be vibrated to stimulate the user's sense of touch. In this way, by stimulating the user's pressure and tactile sensation, it is possible to present the user with a hard and hard feel. The input detection unit 104 itself is not physically displaced like a mechanical key even when pressed, but when the user operates the mechanical key by presenting the touch feeling as described above to the touch target You can get the same realistic click feeling. As a result, the user can perform an input operation to the input detection unit 104, which originally does not have feedback by pressing, without a sense of incompatibility. A clicked hard tactile sensation can be realized by, for example, presenting a sine wave of 140 Hz to 500 Hz for one period or a rectangular wave for one period. In addition, when the load detection part 106 and the tactile sensation presentation part 107 are comprised using a piezoelectric element, the load detection part 106 and the tactile sensation presentation part 107 can be comprised sharing a piezoelectric element. This is because the piezoelectric element generates electric power when pressure is applied and deforms when electric power is applied.

  The control unit 108 controls and manages the entire input device 101 including each functional block of the input device 101. Here, the control unit 108 is configured as software executed on an arbitrary suitable processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a dedicated processor specialized for each process (for example, DSP (Digital Signal Processor)). Can be configured. When the input detection unit 104 detects an input to the input area and the load detection unit 106 detects a pressing threshold value that is equal to or greater than the load threshold value for displaying characters, the control unit 108 displays the character of the key corresponding to the input region. The display unit 103 is controlled to do so. Other processing performed by the control unit 108 will be described in detail in the description of FIG.

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

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

  First, when an input to a key displayed on the key display unit 112 is performed by a pressed object such as a user's finger or a stylus pen, the input detection unit 104 detects this input (step S101). That is, in step S101, it is detected which key (input area) is the input. And the input detection part 104 can detect the contact area of a pressing thing and a key (input area) with the detection of an input (step S102).

  The load detection unit 106 starts to detect the pressing load on the input detection unit 104 from the time when the input detection unit 104 comes into contact with a pressed object such as a user's finger or stylus pen (step S103).

  Subsequently, based on the detection result of the input detection unit 104, the control unit 108 determines whether or not the input to the key is an input across a plurality of keys (step S104). When the input to only one desired key is performed (No in step S104), the control unit 108 displays a character in which the pressing load detected by the load detection unit 106 is stored in the storage unit 105. It is determined whether or not it is equal to or greater than the load threshold (step S105). For example, it is assumed that a key is pressed with a pressing load that changes as shown in FIG. When the load threshold value for displaying the character is set to F1 [N], the control unit 108 determines that the pressing load is equal to or greater than the load threshold value for displaying the character at time t1 [ms] (step S1). Yes in S105). When the pressing load is less than the load threshold value for displaying characters (No in step S105), that is, when it is less than time t1 [ms], the processes of steps S101 to S104 are repeated.

  When the pressing load is equal to or greater than the load threshold for displaying characters (Yes in step S105), the control unit 108 accepts a character corresponding to the detected input as a character to be displayed on the main display unit 111 (step S105). S106). When the character to be displayed corresponds to a kana character (for example, the character to be displayed is a vowel (“A”, “I”, “U”, “E”, “O”)), the control unit 108 should display the character. The characters are kana converted and displayed on the main display unit 111 (step S107). Further, when the character to be displayed does not correspond to the kana character (for example, the character to be displayed is a consonant), the control unit 108 causes the main display unit 111 to display the character to be displayed (step S107). That is, alphabets (Roman characters) are displayed on the main display unit 111. With each input up to “H”, “O”, “N”, “J”, “I”, “T”, “S”, “U”, and “H”, the display on the main display unit 111 is “h” as shown in FIG. , “Hon”, “hon”, “honj”, “honji” “honji t”, “honji ts”, “honjitsu”, “honji h”. As described above, in the present specification, when the character of the key corresponding to the input area (character corresponding to the key) is displayed on the main display unit 111 (second display unit), it corresponds to the input area. Characters that are actually assigned to keys (for example, O) are not only displayed as they are, but the letter “O” that is actually assigned to keys corresponding to input is already accepted as a character to be displayed. It should be noted that a mode of displaying “ho” in association with “H” (displayed) is also included. Further, in the present embodiment, for example, an uppercase letter “H” and a lowercase letter “h” are assigned to the key “H”, respectively. h ”is displayed. In the present specification, there is no particular difference between uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet. After displaying the accepted characters on the main display unit 111, the control unit 108 can present the tactile sensation to the pressed object by controlling the tactile sensation providing unit 107 to vibrate the input detection unit 104 (step S108). ). For example, the control unit 108 can cause the tactile sensation providing unit 107 to generate a sine wave having one cycle as shown in FIG. 6 to vibrate the input detection unit 104.

