JP6217467B2 - Program and character input device for character input system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention sets a software keyboard and an input character display area for character input on the touch panel, and touches the software keyboard (hereinafter referred to as “touch down”) and subsequent input characters according to the change in touch position. The present invention relates to a program for giving a computer a function of displaying a selected input character in an input character display area, and a character input device in which the program is installed.

  In a small information processing apparatus including a touch panel such as a smartphone, a software keyboard in which a plurality of character keys to which a plurality of characters are assigned and an input character display area are set on the touch panel to accept character input. In addition, a flick input method that accepts an operation (flick operation) of sliding a finger lightly on a character key and selects an input character according to the operation direction is widely adopted (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Regarding specific information processing performed for the flick input method, Patent Document 2 discloses, for each character key, definition information (corresponding to each character assigned to the character key and a different area on the touch panel). Touch panel area information) is registered, and when a touch on the touch panel is detected, the touch panel area information for the touched key is compared with the coordinates of the position where the finger is separated, and the flick direction is detected. It is described that a corresponding character is determined as an input character (see paragraphs 0032 to 0037 and FIGS. 2 to 5 of Patent Document 2).

  In Patent Document 3, the movement direction of the brush is expressed from the coordinates of the start point and the end point of the trace of the stylus (stylus pen) with respect to the keys to which a plurality of characters are assigned to different direction ranges. It is described that a vector is specified and a character associated with a direction range corresponding to the vector is selected (see paragraphs 0011 to 0017 of FIG. 8 and FIG. 8). Also for a flick operation with a finger, a vector indicating the flick direction can be specified in the same manner as in Patent Document 3.

JP 2009-266236 A JP2013-81126A JP 2000-29630 A

  In the method described in Patent Document 2, instead of obtaining a vector indicating the flick direction, an individual area is associated with each character assigned to a character key in which touchdown is detected based on a flick input rule. The flick direction is determined according to which region the touch position by the flick operation has moved to. Further, the input character is determined in response to the detection of the operation of releasing the finger after the touchdown from the touch panel (hereinafter referred to as “touch-up”).

  There is a case in which a method similar to the above is used to input actual kana characters. As a specific example, FIG. 10 shows the five characters “A”, “I”, “U”, “E” assigned to the character key 10A in response to the detection of the touchdown of the character key 10A in the “A” line. An example in which areas (hereinafter referred to as “discrimination areas”) corresponding to each of “O” are set is shown. In this example, when the user's finger touches the character key 10A and the coordinates of one point P in the contact range are detected as the touch-down position, a representative range is represented in a wide range including the central portion of the character key 10A. A rectangular discrimination region R0 for the character “A” is set. Further, the periphery of the discriminating region R0 is divided into four by the diagonal line of the discriminating region R0, and the region R1 generated in the left direction is the “I” discriminating region, and the region R2 generated in the upward direction is “ As the determination region of “U”, the region R3 generated in the right direction is set as the determination region of “E”, and the region R4 generated in the downward direction is set as the determination region of “O”.

  When the user inputs “A”, the character key 20A is tapped without performing the flick operation, and when “I” is input, the user flicks leftward and inputs “U”. If you want to do, flick up, if you enter "e", do a flick to the right, if you enter "o", do a flick down Input rules are presented.

  When the user taps the character key 10A according to the above rules, “A” is selected as an input character by detecting a touch-up in the determination area R0. For the flicking operation in the left direction, “Yes” is selected by detecting the touch-up in the determination area R1, and for the flicking operation in the upward direction, the touch-up is performed in the determination area R2. “U” is selected by the detection, and “f” is selected by detecting the touch-up in the discrimination area R3 for the flicking operation in the right direction, and for the flicking operation in the downward direction. Thus, “o” is selected when the touch-up is detected in the discrimination region R4.

  In this way, even if a vector indicating finger movement is not obtained, a character that matches the finger movement is determined based on which touch-up is detected in each character discrimination area set according to the input rule. Can be selected. However, since the coordinates of the touchdown detection point P vary depending on how the user's finger touches the touch panel, an error may occur in the selection of the input character when the detection point P is out of the “A” discrimination region. There is.

  FIG. 11 shows an example in which touchdown is detected at the left end of the character key 10A. Also in this case, it is recognized that the character key 10A of the “a” line is operated in response to the detection of the touchdown, and the discrimination regions R0 to R4 similar to the example of FIG. 10 are set. The point P is included in the discrimination area “Yes”. As a result, when the user taps the character key 10A without performing the flick operation, the touch-up is detected in the determination region R1 of “Yes”, and “Yes” is selected as the input character. That is, although the flick operation is not performed, it is handled as if the flick operation has been performed.