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

  First, as shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the user has made an input across both “A” and “S” keys. Then, the input detection unit 104 detects that the input is for the keys “A” and “S” (step S101), and detects the contact areas between the keys “A” and “S” and the pressed object (step S102). ). Then, the load detection unit 106 detects a pressing load on the input detection unit 104 (step S103). Thereafter, the control unit 108 determines that the input is input across a plurality of keys (Yes in step S104).

  Subsequently, the control unit 108 predicts a character to be input next based on the character (character string) displayed on the main display unit 111 (step S109). The prediction is performed, for example, by comparing a (correct) character arrangement pattern stored in the storage unit 105 with a character (character string) displayed on the main display unit 111. Further, the control unit 108 stores the input history of the past user in the storage unit 105, and predicts the character to be input by comparing the input history with the character (character string) displayed on the main display unit 111. You can also. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the control unit 108 predicts a character to be input based on a (correct) character arrangement pattern that is an alphabet arrangement associated with a kana character. Since “h” displayed on the main display unit 111 in the previous input is (correctly) converted into kana (corresponding to the kana character), there is a high possibility that a vowel is input in this input. Therefore, the control unit 108 predicts that a vowel (“A”, “I”, “U”, “E”, “O”) is a character to be input. That is, the displayed character is “h”, and the character arrangement patterns stored in the storage unit 105 are “ha”, “hi”, “hu”, “he”, and “ho”. Then, by comparing “h” with “ha”, “hi”, “hu”, “he”, and “ho”, the character to be input becomes a vowel (“A” “I” “U” “ E ”“ O ”). Note that since the user performs input across both the “A” and “S” keys, the control unit 108 predicts only “A” as a character to be input in an input across multiple input areas. (In the input over a plurality of input areas, a character to be input may be predicted from among the key characters respectively associated with the plurality of input areas.)

  Then, the control unit 108 sets the load threshold for displaying the predicted character to be lower than the load threshold for displaying the character not predicted by the prediction (step S110). For example, the control unit 108 sets the load threshold corresponding to the unpredicted character “S” to F1 [N] and the load threshold F2 [N] (F2 <F1) corresponding to the predicted character “A”. .

  After setting the load threshold, using the load threshold for displaying the character after setting, the control unit 108 determines that the pressed load detected by the load detection unit 106 is a load threshold (load threshold for displaying “A”). It is determined whether it is F2 [N] or more, or whether the pressing load is more than a load threshold (load threshold for displaying “S”) F1 [N] (step S105). It is assumed that the pressing load detected by the load detection unit 106 is shifted equally as shown in FIG.

  When the pressed load detected by the load detection unit 106 is equal to or greater than the lowest load threshold value (here, the load threshold value for displaying “A”) among the load threshold values set in step S110 (in step 105) Yes), the control unit 108 should display the character (“A”) corresponding to the input area (key) in which the load threshold (load threshold for displaying “A”) is set on the main display unit 111. Accepted as characters (step S106). For example, the pressed load shown in FIG. 8 is equal to or greater than the load threshold (load threshold for displaying “A”) F2 but less than the load threshold (load threshold for displaying “S”) F1. The control unit 108 accepts the character “A” as a character to be displayed on the main display unit 111. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, a transition is made so that the pressed load becomes equal to or greater than the load threshold (load threshold for displaying “S”) F1 and the load threshold (load threshold for displaying “A”) F2. The control unit 108 accepts a character corresponding to a key that is initially pressed with a pressing load equal to or greater than the load threshold, that is, the letter “A”. In addition, when both of the characters corresponding to the two keys pressed across are the characters that are predicted or characters that are not predicted, the control unit 108 may set the load threshold for the two keys to the same value. it can. At this time, the pressing load on the two keys may simultaneously exceed the load threshold. The control unit 108 can accept a character corresponding to a key having a large contact area detected by the input detection unit 104 as a character to be displayed on the display unit 103. In addition, when it changes so that pressing load may become more than load threshold value (load threshold value for displaying “S”) F1 and load threshold value (load threshold value for displaying “A”) F2, “S” is set. It may be accepted as a character to be displayed instead of “A” and displayed on the main display unit 111.

  Since the character to be displayed (“A”) is a vowel, the control unit 108 converts the character to be displayed into kana and displays it on the main display unit 111 (step S107). That is, since the character “h” is displayed on the main display unit 111 in the previous input, the control unit 108 displays the corresponding hiragana (kana character) “ha” by the configuration of “h” and “a”. As shown in FIG. After displaying the accepted characters on the main display unit 111, the control unit 108 can present the tactile sensation to the pressed object by controlling the tactile sensation providing unit 107 to vibrate the input detection unit 104 (step S108). ). Note that the control unit 108 can control the tactile sensation providing unit 107 to present different tactile sensations to the pressed item, depending on whether or not the received character is an input across a plurality of keys.

  In step S105, when the pressing load detected by the load detection unit 106 is less than the load threshold for displaying characters (No in step 105), the processes in steps S101 to S104, S109, and S110 are repeated. In other words, when the user recognizes that the input is performed across a plurality of keys by visual observation, the user can input again unless the user presses the button with a load equal to or higher than the load threshold for displaying characters.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the control unit 108 of the input device 101 stores the characters displayed on the main display unit 111 and the storage unit 105 when the input detection unit 104 detects an input extending over a plurality of input areas. By comparing with the character arrangement pattern, the character that should be input in the input across multiple input areas is predicted, and the load threshold for displaying the predicted character is used to display the character that is not predicted. Set to be lower than the load threshold. Thereby, the predicted character is easier to be displayed on the main display unit 111 even if the contact area is small because the load threshold value for displaying the character is lower than the character that is not predicted. The predicted character is likely to be the character intended by the user, so if the user accidentally makes an input that spans multiple input areas, the user's unintended character (wrong character) is the main character. The possibility of being displayed on the display unit 111 is reduced. As a result, the number of corrections of erroneous characters is reduced, and the efficiency of character input work is increased.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 108 predicts a character to be input by comparing the character displayed on the main display unit 111 with the (correct) character arrangement pattern stored in the storage unit 105. can do. This makes it easy to display characters that make up words and sentences (correct as a language) and characters that are (correctly) kana converted on the main display unit 111.

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

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

  In the above description of the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 108 accepts a character corresponding to a key pressed with a pressing load equal to or higher than the load threshold as a character to be displayed. The contact area with the key can also be considered. For example, the control unit 108 displays a character corresponding to the pressed key when the pressed load is equal to or greater than the load threshold and the contact area is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (for example, 30%) of the key area. It can be accepted as a character to be. When input is made across keys that correspond to predicted and unpredicted characters, the smaller the contact area for the predicted character's key, the more likely the user intends to input the unexpected character. High nature. The case where the user intends to input an unexpected character is, for example, a case where the user wants to input a word that is not listed in a dictionary such as a new word, a coined word, or a spoken word. Therefore, by adding not only the load threshold but also the contact area to the condition for the control unit to accept characters, it is possible to avoid unnecessarily eliminating unpredictable characters.