  In addition, the user performs an upward flick operation, but the amount of movement of the touch point from the detection point P is small, so that the user touches not in the “U” determination region R2 but in the “I” determination region R1. Also when “up” is detected, “i” is selected as the input character. That is, it is handled as if the left flick operation was performed although the upward flick operation was performed. Even if “U” is not selected because the amount of movement of the finger in the flick operation is small, if “A” is selected, the user will make a point, but if a character other than “A” is selected, The user feels uncomfortable.

  The present invention pays attention to the above-described problem so that, even when a touchdown is detected at any position of the character key, a predetermined range including the detection point is included in the representative character determination area assigned to the character key. Thus, it is an object to improve the accuracy of selection of input characters.

  The present invention provides a program for causing a computer connected to a touch panel to function as a character input device including the following determination area setting means and input character selection means.

  The discrimination area setting means sets a discrimination area for a representative character assigned to the character key (generally, a character written on the character key) within the character key where the touchdown is detected, and outside the discrimination area. In addition, a determination area for each character other than the representative character assigned to the character key is set with different orientations with respect to the determination area of the representative character. The input character selection means selects a character corresponding to a determination region in which touch-up is detected after the touch-down among a plurality of set determination regions as a character to be displayed in the input character display region of the touch panel.

  When the detection point of the touchdown is located outside the determination area of the representative character set in accordance with the touchdown, the determination area setting unit is configured to follow the position shift direction of the detection point with respect to the determination area. The boundary area between the representative character discrimination area and another character discrimination area is changed so that the discrimination area is expanded and the predetermined range including the detection point is included in the extended discrimination area of the representative character. Correction means is included.

  According to the above configuration, when the touch-down position detected by touching the character key with a finger is located outside the set range of the representative character determination area, the representative character is moved along the position shift direction. Since the discrimination area is expanded and the touchdown detection point and its surroundings are also included in the representative character discrimination area, other characters are erroneously selected in response to a tap operation for inputting the representative character. Can be prevented. In addition, there is a range in which touch-up may be detected according to the flick operation, and when an input character is selected according to the detection, a character associated with a direction different from the actual flick operation is selected. By expanding the determination area so as to be included in the determination area of the representative character, it is possible to prevent the direction of the flick operation from being mistaken.

  In one embodiment of the character input device, the correction means sets a small region centered on the touch-down detection point, and determines other characters from the representative character determination region through the touch-down detection point. A straight line is set along the direction toward the area, and the boundary line in the range facing the straight line is changed to the position indicated by the straight line among the boundary lines of the representative character determination area, and the small area is determined as the representative character. The representative character discrimination area is expanded so as to be included in the area.

  According to the above embodiment, by including a small area centered on the touchdown detection point in the representative character discrimination area, a range in which touch-up can be detected in response to a tap operation for inputting the representative character Can be included in the representative character discrimination area. In addition, a flick for inputting characters other than the representative character by changing the boundary line in the range opposite to the straight line passing through the touchdown detection point of the boundary line of the representative character discrimination area to the position indicated by the straight line. A range in which the direction of the flick operation may be mixed when an input character is selected in accordance with the operation can be included in the representative character determination area.

  According to another embodiment, the correction means passes through a point that is a predetermined distance away from the detection point along the direction of displacement of the detection point of the touchdown with respect to the determination region of the representative character, and from the determination region of the representative character. A straight line is set along the direction toward the discrimination area for other characters, and the boundary of the range opposite to the straight line among the boundary lines of the discrimination area for the representative character is changed to the position indicated by the straight line. Extend the discrimination area.

  According to the above embodiment, a straight line along the direction in which the touch point moves in accordance with the flick operation is set with reference to a point further away from the touch-down detection point when viewed from the representative character discrimination region. By changing the boundary line of the representative character discrimination area in the range facing the straight line to the position indicated by the straight line, select the range where touch-up can be detected according to the tap operation and the input character according to the flick operation In such a case, it is possible to include a range in which the direction of the flick operation may be mistaken in the representative character determination area.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the determination area setting means sets a rectangular area smaller than the character key as the center of the character key as the determination area of the representative character assigned to the character key in which the touchdown is detected. In addition to setting, by distinguishing the periphery of the discrimination area by the extension of the diagonal line of the discrimination area, the discrimination area for the remaining characters can be set. In this case, the correcting means sets two straight lines along each side of the representative character discrimination area as straight lines along the direction from the representative character discrimination area to another character discrimination area, and among these straight lines, A boundary line of the representative character discrimination region is changed by a line segment between each intersection point in a straight line that intersects with an extension of each diagonal line of the representative character discrimination region.