  In the above description of the embodiment of the present invention, for example, the meaning of the technical idea of the expression such as the load threshold “above” or the load threshold “less than” is not necessarily a strict meaning. Depending on the case, the meaning when the reference value is included or not included is included. For example, the load threshold “above” can imply not only when the pressed load reaches the load threshold but also when the load threshold is exceeded. Further, for example, the load threshold “less than” may imply not only when the pressed load falls below the load threshold but also when the load threshold is reached, that is, when the load threshold is lower than the load threshold.

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

  In addition, the input device 101 according to the present embodiment may include a communication unit that communicates with a server that stores a character arrangement pattern, instead of the storage unit 105 that stores a character arrangement pattern. In such an input device 101, when the control unit 108 detects an input extending over a plurality of input areas, the control unit 108 displays the characters displayed on the second display unit (main display unit 111) and the server. Comparing the stored character arrangement pattern by communicating with the server via the communication unit, and predicting a character to be input in an input across a plurality of inputs by the comparison, the predicted character By setting the load threshold for display to be lower than the load threshold for displaying characters that are not predicted by prediction, the input device 101 does not have the storage unit 105 that stores the character arrangement pattern. By using the server in which the character arrangement pattern is stored, the same effect as that of the input device 101 in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

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

  In addition, even if the touch panel is pressed at a plurality of positions at the same time, a plurality of load detection units 106 in the present embodiment are installed at the input end by installing a plurality of piezoelectric elements or the like for detecting a pressing load. Alternatively, it may be configured to detect the positions and pressing loads simultaneously pressed from the outputs of the respective piezoelectric elements or the like. When configured in this way, the load detection unit 106 can detect the pressing load for each input area input by the pressed object, and therefore sets a load threshold for displaying characters for each input area, The control unit 108 corresponds to the input region as in the above-described embodiment, based on the pressing load of the input region detected by the load detection unit 108 and the load threshold value for displaying the character set in the input region. Key characters may be displayed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Input device 102 Touch panel 103 Display part 104 Input detection part 105 Memory | storage part 106 Load detection part 107 Tactile sense presentation part 108 Control part 111 Main display part 112 Key display part

Claims (2)

A first display for displaying a plurality of keys to which characters are assigned;
A second display for displaying characters;
When an input by a pressed object is made, an input area that is set for each of the plurality of keys and is displayed among the input areas for displaying characters associated with the keys on the second display unit is detected. An input detector;
A load detection unit for detecting a pressing load on the input detection unit;
A storage unit for storing character arrangement patterns;
When the input detection unit detects an input to the input area, and the load detection unit detects a pressing threshold value that is equal to or higher than a load threshold for displaying characters, the character of the key corresponding to the input area is displayed. A control unit for controlling the second display unit,
When the control unit detects an input across a plurality of input areas, the control unit compares the characters displayed on the second display unit with the character arrangement pattern stored in the storage unit, A load threshold value for predicting a character to be input in an input across the plurality of inputs and displaying the predicted character is lower than a load threshold value for displaying a character not predicted by the prediction. An input device characterized by setting as follows. A first display for displaying a plurality of keys to which characters are assigned;
A second display for displaying characters;
When an input by a pressed object is made, an input area that is set for each of the plurality of keys and is displayed among the input areas for displaying characters associated with the keys on the second display unit is detected. An input detector;
A load detection unit for detecting a pressing load on the input detection unit;
A communication unit for communicating with a server in which a character arrangement pattern is stored;
When the input detection unit detects an input to the input area, and the load detection unit detects a pressing threshold value that is equal to or higher than a load threshold for displaying characters, the character of the key corresponding to the input area is displayed. A control unit for controlling the second display unit,
When the input detection unit detects an input across a plurality of input areas, the control unit displays the character displayed on the second display unit and the character arrangement pattern stored in the server through the communication unit. A load threshold for predicting a character to be input in the input across the plurality of inputs, and displaying the predicted character by the comparison. An input device that is set to be lower than a load threshold for displaying characters that are not predicted by

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