  According to the above-described embodiment, each of the representative character discrimination regions passes through a detection point of touchdown or a point located farther than the detection point along the direction of displacement of the detection point with respect to the discrimination region of the representative character. Set two straight lines along the side, find the intersection of the two diagonal lines of the representative character discrimination area and each straight line, and the boundary of the representative character discrimination area based on the line segment between each intersection Lines can be easily changed.

  According to the present invention, even when the detection point of the touchdown is located outside the representative character determination area set according to the touchdown with respect to the character key, the touchup is performed according to the tap operation for selecting the representative character. The representative character discrimination region is expanded so that the range in which the flick operation can be detected and the range in which the direction of the flick operation may be mistaken are included in the representative character discrimination region. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tap operation from being handled as a flick operation or to select a character associated with the flick operation in a direction different from the actual finger movement direction, thereby improving the accuracy of character input. Can do.

It is a front view which shows the character input screen of the smart phone to which this invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which correct | amends the discrimination | determination area | region of a representative character, after setting a discrimination | determination area | region according to the position of the touchdown detection point P with respect to a character key. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd example which correct | amends the determination area | region of a representative character according to the position of the detection point P of a touchdown, after setting the determination area | region with respect to a character key. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd example which correct | amends the determination area | region of a representative character according to the position of the detection point P of a touchdown, after setting the determination area | region with respect to a character key. It is a functional block diagram of the character input system integrated in a smart phone. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence until it accepts operation with respect to a character key and selects an input character. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 4th example which correct | amends the determination area | region of a representative character according to the position of the detection point P of a touchdown, after setting the determination area | region with respect to a character key. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of correction | amendment of the discrimination | determination area | region at the time of making the discrimination | determination area | region of a representative character small. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which correct | amends the discrimination | determination area | region of a representative character according to the position of the detection point P of a touchdown, after setting a discrimination | determination area | region with respect to a horizontally long character key. It is explanatory drawing which shows the prior art example concerning the setting of the discrimination | determination area | region with respect to a character key. It is explanatory drawing which shows the problem of the said prior art example.

FIG. 1 shows a character input screen of a smartphone 100 to which the present invention is applied.
This character input screen is displayed on the front touch panel 1 when an application (such as a mailer or Internet browser) running on the smartphone 100 is in a state of accepting character input, and is input on the upper side of the divided screen. A character display area 11 is set, and a software keyboard 12 is arranged on the lower side.

The software keyboard 12 includes twelve character keys 10 arranged in four rows and three columns along the vertical and horizontal directions of the touch panel 1 and eight function keys 13 arranged on the left and right sides of the character keys 10. It is. Among the character keys 10, the ten character keys 10 (ten keys) except for the left and right in the lowermost row are assigned kana characters from the “a” line to the “wa” line of 50 sounds one by one, and the first kana character. Characters are written. Among these, the character key of the “A” line used in the following specific example is indicated by reference numeral 10A.
Each character key 10 is also assigned numbers, alphabetic characters, symbols, and the like, and the character type to be input is switched by a switching operation.

  Although not shown, when a user touches one of the character keys 10 in the software keyboard 12, the representative character (for example, “A”) written on the character key 10 is centered on the top, bottom, left, and right. A guide image in which other four characters are arranged is displayed. When the user performs a so-called tap operation in which the user releases his / her finger from the character key 10 without moving his / her finger, a representative character is selected as an input character. On the other hand, when a flick operation is performed in any of the up / down / left / right directions, a character associated with the moving direction of the finger is selected as an input character. In either case, it is detected as a touch-up that the coordinates of the touch point are no longer detected, an input character is selected, and the selected input character is displayed in the input character display area 11.

  In order to perform the character input described above, in this embodiment, in response to detection of touchdown, a discrimination area for various characters assigned to the character key 10 is set for the detected character key 10. Then, the character corresponding to the discrimination area where the touch-up after the touch-down is detected is selected as the input character. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the touchdown detection point is located outside the representative character discrimination region, the representative character discrimination region along the position shift direction of the detection point with respect to the representative character discrimination region. By expanding, a situation is set in which characters that match the actual finger movement are easily selected.

  FIG. 2 shows a specific example of processing for expanding the representative character discrimination area, taking the character key 10A of the “A” line as an example. FIG. 2A shows basic setting rules for each discrimination area. Similar to the conventional example shown in FIG. 10, a wide range including the central portion of the character key 10A with respect to the representative character “A”. Is set to a rectangular discrimination region R0. The circumference of the discrimination area R0 is divided into four by the diagonal lines of the discrimination area R0. The discrimination area R1 of “I” on the left side, the discrimination area R2 of “U” on the upper side, and “E” on the right side. Discriminating region R3 and “O” discriminating region R4 are respectively set on the lower side.

  In FIG. 2, the detection point is indicated by the symbol P, assuming that touchdown is detected at the lower left edge of the character key 10 </ b> A. The touchdown with respect to the character key 10A is accepted over the entire area of the key, but the touchdown detection point P of this embodiment is set to the discrimination area “I” on the left side of the discrimination area R0 by setting the discrimination areas R0 to R4 immediately after that. It is included in R1 and is in a state of being shifted in the left direction and the downward direction with respect to the lower left vertex of the “A” discrimination region R0.

  In this embodiment, based on the coordinates of the detection point P and the setting data of the representative character discrimination area R0, the correction area S0 as shown in [b-1] [b-2] [b-3] in the lower part of FIG. , S1 and S2, and by integrating these areas so that these correction areas S0, S1 and S2 are included in the discrimination area R0, the discrimination area R0 for the representative character and the discrimination areas R1 to R4 for the other characters Change the border of.

  The correction area S0 shown in FIG. 2 [b-1] is a rectangular area centered on the touchdown detection point P. The size and shape of the area S0 can be determined and registered in advance according to, for example, an error generated between the touchdown detection point and the touchup detection point when a tap operation is performed. However, the size of the correction region S0 may be changed according to the distance between the detection point P and the side closest to the detection point P in the determination region R0.

  The correction area S1 shown in FIG. 2 [b-2] is an intersection of a straight line passing through the touchdown detection point P and along the vertical axis (y axis) of the touch panel 1 and two diagonal extensions of the discrimination area R0. A triangle OAB determined by A, B and the center point O of the discrimination region R0 is used as the outline.

  The correction area S2 shown in FIG. 2 [b-3] is an intersection C between two straight lines extending through the touchdown detection point P and along the horizontal axis (x axis) of the touch panel 1 and the discrimination area R0. , D and the triangle OCD defined by the center point O of the discrimination region R0 is used as the contour line.

  FIG. 2C compares the range of the discrimination region R0 updated by integrating the three correction regions S0, S1, S2 and the discrimination region R0 with the first range (dotted line) of the region R0. Show. As a result of the above integration, the determination region R0 is obtained by adding the portion of the correction region S1 that protrudes from the region R0, the portion of the correction region S2 that protrudes from the region R0, and the correction region S0. That is, it is expanded to the “I” discrimination region R1 side and to the lower side, that is, the “O” discrimination region R4 side. Further, a predetermined range surrounding the touchdown detection point P is included in the expanded discrimination region R0.

  For the range of the representative character discrimination region R0 set when the touchdown is detected, the touchdown detection point P is included in the discrimination region R1 of “Yes” as shown in FIG. It is. When the discrimination area R0 is not expanded, when the character key 12A is tapped for the purpose of inputting “A”, a touch-up is detected in the “I” area R1, and as a result, “I” instead of “A” is detected. "Is selected as the input character. Further, even if the upward flick operation is performed for the purpose of inputting “U”, if the touch point does not reach the “U” determination region R2, the touch-up is performed in the “YES” determination region R1. Detected and “I” is selected as the input character. If the touch point does not reach the “e” discrimination region R3 even if the right flick operation is performed for the purpose of inputting “e”, a touch-up is detected in the “o” discrimination region R4. "O" is selected as the input character.

  As described above, when the touchdown detection point P is not included in the determination region R0 of the representative character “A”, the character that does not match the intention of the user who performed the tap operation or the flick operation according to the rule of the character input operation May be selected. On the other hand, according to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the discrimination region R0 is expanded as shown in FIG. 2 [c] immediately after the touch-up is detected and the discrimination regions R0 to R4 are set. When 12A is tapped and a touch-up is detected at or near the touch-down detection point P, the detection point is included in a location corresponding to the correction area S0 in the “A” discrimination area R0. Become. Therefore, it is possible to select the character “A” that matches the tap operation.

  In addition, when the upward flick operation is performed but the touch point cannot be moved to the “U” determination region R2, or when the right flick operation is performed but “E” is determined. Even when the touch point cannot be moved to the region R3, the touch-up can be detected at a place corresponding to the region S1 or the region S2 in the “A” determination region R0. By this detection, “A” is selected as the input character. Although this selection itself is an error, it is acceptable as an error that may occur because the amount of finger movement in the flick operation is small.

  In the example of FIG. 2 described above, the touch-down detection point P is displaced in both the vertical direction (y-axis direction) and the horizontal direction (x-axis direction) with respect to the initially set range of the discrimination region R0. For this reason, the discrimination region R0 is expanded along the respective misalignment directions. However, when the direction of misalignment of the touchdown detection point P occurs only in one of the x-axis and the y-axis, the discrimination region R0. The direction of the expansion is only the direction in which the positional deviation occurs. 3 and 4 show specific examples.

  In the example of FIG. 3A, the touchdown detection point P is shifted to the left from the first range of the “A” discrimination region R0 on the x axis and is included in the “I” discrimination region R1. However, the detection point P is included in the first range of the discrimination region R0 on the y axis, and is not displaced. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3 [b-3], a straight line passing through the detection point P and extending along the x-axis direction intersects each diagonal line in the discrimination region R0, and a correction region S2 by the triangle OCD is included in the discrimination region R0. It will be in a state to be.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 [b-2], the straight line passing through the detection point P and extending along the y-axis direction intersects the diagonal extension line of the discrimination region R0, so that the correction region S1 by the triangle OAB has the side AB. The left side that is included protrudes from the discrimination region R0.

  Therefore, by the integration process, the determination region R0 is added with the portion of the correction region S1 that protrudes from the determination region R0 shown in FIG. 3 [b-2] and the region S0 shown in FIG. 3 [b-1]. It is expanded in the left direction, that is, toward the determination area R1 of “I”.

  In the example of FIG. 4A, the touch-down detection point P is included in the discrimination region R4 where “u” is shifted from the first range of the discrimination region R0 on the y axis. On the axis, the detection point P is included in the first range of the discrimination region R0 and is not displaced. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 [b-2], a straight line passing through the touchdown detection point P and extending along the y-axis direction intersects each diagonal line of the discrimination region R0 in the discrimination region R0, and is corrected by the triangle OAB. The region S1 is included in the determination region R0.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B-3, the straight line passing through the detection point P and extending along the x-axis direction intersects with the extension of each diagonal line of the discrimination region R0. The lower side including the portion protrudes from the discrimination region R0.

  Therefore, by the integration process, the determination region R0 is added with the portion of the correction region S2 shown in FIG. 4 [b-3] that protrudes from the determination region R0 and the region S0 shown in FIG. 4 [b-1]. It is expanded downward, that is, toward the “O” discrimination region R4.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, when the touchdown detection point P is located outside the representative character discrimination region R <b> 0 set according to the touchdown detection for the character key 10, the representative character discrimination is performed. The region R0 is expanded along the axial direction in which the shift of the detection point P with respect to the discrimination region R0 occurs between the x axis and the y axis.

  FIG. 5 shows the function of the character input system (IME) 110 that corrects the discrimination region R0 described above, together with the relationship with the input character display region 11 and the software keyboard 12 in the touch panel 1.

  The character input system 110 is software incorporated in a control unit (not shown) of the smartphone 100, and includes a keyboard processing unit 101, a determination region setting unit 102, a determination region correction unit 103, an input character selection unit 104, and a character display processing unit 105. , A key information storage unit 106, a discrimination area information storage unit 107, and the like.

  The keyboard processing unit 101 displays the above-described software keyboard 12 on the touch panel 1 and detects touchdown or touchup on the software keyboard 12 by inputting the coordinates of the touch point from a management system of the touch panel 1 (not shown). .

  When a touchdown for a character key 10 is detected, the determination area setting unit 102 moves to the character key 10 for which the touchdown is detected, based on a normal definition, with respect to the character assigned to the character key 10. Discrimination areas R0 to R4 are set. That is, the determination regions R0 to R4 are set with the relationships shown in FIG. 2 [a], FIG. 3 [a], and FIG. 4 [a].

  Immediately after this, the above-described three types of correction areas S0, S1, and S2 are set by the discrimination area correction unit 103, and these correction areas S0, S1, and S2 are integrated into the representative character discrimination area R0. With this integration processing, when the touchdown detection point P is located outside the first range of the discrimination region R0, the discrimination region R0 is expanded along the direction of the positional deviation of the detection point P with respect to the range, and A predetermined range surrounding the detection point P is included in the expanded discrimination region R0.

  In this embodiment, the discrimination region correction unit 103 is operated regardless of the positional relationship of the touchdown detection point P with respect to the initial range of the discrimination region R0. Therefore, even when the touchdown detection point P is inside the determination region R0, three types of correction regions S0, S1, and S2 are set and the region integration processing is performed. In this case, the correction regions S0 and S1 are performed. , S2 are all included in the initial range of the discrimination region R0, the range of the discrimination region R0 is maintained at the initial setting.

  After the processing of the discrimination area setting unit 102 and the discrimination area correction unit 103 is completed, when the touch-up is detected by the keyboard processing unit 101, the input character selection unit 104 sets the touch-up detection points to the discrimination areas R0 to R4. And the input character is selected. The selected character is displayed in the input character display area 11 of the touch panel 1 by the character display processing unit 105.

  In the key information storage unit 106, information indicating the ranges of the keys 10 and 13 in the software keyboard 12 (for example, the coordinates of the upper left and lower right vertices of the rectangular area along the keys 10 and 13) is registered.

  In the discrimination area information storage unit 107, definition information for setting the representative character discrimination area R0 in the character key 10 (for example, relative coordinates of each vertex of the discrimination area R0 with respect to the center point of the character key 10) is registered. . In addition, for each character key 10, characters corresponding to the determination areas R0 to R4 are registered.

  In addition to the above configuration, although not shown in FIG. 5, the character input system 110 according to this embodiment includes a kana character according to the conversion operation after the kana character string corresponding to the operation on the character key 10 is specified. A function for performing kana-kanji conversion on a column, a function for confirming a character string displayed in an unconfirmed state in the input character display area 11 according to a confirmation operation, and outputting the result to a running application are provided. .

  FIG. 6 shows a flow of processing performed in the character input system 110 described above from when an operation for one of the character keys 10 is accepted until an input character is selected.

  First, when the coordinates of the touch point are input in response to the user touching the target character key 10 in the software keyboard 12, the keyboard processing unit 101 determines that “touch down is present” (step ST1). “YES”), the registered information in the key information storage unit 106 is collated by the input coordinates, and the character key 10 in which the touchdown is detected is specified (step ST2).

  Next, in step ST3, the discrimination area setting unit 102 sets the discrimination area R0 of the representative character based on the definition information registered in the discrimination area information storage unit 107 with respect to the character key 10 including the detection point P. Further, the discrimination area setting unit 102 divides the periphery of the discrimination area R0 of the representative character by an extension of the diagonal line of the area R0, and sets discrimination areas R1 to R4 for characters other than the representative character. In addition, in step ST3, the characters are associated with the discrimination areas R0 to R4.

  After the determination areas R0 to R4 are set, the determination area correction unit 103 performs steps ST4 to ST7. First, in step ST4, the coordinates of the intersections A and B between the straight line passing through the touchdown detection point P and along the vertical axis (y-axis) of the coordinate system of the touch panel 1 and the diagonal line of the discrimination region R0 or its extension line are obtained. In step ST5, the coordinates of intersections C and D between the straight line passing through the touchdown detection point P and along the horizontal axis (x axis) of the coordinate system of the touch panel 1 and the diagonal line of the discrimination region R0 or its extension line are obtained.

  In step ST6, a rectangular correction region S0 having a predetermined size with the detection point P as the center is set. In step ST7, the correction area S1 determined by the triangle OAB formed by the intersections A and B obtained in step ST4 and the center point O of the discrimination area R0, and the triangle OCD formed by the intersections C and D and the center point O obtained in step ST5. These areas are integrated so that the determined correction area S2 and the correction area S0 obtained in step ST6 are included in the determination area R0. By this integration, the boundary line between the determination region R0 and the other determination regions R1 to R4 is changed.

  Thereafter, when the keyboard processing unit 101 detects a touch-up (“YES” in step ST8), the input character selection unit 104 specifies a determination area including the detection point of the touch-up (step ST9), and the specified determination A character associated with the area is selected as an input character (step ST10). The selected character is displayed on the input character display area 11 of the touch panel 1 by the character display processing unit 105 (step ST11), and the processing is completed.

  According to the above procedure, when the touchdown detection point P is located outside the first range of the discrimination region R0 for any character key 10 in the software keyboard 12, FIGS. As in the case shown in FIG. 5, the discrimination region R0 is expanded along the direction of displacement of the detection point P with respect to the discrimination region R0, and a predetermined range including the detection point P is included in the discrimination region R0. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the tap operation from being handled as a flick operation or to select a character corresponding to a direction different from the moving direction of the finger of the flick operation.

  In this embodiment, even when the touchdown detection point P is located within the initial range of the discrimination area R0, the correction areas S0, S1, and S2 are set and integrated into the discrimination area R0. Although a process for checking the coordinates of the touchdown detection point P is performed before step ST4 in FIG. 6 and the detection point P is located within the determination region R0, steps ST4 to ST7 are performed. You may skip. Alternatively, steps ST6 and ST7 may be skipped when the intersections A, B, C and D obtained in steps ST4 and ST5 are all included in the determination region R0.

  In the above embodiment, two straight lines for specifying the regions S1 and S2 are set so as to pass through the touchdown detection point P. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. Is set to a position that passes a predetermined distance outside the detection point P when viewed from the discrimination region R0, and the triangle OAB and the triangle OCD by the intersection of the discrimination region R0 with the diagonal line or its extension line and the center point O of the discrimination region R0 are corrected. It is good also as area | region S1, S2. In this case, the correction areas S1 and S2 and the discrimination area R0 may be integrated without setting the rectangular correction area S0 including the detection point P. However, the correction area S0 is further set and integrated. It may be added to the processing.

  The examples shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and 7 are based on the premise that a character input operation is performed on the vertically long screen shown in FIG. Even when switching to the screen, the representative character discrimination region R0 can be expanded by the same method.

  According to the above method, by expanding the discrimination region R0 when the touchdown detection point P is outside the range of the discrimination region R0, the sensitivity to the flick operation can be increased, and the operability is improved. An effect is also obtained.

  Conventionally, it has been necessary to set the discrimination region R0 in a wide range of the character keys 10 so that the case where the detection point P of the touchdown is not in the state of being outside the range of the discrimination region R0 increases. Then, the amount of finger movement required to input characters other than the representative character by the flick operation increases. However, if the detection area R0 is expanded to include the detection point P when the touchdown detection point P is located outside the range of the representative character determination area R0, the first range of the determination area R0 is set. Can be small.

  FIG. 8 shows the touchdown detection point P when the initial range of the representative character discrimination region R0 is smaller than the setting example of FIG. 2A for the same character key 10A as in the example of FIG. An example is shown in which the discrimination region R0 is expanded in response to being located outside the range of the region R0. FIG. 9 shows a case where, for a horizontally long character key 10A set on a horizontally long screen, a horizontally long rectangular area obtained by reducing a rectangle along the key 10A at a predetermined ratio is set as a discrimination area R0. An example is shown in which the discrimination region R0 is expanded in response to the detection point P being located outside the range of the discrimination region R0.

  In each of the determination regions R0 in the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9, the center point is aligned with the character key 10A. In any example, the touch-down detection point P is displaced leftward and downward with respect to the initial range of the discrimination region R0. The discrimination region R0 is expanded along the line.

  As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, if a small discrimination region R0 is set at the center of the character key 10 for the representative character, the tap-down detection point P is included in the discrimination region R0. The touch position can be placed in the discrimination region for characters other than the representative character located in the moving direction by moving the finger small to the top, bottom, left or right.

  When the touchdown detection point P is located outside the determination region R0, the determination region R0 is expanded along the direction of displacement of the detection point P with respect to the determination region R0. When the characters corresponding to the left direction and the downward direction in the example 9 are selected, the touch point can be moved to the target character discrimination regions R1 and R4 by moving the finger very small. When selecting a character corresponding to the direction opposite to the extension direction (in the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9, rightward and upward), the target character determination regions R2 and R3 cross the expanded determination region R0. However, if the initial range of the discrimination area R0 is small and the displacement amount of the touchdown detection point P with respect to the range is not so large, the extension width of the discrimination area R0 can be suppressed, and flick input The amount of finger movement required for this does not increase extremely.

  Therefore, if the user performs a flick operation on the vicinity of the center of the character key 10, it becomes possible to select a target character by lightly moving a finger in any of the upper, lower, left and right directions.

  If the user is an expert, the intended character can be selected with a small amount of movement by intentionally moving the finger across the edge of the character key 10 near the edge. For example, in the case of FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, if the user performs a flick operation in the left direction at the left end edge of the character key 10 </ b> A with the intention of inputting “Yes”, the left end edge where touchdown due to that operation is detected Although the discrimination area R0 is expanded to the part, the touch point immediately moves to the discrimination area R1 of “yes” by the movement of the finger in the left direction, so that the touch up in the discrimination area R1 even if the movement amount of the finger is slight Can be detected. Similarly, for other characters “U”, “E”, “O”, by performing a light flick operation in the direction corresponding to the target character at the upper edge, right edge, and lower edge of the character key, The target character can be selected.

  As described above, since the sensitivity of flick input varies depending on the size of the representative character discrimination region R0 in the character key 10, the size of the discrimination region R0 may be appropriately changed. For example, a menu for adjusting the sensitivity of flick input is presented to the user, and in response to a setting operation for reducing the sensitivity by reducing the determination region R0 in response to a setting operation for increasing the sensitivity. The discrimination area R0 can be enlarged.

  The computer (character input device) in which the character input system 110 is incorporated is not limited to the smartphone 100, but is a general information processing device of a type that allows the touch panel to function as an operation unit and a display unit, such as a tablet terminal, a smart TV, and a facsimile device. (Including remote control).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Touch panel 10,10A Character key 11 Input character display area 12 Software keyboard 100 Smartphone 101 Keyboard processing part 102 Discrimination area setting part 103 Discrimination area correction part 104 Input character selection part 105 Character display processing part 106 Key information storage part 107 Discrimination area information Storage unit 110 Character input system P Touch-down detection point R0 Representative character discrimination region R1 to R4 Character discrimination region other than representative character S1, S2, S3 Correction region

Claims (5)

The touch panel is configured with a software keyboard including a plurality of character keys to which a plurality of characters are assigned and an input character display area, and when a touchdown is detected with respect to any of the character keys of the software keyboard, A computer as a character input device having a function of selecting one of characters assigned to a character key in which the touch-down is detected according to a change in touch position and displaying the selected character in the input character display area A program for operating
The character input device includes:
A determination area for the representative character assigned to the character key is set in the character key in which the touchdown is detected, and for each character other than the representative character assigned to the character key outside the determination area. A discrimination area setting means for setting the discrimination area with different orientations with respect to the discrimination area of the representative character, and a character corresponding to the discrimination area in which touch-up is detected after the touch-down among the set discrimination areas, Input character selection means for selecting as a character to be displayed in the input character display area,
In the discrimination area setting means, when the touchdown detection point is located outside the discrimination area of the representative character set in accordance with the touchdown, the position of the detection point is shifted with respect to the discrimination area. The boundary area between the determination area of the representative character and the determination area of another character is set so that the predetermined area surrounding the detection point is included in the extended determination area of the representative character. A program for inputting characters, including correction means for changing.   The correction means sets a small area centered on the touchdown detection point and a straight line that passes through the touchdown detection point and extends from the representative character discrimination area to another character discrimination area. And the boundary line of the range facing the straight line among the boundary lines of the representative character discrimination region is changed to the position indicated by the straight line, and the small region is included in the representative character discrimination region, The program for character input according to claim 1, wherein the representative character discrimination area is expanded.   The correction means passes through a point separated by a predetermined distance from the detection point along the direction of displacement of the detection point of the touchdown with respect to the determination region of the representative character, and another character from the determination region of the representative character. A straight line is set along the direction toward the discrimination area, and the representative character discrimination is performed such that a boundary line in a range facing the straight line is changed to a position indicated by the straight line among the boundary lines of the representative character discrimination area. The program for character input according to claim 1, which expands an area. The determination area setting means sets a rectangular area smaller than the character key as the determination area of the representative character assigned to the character key in which touchdown is detected, with the character key being centered, and this determination. Set the discrimination area for the remaining characters by dividing the perimeter of the area with the diagonal extension of the discrimination area,
The correcting means sets two straight lines along each side of the representative character discrimination area as straight lines along a direction from the representative character discrimination area to another character discrimination area, and among these straight lines, 4. The character input area according to claim 2, wherein a boundary line of the representative character discrimination region is changed by a line segment between each intersection point in a straight line that intersects with an extension of each diagonal line of the representative character discrimination region. program. The touch panel is configured with a software keyboard including a plurality of character keys to which a plurality of characters are assigned and an input character display area, and when a touchdown is detected with respect to any of the character keys of the software keyboard, A character input device that selects one of the characters assigned to the character key in which the touchdown is detected according to a change in touch position, and displays the selected character in the input character display area,
A determination area for the representative character assigned to the character key is set in the character key in which the touchdown is detected, and for each character other than the representative character assigned to the character key outside the determination area. A discrimination area setting means for setting the discrimination area with different orientations with respect to the discrimination area of the representative character, and a character corresponding to the discrimination area in which touch-up is detected after the touch-down among the set discrimination areas, Input character selection means for selecting as a character to be displayed in the input character display area,
In the discrimination area setting means, when the touchdown detection point is located outside the discrimination area of the representative character set in accordance with the touchdown, the position of the detection point is shifted with respect to the discrimination area. The boundary area between the determination area of the representative character and the determination area of another character is set so that the predetermined area surrounding the detection point is included in the extended determination area of the representative character. A character input device including correction means for changing.

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